The Rocky Mountain Collegian, Tuesday, February 5, 2013

HOW NATURAL IS ALL NATURAL? RAFAEL RIVERO DEMYSTIFIES THE SCIENCE

IN TODAY’S COLLEGE AVENUE

VALENTINE’S

GIFT IDEAS

THE RO CKY MOUNTAIN

COLLEGIAN

Fort Collins, Colorado

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Volume 121 | No. 95

www.collegian.com

THE STUDENT VOICE OF COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1891

RamRide driver charged with DUI S

the

TRIP CLUB

Average car drove 15 people home on night of arrest

By AUSTIN BRIGGS The Rocky Mountain Collegian Two RamRide volunteers in the same car were pulled over on suspicion of DUI, and the driver was arrested Friday at approximately 2 a.m.

by CSUPD while operating a RamRide vehicle, according to a spokesperson for the Associated Students of CSU. The car’s passenger-side navigator was issued a ticket and let free, the spokesperson

added.

That night, approximately 15 people were driven home by each RamRide vehicle, according to department director Chelsey Green. At the time of the arrest, however, no one but the driver and navigator were in the car, said ASCSU Chief of Staff Robert Duran.

Duran said the volunteer was arrested on unknown charges. However, according to a public information officer from the Larimer County Dis-

trict Attorney’s office, a CSU student was handed four criminal charges that same day, including counts of speeding, driving under the influence of liquor, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

All charges are misdemeanors, according to a criminal history records search at the Colorado Bureau of Investigation’s website.

A source with knowledge of the incident confirmed that the name of the volunteer is the same as the name of the student charged.

“We’ve never had this See RAMRIDE on Page 8

DYLAN LANGILLE | COLLEGIAN

Two RamRide volunteers in the same car were pulled over and arrested on suspicion of DUI Friday morning at 2 a.m. The driver was charged with counts of speeding, driving under the influence, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

“She is such a strong little girl, physically and emotionally, and we are so thankful for her strength, as we believe it will carry her through this to a cure.”

Jennifer Salvador | Jessa Salvador’s mother

ASCSU looking at smoke free CSU

By AUSTIN BRIGGS The Rocky Mountain Collegian

PHOTOS BY HUNTER THOMPSON | COLLEGIAN

12-year-old Jessa Salvador speaks to a honors seminar about her battle with leukemia Monday evening in Academic Village, as her mother Jennifer Salvador watches on. When Jessa was asked what was her favorite show was she, exclaimed, “Say Yes to the Dress!” and went on to tell the group how the show sent her an autographed picture, hat and shirt.

A JOURNEY OF SURVIVAL 12-year-old Jessa Salvador shares her story of living with leukemia

I

By KATE SIMMONS The Rocky Mountain Collegian

t’s been said that every little girl dreams of the perfect wedding day, walking down the aisle arm in arm with her father, while wearing a beautiful white gown. But for Jessa Salvador, picking out a wedding dress is not just a dream –– it’s a

See JESSA on Page 6 Watch CTV tonight at 8 p.m. on Channel 11 for more coverage of Jessa’s presentation.

See BAN on Page 3

Campbell’s can cruising to California

By SEAN MEEDS The Rocky Mountain Collegian

goal.

After being diagnosed at age three with leukemia and surviving her first round of chemotherapy treatments, Jessa and her family thought their fight against cancer was over. Ten years later, however, she traded in her soccer jersey for a hospital

Video

A little over two years since an eight-question tobacco survey was distributed to approximately 2,500 students in fall semester of 2010, CSU student government is still in the process of exploring the possibility of a tobacco free campus.

Audrey Purdue, health director of the Associated Students of CSU, said student government is trying to put together forums later this semester that would be hosted by the Center for Public Deliberation to “further gauge student opinion and voices on this type of issue.”

No date has been set for the forums, but ASCSU, at the request of the CPD, is putting together another smaller survey to gauge what to address once the forums are set.

The new survey may be administered in the next weeks, according to Purdue.

This would be the third survey done, with the largest, most comprehensive one being the

Jessa Salvador explains to an honors class in Academic Village Monday evening how the purple blotches on the slide are cancer cells and the pink ones are healthy white blood cells.

After overcoming leukemia at age three, Jessa had a stomach ache at age 11 after a soccer gameb and November 8, 2011 marked the end of her 5 1/2 year remission period.

On Tuesday, Feb. 5, the large Campbell’s Soup can that sits outside the University Center for the Arts is being sent to Los Angeles for restoration.

J. Landis Martin and his wife Sharon Martin are the two donors funding the can’s restoration. The couple noticed the can’s deterioration while on a tour with CSU President Tony Frank.

J. Martin is the founder and managing partner of Platte See CAMPBELL on Page 6

Art always attracts controversy. And for the longest time, the can of Campbell’s Soup outside of the UCA has attracted its fair share of scrutiny. Was it really made

by Andy Warhol? Is it just a cruel joke to be played on soup lovers?

And who really wants it there anyway?

But now that it’s being removed...

Things that Should Replace the Soup Can Cam

We are the Colorado State Rams.

What we are in desperate need of is another enormous Ram statue gracing university property. It’s time the UCA had some decent school spirit!

Tony Frank’s Beard

You’ve all thought about it. The finest aspect of our university is the esteemed facial hair of Tony Frank, and it’s high time it got some time in the spotlight.

‘Nuff said.

A Progresso Can

That Campbell’s can has been hogging the spotlight for far too long. As an equal opportunity university, CSU needs to offer a chance for Progresso Soup to be displayed.

The Strip Club is written by the Collegian staff.

2 Tuesday, February 5, 2013 | The Rocky Mountain Collegian

Community Briefs

After conducting a nationwide search, Vice President for Research Bill Farland has named Dr. Lon Kendall Director of Laboratory Animal Resources at CSU. Kendall has previously served as interim director during the preceding year, and serves as an assistant professor in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology within the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

Kendall, a 1994 CSU graduate, completed his residency in Laboratory Animal Medicine and received his PH.D. in Veterinary Pathobiology in 2000 at the University of Missouri. He’s an active member of the American Society of Laboratory Animal Practitioners, the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine and the American Associ-

ation for Laboratory Animal Science.

