YOUR
ONE-STOPMAV GEAR,
SHOP
FOR BOOKS
AND MORE.
#onestoryatatime @cmuhorizon Horizon Magazine @cmuhorizon issuu.com/horizon.magazine cmesauhorizonmagazine@gmail.com cover photographer megan dirksen
For general information or questions, email us. Horizon Magazine is published semesterly.
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
For me, everything about magazine production is rewarding. The assembly of words and photographs on a page, the feeling of glossy paper, the smell of fresh print, the novelty as every page is turned — it is all so satisfying. I am writing this letter to the students of Colorado Mesa University and the community of Grand Junction, Colo., to introduce the Fall 2017 issue of Horizon Magazine. Before you partake in what I hope is a magical journey of stories untold, I want you, the reader, to realize one thing: this issue is a reflection of you, this campus and this community. I encourage you to read this magazine cover-to-cover because you may discover that it is filled with your passions, your frustrations, your joys and your sorrows. After all, this is your magazine. The best part of this experience was being able to work with so many amazing individuals who all shared one vision: giving Horizon Magazine an identity that will endure‌ one story at a time.
Alexis Dymek, Editor in Chief
|03|
Maddie parise
jesus almader
siena shupe
donovan harwell
ciera colson
Editor in Chief
art director
advertising director
managing editor
photography editor
social media director
special thanks to advisers megan fromm & eli hall
Editorial Staff
Editorial Board
Alexis Dymek
Emily Adamson - Designer, Writer Bree Bell - Designer Elisa Bianchi - Writer Gabrielle Bode - Designer Lindsey Brown- Designer, Writer Rachel Campbell-Osborne - Designer Martina Caretta - Photographer, Writer Joshua Cline - Writer Kylee Cline - Photographer, Writer Sarah Coen - Designer Aspen Coleman - Photographer, Writer Megan Dirksen - Photographer Abigail Garton - Writer Carly Igoe - Designer Dahlia Jimenez - Writer Lehua La'a - Writer Delaney Letts - Writer Chris Marcinek - Photographer, Writer Breanna Meininger - Designer Kayla Miller - Photographer, Writer Callista smith - Designer Ammon Pierce - Photographer Nick Pinto - Designer Michele Robey - Photographer, Writer Kacie Sinton - Writer John Spriggs - Designer Meghan Swanson - Designer Jamie Van Dyke - Designer Brandon Zinser - Writer
|04|
HORIZON FALL ‘17
travel
feature stories
32
weekend wanderlust
the beauty surrounding grand junction
lgbtq+
19
a minority within minorities living can also be hiding
community
54
say what?
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|05|
super rad
an interview with the executive director naomi barlow
grand junction
small town, big opportunity
unique atmosphere incentivizes residency in Grand junction
grand junction
easy come, easy go
perspective
missing
art
bikes and brews
the future business of matthew nelson
student secrets
grand junction
lost in the english sea
brewing
music
rave culture
shedding light on the night
on or off duty
when is fido more than a pet?
66 69 70 72 74 77
confessions
and the tightly-knit nerds living in it
hands
our own worst enemy
literacy
lifestyle
the expanding world of board games
saving the hunt
pets
mavs on wheels
change your life
wellness
how slacktivism has taken over millennial politics
41 46 49 52 58 62
push your boundaries
wildlife
stop bitching, take action
campus
entrepreneur
a snap in time
keeping the memories alive
the surprising cost of labor
politics
entrepreneur
The Unexpected Star of a rodeo show
investigative
entrepreneur
taking the leap
what it takes to start a business
12 14 17 24 27 30
local lattes, cappucinos and foam art, oh my!
study
Hidden Gems
local attractions
campus
06 08 10 11
in the margins
a look into the creative minds of students
HIDDEN GEMS
writer alexis dymek
|
designer sarah coen
Get Outside – The Outdoor Program The Western Slope is beautiful but it can be difficult to explore as a busy college student. Fortunately, there is an awesome place on campus that gives students the possibility to explore the outdoors. From the outside, the Outdoor Program may look like any ordinary building, but once you enter, you take a step into adventure. The OP is excited to get students exploring the natural wonders of Colorado and the best part is, there is no experience needed. Anyone who walks into the OP is welcome. “Go inside, and we will take you outside,” Taylor Ries, marketing team event coordinator and trip initiator, said.
Where All Good Things Come Together – The Point The Point is an on campus game room that provides food and drink for the students and alumni of Colorado Mesa University. It’s a social hub for students to sit back, relax, grab a drink or some food and game out. The Point is completely student-run. The Experiential Management business course offers employment at The Point, allowing students to gain hands-on experience in finance, marketing, human resource management, payroll and inventory.
Breaking Stereotypes – Greek Life When many people think of Greek Life, they may imagine the typical, Hollywood-style fraternities and sororities that do nothing other than party, drink and make too much noise. However, CMU’s Greek Life is the complete opposite. For the most part, each sector of Greek Life is new and thriving on campus. “It is growing drastically and working to strengthen the sense of community on campus. All Greek organizations have a set of values and philanthropic partners that they live by while also providing fun events and development opportunities,” Hannah Kois, Alpha Sigma Alpha chapter president, said. “Delta Sigma is the newest chapter on campus. Our goal and motto
is ‘better men, better lives,’” Eric Archuleta, member of Delta Sigma Phi, said. “Greek Life at CMU is geared toward building stronger connections and having a support system. We hold each other up and keep each other accountable.”
A Tree Campus – Sustainability Council CMU is not just a green campus but it’s also a certified Tree Campus. To be considered a Tree Campus, the university must maintain five qualifying standards. They have to have a campus tree advisory committee, a campus tree care plan designed specifically for our school, allocated finances that go towards Tree Campus USA and to have an arbor day observance and a service learning project. This all wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for the Sustainability Council. This is an org on campus that strives to not only make the campus more green but make it more apparent to students how easy it is to be sustainable. “We have weekly meetings where we will present, to students, things like why eating and buying local is important for the economy,” Meghan Cline, vice president of sustainability council, said. Other sustainability-related events are touring the recycling facility and the Reused Material Fashion Show located in Escalante Hall.
Don’t Slack Off, Slack On – Slackline and Hammock Club Do you ever see those students near Houston Hall hanging out by the trees and balancing on a line? Though it may seem odd, this group of individuals slack for a purpose. With the goal to provide a relaxing and stress-free environment for students, the Slackline and Hammock Club is a place to relax and enjoy the nature while cranking out homework. “Slacklining and hammocking are therapeutic and puts a lot of confidence in oneself,” Vice President of Slackline and Hammock Club Bailey Hardman said. Not only is it a place to relieve stress, Slackline and Hammock Club prides itself on being a leave-no-trashbehind club.
|08|
HORIZON FALL ‘17
TAKING THE LEAP
What it takes to start a business writer kayla miller
I
|
designer jesus almader
magine watching a man with Parkinson’s disease, who is shaking and trembling terribly. His arms and legs are moving all over the place and then suddenly his tremors stop. Logan McLennan experienced this moment for himself when his company, 14K Media, filmed it. The videography crew was doing a feature for St. Mary’s Medical Center that highlighted a device this man had surgically implanted. It controls some of the pathways in the brain and reduces shaking due to Parkinson’s disease. During their interview, the man turned off the device and then turned it back on to show what this device does for him; Logan McLennan got to see all of it live. McLennan is a senior mass communication major at Colorado Mesa University, graduating December 2017. His business specializes in commercial documentary filmmaking and wedding films. McLennan has been filming for about eight years now. He started out filming a lot of action sports videos and documentaries, he then began to film strictly documentaries. “I kind of fell into [videography],” he said, “I went from filming stuff for fun, then filming stuff to share peoples’ stories and then it just transitioned into what it is today.” He started his business with alumnus Matt Scofield, who graduated a year ago and was also a mass communication major. They first started
|
photographer megan dirksen
working together two years ago, and the official start to their business was a year and a half ago. 14K Media is greatly influenced by the surrounding nature and the 14,000-foot peaks in the area inspired their name. They believe that the environment around their location provides a world of opportunity for creation. In the beginning of their business, it was a mix between photography and film, but now the company is mainly focused on film. Their business has been growing. Their income doubled from last year, allowing McLennan to work full time. “We saw that the more and more you can put into it, the better results you are going to get,” McLennan said. They try to save as much of their money as possible, but they have still found a successful way to market their business without expensive advertising. The main way they gain new customers is through word of mouth. “We [pride] ourselves on customer service,” McLennan said. “We treat people really well and we try to give them a good quality product, so then they tell other people about us.” 14K’s authenticity is what drives their popularity on social media; a crucial tool in their marketing strategy. “We don’t try to be anything that we are not,” McLennan said. “We are just two guys who are super young, but we like doing what we are
We saw that the more and more you can put into it, the better results you are going to get.
ENTREPRENEUR
I would like to see us in five years doing more narrative work.
doing and people respond well to that.” The two of them do everything from pre-production to post-production. They set up the lighting and the scenes, conduct interviews and then edit the pieces together. For McLennan, a typical editing day includes a lot of back and forth between being in class and being at the office. He comes into the office early in the morning and tries to get as much work done, then goes to class. He then comes back to the office, then goes
Currently a senior majoring in mass communication, Logan McLennan started his business, 14K Media, almost 2 years ago.
|09|
to another class and then comes back to the office until about 5 p.m. “Juggling school and work has been tough. My school work has definitely taken a hit, but I have to finish,” McLennan said. With this type of business, there is a great reward for finishing up a big project. After putting all the hours in, they get to enjoy the finished project. “One of my favorite things is creating things that are used for these bigger pictures and getting to see our work out in the public,” McLennan said. He does not define success by the amount of money he makes. He thinks it is more important to enjoy what he is doing. “I think the main thing is being able to do what I love at work and at home and in any other aspect of my life,” he said. “Also, having the freedom to be happy in a job but also do things outside of my job that I really love.” The 14K Media team has created dozens of videos available for viewing on their website, 14k.media. They have created videos for athletes, businesses and weddings, among many other topics. His favorite piece they have created is the one they did with St. Mary’s Medical Center that was described earlier. “We got to see it live, which was amazing. He turned off the device for us and he started having the tremors. Then the interviewer prompted him to turn it back on and he was struggling to reach it. He finally clicked it and then five seconds later... you would have never guessed that he had it,” McLennan said. “We do a lot of medical stuff, but that one was the coolest by far.” They have plans to continue to grow their business. McLennan wants to switch up what they mainly focus on as well. “I would like to see us in five years doing more narrative work. We want to shift away from the standard documentary,” he said, “We want to be doing more short films.” Logan McLennan does not see them doing big feature-length films by then, but short films will be very possible. “My advice to students who want to start a business is to just do it, just jump in, but be prepared financially to not fail,” he said. “In order to make something work you have to put in the hours, put in the effort and do whatever it takes to make it successful.”
|010|
HORIZON FALL ‘17
THE UNEXPECTED STAR OF A RODEO SHOW
writer elisa bianchi
M
|
designer john spriggs
usic has been a force of unity for thousands of years. It is a way of communicating emotion and expressing beliefs when talking won’t suffice. However, for Morgan Crouse, a Colorado Mesa University student, music has been more than that; it has been a fundamental part of her life since she was three years old. Born and raised in Loma, Colo., Crouse has been singing for as long as she can remember. In fact, she was singing even before she can remember. “My family is a rodeo family, so we would spend a lot of time there.
My mom says that I was singing the national anthem when I was only around three,” Crouse said. She started with performing in local talent shows and singing competitions. “When I was around 12 years old, I started playing guitar and writing songs, and that’s what really took off for me as far as performing. Once I started writing my own music, then I really started going,” she said. Her mom began to help her, lining up gigs for her daughter wherever she could. “My mom is my biggest inspiration,” Crouse said. “She has gone through so much and manages to stay really strong.
I wouldn’t be able to do it without her.” With the help of her mom, Crouse has been able to perform in many places. She has performed at venues from Nashville, Tenn. to a ski resort in Utah. For Crouse, the joy she gets from performing is like nothing she has ever experienced. “Nothing else has ever come close to what performing feels like,” she said. “Whenever you get to touch someone with your music and make them feel something, that is the most special part of what I do.” While she truly enjoys what she does, it does not come without any doubts or fears. Crouse still gets nervous that her goals won’t work out. Even with those fears, she remains positive about her future. “Even if [you feel] your best wasn’t good enough, it’s still good enough. I just have to remind myself that,” she said.
