Move-In Edition, Vol. 133, No. 1

THE ROCKY

Lory Student Center, Suite 118 Fort Collins, CO 80523

TOP STORIES TOP STORIES

NEWS: ASCSU’s ambitions for the upcoming school year

PAGE 7

L&C: Tips for alleviating 1st-year worries

PAGE 10

SCIENCE: Fort Collins uncertain of future Colorado River rights

PAGE 16

OPINION: LFTE: Welcome to CSU’s independent student newspaper

PAGE 20

SPORTS: A newscomer’s guide to IM sports at CSU

PAGE 36

A&E: 5 Fort Collins events to kickstart the year

PAGE 42

PHOTO: Photographer’s viewpoints of the summer break, in Fort Collins and beyond

PAGES 28 & 29

FOCO EVENTS FOCO EVENTS

Poudre RiverFest at New Belgium Brewing Company

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. Approximately 59% of Rocky Mountain Student Media Corp’s income is provided by the Associated Students of Colorado State University (ASCSU) for the purpose of fostering student careers post-college and greater campus awareness and engagement. The Rocky Mountain Collegian is a 4,000-circulation student-run newspaper intended as a public forum and is printed on paper made of 30% post-consumer waste. It publishes every Thursday during the regular fall and spring semesters. The Collegian publishes online Monday through Thursday. 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.

CORRECTIONS

Everybody makes mistakes, including us. If you encounter something in the paper you believe to be an error, please contact us at: copy@collegian.com.

Allie Seibel | Editor in Chief editor@collegian.com

Ivy Secrest | Content Managing Editor managingeditor@collegian.com Parisa Farhadi | Digital & Social Managing Editor managingeditor@collegian.com

Lauren Pallemaerts | Night Editor copy@collegian.com

Adah McMillan | Copy Chief copy@collegian.com

Nathan Carmody | Print Editor design@collegian.com

Beyond Borders Festival 2023 at Ten Bears Winery

1 p.m. Aug. 13

SWAY International Dance Festival 10th Anniversity at The Lincoln Center

7 p.m. Aug. 19

Noon Aug. 12 Letters

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Please follow the guidelines listed at collegian.com before submitting.

EDITORIAL STAFF

Caden Proulx | Assistant Print Editor design@collegian.com

Trin Bonner | Illustration Editor design@collegian.com

Milo Gladstein | Photo Director photo@collegian.com

Garrett Mogel | Photo Director photo@collegian.com

Samy Gentle | News Editor news@collegian.com

Ayla Sanchez | News Editor news@collegian.com

Christian Arndt | L&C Director life@collegian.com

Jenn Dawson | Science Director cannabis@collegian.com

Dominique Lopez | Opinion Director letters@collegian.com

Damon Cook | Sports Editor sports@collegian.com

Emma Askren | Sports Editor sports@collegian.com

Alex Hasenkamp | A&E Director entertainment@collegian.com

Trevor Keenan, Captain of Gunnison fire engine 617, coordinates fire crews from Castleton Ranch in Gunnison Colorado July. 7. The fire was caused by a lighting strike that morning and has burned 1816 acres with crews containing 55% of the fire so far.

PHOTO BY GARRETT MOGEL THE COLLEGIAN

Resigned FCPS officer sued for false DUI charges

By Allie Seibel @allie_seibel_

Several Northern Colorado residents are suing former Fort Collins Police Services officer Jason Haferman after a string of false DUI arrests and charges in 2021 and 2022. After at least 14 DUI arrests that were later dismissed by a plaintiff, an internal investigation by Fort Collins Police Services eventually led to Haferman’s resignation.

“We had, in the past two or three years, had our concerns kind of raised when we had gotten reports or investigations done by Jason Haferman long before any lawsuit was filed,” said Matthew Haltzman, founder of Haltzman Law Firm, who has been a practicing criminal attorney for almost 10 years and represents Derrick Groves, one of five people suing Haferman. “He was known as someone who was not always truthful or engaging in police practices that were not by the book.”

According to the internal report conducted, six policy allegations were placed against Haferman. Of those six, four were sustained, and according to the report, if

Haferman had not resigned before the conclusion of the investigation, he would have been terminated.

timely manner and give accurate testimony,” the conclusion of the report read. “This investigation was initiated because of the district attorney refusing to accept and prosecute any of Officer Haferman’s cases. This is a significant decision by the district attorney and clearly demonstrates their loss of trust in Officer Haferman.”

All five lawsuits were filed May 3. The lawsuits were against not only Haferman but also against his supervisor, an unnamed corporal and the City of Fort Collins.

Haltzman said his client, Groves, a Loveland resident, came into contact with Haferman April 7, 2022, after his Tesla went off the roadway because of an overcorrection issue while steering. All witnesses on the scene attested that Groves was sober, but when Haferman got to the scene, it became a DUI investigation, and Groves was arrested. He later had his case dismissed two months later after taking a blood test to prove his sobriety following the arrest.

in Fort Collins, including (Colorado State University) students who are driving to their homes and young professionals and, in certain cases, veterans and elderly individuals,” Haltzman said. “I mean, he just did not discriminate.”

The CSU Police Department did not comment on the issue, as it was not directly connected with the university.

“This investigation revealed issues with Officer Haferman’s ability to accurately document his police actions, complete his reports in a

“What we started seeing when we started compiling the data between different DUIs and court orders from the county district court was that he had no aberrations acting unconstitutionally or acting against policy but was actually engaging in a pattern and practice of policy violations, unconstitutional activity and making false and wrongful arrests,” Haltzman said. “We were able to kind of map that out with a series of individuals who were extremely brave that were willing to come forward and tell their stories and interactions with Jason Haferman and Fort Collins Police. And so that’s kind of the foundation of how this all formed.”

“What we have learned through this process is that once Haferman decided he was going to make an arrest for DUI, it didn’t matter what the evidence is, it didn’t matter what somebody was saying,” Haltzman said. “It didn’t matter how well they perform on roadside tests or how well they were communicating — he was going to make that arrest.”

According to the lawsuits, Haferman made more DUI arrests in one year than anyone in the history of FCPS, and in 2021, he regularly deactivated his body-worn camera during interactions with civilians. Disabling a body cam is against the law.

“As a Fort Collins police officer, he has interaction with everyone

Haltzman said in the event of a false DUI charge, the driver should remain calm and know their constitutional rights and protections, and they should get in touch with a legal counsel.

“It’s a really difficult situation,” Haltzman said. “It a great question because it’s like, what do you do when the people who are supposed to be administering and enforcing law are the ones breaking it, right? It’s kind of almost an impossible answer.”

All claims made in civil lawsuits are allegations, and all defendants named in these lawsuits are considered innocent until and unless proven otherwise. View the included documents at collegian.com. Reach Allie Seibel at news @collegian.com.

“As a Fort Collins police officer, he has interaction with everyone in Fort Collins, including (Colorado State University) students who are driving to their homes and young professionals and, in certain cases, veterans and elderly individuals. I mean, he just did not discriminate.”

MATTHEW HALTZMAN CRIMINAL ATTORNEY

Ram Welcome leaders enhance the 1st-year experience

By Allie Seibel @allie_seibel_

For many new Colorado State University students, the transition into college can be marred with anxiety and nerves over the reality of living alone for the first time. Most students have only had small doses of the CSU experience until their summer orientation session, when they are greeted by friendly and approachable returning CSU students to help introduce them to campus through activities and bonding events over the course of two days.

Ram Welcome, a staple week for incoming CSU first-years, builds on that summer orientation experience. A week packed full of activities, events and opportunities for new students to build community and new connections, Ram Welcome is shepherded and guided by the Ram Welcome leaders — volunteer students who give up a week of their summer to welcome the newest Rams to campus.

“ e Ram Welcome experience is important because it really helps in the initial transition to college life,” wrote Rubyann Bates, a fourthyear CSU student returning to be a

Ram Welcome leader for the second year. “ at first week can be really hard. For many, it is their first time away from home and away from their families. Ram Welcome helps people get out of their dorms and meet new people and make friends. It helps them get introduced to CSU’s campus and lets them have a little bit of fun before classes start.”

While Ram Welcome is not mandatory for new students, they are highly encouraged and expected to participate in all activities. Ram Welcome leaders lead sessions during the day designed to get students comfortable with campus, making personal connections and creating memories during their first days on campus.

“My favorite part about being a Ram Welcome leader is welcoming incoming first-year students and making sure that the students have a place to feel like they can be themselves and have a great place to call home for the next upcoming years at CSU,” wrote orne Hensel, a Ram Welcome leader returning for his second year with the program. “To me, this experience is important because as a transfer student, I did not get the opportunity with COVID to experience the school before going

(to CSU). When there are older students showing the ropes of being a college student and what it means to be a Ram, I think it makes a tremendous impact on building a closer and stronger community.”

Ram Welcome is highlighted by annual events like the Ram Welcome Carnival Aug. 17 and the Hike to the A, Rambunctious Pep Rally and annual CSU class photo Aug. 19, according to the Ram Welcome schedule found on the Orientation and Transition Programs’ website.

