Thursday, February 9, 2023 Vol. 132, No. 20

THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN

Seed to sale: The cycle of cannabis to the consumer

STORY BY TAYLOR PAUMEN

PHOTO BY TRI DUONG

PAGES 10-11

THE ROCKY

TOP STORIES TOP STORIES

NEWS: How AI impacts academic integrity PAGE 5

LIFE: Meals to get without wheels: 6 great food spots near campus PAGE 7

CANNABIS: Does your cannabis consumption affect your dreams? PAGE 9

OPINION: LTTE: Colorado’s wolf reintroduction plan needs improvement PAGE 14

SPORTS: Swing into spring season with CSU softball

PAGE 17

ARTS: The Lincoln Center presents: ‘A Place Remembered and Imagined’ PAGE 22

PHOTO: Book Fest kickoff PAGE 19

FOCO EVENTS FOCO EVENTS

Winter Bike to Work (or Wherever) Day 7-9:30 a.m. Feb. 10

New Threads exhibit at the Lucile E. Hawks Gallery in the CSU Avenir Museum of Design and Merchandising Noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Friday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday

Open Mic at The Atrium At The Alley Cat 7 p.m. Feb. 14

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Deb James, a volunteer with Food Not Bombs, stands outside of Fort Collins Mennonite Fellowship where she helps to distribute food to community members. “It’s mutual aid, and we just take the power to make food individually and bring it here and serve it to individuals,” James said. No one’s in charge. There’s no sign up. There’s no committees. We don’t have meetings. We just come and feed people and every week is different. You don’t know who’s going to come to be fed, or who’s going to come to feed but it always works out in a beautiful way. And it feels powerful.”

Lory Student Center, Suite 118 Fort Collins, CO 80523

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CORRECTIONS

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PHOTO BY SARA SHAVER THE COLLEGIAN

CSU Todos Santos Center builds empathy, global perspective

By Allie Seibel @allie_seibel

Colorado State University Todos Santos Center, a study abroad campus and research center in Baja California Sur, Mexico, aims to provide visiting students with interdisciplinary experiences both in and out of the classroom that enhance global perspective.

“(Todos Santos) is similar to other study abroad sessions in the sense that students have an experience in a different country away from their home campus,” said Kim Kita, director of Todos Santos. “It’s different in that it’s only a three-hour trip (from Fort Collins), and yet it’s a completely different language and culture.”

Kita expressed that a main difference between Todos Santos and other experiences is the connection CSU has formed with the town and the region.

“You have that sense of adventure with a safety net, and that can be really nice for a lot of students,” Kita said. “It’s also different because students spend time here, and they’re not tourists. Because of our program coordinators really making those connections with community members, students have a chance to feel the rhythm of each day, feel like they’re really a part of the community and get to know what it’s like living here, which is a completely different experience than if you were to come to this region for a week on vacation.”

Opened in 2015, the Todos Santos Center is staffed almost exclusively by people from the town and the region. e 12-member permanent staff are all bilingual, and all are related, either through genetic ties or emotional bonds formed through their work at the center.

“It really feels like a family,” said Idalia Paz y Puente Fernandez, associate director of business operations. “It gives a lot of local support to the students and the professors because everyone knows us. It’s always fun when people say they saw our students, working in the plaza or out and about. All the town knows our students because they know us.”

Todos Santos offers academic programs ranging from five weeks to a semester long and runs themed programs in the fall, spring and summer semesters.

“We love having students here,” Kita said. “Just the buzz of activity and knowing that by facilitating experiences for students, we’re really making a difference in their self reflection and their outlook on life moving forward, which translates to the ability to see beyond how we’re raised. And to really expand that worldview and develop more

cultural awareness is super important wherever you go in life. You look at the changing demographics in the United States, and we live in diverse spaces. We need to really understand who we are in those spaces and how to effectively communicate and relate to people.”

is upcoming fall, the Todos Santos Center will focus on a theme of environment and culture. Classes take an interdisciplinary look at the subject of the course and focus on making connections to Mexican culture and the local region.

Ruth Alexander, professor emerita of history, has taught five sections of classes at Todos Santos since 2019. For the fall 2023 semester, she will return to Todos Santos to teach a class that focuses on oral history of the region called “History, Community and Culture in Mexico,” as well as a class titled “Legendary Women in the United States and Mexico.”

Alexander’s goals for these courses are to immerse her students in the local culture and to let them dig deep into Todos Santos and the region.

“Over the years, I have found that for quite a few students, the study abroad experience is really life changing because they’re in a place that’s unfamiliar,” Alexander said. “It gives them an opportunity to learn about different ways of being and then to think, ‘What am I about?

What’s my culture? Who do I want to be? What do I want to pursue?’

… I think it really is transformative because it encourages students to

think about their identities, who they are, their values, what they care about most and then make academic decisions and professional decisions based on that.”

Even though her classes are liberal arts-based, Alexander said that Todos Santos is a good place for students to realize that the liberal arts have a significant place in environmental learning and in greater global perspectives.

“You know, one of the things Todos Santos Center really tries to get students to embrace and invest in is global citizenship,” Alexander said. “ e notion that we are all connected, that we all bear responsibility for one another around the world. I think that the ethic of global citizenship can be transferred back to a smaller scale and to a diverse campus like ours.”

Erika Osborne, professor in the department of art and art history, has also led several classes at Todos Santos and will be returning to teach a class titled “Art Meets Environment.”

According to Osborne, the course focuses on how artists can engage with the world around them. Osborne said she focuses on place-based issues and sustainability. Students interact with local artists and methods in Todos Santos and the surrounding area in fields such as pottery making, print making and leather production.

“I’m a firm believer in field-based experiential learning,” Osborne said.

“I think it is life changing, and going and having that kind of immersive experience, really engaging a

community and an environment and doing that collectively with peers and faculty members, too, who you’re with quite constantly, allows for a deeper resonance of content.

I like the Todos Santos program particularly because students are taking multiple courses, and those courses kind of weave together and overlap in many ways.”

e connections between the Todos Santos Center and the town of Todos Santos are particularly important to the learning experience.

Olaf Ali Morales Barrales, senior languages coordinator and affiliate faculty member with the department of languages, literatures and cultures, interacts with that connection as both a Spanish professor at Todos Santos and a community English teacher with the town.

“After working for more than five years at Todos Santos, I can say that the center has become a place where students learn new perspectives and cultures,” Barrales wrote in an email.

“It is amazing how students evolve from day one to their last day here. e center is this special place where learning happens in both directions: Students learn from the community and its environment, but the community has also learned so much from the students and faculty who have come throughout these years. My local English students love to interact with CSU students and have even become good friends. Greetings happen everywhere, from restaurants to classrooms, meaning that personal connections are a key element of people’s lives.”

Outside of the faculty’s connection with the location and courses, student perspective and experiences with Todos Santos shape both their academic work and future plans.

“I learned a lot from many different mentors about the possibilities of careers, the diversity of the career paths I could potentially have,” said Grace Goldenberg, an interdisciplinary liberal arts student who studied at Todos Santos in fall 2022. “It opened my eyes to how many different opportunities there are, and I got to experience working with people who are actually out there in those careers. I think it’s shed a lot of light on how much there is out there.”

Todos Santos’ goals for future academic programs will continue to focus on global learning and creating interdisciplinary and eye-opening experiences for both students and visiting faculty.

“(Todos Santos) is a nice place to need yourself,” Paz y Puente Fernandez said. “Here you not only learn academically, you learn about yourself, and you will face yourself in those uncomfortable and comfortable situations because you have the support of the center, of CSU, of working directly with the community in another language. Todos Santos is a (magical) place to find yourself, not just for students but for everyone who comes here. is is a place everyone is able to connect with themselves.”

Reach Allie Seibel at news @collegian.com.

Colorado State University students pose with a CSU Abroad flag in Todos Santos, Mexico. The Todos Santos Center in Baja California Sur is a global extension of the CSU main campus that provides a study abroad opportunity each semester.