Hornung wins second Player of the Week Award CSU senior forward Pierce Hornung was named the Mountain West Player of the week for the second time this season, the conference announced Monday.

Hornung averaged 17.5 points and 12 rebounds per game last week, while recording a double-double in each of the Rams’ wins against Boise State and Wyoming.

This is the fifth time a CSU player has won the award this season. The MW previously honored Hornung on the week of Dec. 24, while senior center Colton Iverson won the award for the weeks of Nov. 12 and 26. Wenior guard Dorian Green was named Player of the Week for Jan. 21.

— Collegian Staff Report

Find a

Roommate

Madison Brandt | COLLEGIAN

Archaeology major Connor Johnen cataloges debitage (small pieces of stone stool waste) as part of his practicum under CSU graduate student Ben Perlmutter. The tedious hours spent weighing and counting chips of stone will provide valuable information about the lithic stone tool activities of ancient peoples who lived in that particular area.

Sell Your

Junk

THE RO CKY MOUNTAIN

COLLEGIAN Lory Student Center Box 13 Fort Collins, CO 80523

This publication is not an official publication of Colorado State University, but is published by an independent corporation using the name ‘The Rocky Mountain Collegian’ pursuant to a license granted by CSU. The Rocky Mountain Collegian is a 8,000-circulation student-run newspaper intended as a public forum. It publishes five days a week during the regular fall and spring semesters. During the last eight weeks of summer Collegian distribution drops to 3,500 and is published weekly. During the first four weeks of summer the Collegian does not publish. Corrections may be submitted to the editor in chief and will be printed as necessary on page two. The Collegian is a complimentary publication for the Fort Collins community. The first copy is free. Additional copies are 25 cents each.

Letters to the editor should be sent to letters@collegian.com.

Adopt a

DOG

EDITORIAL STAFF | 491-7513 Greg Mees | Editor in Chief editor@collegian.com Kevin Jensen | Content Managing Editor news@collegian.com Hunter Thompson | Visual Managing Editor design@collegian.com Andrew Carrera | News Editor news@collegian.com Emily Smith | News Editor news@collegian.com Caleb Hendrich | Editorial Editor letters@collegian.com Emily Kribs | Entertainment Editor entertainment@collegian.com Lianna Salva | Assistant Entertainment Editor entertainment@collegian.com Kyle Grabowski | Sports Editor sports@collegian.com

5 days $5

New Director of Laboratory Animal Resources Lon Kendall

fort collins focus

15 words. Rate for CSU Students with student I.D

.

COLLEGIAN CLASSIFIEDS 970.491.1686 classads @ lamar.colostate.edu

Andrew Schaller | Assistant Sports Editor sports@collegian.com Kris Lawan | Design Editor design@collegian.com Jordan Burkett | Copy Chief copy@collegian.com Annika Mueller | Chief Designer design@collegian.com Dylan Langille | Chief Photographer photo@collegian.com

ADVISING STAFF

Kim Blumhardt | Advertising Manager Michael Humphrey | Journalism Adviser

KEY PHONE NUMBERS Newsroom | 970-491-7513 Distribution | 970-491-1146 Classifieds | 970-491-1686 Display Advertising | 970-491-7467 or 970-491-6834

Editor’s Note: News Editor Andrew Carrera interned with the Democratic National Committee in Washington, D.C. this summer. He has removed himself from all political coverage including writing, editing and discussions – this includes the paper’s daily editorial “Our View.”

BAN |

The Rocky Mountain Collegian | Tuesday, February 5, 2013

3

Final decision will rest with CSU administration

Continued from Page 1

tobacco opinion survey that was administered in April 2012.

It consisted of approximately 30 questions and was distributed to 4,499 students on campus and all 6,000 faculty members. Of the people who received the survey, 805 students and 1,986 faculty members responded.

It showed among other things that 19 percent of CSU students and 7 percent of faculty identified as smokers, with 53 percent of students and 63 percent of faculty and staff saying they were likely to support a smoke free policy on campus.

Both groups overwhelmingly agreed that exposure to secondhand smoke is a health issue, with the highest amount of exposure occurring on trips across campus.

When asked when a final decision from student government might come on the smoke free policy, Purdue said it wouldn’t be this semester.

“We really want to take our time on the issue and make sure everything is explored, and this would be a good fit for our campus,” she said.

Although the final decision to implement a smoking ban on campus would rest with CSU administra-

GIVE YOUR INPUT For more information about the tobacco opinion survey visit http://www.ascsu.colostate.edu/ tobacco-opinion-survey.aspx

tion, Purdue said ASCSU is trying to get as many groups on campus involved so they can contribute to the dialogue and be represented in the conversation as it moves forward.

Last semester, she presented the results of the survey to Faculty Council and Classified Personnel Council at CSU. University spokesman Mike Hooker said, while the issue has been discussed by a few groups on campus, the president’s cabinet hasn’t looked into it.

If it reached that level, it would have to be sponsored by a member of the cabinet, and the group would incorporate public input and make sure the issue was looked at closely before a decision would be made.

“None of these issues are as easy as they appear,” Hooker said.

He said concerns that may not be obvious at first glance would have to be taken into consideration before any decision would be reached.

He used an example of international students who

CAMPUS VOICE

Should CSU implement a smoking ban on campus?

“No. I think if you’re at least 20 feet from the building, it’s all good in my book.”

BRANDON ROUSE

junior computer science major

“Yes. In most public areas, you can’t smoke, so it makes sense for a public campus to ban it. Keep it out of the plaza.”

“No. I don’t think it’s that big of a deal. If they want to regulate it, they should have designated smoking areas.”

“Yes. Because I’m disgusted walking behind people who smoke.

They should at least have designated smoking areas.”

“I personally think they should. I’ve noticed how bad it’s gotten on campus, especially the wall outside the Morgan Library.”

CHASE GRIFFIN

JACOB SPHATT

MEGAN RYAN

PARKER LATHROPE

sophomore business finance major

aren’t used to restrictions like smoking bans as being a group who would be affected.