ENTREPRENEUR
A SNAP IN TIME
Keeping the Memories Alive
writer delaney letts
|
designer jesus almader
E
xploring freedom outside of the classroom turned a creative eye into a successful business for Ryne Dutcher. Reliving the special moments he captures gives purpose to his entrepreneurial photography. Dutcher, a 24-year-old Colorado Mesa University student, started taking photos in middle school with a simple point-and-shoot camera. In 2012, he further invested in some professional equipment and started up his own photography business.
|011|
“There’s so much stuff you can do with photography,” he said. He captures everything from birthday parties to weddings to beautiful mountain and beach scenes. Recently, he photographed the first Dog Fest at Lincoln Park in Grand Junction, Colo. “Weddings are my favorite,” Dutcher said, “Everyone’s so happy and passionate, and there’s so much love in the air.” Dutcher’s business first took off after doing a free gig for an old high school friend’s wedding. “From there, I started to build my portfolio and contact other photographers,” he said. Dutcher works alone within his business. He said this comes with some good and bad elements. “[The] positives are getting the opportunity to create your own schedule and choose the gigs you want,” Dutcher said. His only drawback to working solo is being tied to one place and not capturing moments from multiple angles. “I have to stick to one shot and move around a lot, rather than hanging tight in one place,” he said. During postproduction, Dutcher only spends about five minutes editing each photo using Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop and Pixelmator. He also has a Facebook page (Ryne Dutcher Photography) where his work is advertised after each shoot. “I’ve gotten more comfortable shooting people and confident with the work I put out there.” Once he has the perfect photo, Dutcher loves that he can go back to it and experience that moment again. His work has a positive presence in his life, but it did not come without hard work. “Practice a lot, mess around with settings, watch a ton of videos on YouTube and read a bunch of articles,” he said. “Don’t be scared to make a jump and go for it.”
|012|
HORIZON FALL ‘17
LOCAL LATTES, CAPPUCCINOS AND FOAM ART, OH MY! writer & photographer michele robey
C
ollege students are notorious for needing their coffee fixes at all hours of night and day. Conveniently, students at Colorado Mesa University have the luxury of having a Starbucks on campus. However, students may spend $4 to $6 on a cup of coffee at a big corporation such as this. Meanwhile, local coffee shops around Grand Junction, Colo. are brewing delicious cups of coffee at reasonable prices that many students may be unaware of. Shopping local is a great way to get to know your community and explore all that local coffee shops have to offer. Two of the more popular local coffee shops in Grand Junction are Roasted Espresso and Subs and Kiln Coffee Bar. Although shops like Roasted and Kiln Coffee Bar have their similarities, they are both unique from each other. Roasted’s manager, Emily Greener, has found her shop to be favored by college students. “People really love us for our atmosphere,” Greener said. Roasted is definitely what you would imagine a local coffee shop to look like. Small with primarily outdoor seating,
|
designer emily adamson
the interior of Roasted has brick walls layered with art. The shop not only offers coffee, but they also serve smoothies, all-day breakfast items and innovative sandwiches. Their prices range from $2 to $9. Roasted’s competing coffee shop, Kiln Coffee Bar, is located right down the street. This new, craft coffee bar features some of Colorado’s best coffee roasters such as Huckleberry Roasters, Bestslope Coffee Company and Mountain Mama Roasters. This brand new and thriving shop was the aspiration of brothers, David and Jonathan Foster. David believes his shop stands out because of the craft-style coffee they serve alongside their homemade vanilla syrup. “Craft style roasting is focusing on roasting to where the [...] flavors in the bean are where that roaster feels that it peaks,” David Foster said. According to Kiln, their featured roasters rotate seasonally to offer new experiences to coffee lovers of the Western Slope. When you walk through the doors of this shop, the vibe is minimalistic, there is ample indoor seating and subtle music plays in the background — perfect for students to meet up for study
Experiencing local is diving into the true culture of a place and exploring all the city has to offer.
LOCAL ATTRACTIONS
Kiln Coffee Bar is the newest coffee shop in town, opening their doors in June of 2017. Definitionally, Kiln refers to a furnace or oven used for baking and firing pottery.
groups or even a solo study session all while enjoying the atmosphere. Regardless of which shop you choose, both are surrounded by other local businesses that make up Main Street. Experiencing local is diving into the true culture of a place and exploring all the city has to offer. So, if you love coffee and are getting bored in the dorms, take a trip downtown and check out, Roasted, Kiln Coffee Bar and other local places Grand Junction has to offer. Support your local businesses and uncover the uniqueness of Grand Junction.
Roasted Espresso & Subs are open from morning to night and offer happy hour prices everyday from 2:00pm4:00pm.
|013|
|014|
HORIZON FALL ‘17
THE SURPRISING COST OF LABOR writers brandon zinser
S
|
designer lindsey brown
itting in classes, doing assignments and studying prepares college students to master the textbook aspect of their degree. However, what truly prepares college students for their future are internships. Internships open students’ eyes to what they can expect after college and better prepares them for the real world. Despite all of the benefits of an internship, students at Colorado Mesa University have a few complaints about the internship programs offered. Some students feel the costs of an internship are too high, especially when considering the type of support and service students receive from CMU in exchange for the credits they purchase. There are a total of 22 majors that utilize internships in their programs according to CMU Career Services. Every major that requires an internship has different requirements for completion. Some majors that require an internship are mass communication, teaching, criminal justice and exercise science. According to Mass Communication Internship Coordinator Eric Sandstrom, the mass communication major at CMU requires students to complete at least a three-credit internship. This requirement was recently lowered from five credits required in the past. Since internships count as upper division credits, some majors allow students to take higher-credit internships if they are short on credits after they have completed the necessary
classes for their major. More time honing your skills at a company sounds great, right? However, higher-credit internships require students to pay more in tuition. Pricing per credit hour, according to the CMU website, is broken up in a few ways. Undergraduate in-state ($347.00 per credit hour), undergraduate out-ofstate ($697.00 per credit hour), graduate in-state ($430.00 per credit hour), graduate out-of-state ($1,210 per credit hour) and western undergraduate exchange/mountains and plains ($406.08 per credit hour).
higher-credit internships require students to pay more in tuition. A 12-credit internship at CMU, for an out-of-state undergraduate student, would cost $8,364 and require the student to complete 540 hours of work with an organization that relates to their major. This can be a problem for students that are tight on cash and must work another job to pay for school at the same time. Some internships are paid, but many local ones are not. If the student is working their internship for free, they still have to pay up to $8,364 in tuition on top of living expenses. If the student finds a 12 credit internship that pays $10 an hour, they would make $5,400 during their internship and owe
all their earnings plus another $2,964 to the school. To finish a 12-credit internship during a regular four-month semester, the student would be working 33.75 hours a week to finish 540 credit hours on time. The teaching major has one of the highest internship credit requirements. According to Pete Ray, a teaching major at CMU, the program requires students to complete 12-credit internships. Unlike the mass communication major, teaching majors are not allowed to get paid during their internship due to teaching licensure requirements. This means that every out-of-state student that is a teaching major has to work 540 hours completely free and pay the school $8,364. “Even if it was 50 bucks a month that we got paid that would help, just something for our time,” Ray said. CMU prices their internship credits the same as in-classroom learning, even though most contact with an internship coordinator is done via phone or email. During an internship, students are generally working with a company outside of school and learning through that company’s managers and staff. During a 12-credit internship, a student’s main contact and learning would be with that business for 540 hours, not with their internship coordinator. When students are in class at CMU, they are solely learning from professors with years of teaching experience and advanced degrees whose job is to educate their class on their specific area of
INVESTIGATIVE
CMU prices their internship credits the same as inclassroom learning, even though most contact with an internship coordinator is done via phone or email.
|015|
study, provide weekly assignments, grade those assignments and offer help in person. The student learns from and meets multiple times a week with their professor and can ask questions and get help one-on-on. According to Hailey Weddington, a mass communication senior, students in her major are required to submit two short progress reports a month to their internship coordinator that contain their various duties and responsibilities at the company. They also turn in two progress reports, at the middle and end, that the student’s internship supervisor fills out. This report contains a few questions and requires the supervisors to rate the student’s work ethic and progress. At the end of the internship, the mass communication student turns in a 10 page report on what they learned and includes a portfolio of content that they produced while interning. During the whole process, a CMU internship coordinator should email students to comment on their bi-weekly reports and offer advice and support. However, contact varies depending on major and internship coordinator. “I send bi-weekly updates on how my internship is going and what I do, and I have only gotten one response telling me how to format my paper. I actually had a really difficult time trying to figure out what I was supposed to do to get my internship,” said Carly Heisdorffer, a senior mass communication student at CMU. “My internship coordinator had given me different information about what I was supposed to do to get started which caused me some issues.” There are many menus on the CMU website to go through to see which majors require internships and what students are supposed to complete during their internships. Every major varies on what is required during an internship. There is no universal page online or document to check these details.
|016|
HORIZON FALL ‘17
optional
art & design programs business biological sciences computer science mathematics & statistics
spanish & english
department
internship requirements
physical & environmental sciences crimal justice history (BA) political science psychology
*According to Amanda Nicksic Coordinator of Career Services
theatre arts
required
engineering
kinesiology
mass communication music
public history minor
psychology ( counseling ) social work
teacher education
“The school administration has decided there needs to be a more universal sort of clearinghouse of information so students can find out what is required in various departments,” Sandstrom said. The mass communication department, along with some other departments at CMU, have no full-time internship coordinators whose jobs are solely designed to help students find, acquire and maintain an internship. Managing 20 to 40 plus internship students, keeping track of their internships, making sure they’re getting the experience they need, answering students’ questions via email and teaching regular weekly classes at the same time is what some internship coordinators are faced with. However, CMU is making it easier for students to find internships. “The school is investing in a program called Handshake to aid in the internship finding process,” Career Services Coordinator Amanda Nicksic said.
The software will connect students to Fortune 100 companies who are looking for interns in various fields. The job-search software is used by 400 universities and more than 20,000 employers. Nicksic said that the software should be up and running around December of this year, but no later than spring semester. Career Services also offers workshops throughout the year to assist students in the internship process. These workshops advertise teaching students the importance of internships, available opportunities and the application process. According to Barry Laga, CMU department head of languages, literature and mass communication, CMU bases what qualifies as a credit off what the Higher Learning Commission says counts as a credit. CMU then prices the credit according to their pricing sheet based on tuition in-state, out-of-state, etc. For the time being, CMU is pricing
their internship, out-of-classroom learning the same as CMU in-classroom learning. Students should take the cost of their major’s internship requirements and internship coordinator involvement into consideration when looking for universities and budgeting for their college education. If a student is unsure about what is required for their major at CMU, they can contact the school and ask to be transferred to their major’s internship coordinator who should be able to answer any questions related to their department’s internship requirements. An internship can provide students with experience they wouldn’t be able to obtain within a classroom. Learning takes on a whole new form when done off campus and away from traditional education. However, be prepared for your off campus endeavour to acquire some serious on campus costs.
POLITICS
How Slacktivism Has Taken Over Millennial Politics writer lehua la'a
I
|
designer jesus almader
|
t’s apparent to many that youth in the United States are not particularly politically active. According to Harvard’s Institute of Politics, only 10 percent of voter-eligible young people (ages 18 to 24) voted in the 2012 election. However, it’s not that millennials don’t care, it’s that they communicate differently. They voice their concerns the best way they know how: online. They make their views known by sharing people’s thoughts, opinions and interesting things that they see; they share what makes them laugh, cry or cringe. Social media, when used politically, is the voice of youth apathy. Many millennials attempt to raise money for a cause, and if they don’t have funds they at least try to bring awareness to a situation. The generation that
photographer alexis dymek
overshares thoughts and opinions is often only interested in doing the bare minimum when it comes to political change. On Sept. 5 of 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, an Obama-era executive order, will end in March 2018. DACA is a work permit program that allows undocumented immigrants who came here as children to live, study and work in the United States. Prompted by Session’s statement, Colorado Mesa University President Tim Foster sent a school-wide email: "CMU has and will continue to treat undocumented students and workers with respect and dignity in our classrooms and our campus community. We will not release any student’s information or employee’s information to
|017|
|018|
HORIZON FALL ‘17
It’s time to do the unsexy part of community organizing federal officials or anyone else, as this information is protected by state and federal laws unless we receive a lawful subpoena or warrant that requires us to do so. We have created programs to provide financial assistance to undocumented students, as we do for all of our deserving students, which we will continue to increase." To show their support for DACA, CMU’s Latino Student Alliance worked with the Hispanic Affairs Project to create a peaceful demonstration on the CMU Plaza on Sept. 16. An estimated 150 students and community members attended the event created on short notice to hear stories of DACA recipients. “Aside from attending demonstrations, just taking the time to learn the facts about DACA and starting a dialogue makes a huge difference,” Jasmin Tellez, Latino Student Alliance vice president said. “I was a little disappointed with the low-student turnout at the demonstration. However, there are more actions we can take to get students involved that doesn’t necessarily involve protesting,” CMU Spanish Professor Tom Acker said.
During the demonstration, over 100 postcards were signed and sent to Congressman Scott Tipton asking him to support the DREAM Act, which gives a legal pathway to U.S. citizenship for DACA participants. CMU Associated Student Government has now formed a committee to advocate for DACA students. They are currently working on an initiative to bring a bilingual counselor for students who are fearful of their uncertain future. Demonstrations occur to gather individuals of different backgrounds to come together for a single cause, but the time for marching is over. In terms of maintaining DACA, calling or emailing with state representatives can protect the welfare of recipients. Millennials need to start following up, staying informed and contacting their representatives to ask them to support or not support certain legislation. Visit 5calls.org for scripts and phone numbers you can use to reach your local representatives and create real change. It’s time to do the unsexy part of community organizing, the one that doesn’t get you likes on social media.
