The Rocky Mountain Collegian, Monday, November 26, 2012

ASCSU working toward improved relations with students | Page 3

PAGE 8

Finishing Strong

Football wins three of its final five games for best record since 2008

THE RO CKY MOUNTAIN

Fort Collins, Colorado

Monday, November 26, 2012

COLLEGIAN

Volume 121 | No. 74

www.collegian.com

THE STUDENT VOICE OF COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1891

CSU Horse Judging Team trots to success

the

STRIP CLUB

With Black Friday over, and Cyber Monday underway, turn your thoughts to the other days of the week. Days that are bereft of both attention and titles during the consumer frenzy following Thanksgiving.

Today, we turn our thoughts to:

By KATE WINKLE The Rocky Mountain Collegian Waking up at 3 a.m. to prepare for an all-day competition is typical for CSU’s Horse Judging team, whose history of success continued in the 2012 season.

The team, which has existed since 1978, has won 13 National Championships and 13 Reserve National Championship titles since 2002.

Most recently, sophomore Meghin Kiernan won the overall individual competition at the U.S. Arabian Nationals horse judging contest Oct. 26, and senior Kortney Bahem won the overall individual judging competition at the American Quarter Horse World Show Nov. 16.

CSU’s Quarter Horse Judging Team placed third at the American Quarter Horse World Show Nov. 16 in Oklahoma City, Okla., and the Arabian horse judging team won the U.S. Arabian Nationals judging contest by almost 100 points Oct. 26 in Tulsa, Okla.

Many students become accredited judges after graduation, according to David Denniston, who teaches the introductory horse judging course and is head coach for the Quarter Horse team.

The teams judge a number of classes, each comprised of four horses, against an ideal standard. Competitors rank the horses based on confirmation, movement or rider performance, and later have two minutes to justify their rankings to a reasons taker, according to Kate Auchmoody, coach for CSU’s Arabian judging team.

“People judge you on how you judge horses, yes that is how it works,” Auchmoody said.

In real-world situations, judges often must rank 30 to 40 horses at a time, according to Auchmoody. Judging horses allows owners to have their horses ranked in competition, and judges often help define breed standards by looking for humane training methods and more natural animals.

See HORSE on Page 3

CSU CLASSES ANEQ 352 Intro to Horse Evaluation ANEQ 353 Advanced Horse Evaluation

Other Consumer ‘Days’

KEVIN JOHANSEN | COLLEGIAN

Fort Collins SWAT look on as snipers set up in a nearby neighbor’s backyard to get a good vantage point of the suspect’s house in Southeast Fort Collins Sunday afternoon. The standoff ended in a peaceful arrest.

SWAT team, fire dept. deploy 15 min from CSU FoCo neighborhood evacuated when man fills home with gas

By KATE WINKLE The Rocky Mountain Collegian Steve Leslie was watching the Bronco’s game in his home Sunday when police, SWAT, firefighters and a K-9 unit swarmed his neighbor’s home across the street in Woodland Park –– a subdivision about 15 minutes southeast of CSU. Authorities were responding to reports of the smell of natural gas coming from the home of Leslie’s neighbor, who was also reportedly displaying suicidal behavior, said Matt Johnson, a Fort Collins Police Services spokesman.

The first call came in at 11:09 a.m., and officers responded within minutes.

It would be more than five hours before the standoff ended with the man in an ambulance.

“None of us knew him... (he was) pretty secluded,” Leslie said.

The man had shut himself inside his home at 3227 Yellowstone Circle and filled it with natural gas, police said.

Emergency personnel barricaded and cut off power and gas to part of the neighborhood, and prompted neighbors like Sean Roberts to evacuate their homes. Roberts said that a sniper and spotter were taking position in his backyard when they urged him and his family to evacuate around noon.

Meanwhile, police were trying to establish communication with the

man via megaphone. They eventually shot volleys of tear gas canisters into the home, broke into the basement and smashed through the front door with a battering ram.

According to Johnson, the individual ended up voluntarily exiting his home at around 4:25 p.m. Police may release the man’s name after further investigation.

Upon exploring the building, officers discovered that the man had filled it with gas using his car and stove, according to police radio traffic.

Radio traffic also revealed that the home may be inhospitable for some time due to the amount of gas in the building.

That is not the case with neighboring homes, Johnson said. The area is safe for families and most have returned.

A neighbor, who insisted on anonymity, said that the man, his wife and young son are “really nice.” But the neighbor added that they rarely see the

CSU’s retention rates of freshmen and transfer students have slightly increased from previous years.

According to the Office of Institutional Research, CSU saw a dip in the freshman retention rate of about 1 percent last year. Since then, CSU has recovered the loss.

“This is the highest retention year ever,” said Laura Jensen, director of the Office of Institutional Research at CSU.

Non-residents are also being retained at a higher percentage. According to the Office of Institutional Research, the retention rate for non-residents increased 3.9 percentage points to 83.3 percent.

“We can expect first year retention and other years to be strong,” Jensen said.

Andee Dow, an undeclared freshman, is one of the many that plans to stay at CSU. “Some freshmen might transfer,” said Dow, “but I’m definitely going to stay here for another three years.”

Black Friday begins in the early hours of the morning and/or very late on Thanksgiving Day. Given that many people stay up late, and fight their way through hordes of other shoppers, they ought to have a day to sleep in really late.

See GAS on Page 3

Wasted Wednesday

Shopping is stressful, and everyone usually needs a break afterwards. What better time for local pubs and bars to attract customers!

Celebrate the holidays with a pint!

KEVIN JOHANSEN | COLLEGIAN

Fort Collins Police arrest a man who had shut himself inside his house and filled it with natural gas on Sunday afternoon. The threat forced nearby neighbors to evacuate their homes.