Eli Kenning, a military veteran and freshman mechanical engineering major, said he is a former smoker and has no problem with other people smoking outdoors on campus.

“If they want to ban smoking, I want to see them kick all of the fast food places out of the student center,” Kenning said.

freshman engineering major

Megan Ryan, sophomore human development and family studies major, disagreed, but also echoed what many other students say-that there should be designated smoking areas.

“I’m disgusted walking behind people who smoke,” Ryan said.

The initial tobacco conversation was started after representatives from student government fielded complaints about secondhand smoke on campus.

sophomore human development and family studies major

The toxicity of secondhand smoke, litter from cigarette butts and concerns about allergies were a few of the reasons for considering the ban, Purdue said.

The tobacco discussion at CSU is part of a larger, nationwide trend towards smoke free campuses. According to the website Smoke-Free Campus, as of Jan. 2 at least 1,130 campuses have adopted smoke free policies that completely eliminated smoking on campus.

That number is up from 410 campuses in July 2010.

According to the Office of Policy and Compliance at CSU, smoking is banned in all university buildings and vehicles, and prohibited within 25 feet of any entrance. This policy was put in place by CSU administration in 2007.

Last December, CU– Boulder student government voted against supporting a

junior business major

tobacco ban on campus.

Christopher Schaefbauer, CU Student Government Director of Health and Safety, said part of the concern was there hadn’t been enough student input on the issue, and the vote was on a broader referendum on tobacco versus zeroing in on smoking, which he felt could have passed.

Regardless of the vote, just last week the CU chancellor instituted a smoke free policy on campus, with a six month education phase planned before the ban takes effect in the fall .

“Even though there’s a big push for it across the county, it’s a split issue,” Schaefbauer said. “There’s concern about personal freedoms and how people would adopt if they couldn’t smoke on a campus.”

Senior Reporter Austin Briggs can be reached at news@collegian.com.

Collegian

OPINION Tuesday, February 5, 2013 | Page 4

your two cents

6%

24%

41%

29%

Yesterday’s Question: What did you do for the Super Bowl?

41% There was a football game?

29% Partied.

24% Watched at home.

6% Watched the Puppy Bowl instead.

Today’s question: Do you trust RamRide after the incident from Friday morning?

*17 people voted in this poll.

Visit Collegian.com to give us your two cents.

This is an unscientific poll conducted at Collegian.com and reflects the opinions of the Internet users who have chosen to participate.

“That is what choice is all about.

To have the autonomy to make your own decisions regarding your own body.”

I am a product of my mother’s choice, not yours Given the increased renewed focus on abortion here in Colorado, and given our history with the issue of life vs. choice, it is time for me to make something clear.

First, a caveat. I am pro-choice, for a number of different reasons. This is my perspective, take it or leave it.

I am a man, and therefore have no significant role in pregnancy beyond fertilization. I do not carry the By caleb hendrich fetus, I do not suffer the complications thereof, and I am biologically incapable of giving birth. This is a female-centric issue, not a male one.

I also do not believe that it is the role of the government (state, national or otherwise) to have a say in what a women does or does not do with her pregnancy.

To do so, I think, is a clear overextension of government power, which takes it beyond the realm of responsible and into the realm of the draconian.

Contrary to popular opinion, this does not mean that I am “pro-abortion.” I do not like abortions, I do not like that people use it as a last resort, and I do not like the idea of terminating a potential life. Regardless, it is neither my place nor the government’s to tell a woman what she can or cannot do with her body.

One of the pro-life arguments that routinely comes up, and that I therefore routinely have to counter, is the argument of, “Smile, your mother chose life.” The implication is that I should be thankful that I was not aborted prior to my birth.

To some in the pro-life movement, this seems to be an irrefutable argument. How can someone, they appear to reason, argue for their own non-existence? How can you argue that you should be dead?

However, what they do not seem to realize is that this argument undermines every one of their positions. It invalidates the entire case that the pro-life movement is making.

Yes, my mother chose to carry me to term. My mother chose to conceive the child that would eventually become me. My mother chose to carry me, she chose to give birth to me, and she chose to raise me. I owe my entire existence to my mother’s choice; everything that I am and everything that I ever will be is a product of that choice.

And nobody told her that she had to. There was no body of authority telling her that, under penalty of law, she had to give birth to me. There was no shadowy third party that followed my development every step of the way to ensure that I would be born. There was no angry mob that was intimidating my mother into having me.

That is what choice is all about. To have the autonomy to make your own decisions regarding your own body. For a woman to have the power to choose for herself what to do with her baby is her choice, no one elses.

It is not the choice of the church — any church — or the government, or the choice of the public. If a woman wants to have an abortion, then we the people have no say otherwise.

To those of you who would say, “I became pregnant at an early age and I did not have an abortion,” good for you. I commend you on the exercise of your power to do so, and I offer you my congratulations.

But that does not give you the power to force, either through voice or law, another woman to do the same thing. You do not have the authority to mandate your own choice for everyone else. You were allowed to have a say in what to do with your pregnancy, and that same right is enshrined for everyone else.

Remember the power that lies in choice, and remember the personal nature of that power. It is a power reserved for the individual alone. No government, no third party, no other person has the power to make that choice for them.

I am indeed grateful that my mother chose to bring me into the world. I am, however, even more grateful that she was able to make that choice free from any outside influence. I am a product of my mother’s choice, not of the government’s or the pro-life movement’s.

That is why I am pro-choice.

Editorial Editor Caleb Hendrich is a senior Journalism and Political Science double major. His columns appear Tuesdays in the Collegian. Letters and feedback can be sent to letters@collegian.com.

our view

Our trust is shattered “We are entrusting a lot in our volunteers, and we cannot be aware of where our drivers are at all times,” said RamRide Director Chelsey Green.

If that is the case, then ASCSU needs to take a very serious look as to what goes on at RamRide. Conceived as a judgement-free way for students to go out, party, and return home safely, RamRide has had its fair share of problems in the past.

But the trust and forgiveness afforded to the most visible ASCSU organization has finally been shattered.

