Senator, former SNL cast member speaks in Fort Collins | Page 3
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Broken Down
Starting quarterback leaves game with collarbone injury
THE RO CKY MOUNTAIN
Fort Collins, Colorado
Monday, October 1, 2012
COLLEGIAN
Volume 121 | No. 39
www.collegian.com
THE STUDENT VOICE OF COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1891
Ontiveros: diversity heading in the right direction
the
STRIP CLUB
The announcement of the new on-campus football stadium is imminent, and a simple press conference just will not do. The announcement deserves a little bit of pomp and ceremony, given that it will be the most ambitious and controversial construction project to date here at CSU.
By ELISABETH WILLNER The Rocky Mountain Collegian
Collegian: Let’s just start with a big question, and I know this is big. What do you think the state of the diversity is at the university right now? Mary Ontiveros: That is a very big question, and I guess I’d have to answer on a number of different levels, because when you talk about the state of diversity, the definition of diversity is pretty broad. Colorado State University includes lots of categories of individuals. It’s not just racial and ethnic diversity... It also includes women and veterans and people from different geographic regions and different sexual preferences and ages and people with different familial situations... All of those kinds of things. In one sense I’d say the state of diversity is different simply because we have redefined diversity, because we look at diversity in a different way... If you’re talking about numbers, just numbers, we need to make more progress. We need more faculty of color. See ONTIVEROS on Page 3
DISABILITY DOES NOT EQUAL INABILITY
How Tony Frank should annouce the new stadium ERIN MROSS | COLLEGIAN
Parade partipants show their pride down Walnut Street Saturday during Colorado’s First Disability Pride Parade.
Disability Pride Parade comes to FoCo By CASSANDRA WHELIHAN The Rocky Mountain Collegian Colorado’s first annual Disability Pride Parade on Saturday Sept. 28, 2012 showcased the idea that our differences are what make us beautiful. Commencing at noon, people from all walks of life gathered outside the Downtown Poudre River Public Library to celebrate people with and people without disabilities. According to this grassroots festival, “Disability does not equal inability.” The movement aims to raise awareness of this way of thinking and to open people’s eyes to the spectrum of differences within the human race. Ending at Old Fort Collins Heritage Park, concert and festivities ensued until 6:30 p.m. Entertainment included the bands “Lee Holiday and the Time off,” the Seers” and “the Stone People Drummers.” Keynote speaker Temple Grandin spoke at the event promoting community understanding and access. “Different people have different kinds of skills. I get worried when people totally define themselves by their handicap,” she said during her speech. Grandin was recently inducted into the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame. Her idea of success is about being able to make a difference and make a differ-
ence right now. A professor of animal science for 22 years, Grandin has succeeded with autism. “It’s about showing what you can do. Autism is an important part of who I am. I think I’m doing pretty good for someone who they thought was mentally retarded,” she said. “This event represents a platform for all to be seen, heard and involved with our community of choice — rather than a labeled category,” said Michael Marr, a senior social work major at CSU and grand marshal of the event. “Too often we are an afterthought, as if we don’t share the same feelings, desires, dreams, and goals as other people.” People from Boulder, Denver, Grande Lake and Fort Collins came out to show their support. Many local businesses and students as well as the Rocky Mountain High School drumline walked in the parade. Family members of disabled showed their excitement for Colorado’s inaugural Disability Pride Parade. “It’s so exciting. Parents get to be together. We talk all the time on the internet but it’s great to be out with one another,” said Jan Wharton, a retired teacher from Grand Lake. Her son has been diagnosed with FG Syndrome, a genetic mutation which she likes to call “the fun guy syndrome.”
One out of five people will experience disability in their lifetime, according to Marr. “Disability crosses all races, ethnicities, cultures and populations,” Marr said. “Together, we can break down the structural, economical and social barriers we all experience in light of our disabilities — be it visible, invisible, physical, emotional or learning.” The colorful parade stretched two blocks as lively participants biked, walked, rolled and danced down South College Avenue to Old Fort Collins Heritage Park to the beat of the Rocky Mountain High school drumline. Passing cars honked in support. “People like to keep us hidden because it’s a scary thing; it’s uncomfortable. But we’re here, we’re loud and we’re proud,” said Kim Cara, a sophomore communications major. Marr echoed Cara’s sentiment, and explained the festival’s importance. “It’s not special treatment we want, but rather the same decent, fair and dignified treatment that all persons deserve. Not pity, but understanding. Not to be given a hand-out, but to be encouraged to use all our strengths, not a burden, but part of the human experience,” Marr said. Collegian Writer Cassandra Whelihan can be reached at news@collegian.com.
CSU’s Greek Life has lost 11 chapters in seven years Higher standards, shrinking chapters, suffering grades, risk-management violations credited By EMILY SMITH The Rocky Mountain Collegian Since Greek life began at CSU in 1915, 23 sororities and 42 fraternities have been active at the university. But currently within the four Greek Life councils at the university, there are 14 sororities and 27 fraternities. “Since 2005, we’ve lost 11 (chapters), with some re-colonizing,” said Sonja Jensen, director of Greek Life at CSU. “Of that, there’ve only been three that left because of riskmanagement violations.” A sorority or fraternity chap-
“Yes we lose groups who are unhealthy, it’s sad but necessary. We’re able to revitalize the community and raise the standard of membership experience...” Sonja Jensen | director of Greek Life ter can be deactivated on campus for a number of different reasons, according to Jensen. Jensen said these reasons include risk-management violations such as partying or hazing, a chapter getting too small to provide a positive experience for members, suffering grades, or deteriorating re-
lationships with the chapter’s national organization. “We want all of our chapters to be healthy, and healthy can look like a number of things,” Jensen said. Fraternities Delta Chi and Beta Theta Pi were the most recent chapters to leave CSU, both in 2012. Neither group left
because of risk-management violations, according to Jensen. “I think CSU is increasing its standard of fraternity men it wants on campus,” said Kyle LeBrasse, senior civil engineering major and Interfraternity Council president. “Those two chapters were just not holding up to those standards and
were actually struggling.” “Yes, we lose groups who are unhealthy,” Jensen said. “It’s sad but necessary. We’re able to revitalize the community and raise the standard of membership experience by bringing in groups that have a renewed sense of energy (after leaving for some years).” Jensen said that Greek Life now appeals to a different type of student than in the “heyday” of the 50s to 70s. “When people think of Greek Life in the 1970s, they’re thinking of a very specific See GREEK on Page 6
YE S
NO
On Sept. 20, the Collegian published an interview with Blane Harding, the former Director of Advising, Recruitment and Retention for the College of Liberal Arts, about the state of diversity at CSU. In reaction to the piece, Vice President of Diversity Mary Ontiveros sat down with the Collegian to give her perspective on the issue. The following is a condensed version of the interview. For the full interview with Ontiveros, which includes discussion of the university’s new diversity plan and university preparedness for the upcoming Supreme Court decision on affirmative action, visit collegian.com.
Beardception
Tony Frank should announce the construction through his most influential asset: his beard. The answer should be shaved into the beard, and President Frank should walk around campus as a way of making the announcement public.
??
Pay the Balloon Boy
Balloon Boy should be put into a balloon, and let loose carrying the decision on the stadium in a sealed envelope. To find out what the decision is, we will have to chase his balloon all over Larimer County and wait until he lands it.
Give us a Snow Day
Given that the stadium is a very controversial subject, and some students are unhappy with it, President Frank should try to appeal to our enthusiasm by bribing us with a snow day when ?? the snow finally comes. The Strip Club is written by the Collegian staff and designed by Design Editor Kris Lawan.