Freshman and transfer student retention rates on rise

By AMAND ZETAH The Rocky Mountain Collegian

Sleepy Saturday

Freshmen are not the only ones planning to stay at CSU. Of the 1,135 students that transferred to CSU in 2009, 74.7 percent stayed at the university to finish their degree in four years.

Matthew Gorenc, a senior political science major, puts a face to this statistic. After a year at CU-Boulder, he decided to transfer to CSU. “Transferring is the best decision I made in college,” Gorenc said.

CSU is competitive with its retention rates. It had nearly the same retention rates as

CSU RETENTION RATES

Percent of freshmen that stayed four years: 2001: 69.9 percent 2005: 68.9 percent 2008: 71.0 percent 2009, 2010, 2011: no data yet

CU-Boulder in 2010, despite the fact that CU serves a much larger student population.

“Boulder had an 84 percent retention rate and CSU had an 83.7 percent retention rate,” Jensen said.

Percent of transfer students that stayed four years: 2001: 69.0 percent 2005: 71.1 percent 2009: 74.7 percent 2010, 2011: no data yet

Either way, CSU is retaining more students. It has been on the rise since 1991, with an increase of 5.5 percentage points.

City Beat Reporter Amanda Zetah can be reached at news@ collegian.com.

Thrifty Thursday

The Thursday after Black Friday, Thrifty Thursday should be a day where the American consumer visits their local thrift stores to make donations of their old stuff for those in need: all in the name of the holiday spirit!

The Strip Club is written by the Collegian staff.

2 Monday, November 26, 2012 | The Rocky Mountain Collegian fort collins focus

Community Briefs Presentation and speaking skills workshop For some, the thought of delivering a presentation or speaking publicly is terrifying. That’s why the Institute for Learning & Teaching (TILT) is hosting a presentation and speaking skills workshop today in TILT 221.

From 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., join TILT to learn easy steps to manage nerves before, during and after a presentation. TILT will also provide insight for connecting with an audience — no matter the size.

For more information, visit www.tilt.colostate.edu.

Get a wreath for the holiday season Thanksgiving break is over, which means that the next round of holidays is right around the corner. The Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture is ready to help with the December decorations by holding a wreath sale today at 6 p.m. in the Shepardson Building.

The 12 inch wreaths feature Douglas fir, and revenue from the sale benefits

Kevin and Kathleen Michie make small talk with shopper Alicia and cashier Jacinda Rodriguez as Black Friday sales opened up at Kmart on Thursday evening. As stories of Black Friday violence sweep the news, friendly conversations and comments were still seen among a few shoppers, giving some hope back to mankind. (Photo by Kevin Johansen)

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 10,000-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 4,500 and is published weekly on Wednesdays. 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 2. 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.

EDITORIAL STAFF | 491-7513 Allison Sylte | Editor in Chief editor@collegian.com Nic Turiciano | Content Managing Editor news@collegian.com Hunter Thompson | Visual Managing Editor design@collegian.com Andrew Carrera | News Editor news@collegian.com Elisabeth Willner | News Editor news@collegian.com Kevin Jensen | Editorial Editor & Copy Chief letters@collegian.com copy@collegian.com Emily Kribs | Entertainment Editor entertainment@collegian.com Cris Tiller | Sports Editor sports@collegian.com

club activities and scholarships. Prices are $15 for undecorated wreaths and $20 for decorated wreaths. Pick ups for ordered wreaths will be Nov. 29 and 30 and Dec. 6 and 7.

Interdisciplinary Water Resources Seminar Things like statistical-dynamical hydrologic water balance models and probabilistic framework for vulnerability analyses are really confusing, so it’s probably a good thing that professor Jorge Ramirez is presenting a speech on how they helped him and other researchers to project an overall decrease in the U.S. water yield for the 21st century.

Join Ramirez today in Natural Resources Building Room 109 at 4 p.m. for a discussion on how future climate variability and changing demand will affect the country’s water supply. Early spoiler: the Southwest (including California) and the Great Plains look to be the most vulnerable regions of the country.

— Collegian Staff Report

Kyle Grabowski | Assistant Sports Editor sports@collegian.com Kris Lawan | Design Editor design@collegian.com Nick Lyon | Chief Photographer photo@collegian.com Annika Mueller | Chief designer design@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 include’s the paper’s daily editorial “Our View.”

The Rocky Mountain Collegian | Monday, November 26, 2012

“COIT is looking to engage the student body by creating more awareness about the student government here at CSU.” Tim Medearis | Sophomore environmental engineering major

ASCSU’s work to bridge the gap Student gov’t attempting to create tangible relationship with students

By Emily Smith The Rocky Mountain Collegian Student government officials at CSU want students to know what they stand for.

So for the past month, the Associated Students of CSU (ASCSU) has been working on its Campus Outreach Initiative Team (COIT) as a conduit to reach out to the rest of campus, according to Brian Roling, director of community development for ASCSU. “One of the current administration’s goals was to create tangible relationships between the rest of campus and student organizations with us,” Roling, a fifth year senior construction management major, said.

The bill which created COIT was passed on Oct. 17 by ASCSU, and was presented by the Department of Community Development.

Since its creation, COIT members have started working towards their goals by hosting a Greek Life-ASCSU mixer and a “Prez on the Plaza” event with student body presi-

horse |

dent Regina Martel.

“Some of them have been hard to get students to, but I think the more we do it the more people will come to things,” Roling said.

Roling said the Greek-ASCSU mixer, where both groups voiced concerns and talked about being present at each other’s events, was the biggest success so far, with about 50 people attending. COIT members hope to get Greek Life to have a better relationship with everybody on campus and be supportive of each other’s groups, Rolling Said.

COIT is working on arrangements with the Residence Hall Association to hold a panel of ASCSU cabinet members for first and second year students at two residence halls, which have not been specifically determined yet. They hope to make this happen by the end of this semester or the beginning of the next.

Another of COIT’s goals is reaching out to college councils is to get more senate positions filled for each college, Roling said.