PHOTO COURTESEY OF COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY

No DUI Larimer stresses safety ahead of Super Bowl

By Serena Bettis @serenaroseb

As Super Bowl Sunday approaches, so does the increasing potential for community members to drive under the influence, risking their lives and the safety of others.

No DUI Larimer is a campaign and coalition housed under the nonprofit Partners and was “born out of the need to address the problem of impaired driving in our community,” according to its website.

e coalition recently released information about increased drunk driving connected to the Super Bowl and resources available in Northern Colorado to keep people from driving under the influence.

e No DUI Larimer campaign “is a joint effort between law enforcement, government agencies, alcohol and cannabis retailers, local nonprofits and community members,” according to a press release. e group focuses on prevention efforts by providing educational messages and tools to “groups and individuals who tend to risk driving regularly with elevated (blood alcohol content).”

Heather Vesgaard, the Partners executive director, said one area

of impaired driving prevention

No DUI Larimer focuses on is educating people on the individual roles they play in DUI situations.

No DUI Larimer has a campaign called “Make the Call,” encouraging people to “make the call” to get a ride home, to be a designated driver or to call law enforcement if needed, Vesgaard said.

promote responsible and safe driving,” Vesgaard said. at includes things like looking at parking restrictions in downtown areas that may make someone choose to drive their car home because they cannot afford to be towed.

In Fort Collins specifically, people heading to Old Town Sunday afternoon can utilize the city’s new Safe Choice program to avoid getting a parking ticket if they need to leave their car until Monday. e program allows residents to call the parking services with details about their car and where it is parked, which will grant them a grace period to pick up their car until noon on Monday.

Many ride-share apps like Uber and Lyft offer discount codes for trips after the Super Bowl, so check to see if any coupons are available in the area. While much of Fort Collins transportation does not run on Sundays, residents can book rides through zTrip as another option.

Vesgaard said No DUI Larimer also works with local policymakers to explore ways to reduce factors that may lead someone to drive under the influence.

“We’ve chosen to focus on changing local conditions to

Although Super Bowl Sunday isn’t the only time people will be tempted to drive under the influence, according to No DUI Larimer, “occurrences of drunk driving are 22% higher” on Super Bowl Sunday compared to “any other typical Sunday.” e issue is so prevalent,

the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has its own campaign warning people not to drink and drive after the Super Bowl.

Data from the Colorado Department of Transportation says 37% of the 691 traffic-related deaths in Colorado in 2021 involved impaired drivers.

“Since 2019, there has been a 44% increase in the number of fatalities involving an impaired driver,” according to CDOT.

Along with safety risks, steep legal repercussions can come from driving under the influence. No DUI Colorado has a detailed video on what happens if someone receives a DUI in the state. People who are charged with DUIs may need to appear in court, pay fines and legal fees, be placed on probation or serve jail time, complete community service and go through alcohol education courses, and they could have their driver’s license suspended.

According to CDOT, Colorado saw an 88% conviction rate for DUI charges in 2019, and prosecutors “filed 26,165 cases with at least one DUI charge” that same year. Larimer County had the thirdhighest number of DUI case filings in the state in 2019 at 2,344.

Vesgaard said the data No DUI Larimer has shows the 18-24 age

group is at the highest risk for driving impaired incidents. at’s why No DUI Larimer has begun to work with programs like Colorado State University’s RamRide to target young adults and educate them on available alternatives to impaired driving.

In Colorado, drivers with a BAC of at least 0.08 can be charged with a DUI, and drivers with a BAC of at least 0.05 may receive a DWAI charge, which stands for driving while ability impaired.

Additionally, CDOT says, “Even if your BAC is less than 0.05%, you can still be arrested for a DUI if an officer notices signs of impairment.” Vesgaard added that people can also receive DUIs for driving under the influence of cannabis, which not many people may know about.

e goal of No DUI Larimer is to provide individuals with many options and make more people aware of how to “keep themselves and their loved ones safe,” Vesgaard said. While it can be easy to say one thing and do another, especially when under the influence of drugs or alcohol, Vesgaard said that when people know more about their options, they make alternative decisions just as easily.

Reach Serena Bettis at news @collegian.com.

“We’ve chosen to focus on changing local conditions to promote responsible and safe driving.”

HEATHER VESGAARD PARTNERS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The Lyft order screen inside the Lyft ride sharing app Feb. 7. Lyft, along with other ride-share apps, provides a means to get home from parties or bars instead of driving under the influence.

PHOTO BY LUCY MORANTZ THE COLLEGIAN

How AI impacts academic integrity

By Grant Coursey @grantcoursey

Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer is a web-based chatbot designed by OpenAI that is powerful enough to churn out a whole essay in a matter of seconds when given the right prompts. e quality of the writing created by ChatGPT has raised concerns about its use for academic misconduct at universities around the globe.

ree weeks into the spring semester, Colorado State University students expressed confusion about the university’s policy on the subject. Students can easily get answers regarding ChatGPT policies by emailing their instructors, said Michael Katz, director of the Student Resolution Center.

Instructors at CSU have academic freedom, Katz said. is means each instructor controls the grades they assign and the practices allowed in their classroom, so the decision to allow the use of ChatGPT in

any context or on any assignment comes down to them.

Katz said the use of artificial intelligence chatbots is already covered by the student conduct code under the two sections dealing with cheating and plagiarism and that the responsibility of finding out if an instructor allows a certain practice or source falls on the student.

“For (ChatGPT) to be authorized, an instructor has to explicitly state that it’s authorized,” Katz said. “So a student should not assume without talking to the instructor.”

Katz said he is grateful the new program is starting a conversation around academic misconduct, something he has always wished was a greater point of communication between instructors and students.

“It’s great,” Katz said. “It’s shining a light on something that, frankly, has just always existed.”

“(ChatGPT) is just another tool in a long line,” said Joseph Brown, director of academic integrity at e Institute of Learning and Teaching at CSU.

GRAY

Brown explained that students have always had tools available to them to cheat, and ChatGPT is merely the newest tool a student might be tempted to misuse out of

desperation often caused by a time crunch or lack of knowledge.

Brown said there are beneficial uses for the program; however, he explained that the demarcation line between accepted use and misuse of programs such as ChatGPT often has to do with turned-in work.

“ e university uses the phrase ‘work for credit,’” Brown said. “So if you received unauthorized assistance on work for credit, that’s where I’m worried. If you’ve learned a good bit using ChatGPT to understand what’s going on in lecture, great. If you are using language from that conversation in your work that you are submitting, … then you’re probably crossing a line.”

First-year mechanical engineering student Gray Woodson already uses ChatGPT to keep himself engaged in classes he might otherwise get lost or distracted in because of his attentiondeficit/hyperactivity disorder.

“It’s a great way to look at the slide, see what they are talking about (in class) and then stick it in ChatGPT, and I get a summary of exactly what

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY SOPHIA SIROKMAN THE COLLEGIAN

they just talked about, so that way I’m not far behind,” Woodson said.

While using ChatGPT the way Woodson described is aligned with what Brown suggests is a beneficial use for the program, it is important to be aware the information provided by ChatGPT may not always be accurate.

AI hallucination, the phenomenon in which AI chatbots fabricate information or sources, may happen as much as 20% of the time, said Peter Relan, co-founder of the conversational startup Got It AI, in an interview with VentureBeat. is issue will continue to develop as CSU departments meet to discuss the ramifications of the new technology.

In an effort to address the mounting concerns expressed by both students and faculty, CSU’s Office of the Provost, in an email to CSU academic faculty, announced a Provost’s Ethics Colloquium on the academic impact of ChatGPT scheduled for Feb. 16.

Reach Grant Coursey at news @collegian.com.

CAMPUS

“It’s a great way to look at the slide, see what they are talking about (in class) and then stick it in ChatGPT, and I get a summary of exactly what they just talked about, so that way I’m not far behind.”