New additions to this year’s Ram Welcome include Pancakes with Pride, a chance to connect with the LGBTQ+ community at Ingersoll Hall Aug. 17, and a workshop run by the CSU Health Network Aug. 19, including free snow cones and prizes.

“I enjoy exciting new students to be at CSU and sharing my tips and tricks to help them be successful,” wrote Audrey Bankes, a senior Ram Welcome leader. “Meeting the new students reminds me why I love CSU and allows me to give back to the campus. Ram Welcome is important because it helps students get started on the right foot. It is an opportunity to answer questions, find resources and make friends.”

While Ram Welcome is about introducing new students to each other and having fun, the week also includes Convocation — the first and only time the entire class will all be in one place. Students will hear from university officials and student leaders before meeting with individual colleges and majors later in the day.

“My favorite memories are getting new students excited at the pep rally, helping print shirts at Ramapalooza and touring students around campus to get them ready for their first day,” Bankes wrote.

During the Pep Rally, Ram Welcome leaders choreograph and perform a dance for the incoming class — a highlight for many Ram Welcome leaders.

“My favorite part about being a Ram Welcome leader is getting to meet all of the new students at CSU and helping in their first days as they transition to college life,” Bates wrote. “My favorite memory from my time at Ram Welcome is performing the dance at the pep rally. e dance is such a fun thing to perform, and it is really fun for the first-years to watch all of us perform it for them. Definitely a highlight of Ram Welcome.”

For the Ram Welcome leaders, they are the ones guiding new students around campus to the various Ram Welcome events. ey undergo training during the summer and are all volunteer students. Most want to be Ram Welcome leaders for the experience of paying back their CSU welcome experience to a new class of Rams.

“My favorite memory as a Ram Welcome leader is growing closer to other Ram Welcome leaders,” Hensel wrote. “Last year I found new connections with the other leaders that have grown to close friendships.”

While the process and transition into college is often daunting for new students, the Ram Welcome program exists to make sure meaningful connections and comfort with campus exists before students even enter a classroom.

“ is year, freshmen can expect a lot of fun experiences from Ram Welcome,” Bates wrote. “With all the events we have going on that week, they will not want to miss it. ere will be a ton of opportunities to make friends and get to explore the campus. It will be so much fun!”

Reach Allie Seibel at news @collegian.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

ASCSU’s ambitions for the upcoming school year

By Samy Gentle @samy_gentle_

Most of Colorado State University’s students may have been on summer break for the past couple of months, but a certain group has remained hard at work: the Associated Students of Colorado State University.

ASCSU has been meeting biweekly over the summer, and members worked on planning future projects as well as meeting with leaders across campus, according to Alex Silverhart, vice president of ASCSU.

Planning of projects for the upcoming year involved a variety of topics, including health, academics and social events, according to Silverhart. One such project involving wellness is the hopeful introduction of health supply vending machines to campus with help from the CSU

Health and Medical Center.

ese proposed vending machines would contain discounted emergency contraceptives in addition to other over-thecounter medications for students, according to Silverhart. e goal would be to have these emergency contraceptives supplied through the CSU Health Network Pharmacy and to keep the price under $10.

“ e typical $50 price tags at local grocery and convenience stores is not realistic for students,” Silverhart wrote. “We also want to create a way for students to obtain Plan B (the contraceptive) without interaction with anyone else. It can be a very vulnerable purchase.”

On top of sexual health resources, ASCSU also has goals of bringing other wellness resources to Rams.

ASCSU’s Director of Health Jorja

Whyte has been working with a committee to get Narcan and EpiPens into every building on campus.  Mental health efforts will

include monthly tabling, according to Silverhart, as well as Whyte’s work toward getting embedded counseling into the LSC for better access to mental health resources.

“To make (counseling resources) more accessible, the Health Network and I are hoping to have counselors stationed in different offices across the LSC,” Whyte wrote. is would include Student Diversity Programs and Services offices such as the Pride Resource Center and El Centro. ese counselors would be from the Health Network’s multicultural counseling program, Whyte added.

One typical cause of student mental strife can be difficult classes. In order to help ease that stress, Silverhart said ASCSU Director of Academics eo Reese has been working to bring a syllabus bank to CSU. is resource would allow for students

to view class syllabi before registering for courses in order to avoid having too many difficult classes at one time.

Plans for this syllabus bank would include either professors uploading their own course syllabi or students uploading syllabi from their past classes, with a pilot version of the program hopefully available for spring registration, according to Silverhart.

“We understand that professors may not want to upload their syllabi, but students spend thousands of dollars on a single class,” Silverhart wrote. “We believe students deserve more autonomy when choosing their classes.”

In addition to the above efforts, ASCSU also has projects in the works for more student events to take place, including an old CSU tradition: Grill the Buff s.

Director of Traditions and Programs for ASCSU Meron Siyoum has been planning this

year’s event for Sept. 15, the day before the CSU football game against the University of Colorado Boulder. Grill the Buff s will be an event to get students hyped for the Rocky Mountain Showdown, and there will be free buffalo burgers, speeches from the football and volleyball teams and appearances from both twolegged and four-legged CAM the Ram, according to Siyoum.

“We are finally bringing back the tradition after a four-year hiatus because of COVID and not playing Boulder (in football) since 2019,” Siyoum wrote.

“I am working with the deputy director of traditions, Kaila Bryner, to create fun new events for the student body as well as maintain the traditions we all love,” Siyoum wrote.

Reach Samy Gentle at news@ collegian.com.

Nick DeSalvo and Alex Silverhart hug each other after they are announced as this year’s president and vice president of the Associated Students of Colorado State University in the senate chambers April 5.

PHOTO BY REILEY COSTA THE COLLEGIAN

“We understand that professors may not want to upload their syllabi, but students spend thousand of dollars on a single class. We believe students deserve more autonomy when choosing their classes.”

ALEX SILVERHART ASCSU VICE PRESIDENT

Tips for alleviating first-year worries

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY CHRISTIAN ARNDT THE COLLEGIAN

By Christian Arndt @csucollegian

Welcome to Colorado State University, Rams! College is a rollercoaster of different experiences — some being better than others — but the fun lies in the experiences. Here is some advice to help you ease into your new life in college and at CSU.

Establish good study habits early on

It is easy to get swept up in your newfound freedom from home while embracing your young adulthood; however, this is college, and building strong study habits will ensure that awkward conversation with parents about your grades ends up being positive.

Make sure to take detailed notes, keep track of exam dates, stay on top of coursework and actually go to class.

A useful technique to keep yourself from being burnt out from studying is to space out your work. This can be done by either working on coursework for a short time a

day over numerous days or studying for 30 minutes, taking a 10-minute break and repeating.

Being consistent with schoolwork is very important to stay on track, so find a rhythm that works for you. Meet people by taking advantage of school events

It may be scary meeting new people and getting yourself out there, but know that thousands of students are also in the same headspace. Take advantage of this, and put yourself out there.

You may hear from your Ram Welcome leaders that the first two weeks are very important for meeting new people — this is very much the truth. Many people establish friendships within the first few weeks before and during the start of your classes.

Leave your dorm door open while moving in, and say hi to your neighbors. Introduce yourself to the people sitting next to you during events, and embrace any social setting you find yourself in.

Know your professor before meeting your professor

Once classes are chosen and the drop deadline has long passed, you are going to be locked into that class for the rest of the semester. One of the easiest ways to see if a certain class you want is taught by a fun professor is through research.

RateMyProfessors.com is a valuable resource to utilize in order to see how a professor’s class functions, what people think of the coursework and how they enjoyed the lessons taught. Plenty of people use this source to find a suitable fit for their personality.

Confidence in the classroom translates to your coursework

Honestly, your first college classes can be very anxiety-inducing. You may feel like you are drowning in a sea of 200-plus people, and you may hesitate you ask an important question about coursework because of this.

However, a simple approach is to sit in the first three rows in front of your professor. The room is as big as you make it, so if you sit closer to the front, you are automatically more likely to feel more relaxed and confident about asking questions.

Another helpful tip is to attend office hours. Honestly, there is no better way to understand coursework than dropping by for 10 minutes and talking with your professor about it. Your professors want to help you succeed in their courses, so take advantage of these office hours.

Be safe at parties

Look: A big part of college life is going to parties, but that does not mean ignoring safety.

Always go out with a group of friends, keep your eyes on your beverage of choice and always have a safe means of transportation to get back to your dorm room. Rams take care of Rams, so make sure to take care of yourself and the group you’re with. But ultimately, enjoy yourself, and let off some much-needed classwork steam in whatever ways you find helpful for you.

Time your laundry just right

Laundry can be so utterly frustrating in dorms. There is no worse feeling than hauling your heavy load of laundry down to the machines only to see that they are full.

An easy way to navigate this issue is establishing a solid time when you know not many people are doing their laundry. Are you an early riser? Throw the load in first thing in the morning. Do you go to bed late? Throw it in right before bed.