We put our trust in the volunteers at RamRide. We trust

that they will get us home safely when we are incapable of do-

“If RamRide volunteers are not willing to take the trust of the student body seriously, then we have no reason to ever call them again – which would truly be a shame.” ing so ourselves. We are trusting them not to speed, not to be

drunk, not to be driving recklessly or indulging in any illicit substances. That’s what we expect from RamRide.

Those are the stakes. If RamRide volunteers are not willing to take the trust of the student body seriously, then we have no reason to ever call them again — which would truly be a shame.

Nobody was hurt early Friday morning, which might be the silver lining in this whole mess, but RamRide needs to take a long, hard look at who they let volunteer and what can be done to prevent future transgressions.

The Collegian Editorial Board is responsible for writing the staff editorial, “Our View,” and for the views expressed therein.

Letters and feedback in response to the staff editorial can be sent to letters@collegian.com.

Greg Mees | Editor in Chief editor@collegian.com Kevin Jensen | Content Managing Editor news@collegian.com Hunter Thompson | Visual Managing Editor photo@collegian.com

Andrew Carrera | News Editor news@collegian.com Emily Smith | News Editor news@collegian.com Caleb Hendrich | Editorial Editor letters@collegian.com

Emily Kribs | Entertainment Editor entertainment@collegian.com Kyle Grabowski | Sports Editor sports@collegian.com Kris Lawan | Design Editor design@collegian.com

Angelina Badali | COLLEGIAN

This is a good time to be gay in the USA Last Saturday, everyone’s favorite groundhog in Pennsylvania did not see his shadow, which means that winter is ending early this year. Spring is an especially notable time on campus, By tyanna slobe because the religious people with megaphones come out of hibernation to harass students into the arms of Jesus.

This year, I think that we are going to need to be extra prepared for their wrath and angry posters, because great things are finally happening for their least favorite community.

Gay people are getting rights!

President Obama became the only president ever to address LGBTQ issues in his inaugural address with his now famous quote, “Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law. For if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal, as well.”

This probably seems like old news by now, but the statement is a very important one that I believe will set the tone for the next four years. It certainly proved to set a progressive tone for the last few weeks. We are already making huge strides toward equality both socially and legally, and I expect that we will see a lot more progress in the near future.

It seems that President Obama

is really serious about this whole equality business too, because one of the first things that he did during his second term was vow to include same sex-couples in his proposal for addressing immigration reform.

Currently, foreign-born same-sex partners of Americans are not eligible for green cards, even if the couple is legally married at the state level. This means that many of the same people who fought for equal marriage rights in their home states are forced to leave the country to be with their partner.

Should the President succeed in changing this discriminatory system, same-sex couples would be treated just like any other married couple when it comes to immigration.

The more the marry-er!

But it’s not just adults that are reaping the benefits of LGBTQ progress. The Boy Scouts are debating to repeal their institutional ban on openly gay members and troop leaders. The organization came out with a statement last week saying that they are “actively considering” ending the ban, after more than 1 million people signed various petitions on Change. org, demanding that the Boy Scouts be inclusive to the gay community.

Here’s to hoping that one day soon no child will be denied the right to learn how to tie knots based on their sexual orientation.

Exciting things are happening closer to home as well in the form of a certain same-sex union bill. Colorado’s Senate Bill 11 has already passed through the senate committee and is inching closer to becoming law — legalizing same-sex unions in Colorado.

The bill is expected to continue all of the way to Governor Hickenlooper’s desk, due to overwhelming support from Democrats. The governor himself has been openly in favor of its passing.

SB-11 will gave same-sex couples many of the same legal rights that heterosexual married couples already enjoy, especially when it comes to medical issues and the right to adopt children together.

With all of this great news it might be easy to forget that we still have a lot of ground to cover before the journey to equality for our gay brothers and sisters truly is complete. There are still many legal obstacles that discriminate against same-sex couples across the country.

Openly gay children are still bullied in school. Civil unions are still not marriage. Transgendered, queer, and bisexual individuals still face a staggering amount of discrimination. Additionally, all of the issues that I mention in this article still need our support to become a reality at all.

Even so, we are undeniably on the right path for LGBTQ equality. This spring, when your peaceful walk across the plaza is disrupted by a hateful old guy yelling about how God will strike us down for supporting gay rights, you can feel a little safer. If civil unions in Colorado really do cause the apocalypse, we will have more Boy Scouts to teach us about survival skills.

Tyanna Slobe is a senior English Language and Spanish double major.

Her column appears every Tuesday in the Collegian. Letters and Feedback can be sent to letters@collegian.com.

Collegian Opinion Page Policy The columns on this page reflect the viewpoints of the individual author and not necessarily that of The Rocky Mountain Collegian or its editorial board. Please send any responses to letters@collegian.com.

Letter submissions are open to all and are printed on a first-received basis. Submissions should be limited to 250 words and need to include the author’s name and contact information. Anonymous letters will not be printed. E-mail letters to letters@collegian.com

Ca

N

4

O

) 11

22

H 12

2

)

(C

O 4

N

e F

2

)

W

Rafael Rivero is a senior Zoology major.

His columns appear every other Tuesday in the Collegian. Letters and feedback can be sent to letters@collegian.com.

ILLUSTRATION BY ANNIKA MUELLER | COLLEGIAN

Yay | to Pierce Hornung for being the MW Player of the Week and bringing glory to the basketball team!

NAY | to Exams. Seriously? Already? The first are the worst, because there are few buffer grades.

REALLY MEAN? gal extracts. Nature has this odd way of helping things live and also killing mercilessly.

Case in point: foxgloves. This group of plants is extremely poisonous, but a group of chemicals inside them that were extracted and purified (cardiac glycosides) have been used to treat heart failure and cardiac issues.

Socrates probably wasn’t a big fan of the hemlock variety of plants, since it was used to execute him, yet its chemicals and extracts can be used as a sedative.

Much more effective is oleander, which is so poisonous that even eating honey (organic or not) produced by bees that digested oleander nectar can kill a person. And don’t get me started on arsenic. Talk about all-natural!