WOODSON CSU MECHANICAL ENGINEERING STUDENT

Peek into past Valentine’s Day celebrations at CSU

By Serena Bettis @serenaroseb

With Valentine’s Day next week and the “Sweetheart City” close by, right now is the perfect time to celebrate love — or chocolate.

Some people may choose to celebrate friendship over a romantic relationship while some may mourn their past partners. Others just like the pink hearts and candy, and many prefer to bemoan the commercialization and empty gestures that may accompany Feb. 14.

No matter what Valentine’s Day means to someone, Colorado State University students have always found their own ways to observe it. Take a look back at past Rams before looking to the future, whether Feb. 14 is just a random Tuesday or a special day you’ll remember forever.

All about flowers

Flowers and Valentine’s Day go hand-in-hand like, well, flowers in a hand.

In an image found in the Colorado Flower Growers Association Records from 1954, two people are working on a “giant valentine heart of Colorado carnations,” with the heart display nearly as tall as the people working on it.

Although roses are the most commonly seen symbol of Valentine’s Day love, carnations also symbolize fascination and “female love,” according to the Farmers’ Almanac. Pink carnations specifically send a message that says, “I’ll never forget you.”

In the Feb. 22, 1940, society page of e Rocky Mountain Collegian, Lorna Braland Lee wrote, “Sorority houses were almost mistaken for flower shops when Saint Valentine finally decided to call it a day.”

Students today don’t have to break the bank with a dozen roses or even use flowers to express romantic love. e Farmers’ Almanac details the symbolism of all flower varieties, which include messages of affection, happiness and friendship. Because fresh, cheap flowers can be hard

to come by in February, consider drawing flowers on a card or sending a virtual bouquet.

Lots of love, lots of letters

In 1958 Collegian reporter Nancy Allen wrote that the Home Ec club would be sending out Valentine’s Day telegrams to students in “organized houses or dorms on the campus” for 10 cents. A photo accompanying the story depicts two 5-year-olds with a letter stamped from the “Sweetheart City” — Fort Collins’ neighbor, Loveland, Colorado.

e Collegian wrote, “Many CSU students have availed themselves of the Loveland post office service.”

Loveland’s Valentine Re-mailing Program is “the largest of its kind in the nation,” according to the Loveland Chamber of Commerce.

e program allows people from all over the world to send valentine cards to the city to be postmarked from Loveland and sent to the intended recipient.

While it’s too late for most valentines to be postmarked

and received by Valentine’s Day, valentines being mailed in-state can be dropped off at different locations in Loveland through Feb. 9.

Dancing around campus

Valentine’s Day dances were once extremely popular for CSU’s Greek life chapters, with Collegian papers from 1916, 1929, 1934 and 1949 all touting some version of a valentine or sweetheart dance announcement.

In 1949 a Collegian reporter previewed Sigma Chi’s “best ever” Sweetheart Dance, writing, “Dancing silhouettes of sweethearts will adorn the ballroom walls for this annual affair.”

Even without an invite to a decadent bash, current CSU students can check out other opportunities for dancing around Fort Collins. e CSU Swing Dance Society’s next meeting will be Feb. 15, and Avogadro’s Number is hosting a Valentines Dance with live music from Persuasion on Saturday, Feb. 11.

Reach Serena Bettis at life @collegian.com.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION

BY TRIN BONNER THE COLLEGIAN

CHARLIE COHEN THE COLLEGIAN

Meals to get without wheels: 6 great food spots near campus

By Samy Gentle @samy_gentle_

When your class schedule leaves you with an awkward two-hour gap right around lunchtime, a close place to get some food can be a lifesaver. Here are a few staple places within walking distance of the Colorado State University campus that are great for some nearby noshes.

RamaMama

Bordering the north side of campus, this restaurant offers a wide selection of ramen, dumplings, banh mi and a whole lot of neon decor straight out of the 1980s. irsty? ey offer multiple sakes and hard kombuchas. For you young ones, they have Capri Suns sure to throw you back to your elementary school days.

Pizza Casbah

is New York-style pizza is just minutes from the north side

of campus. Pizza Casbah offers a wide selection of pizzas by the slice or the pie, including vegetarian and gluten-free options. Sides like wings, salads and pita sandwiches are also available if that’s more your thing. Be aware that the restaurant opens at 11 a.m., so you’ll be out of luck if you’re craving some breakfast ‘za.

Mugs at CSU

Are you not like other girls? Too complex for basic Starbucks?

Mugs at CSU has got your coffee fix covered as well as an entire food menu. I mean it. ere are five different kinds of macaroni and cheese. Not only that, but both breakfast and lunch are offered all day long. is location is very close to campus, directly across the street from e Oval.

Dragon Lee

Slightly further from campus, this unassuming sit-down Asian restaurant is located in the strip mall west of Union on Elizabeth. ey offer a lunch special from 11

a.m. to 3 p.m., so it is friendly on the wallet. In addition to a wide range of meals, this place has milk tea for the boba addicts out there. Fortune cookies are also provided after your meal in case you want to predict how you are going to score on that upcoming calculus test.

Paninos

Located just a few minutes from the south-east corner of campus, this is the place to go for authentic Italian cuisine. e prices are slightly on the higher side at $14.99 for one of their panino sandwiches, but there is a whole selection of cheaper appetizers and a happy hour menu starting at 3 p.m. Additionally, you can further show your support for Fort Collins businesses by ordering Walrus Ice Cream off the dessert menu. ere, now you have an excuse to have ice cream pie for lunch.

Lake Street Market

Spend your hard-earned RamCash here on Subway sandwiches, Starbucks coffee,

breakfast burritos and a wide variety of 7-Eleven-type snacks. is convenience store is located right by the Lake Street Garage, directly across the street from the Albert C. Yates Hall tunnel. It may not be a sit-down restaurant, but it is a great spot for a quick bite between classes.

Honorable mention: The Lory Student Center and Ramskeller Pub & Grub

ere can’t be a list of walkingdistance food without what’s right on campus. e Lory Student Center food court includes popular chains like Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, Subway, Taco Bell, Panda Express and more. On the basement level, Ramskeller Pub & Grub serves a variety of bar food as well as pints of a rotating selection of beers on tap, including some brewed by your very own CSU fermentation science students.

Reach Samy Gentle at life @collegian.com.

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Fostering Success Program supports students with independent backgrounds

By Emmalee Krieg @csucollegian

Oftentimes, support in education trickles off at the collegiate level. Community and a sense of belonging can be hard to find for independent students.

At Colorado State University, the Fostering Success Program builds a sense of belonging and support among independent students to promote growth and success in college and beyond.

So what is an independent student?

Melissa Henke, the Fostering Success Program coordinator and former FSP student, broke it down.

“ is can mean folks who have experienced foster care, kinship care, orphaned, unaccompanied homeless youth, emancipation and other similar backgrounds,” Henke said. “In summation, FSP students have had a lack of parental support at some time during their youth and even during college years.”

According to FSP’s website, e Fostering Success Program at CSU is a donor-funded community of about 250 students from independent backgrounds and CSU faculty/staff volunteers that provide scholarships, fun events, academic support and many other resources to Rams.”

“ ese experiences that our students have shared can be varied, but we really try to be inclusive in our understanding of what independent status means and support our students in quite a few ways,” Henke said.

FSP utilizes a solution-focused approach to provide support in many areas such as academic, financial, personal and career.

One thing to know for sure, FSP does awesome care packages for its students.

“Our care packages are really born out of this idea that students who don’t have parental support might not (have) received a lot of the care

packages that other students in the dorms might have received from their family,” Henke said.

e packages themselves contain personal care items, hygiene items, snacks, gift cards and other general supplies.

“Something that I’m really passionate about is our mentoring program,” Henke said. “We partner with Educate Tomorrow, which is an incredible organization. We’re able to provide mentoring services in which an upper-class independent student guides and supports new first-year and transfer independent students through their first year at CSU.”

Educate Tomorrow is an organization that believes in individualized coaching over a long period of time to help students focus on improving academics along with economic stability, affordable housing and overall well-being.