Some good times to get some laundry done are Friday night, Saturday morning and Sunday morning while everyone is either out with friends or sleeping off the weekend.

With that said, have a great time, Rams! CSU has a beautiful campus and fantastic people. A majority of people consider their college years to be their best, and we at The Collegian hope yours is just as great as well!

Reach Christian Arndt at life @collegian.com.

Pizza Casbah feeds authentic New Yorkstyle pizza to FoCo

Be in the know.

Marijuana use is not allowed on campus. For exemptions from CSU policy, scan the QR code.

No smoking, tobacco, or vaping on campus.

By Christian Arndt @csucollegian

Pizza Casbah has long been a staple for New York-style pizza near the Colorado State University campus as well as a popular local favorite.

Located at 126 W. Laurel St., Pizza Casbah was established by Deano Zahakis, a New York native who moved to Fort Collins in 1999. Shortly after, he and a friend founded Pizza Casbah, which has seen plenty of success and still going strong since its creation.

Peter Harvey, the current owner of Pizza Casbah, reflected on Zahakis’ creation of the pizzeria and what inspired him to construct it.

“He was trying to recreate the vibes when he would surf out in Long Island, where he would hit the pizza shops and arcades that were around there,” Harvey said.

Harvey takes great pride in how everything is prepared fresh and with care in-house — a process that has been set in place and respected since the creation of the establishment.

“Our main thing that I would like everyone to know is that everything is fresh here,” Harvey said. “ e dough is hand-thrown; we cook it on stone. We handchop all of our produce. All of our sauces are made fresh. We don’t buy anything and rip it open and pour it into a bucket. Everything is made from scratch here, which sets us apart from a lot of places.”

Pizza Casbah is also home to one of the most notorious food challenges in Northern Colorado: the 30-inch pizza challenge, which originated back in 2011.  You only have one hour to accomplish the challenge, you cannot leave your seat and you can do it with only one other person.

e Pizza Casbah website even has

a section on how to complete their challenge and what to consider — if you are up for it, of course. e rewards are the reimbursed $65 buy-in and well-deserved pizzaconsuming bragging rights.

“It’s a 30-inch pizza with five different toppings that the customers have to choose,” Harvey said. “ ey have an hour to do it, and they have to eat the entire thing. We have had four groups accomplish it, and we’ve had hundreds try.”

Pizza Casbah was featured on the Food Network show “Outrageous Food” because of this challenge.

e episode featured three groups of people competing to see who can finish the challenge first — or at least eat as much of the pizza as possible.

Pizza Casbah has won numerous awards spanning across over two decades of establishment, including NoCo’s Best 2021 for having the best pizza in Northern Colorado.

“We won best pizza through almost every single magazine or newspaper at some point throughout our 23 years of being here,” Harvey said. “Just recently, we did a Taste of Fort Collins competition with all the pizza places, where every pizza place submitted a pizza, and we ended up winning first place, which was a pretty cool move for us because it was based on taste, not votes.”

Along with a rich history, awards and a great pizza challenge, Pizza Casbah also outputs a great amount of involvement within the Fort Collins community.

“We do donations through CSU, the city, small nonprofit organizations,” Harvey said. “We will donate pizzas or gift cards towards any sort of cause that is local.”

Read the full version of this article at collegian.com.

Reach Christian Arndt at life @collegian.com.

You can get a ticket for underage drinking WITHOUT taking a breathalizer.

Take care of your fellow Rams. Call for help in an alcohol or drug-related emergency.

When to call 911:

• Unconscious or unresponsive

• Skin cold, clammy, pale, bluish, blotchy

• Shallow, irregular, or slow breathing

• Mental confusion, stupor, coma-like symptoms, seizures, convulsions, rigid spasms

• Vomiting while asleep or unconscious

PHOTO COURTESY OF PIZZA CASBAH

Meet the Pride Resource Center’s new assistant director

By Ivy Secrest @ivysecrest

Josh Mack may be new to his role as the Pride Resource Center’s assistant director, but he is not new to Colorado State University.

Formerly advising students in the Community for Excellence program, Mack is passionate about helping students find their voice and taking student input to let them mold the systems that assist them.

“I’m passionate about centering the student voice,” Mack said. “We’re making a lot of decisions and leading students and guiding them, but we really want to ensure that their voice and their perspectives are at the forefront of everything that we’re doing.”

Originally studying audiology, thinking he would be assisting people with their hearing aids, Mack took a major career change when he entered the field of mentorship and higher education.  He changed focus and graduated with a degree in communication sciences and disorders from Baylor University as well as earning a

Master of Science in educational administration from Texas A&M University. It was in this grad program that Mack fell in love with student work.

writing and support for LGBTQ+ students,” Mack said. “I was working with the pride center there, doing some mentoring work, and that’s kind of when I really fell in love with student work.”

Since day one, Mack’s new role as assistant director has been fastpaced, attending events like Denver Pride and learning the ins and outs of his new position.

“I actually got to start my first day in the role on June 1,” Mack said. “It was on the first day of Pride Month, so that felt super poetic to be able to kick off Pride Month in a new position with the Pride Center.”

As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, Mack is also familiar with how complex and unique each person’s journey with identity can be.

“I came out towards the end of my college journey,” Mack said.

“(I) definitely know what it’s like to navigate the college experience trying to figure out and still develop your sense of self and your identity.”

with coming to terms with your identity in college has made him more equipped for the job.

“I realized in that moment that coming out is not just a one-time thing,” Mack said. “You don’t just come out and it’s fireworks and rainbows everywhere; it’s still an ongoing journey.”

“I think that’s something that I brought into this position is knowing that with queerness and with our community, we kind of have to meet students where they are,” Mack said.

e Pride Center celebrates Coming into Queerness Day as their version of National Coming Out Day to reflect how different identity can be for individuals. Some never feel the need to come out — they are themselves first and foremost — while for others, the coming out process is a pinnacle part of stepping into their queerness.

Beyond being well prepared to serve the queer community at CSU, Mack is a nature lover who is incredibly excited to take to Colorado’s great outdoors, hiking and kayaking his way through the state.

Being from the incredibly diverse city of Houston, Mack loves trying new cuisines and considers himself a foodie.

“I really appreciate diversity and trying out new foods and new cultures,” Mack said. “ So I’m always trying to find new restaurants and try out different places to eat and different types of food.”

A foodie, a nature lover and an advocate, Mack hopes he can help students realize that they do have support on campus — people who will have their backs and take their feedback as well as support them.

“While I was in grad school, I got to do a lot of research and

Mack’s familiarity with all of the questions and experiences that go

“We’re going to have students here that are ready to fully embrace their queerness and ready to do all the things, and we still have students that aren’t quite sure yet,” Mack said.

“You don’t have to be fully into your queerness to come into our center,” Mack said. “You don’t have to be queer at all to come into our center; our space is really just a spot for students to come and learn and grow and be themselves.”

Reach Ivy Secrest at life @collegian.com.

Josh Mack stands outside the Pride Resource Center located in the Lory Student Center as the new director. The Pride Resource Center provides support and resources to students in the LGBTQ+ community at Colorado State University.

PHOTO BY CHRISTIAN ARNDT THE COLLEGIAN

“I realized in that moment that coming out is not just a onetime thing. You don’t just come out and it’s fireworks and rainbows everywhere; it’s still an ongoing journey.”

JOSH MACK PRIDE RESOURCE CENTER ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

Welcome to the Science Desk

ILLUSTRATION BY TRIN BONNER THE COLLEGIAN

By Jenn Dawson @jennfriend_y

What makes you curious?

Have you ever wondered how long a tardigrade would live on Mars?

Or could a fungus clean up our planet?

Would humanity as we know it exist without alcohol?

What innovations are most likely to help us through the Colorado River water crisis?

Would you rather learn how prosthetic limbs communicate with the brain or what kind of disaster might actually kill the earth’s cockroaches?

Maybe your interests lean more toward esports and video game applications for education, how an mRNA vaccine really works or what would physically happen to you while approaching lightspeed?

Fortunately for students at Colorado State University, an entire research university is at our fingertips. We sit on a campus of world-renowned scientists who are highly likely to answer our emails, allow us to tour their labs and share unpublished updates on their discoveries.

Curiosity — combined with the persistence and tenacity of a campus evangelist — is a sure way to unearth new ideas and unlock solutions that have never been tried.

Ask the most resourceful people your most bizarre questions, and simply watch the chaotic energy manifest creativity and new life.

We have more questions than we give ourselves credit for. And we’re more capable of finding answers here than most other places.

Does CSU research the migration patterns of European swallows?

Well, no, but we do know about the reproductive behavior of the island scrub jay.

OK, maybe sometimes we look for explanations in all the wrong places or we fail to understand the value of what we learn. But that’s why we do better together — that’s why we include community in our quest for novelty and problem-solving.

Our team is going to learn from organizations and scientists all over campus and Northern Colorado. We are going to ask outlandish questions and then report what we discover.

Share your curiosities with us. Challenge us to investigate difficult subjects, and ask bizarre questions. Tell us about the lab you work in or the way that you want to change the world through research.