On Jan. 21, 2017, more than a 1000 people participated in the Grand Junction Women’s March with the purpose of promoting legislation and polices regarding women’s rights, human rights and other issues.
LGBTQ+
|019|
A MINORITY WITHIN MINORITIES
living can also be hiding
writer kacie sinton
O
|
designers rachel campbell & jesus almader
ne of the interesting aspects of living on the Western Slope of Colorado is that it feels like a highly diverse area when it comes to natural landscapes, but with virtually any other topic it feels very lacking in diversity. I’ve lived on the Western Slope for about 12 years now, and I was the first trans person I ever met. Granted, I met a few other trans people after I came out, started college and became more visible in the LGBTQ community. However,
|
photographer ammon pierce & megan dirksen
I think it’s safe to assume that many people in Grand Junction, Colo. have never or rarely knowingly interacted with a queer individual. Because of this, I decided this article needed to be written. Grand Junction is an island, and important foundational experiences are hard to come by if you live in an isolated desert community. But frankly, queer people are everywhere. We just hide better here. Now, hold on. This isn’t a bad thing. This isn’t fear mongering or a threat.
As both a trans woman and a lesbian, the author can confirm that we have no hidden “homosexual agenda” to take over the United States and cause full-on homo-geddon. We aren’t trying to fill plastics and food with hormones to make your kids trans. We’re people, just normal people, who want the same things that you do, like job security, happiness and a good life. Grand Junction is the epitome of, “nice place to visit, but wouldn’t want to stay very long” for many people who
|020| HORIZON FALL ‘17
CMU student, Avery Ashby. travel or go to school here, particularly for queer individuals. Colorado Mesa University as well has a reputation with many queer people for being unfriendly towards LGBTQ folks, primarily due to its lack of policies and solely negative press of how it handles homophobia. “It’s a long process, and I remember so well being 17, 18, 19 years old and wondering, always, why change takes so long. And now at almost 52, it doesn’t make me any happier but at least now I have some understanding that change takes a long time to happen,” Professor Sarah Swedberg said when asked about LGBTQ-centric change at CMU as well as its reputation for being unwelcoming. Swedberg, a history professor, has been working at CMU for 18 years, and has
been out and proud as a lesbian for the majority of that time. “I’ve seen some positive changes, and I’ve worked to create a lot of those positive changes,” Swedberg said.
Grand Junction is the epitome of, 'nice place to visit, but wouldn’t want to stay very long' “Until 2016, with that baseball player, I never had any luck in [changing CMU’s reaction to LGBTQ issues] but I also think that me and other people going to the administration every time and saying
‘this is wrong, how are we going to address this?’ helped set the stage for, finally, a response,” Swedberg said about the 2016 homophobic remarks from CMU assistant coach, Sean McKinney. According to ESPN, McKinney, who was not fired for the incident, made a remark to his baseball team to the effect of, “We kill gay people in Wyoming,” a reference to the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard. This murder, which took place in Laramie, Wyo. is considered one of the most heinous crimes of the modern age by LGBTQ activists, as well as the community. She also believes that the situation was handled the way it was, in part, due to the nature of viral news in today’s age. “I think there was a response because, one, it was athletics, and two,
LGBTQ+
it was a national story and it made us look really bad on a national scale,” Swedberg said. As a student at CMU, as well as one of the only trans women to live on campus in recent years, Avery Ashby has a very interesting story to tell about living as a trans woman in this half of Colorado. Ashby, a freshman social work major at CMU, said she has had a largely negative experience here. “[My housing experience] made me feel stupid, made me feel worthless, they made me feel ashamed of who I was, basically,” she said. Ashby said she was shuffled between multiple rooms and her former roommates treated almost like someone with a highly contagious disease. CMU housing procedure was slightly outdated, lacking specifications for how to house trans or gender nonconforming students beyond just to follow state law. “I understand that it wasn’t a positive experience for Avery, but I think a lot of that is outside our control,” Assistant Director of Housing and Operations Jennifer Pennick said when asked to comment. As assistant coordinator of the GSA, our alliance has been working with CMU Residence Life to improve queer safety on campus. It is our hope to alleviate the issues Ashby faced and prevent
incidents like that from happening again by creating an option for gender-inclusive housing. The program will be rolled out for the 2018-2019 school year. Ashby’s transition has been a relatively smooth one. “For the longest time, I was so scared to tell anybody. I eventually told my mom, and she was super happy about it… I came out, I put it out on Facebook and Instagram… and I received so much love and support from it,” Ashby said. Smooth transitions, however, are somewhat of hit or miss in the United States, and it’s all highly dependant on factors such as insurance, finances, location, etc. It’s probable that you’ve been hearing a lot of stories about LGBTQ life on a higher celebrity level in the tabloids. There’s Jazz Jennings, the young trans girl with her own TV show. Caitlin Jenner, who is arguably the most visible trans person today. And Kristin Beck, an American war hero and former Navy Seal who happens to also be trans. However, the likelihood that you’ve knowingly interacted with a queer individual in Grand Junction,
|021|
let alone a trans person, is rather low. We’re pretty much everywhere, but our heteronormative and cisnormative society leads everyone to assume they fit the “norm.” In other words, people are assumed to be cisgender and heterosexual until proven otherwise. Like I said, we’re pretty much everywhere. The CEO of Apple? Gay. The CEO of Sirius XM? Trans lesbian. Vice president of Toyota? Gay. Heck, even the geniuses behind the cult classic, “The Matrix?” They’re the Wachowski sisters now.
I think there was a response because, one, it was athletics, and two, it was a national story and it made us look really bad on a national scale.
At best, they don’t really believe we exist and at worse, they’re kind of violently transphobic.
CMU student, Riley Kennedy.
You Can’t Lose With the Blues writer
& photographer chris marcinek |
designers jesus almader
LGBTQ+
For LGBTQ students at CMU, a commonly held belief is that the administration here is rather apathetic and uncaring towards LGBTQ individuals. “CMU really doesn’t have any policies for trans or gender nonconforming students at all, we barely have anything for LGBT students in general, but… it’s such a rural town here that a lot of people here have very archaic attitudes towards gender and they really don’t understand transgender individuals,” Riley Kennedy, a non-binary junior studio art major at CMU said. “At best, they don’t really believe we exist and at worse, they’re kind of violently transphobic.” For a lot of the queer individuals in Grand Junction, as well as the rest of the United States, there’s a significant divide between older queer individuals and the modern generation of queer individuals. Some would argue that this is simply a generational difference or a topical one, but the truth is crueler than most understand. A massive amount of queer individuals who were born prior to 1981 were
T
ake a walk down Main Street on a Tuesday night, and the sound of live blues music will beckon you west to Charlie Dwellington’s. Located on the corner of Main and First streets, this cozy neighborhood bar has been a staple in the Grand Junction, Colo. live music scene since 2012. The inside feels open with expansive vaulted ceilings that reveal a smaller second floor area with a pool table and additional tables. The patio outside has a small seating area that is the perfect intimate setting for live music. The bar has a clean, brushed metal finish that runs from wall to wall, serving mixed drinks and local beer on tap. It’s recommended that you try the Off Belay IPA from Palisade
|023|
killed by AIDS. From its first arrival on U.S. shores to 2016, the CDC has counted 675,000 deaths caused by AIDS, most of which were gay men. Currently, the CDC is estimating that there are 1.2 million individuals 13 years and older living with HIV, with roughly 13 percent of that number unaware of the fact. Swedberg, as a member of the pre-AIDS LGBTQ movement and a historian, has a unique perspective on the modern day queer movement. “Basically nobody was out because there was a very real fear, and it was real, that they would lose their jobs, that they would lose their housing, that they would face violence. My friend Jeff came out in that era, and his house was attacked a couple of times,” Swedberg said. The truth is, we’re here, we’re queer and there’s nothing anyone can do about that. We each have completely unique experiences and when it boils down to it, we are just like everyone else, just a little more uncommon.
I’d like to end this with a request. The United States is in the middle of a political firestorm right now, and the LGBTQ community is dead in the center of it. Please, understand that we are just people. We are normal people who want to live our lives the way we want with who we want and we want to do so happily and not in fear.
Brewing Company, a lightly malted American IPA. Long-time menu favorites like Bucket of Bacon and OMFG Pulled Pork make Charlie Dwellington’s the perfect spot for dinner and drinks. If you want to watch your favorite sports team play but don’t want to shout at your friends to have a conversation, Charlie Dwellington’s normally has a low-key, friendly environment. Event nights, however, are a different story. Drag Queen Karaoke on Sunday nights attracts a fun and energetic crowd. Blues Jam on Tuesday nights hosts local musicians that know how to put on a show. On Thursday nights, a variety show of sorts named Open Jelly happens, where community members are welcome to take the stage. Liz
Sinclair, owner of Charlie Dwellington’s, wants patrons to feel safe and comfortable, no matter who they are. “We’re about diversity, we’re about acceptance, we’re about tolerance and we’re about people getting along. So, in a small town... that’s not always an option... there are some places where you would feel less comfortable going out as a drag queen, or with your boyfriend if you’re a man,” Sinclair said. “We’re here if you need us; we’re happy that you’re comfortable here.” Some people say the nightlife in Grand Junction leaves something to be desired. I say they have not looked hard enough. Support one of Grand Junction’s creative small businesses and visit this eclectic, community space.
After all, isn’t that what everyone wants?
|024| HORIZON FALL ‘17
writer
ky
e lee clin
|
design
lis er cal
h ta smit
|
photog
rapher
Todd Franklin, 19 Nursing Student, performing a flat tailwhip
Todd Franklin, 19 Nursing Student, performing a bunny hop
Todd Franklin, a sophomore, said that his favorite part about riding is the freedom he gets from doing it. “I don’t have to really worry about anything. My mind is clear,” he said.
cline kylee
& megan
dirkse
n
Todd Franklin, 19, Nursing Student, performing a 360 bunny-hop
CAMPUS
C
olorado Mesa University’s campus may be small, but that doesn’t prevent Mavericks from riding around on bikes, skateboards and other wheeled contraptions. Among these wheel-riders, talented individuals can be found executing stunts all around campus, emulating X-Game Athletes. You may walk out of the University Center and find yourself in the midst of an amateur skateboarding competition, or you could exit the library and witness a handful of bikers practicing tricks off the steps. This is a common sight to see when walking around campus, especially in the warmer months of spring and fall semesters. Skateboarders are typically found doing kick-flips and ollies, while bikers are performing wheelies and 360s.
All around the campus, hidden in plain sight, there are metal ledges on the concrete benches and short walls. They were introduced approximately ten years ago, and encourage riders to perform their tricks in an appropriate and safe way. “It benefits the campus because it recognizes that we have those students who are going to be skateboarders and do tricks,” Timothy Foster, president of CMU, said. “They’re entertaining to watch.” So who are these Mavs on wheels? Some learned their skills from their hometown, while others picked up on techniques from their classmates. They may all just seem like talented riders with some tricks up their sleeves, but every one of them has a different story behind their own set of wheels.
jake hudock, 21, graphic design, performing a Kickflip
|025|
Kaleb Wilkins, a senior, grew to admire the skill of performing tricks after watching others do it. “It’s enticing to get to watch, and it’s an incredible thrill to do - to be a part of,” he said. Wilkins sees the experience as a soulful journey, and a way to explore what people are capable of. “It’s almost like when a little kid just twirls to feel what it’s like to be dizzy, you know? It feels like that. The world is just passing around you and then when you come out of it facing forward and still upright, and still moving, it’s like this incredible rush that… it’s hard to describe. It’s just like this weird twirling, spiritual experience,” he said.