The team will also increase the ASCSU presence at sporting events. Roling said it would be an attempt to get ASCSU in front of that crowd of people and give away prizes, advertise for senate and host question and answer sessions.

“Something so they know who we are,” Roling said. “Because a lot of people don’t know what ASCSU even stands for.”

COIT members also plan to get involved with student organizations and SLiCE, helping out with things like community service, Roling said.

The bill, which passed with a 24-0-5 vote, also created a COIT team leader position filled by Tim Medearis, assistant director of community development for ASCSU. “COIT is looking to engage the student body by creating more awareness about the student government here at CSU,” Medearis, a sophomore environmental engineering major, said in an email to the Collegian.

Mission statement “To become a lasting group dedicated to educating campus about ASCSU and providing resources for CSU by reaching out to first and second year students, being present in/at campus events, and conducting student feedback measures each school year.”

“COIT is open for anyone to join … The program is a great way to start actually doing things as part of ASCSU and learn a bit about your student government.”

Medearis said he was excited about reaching out to students who might not be very aware of student government at CSU. “We’ve got a long ways to go. Brian is still trying to recruit people to join and we’re still trying to work on communications with athletics,” Medearis said.

“We’re making good progress though,” Medearis said. “And I think it’s all going to pay off.”

Collegian Writer Emily Smith can be reached at news@collegian.com.

Judging class breeds competitors

Continued from Page 1 All competitors on CSU’s Horse judging team are currently enrolled in the Advanced Horse Judging class, after first taking the Introduction to Horse Evaluation class, where students learn judging criteria and practice reasons. “[Reasons are] such an important component of the class and judging in general because you’re held accountable,” Auchmoody said, “and when you get out into the real world and you start judging breed shows and that sort of thing, some of these people are paying thousands of dollars to be there and compete and if you’re not paying attention, they get a little upset.”

Competing for CSU was an important factor for Kiernan in joining the team, and taking the courses were good preparation for competition. She said she used her compiled knowledge of

horse criteria to focus on the big picture when ranking the horses and explaining her decisions.

“While we were there it was really cool to see how much I’d learned and actually judging the horses,” Kiernan said. “For me it was kind of easy, and so I think that was a real test of my knowledge and what I’d learned.”

Members of the horse judging team are motivated, “Type A” personalities, according to Auchmoody.

The students practice three days a week judging videos of past shows and working on reasons for their rankings. They also have a number of weekend practices where they attend local horse shows.

The most important skill in horse judging is dedication, according to Kiernan. Although she never judged horses before attending CSU, she was a rider for 12 years. Horse

judging knowledge, communication and teamwork are valuable skills in competition.

The horse judging classes train students to be confident and well-spoken, skills they can apply to other CSU classes and eventually their careers, according to Auchmoody.

“It does have application and I think it’s more a mental exercise to think logically through something, and you can use that in anything you do,” Auchmoody said.

The Quarter Horse team practiced judging horses competing in the main show in the days leading up to the collegiate judging competition, according to Kim Nettleton, a senior equine science major.

Competitors judge horses from about 8 a.m. to noon, get a break to eat lunch and formulate and practice their reasons, and then give reasons until

around 8 p.m., according to Nettleton.

“I do get tired,” Nettleton said, “but I feel like pushing yourself and getting tired makes you better the next time… I do get tired, but I enjoy it.”

Although the students are split into two teams, they support each other and work to represent CSU well, according to Kiernan.

The process of horse judging requires a lot of effort and long days of competition, but is rewarding and a positive reflection of CSU and the Equine Science program, according to Auchmoody.

“It is a high stress sort of thing,” Auchmoody said.

“You don’t do it unless you love it because it’s a lot of pressure, a lot of stuff going on through your brain. It’s a lot to handle but it is very, very fun.”

Senior reporter Kate Winkle can be reached at news@collegian.com.

LDS church lowers missionary-age

By Emily Smith The Rocky Mountain Collegian Editor’s Note: Bayley Enright is a former Collegian columnist.

Bayley Enright, a senior at CSU and member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, has wanted to go on a service mission since her early teens, but until about a month and a half ago, that dream would have had to wait until she turned 21 at the end of next year.

On Oct. 6, LDS Church President Thomas S. Monson announced that, effective immediately, men may begin serving missions at age 18 instead of 19 and women may begin serving at age 19 instead of 21, according to a press release from Jessica Moody, public affairs associate for the LDS Church.

Enright, who is majoring in English, was raised in the LDS Church and intends to go on a service mission this spring after she graduates, thanks to the new age change.

“LDS missionaries are young men and women who choose to set aside other concerns such as work, dating and school and devote up to two years of their lives to teaching people about Jesus Christ and His restored church,” Enright wrote in an email to the Collegian.

Enright said both male and female missionaries spend time in personal study, meeting people, spending time in service to others and preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ all over the world.

“Any difference that may exist between male and female missionaries is practical,” Enright said. “Such as, in some areas, women – who wear skirts – will drive a car rather than bike everywhere.”

Enright said she is thrilled with the opportunity for young women and men to serve missions at an earlier age and better plan for their lives.

According to a press release from the LDS Church, the Church anticipates that lowering the age require-

ments will significantly increase the number of missionaries who will serve.

Since the LDS Church was founded in 1830, more than 1.1 million men and women have served fulltime missions in countries around the world. Missions are an expectation for young men in the LDS Church, and young women are encouraged to serve as they feel moved to do so, according to the release.

“I do not think that the age change affects the equality or role of women in the church at all,” Enright said.

“Women have always been welcome to serve missions and that remains true even with the age change.”

Enright’s parents support her desire to serve on a mission.

Her mother, Shannon Enright, said she wouldn’t say Mormon families envision their daughters going on missions as much as they do their sons.