If you are interested in a topic, lab or researcher or if you have a theory to challenge or an idea to explore, then we want to know.

My hope for this desk is that we all learn together while celebrating the science heroes who fight alongside us for parking spaces every single semester.

ank you for your curiosity, your support of student research and your time spent wondering.

I am excited to hear from you!

Jenn Dawson

Send your ideas and questions to jdawson@collegian.com.

WORLD

GRAPHIC

KCSU IS OUT OF THIS

NATURAL RESOURCES

Fort Collins uncertain of future Colorado River rights

By Ivy Secrest @ivysecrest

The Colorado River Basin supplies water to 40 million people. For seven U.S. states, including the headwater state of Colorado, it is an essential resource that sustains agriculture as well as local municipalities.

Since 2000, the amount of water consumed from the basin has exceeded its natural flow. This has led to historic lows in the nation’s two largest surface water reservoirs: Lake Mead and Lake Powell. This overuse puts 40 million of those water users at risk of water scarcity, which has led to renegotiations of water rights detailed in the Colorado River Compact within the past several years as well as local negotiations and agreements.

In May of this year, Arizona, California and Nevada agreed to reduce their water consumption from the Colorado River; however, discussions of use are ongoing for the majority of users.

Fort Collins gets 40-70% of its water from the Colorado River, depending on the water year, according to Jennifer Dial, water resources manager for the City of Fort Collins. The rest comes from the Cache la Poudre River basin.

“The Colorado River issue has caused concerns,” Dial said. “We’re

monitoring it and being as much involved in conversations as we can, but at this point it’s not completely affecting us.”

A major concern for Fort Collins in the continuing negotiations is maintaining proper water access and modeling water use around new distributions. As the U.S. government is considering unprecedented steps to reduce water use, some local governments are beginning to prepare for cuts.

“There’s been discussions around decreasing allotments for those of us in the upper basin,” Dial said.

“So that would be Fort Collins. And given how much of our supplies comes from the Colorado River, that is a concern and (impacts) how we plan and model for our future.”

Solutions to limited water supply will vary depending on final decisions regarding the upper basin; however, if less water is available, restrictions will likely be put in place.

“Not having the Colorado supplies ultimately means that we’re going to be looking at more and more water restrictions,” Dial said.

The city does invest in conservation, which should help to mitigate the water use and concerns.

“Our conservation department is very proactive,” Dial said. “They have a lot of programs to decrease water demand for different developments,

and that’s going to continue. That will help mitigate this situation.”

Though a common concern is the amount of water available itself, Fort Collins is also concerned with water storage. To address the storage concerns, a project to expand Halligan Reservoir along the Poudre River has been in the works.

“Our biggest constraint right now is we need storage,” Dial said. “And we’ve been working for 15 years on expanding our Halligan Reservoir so that we can take all these water rights that we have and put them into storage for drought situations.”

Director of Water for the City of Fort Collins Jason Graham told city council in a work session early this year that there may be some uncertainty regarding water from the Colorado-Big Thompson Project in the future due to Colorado River supply issues. This system feeds into Horsetooth Reservoir, making it of particular concern for residents on the Front Range.

The Fort Collins-Loveland Water District and the East Larimer County Water District are particularly susceptible to changes in supply from the Colorado River. The Fort Collins-Loveland Water District receives roughly 90% of its water from the Colorado-Big Thompson Project, while the East Larimer County Water District receives roughly 70%.

Though these discussions are directed by the federal government, the city is doing its best to make sure its input is considered, Dial said.

“Fort Collins is doing the best to manage our water,” Dial said. “And we acknowledge the challenges that we face.”

Reach Ivy Secrest at science@ collegian.com.

Center for Science Communication connects complex science to the community

with the growing population, it is becoming more important every day to have a community of people who know how to communicate scientific information.

By Samy Gentle @samy_gentle_

What do agriculture, human health, veterinary medicine and energy issues all have in common? All of the aforementioned topics are points of focus for Colorado State University’s Center for Science Communication.

The CSC works as a central location to link “CSU experts, professionals and students to develop researchdriven strategies to understand the communication of science,” according to Connor McHugh, a graduate student involved with the center.

“The center focuses on helping stakeholders communicate effectively about science and provide expert solutions to science communication problems,” McHugh wrote. “One of the major goals of the CSC is to work towards having a strong foundational network of science communication efforts and using that to create community and dialogue around science.”

According to McHugh, research suggests that social distance between the public and scientists is a relatively new occurrence, and

“Scientists sometimes craft information that has nomenclature that the public is not familiar with,” said Samuel Tham, a member of the steering committee for the CSC. “Being able to have messaging relevant to the public at large is impactful to show how we may need to adapt and change based on scientific knowledge.”

The CSC works to find out what is going on in the world of science and then puts that information into easy-to-understand media formats for the public, according to graduate student Benjamin Randall.

“We’re like the mediators between you viewing science and you understanding science,” Randall wrote.

The center works largely with students within the journalism and media communication program, according to McHugh.

“The JMC graduate degree has a science communication concentration, and the center acts as a space to gain experience with both research and applied work in a more in-depth way while being surrounded by experts,” McHugh wrote.

In addition to the previously mentioned goals, the CSC also is interconnected with the Science Communication Club at CSU, which Tham is the advisor of. The club meets multiple times during the semester and exposes students to experiential learning opportunities and guest speakers involved with science communication fields, according to McHugh.

“The center is a funded department wing of the JMC sector, whereas the SCC is a student organization and club,” Randall wrote. “We try to get the two to align whenever we can — most people involved in one are also involved in some facet with the other.”

The Science Communication Club is a great way for any and all

students to get involved with the CSC, which they can do by simply attending a meeting. McHugh said the club is looking to grow participation of students from all the different colleges of CSU.

“Historically, the club has been made up mostly of students who have a JMC major or minor, which is great, but we’re also hoping to invite more students to science programs to give all of our students a chance to develop their science communication skills,” McHugh wrote.

“There’s just so many outstanding events, research and opportunities going on on our planet — let alone at our university — and being able to explain in layman’s terms these interesting tidbits of science ... is what communication is all about,” Randall wrote. “It’s wholesome, it’s pure — it’s the CSC, baby.”

Reach Samy Gentle at science@ collegian.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GARRETT MOGEL

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CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS

10 odd topics of CSU research

By Jenn Dawson @jennfriend_y

The odds are that either you found CSU for its research, merely noticed the phrase “research university” in a catalog somewhere or have no clue what a research university really is.

A research university is a school that prioritizes education alongside investigation of new knowledge. The school also has a responsibility to create many, many doctors of many different kinds. Research professors are doctors of any field who divide their time between instruction and research. CSU is one of 146 research universities in the U.S. (less than 4% of universities in the country have R1 status).

An important detail to note is that research can be scientific, like in STEM fields, or nonscientific, like in arts or history.

Most CSU research is found within one of the eight colleges on campus and is produced by centers, groups, institutes and laboratories. These are individuals and subjectfocused organizations of scientists with specific missions and goals. Centers and institutes here are often multidisciplinary or transdisciplinary — a collaboration between scientists in different fields of study,

like economics and agriculture, for example.

The scope of research that CSU houses is so wide that no one person is familiar with every study happening on campus. Typical research topics in sciences are usually well known: AI and computer science, climate change and environmental science, brain plasticity and neuroscience.

But the scope of research is truly found in the projects that don’t get overwhelming attention and are nonetheless making the world a far better place — so I’ve cherrypicked a list of slightly lesserknown research projects to exhibit the surprising range of science that CSU has to offer.

1. Customer satisfaction of companies that lobby

Kelly Martin and coauthors recently investigated attitudes about businesses that invest in lobbying public officials. Turns out that customer satisfaction is not as positive as the company’s financial rewards.

2. Repercussions of wolf reintroduction

90% of the benefits of reintroduction are seen along the Front Range in places that largely

don’t have to deal with costs of coexisting with wolves. The Western Slope experiences most of the burdens of reintroduction and only 5% of the overall benefits.

3. Chocolate-covered crickets

Cricket exoskeletons are a stigmatized and untapped superfood in America.Tiffany Weir has evidence for the far-reaching health benefits of her artisan chocolate cricket patties, particularly for irritable bowel syndrome and gut health.

4. Older adults’ attitudes on assisted suicide

The Canetto Research Team has reviewed rising requests for, predictors of and feelings about assisted suicide among older adults.

5. Potato diseases

The Charkowski Laboratory studies the pathogens that plague potatoes and how to help potato growers with disease management. The lab is currently collaborating on the National Necrotic Potato Virus Project.

6. Sex differences in the brain

The Center for Metabolism of Infectious Diseases found evidence

of differences between sexes in the regulation of behavior, stress responses and cardiovascular outcomes.

7. Soft robots

The Adaptive Robotics Laboratory makes robotics from compliant — instead of rigid — materials that can morph and reshape for applications like surgery and wearable robotics for disabilities.