Kaleb Wilkins, 24, Double Major in English Literature and English Writing, performing a wheelie
jake hudock, 21, graphic design, performing a treflip
Jake Hudock, a junior, started skateboarding when he was approximately 13 years old, and started performing tricks a year later. “It’s euphoric,” he said. “When you’ve been trying a trick for so long and you finally land it, you’re like ‘whoa, that was pretty cool. I could do that again.’”
jake hudock, 21, graphic design, performing an ollie
429 COLORADO AVE.
MUT UFRIENDS. AL PRESENTTHIS COUPON
BOARD SUPPLY
STREETWEAR
MONDAY - SATURDAY 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM MUTUALFRIENDS.GJ
GRAND JUNCTION, CO
126 S. 5th St. Grand Junc�on Open Daily: 11am-9pm Closed Holidays 970.314.9736 TACOPARTYGJ.COM
COLORADO
SEASONAL
TACOS
Residential | Land | Farm & Ranch | Multi-Family 242-3647 | 1015 N. 7th St. GJ CO 81501 | www.brayandco.com
Property Sales & Leasing | Consulting | Site Selection | Development 241-2909 | 244 N 7th St. GJ CO 81501 | www.braycommercial.com
Residential & Commercial Management | HOA Management 242-8450 | 637 North Ave GJ CO 81501 | www.brayrentals.com
LIFESTYLE
|027|
THE EXPANDING WORLD OF BOARD GAMES
and the tightly knit nerds living in it
T
oday’s board games are not the same as the ones with cemented dust fused to the lid, withering away in your grandma’s closet. These aren't the board games that your parents or your parent's parents grew up with. The world of table-top games is vast, imaginative and always producing more games. We are in the midst of a renaissance, quickly rising in popularity and recognition in mainstream media. If you haven't noticed the trend, then maybe here is the place to start. Tabletop games are not new, and there have always been strong, passionate communities surrounding them. Warhammer, Dungeons & Dragons, and Magic: The Gathering have been around for decades and with them come a cult following. Then there are the classic board games that everyone knows: Scrabble, Monopoly, Risk, etc. But in the last decade, among all of the immersive videogames and digitization of classic games, there has been a surge of interest in the world of tabletop gaming, and a crossover of the people playing the games. The stereotype that has crept around video gamers has always
writer
loomed over tabletop gamers as well. These games were niche and geeky. They were represented by groups of nerds that played overly complicated games with people that take it too seriously. As board games rise in popularity, those judging blanket stereotypes are beginning to shed. “Our gaming community [has] absolutely the most amazing people you will ever meet. It's all of our different gaming groups. Our board gamers are amazing, our miniature war gamers are amazing and our Magic players. They are all just so kind and welcoming, and it really is a community,” Trudi Wagner, owner of Board Fox Games, said. Board Fox Games, previously The Jester’s Court, is a board game cafe located downtown on Main Street in Grand
& designer
lindsey brown
Junction, Colo. It is locally owned and operated, keeping the thriving tabletop game community alive and growing. “We have all age ranges, and everyone gets along. None of the stuff that society says that's supposed to matter matters inside a game store. Nobody cares who you voted for, nobody cares where you came from, nobody cares about any of that stuff,” Wagner said, “It's just, 'hey let's play a game and be friends' and that's all it really is. If the world had more gamers, it would be a better place.” Stereotypes frustrate Wagner because she is a part of that stigmatized community and knows that the cliches are just not true. Not only are there all kinds of people that play games, but they are incredibly accessible and welcoming to everyone.
“We've got public defenders, police officers, chiropractors, dentists, business owners... It's a whole range. I think the stereotype is starting to be shed a little bit,” Wagner said. “People are starting to be able to openly show their geek pride, but the stereotypes are still there. You just have to try to break them down. [In here] we have normal, regular people from all walks of life.” Wednesday nights, Board Fox hosts Board Game Night, where you can come in and play games with other people who love playing games. “It's cool,” she said, “We'll have an age range. We have millenials and Gen Xers and baby boomers all playing a game together, and we're all having fun. Nobody has any animosity towards each other because of the age difference or anything. We're just playing a game.” You don't have to be good at playing games to join in on the game nights. If the last game
you ever played was Uno ten years ago, that's perfectly fine. All you have to do is show up and there will be a welcoming group of people that will be happy to teach you how to play. It's easier to learn how to play from someone who has played it before, or if no one at the table knows, you all learn together. In any case, everyone is there to enjoy themselves and have fun. “I used to go on the casual Magic nights, it's where I learned to play,” Ethan Boyd, a senior business major at Colorado Mesa University, said. Boyd participated in game nights with friends in high school, but lacked that community when he came to CMU. After asking around, he was introduced to Board Fox Games. “I was a certified noob when I started [at Board Fox Games], but they were so nice and taught me how to play. Nobody gave me a hard time for sucking so bad, it's just a fun time. I discovered so many new games there, and just the enthusiasm for gaming is great. Really great group of people there,” Boyd said. With the vast amount of games there is, everyone can find something to play. There are games of strategy, storytelling, creativity, cooperation, competition and more. Some games are puzzling, some are light and casual, others highly competitive or hilarious depending on how you play. There are no limitations on what worlds reside inside the games and the amount of stories you get out of playing them. Board games have changed so much since the days of battleship. The replay value has sharply increased, the possibilities inside the games have changed and they are much more about entertainment than killing time. “I never really played board games before. I always thought they were children's games, or the [type of game] I wouldn't be into. Fantasy really isn't my thing,” Brittany Kneedler,
an undeclared sophomore at CMU said, “Every game I knew about was either something like Monopoly, or Magic, and it was just boring.” Kneedler later began to be passionate about card games. She eventually found her way to Board Fox Games when searching for the game Cards Against Humanity. “After I went in there, I asked questions about some games and bought a few. Now I try to get everyone I know to play them with me,” she said. “I think they are getting a bit sick of learning so many new games, but there are tons; we have to play them all.” Sometimes there is a preconceived notion that board games are boring, but that usually means someone just hasn’t been playing the right kind of game. Everyone has their preferences on what they would like to play, it just becomes a matter of finding the best fit for you. “We just want to introduce people to try something new. We all have traumatic childhood experiences from playing Monopoly, it's just getting over that stigma that all board games are like that,” Wagner said. “[There are games] that are all about the journey, not the destination.” Board games have changed and developed into something completely new and exciting for everyone to experience. Walking into a game store opens up an entirely new world, one that has changed the definition of what a board game is. It's such a large and warm community to be a part of, and is full of creative and fun people. There are games of all flavors, and even if one doesn't stick, there is another one right around the corner that might. New games hit the shelves all the time, and there is no sign of this slowing down. If you are looking for someone to play games with, it's right under you nose.
Board Fox Games is located at 623 Main St. They have a coffee shop, shelves of games to peruse and tables to play games on. They have events going on all the time, as well as regular nights to play games. On Tuesdays they play Magic: The Gathering and a game called Guild Ball (medieval soccer/rugby played with miniature figures). Wednesday is Board Game Night; Warhammer and Hordes is also available to play. Two days later is Friday Night Magic, and Saturdays are Star Wars games and Warhammer 40k. The store is great to walk in and browse and ask plenty of questions because they are always so knowledgeable and excited to help. Wagner emphasized that absolutely everyone is welcome; she encourages those interested to come see what board games are really like and what fun they can be.
There are no strangers here; Only friends you haven't met yet. -William Butler Yeats
|030| HORIZON FALL ‘17
gh
g li n i d d e sh writer ciera colson
|
designer bree bell
|
photographer megan dirksen
L
et’s listen to the sound of 180 beats per minute while grooving to the electric feels and escape reality for a moment. Electronic dance music is not what you think it is. To learn more about this mysterious culture, bona fide raver and business student at Colorado Mesa University, Miranda Reetz, shared her thoughts about the beauty of music, the authentic world of raves and the creative self-expression in festival fashion.
What does a rave day look like?
t
igh n e h t t on
After a good night’s rest, I’ll wake up really early and eat something nutritious. The butterflies start to kick in right away, so sometimes it’s hard to eat because I’m excited. Luckily, I’ve had my outfit picked out for weeks because the makeup and hair take forever to do.
It seems that the fashion is what really differentiates rave culture and music from other genres. What do you wear?
Personally, I have a love for mermaids. A lot of people in the rave community will identify as mythical creatures, we like to be sparkly, bright and rare. There’s no judgment at these shows so it’s fun to buy crazy outfits that I normally don’t get to wear. I also like to accessorize with minimal jewelry - that includes Kandi. Walking into a festival, everyone is so beautiful, you really get to see everyone’s unique self-expression.
I hear the term PLUR a lot, what does this mean?
Peace, love, unity and respect… our version of a secret club handshake. Everyone who is here deserves to be alive and to be loved. Once I knew that raves and music festivals [were] where I wanted to be and spend my best days, I adopted this culture into my own life. Before I got into this life I felt as if I wasn’t going to fit in anywhere, but at festivals, everyone is craving the feeling of being accepted — everyone is and respects that. These are oversimplified ideas that should be integrated into everyone’s life. Our world could be PLUR, but
MUSIC
this is an idea and place that I think can only be understood fully if you experience it for yourself. When I PLUR with someone, we usually trade what is called “Kandi,” these are bracelets made from pony beads and charms that are created by each raver. I trade with people that I have an emotional connection with, whether that be because they gave me a piece of gum or we just vibed. You want to share that connectedness with them by giving them “a piece of Kandi.”
When did you realize that you were hooked on the feeling of going to shows?
Most my life I was an athlete, I have been a swimmer for 15 years and I think I was starting to feel trapped in this athletic lifestyle of routine practices. Once I started immersing myself into the EDM community, I felt as if I wasn’t drowning in my own life. At first, I was going to shows to escape my reality; to get away from work and school. But now I appreciate those aspects of my life… I also get to enjoy the reality of shows while expressing my true feelings and [accept] living in the now.
|031|
In a world that seems to be ridden with conflict and toxic energy, do these shows change your perspective on the world?
I don’t think our world has ever been in a worse place, but I don’t think it’s ever been in a better place. This opportunity that we have now as people to experience this freedom of expression in a unified place will always continue to evolve. Music is ever changing and will continue to grow and unite more people than tear them apart. People will never stop dancing and raving. The sounds that are expressed in EDM are the sounds of nature existing through technology.
So, what’s different about this genre of music compared to others?
Many people have a notion that this music is easy to create, but it’s not. These producers have a real talent and mastery of multiple instruments that they bring together with their knowledge of the sounds of each instrument. All music is a true art form, but EDM appreciates the uniqueness of the sporadic sounds that it creates. Therefore, people who submerge themselves in this culture love the music so much.
|032| HORIZON FALL ‘17
Weekend Wanderlust the beauty surrounding Grand Junction writer kayla miller
|
designer jesus almader
TRAVEL
|033|
G
rand Junction, Colo. is surrounded by beautiful landscapes that students enjoy during their free time. Some of the places that students explore include the Colorado National Monument, Rifle Falls, Maroon Bells, Hanging Lake, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park and Antelope Canyon. There are many other great attractions near our community that allow us to escape the chaos of daily life; these are just a few that showcase the true beauty of the West.
2.5 Photographer
HOURS
from CMU
Megan Dirksen
Maroon Bells Aspen, CO
06 Photographer
HOURS
from CMU ammon Pierce
Antelope Canyon Page, CO
1.5
HOURS
from CMU
Photographer
ammon pierce
Arches National Park Moab, UT
02 Photographer
HOURS
from CMU ammon pierce
Canyonlands National Park Moab, CO
20 Photographer
minutes from CMU
Megan Dirksen
Colorado National Monument Grand Junction, CO
1.5
Photographer
HOURS
from CMU Megan Dirksen
HangingGlenwood LakeSprings, CO
Did You Know?