“When announcing the new mission ages for men and women, President Monson reiterated that missionary service is a priesthood duty, and therefore we hope that all our sons will choose to heed the mandate to serve mission,” Shannon Enright said.

“However, we are equally proud of any of our daughters who make that same choice to volunteer their time and money and dedicate themselves wholly to this service,” she added.

Bayley Enright’s father, Dr. Kris Enright, said he agreed that in some Mormon families it appears a mission is an expectation for sons and an option for daughters.

“But in our family, we want each of our children to have the option to go on a mission if they feel it is the right thing to do,” Kris Enright said.

“We do this because we love our God,” Bayley Enright said. “And we love our gospel and our church and we want to share that with others.”

Collegian writer Emily Smith can be reached at news@collegian.com.

Resident: ‘This doesn’t happen around here’ Gas |

Continued from Page 1 three of them.

“They’re a quiet-as-amouse family,” the neighbor said.

Fort Collins resident Ally Wertz was visiting her mother who lives on Yellowstone Circle. Before the incident started, Wertz, her husband and their son left the area.

While they were gone, emergency personnel set up bar-

ricades, leaving the family unable to return to their car.

Wertz grew up on Yellowstone Circle, describing it is a nice neighborhood that is mostly home to families.

“This doesn’t happen around here,” she said. “Especially on this side of town.”

Senior Reporter Kate Winkle can be reached at news@collegian.com. News Editor Andrew Carrera contributed to this report.

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Collegian

OPINION Monday, November 26, 2012 | Page 4

your two cents

30%

24%

Yesterday’s Question: What are you doing over fall break?

15% Going out of state.

32% Going home in state.

30% Staying in Fort Collins.

24% Halo 4 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 2

15%

32% *81 people voted in this poll.

Today’s question:

How many 5-Hour Energy drinks do you think it’s ok to consume in one day?

Log on to http://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.

An exercise in compassion

By vivek upadhyay

A little imagination can go a long way. I have always believed that if one deliberately commits to introspectively altering their perception of varying phenomena — from humanity, to abstract ideas, to histories — one can mature in a profoundly liberating way. Within that belief is the benefit of personal nourishment: a deep gratitude for every passing moment of a person’s life.

Long after having quelled a temporary egoistic desire to make this idea selfishly beneficial, I’ve realized that I cannot claim ownership of it, since it is simply one of those rare ideas which seem to claim power over its captor. An idea that bellows from the depths of one’s being which shatters judgmental tendencies and leaves only indescribable, viscerally known innocence and compassionate love.

I’d like to invite the reader to try a thought experiment with me. It’ll be a little lesson in considering the context of your human perceptions. The context I’d like to place you in, dear reader, is one of mortality awareness — I’ll expand upon this idea in a moment.

First, sit somewhere near a crowded space on campus.

Look around you for a moment. Observe the people going about their lives.

Surely you know that their identities are wrapped up in a complex mixture of deliberate and unintentional transformations. Surely you know that there’s a causal relationship between one’s experiences and their mind-state.

The inescapable, almost deterministic causality involved in the formation of political, religious and other core views must be acknowledged if we are to deal with one another, and ourselves, soberly.

If you can isolate one human within your field of vision, who would presumably stay visible, do so. Now, make an honest attempt to fathom him or her comprehensively, using your imagination.

Understand, first, that this human was once a helpless infant, utterly clueless, clumsy and capricious. This human in front of you underwent a series of socialization processes, a series of experiences which brought them to where they are, and this person will continue to inhabit this lifelong transformative process.

If this is done honestly, all self-serving comparison will fall away from your mind, as would all preten-

tious posturing. Resist the temptation to implement terms like “human nature” into this thought experiment: see this individual human for his/her own unique complexity.

Every day this vulnerable human ages, struggles, triumphs — and fails — often, consuming culture and heading toward an inevitable end.

Ask anyone to stand still: from age 1 to age 100, there’ll always be a little unsteadiness in posture, always a lack of perfect balance. So it often is with peoples’ composure.

What is the inevitable end? Death. This individual’s heartbeat will one day end. Preceding that moment will likely be intensive pain, regrets, bittersweet realizations, a stunning confrontation of cognitive dissonance; and if one’s friends and family are around, repressed revelations uttered late to one’s loved ones.

Ask yourself: do the people I resent warrant my hatred? In understanding the causal relationship between one’s environment and the progression of each individual’s mind-state, can I liberate myself from petty hatreds? What’s the use of continuing to build up these needless cerebral defenses against the realization of what our deaths produce in our loved ones?

Nearly every human being you encounter will be mourned for by loved ones. Friends and family will be unprepared for the devastatingly unpredictable end. Perhaps you’ve experienced this nearly visceral shock in your own lifetime, or known someone else who has.

In considering this, is it possible to alter one’s narrative of a long-resented rival? “I hate him because of what he did to me long ago. Yet when he dies, his loved ones would probably, painfully, recall insular moments of his benevolence, or his smile, or his dedication to some admirable ideals, and other such things. Why persist in treasuring a merely marginal understanding of your enemy?”

None of this is advocating that bringing justice through punishment to those that have earned it should be eliminated, traded for unfettered compassion. Yet, the context I’ve provided (infant; now; dead) might improve nearly every passing interaction we have with our fellow human beings. The unassuming compassion and empathy that results from it is unspeakably liberating.

Vivek Upadhyay is a freshman education major. He can be reached at letters@collegian.com.

our view

‘Tis the season to shop local People waited in lines outside of Best Buys and other retail stores through frigid fall nights for days, camping out in anticipation of Black Friday. The shiniest new goods on the shelf and mythical deals drove mobs of people to shopping strips; it was rampant aggressive consumerism at its finest.

If you didn’t want to brave the potential dangers of Black Friday, today is Cyber Monday, where you can virtually splurge on all those gifts you forsook on Friday.