Just because it was synthesized in a lab doesn’t mean it’s not natural, either. As mentioned before, the extracts from any plant need to be purified. The purification in the lab leads to the creation of the drug or chemical compound. This has been done to get chemicals like aspirin and penicillin out of bark and fungi, respectively.

Great cancer-fighting pharmaceuticals have similar natural beginnings as well. The abridged list includes etoposide (from May apples), vinblastine and vincristine (from rosy periwinkles), and taxol (from yew leaves). Even pesticides (which are often frowned upon by many) are made from natural chemicals produced by plants to ward off insects.

As soon as we know the chemical in the plant, we can synthesize it ourselves (if it’s easier than extracting). And that’s alright, too. I’ll give you an example. Here are two chemicals that have the exact same structure … my question is, which one is synthetic and which is natural? C9H8O4 or C9H8O4? Considering the fact that they both look identical at a molecular level, your body doesn’t and can’t know the difference.

“But then why purify it? Keep it natural!” you say. Well, it’s purified because these chemicals occur naturally at such low concentrations that they’re useless. Either that or, unless fixed slightly, they can harm or kill you.

So, next time you hear someone mention the idea of “natural” over anything else, help them understand. They’re just misunderstanding the science.

NAY | to a RamRide driver putting people’s lives at risk. Driving under the influence is despicable enough, but doing it while volunteering?

YAY | to Beyonce and Destiny’s Child at the Super Bowl. The stars have finally aligned!

WHAT DOES ‘ALL NATURAL’ hen was the last time you either read on a label or were told by someone that a product contained something “natural?” It seems as though the terms “all natural”, “no artificial X or Y,” and, (arguably the worst) “no chemicals,”

By RAFAEL RIVERO have become all the rage with people concerned about their health and what they eat.

The problem with this idea is that chemicals themselves are completely natural. This is why there is an entire branch of the natural sciences devoted to studying them — it’s called chemistry.

In spite of this, the smear campaign against the word “chemical” is so entrenched in society that it has gotten to the point where people actively seek out these products. They genuinely believe that in being more natural or lacking synthetic chemicals, the product is better than everything else.

Chemicals make up everything. From the air we breathe to the water we drink, everything is a chemical.

One clever ruse employing the actual definition of a chemical entails mentioning something like dihydrogen monoxide.

This chemical is actually derived from a highly dangerous and highly reactive hydroxyl radical. This radical has been conclusively proven to alter cell membranes, disrupt neurotransmitters, and even go so far as denaturing proteins (rendering them useless) and mutating DNA, the very fabric of life.

It’s not only the radical that can do this.

The components of dihydrogen monoxide itself can be found in things like nitroglycerine (an explosive) and sulfuric acid (a highly caustic acid), among other things.

Sounds quite bad, doesn’t it? Well, the common name for this chemical is actually water. Yep, water. “Di” means two and “mono” means one. Hence: dihydrogen monoxide (H2O).

With every chemical in nature, there’s a caveat. The same that applies to water applies to everything else. It’s true that water and what it’s made of can kill you quite easily. But so can any other naturally occurring chemical.

The one thing that most people don’t understand is that many of the medicines, food additives and even poisons that they know are made or at least derived from natural sources. The best medicines are usually the latest and greatest plant or fun-

YAY | to Jessa Salvador. Her spirit and fire for life should be an inspiration to us all.

NAY | to the traffic at the College Starbucks. We don’t have time to sit in traffic; we need coffee!

8

10

l C Na (C

8

2

H2 O(C H (C 12

4

2) H 22O 11

10

O

10

Ca

Yays and Nays

H

8

2

Ca

O

(C 12 H 22 O 11 )

Tuesday, February 5, 2013 | Page 5

(C H N O )

H 2O

aC OPINION TUESDAY Ca HO l e H F COLLEGIAN

Spread the word, but not the ‘R’ word At a recent CSU Best Buddies event, wherein the student organization’s officers were to be helpfully matched with people who have intellectual and developmental disabilities, I met a human miracle.

The event's proceedings were lighthearted, novel and granted much savory food for thought. I met colorful personalities who I previously never would’ve imagBy VIVEK UPADHYAY ined. I learned to lend a more acute and receptive type of attention to the body language of social interlocutors. There was, among happy observances of getting-to-knowyou exercises, an indistinct profundity lurking in the well-lit insides of our large gathering room.

After undergoing a series of warm social rituals with newly familiar people, I met a young man who astounded me. I won't reveal his name for his privacy's sake, though I'll inform you that he's my probable "buddy." I chose to converse with him just as I did with everyone else. He soon defied the quick, purely convenient categorizations through which I can normally first understand social interactions.

My buddy (which is the official term for each of our IDD friends) is apparently afflicted with a mild form of autism. Yet what a beautiful affliction this is. A simple conversation rewarded me with a shock to my preconceived notions. His memory was, to use a near-understatement, beautifully prodigious. We spoke at length about video games and his plans to create his own video game.

I'm glad to be privileged with the opportunity to help in that effort. In between our continuous, joyous rounds of game fact reporting, he indirectly inspired me to push myself toward academic self-improvement. This may strike the reader as a bit random.

Permit me a clarification. I’m not naturally endowed with such gorgeously focused information recall as my buddy. I’ll exert myself toward new limits to learn well what I can. The simple conversation I held with my buddy lured a clueless me into sharpened mental acuity. This kind of a brain-flooding rush was utterly intoxicating.

Sometimes, one person’s obsession can galvanize a lazy person into grateful self-revolution. I was at the pedestrian’s end of this casually impressive spectacle, though I must also stress the importance of understanding autism’s uniqueness. The seeming prevalence of what we often call “genius” in the autism-possessing community is something unfortunately misunderstood by far too many people.

Not daring to succumb to romantic conclusions, I will instead put forth an interesting speculation from one of CSU's own professors, the famed Dr. Temple Grandin. To paraphrase her, with hopeful accuracy, milder forms of autism should survive while more severe forms are prevented; the unique benefits gleaned from the former type yield results which, arguably, couldn't have been produced (as effectively) in mild autism's absence.