Not only does FSP have other services, such as their emergency

aid and funding, but they also have scholarships, financial wellness education and events that are a huge cornerstone of what FSP does. Dinners are one of the notable events they put on for their community.

“We have a dinner that we do about every month that we call a FSP family dinner where we get together at a local Fort Collins establishment and just get together as a community,” Henke said.

Overall, CSU’s Fostering Success Program establishes opportunity and support for independent students from all backgrounds.

“We have an incredible community,” Henke said. “I’m very proud of the support that we offer to our students here. I’m one of the students that benefited from it myself, and I feel very lucky to come full circle and help the students that we have now.”

Reach Emmalee Krieg at entertainment@collegian.com.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY CHLOE LELINE THE COLLEGIAN

MELISSA HENKE FOSTERING SUCCESS PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Does your cannabis consumption affect your dreams?

By Miles Buchan @buchanmiles

A well-established question asked in the cannabis community is this: Does weed affect my dreams, and if so, how?

With research spanning over 50 years beginning in the 1970s with the war on drugs lasting the majority of it, this field of knowledge is underdeveloped and often inconclusive. at being said, there are some answers.

Cannabis is a complex flower, with more than 100 active cannabinoids that affect our bodies and minds. e two that have been the primary focus of researchers are THC and CBD, both of which do affect sleep, and therefore dreams, but in different ways.

THC is the compound mostly responsible for the psychotropic effects of cannabis. Unlike other areas of this research that have mixed findings, it has been consistently found that THC decreases total rapid eye movement sleep and REM density.

BECAUSE I GOT HIGH

REM sleep is where 80% of people dream, and these dreams tend to be more explained through a story plot. e other 20% of people dream in the nonrapid eye movement stages of deep sleep, and these dreams tend to be more ambiguous.

With that in mind, it stands to reason that if you are consuming enough THC to diminish your REM sleep, then you would have less vivid and thus less memorable dreams.

However, it has been found in some studies that the acute use of THC decreases sleep latency and has been associated with ease in getting to sleep. CBD is similar to THC in that it has been shown to have different effects based on dosage. Smaller amounts of CBD have been shown to have a stimulating effect, while high doses have a sedative effect.

It was also found that these cannabinoids offer potential therapeutic effects with highdose CBD and low-dose THC, which may be the key when it

comes to how cannabis affects your sleep.

e ratio of cannabinoids in a product or strain, as well as the potency or levels of each compound comprising the dose, is a key factor in the outcome of your experience, consciously and subconsciously.

ese effects are also influenced by timing, route of consumption and overall dosage.

e last thing to consider about how cannabis may impact your sleep and dreams is frequency of use and how long your consumption history dates back. Acute cannabis use has been known to cause highly variable and contradicting experiences that can be observed based on the individual and conditions. Among these effects, acute partaking of cannabis appears to facilitate falling asleep faster and increased deep sleep.

is changes, though, when someone uses cannabis more consistently. Over time, chronic users build a tolerance to the sleep inducing and slow wave sleep

enhancement associated with acute use. ere are mixed findings when it comes to cannabis and dreams, but chronic cannabis use has been associated with negative subjective effects on sleep that are manifested particularly during cannabis withdrawal. Sleep disturbances and vivid dreams are two symptoms that are clinically

considered concrete traits of cannabis withdrawal, which is said to last up to 45 days after stopping cannabis consumption. is established effect on dreams that occurs after a chronic cannabis user stops might have perpetuated the idea that weed might affect or stunt dreams, despite the lack of scientific support. Reach Miles Buchan at cannabis @collegian.com.

Summer baking, smoke sesh lessons, a popped cherry

baked for four days straight. I went to a Fourth of July event in public and had to be dragged around by my friends. Experiencing a fireworks show high was amazing.

Smoke sesh lessons

My roommate and I always smoked weed on the balcony of our apartment, and we were friends with our downstairs neighbor. One night he came up and joined us, and we began smoking.

By Guest Authors @csucollegian

Editor’s Note: “Because I Got High” content consists of community story submissions and does not represent the views of e Collegian or its editorial board. e Collegian does not promote underage or excessive substance use or impairment for the purpose of creating a submission.

The Grinch stealing more than Christmas

I got high with my friend in the dorms freshman year and we had a cute lil TV and would watch the most random things. One of those times we decided to watch “How the Grinch stole Christmas” — it was March — and during the scene where he’s destroying their Christmas tree, she turns to me, eyes red as hell, and says, “ is is their 9/11.”

Summer baking

A couple years back, I cooked an entire dinner with cannaoil and was

He was standing, and we were sitting. As we were smoking, laughing and talking, my neighbor, out of nowhere, fainted on top of my roommate. At first we were freaking out. en he regained consciousness, and we walked him down to his apartment. Later we found out that he locked his knees for too long, and I’m assuming the smoking didn’t help.

Lesson learned: NEVER LOCK YOUR KNEES. Maybe sit down and smoke. My roommate and I still die laughing about it to this day.

A popped cherry

In the early years of college, I had met one of my best friends. She was from Montana and hadn’t partaken in smoking very often. I came along and started showing her all the ways I was smoking weed and told her I’d help her feel more comfortable during her first time trying to smoke.

One time it was her first time trying to smoke out of a pipe. Now, personally, I didn’t think too hard on what to tell her to do. I simply

said, “Put your finger on the little hole and suck in.” I should have been more clear apparently because then I watched her suck in so hard she pulled the entire cherry of the bowl through

the pipe and straight into the back of her throat. I couldn’t stop laughing, and she couldn’t stop coughing, and she definitely learned her lesson.

To submit stories, email cannabis @collegian.com or fill out our Google Form, which is linked alongside guidelines in our Letter from the Editor.

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GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY SOPHIA SIROKMAN THE COLLEGIAN

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY TRIN BONNER THE COLLEGIAN

Seed to sale: The cycle of cannabis to the consumer

By Taylor Paumen @taytaypau

When entering a dispensary, it can feel undefined as you’re presented with lists of different products that get you elevated above the Rockies. But what you might not know is the many steps it takes to get your flower ready to be smoked.

Like any other plant, a cannabis plant needs lots of tenderness and guidance in order to provide a suitable product to harvest.

In a facility located in Fort Collins, the work to bring consistently enjoyed flower to the community is done in a passionate and precise way. Jeremiah Lucas, director of cultivation for Organic Alternatives, a dispensary on the northeastern side of Old Town, took us through the process of how they grow and harvest all of their flower.

To start establishing a cannabis plant, you can go one of two ways. You can either plant a seed, or you can take a branch off an already healthy plant and input that branch into a small pot. At Organic Alternatives, they only take branches off other plants in a process called cloning.

“So this is our clone room here,” Lucas said. “We don’t do anything from seeds (because) a seed can be a male or female plant. We grow only female plants here.”

Male cannabis plants produce pollen sacks, while female plants create buds, and those buds hold

the most THC, the end goal for cannabis growers.

e rooted branch starts with being covered by a lid 24 hours a day to increase the humidity along with being fed root hormones and water to strengthen the plant as it sits in a little tray among its peers. A few days later, the lids come off, and the plants are exposed to more light and air while getting used to being outside of their very humid environment.

After about two weeks, the cloned plants are ready to be transferred to soil and an individual pot for another two weeks. ey are moved to a different room, where the plants start to fill in their new home with sturdy roots.

Once those clones look like they’ve adjusted well to their new environment, they are relocated to a 3-gallon pot, where they’ll continue to grow for about three weeks. In this time, the plants can be a few feet tall, allowing them to be pruned to provide more clones.

“We’ll take another set of clones if we need to clone it, we’ll shape the plant, we’ll prune them, we’ll basically just give it more time to establish into these pots and then we’ll send them into the flower room,” Lucas said.

After about two months, the once-small branches are now a few feet tall and are almost ready to be introduced to the flower rooms.