In Fort Collins on Friday, however, a much different feeling was in the air. A different type of shopping fever was taking hold, but over

the hearts and minds of Fort Collins residents, rather than their eyes. The cause? Plaid Friday.

“Get into the real spirit of the season; support local independent businessess.”

On Plaid Friday, rather than Black Friday, you wear plaid to Fort Collins’ great local independent business-

es in return for great deals and free goodies from various establishments.

Apart from the sales, it was an amazing opportunity to share in some of the local flavor of Fort Collins and come together with other members of the community.

More importantly, it was a great way to raise awareness of all the great local businesses that are close and truly have quality products. And with everything you buy, your money is directly going to neighbors and friends in your immediate vicinity.

Get into the real spirit of the season; support local independent businesses.

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.

Allison Sylte | Editor in Chief editor@collegian.com Matt Miller | Content Managing Editor news@collegian.com Hunter Thompson | Visual Managing Editor photo@collegian.com

Andrew Carrera | News Editor news@collegian.com Elisabeth Willner | News Editor news@collegian.com Kevin Jensen | Editorial Editor letters@collegian.com

Nic Turiciano | Entertainment Editor verve@collegian.com Cris Tiller | Sports Editor sports@collegian.com Kris Lawan | Design Editor design@collegian.com

“I want to set the record straight: Yes, the industry is suffering, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t jobs.”

In defense of my journalism major

By Allison sylte

This Thanksgiving break, in between getting beaten during the Turkey Trot by a nursing home running club, impulsively buying P90x after the worst food coma of my life and seeing “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2” three times (and realizing that I will die alone), I perpetually heard different variations of the same three questions: “You’re graduating in May? You’re a journalism major? Um... what are you going to do with that?”

I’m not going to act like I’m special.

During break, everyone gets interrogated by their relatives/parent’s friends/ random high school acquaintances (that you had no desire to see again) about their post-college plans.

But I do think that journalism gets a bad rap, since journalists, being the narcissists we are, are perpetually writing about how hopeless our livelihood is.

I want to set the record straight: Yes, the industry is suffering, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t jobs.

According to an April article by the Poynter Institute, experienced journalism graduates (meaning those who did student media or got internships) have

a 6 percent unemployment rate, compared to the average 8.9 percent unemployment rate for recent graduates as a whole.

Sure, some of those graduates might be living with their parents and working at Starbucks, but I know recent graduates who are working at the Fort Collins Coloradoan, the Greeley Tribune and even the Denver Post.

Journalism majors make an average of $50,000 a year, according to the 2010 Census. The average salary for Americans is $42,979.61, according to the National Average Wage Index.

Sure, it might be lower than the average of $56,415 a year that people with bachelor’s degrees make, but journalism still didn’t crack Time magazine’s list of the 20 lowest paying college majors.

While I personally want to be a reporter, it definitely doesn’t mean that’s the profession you’re locked into with a journalism degree. According to Monster.com, journalism graduates can be book editors, content producers, grant writers or public relations specialists (a.k.a. joining the dark side), just to name a few options.

Anyway, I’m not in it for the money.

As cheesy as it sounds, I stuck with my journalism degree because I love it.

As a kid, I never really knew what I wanted to do. Some days I wanted to work in the stock market, others as an astronaut and others still selling used cars (I was a weird kid). During my short journalism career, I’ve gotten the chance to do something new every single day, from riding the cyclocross course at New Belgium to wading my way through the CSU budget.

Sure, I’ve spent a large portion of college unnecessarily stressed about Board of Governors meetings, but I

can’t say I’ve ever been bored.

I’m not the best writer, nor am I the most creative person on the planet, but that’s not what journalism, at its core, is about. It’s about finding those stories that no one has told, and perpetually talking to interesting people and learning new things...not to mention occasionally sticking it to authority.

I get paid to be curious, and even though I might make less than the average college graduate, in my mind, it’s still the coolest job on the planet.

Am I perfect at it? No, as anyone who has read any of the stuff I’ve written in the Collegian can attest, but half of the fun of journalism is the fact that there’s always a chance to improve.

Last week, while I was giving a friend a friend of mine who works at a newspaper in town a ride to the airport, we chatted about the merits of our journalism degrees.

“I could probably have majored in something else, and not be broke,” she said, “but I feel like I sound cool when I tell people at bars that I’m a reporter.”

Let’s be real — sounding less like a total nerd in bars is the real reason why I majored in journalism. Kidding aside, what I really wish I told people who questioned me about my major over Thanksgiving Break is that I’m doing what I love, and that my degree might not be the highest paying, but it’s pretty awesome.

And no... the journalism department did not pay me to write this.

Editor in Chief Allison Sylte is a senior journalism major. Her column appears Mondays in the Collegian. She can be reached at editor@collegian.com or on Twitter @AllisonSylte.

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

The Rocky Mountain Collegian | Monday, November 26, 2012

Opportunity for U.S., Iran

By CAROL J. WILLIAMS The McClatchy Tribune A multifront campaign to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon has been stalled for months by the distractions of a U.S. presidential campaign, Tehran’s stop-and-go negotiating tactics and its role in deadly clashes in Syria and Gaza. Now that President Barack Obama has been re-elected and Iran’s influence with Middle East neighbors seems to be fading, Tehran is expected back at the negotiating table soon and, some observers believe, in a more constructive mood to resolve the nuclear standoff.

The Obama administration now has wider latitude for tackling one of its most complicated relationships.

No longer shackled by the hawkish politicking of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, Obama could make an overture to Tehran to get negotiations back on track at a time when Iranian leaders need a face-saving escape from withering sanctions.

Multinational talks with Iran on its nuclear ambitions have been idle since June, as Tehran has refused to accede to the demands of foreign diplomats that it cease enriching uranium even for peaceful purposes like power generation and production of medical isotopes. The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, met Wednesday with diplomats from the six powers involved in the talks—the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany—and was exchanging missives with Tehran about a possible resumption of talks in Decem-

ber, EUobserver.com reported Friday.