when you spend $100 at t h e f o l low i n g
small business
online store
local branch of a national chain
68
0
43
$
$
$
s y a t S in the local
community
3 5 R E S TA U R A N T S
|
80 SHOPS
|
256 SERVICES
STUDY
van d
yke
l t u re . her cu t h e t o n a a in arett e rs e d ng to ina c y imm y a c c o r d i e n t s c a n mart l l u r f e h e b ud var grap teer me st hoto ribe ams r&p d s . S o d o a v o l u n an o desc o f P ro g r e t e s n write d r t’s or nd t h e wo ence s t u d e n o s t f a m i ly an spe inding h e e x p e r i h can h e rs c y e a r a t a a t s i o e y e t v l l l a i a h ull wh what o a d re r o a d i s or a f ence, p with b ng abr ex p e r i c s e m e s t e r n e rs h i t r a studyi S t u d y i n g a n t c a n p i n m i e d y . d de sit aca s be har than a stu univer ersity. a serie reign e s r o i iv f o t n I u m . f ome as a hing am o them their h s o m e t g i n e o r d re e g n a a a in ch at life ev e r i m i e n c e s t h a t r m look . e e p h t x e e of ak ye s and m n ew e a b ro a d i s person t way, with y d u n , st by a d i f f e re s p e c i f i c a l l y s p o n s o r e d ts to y Mo re u s u a l l ows s t u d e n , m a r l l g a pro ty, which a si univer
|
F
des
jamie igner
|041|
|042| HORIZON FALL ‘17
ram. at studying Exchange Prog n’t know is th e same do th le nd op do. te pe at y n an U student can What m se, students ca earn valid that every CM d ng ng an hi hi e In this last ca et et m m m ho so so t is abroad could ge ould take back that everyone not simply an ce is en classes they w ri is pe th , ex gh an It is t em. Althou ings a studen of. credits for th rst country in Most of the th . wonderful out ce d en an ri s pe se Europe, the fi ex as to cl t e en id ing, w ts t ou academic rs fi be ill was just amaz “When I ad will learn w France and it meet people is as to th w d ce t studying abro ha an en w ch st I e which wer. I ju ts will get th a to the Eiffel To n cultures and in g ow I in r books. Studen ei go am th ly ; h al it re ci sity. espe actually he the world w er iv er am un ov I l e , g al m in ow sa om en ‘w e fr th ally eye-op feeling like, are attending from the id. “It was re sa le t go op no , in pe re languages who l om fo ca D lo seen be dream?’” ey will meet g like I have in th no Moreover, th is . it in e becaus ose to study and a process the U.S.” country they ch t countries prove oneself to comparable to ce , an ce ch en a ing in differen ri el pe av ex tr al n on he This is also rs w my pe time, troubles Obviously, . I know from r country, there for a long ei g th in ce. e liv av le ly of growing up al to ci d espe of the experien le are hesitant ent country. an ure are a part t lt er en ff cu di er r ff that many peop a he di ot in e e e ur with th s to go liv in a cult ve nd d ha ie se n fr er ca d m ey an im th ed ily lf us se fam rience lot to get Finding your that the expe at you have a But I also know own means th ur yo ts have to face en om fr ud it. sity from ginning, st er be iv e th Un a at es would be worth ly M al them. to. Especi me to Colorado ted to ask always please s When I first ca ces that don’t ented and star ri en so l the difference er ff di al y di ce , el ti er et no pl ev ts m ow en co H . ud as ce , st w oi I es e, y, ch m ac t al It e righ ot he r pl During this ti g home was th co un tr y an d to leave t e an m d w ho ’t an r e dn ei myself if leavin m di ,I gs at ho be twee n th ore time here hing is ay they do thin after I spent m because everyt ing that the w e er ere are people or ov Th sc ym l. di an na is io es at t internat ces make th no en is er the United St le ff ty di living their es e lif th their om Italy; erent ways of fr ff t di en ve er ha ff di ho w so t how he was in the world e interesting. abroad go talked abou in y om ud D st the e, e pl pl experience mor ti am and most of life. For ex U offers mul l Student ent to France na w w io at he ne N Currently, CM n a e he in lik w d . Living shocke their students ing cigarettes ent Exchange es ok ud lu St sm l va programs to e na d er io an w at s rn le rm peop of no learn or Inte nce on campus ith a new set Exchange, Euro untry comes w nal Student Allia io co at . ts rn to en te In ed ud e st us t I getting Program. Th rtunity to mee in Lithuania, that take some ericks the oppo ucation system tly attending ed p e en ou rr th gr cu g also gives Mav e in on e ar rn or “Conce cused m the world who s. ct that you fo cusing from all over ly liked the fa t their countrie al ou re ab rather than fo e y or er ud m th st n r ge to ila m ng si ki d or ha w sy CMU and lear ho und the stem projects and her students w r a test, so I fo l felt the fo al s e ct w ell,” fa Talking with ot g w in ho iz d efficient as w on memor ences, I notice practical and e or abroad experi m pe ro in Eu t it. cause I have same way abou ence learning udy abroad be st Domingo said. to d d an te n that his experi ai s an Sp ve y, lie is al be It y , “I first w ul K. e U. udying abroad Domingo tr friends from th ged his life. St is possible an it ch at on rs th ad ro pe as international t w ab e g en m ffer d livin t they showed a student a di at movies, an so on and wha ng that makes road… looking hi ab udents abroad et y St m ud s. so st ay ly d w al y an me and I re em in man th ed to go overseas s ir ge sp and start to an in ch it , d op r things eams,” an d adult pe le dr an y e m ur of at e m on e books and othe was fferent opinions become mor to Europe, that people with di of majoring in e t nc en te ud is wanted to go st ex e U accept th , a senior CM for a year n. Mark Domingo studied abroad he r from their ow te t af en id ud ational St rn psychology sa te In e th thanks to in Lithuania
STUDY
|043|
e buildings aly or France, th It e lik s ie tr un so students European co all over the city and less ad d re de sp in ity. e ar -m s en pu and cam rt of a commun at I became op g of being a pa ing at my in ok e el lo in fe “I like to say th e ul ow th Ra ”N ve e,” . ha lif don’t r all my mingo said ave] wanted fo ld ople wouldn’t [h ou pe I judgmental,” Do sh l w al u ho is yo k s d in hi an th “T rience mily, I is a great expe pe, it definitely friends and fa said. “I think it like that in Euro ] gs in [th y e.” sa lif your CMU [think] or on I believe.” have it once in ore student at to a better pers no, a sophom tell that one n Ku road ca i [turned] me in I ab uk iz ce ng M yi en r ri Fo ogy, stud onal expe oring in sociol abroad was the om From my pers aj fr m ng le n yi op pa ud Ja st pe g om om fr gained fr s and meetin re cultures e ltu or cu w m ho ng ow of the things I ni ng kn in seei means lear more; I want to e is interested Sh . ct es ra . desire to travel ac te ld pl in or d nt w udy an differe exploring the nt cultures st is and how and never stop le from differe varied the world d op an pe g bi w s, ho on d aditi r. I have learne ges, cultures, tr at offers a lot with one anothe eir own langua rld has ates is a place th St wo d e th s ite l Un al people with th e e th nc For her, fferent culture ic live. To experie interact with di g a part of in to be es t history and mus iti bu , un le rt ib of oppo be quite imposs life is still a d to Japan. to offer would od culture ort time of your sh when compare a r fo e, re nc ink that the fo ltu th rie I pe n, ex pa is Ja th s in a different cu ne ha make friends. “Especially ity. Once someo so the way you al d n. an ca ry nt ey unique opportun re th ffe as is very di nds, they are ve as many places rope, and sy to make frie Eu ea ry is ry t ve they want to visit ve e rs Fi ar is ] e. le [it Here, Japan peop go one by on mingo said. oing, while in Do tg “My plan is to a,” ou ] ic er nd [a Am al h ci so ca and Sout other student, . then Asia, Afri full years to rience to every shy,” Kuno said pe ex is th ts at CMU for four g. es y in ud el st av e tr to He sugg d in de ed ci st She de er, since here sh or she is intere e it for her care your study us as d w an w especially if he h ho is . , gl ey ily ‘h En da glish learn friends say, of speaking En do it,’ and I ce “Every time my the opportunity ing, you should s az at this experien ha th ‘am ea e, e id th lik e th do ith to t w an es w re abroad?’ I am ag ey th Kuno also t they can do if t it is to show them wha for the price bu nt ta si life-changing. he is e ent than I used ar ople more independ value of this w el he no fe “T same. Many pe . y ut id nl “B sa ai , rt id go “I ce ,” Kuno sa th it,” Domin with my family do ” d ed going to be wor it. an liv of I ok e n ic co he pr w to e be e have , e than th ommate and w to study abroad trip will be mor I live with a ro ts who choose en ud e st os U ch .” CM nt ho s ng differe Beside l students w laundry; that’s pects of studyi of internationa t interesting as . s os ad re m ro there are a lot ltu e ab th y cu ud of nt st e re On about diffe stination to ge de an ng r ch ni ei ar Ex th le t as ly en re U on ud CM l St own cultu abroad is not an Internationa da ng about your Anne Rauline, is here to spen but also learni ho le w country is op e ce pe m d an ho Fr an ur t from highlights g back to yo d in an m at e Co nc Program studen y. rie tr pe un and co are elements th this is a great ex feelings. There . Knowledge r tly ed he ix en ot full year, thinks m flu d of an ish es in gl ri d a se to speak En es you studie y is iti tr al un un rt go co r po e he op th b w es t jo ho ease down proc s. you miss abou nguage can incr It is an up and oose to t. ch n’ ts do u en yo ud er, I of the English la st at y th an elements ring the summ of the reasons m me to Italy du . ho ge ted e ua ar and that is one m ng st ca la I ve e n th Whe re and I ha came fluent in gs I didn’t befo ns], so I think in are tio th e la practice and be y er [re an l Th m . na ke ed io at sli notic in intern I used to di d to an gs in tly th en y e flu an m “I want to work ish in Engl have seen th to appreciate rtunity to speak ine said. nt from what I ul re Ra ffe ,” di e rld this is an oppo ar wo at e . unique aspects th ect with the entir in the ake my country t [be] able to conn ct to studying d those things m pe an is and also wha as S. n U. g pa in Ja t st , ea re ve one can ha izing how gr al Another inte ce re en ] ri m [a pe I ex ow ge “N the colle For example, in United States is e U.S. culture. th of rt pa a which is
CMU student, mark domingo
cmu exchange student, mizuki kuno
; I have has to be fixed part of Japan ple, [I ctives. For exam different perspe [the] t ou what’s good ab have noticed] pare m co n ca not and I nI U.S. and what is he w er m m su This uff this with Japan… st w pan, I realized ne am [went] back to Ja I el fe “I ,” Kuno said. I [hadn’t] before re than about Japan he e learning mor pan.” when I was in Ja abroad ce of studying en ri pe ex The if it is od to etely unders can’t be compl d. It is ce en ri pe rectly ex not lived and di udent’s can enrich a st something that ce, but college experien academic and erish ch ill w hing they it is also somet . et rg fo to possible forever; it is im rt zo ne e yo ur co m fo id ts ou Go in g there is derstand that makes you un ere is a th t country bu not only your whole world. g ou t, m m en d go in “I w ou ld re co th e ng ad an d se ei to st ud yi ng ab ro ck ba g in go re but also w country’s cultu ne of t lo a g in d realiz m your country an ea dr id. “Make your stuff,” Kuno sa t!” t think, just ac come true! Don’
STUDY
writer donovan harwell
After studying aborad in Japan for two months, I can tell you that that the process isn’t all fun and games; although most of it is. While I could tell you a thousand things I loved about studying abroad, registration would not be one of them. The process of studying abroad requires an extensive amount of documentation from several different institutions. For months before my experience studying abroad, I was constantly communicating with at least four contacts at any given time. I found myself meeting with my CMU academic adviser to discuss course transfers, my International Student
Don’t Forget To Pack These Items!
• Phone • Phone charger • Wallet with cash, ID and debit/credit cards • Passport • Two copies of ID, debit/credit cards and passport • Personal hygiene products • Comfortable shoes (you will probably be doing a lot of walking) • Comfortable clothes (finding clothes that fit right in foreign countries can be difficult) • More than enough vitamins & medicine (foreign medicine is an adventure in itself)
|
|045|
designer breee bell
Exchange Program adviser to discuss applications, my Nanzan University international coordinator to discuss arrival plans and my financial aid adviser to discuss how I was going to pay for all of this; all before I even bought my plane ticket. This process was hectic, to say the least. If you are planning on studying abroad, and I highly recommend you do, make friends with someone who has already done so. Being able to communicate with someone who has gone through the same hoops as you are about to go through will dramatically help you with this extensive process. Ultimately, be prepared for a lot of hoops to jump through, but keep in mind, the hoops lead you to another country. Safe travels!
Helpful Tips
• Your “normal” is probably not normal for others • Don’t be afraid to ask for help • Go out and explore (getting lost is not the end of the world) • Don’t be shy (who knows when you’ll be back) • Be prepared for the sadness that you will experience when leaving • Be prepared for reverse culture shock upon return to your home country
|046| HORIZON FALL ‘17
WILDLIFE
|047|
Hunters pay for the protection, preservation and conservation of our wildlife.
writer
I
& photographer
siena shupe
|
designer breanna meininger
n the United States, hunting is essential to the conservation and preservation of wildlife. However, today’s mainstream American culture often assures the public that hunting is immoral and subsequently vilifies the practice and the individuals who take part in it. Because of this, parks and wildlife agencies all over the country are reporting major decreases in the distribution of hunting licenses. According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, this will have a disastrous effect on our wildlife populations, especially in the state of Colorado. CPW manages the 42 state parks and 307 wildlife areas in the state of Colorado. In order for this agency to protect and preserve wildlife and habitats, significant funding is required. CPW does not receive general tax dollars, and many people do not know the actual sources of funding for the conservation efforts in Colorado. In the United States, hunters and anglers fund 70 percent of wildlife conservation programs through hunting and fishing licenses, tags, taxes on hunting equipment and habitat stamps. “Hunters provide stability in the
ecosystem and prevent animals from overpopulating and degrading resources that could take generations to return,” Cristian Martinez, member of Colorado Mesa University’s Fish and Wildlife Club, said. “One of the most recognizable wins for wildlife management is the American elk. They were in danger of extinction… but thanks to efforts made by hunters, the elk population is healthy, especially in Colorado.”
to a hunter, there is nothing worse than a poached animal Hunters pay for the protection, preservation and conservation of our wildlife. This system of funding, implemented in the 1860s, is known as the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. “The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation was founded on two principles: wildlife are for the non-commercial use of citizens and all
wildlife should be managed with the purpose of sustaining the populations forever,” Mike Porras, the public information officer of CPW’s North West region, said. “The North American model was made in favor of the wildlife and the citizen.” Not only is Colorado home to some of the most abundant wildlife populations in the country, but it has strict laws applied to both big and small game. Through the implication of various statutes, a distinct difference is drawn between hunting and poaching, a line that is often blurred by the mainstream ideology. According to the Willful Destruction of Wildlife statute (C.R.S. 33-6-117), it is unlawful to “abandon the carcass or body” and to “detach or remove… only the head, hide, teeth, antlers, horns, internal organs or feathers or any or all such parts” of a wild animal. Poaching big game, eagles and endangered species is a class five felony. All other game is considered a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $1,000. “Hunters are not poachers. There is a big difference between the two. I can guarantee that hunters care about
|048| HORIZON FALL ‘17 wildlife and conservation far more than any non-hunting individual... to a hunter, there is nothing worse than a poached animal,” Porras said. “Hunter’s dollars [fund] the sustainment of wildlife populations and habitats alongside our efforts to end poaching in our country.” The citizens and wildlife of this country benefit significantly from hunting. Hunting assists in keeping wildlife habitats and populations healthy, latterly enhancing wildlife viewing opportunities for the public. If more people knew the truth about hunting, the stigma on hunters and hunting could diminish, applications for hunting licenses could increase and parks and wildlife agencies, like CPW, could receive the adequate funding needed to conserve and preserve wildlife.