“Cannabis switches into flowering on a photoperiod, meaning if you (give) it 11 hours or more of darkness, the plant will start flowering, so as long as you

keep that plant with more light than darkness, it’ll stay in this vegetative state so you can keep pumping out clones,” Lucas said.

“The entire cycle from a cloned branch to smokable flower takes eight to nine months, but with a perpetual agenda of 58 strains and 6,000 plants on site, Organic Alternatives always has something fresh and ready in their store. ”

To clarify, if you keep the plant exposed to more light, it will stay in a stage where it will continue to grow but not sprout buds, allowing you to take clones more often. If you start secluding the plant in darkness, it will then adapt to that environment and start producing sites for the buds.

e plants will stay in this environment for a few weeks as they prepare to be moved to the final stages before being harvested. Once the plants have been through several weeks of adjusting to more

time in the light, they are sent to the long-awaited flower rooms. is is the longest part of the cycle as the plants will spend up to nine weeks going through light phases, growing closer to 5 feet tall and birthing buds.

“We’re just about three weeks (into this stage) in this room,” Lucas said. “( e) plants are much taller, they have more light, so they’re going to stretch. ( ere is) more carbon dioxide in here. We change the watering strategy, and the plants just respond to the change in environment.”

Once the large canopies of plants start to produce buds, the growers look at the color changes of the pistils and trichomes to gauge the stage of the plant. e pistils are those stringy tentacle-type strands around the bud, and trichomes are the leaves around those buds and pistils that are a dark green and look like they have sugar sprinkled all over them. e growers look for both of these parts of the plant to turn from white or milky colored to a darker orange and amber tone.

Fast forward to about two months later, and the plants have grown large chunks of flower waiting to be collected. e growers clip off a foot or so at a time of stems with buds that are then transferred to rows of poles to hang.

e once-bright green lanky plants now dangle in a much colder and drier environment for as long as they need to turn into a sellable product.

“From this point, we’ve cut off all the extra stems and just kept the flower, and we’re trying to reduce the amount of moisture within the flower,” Lucas said. “(Once) it dries down to the right moisture and density, then we start breaking down the flower off of the stems and then continue that process as we trim off the smaller leaves (to then) dry it, cure it (and) maintain its freshness.”

A sample of the flower is then sent to a testing facility where a few days later, they will get the THC potency and terpenes percentages, which then allow the workers to separate the strain for flower and pre-roll packaging that will be sent to the local store.

e entire cycle from a cloned branch to smokable flower takes eight to nine months, but with a perpetual agenda of 58 strains and 6,000 plants on site, Organic Alternatives always has something fresh and ready in their store.

With strain names like Devil Driver, Blue Dream, Cornbread, Mishawaka Jazz Cabbage, Kush Mints and Orange Creamsicle, it’d be easy to take care of a plant for several months to get an enjoyable product for the consumer.

So whether you’re looking for the latest and greatest strain or like to stick with what is working, you know the flower took several months to get to be appreciated by you.

Reach Taylor Paumen at cannabis @collegian.com.

Cannabis growth of Wedding Cake, an indica strain at the Organic Alternatives growth facility Feb. 3.

PHOTO BY TRI DUONG THE COLLEGIAN

Take a look at how the cannabis sold at Organic Alternatives in Old Town is grown.

First, clips of branches from matured plants are potted in a process called cloning. For about two months after, the plants are exposed to different amounts of light and moisture while being repotted as they grow. The third step happens in the flower rooms where plants are kept for up to nine weeks as they begin to produce the buds that will be harvested and sold in the Organic Alternatives dispensary.

Since 2010 Organic Alternatives has become such a staple for Fort Collins locals that it has begun to predict the buying habits of customers, changing supply seasonally for things like concerts and the weather.

PHOTOS BY TRI DUONG

Sale prices are for in-store shopping only. Does not include phone, curbside pick up orders, delivery, online or app orders.

To join in the discussions, join our email list, if you have any questions, and for additional savings and promotions

Colorado’s wolf reintroduction plan needs improvement

Livestock owners should play a role in coexistence. e plan does not include any requirements for livestock owners to implement coexistence (nonlethal) practices to be eligible for compensation for lost animals. e implementation of some coexistence practices should be mandatory for livestock operators. In addition, CPW should give the necessary tools and education for livestock operators to commit to coexistence practices.

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 e Collegian or its editorial board. Letters to the Editor reflect the view of a member of the campus community and are submitted to the publication for approval.

My name is Mark Kohn, and I graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Colorado State University in the winter of 2022. I hold a degree in human dimensions of natural resources as well as a minor in international development.

In 2020 voters in Colorado passed Proposition 114 in favor of wolf reintroduction. Passing only with the slimmest of margins, Proposition 114 ensured that Colorado agencies use the best available science to introduce wolves to their historical ranges in Colorado. It has been three years since voters raced to their ballot drop-offs to show support for or opposition to Proposition 114, so where are the wolves?

In short, a commission consisting of Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Technical Working Groups and Stakeholder Advisory Groups, among various other agencies, has been drafting a plan to reintroduce gray wolves — Canis lupus — since the passing of Proposition 114.

In 2022 a draft of this plan was released to the public showing how these groups saw the best way to introduce wolves to Colorado. is released draft was a great starting point but has a few notable problems that should be addressed. Below are some things to think about if you are passionate about wolf reintroduction or wish to learn more.

e delisting threshold should be significantly higher. ere is no reason to remove protected status from wolves before there is a selfsustaining population as called for in Proposition 114.

A combination of the best available science indicates that 750 individuals, or 150 packs, should be the minimum for a Colorado population. e numbers in the CPW plan (150/200 to lose protected status) rely on environmental analysis from the northern Rockies from 1994. is information is outdated and not even based on a Colorado-specific analysis. Without protected status, wolves are more likely to be killed.

e plan should not mention a wolf hunt. ere is no scientific justification for a recreational wolf hunt. Indiscriminate wolf killing may increase wildlife-livestock conflict. And Proposition 114 explicitly calls for wolves to be a nongame species. Any mention of a potential hunt is antithetical to the language of Proposition 114 and the values of most Coloradans.

Wolves should not be killed on public lands. As wildlife habitat shrinks globally, public lands are the last and best places for native species to survive. ese lands should be a refuge for wolves to reestablish. e plan should promote restoration throughout the Western Slope. A lack of any geographic element for delisting means that Colorado’s wolf population could inhabit a small, isolated part of Colorado and leave the majority of wolf habitat devoid of a keystone species. CPW should employ zones or units to help restore wolves throughout the Western Slope.

A wolf-killing loophole needs to be closed. e plan states, “Any employee or agent of CPW or USFWS or appropriate state or federal or tribal agency, who is designated in writing, when acting in the course of official duties may take a wolf from the wild if such actions (are) ... to avoid conflict with human activities.” is could mean anything and undermines any protections wolves will enjoy. is language needs to be tightened.

Proposition 114 gave Coloradans the opportunity to successfully bring back a keystone species. It is our job as voters to try and put pressure on officials to do everything right the first time. If you wish to address any issues surrounding CPW’s draft plan, comments should be made by Feb. 22, according to their website.

Mark Kohn

CSU graduate, B.S. human dimensions of natural resources Send letters to letters@collegian.com. When submitting letters, please abide by the guidelines listed at collegian.com.

Thinking you know how to cook something but totally failing at it.

round

who smell good.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY TRIN BONNER THE COLLEGIAN

FoCo police use tax dollars to focus on issues, toy collection

By Callum Burke @burke0621

Editor’s Note:  is is a satire piece from e Collegian’s opinion section. Real names and the events surrounding them may be used in fictitious/semi-fictitious ways. ose who do not read the editor’s notes are subject to being offended.

On Jan. 30 the Fort Collins Police Services posted a very intriguing tweet online.

For an account ordinarily used to cover local car crashes, timely traffic issues and the occasional retweet of Larimer County’s most wanted list, this particular tweet struck media attention as it contained something entirely different. Something rarely, if ever, posted about by a police department.