“If Obama wants to create a legacy in foreign policy, he has an opportunity to do that if he can resolve the Iran dilemma,” said Iranian exile Najmedin Meshkati, a USC engineering professor and former adviser to the U.S. State Department office responsible for technology issues. Even as Iran may be pushed by sanctions that have halved oil exports and sent its currency into a free fall, the all-stick and no-carrot approach to negotiations isn’t likely to succeed, Meshkati said.

The ruling elite in Iran is untouched by the food shortages and soaring prices making life for average Iranians miserable, Meshkati said of his homeland, where he has maintained ties with family and academic colleagues during 30 years in exile.

“Iran’s pursuit of nuclear technology and its advancement of enrichment are not based on calculated economic study,” he said. “It’s based on very complicated security calculations and other factors, like national pride.”

Tehran is unlikely to engage in direct talks with U.S. diplomats without some inducement, he said. For example, he said, Washington could suspend the sanction preventing Iran from buying spare parts and maintenance services from U.S. suppliers for its aging fleet of Boeing aircraft. That would make civilian air travel safer, boost U.S.-made component sales and keep Iran as a U.S. aviation customer rather than driving it to convert to an Airbus fleet.

“Iran has said some element of enrichment is nonnegotiable, that it’s permitted under the Nuclear

Nonproliferation Treaty for civilian uses,” Meshkati said.

“They feel if they let that chip go that they will lose face. What do they have to show the Iranian people, who are struggling, if they come to the table to negotiate away something that is their right?”

It’s been three months since the International Atomic Energy Agency gave up on its separate effort to ensure that Iran’s nuclear program remains peaceful. IAEA Deputy Director General Herman Nackaerts expressed frustration after the last meeting in August failed to secure access for United Nations inspectors to the Parchin facility. Satellite surveillance of the base suggests Iran has been trying to clean up traces of a nuclear bomb test there nearly a decade ago. The Vienna-based agency reported this week, though, that Nackaerts would be meeting Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator on Dec. 13.

The moves to resurrect negotiations may have been spurred by recent reports that Tehran has doubled the number of centrifuges for uranium enrichment, though not all are operational. It has also stepped up processing to accumulate 110 kilograms of the nuclear fuel enriched to 20 percent putting Iran about halfway to the 200-250 kilograms that nuclear experts say would be needed to make a single bomb.

IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano said in a report last week that the harsh economic sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union appeared to be having no effect on Iran’s pace of fuel production.

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6 Monday, November 26, 2012 | The Rocky Mountain Collegian

“I think we are an exciting team.

We are in the infant stages still but we are only going to get better.”

volleyball

Larry Eustachy | CSU head coach Men’s basketball

CSU storms passed Wash. on the road

Nick Lyon | COLLEGIAN

The CSU volleyball team made the NCAA Tournament for the 16th season in a row. The Rams travel to Tallahasse, Fla. to play Purdue in the first round.

Rams play Purdue in NCAA first round

By Kyle grabowski The Rocky Mountain Collegian The NCAA Tournament will send the CSU volleyball team east for the first time since 2008.

The Rams will play Purdue in Tallahassee, Fla. in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Nov. 30 at 2:30 p.m.

ACC champion Florida State will play Hofstra in the site’s other match, and represents the likely second round opponent for CSU should the Rams advance.

“It’s a really fun cluster of teams because they’re good, but not ridiculous,” CSU coach Tom Hilbert said.

Purdue finished the season 21-10 overall, and placed fifth in the Big 10 conference.

Senior outside hitter, and Colorado native, Ariel Turner leads the Boilermak-

fball |

ers with 4.43 kills per set, which led the Big 10.

Turner was a first team All-American and Big 10 Player of the Year in 2011.

“She gets a ton of attempts. Being able to block her is very important,” Hilbert said. “They have some other dynamic athletes, and they play in a great conference.”

At least one other Boilermaker will be familiar to CSU, as senior Breion Paige played with Purdue setter Rachel Davis over the summer during the USA Volleyball A2 program.

“She’s good at locating the ball, she knows where the hitters are and how to get it out to their position,” Paige said. “Working with her and seeing her tendencies helps a lot, and I feel like I can tell some of the other girls and keep them posted.”

CSU knows full well

NCAA Bracket When/Where: Nov. 30-Dec. 1 in Tallahassee, Fla. Game 1: No. 9 Florida State vs. Hofstra Game 2: Colorado State vs.

Purdue

what Purdue is capable of in the NCAA Tournament.

The Rams hosted the Boilermakers in 2004, and were heavily favored, but lost 3-2 in the opening round.

“When you play in the Big 10 you’re used to battles night in and night out,” Hilbert said. “They’re going to be very ready for the NCAAs.” The Rams enter the tournament in as good of shape as they can on an eight game winning streak that included the team’s fourth consecutive Mountain West championship.

CSU clinched the title Friday night in Moby Arena defeating New Mexico 3-1, avenging an earlier loss in Albuquerque, N.M. The Rams did not fare well away from home early in the season, dropping all three games in their only neutral site tournament in Wichita, Kan. in early September, but the team learned from that experience, and feels good about its chances in Tallahassee.

“In past years we’ve had room to lag and let games go, but this year it forced us into getting better because we had to in order to do what we wanted,” senior outside hitter Dana Cranston said. “I think it put us in the best spot possible for the rest of the season.”

Assistant Sports Editor Kyle Grabowski can be reached at sports@collegian. com.

Survives late push from Lobos

Continued from Page 8

“(The second half ) was a little bit (frustrating),” Smith said. “I’d like to come out the second half and kind of close it up right there, but it didn’t happen like that.

We responded and got the W, so that’s what counts.”