8. The shape of cancer

The shape of cells in mammals correlates with their function and gene expression. From the department of chemical and biological engineering, this lab investigates small changes in cell shapes and their relation to cancer invasiveness.

9. Listening for biodiversity

The Sound and Light Ecology Team uses before and after audio recordings of burn areas to analyze the effects of wildfires on Colorado biodiversity, particularly in species of birds.

10. Mysterious Canadian mountains

From the department of geosciences, the Mackenzie Mountain Project investigates the origins of a mountain range that developed far away from the kind

of plate tectonic activity that usually creates mountain ranges.

Maintaining a broad idea of available research helps students to discover new fields, new passions and new ideas. Students at research universities have unique opportunities to get involved in niche areas that interest them. Any undergraduate student on their way to a bachelor’s degree can participate in hundreds of studies conducted online and inperson — and can get money or class credit for it. Ask your instructors!

Even more importantly, CSU undergrads have opportunities to work for researchers. Whether it’s basic data entry, guiding participants through studies or even designing studies and analyzing data like a scientist, most undergrads are never offered research assistant opportunities like what is available on our campus from your first year.

Do some exploring, ask your roommates about their labs, participate in studies that interest you and let us know what you find.

Reach Jenn Dawson at jdawson@ collegian.com.

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Welcome to CSU’s independent student newspaper

daily paper for decades, printing both local and national news for students. If you’re ever curious to learn some deep history about CSU, our archives are both in the library and in the Rocky Mountain Student Media offices in the basement of the Lory Student Center.

By Allie Seibel @allie_seibel_

Welcome home, Rams! Whether you’re sitting down to read this in your brand new dorm room or returning to campus after a summer away, let me be the first to welcome you to e Rocky Mountain Collegian, your source for all news related to Colorado State University and Fort Collins.

My name is Allie Seibel, and I am the editor in chief of e Collegian. A little bit about us: e Collegian was founded in 1891 and will be 132 years old this December. What started as a weekly student newspaper back when CSU was Colorado Agricultural College transitioned to a

e paper has changed a lot over time: In 2019, we stopped being a daily and switched to being what is called an alt-weekly newspaper. “Alt” stands for “alternative” and not “alternate.” e pandemic was exceptionally hard on the news industry, and coupled with the constant push away from print media, we transitioned into becoming a larger paper that publishes daily online and weekly in print. Catch our colorful covers and in-depth papers on stands around campus (and Fort Collins) each ursday.

Perhaps the most unique part of e Collegian (and something I’m particularly proud of) is that we are a fully independent student newspaper. We do receive our funding in part from a longstanding contract with the Associated Students of Colorado State University, but the rest is funded by our advertisers. In 2008, Rocky Mountain Student Media Corporation formed as a unique and independent corporation completely free from the university. While we do cover CSU and have strong working

relationships with professionals and experts at the university, we are your source for independent news. at means you can count on us for your unbiased local news. We’ll be with you throughout every step of the way this year, looking out for you when things change, alerting you when something is breaking, informing you of cultural campus events and teaching you more about the beautiful beating heart of CSU — the campus and community. We’re not afraid to ask the hard questions about things you might wonder, such as where your tuition and fee money directly goes or how the leaders of CSU are preparing for the future as our university continues to grow. We are here for our readers, as we are all students ourselves.

We want to hear from you this year: anything you see that you think we should be paying attention to, whether that be breaking news or events you’d like to see us at. We’re here for you, and we want this paper to be yours as much as it is ours.

As we begin this exciting new chapter in CSU history, we’d love to have you join us. Our mission at e Collegian is to be an enriching and gratifying academic extracurricular opportunity for students of all majors. While most of our students are journalism majors looking to get

professional experience in the field, we also have students from almost every college and a host of different majors.

All abilities and interests are welcomed at e Collegian. We have a fantastic photo desk that is constantly winning awards and always looking to meet new photographers. Our design desk illustrates beautiful graphics for stories and also draws weekly comic strips. Our print design team has the gratifying job of designing the paper once a week, and our copy desk is always hiring copy editors to help proofread stories as well.

For writers, we have six desks: news, which covers campus, city and state news; life and culture, which covers anything from cultural events to restaurants and businesses in Fort Collins; arts and entertainment, which focuses on music,art and performances in the area; sports, which features both division CSU teams and intramural coverage; opinion, the perfect place for any budding columnist; and our brand-new science desk.

e passion project of a few of us on staff, the science desk will be your go-to spot for news of research endeavors around campus. e science culture of CSU and Fort Collins in general is rich and fascinating, and we cannot wait to inform you of some of the discoveries made right here on campus.

We’re currently seeking student freelance reporters for all of our desks, as well as freelance photographers and illustrators. If you’re interested in working with us, sign up for training here, or stop by our newsroom in the LSC (Room 118) to get more information. All of our positions are paid, with freelancers making $15-25 per assignment. If you love it here, we have opportunities for advancement to hourly roles as well. Published work looks great on any resume, and we are a great place to learn and grow.

I can confidently say that e Collegian is an amazing home and place to belong on campus. I remember being in your shoes as a new student, and I found a community of kind and like-minded people in that office in the basement of the LSC. e Collegian has given me some of my most favorite memories, and I hope it could become a similar home for you.

Once more, my name is Allie Seibel, your editor in chief of e Collegian on behalf of our entire editorial board. Feel free to reach out with news tips, questions or just to learn more at editor@collegian.com.

Have a great first week, Rams!

Allie Seibel Editor in Chief

Reach the editorial board at letters@ collegian.com.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY TRIN BONNER THE COLLEGIAN

COLLEGIAN COLUMNIST

Banning affirmative action challenges student success

On that same day, Colorado State University President Amy Parsons sent an email to all students on campus stating that the Supreme Court’s decision would not have an impact on the CSU community. However, the university’s claim does not mean there will be absolutely no effect on students.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY TRIN BONNER THE COLLEGIAN

By Dominique Lopez @caffeinateddee6

Editor’s Note: All opinion section content reflects the views of the individual author only and does not represent a stance taken by e Collegian or its editorial board. e opportunity to go to college is a privilege. But more

importantly, the opportunity to attend a top university as a person of color is an important step toward achieving their dreams.

On June 29, affirmative action was struck down by the Supreme Court, making it so that race could no longer be considered as part of someone’s admission into a university.

As a student of color, I know how important it is to have peers who look like you at school. And the decision to have people who look like you on campus is something that I have found has a major impact when it comes to choosing a college.

But affirmative action being struck down means many students of color who are applying to colleges may not be able to get in or even have the opportunity to see peers who look like them on campus.

e importance of affirmative action being accessible to students of color on all campuses is no different from the topics I

have written about before. Now more than ever, it is important to me to share how CSU has helped me shape my opportunities to be a part of change.

However, if I ever choose to leave CSU or even choose to attend graduate school outside of CSU, I may not have the privilege I have here: to discuss all that is affecting these students of color and, more importantly, those who are often underrepresented.

Banning affirmative action will just affect the admissions process for now. However, Inside Higher Ed has pointed out how this could also affect scholarships that are specific to people of color and even outreach programs that are specific to people of color.

CSU’s Bridge Scholars Program is specifically for firstgeneration students as well as those of underrepresented backgrounds who may be in need of financial assistance. is program is something that is important in making the

transition to college life a bit smoother for those who need it. Programs like these are created with student success in mind, and without them, many students of color may not feel as though they have the capabilities to attend college. However, seeing peers who look like you makes such a huge difference in empowering you to feel like you can do this.

Banning affirmative action is a step backward for the country, and it is a step back for universities. Without opportunities and chances to make a difference in their community, students of color are in danger of being overlooked, and the diversity that students seek on campuses could be slim.

is decision may impact only colleges and universities now, but it could have a lasting effect on students at all grade levels and make it closer to impossible to see success in their future.

Reach Dominique Lopez at letters @collegian.com.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

CSU Principles of Community fail faculty, students

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY TRIN BONNER THE COLLEGIAN

By Guest Author @csucollegian

Editor’s Note: All opinion section content reflects the views of the individual author only and does not represent a stance taken by The Collegian or its editorial board.

I am here to talk about Colorado State University’s Principles of Community and how they relate to our academic success coordinators and students.

Inclusion

“We create and nurture inclusive environments and welcome, value and affirm all members of our community, including their various identities, skills, ideas, talents and contributions.”

As ASCs, this statement radiates within us. When a student first steps on campus for orientation, we want them to feel a sense of belonging,

knowing we value what they bring to us and strive for a strong partnership with them.

Integrity

“We are accountable for our actions and will act ethically and honestly in all our interactions.”

As ASCs, we strive to act ethically and honestly with our students. We are on the front line with them. We are sometimes caught in the middle of what has been promised to them by the institution and what we can actually deliver.

Many times, this is due to the large turnover we have experienced across campus and the loss of institutional knowledge needed to best serve our students. Students suffer not necessarily from misadvising but from lack of institutional knowledge from our many new ASCs. My caseload today has many, many students

who have had three to four different advisors.