A lost stuffed rabbit in desperate need of reuniting with its original owner.

at’s correct. According to the tweet, on the day prior to the tweet’s release, police officers encountered a lost rabbit teddy lying alone on the slush-covered streets of Old Town Fort Collins.

One witness claims to have seen the poor bunny selling singular, spare cigarettes outside of Ace Hardware on South College Avenue before police arrived.

Due to the harsh weather conditions — and the overall destroyed look of the bunny — officers on the scene came to the helpful conclusion to offer the poor plushie a ride back to the station for a complimentary cup of warm hot chocolate and a tour of the police facility.

“Fort Collins locals owe the police in the community for continuing to push the boundaries on what to consider worthy of posting on social media. That said, we also deserve similar tweets in the future.”

Additionally, the post requested the owners of the rabbit come and retrieve the toy.

Although it appears no takers have come forward to reclaim the mangled bunny as of yet, there

COLLEGIAN COLUMNISTS

is no denying our beloved police force is working unceasingly hard at their job and devoting tax-funded resources to things the community truly cares about.

I mean, seriously, how often can you go to your local police station knowing full well your lost rabbit teddy has a legitimate chance of returning home safely from a weekendlong bender in Old Town? Well, for Fort Collins locals, it appears to be pretty damn often.

As for the more realistic chance of the bunny belonging to a young child, just throw it out. ere’s no chance the poor kid is scrolling the depths of social media for any potential leads on the whereabouts of Dr. Snugglesworth, M.D.

Not to mention, seeing their once clean and soft teddy with tire marks all over its face and a permanent brown tint is not exactly a wholesome reunion.

Nevertheless, we know our police force is devoting countless hours of training and experience to real issues here in Fort Collins — collecting random discarded toys off the streets and trying to find the original owners. While you’re out in the world being an upstanding citizen and obeying the general laws of society,

the police are throwing themselves toward important leads in hopes of attaining community justice and peace.

Instead of offering a local houseless individual a cup of hot chocolate and a place to warm up in the colder months or even raising awareness for recently missing cats or dogs in the area, the police are dedicated to what is apparently really important in a post-pandemic world.

e community feels for the original owner of the teddy rabbit. Nobody deserves to lose anything, especially something as life-altering as a stuffed bunny, and to go even one night without it must be absolute hell.

Fort Collins locals owe the police in the community for continuing to push the boundaries on what to consider worthy of posting on social media. at said, we also deserve similar tweets in the future.

Whether the poor stuffed animal finds its home in the arms of a young child or at the bottom of a trash can, we can rest our heads at night knowing the police gave it their all in a case that would sadly get overseen at any other police department.

To the officers of Fort Collins who found the bunny and gave it a second chance, we thank you for your service.

Reach Callum Burke at letters @collegian.com.

FoCo citizens, town benefit from active transportation

By Aaron Peck @aa_peck7

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.

Fort Collins holds over 200 miles of dedicated bike lanes, making it one of the most bike-friendly cities in the country. Given the high student population in the city, these bike lanes provide a cost-effective and environmentally-friendly way for students to move around.

Building bike lanes may appear a simple change in city design, but its outcomes prove to be beneficial for the community’s quality of life.

In December 2022 the City of Fort Collins adopted the Active Modes Plan, which aims to promote walking, biking and other modes of active transportation.

e city benefits from active transportation because it encourages a healthier lifestyle, improves community engagement, reduces carbon emissions and provides an inexpensive way to access the city.

While active transportation benefits the community, it is especially important for college students who may not own a car. e initial purchase of the car, combined with maintenance, insurance and gas, makes owning a car unrealistic for many students. Instead, students can utilize a bicycle and a bus pass on especially cold days for a much more affordable option.

In addition, college students have to balance homework, classes and work and often do not have the time to work out or participate in something active. Biking or walking to class is a perfect way for students to get some daily exercise. Even 30 minutes to an hour can drastically improve an individual’s physical and mental health.

Active transportation also benefits the community as it protects the environment by reducing harmful carbon emissions from cars.

Having more people walking or biking for their daily transportation means fewer cars are on the road and less harmful emissions are entering the atmosphere. is helps ensure the beautiful landscape that is essential

to Coloradans’ way of life remains in good shape.

Active transportation continues to not only be helpful for the city and its people but also positivly impacts driving in town. Some of the most frustrating situations involve being late because you are stuck in traffic or looking for a parking spot.

By reducing the number of people who regularly drive, the roads will be less congested. is makes driving a much more enjoyable experience and limits the amount of time wasted sitting in a car.

One of the downsides often associated with biking and cars is

that it is dangerous for people on bikes as they have to ride next to fast-moving vehicles. However, Fort Collins has proven it can build bike and pedestrianonly lanes.

Examples of this include the Spring Creek Trail and the Mason Trail. Both bike trails run through parks and next to creeks, providing a pleasant riding experience. Rather than sitting in a steel box at stop lights, individuals can ride through peaceful green spaces that provide a sense of calmness and safety.

Fort Collins prides itself on being innovative and forwardthinking, which is why the city has taken initiative to continue promoting active transportation. e most important parts of the infrastructure allowing for active transportation are the options people have for how they want to get around. Active transportation is good for citizens, students and all of Fort Collins.

Reach Aaron Peck at letters @collegian.com.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY SOPHIA SIROKMAN THE COLLEGIAN

“Rather than sitting in a steel box at stop lights, individuals can ride through peaceful green spaces that provide a sense of calmness.”

Bicycles sit chained in a bike rack outside the Andrew G. Clark building Aug. 30, 2021. PHOTO BY MICHAEL MARQUARDT THE COLLEGIAN

AQUATIC ATHLETICS

Deep dive into hockey — underwater

By Damon Cook @dwcook2001

e thought of hockey is often accompanied by ideas of ice, skates and hard hits. While World Atlas estimates there are over 2 billion fans worldwide of ice hockey, it may not be the most interesting form of hockey. To some people, that honor would go to underwater hockey.

Underwater hockey is played with six people, similar to ice hockey but without a goalie. It also uses different equipment.

While there are no scuba tanks, players use a snorkel and goggles to breathe and fins to swim around. In order to move the puck around, athletes use a stick that is slightly bigger than a butter knife and has a slight bend in the middle.

e goals look similar to weighted jump ropes, and the object of the game is to get the puck to touch the goal. It doesn’t have to pass the goal as long as the puck touches the line.

Since there are no goalies in underwater hockey, teams have to come up with a strategy that is aggressive in order to push the puck but also smart to not leave

the field open for a breakaway goal. Phil Hickey, the coach of the United States women’s national underwater hockey team, said the 2-3-1 formation is currently the most popular formation in the world competition.

“We’ve migrated gradually to a 2-3-1 formation,” Hickey said. “You have two forwards, three midfielders and one single back, and the idea is (that) you keep attacking the outsides of the other team’s formation.”

Hickey said the idea of attacking the outsides is to get the opposing team to stack up heavy on one side of the pool, which then allows a player to swing the puck across their midline and attack open space.

He also said teamwork is important in underwater hockey. While in several other sports you might see a singular player dominating the game, it’s not always like that in underwater hockey.

“All the players are good enough that it’s very, very difficult for any one player to dominate a game,” Hickey said. “No matter how good you are at maneuvering the puck or how fast you are, eventually, you have to leave and go to the surface

to breathe, and it really does become much more about the teamwork and the synergy and the timing.”

Hickey also helps coach the club in Fort Collins. ey provide equipment to people who want to participate and go through step-bystep training on the rules and basics of underwater hockey before having a short scrimmage at the end of the practice. Everyone who is a regular is also more than willing to help or answer any questions with a smile. e club prides itself on being an inclusive environment, so there are people playing for their first time as well as people who compete at a high level. Crystal Boyer, the vice president of the club, takes part in tournaments outside of Fort Collins. Her most recent one was at Battle @ Altitude in Denver Jan. 2829. Boyer said one of her favorite aspects of these tournaments is the community they provide.

