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Border War Intel
Find out what Wyo. thinks of this year’s battle for the Bronze Boot
THE RO CKY MOUNTAIN
COLLEGIAN
Fort Collins, Colorado
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Volume 121 | No. 62
www.collegian.com
THE STUDENT VOICE OF COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1891
the
Halloween Heroes
STRIP CLUB
With the predicted end of the world nearly upon us (12/21/12), it is time to start focusing our attention on ways in which the world will end. This week: the technological apocalypse of the Robot Uprising (already in progress).
Ways in Which Robots will Rule the World LEFT: Haruto Yoshikawa chases his big brother while donning his Superman halloween costume on the west lawn Wednesday evening. Yoshikawa is a refreshing reminder of why homeowners give out candy to young kids and not college students. (Photo by Hunter Thompson) RIGHT: A lone shark looks on as a group of Atheists and Christians duke it out on the plaza this Wednesday. As the two groups shout out declaring their opinion is right, the shark believes that both groups look tasty. (Photo by Kevin Johansen)
“Most of my friends are party affiliated and will vote for the ticket rather than vote for the candidate and I just think that’s studpid.” Chris Lopina | senior journalism major
Meet the Undecided
Some students still unsure of vote choice with less than a week remaining By KATE WINKLE The Rocky Mountain Collegian Five days remain until the election, and while the majority of Americans have already decided who will get their vote, a select few remain to be swayed. Roughly 5 percent of voters, including some CSU students, remain undecided at this stage of the election, according to Sandra Davis, associate professor of political science. “Some may be unhappy with the choices: they may agree with a candidate on one or two issues while they agree with the opponent on others,” Davis wrote in an email to the Collegian. “However, more undecided voters won’t be as attentive, knowledgeable or concerned about the election as many who have already made up their minds.” The undecided voters with the most potential to change election results are those in competitive races, like Colorado. It is also possible that the response to a last-minute event like Hurricane Sandy could sway undecided or weakly partisan voters, ac-
cording to Davis. Here are three CSU students who have yet to make a decision about their vote and what they’re concerned about.
Issue Split Chris Lopina, a senior journalism major, does not particularly like either presidential candidate. Obama has not accomplished much in his first term, and Romney is not a likeable person, according to Lopina. “No matter who I vote for I’m not going to be 100 percent for them, so I’m not going to be distraught over (the result). The one I pick is the one I like a little bit more,” Lopina said. Lopina’s hesitancy in supporting one candidate at this point is because he agrees with Romney’s anti-abortion stance, but likes Obama’s plan for universal healthcare. Cutting funding for Planned Parenthood aligns with Lopina’s Catholic-influenced beliefs. However, looking at other countries as examples, Lopina said he believes that healthcare for everyone is fair and works. Friends and family try to persuade Lopina of one side
or another, but he plans to research on his own before he makes his final decision. “Most of my friends are party affiliated and will vote for the ticket rather than vote for the candidate and I just think that’s stupid,” Lopina said. “I think you should look at the candidate rather than just the party.”
Stance Confusion Politicians seem to say anything to get votes, and that is the problem, according to Robin Carrera, a sophomore business major. He believes that by trying to please everyone, Obama and Romney’s stances on the issues are hidden behind generalizations. One of Carerra’s main concerns is the tax policy, but the candidates’ shifting rhetoric makes it difficult to discern how each would impact the country as president. “Basically, I want the facts,” Carerra said. To combat the confusion, Carrera plans to research extensively on his own, because he said it is the only way to know what is true. “I feel like it’s kind of un-
fortunate because a lot of the American people probably don’t know how to do that kind of research and maybe don’t have the resources to do it,” Carrera said. “A lot of people base a lot of what they hear on what candidates say, and what they say is not clear and always changing. We deserve to hear the facts and the truth.” Carrera watched the debates, but found they made him even more undecided because of the contradictions and the candidates’ inability to directly answer questions. His friends also do not help with his decision because he feels their answers to questions are biased because of their predetermined affiliation. “I want to make sure I vote for who I really think deserves it because I would feel more uncomfortable if I just picked a side and not really looked into it much just because my parents voted for them or my friends voted for them,” Carrera said.