Students are angry and frustrated. Those of us that have been able to stay try to make up for this lack of consistency. We work hard to bring back that sense of belonging that some students have lost. This, in turn, brings additional stress and fatigue to us.

Respect

“We honor the inherent dignity of all people within an environment where we are committed to freedom of expression, critical discourse and the advancement of knowledge.”

We work diligently to show respect to our students. However, we are not given the respect we deserve from our employer. We are not valued. This is apparent with the low wages CSU pays their ASCs. We want to be respected and valued as professionals in our jobs

and receive monetary recognition, among other things.

Service

“We are responsible, individually and collectively, to give of our time, talents and resources to promote the well-being of each other and the development of our local, regional and global communities.”

We service all people: traditionalaged students, adult learners, students who are parents, transfers, international students and veterans. We are expected to know how to interact and work with a variety of people. This is becoming harder and harder to accomplish because of the loss of valuable employees that leave CSU in order to make a livable wage.

Social Justice

“We have the right to be treated and the responsibility to treat others with fairness and equity, the duty to

challenge prejudice and to uphold the laws, policies and procedures that promote justice in all respects.”

CSU is finally trying to make some strides with our lowest-paid employees, which is extremely important. However, this has led to wage compression for those of us that have been here longer. I started advising in 2006. My starting pay was $30,000. It took seven years to make $40,000 and an additional seven years to get to $50,000. After 17 years of service, I am at $61,000. Currently we have several ASC positions ranging from $45,000$55,000 to start.

I don’t think I see the Principles of Community playing out here for me and other ASCs.

Carla Barela-Bloom Academic success coordinator Send

letters to letters@collegian.com. When submitting letters, please abide by the guidelines listed at collegian.com.

FRAME

1. Nathan Madachy, a sophomore mechanical engineering student, speaks on the 2022-23 vehicle named Endeavor May 10. Madachy was an integral part of the Formula SAE team, which consists of over 20 students yearly.

2. Mountaintop views from the west side of Catalina Island, where travelers from around the world set off to sea from Los Angeles, California, June 1.

3. Two people walk along a hidden beach on the coast of Northern California as fog moves inland July 13.

4. A half-hour exposure of stars over Red Mountain Open Space June 27. Located approximately one hour north of Fort Collins, the Open Space has skies five times darker than the city and is in the process of receiving official dark-sky certification.

5. Sergio “Checo” Perez drives the RB7 during the Red Bull Racing Showrun in Madrid July 15.

6. Yosemite National Park July 7. Record snowpack left Yosemite waterfalls roaring.

7. A sunflower in 100-degree heat, Austin, Texas. June 10.

8. Ducks swim across a flooded bike path next to the Lory Student Center Lagoon at Colorado State University Aug. 1. the Lagoon was one of the areas to remain flooded after the July 31 storm.

9. A kayaker competes at the GoPro Mountain Games in Vail, Colorado, June 9.

10. A saddle bronc rider competes in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s 123rd annual Cattlemen’s Days Patriot Night Rodeo in Gunnison, Colorado, July 14.

ALL PHOTOS BY GARRETT MOGEL THE COLLEGIAN

FRAME BY FRAME

Dream on 3

By Damon Cook @dwcook2001

Dream on 3 is an organization dreamed up by Brandon Lindsey in 2012 to make sports-related dreams come true for children with life-altering conditions. is fall, the Colorado State University dream team will be new on campus and making an impact in the Fort Collins community.

Currently the CSU dream team has 12 participants, including athletes from three different sports and some who aren’t participating in a Division I sport at CSU. Two of those participants are cocaptains Ryanne Woodall and Delaney McIntosh.

McIntosh is a redshirt freshman defensive specialist for the CSU volleyball team, but despite being busy with collegiate sports, she’s still found time to give back to her community.

“I have always been super involved in clubs and community service programs,” McIntosh said. “ is is the first time I’ve worked with kids with life-altering conditions, which is a super cool thing to do, and it’s really gratifying to be able to give back to the community in this way.”

Woodall also noted her excitement in being able to give back to her community and work with a nonprofit organization like the Dream on 3 foundation. One of the things she said she was excited for was to gain experience working with all different kinds of kids.

“I just want to really make these kids, you know, happy,” Woodall said. “I want them to be able to do what they want to do.”

Woodall is one of the members of the dream team that isn’t in a DI sport at CSU. Instead she heard about the organization through McIntosh and knew she would like working with the organization.

Woodall is a sophomore at CSU majoring in human development and family studies and eventually wants to go into early childhood education.

“Everything that I really just love to do is working with children and helping people,” Woodall said. “I just wanted to be there and get involved and help this organization grow at CSU.”

While working with kids with chronic disabilities can be very rewarding, there are situations that may be more emotional than others when hosting a dreamer. Even though the group at CSU is new, McIntosh said a lot of the group members have experience working with kids who have lifealtering conditions.

“I think we do a good job of screening the applicants that come in to want to be a part of our dream kid (team), and almost all of them have experience with working with kids with life-altering conditions, which I think is a really unique part of our group as well,” McIntosh said.

Implementing a team onto a college campus comes with its challenges outside of just recruiting people. e team has to fundraise money for their expenses as well as try to gain sponsorships.

“We have a representative from Dream on 3 who’s super connected with getting us the materials that we would need and the information that we need to make this a successful fundraising campaign,” McIntosh said. “ en when it comes to actually granting the dream for our dream kid, there’s a step-by-step layout of how to do that as well.”

With the semester getting started, the CSU dream team will look to begin their inaugural dream. ey have already started their fundraising, already reaching over half of their $7,500 goal. e dreamers and their fundraising page can be found on their instagram @csu.dreamteam.

“Getting excited about our dream that we’re going to be able to grant is going to be so cool,” McIntosh said. “It’ll be fun ... to be celebrating the two or three days that they’d be on campus participating in their dream.”

Read the full version of this story at collegian.com.

Reach Damon Cook at sports @collegian.com.

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OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

Making use of summer break: Whitewater rafting

PHOTO COURTESY OF RAPID IMAGES PHOTOGRAPHY

By Emma Askren @emma_askren

Colorado is known for having a tourist industry that lasts the entire year. Between skiing, hiking and whitewater rafting, Colorado has a lot to offer for outdoor enthusiasts.

From an early age, my parents introduced me to whitewater rafting as well as other incredible outdoor activities. I went on my first backpacking trip when I was around 7 years old and have been outdoors my entire life.

This love for the outdoors was one of the main reasons I decided to attend Colorado State University in the first place. One positive about being in college is that students get nearly three months off during the summer. This provides the perfect opportunity for students to broaden their horizons with travel, internships or other career opportunities.

For me, I knew the summer between my first and second years would be the perfect time to get a job in an outdoor industry before I needed to focus more on my future career by partaking in internships. I knew I wanted to become a whitewater rafting guide,

and Colorado has some stunning whitewater to offer.

I decided to work in Idaho Springs, Colorado, on Clear Creek, which has arguably some of the most technical whitewater rafting in the United States. The narrow width of the creek and the constant fluctuation of the water level make for consistently interesting whitewater.

Following training — the longest month of my life, as I like to call it — I was officially checked out as a class-three whitewater guide. A lot of people told me that I was living the dream life, and for the most part, it really felt like that. I was able to wake up and not only go whitewater rafting but also get paid for it.

However, this job came with its difficulties and challenges. Clear Creek is purely snow melt, which means the water stays at around 3540 degrees year-round. Along with the cold water, there’s a physical toll that guiding takes on your body.

Guides are constantly maneuvering and steering the raft through whitewater in order to ensure the safety of passengers in the raft. Rafts can also weigh anywhere between 100-400 pounds — not including the added weight

of customers. The constant stress on muscles and joints can cause back problems and overall fatigue.

Rafting is also a dangerous job. Our entire line of work is focused on taking people down a stretch of whitewater that they could not otherwise do themselves. This frequently means taking people who have never been rafting and often don’t know how to swim.

The daily life of a guide is never dull. Each guide arrives 45 minutes prior to a trip start time, when guides then inflate the boats, prepare the gear necessary for the trip and review the boat breakdown to make sure everything is perfect for the trip. Despite all the preparation, however, trips almost never go according to plan.

There are frequently last-minute add-ons to the trip, which requires adding an extra guide to the trip. Some customers may even drop before the trip starts, which means removing a guide from the trip. Once the boats get put on the water, there is a lot that can go wrong.

Read the full version of this article at collegian.com.

Reach Emma Askren at sports @collegian.com.

What you need to know about CSU’s fall sports

By Emma Askren @emma_askren

A large part of the Colorado State University atmosphere revolves around sports. e Division I fall sports that CSU has to offer are football, volleyball, soccer and both men’s and women’s golf.

Last season, the Rams football team had a disappointing record of 3-9, which proved to be significantly below the average season compared to other Football Bowl Subdivision teams. In the FBS, the Rams ranked near the bottom at 125 out of 131 teams.

However, despite CSU’s belowaverage football team, the sport still plays a huge part in the athletic culture at CSU, with nearly all rivalries stemming from the early days of Colorado State football. e University of Wyoming and the University of Colorado Boulder are the two main rivals of CSU due to their proximity to Fort Collins.