“What’s really cool about the underwater hockey community is that it’s really small,” Boyer said. “Everyone in the hockey community kind of knows each other worldwide. … I could probably call up a hockey person and stay at a house in Australia.”

In her most recent tournament, Boyer said her team played 10 games over the two days, each day lasting 12 hours. While the teams do get subs, she explained, they go in and play hard for 20 seconds before subbing out.

To picture that, you would get 20 seconds of rest before holding your breath, diving down and swimming hard back and forth throughout the field of play. You would then go back and take another 20 seconds of rest before repeating that same process over and over throughout two 15-minute halves. You would then have to repeat this throughout an entire day’s worth of competition.

In Boyer’s case, her team played 10 total matches. e length of an underwater hockey area is 25 meters, or about 82 feet, or a little bit longer than two school buses. Since the days are so long, the players help out with different aspects of the tournament. For this tournament, Boyer was helping stock the food room.

“I was kind of in charge of helping the food room, and so there’s this giant room where everyone hangs out, and there’s a shit ton of food,” Boyer said. “I went to Costco, and

I looked like the most ridiculous person ever. I had one of those flat cart things, and I’m rolling out 300 bananas.”

First-year Aria Paul spoke more about the group dynamic in Fort Collins.

“( e club is) still quite young, so a lot of (the students) haven’t played before, and so they got their start here and in college,” Paul said. “It’s definitely small and tightknit. I’m the only freshman at the moment, but we’re trying to branch out to get people to try it and see if they like it.”

While underwater hockey sounds intimidating, it really isn’t that scary. Club President Helen Jewart wants the club’s goal to be just having fun, gaining skills and being in an environment that’s not solely about competition. “ e point is that anyone can play underwater hockey,” Jewart said. “For me, I think I had a long history in sports environments that weren’t super positive, and I think that happens to a lot of athletes. … We want it to be an environment that is wholly positive.”

Reach Damon Cook at sports @collegian.com.

An underwater hockey player keeps the puck away from another player at Edora Pool Ice Center in Fort Collins Feb. 7. PHOTO BY TRI DUONG THE COLLEGIAN

“We want it to be an environment that is wholly positive.”

HELEN JEWART

CSU UNDERWATER HOCKEY CLUB PRESIDENT

LOOKING AHEAD

Swing into spring season with CSU softball

By Karsyn Lane @karsynlane1

Swing into spring with the Colorado State University softball team as they begin the season Feb. 10 at the New Mexico State Invitational in Las Cruces, New Mexico, to face Bradley University and New Mexico State University.

from the Bohemian Foundation to support women’s athletics at CSU, the biggest women’s athletics grant in Mountain West Conference history. is included a new softball field featuring netting instead of a chain link fence to protect fans and improve viewing, a new press box, dugouts, a grass field and better lighting.

Due to these renovations, we have yet to see the Rams since they last played in Fort Collins May 14, 2022, when they were defeated by Boise State University three games in a row. Luckily for CSU, the Saint Patrick’s Day leprechaun will bring a little green and gold magic as the university welcome the Rams home March 17 for a weekend series against San Diego State University.

Last season, Colorado State had an 18-28 overall season record and a 9-15 conference record and ranked No. 6 in the Mountain West Conference.

In September Colorado State University Athletics proudly announced a $5 million gift

e Mountain West predicted Colorado State as No. 4 in the spring season, according to the preseason coaches’ poll. Above, the MW ranked Boise State No. 1, followed by San Diego

State No. 2 and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas at No. 3. e Rams will battle these three opponents starting March 17 until April 2.

All eyes are on four seniors this season: pitcher Julia Cabral, pitcher and utility player Danielle Serna, infielder Peyton Allen and outfielder Makenna McVay. Despite not being

home for nearly three months, the Rams are on the road paving the way back to Fort Collins. Reach Karsyn Lane at sports @collegian.com.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY SOPHIA SIROKMAN THE COLLEGIAN

“The Mountain West predicted Colorado State as No. 4 in the spring season, according to the preseason coaches’ poll.”

Old Town Library hosts annual Book Fest kickoff party

By Sophia Masia @sophie_masia

e Fort Collins Book Fest kickoff party took place at Old Town Library Feb. 3, celebrating the eighth annual Book Fest.

e Poudre River Public Library District is partnering with Colorado State University’s department of english and CSU Libraries to commence the beloved event. Open Feb 1., Book Fest brings free literary events to the public, such as signings with local authors, writing workshops, author panels, literary brewery nights and more.

roughout the month of February, there will be a variety of activities held at various locations in Fort Collins.

storytelling activities, such as writing inspirational words of your own to later be displayed on the wall for the guests to read.

“My favorite so far has been the writing of my story,” Gonzales said. “I love walking around and reading these little glimpses into people’s lives.”

According to its website, the Fort Collins Book Fest was created in 2016 by librarians, writers, book lovers and community members with the simple purpose of combining the community’s passion for the literary arts and unique cultural heritage in a celebration of literature, literacy and social conversation.

e theme changes each year in order to appeal to different members of the community. February is National Library Lovers Month as well as “I Love to Read” month, making the theme this year: “For the Love of Reading.” e goal is to bring together book lovers from all over Colorado to celebrate literature and foster an appreciation for reading.

“We’re excited to offer a new format for our annual book festival,” said Diane Lapierre, executive director of Poudre Libraries. “ e monthlong celebration truly lifts the voices of local and regional authors and provides opportunities for up-close connections among book lovers.”

In years past, the festival has presented themes such as “Food for ought,” which focused on the ways literature and food are intertwined, as well as “Writings and Riff s,” which combined both music and literature.

e kickoff was a big hit. Students, authors and children of all ages attended the festival.

e event featured local improv troupe e Story Bakers as well as a variety of activities for everyone to enjoy.

Juliana Gonzales, a recently established Fort Collins local who often comes to Old Town Library to study and read, is looking forward to the literature celebration.

“I didn’t even know this was going on,” Gonzales said. “I just moved to Fort Collins, and I love that we do these kinds of things.”

Like many others at the party, Gonzales was touched by the

Popular events during previous years included a talk by Michael Benson on his book “Space Odyssey: Stanley Kubrick, Arthur C. Clarke and the Making of a Masterpiece” and performances by veteran folk songwriter-turnedauthor Loudon Wainwright III, catching the attention of Gov. John Hickenlooper, who attended the festival in 2016.

With such an exciting lineup planned for the 2023 FoCo Book Fest, it is sure to be an unforgettable experience for everyone involved.

To stay up to date on all the Book Fest events this month, check the events calendar on the Fort Collins Book Fest website.

Reach Sophia Masia at entertainment@collegian.com.

“The monthlong celebration truly lifts the voices of local and regional authors and provides opportunities for up-close connections among book lovers.”

DIANE LAPIERRE POUDRE RIVER PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

A picture is worth a thousand words

The annual Fort Collins Book Fest kicks off at Old Town Library Feb. 3

1. The Poudre River Public Library District provided people with a chance to win different prizes, including a free book and stickers, at the Fort Collins Book Fest kickoff event Feb. 3. The event included different activities such as games and coloring along with hot chocolate and sweet treats.

PHOTO BY SOPHIE STERN THE COLLEGIAN

2. The Story Bakers sing a song as they kick off their performance for the Fort Collins Book Fest at the Old Town Library Feb. 3. The Story Bakers are a professional improv troupe that blends education and entertainment into a live performance for children.

PHOTO BY SOPHIE STERN THE COLLEGIAN

3. A story card at the Fort Collins Book Fest Feb. 3. A sign was placed on the table above encouraging people to write their story on a piece of paper and hang it on some string lights.

PHOTO BY MYKYTA BOTKINS THE COLLEGIAN

4. The crowd cheers on The Story Bakers as they perform at the Fort Collins Book Fest kickoff event at the Old Town Library Feb. 3.

5. A child sitting on an adult’s lap at the Fort Collins Book Fest Feb. 3. The Book Fest is held in the Old Town Library in Fort Collins.