WELLNESS
writer alexis dymek
I
|
designer rachel campbell
f you think about it, our hands do a lot for us. They help us feel and touch. They allow us to hold hands with the people we love, give high-fives to our friends and ‘shh’ those who are being too loud. But do we ever take the time to think about what our hands do that isn’t so great? Although our handy-dandy hands do a lot for us, they could also be our own worst enemy. Virtually every student at Colorado Mesa University knows that when they go back to school, they are bound to get sick. When the cold and flu season hits, it often feels like no amount of tissues and Vicks® VapoRub™ can save them. CMU students, faculty and staff are exposed to confined spaces, share bathrooms and touch classroom equipment that has been handled by many others who may have contracted a cold or the flu. “At least about a third of the class starts to miss right at the end of August, beginning of September. It does affect grading, participation points and the engagement with students outside of class,” Mass Communication Professor James Perez said. “[I am] trying to get them caught up and make up work when it’s only the third week of school.” Most students are familiar with this recurring cycle of sickness. They spend all summer soaking up the sun but as soon as they’re back
|
photographer siena shupe
on campus, the only thing they’re soaking up is excessive snot with tissues. The threat of illness always looms, but why does it so often strike when students come back to campus? “Breaks are a wonderful time to travel and visit with family and friends. As fun as this is, it also presents many opportunities to be exposed to germs through contaminated surfaces, contact with sick people [and] eating contaminated food,” Epidemiology Program Manager at Mesa County Public Health Heidi Dragoo said. “Although some illnesses cause a person to get sick pretty quick after exposure, others take a few days or longer, which is why we often see illness after a break.” Even though students may think there is no way of escaping this pattern of illness, there is one easy solution they could implement to prevent illnesses from happening in the first place: correctly wash their hands.
|049|
|050| HORIZON FALL ‘17
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention references a study published in the American Journal of Public Health that showed only 31 percent of men and 65 percent of women washed their hands after using a public restroom. “Handwashing with soap and water is one of the easiest and most effective ways to remove germs from your hands and keep yourself (and those around you) healthy,” Dragoo said. So what are people touching after they skip the simple process of wash, rinse, dry? According to Live More, a digital magazine dedicated to wellness, you touch your face an average of 2,000 to 3,000 times per day. That’s two to five times a minute. It’s no wonder students get sick as often as they do. Without executing proper hand washing techniques, there is a potential of spreading Hepatitis A, a highly contagious viral liver infection. Another possible danger is Shigellosis, a bacterial infection easily spread from
one person to another. The list of spreadable diseases that can be caused by not washing your hands, especially after bathroom use, is alarming. More people should be practicing this elementary hygiene ritual. We learned how to wash our hands in kindergarten so we could avoid the pain of being sick during finals week in college. Washing your hands is a step in a healthier direction, and doing it right is even more beneficial. “An ounce of prevention goes a long way. Wash your hands with soap and water, particularly after using the bathroom and before handling foods... If you do get sick, stay home and rest until you feel better,” Dragoo said, “There's no sense in feeling miserable and bringing your germs to class to infect everyone else. Our disease detectives and your classmates will thank you for it.”
WELLNESS
|051|
When should you wash your hands? (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) • Before, during and after preparing food • Before eating food • Before and after caring for someone who is sick • Before and after treating a cut or wound • After using the toilet • After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet • After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing • After touching an animal, animal feed or animal waste • After touching garbage
How to wash Your Hands (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) • Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap and apply soap. • Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Be sure to lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers and under your nails. • Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice. • Rinse your hands well under clean, running water. • Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them. For more information visit cdc.gov
your best friend deserves the best care
970.241.9866 THEVETS@OMVETS.COM ORCHARD MESA VETERINARY HOSPITAL AND BOARD OMVETS.COM 2668 HIGHWAY 50 GRAND JUNCTION, CO 81503
|052| HORIZON FALL ‘17
ON OR OFF DUTY
when is fido more than a pet? writer aspen coleman
M
|
designer gabrielle bode
any students have to leave their pets at home when they go away to college. As difficult as it may be for someone to live without their morning dog cuddles, living without a pet would be even more difficult for students whose animals help them navigate the world, alleviate feelings of anxiety and depression and provide comfort. Some students wandering the halls of Colorado Mesa University are the proud owners of either a service or assistance animal. These animals were able to accompany their owners on to higher education due to laws set in place by the state of Colorado and the Americans with Disabilities Act. This is why the option of registering your pet as a companion or assistance animal is extremely important for some students. By registering an animal under the title, one is stating that their animal assists them with a disability while in the comfort of their home. This includes, but is not limited to, anxiety, Bipolar disorder or a hearing impairment. For Day Winder, a senior studying biology at CMU, her dog is essential to her overall well being. “Before I had him, life was exceptionally difficult,” she said. “I could not live a full and complete life without his services.” Under the Fair Housing Act and Colorado state law, landlords, as well as college administrators, are not allowed to turn away or charge additional pet fees for those living with companion animals. This law gives those students who rely on their pets for emotional support a chance
to have a comfortable college experience. Service animals, on the other hand, are considered an extension of their owner and have been trained to assist with their disability specifically. This means that not only are they exempt from paying any additional pet fees but they are also permitted in any area that is open to the public, unlike companion animals. Although companion animals serve a great purpose to those in need, there is speculation that there are many students out there abusing this opportunity. This means that they are registering their pet as a companion or assistance animal even though they do not truly need them for this purpose. Many individuals are under the impression that one can only register their pet to aid with emotional support if they acquire a doctor’s note explaining the necessity of the animal, however that is not the case. Sites such usdogregistry. org and usaservicedogregistraion.com allow people to register their animals for as little as $70 to $200, no doctor’s note required. Although, a landlord can ask for a person to certify, in writing, the need of the animal for the tenant. The accessibility of companion/ assistance dog certificates give not only students but all community members the unfortunate opportunity to take advantage of this law. Not only does this affect the landlords that are waiving the pet deposits but it also affects those who acquire companion animals for the right reasons. Winder has felt these effects. “I personally find it frustrating that people register their animals when they
do not truly need them medically… it has caused more people to question me than what I used to experience,” Winder said. For the individuals who truly need medical assistance, the presence of a service or companion animal can drastically change their quality of life. In Winder’s case, her Shih Tzu, Aristotle, assists her with Deep Pressure Therapy. “I never know when my disability is going to affect me in a debilitating way,” Winder said. “There are many days that I would not be able to accomplish even the simplest of tasks if not for Aristotle.” Kate Simonds, the Student Health Coordinator and Prevention Specialist at CMU is in agreement when it comes to the importance of assistance animals whether that be a dog, cat, lizard, etc. “By having this creature that needs you, it can really help people that are depressed to get out, specifically maybe to take the dog on a walk,” Simonds said. For people going through depression, knowing that they need to get up and out of bed because another creature is counting on them is often just the incentive that they need. However, Simonds also wants to help make people aware that although an animal may be good for you, you must also be good for the animal. When an individual falsely registers their animal as a companion animal to take advantage of the exceptions regarding rent fees, they may also be taking advantage of the animal. This isn’t always intentional, but Simonds knows of several dogs that have been given up for adoption by their owners due to the amount of time that goes into providing for them. “They need to get out, they need to be taken care of and they need to take priority over a party on a weekend,” she said. For an animal-loving college student, hearing the words “no pet deposit” can be enticing. However, before you register a pet to save a couple bucks, one must ask themselves if that is a privilege they are truly entitled to.
PETS
The accessibility of companion/ assistance dog certificates give not only students but all community members the unfortunate opportunity to take advantage of this law.
Service Animals:
Assistance/Companion animal:
Can either be a dog or a miniature horse. Defined as an animal that has been trained specifically to assist someone with a disability; the work or task the dog has been trained to do must directly relate to the owner’s disability. Service animals are granted access to all areas where the public are allowed.
Can be any animal of the owner’s choosing. Defined as an animal that helps a person with a disability alleviate one or more symptoms of their disability while in their own home. Companion/Assistance animals are allowed in the homes but business owners are not required to allow Companion/Assistance animals into their businesses.
|053|
|054| HORIZON FALL ‘17
COMMUNITY
|055|
* writer
I
& photographer kylee cline |
n a crowded restaurant, a group of friends sits around a table. Between bites of food, they talk with excitement and animation on their faces. Their wrists bend and fingers twirl with quick movements. In multiple swift motions, words are formed and, eventually, sentences are created in mid-air. In a Deaf person’s world, this is normal, everyday communication. Various movements and facial expressions are used to create a seamless and fascinating language without talking at all. Sign Language has been the main communication bridge among Deaf people for centuries. It was created to help deaf people communicate easily with one another and has led to what is now an individual culture of its own. “When we get together, we never stop talking,” Marlene Roberts, 40, a Deaf woman who works at McAlister’s Deli in Grand Junction, Colo., said. There is not one universal Sign Language. American Sign Language is predominant in the United States, but many countries around the world use their own forms of Sign Language for their own Deaf communities. For example, Chinese Sign Language is used in China, German Sign Language is used in Germany and Auslan is used in Australia. Just as Deaf people have their own way of communicating, they also have their own customs, cultures and expectations on how they
designer nick pinto
|
illustrator john spriggs
should be addressed. For example, when writing about someone who is physically deaf, “deaf” is lowercased. However, when writing about a deaf person who signs and is involved in Deaf culture, “Deaf” is capitalized. Most people will meet someone who is deaf at some point in their lifetime, whether it’s at work, school or simply in public. There are polite and impolite ways to approach a deaf person, just
Deaf people “ still can’t hear, no
matter how loudly someone is speaking to them.
”
like there are polite and impolite ways to approach anyone. The specifics, however, are a little different. When meeting a deaf person for the first time, it’s considered inappropriate to start yelling at them and moving one’s lips in an exaggerated and overly enunciated way. Deaf people still can’t hear, no matter how loudly someone is speaking to them. It’s important to find a reasonable way to communicate, such as writing it down on paper or texting it out on a phone. Even just knowing the alphabet in American
Sign Language can help someone fingerspell with a Deaf person and close the communication gap. Another thing that Deaf people do experience is being given a braille menu at a restaurant. Yes, a braille menu. Braille is what blind people use to read. The quick movements of a blind person’s fingers as they’re reading can look similar to fingerspelling, but the two are very different. Though it may seem like common sense to not do this, it happens quite often in the Deaf world. It’s also common for hearing people to be in a situation where two or more Deaf people are signing, and the hearing individual needs to walk through the conversation. It is not appropriate to stop the conversation and ask to go through. This interrupts the conversation and is considered impolite. If the hearing person knows American Sign Language, it’s appropriate to sign “excuse me,” and then walk through. However, if they don’t know any sign language, and there is no other way around, it is perfectly acceptable to just walk through without saying or doing anything. One thing that hearing people should never do, however, is assume that because someone is deaf, they are disabled. They may have a physical disability, but they are not disabled. Brenda Brock is a Deaf woman in her 40s, who works at Enstrom Candies in Grand Junction. She says that deaf people are just like everyone else.
|056| HORIZON FALL ‘17
“Nothing is wrong with us,” Brock said, “There’s a communication barrier, but that doesn’t mean we are disabled.” Some of these mannerisms may seem obvious, but they are fairly common mistakes made by hearing people who just don’t know better. Hearing people may find themselves scared or confused when they’re face to face with a deaf person. It’s important to remember that a deaf person is just like any other person. They just communicate differently. The communication among Deaf people is unique compared to other languages, and it’s often what brings the Deaf community together. The Deaf community in Grand Junction is very small compared to bigger cities, like Denver. Because of this, the Deaf Culture that does exist in Grand Junction is highly valued. “I don’t feel left out when I’m with them,” Brock said, pointing to her group of friends. “Deaf Culture is important because we feel like we can belong.” So why is the Deaf community in GJ so small? Part of it has to do with employment. Some Deaf people who move here can have a difficult time finding jobs that are able to provide them with an interpreter or with the things they might need to work more efficiently. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission states, “The ADA requires employers to provide adjustments or modifications—called reasonable accommodation —to enable applicants and employees with disabilities to enjoy equal employment opportunities unless doing so would be an undue hardship (that is, a significant difficulty or expense).” Essentially, employers are required to provide any accommodations needed to deaf employees if they can. This could include an interpreter, assistive technology or other alternative options. Some of these more efficient options, however, can be expensive or difficult to obtain in the Western Slope. Another issue with the Deaf commu-
nity being so small here compared to bigger cities is that it is difficult for many to find other Deaf people. Roberts moved here from Chicago and struggled to find people to connect with at first. “I wanted other Deaf friends, but it was hard to find them here,” she said. Deaf people often times connect with each other through their deafness and through the use of Sign Language. They make up a culture that consists of coming together and communicating effortlessly with one another. It’s a way for Deaf people to connect and feel a sense of belonging to a group of people who share their struggles and experiences. “We all have different ages, different jobs, different perspectives, different religions and beliefs,” Brock said, “But because we’re Deaf, we connect.” Being physically deaf can present challenges, but it does not mean that someone will live a lesser life because of it. There are many successful and well-known Deaf people who do amazing things. Marlee Matlin and Nyle DiMarco are two current examples of accomplished Deaf people. Both competed on Dancing with the Stars at separate times. Matlin was the sixth person eliminated on her season, while DiMarco won his season. There are many other accomplished deaf people in the world. They may have encountered different struggles than a hearing person, but they still succeeded just as a hearing person would. Tammy Townsend, a woman in her 40s and a Deaf employee at Kohl’s, believes that deaf people aren’t very different from hearing people. They can do just as many things, and be just as successful as anyone else. “We can do anything but hear,” she said.