While the University of Wyoming is considered to be the

“younger brother” of CSU, the University of Colorado Boulder considers the Rams to be their own younger sibling. But CSU is the oldest of both schools, being founded in 1870 — compared to CU’s 1876 and UW’s 1886.

e rivalries between the Cowboys and the Buffaloes are evident in nearly every sport played at Colorado State, especially in football.

e Rocky Mountain Showdown is the traditional football game between CSU and CU and will be held at Folsom Field in Boulder this year. e game is only held every couple of years, as both schools are in different conferences, making the game more competitive. e game will be held Sept. 16 this year, with tickets selling fast.

Volleyball is yet another popular sport at Colorado State and one of CSU’s most successful. Last season the Rams had a record of 19-11 and were extremely close to making it to the NCAA tournament.

CSU will play both CU and UW in volleyball this season, providing opportunities for fans

to show support for the Rams as they play their biggest rivals. e first match of the season will take place at Moby Arena against the University of Kentucky in a whiteout game Aug. 25.

Another important tradition of CSU athletics is themed games. Colorado State has a rich history, and that is celebrated during sporting events. ere is an orange out to celebrate the Aggies, which was CSU’s previous mascot. ere are several other colorthemed games where fans wear a designated color such as green and gold, pink and even blue for Colorado State pride.

Soccer and golf are the final two fall sports that CSU competes in. While these sports are less popular than football or volleyball, the Rams are equally — if not more — successful in these avenues than football or volleyball.

is year marks the 10th year CSU has participated in Division I soccer and the first season the Rams are able to utilize the new soccer facilities that were finalized over the summer.

CSU announced two new transfers on the team: Kate Dunne from Oklahoma State University is a sophomore defender from Denver, and Olivia Fout from Auburn University is a sophomore forward from Virginia Beach, Virginia. ese new additions bring added depth to the CSU roster as well as high expectations for the upcoming season.

“I really appreciate the culture and the environment that the coaches and girls are creating, and it is definitely something I am lucky to be a part of,” Dunne said in a release from CSU Athletics.

Colorado State also competes in Division I golf for both men and women. Both teams were fairly competitive last year, making it to the NCAA regional tournament.

e men placed 28th at the NCAA Men’s Golf Championship and had an incredible first season under new head coach Michael Wilson, advancing to their first NCAA tournament in 12 seasons.

On the women’s side, only one athlete made it to the NCAA

tournament, but she had a historic season. Sofia Torres posted the best NCAA tournament finish in program history with a 24th place individual finish. Torres was also named to the Mountain West Conference All-Conference Second Team.

“She has played very solid and consistent golf all year,” head coach Laura Cilek said in a release from CSU Athletics. “She had a record-breaking season, and it was so fun to see her and all her hard work pay off.”

Colorado State has a wide variety of sports to offer in the fall season, with football and volleyball taking the spotlight. e first volleyball match of the season takes place Aug. 25 at Moby Arena, the first football game is Sept. 2 at Canvas Stadium, the first men’s golf tournament begins Sept. 9, the first women’s golf tournament begins Sept. 18 and the first soccer game is Aug. 17.

Reach Emma Askren at easkren @collegian.com.

AUTUMN ATHLETICS GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY FALYN SEBASTIAN THE COLLEGIAN

A newcomer’s guide to IM sports at CSU

to people looking to get into IM leagues.

“I would just say give it a shot,” Cook said. “Just try a whole bunch of different things out and see what you like, and, you know, there was a few that I didn’t really like as much, but it was still fun to do it because I had fun with friends, and that’s the ultimate goal is just go out and have some fun while you’re in college.”

Although IMs cater to a large and diverse group of people, they don’t come without challenges. Scheduling can be a conflict, although for the most part, Cook has found it to be accommodating.

is changes by semester and even in the summer, when IMs still run. Rinella, who has participated in both the regular semester IM season and in the summer, said there was a big difference.

By Damon Cook @dwcook2001

Intramural Sports are a big part of campus life at Colorado State University. Campus Recreation lists 39 different sports that are typically offered at some point during the year, ranging from five-on-five basketball leagues to things like fantasy football.

Jamar Cook, a senior at CSU, has been doing IM leagues since he was a first-year. One of the things he is glad that he did

was participating in everything he could.

“I came into college not really knowing much about it, not knowing if I’d be willing to try,” Cook said. “Fast forwarding in time, I’m actually just really glad that I did it — like bowling, softball, basketball, flag football — just all these different things that I kind of knew about but never saw myself doing, and I’ve never had more fun in my life in doing all of these different intramurals.”

Cook reiterated the same statement when talking about advice he would give

Friends and community are big themes in the IM space. Kyle Kinney, the assistant director of Intramural Sports, said that was a big part of his experience when he was a student.

“As a student, intramurals was where I really found a community and a connection to campus, even though I was bad at most sports,” Kinney said.

Matthew Rinella, who graduated in December 2022 with a degree in business finance and management, said IMs provided him with a sense of community, including people he may have not otherwise met.

“I would say it’s people I wouldn’t usually see,” Rinella said. “A lot of these people are excited about IMs. ... It really just kind of almost puts you into, like, a different pool of different people.”

“We’d all just come together, bring our schedules together and just kind of decide what day we want to do,” Cook said. “ en the IM league will have their options listed (for game times), and we all just choose one — and then what the IM leagues will do is throw another league in our same division (into that game time), and then that’s kind of just when we have our game days.”

Scheduling is a big aspect of IMs, including on the operations side. Kinney said one of their biggest challenges was adapting to the ever-changing students and their needs.

“We try really hard to try new sports with different levels of commitment and competition so that intramurals can be as accessible as possible to everyone,” Kinney said. “ is year we are offering a one-day tournament every ursday, with more options for recreational play and students learning new sports.”

“It seems like it’s a lot more relaxed (in the summer),” Rinella said. “ ere’s less people around, I think they’re pretty casual with what you can do and it seems like it’s a little more fun because everyone’s kind of hanging out a little bit.”

An IM membership is currently $10 a semester. is can be purchased inside the Student Recreation Center with a credit card, debit card or RamCash. Once you purchase that membership, you’re free to partake in as many sports as you want.

“ e pass gets you access to everything offered, so you could hypothetically be playing on two in four weeks at once and a weekly tournament throughout the whole semester,” Kinney said.

Read the full version of this story at collegian.com.

Reach Damon Cook at sports @collegian.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DAMON COOK

CREATIVE CLUBS

A guide to the artsy side of CSU clubs

By Alex Hasenkamp @alexhasenkamp

Fitting in with a new crowd can be an intimidating task, which is why many seek comfort in joining clubs, where they have the freedom to find their own groove with a likeminded group of students.

If you consider yourself to be artistically inclined — whether your talents lie in the musical, theatrical or painting department — Colorado State University has a plethora of creative clubs ready for you to join.

Bassic A Cappella

Bassic A Cappella is a studentled, co-ed singing group that performs all over Fort Collins, previously for The Lyric, the Denver Nuggets and Garden of Lights, according to their RamLink page. The arrangements they perform are written by both current and former

members of the club and include an array of genres and artists. If you’re interested in becoming a member of this talented singing ensemble, auditions are held every fall in the Lory Student Center. Dates and times have yet to be posted, but you can find more information on their Instagram page @bassicacappella — or email them at bassicacappellla@ gmail.com.

Design and Merchandising Leadership Team

If you’re interested in interior design or product and apparel design and want to get more involved in those communities, the Design and Merchandising Leadership Team is a great option for you. They are “a student-lead organization that cultivates a safe community, supports students and encourages authentic participation and collaboration

within the department of design and merchandising,” as written on their RamLink page. They offer mentorships with other club participants via which mentors and mentees can help each other plan fun activities and volunteering opportunities. Experienced design and merchandising majors can help newcomers succeed in whichever field they choose to pursue by hosting meetings and mixers as well as encouraging participation in leadership and career opportunities.

Fibers Guild

The Fibers Guild meets once a month to share textile skills and critique work, with additional events sprinkled in such as workshops, artist talks and exhibitions. Upcoming event reminders are included in their biweekly newsletter. If you’re interested in fiber arts or other interdisciplinary skills, you can contact the guild at

fibersguildatcsu@gmail.com or visit their RamLink page.

K-pop Dance

Whether you’re an experienced dancer or a beginner, auditions are not required for the CSU K-pop dance group — they will welcome you with open arms. The club’s main focus is learning the choreography of popular K-pop songs from bands such as BTS and BLACKPINK. Not only do they dance together, but the group holds meetings, plays games and learns more about Korean culture. No fees apply to this club, so whether you want to learn a new skill or revisit an old one, learn more by contacting koreandancecsu@gmail.com.

LSC Arts Program

If you love to create art or simply appreciate the experience of viewing a gallery, the LSC Arts Program is for you. With exhibitions at the

Curfman Gallery, Duhesa Gallery and the Hallery, your work can be displayed to the public eye if you so desire. The program hosts events throughout the year such as the Art & Science Exhibition, the Colorado International Invitational Poster Exhibition and various featured work by artists such as Holly Wong.