Efficacy Doubt Obama has had four years in office to turn the country
around, but sophomore undeclared major Gus Wordem is displeased with his progress. And, while he liked Romney before 2008, the now-presidential candidate’s stances have become more extreme. The economy and job availability are important to Wordem, but he is unsure which candidate’s economic plan will help him and his family. Moreover, he does not know if the future president will stick to his current plans and honor them during his term. Uncertainty about the candidates’ potential effectiveness in office keeps him undecided. However, Worden is not worried that he has not made up his mind with a week until the election. He prefers to stay undecided and do his own research instead of letting friends or campaigns sway his vote. “I like to keep to myself and not have others’ opinions persuade mine,” Worden said. “I like to think about it for a while and make my own choice.” Politics Beat Reporter Kate Winkle can be reached at news@collegian.com.
Rainbow ribbons around the Oval spark discussion By BAILEY CONSTAS The Rocky Mountain Collegian Two rows of the Oval’s elms spent GLBTQ history month displaying the colors of the rainbow, and the display sparked discussion in the CSU community. A photograph of the display posted to the official CSU Facebook wall Oct. 11 received 75 comments, 956 “likes” and 149 shared links. Of those comments, at least thirteen could be considered negative and created a discussion that prompted a campus-wide email from President Tony Frank. Six were posted by the same profile. “The display generated considerable discussion and debate on Facebook and elsewhere — the type of dialogue that comes with being part of a college community,” Frank wrote on Oct. 23. “All in all, it was an important reminder
that our community is made up of thousands of people with different viewpoints, experiences, and identities.” None of the comments on the page were deleted and the entirety of the conversation is displayed, according to Mike Hooker, Executive Director of Public Relations for CSU. According to Hooker, Tony Frank’s note about the event was a chance to make everyone welcome and to acknowledge that there are issues to discuss. “It’s a chance to reaffirm the university’s commitment to diversity and to acknowledge the display. We have a commitment for discussion and dialogue and hearing the discussion that happens around campus,” Hooker said. Foula Dimopoulos, director of the GLBTQ resources office, was partially responsible for maintaining the display throughout the
week. The display “grew out of a brainstorm about what GLBTQ History month is and how to reflect the pride of a diverse community in which others would be invited to share,” Dimopoulos wrote in an email to the Collegian. Dimopoulos sees the ribbons as a way to face the discriminatory remarks and beliefs that are voiced against the GLBTQ community. “These displays are so important. It’s targeted for everyday micro-aggressions,” Dimopoulos said. This year was the first presentation of this scale to raise awareness about LGBTQ history month, and the scale is what could make onlookers question themselves, she said. “It means a lot when you see those things at that magnitude in the Oval with all of the greatness the Oval demands. It doesn’t necessarily eradicate (the deroga-
tory comments) for our students, but it provides a counterbalance which could make or break their day,” Dimopoulos said. Throughout the stream of comments the CSU Facebook page linked to their comment guidelines that said, “It’s okay to voice an opinion, complaint, or disagreement with another, but we ask that you do so in a constructive manner. Obscenities, personal attacks, threatening, harassing, or abusive content, and defamatory comments about any person, group, organization or belief will be deleted.” One of the negative comments left on the post reads, “how about celebrating hetersoexuals next month? or is that politically incorrect?” Brian Stewart, President of the Student Organization for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered, sees the dis-
play as a way to promote visibility for the organization. “As far as negative feedback, those people bask in so much privilege they don’t realize they were being degrading,” Stewart said. “Every minute of every day is heterosexual appreciation day through the media . . . to what we are socialized to see.” The ribbons may be gone from the Oval now, but the results of this display of pride, according to Hooker, could encourage steps to more cooperation. “We hope events like this make everyone realize there is a diversity of people on the campus and we want everyone to feel included and welcome here,” Hooker said. “There’s always ways to continue making people feel more welcome and included.” Diversity Beat Reporter and Entertainment Reporter Bailey Constas (@BaileyLiza) can be reached at news@collegian.com.
Cars
We already rely on robots when it comes to car manufacturing. They assemble chassis and weld various parts together. Soon, cars themselves will not only be capable of self-navigation, but also selfawareness. And we’ll never see it coming.
War-Bots
The military already makes extensive use of robots, from our drones that kill terrorists from the skies to robots that locate and disarm IED’s. Very soon, we begin to use robots in place of traditional infantry. Terminators and Cylons anyone?
The Internet
The Internet already rules over our lives. It gives us free entertainment, helps us pass the time in class, connect with friends... But it is our Achilles Heel. Our reliance is such that it can give the new robot revolutionaries instant access to our lives. Conquer the Internet, conquer the humans. The Strip Club is written by the Collegian staff.