A relevant CSU campaign, known as "Spread the Word to End the Word," advocates a personal renouncement of pejoratively using the “R-word” (retard/retarded). Hopefully this commitment will combine forces with a decision to prevent these verbal malignancies spread in other people.

In light of what you now know of my buddy, which is just one appreciable, unforeseen quality alive within just one individual with IDD, consider adopting this commitment to “end the word” yourself.

This is not to endorse self-censorship; I never will.

I’m endorsing responsible speech (and writing).

Temple Grandin once wrote with pithy strength, “I am different, not less.”

Vivek Upadhyay is a freshman Education major. His columns appear every other Tuesday in the Collegian.

Letters and feedback can be sent to letters@collegian.com.

GUEST COLUMN FROM CSU PROVOST AND EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT RICK MIRANDA

An undergraduate or graduate degree from Colorado State University has strong value as our students graduate and head out to start their careers. One of the ways some of our colleges work to build on that value is to recognize “Certificates of Completion,” which can help our alums show potential employers that they’ve focused on specific skills and topics.

The intention is to collect a suite of courses that have a coherent theme and make students aware that our faculty believe in and recognize the additional value of taking the entire suite, over and above taking each course. These CoCs don’t show up on transcripts, but they reflect real completed

coursework and achievement by our graduates.

The word “certificate” has recently come into question. It can have specific federal and state meanings, and regional accrediting organizations — ours is the Higher Learning Commission— also provide guidance to institutions on its use. Is a “CoC” earned at CSU the same as the formal definition of “certificate” in federal and state policy or the certificates offered at trade schools and community colleges? No — CSU’s certificates of course completion were never intended to mimic those definitions.

They are simply intended to help our students select intercon-

nected groups of courses and help our graduates show what they’ve accomplished and what value they offer as employees in the workplace.

Look on a CSU transcript and you won’t see the word “certificate.” CoCs here aren’t transcripted recognitions for undergraduates or graduates, it is the completed courses that are on the transcript.

There is an ongoing discussion at the University, the Colorado Department of Higher Education, and the HLC about whether, and to what extent, CSU should consider making such CoCs formal and transcriptable, and if so what to call them.

We are moving forward first at the graduate level, and we are working with the University Curriculum Committee to establish guidelines and approval processes for such graduate CoCs. CSU is also working with the CDHE and the HLC to consider possible alternative terms or phrases — rather than “certificate” — that we could be authorized to use and transcript at the undergraduate level (e.g. “emphasis area,” “focus course suite,” etc.)

The ability to identify areas of emphasis is important for our students; but our primary goals are clarity of the terms we use for academic credentials, compliance with accrediting standards and

meeting state and federal statutes.

Graduate and undergraduate students at CSU have earned the credits for completed coursework and degrees regardless of whether some of the courses taken as part of their program of study are grouped under the umbrella of the more casual use of the phrase “certificate of completion.” This discussion does not change what appears on their transcript or what a student has accomplished.

What’s most important is that we are as clear as possible when describing what a student learned in their time at CSU.

Rick Miranda, Provost and Executive Vice President of CSU.

Collegian Opinion Page Policy The columns on this page reflect the viewpoints of the individual author and not necessarily that of The Rocky Mountain Collegian or its editorial board. Please send any responses to letters@collegian.com.

Letter submissions are open to all and are printed on a first-received basis. Submissions should be limited to 250 words and need to include the author’s name and contact information. Anonymous letters will not be printed. E-mail letters to letters@collegian.com

6 Tuesday, February 5, 2013 | The Rocky Mountain Collegian

“We all need Jessa in our lives, and she will battle through this because that is who she is and we all love her for that.”

Jennifer Salvador | Jessa’s mother

Spirit inspires family, class of CSU Honors students

JESSA |

Continued from Page 1

The Campbell’s Tomato Soup can from his 1981 exhibit at CSU sits outside of the University Center for the Arts Monday.

The 11 foot high soup can will be temporarily removed for restoration.

CAMPBELL | Continued from Page 1

ERIN MROSS | COLLEGIAN

Donors to fund work

River Ventures and according to University Art Museum director and curator Linny Frickman, the couple was very interested in the can’s state.

“The donors were on campus with President Frank when they saw the can,” Frickman said. “They love contemporary art and are collectors and when they saw the can they offered to donate the funds for its restoration.”

Frickman worked with the Martins’ representative, Dianne Vanderlip, former curator of modern and contemporary art at the Den-

ver Art Museum, to find the best restorer for the can.

Vanderlip chose Mark Rossi, founder of HANDMADE, located in Los Angeles. Rossi has worked with art luminaries Claes Oldenburg and Charles Ray, and is going to pay close attention to Andy Warhol’s signature, which is on the can.

The soup can was one of three pieces created in collaboration with Warhol for the “Warhol at Colorado State University” exhibit. Warhol signed the can upon its arrival at the art building on Sept. 1, 1981.

It was placed on the UCA lawn Sept. 29, 2008 after

it resided on Department of Art lawn until the late 1980s.

According to Tony Phifer, senior writer for the division of external relations, the 30-year-old piece is an “iconic piece” of the UCA. The can is part of the University Art Museum’s larger sculptural plan, which is planning on adding a new architectural addition to the museum which would incorporate more outdoor sculptures.

The sculpture is scheduled to be removed at 11 a.m. Tuesday.

Senior Reporter Sean Meeds can be reached at news@collegian.com.

gown and restarted treatment.

At the request of CSU history professor Pam Knaus, a family friend, Jessa came to campus Monday evening and presented her story for an Honors seminar of about twenty students in Academic Village.

“Jessa always wanted to go to college, and this is at least an opportunity for her,” Knaus said.

A five-and-a-half-year remission ended on Nov. 8, 2011, when Jessa was diagnosed with a leukemia relapse.

“As her parents, we would give anything for her to not have to go through this again, but we will get her through it because there is no other option,” said Jennifer Salvador, her mother.

“We all need Jessa in our lives, and she will battle through this because that is who she is and we all love her for that.”

“I don’t really think about what I have to go through –– I just do it so I can get on with my life,” Jessa said.