Knits of the Round Table

Looking for a chill space to relax and take your mind off school? The Knits of the Round Table is a yarn club focused on community service, creating scarves, hats, blankets and more for Colorodans in need. No worries if you don’t have the supplies or knowledge — the club will provide materials and the necessary skills to create. Their meetings are every Monday from 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Reach Alex Hasenkamp at entertainment@collegian.com.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY TRIN BONNER THE COLLEGIAN

5 Fort Collins events to kickstart the year

By Abby Flores @csucollegian

e first week on a college campus is always a whirlwind of excitement. As you dive into your classes and get to know your fellow classmates, remember that having fun and creating memories can extend beyond the classroom. Below is a roadmap exploring some of the main events Fort Collins will be offering this semester.

1. Bohemian Nights: Aug. 17 to Sept. 7

Fort Collins has a lively music scene — what better way to enjoy it than by exploring Old Town?

at’s right: You can experience free performances every ursday night at Old Town Square until Sept. 7. Wildermiss, an indie rock band from Denver, will perform Aug. 17, and their creative sound is sure to captivate many music lovers. Bohemian Nights is all about celebrating diverse sounds in music, and you can check out more upcoming bands on their website.

2. Fort Collins Foodie Walk: Friday, Aug. 18

Fort Collins is home to a variety of international foods, and many residents enjoy a stroll around downtown to enjoy a diverse range of food samples. e Fort Collins Foodie Walk is an event that happens every third Friday of the month and makes for a fun celebration for food lovers alike. Friday, Aug. 18, from 5-8 p.m., local vendors such as Beyond Broth and Pi Chai be there to share their flavors.

3. From Burn to Bloom: Saturday, Aug. 19

Interested in art or science? How about both? From Burn to Bloom is a public event that will take place Saturday, Aug. 19 from 11 a.m. to 4

p.m. at Odell Brewing Co. in Fort Collins. Wildfires play a big role in Colorado’s history, and researchers from Colorado State University have been trying to study the impacts these fires have on our ecosystems.

e Geospatial Centroid and Radical Open Science Syndicate would like to invite everyone in the community to explore the power of art and scientific research. e activities will include (but are not limited to) constructing clay pots, making prints and painting with watercolors.

4. Grill the Buffs: Friday, Sept. 15

When we turn the page and let fall truly take its course, we cannot forget about football season. Rams love to show school spirit, and a great way to do that is by grilling the buffs on the west lawn of the Lory Student Center Friday, Sept. 15. Come enjoy some free buffalo burgers from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and take pictures with CAM the Ram before the big Rocky Mountain Showdown Saturday, Sept. 16. Vegetarian and vegan options will also be available.

5. Colorado Drone Airshow: Oct. 6 and 7

Christman Airfield, owned and operated by CSU, serves as the central unmanned aerial vehicle hub for the university. is year, aviation enthusiasts in the community can look forward to the first annual airshow Oct. 6 and 7. Experience the wonder of unmanned aircraft systems come alive in the sky: Oct. 6 will feature over 50 exhibitors on the field and a light show on the Intramural Fields at 9:30 p.m. Oct. 7 will be a community day to watch drone racing, flyovers and food trucks. If you’re interested, feel free to register on the Colorado Drone Show website.

Reach Abby Flores at entertainment@collegian.com.

COLLEGIAN FILE PHOTO

WEEKLY HOROSCOPES

By Cat Blouch

THIS WEEK’S BIRTHDAYS (8/7-8/11/23))

ARIES (MARCH 21 - APRIL 19)

You have a heart of gold and will do anything for the people you love. Lately you have been frustrated with someone who has been indecisive and not forward. You are unsure of what they want from you. For now, keep your head up, and let this person come to you because they need more time to process.

TAURUS (APRIL 20 - MAY 20)

You provide stability and a listening ear to your relationships. A lot of people are unable to do what you can because they get trapped in stress. As a Taurus, you know how to relax and eat good food. You may meet a group of people who need more fun in their lives, and you’ll be the one to teach them how to do that.

GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUNE 20)

People often envy just how many talents you have — you could probably pick up any instrument and learn how to play it without question. Your purpose in the universe is to remain curious.

CANCER (JUNE 21 - JULY 22)

Your heart tends to remain more steady and calm when you are around water. You can actually manifest more quickly when you put intentions out in lakes and streams you visit. You will have

spiritual revelations this week that will open up your mind.

LEO (JULY 23 - AUG. 22)

Your season is still here, Leo, and so is the way you are taking the world by a storm. You have charismatic energy and will come across people who are meant to be on your path this week. Prepare for a massive awakening when it comes to communication.

VIRGO (AUG. 23 - SEPT. 22)

You have your own way of being a perfectionist, but it is not what most people think. Your perfectionism is more about embracing new beginnings and protecting your energy. You are energetically getting rid of what you don’t want around your aura, and this is a good way to take care of yourself. Keep up the good work!

LIBRA (SEPT. 23 - OCT. 22)

You are blossoming in your career, and it is beautiful to witness because you have been wondering what direction to take next. You have developed healthy habits and routines that are helping you keep your energy up.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23 - NOV. 21)

I am proud of how far you have come, Scorpio. You may have been thinking about the past recently and how much it has shaped the person you are now. You have a beautiful soul, and many people want to thank you for how much

you have helped them find happiness. Expect blessings to come your way..

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22 - DEC. 21) You value a healthy lifestyle and have been learning how to balance work and fun. There is always time for both, and you don’t feel stuck anymore. You are pushing through the challenges that come your way, and it is making you stronger. You will receive luck in unexpected ways this week.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 - JAN. 19) You are working toward your dream job every day and have learned that tiny efforts add up to a lot when you are consistent. You deserve to feel proud of what you do, and you will see the universe reward you for following your heart.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 - FEB. 18)

You went through a huge change mentally and physically over the summer. As school starts back up, you may choose to study something new that you have always been curious about. You will find success in this new era of your life.

PISCES (FEB. 19 - MARCH 20)

You have spirit guides that are always with you, and they help you see different perspectives in life. They guide you to people you need to hear messages from and toward new beginnings you need in order to transform.

INTERESTED IN MILITARY SERVICE AFTER YOU GRADUATE? DESIRING TO IMPROVE YOUR LEADERSHIP SKILLS?

LOOKING FOR WAYS TO PAY FOR COLLEGE?

2-3 YEAR SCHOLARSHIPS

Speak with a member of our team: stop by the Military Science building (2nd floor), email afrotc_recruiting@colostate.edu or call 970-491-6476.

FIRST YEAR STUDENTS:

Sign up for Aerospace Studies courses to try out Air Force ROTC with no obligations!

Enroll in AS101 and AS196a by the add/drop deadline to get started.

Scan QR code for more ROTC information.

AIR FORCE ROTC DETACHMENT 90

64. Habituate 66. Young hog 67. Quirky 68. Illustrious 69. Bad-tempered 70. Prefix with classical

1. Muslim salute

2. Infestation

3. Glade shade

4. Casper is there

5. Like some vases

6. Squib

7. Acolyte

8. Put in stitches

9. High point

10. Curse

11. Not prerecorded

12. Consider 13. Jogged

21. Blackjack

22. Emily of “Our Town”

25. Intimidate

27. Big heart? 31. Kind of cabinet

OVERHEARD AROUND CAMPUS

“I apparently have an affinity for second-placers.”

“I’m really bad at dating, but I’m really good at being a whore.”

“I’m just so full of cottage cheese.”

“And then my mom gaslit me. She said she wasn’t gaslighting me.”

Have you overheard something funny on campus? Put your eavesdropping to good use. Tweet us @CSUCollegian and your submissions could be featured in our next paper!

Kind of position

COMIC ILLUSTRATION BY TRIN BONNER @GUACHE.GALAXY

Best of Fort Collins Summer

1. The Forestry Building at Colorado State University Aug. 1. Forestry was one of the buildings worst affected by the flooding July 31 and remained closed for cleanup Aug. 2. PHOTO BY MICHAEL MARQUARDT

2. The Forestry Building at Colorado State University Aug. 1. Forestry was one of the buildings worst affected by the flooding July 31 and remained closed for cleanup Aug. 2. PHOTO BY MICHAEL MARQUARDT

SEASON RECAP

3. Jordan Pasquin, drummer for Write Minded, performs at City Park during the FOrt Collins Independece Day celebration July 4. Based in Fort Collins, the band describes themselves as “a unique mixture of hip hop, ragae, funk and soul.”

PHOTO BY MICHAEL MARQUARDT

4. Members of the Colorado Veterans Plaza of Northern Colorado Colonel Group dress as historic American figures for the annual Independence Day Parade in Fort Collins from the Trolly on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. PHOTO

BY GARETT MOGEL

5. Pride March participants pose with flags and banners in a group of over 70 people in Old Town Square June 1.

PHOTO BY JENN DAWSON