* Say What?
COMMUNITY
We all have different ages, different jobs, “ different perspectives, different religion and beliefs, but because we’re deaf, we connect. ”
|057|
LITERACY
writer joshua cline
R
|
designer nick pinto
eading a novel takes time. Looking at every word on every page can be exhausting. Understanding a story’s plot and concept means absorbing everything that is being read. If all of the information within a book isn’t processed, plots and concepts can sometimes be missed. Reading online, however, is an entirely different story. In recent years, the debate on reading comprehension has become more prevalent. Some argue that digital reading is having a negative influence on reading comprehension abilities. Others would say these effects are not negative. However, what cannot be ignored is that reading digital content is changing how people absorb information. “It’s easier to read more sources [online],” Colorado Mesa University junior and criminal justice major Austin Walton said, “You can scroll through articles faster than if you go to the library and look at books.” Anyone can go online and search for information on any topic. People
|
photographer kylee cline
use search engines and find websites, articles and comments to obtain the information they are seeking. So how do people process information differently on digital platforms compared to a physical book? If someone wants to read a book and find out what happens in a story, there is only one way to know what happens in that book: read it cover to cover. Michael S. Rosenwald, a writer for The Washington Post, describes this kind of reading as ‘linear reading.’ He also states that digital reading is considered nonlinear reading. The concept of reading online is so dramatically different than reading a book. There are pictures, videos, hyperlinks, comments and more all over the internet. News organizations use these tools as a way to provide more information to the people, but there is so much information to process because of it. Clicking on links, watching videos and being directed to other places for more information calls for a different
|059|
|060| HORIZON FALL ‘17
Today’s world is saturated with digital content because the world enjoys it and is too short on time to read much of anything else. kind of information processing. There is nothing linear about this. Today’s world is saturated with digital content because the world enjoys it and is too short on time to read much of anything else. Many businesses expect employees to know how to utilize the internet in a very fast-paced environment. And if your employer doesn’t require internet proficiency, your professor might. Many CMU courses require written papers and often online research is what students turn to. The internet supplies endless resources for students. Whether it be academic articles, historical summaries or analytical essays, a Google search often seems more appealing to students than a trip to the library. Researching any specific topic for whatever reason and on any platform can take a lot of time. Because of this, it seems that speed-reading or skimming has become much more popular to help save time, but that doesn’t mean it’s effective. After extensive research, several scientists wrote an article posted in Psychological Science In The Public Interest explaining that speedreading will only allow for a moderate understanding of the text. The only way to fully grasp the material being read is to practice reading and increase the understanding of vocabulary. “This is because language skill is at the heart of reading speed,” the article said. Speed-reading is extremely appealing because of the time it saves, but if major plots, concepts or facts are being missed, then how can any individual know they got all the necessary information needed? Dr. William Wright, a professor of English at CMU, suggests to “set a task
source: reading is fundamental for yourself.” By answering the following questions prior to reading, the understanding of any material will increase. One, what do I really want to get out of this? Two, how much time do I need to devote? And three, what are the few things that I’m going to look at? Wright also suggests dividing the reading material into chunks. Whether something is being read from a book or online doesn’t change the fact that the material needs to be understood. Reading for fun or for work shouldn’t change how quickly material is being read either. If it’s
a book or an article, knowing the reason why something is being read is important. But how are writing skills being affected by what we read? Does the way we write for social media affect the way we write in general? Delaney Neal, a senior at CMU double majoring in adaptive physical education and K-12 PE, believes that social media has some effect on our writing skills. “The language in social media is so different than it would be to write an academic paper or an essay,” Neal said. “I think that it’s crossing over a little bit and you see those grammatical errors and just difference in vocabulary.” Fortunately, Nenagh Kemp, a senior lecturer at the University of Tasmania, did some in-depth research on this topic while working at Coventry University in the U.K. Kemp and her colleagues worked with 243 students in the Coventry area, researching grammatical errors in text messages. They were looking for any indication that improper grammatical usage in text messages is causing a decrease in “grammatical knowledge.” The evidence they found does “not reflect a decline in grammatical knowledge.” Although text messaging isn’t negatively affecting users’ writing skills, reading more literature could have positive effects on readers’ reading and writing abilities. By reading more, people discover different writing styles, expand their vocabulary and improve their understanding of the material. Through this improved comprehension, people in the modern era can start to absorb information much easier on both digital and physical platforms, without missing any important information.
8
8
|062| HORIZON FALL ‘17
BIKES & BREWS
The Future Business of Matthew Nelson writer
& photographer aspen coleman |
M
atthew Nelson is no stranger to taking a challenge head on. In fact, that is what drew him to mountain biking in the first place. When mountain biking, you must be able to accept the results, whatever they might be, even if those results send you head first over the handlebars from time to time. Nelson, a junior at Colorado Mesa University studying mass communication, plans on opening his own brewery, Bikes & Brews, after graduation. Like many students in Colorado, not only does Nelson appreciate a good ride but also a good craft brew. These two passions are what make Nelson so motivated for the future he is creating. What he envisions for his business is a place to prepare for the ride as well as a place to wind down after. When asked about what to expect from Bikes & Brews, Nelson’s answer is simple. “Brewing coffee in the morning and brewing beer at night,” he said. However, that answer is rather
designer carly igoe
simplistic of what his plans really entail. He wants to provide a bike shop that offers both high-end bikes along with more affordable options, in a space that also doubles as a brewery. His target audience is the members of the community that enjoy outdoor activities, biking in particular. Although ultimately, Nelson hopes to expand that audience and encourage others to become more involved with biking. By combining his passion for mountain biking with the knowledge he has acquired from his time at CMU, he will be able to provide a unique experience for his customers. Eventually, he plans on opening up his business in Missoula, Mont., however, the grand valley offers endless opportunities for research. The following are a few of Nelson’s favorite spots to bike with his friends and the beers that they enjoy after. First, there is the PBR Trail on 18 Road. This trail is perfect for both
BREWING
B I KE
&
BREW
|063|
intermediate and advanced riders and offers an exhilarating ride. This ride differs from others in the Fruita area because it offers multiple kickers and doubles, giving the rider countless opportunities to catch some air. After enjoying the PBR Trail, one can take a trip to downtown Fruita, Colo. and enjoy an F-Town Amber at Copper Club Brewery or an S.O.B Mexican Lager at Suds Brothers Brewery. Both of these establishments offer a variety of craft beers in an environment that welcomes those with a passion for the outdoors. The Widowmaker Trail off of Little Park Road is also among the favorites. This is a part of the Lunch Loop trails near the Colorado National Monument where bikers in Grand Junction, Colo. go on a nice day. Nelson and his friend Adam Deegman enjoy riding Widowmaker Trail down to Pucker Up Trail. “It's more challenging,” Nelson said, “It pushes you and the bike and there is less room for errors.” Just like the PBR Trail, you don’t have to go far in order to find some good craft beers
|064| HORIZON FALL ‘17
to quench your thirst after this ride. Nelson enjoys the Highside Hefeweizen at Kannah Creek Brewery. Although Kannah Creek offers three different locations in the Grand Valley, Nelson along with many other students often choose the location on 12th Street and Orchard Avenue due to the proximity of the university. They offer eight beers that remain on tap at all times as well as five to seven rotating seasonal beers. This gives customers the chance to try new beers while also revisiting their favorite recipes.
While in the Palisade, Colo. area, one can take their bike for a ride on the Palisade Rim Trail. This trail is known for the beautiful views that it offers of the Grand Valley. It is recommended for experienced riders only, as some areas can be fatal if handled wrong. After tiring yourself out pedaling up and down this trail, Palisade Brewing Company is only a short drive away. This brewery is known for often having live music which complements the beer-drinking experience. One of their most popular beers is The Dirty
Hippie, which is an American Dark Wheat style ale. The Grand Valley, with all of its opportunities in regards to biking and beer, has been one of the best places for Nelson to pursue his passion and plan his business. He has witnessed first hand the joy that takes place in these atmospheres. That is why Nelson plans to combine these two activities into one convenient place in order to set himself apart from his competition. What could be better than a place that mixes adventure with drinks?
BREWING
WHEAT
3
2
THE BREWING PROCESS
1
H20
GET’N HOPPY
5
4 Temp control
6 WHIRLPOOL
7 8
9
FERMENTATION TANK
10
CHEERS! source: head brewer of kannah creek, robert clement
|065|
|066| HORIZON FALL ‘17
Are your fellow Mavs really who they say they are? On Sept. 21, 2017, the Horizon team asked our Mavily to write down some of their juiciest confessions. Here is what we rounded up;
CONFESSIONS
|067|
MARKETING + TECHNOLOGY + DESIGN
A WESTERN-SLOPE BASED, DOG LOVING, MOUNTAIN LOVING, BUSINESS-TO-PEOPLE MARKETING AGENCY
Give us a howl: bark@growlagency.com 970.852.4700
Stop By: 750 Main Street Grand Junction, CO
GRAND JUNCTION
writer
& designer
emily adamson
an interview with the executive director naomi barlow What is Super Rad?
Super Rad Art Jam is a non-profit that supports and provides art education programs in the Grand Valley. Our mission is to enrich the lives of both the individual and the community through creativity, innovation and the advancement of artistic excellence. Super Rad has been in operation since 2004. Some of our programs include art workshops, guest artists for classrooms, art exhibitions for middle school and high school students, Mural Jam [and] scholarships to Anderson Ranch Arts Center. More information can be found at superradart.com
What inspired the creation of the organization?
It started with several artists putting on an art show at Higher Grounds Coffee to raise money to buy art supplies for local classrooms. Shortly following the success of this show, the four of us (founders of Super Rad), Jason Bradham, Bryan Wade, Jess Rigg and I, decided to host an art show that not only recognized conventional art methods, but also emerging art styles and pieces that are more edgy. From this idea, the annual Mall Show was born and has been held since 2004.
What is the Mall show?
The Mall Show is an annual high school art exhibition held at the Mesa Mall for a week in the spring. All first place trophies are made by high school students and are original pieces of art, and students are responsible for sitting the gallery, so it is just as much by the students as it is for the students.
What can our community of college students do to help support Super Rad?
I hope to develop a partnership with CMU and have art education teacher candidates teach in afterschool programs in our new location under my guidance and license, and we are always in need of volunteers for various needs.
How is Super Rad making our community better? We provide opportunities for various means of artistic expression through many mediums for all kinds of people. We teach coping strategies through art therapy. We support art education programs in District 51 and in the Valley. We collaborate with other organizations and entities to create new programs and support existing programs to increase art in the Valley, make art accessible to the community [and] we provide scholarships and help students pursue careers in art.
|069|
|070| HORIZON FALL ‘17
Unique Atmosphere Incentivizes Residency in Grand Junction writer dahlia jimenez
T
|
designer jesus almader
here is a strong stigma associated with the city of Grand Junction, Colo. While Colorado Mesa University is known for being a friendly, welcoming place, Grand Junction is not. The mindset within the students and young people living in Grand Junction seems to be generally the same, as soon as there is a chance to go, they fully intend on going. Some of the reasons why students want to leave are the lack of opportunities for younger, just out-of-college people, and the lack of acceptance. In an area like Grand Junction, it’s understandable why it can be difficult for the younger people trying to start their fresh, edgy businesses. There’s a very large retirement demographic, and a smaller youth culture. According to the U.S. Census, in 2010, the population of Grand Junction residents ages 18 to 24 was at 12.5 percent, while those age 65 and up were at 15.6 percent of the population. In the more recent 2015 American Community Survey, people aged 18 to 24 in Grand Junction were at an estimated 13.6 percent while those age 65 and up were at 16.2 percent. But the city’s efforts to create a college town feel in addition to young entrepreneurship is definitely
|
photographer ammon pierce
initiating the possibility for a cultural shift more open to young people. What a college town feel would mean for Grand Junction is having a high student to resident ratio, with the university bringing in students, and the town being a place where students with limited financial income are able to afford living in the area. Businesses in the area would be more catered to the student population. “Over the years, industry around Grand Junction, I think, is going to grow; it’s going to bring a younger demographic into the area,” Alex Wise, a sophomore at CMU said. Wise spent the later half of his childhood in Grand Junction, but left for the East Coast after he graduated high school. Realizing sometime later his love for the West Coast, he came back to study business accounting. Starting a physical business, such as a store or a restaurant, is always going to be a challenge. However, Wise explains that there is definitely a sense of community in the area: something that can help someone trying to find support for their brand or make a name for themselves. Yes, the prospects of building a business is difficult, as it would be anywhere, but what this city offers is the opportunity to be first.