“I keep telling myself if it doesn’t make her cry, then I had better not cry either,” Jennifer said. “She is such a strong little girl, physically and emotionally and we are so thankful for her strength as we believe it will carry her through this to a cure.”

Siblings are usually the closest bone marrow match,but since Jessa’s brother, Blake, is not a match and no one else in her family is a compatible match, Jessa will be on a very aggressive, high dosage chemotherapy

for the next two years. If the chemotherapy stops working during her treatment or she relapses after two years of treatments, her only hope is to find someone in the donation registry for an unrelated marrow or stem cell donor.

“It is a much more difficult, longer process when (the donor) is unrelated so this was sad news to hear for all of us, and especially for her sweet, loving brother who wanted to be that life line for his sister,” Jennifer said.

Seventy percent of patients needing a bone marrow transplant do not have a matching family donor, and 10,000 patients per year rely on a transplant from someone outside their family.

“Sometimes I replay the outcome percentage the doctor reviewed with us in my head and I just have to stop this and believe with my heart and soul, she will be one of the kids that makes it,” Jennifer said. “It is just paralyzing to think anything else.”

Since Jessa’s relapse with leukemia in Nov. 2011, her family has bonded.

“I think one of the biggest challenges a parent fac-

es is trying to remain strong because not only are you trying to do what you do to get through your day but you’re trying to be a strong influence for your family and show some guidance,” Darren said. “I think sometimes that’s the biggest challenge for me is just trying to make sure I’m positive around them.”

Students attending her presentation were impressed with Jessa’s strong spirit even more than her personal story.

“It put a name with a face.

You hear about people getting sick and getting leukemia or needing transplants a lot, but you never really think about what they like to do or how old they might be,” said Jenni Robinson, freshman biology major.

Jessa’s story hit home for Emily Janik, another student in Knaus’s class, because a girl in her high school had leukemia and passed away last year in her junior year of high school.

“I just hope for a better outcome for Jessa,” Janik said.

Senior Reporter Kate Simmons can be reached at news@collegian.com.

CLASSIFIEDS www.collegian.com 970-491-1686

FOOD

SERVICES

Until midnight. 7 days. Cafe Vino. 1200 S. College. Close to campus. www.cafevino.com.

General and Organic Weekly and Group Discounts Joseph Miller - 970.310.6029

FOR RENT

HAPPENINGS

1 BEDROOM CONDO FOR RENT Super cute one bedroom just blocks from campus, water/ sewer/trash paid. Swimming pool and a/c, new carpet and paint last year. Avail Feb or March. $580.00. 1705 Heatherdige #H303 thebrandtcompany.com (970)224-0852.

RICH, BOLD, & ROBUST Wine flights available at Cafe Vino. Visit 1200 S. College. www.cafevino.com.

Deadline to submit classified ads is 4pm the day prior to publication.

GREAT CHEMISTRY To placeFOOD an ad call 970-491-1686 or click “Classifieds’TUTOR at Collegian.com.

EMPLOYMENT !BARTENDING! $300/day potential. No experience necessary. Training provided. Age 18+ ok.

1-800-965-6520 ex167.

Earn $1000-$3200 a month to drive our brand new cars with ads. www.VehiclePay.com

CLASSIFIEDS

CSU STUDENTS 2 bed,1 bath apts available Aug. Low, flat-rate utilities package. 1/2 block to CSU. Call 491-8394. www.cambridgehouseapts.com.

www.collegian.com 970-491-1686

Deadline to submit classified ads is 4pm the day prior to publication.

To place an ad call 970-491-1686 or click “Classifieds’ at Collegian.com.

The Rocky Mountain Collegian | Tuesday, February 5, 2013

7

#Room-Antics

Daily Horoscope Nancy Black

JADE

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (02/05/13). Social fun and partnership thrive for the first half of 2013. Consider family when making career decisions with long-lasting implications. Keep delivering on your promises, especially around finances. An exciting career opportunity arises this summer, and the spotlight is yours.

To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

Wondermark

Tim Rickard

Brewster Rockit

Kid Shay

Welcome to Falling Rock

Rochelle Peeler

Meh Comex

ARIES (March 21-April 19) ––9–– You’ll get great insights from your dreams. Use them to plan your direction, and anticipate some resistance. Expand your creativity with wild practicality.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) ––7–– Friends offer good advice. Also, you may find a way to earn more without increasing work. Make sure you know what’s required.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) ––8–– Intuition inspires your work. Check out new career options. Don’t overlook anybody to avoid jealousies. Join a good team. Travel’s good, too.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) ––8–– Allow others independence, as you free your own imagination. Your thoughts wander a lot these days. You may choose different tactics than planned. Take advantage of the moment.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) ––8–– Maintain your finances with savings. A task that strengthens your home strengthens you.

Evaluate resources. You can borrow or barter for what’s needed.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) ––8–– Go with a creative leader. Your partner has a lot to say. Don’t believe everything you learn ... they’re just “guidelines.” Offer encouragement. Controversy arises.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) ––9–– Shop very carefully now.

Develop necessary processes before proceeding with projects. Listening works well over the next month. Increase your family’s comfort by clearing clutter. You’re attracting admiration.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) ––9–– Don’t behave is if you’re made of money, even if you are. For about three weeks, you really understand people. Conscious and subconscious alignment occurs. Listen to intuition.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) ––9–– You can afford it; set your sights high. You’ll have a strong nesting instinct; clean, sort and organize. Discuss core goals with family members.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) ––7–– Friends and lovers may compete for attention. Look at it from another perspective. Your curiosity is aroused. Surprise each other. Plan, and provide motivation. You’re advancing naturally.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) ––8–– Do the job yourself, or make more money doing something else and hire somebody.

Just get it done. Find what you need nearby. You have what others want. Minimize distraction.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) ––9–– You’re exceptionally perceptive for the next few weeks. You inspire others, and they tell you so. Speak out, and voice your point of view. Love flows abundantly. Send invoices.

David Malki

RamTalk

compiled by Kris Lawan That disgusting moment when you walk out of class and can smell Greeley from campus.

Daily cartoons and games available at Collegian.com. Send feedback to design@collegian.com.