New Mexico scored 13

unanswered points to seize a 20-17 lead before CSU’s game winning drive. The Lobos gained just 58 yards of offense in the first half, and ended up with 342 before it was all said and done.

Despite their best effort, the Lobos fell short.

“I thought they kicked us in the mouth,” New Mex-

ico coach Bob Davie said after the game. “We never could get any rhythm on offense. We’re not going to win if we can’t play defense.”

With Saturday’s win, CSU avoided a fourth straight 3-9 season, and sent its seniors out with a win.

“Guys, obviously that was a lot of fun. It was a

great way to end it,” CSU coach Jim McElwain said.

“I’m really proud of our seniors. I thought a couple of those guys really gutted their tails off out there.

You can see it really meant something to them.”

Sports Editor Cris Tiller can be reached at sports@ collegian.com.

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By Kyle grabowski The Rocky Mountain Collegian

Hustle Stats

Balanced scoring and timely three-point shooting propelled the CSU basketball team to its best start since 2005 after defeating Washington 73-55 Saturday night in Seattle.

The Rams made 6-of-10 shots from behind the arc in the second half, after shooting 25 percent in the first frame.

CSU took its biggest lead of the game 69-49 with 2:27 remaining after sophomore Daniel Bejarano stole the Huskies’ inbound pass and drained a long three pointer that sent Washington fans for the door.

The Rams used a 15-0 run to take a 47-38 lead with 12:37 remaining in the second half after trailing 38-32 shortly after halftime.

“We really challenged them, and said we could finally turn the corner with an attitude that we know what it takes to win; and that’s stop after stop,” CSU coach Larry Eustachy said.

CSU held Washington scoreless for more than five minutes, until the Huskies finally broke the run with a free throw by senior center Aziz N'Diaye at 12:06.

Seniors Greg Smith and Dorian Green keyed the run, combining for 12 of the 15 points on 5-of-5 shooting.

"They made a run, and we didn't rally up. And that's my job," Washington senior guard and captain Abdul Gaddy said.

CSU dominated the boards by out-rebounding the Huskies 45-21, including a 24-7 edge on the offensive glass. This led to a 22-8 edge in second chance points for the Rams.

"The number one key was going to be rebounding," Washington coach Lorenzo Romar said, "And we failed miserably in that area."

Senior Colton Iverson

Offensive rebounds: CSU 24, Washington 7 2nd chance points: CSU 22, Washington 8 Free throws: CSU 7–10, Washington 8–15

leads the team with 12 rebounds to go along with 13 points for his second consecutive double-double.

N’Diaye had 8 rebounds for Washington, but no other Husky grabbed more than four.

Smith scored 15 points to lead CSU, and was one of four Rams in double digits.

CSU shot 43.3 percent from the field and 54.8 percent in the second half.

“When we shoot like that we can hang with anybody," Eustachy said. "I think we are an exciting team. We are in the infant stages still but we are only going to get better."

Washington guard C.J. Wilcox scored a career-high 28 points to lead the game, but took 25 attempts to get there.

Neither team shot the ball effectively from the free throw or three-point line in the first half, combining for four made free throws out of eight and four made threes out of 17.

CSU avoided the slow start that plagued it earlier in the season against Montana and Denver, opening up an early 4-2 lead and never falling behind by more than five in the first half.

“This is a different team than last year," Eustachy said. "It’s just a stronger team depth wise. We have been good on the road so far with these guys."

The Rams will look for their fifth straight win Monday at Moby Arena against Northern Colorado tonight at 7 p.m.

Assistant Sports Editor Kyle Grabowski can be reached at sports@collegian. com.

The Rocky Mountain Collegian | Monday, November 26, 2012

7

#Room-Antics

Daily Horoscope

Nancy Black and Stephanie Clement

JADE

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (11/26/12). Pluto enters Capricorn (until 2023) today, bringing foundational transformation.

Focus on personal goals this year, especially around family fun, work and self-renewal. Romance spices up the holidays.

Balance work with exercise, as career kicks into overdrive.

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

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ARIES (March 21-April 19) ––7 –– Work and moneymaking have your focus. Meet a new friend through an old one. Love’s easier to express for the next few weeks. Listen to your feelings.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) ––9 –– Take advantage of the creative bursts of energy all throughout the day. Circumstances put you in the right place. Focus on team projects.

Just do it.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) ––5 –– Avoid gossip at all costs.

Now it’s time to stick together and pull through. There’s a lesson here somewhere, and you’re getting better at learning.

Follow the rules.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) ––8 –– Compromise builds a strong foundation. Make positive changes after considering the consequences. You’ll make mistakes, but you’ll also make money. It’s easier to take charge for a few weeks.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) ––7 –– Get your papers in order, and benefit financially. Something doesn’t pencil out at first. Taking action is the best solution. You can find the money.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) ––8 –– Someone needs to put some order into the chaos. Help them play by the rules. Make up a plan for an imaginative but rather spacey friend. For the next three weeks, it’s easier to concentrate.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) ––6 –– Don’t go public yet. Now is time to replenish depleted reserves. Creative accounting may not work out well. For the next ten days or so, it’s easier to make romantic plans.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) ––8 –– Pay close attention to a master, and accept their challenge. Concentrate in the message you want to deliver. Take a friend along to assist you during challenging times.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) ––7 –– You’re an inspiration to the world, if you really think about it. Concentrate on the projects you’re most proud of. Find people with similar goals. Together, you’re all stronger.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) ––7 –– Encourage criticism so that you can clean up an old mess the best way possible. A relationship undergoes abrupt change, but the perfect solution appears. Think about the future.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) ––9 –– Creative work pays well. Pay close attention to your target market. Don’t forget about the older folks. Accept a challenge and get a boost. The two of you enjoy the moment.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) ––7 –– It’s easy to get distracted with your own goals and projects now, but don’t overlook a loved one’s needs. You’ll spend more for the next few weeks.

Stick to your priorities.