“You can move into a big city, and try and smash yourself into a niche of people that already exist, they’re already established, it’s competitive, there's a loss of community,” Devan Penniman, a CMU alumna said, “[Or] you can stay in a town, grow with it and build your own niche, with your own people, and raise each other up.” Penniman graduated with a degree in graphic design, a field where living in a bigger city makes sense in terms of making a living; still, she decided to stay in the area. “I’d rather be a part of something growing and be surrounded by supportive, positive people,” Penniman said. Forbes, in their 2016 rating of the Best Small Places for Business and Careers, rates Grand Junction 112th in job growth, at 2.6 percent. But while Penniman admits that the growth is slow, she sees it as an opportunity to fine-tune her own personal projects and ventures. Along with that, the affordability of the area allows her to take on an easy, low stress job, comfortably pay rent and focus on creating opportunities for herself. According to Forbes, the average cost of living in Grand Junction is 7.8 percent below the national average.
GRAND JUNCTION
|071|
I’d rather be a part of something growing and be surrounded by supportive, positive people In comparison, the cost of living in Denver is 7.8 percent above the national average. Another resident of Grand Junction explained how his entrepreneurial venture is being supported by the community of the area. The owner of new business, Mutual Friends, Josh Casteñeda, decided to open up a skate shop in downtown Grand Junction. After growing up in the city of Grand Junction, Casteñeda left and lived in Las Vegas for a while. After experiencing the skate culture present in Las Vegas, he came back to Grand Junction to try and bring into the city what he felt it was lacking.
“I want to bring the things that inspire me here into town, because this is my home,” Casteñeda said. Aside from the economic opportunities in Grand Junction, many people are also drawn to the area for outdoor activity reasons. Wise said the versatility of the area was just one more reason to love Grand Junction. A 35-minute drive from Grand Junction is the entrance to the Colorado National Monument, offering a variety of hiking, camping, rafting and mountain biking. A short drive in the opposite direction is the Grand Mesa and the Grand Mesa National Forest which offers fishing, camping, hiking,
skiing, snowboarding and more. Rafting and other water activities are also closely accessible thanks to Grand Junction’s proximity to the Colorado River. For those with a love for the outdoors, there’s an endless supply of activities near the city of Grand Junction. Big city life can be alluring and seemingly chock-full of opportunity, but Grand Junction and its surrounding nature have something unique to offer. The city presents the chance to create something much more personal within a welcoming community, a community that’s open to a shift towards youth and culture.
|072| HORIZON FALL ‘17
T
hough it is impossible to keep track of the number of students that choose to move away after graduation, there is a substantial amount of Colorado Mesa University graduates leaving Grand Junction, Colo. after receiving their degree. Rather than being a reflection on the culture of CMU, it is probable that the city of Grand Junction drives students away once they have graduated. CMU grabs the attention of students from the Grand Valley, out of state and even out of the country. Many people come here for the liberal arts
priority of CMU and the credentials of its faculty, alongside the smaller size of the university that provides a more personal student/professor relationship. However, once they are finished with school, there is a lack of motivation for some students to stay in the area due to reasons of opportunities, politics and diversity. “I don’t have plans to leave,” Danny Carver, a senior at CMU said. However, she has entertained the idea of leaving due to her expressed disappointment in the opportunity for activities provided by the area.
“There [are] no recreational activities other than outdoorsy and sporty types. There [are] no cool stores to go to; it’s all clothing and even the clothing is cliché teen girl,” Carver said. She also notes the lack of acceptance in Grand Junction. when compared to the acceptance of CMU as a reason to leave. “I don’t feel like Grand Junction is all that accepting overall,” Carver said. “There [are] groups of people that are in Grand Junction, but as a whole, I do not feel like it’s an accepting place.” Jorgan Bean, along with his boyfriend, plans on leaving Grand Junction after
GRAND JUNCTION
Students leave Grand Junction because it lacks in places of opportunity and acceptance.
graduating. Bean said he had two reasons for leaving Grand Junction. “The first one is I don’t like the area. I prefer trees over mountains,” he said. “I also hate the people in Grand Junction… I’d rather be somewhere where people are more accepting.” Bean explained that he and his boyfriend are constantly asked if they are brothers, and their answer is often met with dirty looks. “I would not raise children here,” he said, “That’s the big thing.” Bean believes there is a difference between the acceptance in Grand Junction and the acceptance at CMU. Bean’s view of CMU was positive, and he felt that CMU tries to be more accepting, but that it lacks other cultural influences. Bean said that the college does not influence his decision to leave. “I have been content staying [at CMU] for what will be six years, but… there is going to come a point where I don’t come on campus anymore and have these like-minded individuals,” he said, “I’m going to be stuck in Junction.” Bean said that the fact that Grand Junction is a small city both does and does not influence him leaving. He said that it influences him, “because of the stereotype of people who live in a small town,” but doesn’t influence him, “because there’s nothing wrong with small towns, just their associations.” Salim Cleghorne, a CMU alumnus who currently lives in Grand Junction, said that “job exploration” is one of his main reasons for leaving the area. He said he wants to go somewhere where there are more employment opportunities for visual artists and photographers. “I’m going to move to where the stuff I want to do is more noticed and appreciated,” Cleghorne said. Cleghorne is also bothered by the lack of diversity in Grand Junction. According to City-Data.com, Grand Junction’s population was 79.6 percent white as of 2015. That same site also noted that 64 percent of the votes in the 2016 Presidential Election were for Donald J. Trump. He believes these could be dangerous statistics for a city.
|073|
“I do not feel as safe as I was during my school years. Just based off the [demographics] it’s not a very safe place. There are a lot of places that are not as safe as you would expect them to be just because of the unexpected… like Charlottesville,” Cleghorne said. Cleghorne said that Grand Junction’s dominate conservatism is another part of his desire to leave the area. “I want to be somewhere with a lot of culture and races… I’m looking for somewhere that’s not strictly one-sided,” he said. CMU is a haven for many away from the conservative ideas of the surrounding city. The university is quite different from the city it sits within. Cleghorne mentioned he experienced the difference between the two after being met with racial discrimination at the 2017 Country Jam music festival. “CMU is obviously a safe zone for college students,” Cleghorne said. “It almost feels like a different state just based off of diversity.” Students leave Grand Junction because it lacks in places of opportunity and acceptance. The difference in politics, origins, religion, race and sexual orientation or preference segregates students from the surrounding community. Many students feel that after graduating from CMU, they will be subjugated to a community with outdated ideals. In addition to a non-accepting community, students also feel that there is simply no job opportunity that aligns with the education they have invested great time and money into. Most students used the word “stuck” when referring to staying in Grand Junction. The negative connotation behind this word was in full reference when each student used it to describe what it is to stay in Grand Junction. The community outside of CMU is often not one which students choose to keep living in. Though Grand Junction has the perks of being encapsulated in striking views, what’s inside the city does not seem to satisfy the majority of students that choose to leave.
|074|
HORIZON FALL ‘17
PERSPECTIVE
writer
& photographer
T
chris marcinek
|
he concept of creating a tiny human being with your partner can be exciting and terrifying at the same time. When my wife and I talked about when to start trying to conceive, I focused on when it would be most ideal. We both wanted kids, so this seemed like a natural decision to me. Reality hit me square in the face when my wife, Erin, first told me she was pregnant in August of 2017. I remember she literally jumped with joy while I stood there with a big, dumb smile on my face. Ten minutes later, a flood of self-defeating thoughts crept into my head. ‘Who will take care of the baby if we’re both working full-time? Should I consider a night job? Should I be a bartender? How does this work?’ We talked it over and figured it out like we always do. Reason won the tug-ofwar against panic, and we started to prepare for the arrival of a newborn. Our second bedroom, which had become a gear storage room of sorts, was cleaned, organized and began to look like a room suitable for a small child to live in. Erin sewed homemade burp cloths and I bought a used rocking chair I had found on Craigslist. We shared the big news with close family and friends with hushed
|075|
designer jesus almader
voices, hardly able to contain ourselves. A month and a half later, Erin and I are at the hospital. Harsh, fluorescent hospital room light beams on us as the ultrasound technician presses a transducer against Erin’s belly. The technician turns the audio volume up. It blips like sonar, but there is no sign of a heartbeat. The image on the screen shows a tiny mass, too small to be a 9-week-old fetus. Erin sobs softly, a nurse in the room looks away and my throat constricts. This was not how our first ultrasound was supposed to go. Erin and I went through the motions of checking out of the hospital on that rainy night as we tried to process what happened with deep sadness and shock. I remember a male nurse consoling us, lamenting that he and his wife had three miscarriages before successfully having their firstborn. He told us that he understood how we felt and encouraged us to stay hopeful. It is difficult to collect accurate data on miscarriages because not all women report having them, but Planned Parenthood estimates that about 20 percent of pregnancies end in miscarriage in the first trimester. Most miscarriages occur when the embryo receives an abnormal amount of
I remember she literally jumped with joy while I stood there with a big, dumb smile on my face.
|076| HORIZON FALL ‘17
chromosomes from either the man or woman. When this occurs, miscarriage is a natural reaction that the body has when the fetus begins to develop with abnormalities that are inconsistent with life. However, Courtney Cryer, an obstetrics nurse manager at Montrose Memorial Hospital, stresses that the information on miscarriages is not entirely accurate. Some women, when checking into the emergency room, only report vaginal bleeding. This skews the data because the hospital cannot assume it is from a miscarriage if the patient does not report being pregnant. She told me that the hospital sees about 450 successful deliveries each year, and about 77 reported miscarriages. “We try to help you see the positive, and help you move through the grieving process,” Cryer said. “We make sure mom and dad know that this is not their fault, it’s nothing that they did. A lot of the time, it is genetics that are not compatible with life.”
A few days later, I call my parents to tell them what happened. Surprisingly, my dad tells me he knows how we feel. “You probably don’t know this, but your mother and I have had three. We missed the first time she got pregnant, then we had your brother,” he said. “Then we missed, had you, then missed again. We stopped trying after that.” Even after learning that miscarriages happen more frequently than we assumed, my wife and I still struggled to process what happened. We lost our first child and it hurt. There was a lot of crying the week after it happened, coupled with guilty thoughts we wrangled with in our heads. My mother told us to write a letter to our lost child to help us cope. We decided to leave town to spend a weekend together in the wilderness above Marble, Colo. and clear our minds. When I got home from Afghanistan in 2014, I spent a lot of time alone in the wilderness, usually trail running. Running for hours, I could turn my focus inward to wrestle my demons. Out
there, nobody was around to see if I got emotional. This time was no different. I headed out by myself for a long run in the early hours of the morning. The light from my headlamp illuminated the trail just a few feet ahead of me as I power-hiked up the steep trail. The cool, autumn air made my ragged breathing come out in little puffs of air, which then froze to my beard. Even with multiple layers of clothing, the cold air bit. As I hiked up the first climb, the light began to transition from pitch black to soft grey. I could make out the thick forest on either side of the trail as I hiked up. Relieved to have reached Thompson Flats, I broke into a run. I turned off my headlamp as the natural light began to reach over the mountain ridgeline above, lighting up the valley in front of me. The cold is always coldest and the dark is always darkest just before the sun rises. This natural cycle lifted my soul, giving me hope for a brighter day.
This natural cycle lifted my soul, giving me hope for a brighter day.
ART
writer
A
long time ago, someone came up with the bright idea to dip their fingers into ink and move them around a wall to create what would eventually be known as cave drawings. These OD's, or Original Doodlers, were fueled by a mysterious force to take what was in their heads and put it on display for others to see; a practice still continued today. Why do we feel the need to be creative and what purpose does it serve? Who thinks it’s cool to draw swirls and triangles in the margins of every notebook? What fuels some teenager’s burning passion to draw male genitalia on everything?
& designer
|077|
jesus almader
The answers to these questions are not entirely clear and the research to answer them doesn’t sound particularly appropriate. So instead of answering questions about art, here’s what goes on in the heads of students at Colorado Mesa University in a historical impression of their own worth appreciating as is. These works are all fueled by hundreds of years of evolution and its impact on the artists’ imagination and creativity. Perhaps in the future, archaeologists will find these doodles too and make some assumptions about why the hell they drew these things.
|078| HORIZON FALL ‘17 illustrations by 01 – Gabrielle Bode 2-5 – John Spriggs 06 – AJ Urbina 07 – alexis dymek 8-9 – hazen shupe 10 – rachel campbell
11 – kylee cline 12 – meghan swanson 13 – maddie parise 14-16 – callista peders 17 – ciera colson 18 – jamie van dyke
04 05
06
03
01
08
02 07
ART
|079|
13
15 12
14
16 11
17 09
18 10
COVER ME WITH YOUR BEAUTIFUL MIND. (NOW, NOW, KEEP IT CLEAN.)
SHARE YOUR DOODLES @CMUHORIZON #ONESTORYATATIME
SOCIAL MEDIA
Connect with us Experience Maverick stories and stay up-to-date on university happenings.
@ColoradoMesaU