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle

That awkward moment when you are so late for class that it would be an insult to your teacher, your class and your own dignity to even go.

I’m having fruit salad for dinner.

Well it’s mostly grapes actually. Ok, its all grapes. Fermented grapes.

I’m having wine for dinner.

Am I the only one who thinks the wall at the bottom of the stairs in the basement of the LSC just “appeared?”

Text your rants to 970-430-5547.

Want more?

The first RamTalk Book is officially in stock at the Student Media office in the Lory Student Center.

Buy your copy for $10, or get one online for your Kindle or Nook.

Find out if you got in!

“Like” us on Facebook.

Search for The Rocky Mountain Collegian.

Follow us on Twitter @RMCollegian.

Submit RamTalk entries to ramtalk@collegian.com. Libelous or obscene submissions will not be printed. While your comment will be published anonymously, you must leave your name and phone number for verification.

Today’s RamTalk sponsored by:

Across 1 Iraq’s main port 6 Nonspecific feeling 10 Ukr. and Lith., once 14 Find repulsive 15 Waffle maker 16 Be on the mend 17 Dine 19 Hathaway of “Les Misérables “ 20 Afrikaans speaker 21 Creator of Q and M 22 Chicks together 23 Back muscle, familiarly 24 Commonly controlled substance 27 ‘50s flop 29 His #4 was retired by the Giants in 1948 30 Social suffix 31 Sink below the horizon 33 Public hanging 34 Pontiac muscle cars 35 Roy Orbison classic 39 __ even keel 40 Glasgow veto 41 Shelley’s “To a Skylark,” e.g.

42 Reunion gp.

43 D.C. figure 44 Inviting door sign 48 1967 Human Be-In attendee 53 Gardner of the silver screen 54 Country bordered by Niger and Nigeria 55 Binary digit 56 WWII British gun 57 __ Grey tea 58 Awe-inspiring place where you might find the ends of 17-, 24-, 35- and 48-Across?

61 “__ sow, so shall ...”

62 Sword with a bell-shaped guard 63 Upper body 64 “So __ say” 65 River down under?

66 English Derby site

Yesterday’s solution

Today’s Sudoku sponsored by:

Quality Used Instruments

We’re opening a new line of guitars!

We set up guitars and we repair autoharps 482-4308

tion Men ad! this

631 S. College

(Close to campus & the Alley Cat)

Down 1 Go on and on 2 Like an American in Paris 3 Some linens 4 Howl with laughter 5 First animal shelter 6 Like super-popular YouTube clips 7 Goodnight girl of song

Yesterday’s solution

Today’s Crossword sponsored by:

8 Fluffy wrap 9 Terminate 10 Broken piece 11 Title for Miss Mexico?

12 Deserted 13 Big hammers 18 Cartoonist Keane 22 Lunch menu letters 24 Robert of “The Sopranos” 25 Like many gangster movies 26 When tots become terrible?

28 “Pardon the Interruption” channel 32 Opera hero, often 33 Gobbled up 34 FBI guys 35 Being walked, say 36 Deli order 37 After-shower powder 38 Pigged out (on) 39 Quirky 43 Ink holder 45 Volga region natives 46 “Yeah, but ...”

47 Hit-or-miss 49 __ Post, first pilot to fly solo around the world 50 Sweetie pie 51 Book end?

52 “Life of Pi” director Ang 56 Sow’s supper 58 Four-time All-Pro Patriots receiver Welker 59 Choose (to) 60 Numbered hwy.

Fort Collins Most Experienced Studio Piercings that look amazing, heal well and last longer

MENTION THIS AD FOR $10 OFF 20% OFF Any Tattoo Jewelry

(Piercing not included)

($50 or more)

632 S. College Ave. Fort Collins • 970.221.9712 www.tribalritestattoo.com

8 Tuesday, February 5, 2013 | The Rocky Mountain Collegian

Ramride |

Martel: We can’t control everyone

Continued from Page 1 situation in the past. We don’t, if there is anybody who we suspect to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol; we do not allow them in the car,” said ASCSU President Regina Martel.

“They sign, not a waiver, but a policy of ours, that says they will not operate a car while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. We try to screen our volunteers as much as possible. We can’t control what every single person does.”

Duran added that the on-site RamRide director had been attempting to reach the driver when RamRide operations stopped at 2 a.m. and the university-owned vehicles are turned in.

Austin O’Neil, the RamRide director in charge Thursday night, then contacted the navigator on his personal cell phone, when the navigator informed O’Neil he had left the vehicle and the driver had been arrested.

O’Neil declined to com-

By the numbers Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013

9

Cars in operation

137

Patrons given rides

51

Rides given

Friday, Feb. 1, 2013

19

Cars in operation

465

Patrons given rides

163 Rides given

Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013

19

Cars in operation

520

Patrons given rides

186 Rides given

178,492

Total rides given through RamRide program Source: The Associated Students of CSU Department of RamRide

ment about the incident.

Shortly afterward, a CSUPD officer came into the RamRide office to tell O’Neil what to do about the RamRide vehicle. In most

cases, the vehicle would be impounded, but since it had government plates, the officer gave O’Neil a ride back to the vehicle, who was then able to return it to the university motor pool.

Friday morning, ASCSU notified CSU administration of what happened.

“As far as RamRide policies and procedures and emergency protocol, we followed everything that’s in emergency protocol,” Duran said. That protocol includes notifying the director on call –– who was Martel the night of the incident –– and filling out an incident report.

“I just want to stress that this is an isolated incident, and the actions of one shouldn’t negatively affect everyone,” Duran said.

While not commenting on the RamRide volunteers pulled over by campus police, CSU Student Legal Services Director Kathleen Harward said it is difficult to say which legal penalties may arise from charges such as speeding, possession of marijuana, possession of

marijuana paraphernalia and DUIs. Past offenses, the age of the offender and other discretionary topics alter the penalty, Harward said.

Senior Reporter Austin Briggs can be reached at news@collegian.com.

Senior Reporters Kate Simmons, Sean Meeds, ASCSU Beat Reporter Skyler Leonard and News Editor Andrew Carrera contributed to this report.

Blogs www.community.collegian.com