David Malki

RamTalk

Compiled by Kris Lawan

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

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SPORTS MONDAY Monday, November 26, 2012 | Page 8

“I feel like I’m not paying the type of respect to it that maybe it deserves, and I rather it be done at the end of the season or at the end of my career or when I’m dead.”

OUT WITH STYLE

Tom Hilbert | volleyball head coach COLUMN

400 win milestone did not receive deserved attention

By QUENTIN SICKAFOOSE

400 — that’s a rather large number.

It’s big enough to pay the rent for most students, outnumber the Facebook friends you never talk to and become the most successful coach in the history of a university that is over 140 years old.

Tom Hilbert’s rent is probably more than $400 per month. There’s also a chance that he doesn’t even belong to Facebook. However, he is CSU’s winningest coach of all time, thanks to the 400th victory he led his volleyball team to this month.

But the milestone was hardly highlighted any differently than the other 399 wins Hilbert has come away with.

If 400 wins doesn’t seem like much of a big deal, consider the fact that there are only 28 games in an entire volleyball regular season — and that Hilbert has only been teaching CSU to bump, set and spike for 16 years.

After posting up an average of 25.47 wins per year, it’s safe to say that Hilbert has acquired some noteworthy titles in his day.

That wall of fame is composed of 16 Coach of the Year

Awards from four different classifications that include: Mountain West, Big Sky, WAC and the AVCA. Earning a Coach of the Year Award would be worthy of a frame and some wall space in any coach’s office. If Hilbert exercised this practice for each of his achievements, there might not be enough room to display his Business Administration degree or any family pictures.

When asked about reaching the 400th win that most coaches will never get to experience, his response was worthy of a nickname more like Humble Hilbert, rather than Titanic Tom. “I feel like I’m not paying the type of respect to it that maybe it deserves, and I rather it be done at the end of the season or at the end of my career or when I’m dead,” he said.

Certainly there are bigger fish to fry with the Rams now headed to the NCAA Tournament, but their coach’s milestone is worthy of a high five at the very least.

Tom Hilbert is now wearing a 403-103 title at CSU, which puts his winning percentage at 80 percent. Break these stats down into simple English and it translates into coming out on top of four of five battles he goes into.

I’m no math whiz — but I think anybody has to like their chances with those numbers.

It’s safe to say that the CSU volleyball team is in good hands.

Congrats, Tom. Quentin Sickafoose is a junior Journalism & Technical Communications major and can be reached at sports@collegian.com.

NICK LYON | COLLEGIAN

CSU freshman running back Donnell Alexander bursts past the goalline for a touchdown Saturday at Hughes Stadium. Alexander led the Rams with 112 yards rushing in a thrilling 24-20 win to close out the season at 4-8.

Seniors leave CSU on winning note

By CRIS TILLER The Rocky Mountain Collegian On paper, a four win season is far from impressive, but in reality it meant everything for the Rams.

CSU beat New Mexico 24-20 Saturday to earn its fourth win, one more victory than the Rams had been able to muster in three consecutive seasons.

“It was a great win because most of the guys that have been here right now, those seniors, have been 3-9, 3-9, 3-9, so it was cool just to break that,” senior wide receiver Marquise Law said. “It was cool just to go out with a win. It’s just awesome” Much like the Rams’ season, Saturday’s game was hard to process. CSU started off strong, jumping out to a 14-0 lead, but faltered for most of the game.

In the end CSU pulled it out, narrowly, leaving a glimmer of hope for the future.

The Rams had only four possessions in the third and fourth quarters, and punted on three of them.

But trailing 20-17 with 3:05 left on the clock, redshirt freshman Conner Smith led the Rams down the field, and hit a wide open Joe Hansley for a 30-yard touchdown, and a 24-20 lead.

“We practice that two-minute drill every Thursday, so I just tried, myself, focus on staying calm and

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doing what I’ve been coached to do,” Smith said. “We executed as an offense, and got it done, and it was a good feeling.”

New Mexico didn’t go away quietly, driving down the field to the CSU 16-yard line, but couldn’t punch it in the end zone as time expired, sealing the victory.

Young players for CSU proved to be the difference in the game.

Smith completed 19-of-26 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns, while freshman running back Donnell Alexander led the Rams in rushing with 112 yards on 24 carries and one score.

It was his third 100-yard game of the season, and five games in a row for CSU. Hansley was the Rams’ leading receiver with five catches for 102 yards and two touchdowns.

“That’s definitely something that’s very important from the simple fact that a lot of us will be back,” Alexander said of the freshman standouts. “So if we’re contributing now, hopefully in the future we’ll grow on that and continue to get better as a football team; take the next step to success.”

The Rams opened the game on a long drive highlighted by a 22yard run by junior running back Chris Nwoke, and finished one play later on a 29-yard touchdown strike to Hansley.

The six-play, 75 yard drive

marked the first time all year the Rams scored a touchdown on their opening possession.

CSU followed up its impressive opening drive with an even more dazzling second possession, driving 61-yards and eating up 4:23 worth of clock, before finishing it off on a 3-yard run by Alexander.

Over their first two drives, the Rams moved the ball 136 yards on 17 plays for two scores and 7:05 of the first quarter.

New Mexico responded to CSU’s strong start on defense, picking off Smith and returning the ball 35-yards to the CSU 3-yard line.

Running back Kasey Carrier finished off the short drive on a 1-yard touchdown run, cutting CSU’s lead to 14-7.

Other than the turnover, CSU made very few mistakes in the first half, and defensively stifled the Lobos. New Mexico punted on four of its five offensive possessions, and crossed the 50-yard line just twice other than the interception.

Offensively, the Rams proved to be explosive in the first half, generating big plays for a 6.7 yards per play average on 253 total yards in the half, including 168 in the first quarter alone.

The second half went far less smoothly for CSU. See FBALL on Page 6