PHOTO BY SOPHIE STERN THE COLLEGIAN

PHOTO BY MYKYTA BOTKINS THE COLLEGIAN

The Lincoln Center presents: ‘A Place Remembered and Imagined’

travelers’ experience — allowing for curating of the experience for an online audience — my own studio practice in response to the phenomenon is painstakingly slow paced,” Godlewska said in her artist statement.

Godlewska acknowledges that for the local community, nature is a part of everyday life. However, for some, local state parks, city parks and greenways have become a refuge for those living in the cities.

Aside from stunning visuals and larger-than-average paintings, the exhibit also serves to remind viewers how precious these natural places are for recreation or necessity and how they must strive to protect them for future generations.

Emily Abrams and her husband, Tony Abrams, heard about the art gallery through the Lincoln Center tour guide.

“It’s really very pretty,” Emily Abrams said. “I would recommend anyone come here. It’s beautiful and quick, definitely worth it.”

details and the trees,” Tony Abrams said. “It’s intentional, very good stuff.” Alex Piscatelli, who has already been to the exhibit multiple times, said he loves being around the artwork all day.

“I feel grounded and relaxed looking at it,” Piscatelli said. “It’s very quiet in here, and you can really enjoy the pieces,”

Piscatelli had the opportunity to watch people experience this art for the first time on both opening day and the days to follow but has yet to hear a negative review of the work. “It’s a very good exhibit,” Piscatelli said. “I like the art, I like what it stands for and I will hopefully be seeing it again before it leaves Fort Collins.”

By Sophie Masia @sophie_masia

e Lincoln Center recently announced the debut of “A Place Remembered and Imagined,” an exhibit of works inspired by “the most Instagram-able destinations” without the presence of a phone. e exhibit will be on display noon

CAMPUS CRITICS

to 6 p.m. every Wednesday and Friday until March 4. is exhibit features the work of Maja Godlewska, artist and professor at the College of Arts and Architecture in Charlotte, North Carolina. Godlewska explores the concept of the great outdoors in a unique and personal way.

“While electronic devices serve as intermediaries in the

“I have been researching the spectacle of global Insta-tourism, following and photo-documenting travelers in the most Instagram-able destinations,” Godlewska said in her artist statement. “I have also been examining how the pandemic — disrupting global tourism and travel — has altered our perception of the outdoors, which has now become a safe space.”

e gallery is made of many different free-standing scrolls of artwork, each about 10-20 feet long.

“You know, when you just look in the room, you see big blobs of color, but the closer you get, you see the

e exhibit is open and free to the public. If you’re an art lover, or simply looking for a quiet place to relax and enjoy some skillful artistry, wander on down to e Lincoln Center.

“A Place Remembered and Imagined” is an original and limited exhibit you won’t want to miss.

Reach Sophia Masia at entertainment@collegian.com.

‘Skinamarink’ brings darkest childhood fears to life

By Christian Arndt @csucollegian

Who knew the fear of the dark could create one of the most visceral and horrifying experiences in modern cinema? “Skinamarink” is quickly gaining a cult following within the horror community and for great reason.

“Skinamarink” marks the directorial debut of Kyle Edward Ball, a YouTuber with a channel dedicated to making short films based on real accounts of nightmares. With a low budget of $15,000, Ball created one of the most immersive experiences in the horror genre.

“Skinamarink” is a nightmare in itself that plays on fears we had as children.

e story takes place in 1995 through the perspectives of Kaylee (Dali Rose Tetreault) and Kevin (Lucas Paul), two naive children who find themselves alone after waking up in the night. eir parents have mysteriously vanished, the doors and windows have disappeared and the phone is unable to place a call for help.

After a series of unexplainable and unsettling events, the children decide to watch classic cartoons and sleep out in the living room for comfort. However, it is quickly established that an unknown entity lingers in the dark, watching the children at every moment throughout the film.

As each light goes out, the entity within the shadows communicates with the children more frequently and interacts with them in new and horrifying ways.

e film does not waste a single moment adding tension, and when you think the film can’t get any scarier or reach a new level of sheer terror, “Skinamarink” continues to push the boundaries even further.

e final 30 minutes of the film are nothing short of absolute terror and panic that will surely push any person to the edge of their seat.

Given the story takes place within a confined environment, Ball manages to utilize every aspect of the set to incorporate horror in new and innovative ways. Every minute of the film is scarier and more strained than the last thanks to the excellent pacing and unexpected scares.

e lights start to go out one by one throughout the house, leaving a dark void where a room used to be.

e cinematography could be confusing and frustrating to some, but it does add to the overall experience of the film. roughout the movie, the viewer is unable to see the children’s faces directly. e story plays out through a mixture of the first-person perspective, obscure angles and uncomfortable

closeups of items scattered throughout the house.

e filming itself adds a new layer of horror that would otherwise be absent without it.

Another highlight of the movie is the sound design. e background sounds added to intense scenes pull you further into to the “Skinamarink” universe.

Something as mundane as a drawer opening in the kitchen is shockingly terrifying when used at the correct time. Ball plays on this

aspect so effectively that anytime something is heard throughout the house, it leaves the viewer questioning what made that noise or, more importantly, who made that noise.

“Skinamarink” is a muchneeded breath of fresh air in the horror movie genre. Its innovative cinematography, pacing and setting provide a truly terrifying horror experience that will surely stick with you long after watching the film.

Reach Christian Arndt at entertainment@collegian.com.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY MADELYN HENDRICKS THE COLLEGIAN

“The film does not waste a single moment adding tension, and when you think the film can’t get any scarier or reach a new level of sheer terror, ‘Skinamarink’ continues to push the boundaries even further.”

“I feel grounded and relaxed looking at it. It’s very quiet in here, and you can really enjoy the pieces.”

ALEX PISCATELLI MULTIPLE-TIME EXHIBIT ATTENDEE

The Lincoln Center’s newest art installation, “A Place Remembered and Imagined,” is displayed in the art gallery Jan. 27. The collection was created by Maja Godlewska, who has had work displayed all over the world.

PHOTO BY AVERY COATES THE COLLEGIAN

WEEKLY HOROSCOPE

By Abby Flores

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (02/09/23)

ARIES (MARCH 21 - APRIL 19)

You tend to think with your head, but this week will ask you to tune in to your emotions after long days of stress. Think about what you need, and don’t forget to treat yourself to relaxation. Activities like yoga or reading will help you find your center

TAURUS (APRIL 20 - MAY 20)

You may have the urge to do some spring cleaning this week. This could mean tidying up your space or meditating with crystals to cleanse your aura. Deciding to do so will bring you focus and concentration.

GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUNE 20)

Sometimes it feels as if you are reliving the same day, and although this is something you are not used to quite yet, the universe is pushing you to expand your horizons in small ways. It could be trying new recipes or doing

something new to your appearance. The purpose of it all is to figure out what makes you happiest.

CANCER (JUNE 21 - JULY 22)

You have a knack for opening others up when they are hermitting in their shells, and a secret admirer wants to thank you for helping them see the beauty in themselves. Your efforts in getting to know people have them entranced.

LEO (JULY 23 - AUG. 22)

The snow moon is in your sign, Leo, which means people are watching you shine. You may have felt pressured to fit a certain mold last year, but the role has been reversed. You are more motivated than ever to step into your power. This week is all about embracing authenticity.

VIRGO (AUG. 23 - SEPT. 22)

A couple situations within your relationships have been bubbling up. You are a peaceful soul, but times like these are calling for you to set more boundaries and be stern. Your beautiful energy is often envied by others, so don’t forget to protect it when you need to.

Dear stars,

On Feb. 5 the snow moon transpired into our theatrical sign, Leo. Prepare for a little bit of chaos, as this placement, mixed with the energy of Uranus, may cause turbulence in some of your close relationships. Strong emotions, distance or tensions could arise, especially if you are an air or fire sign. My advice to you is to stay as grounded as possible. Misunderstandings happen, and these types of situations are only temporary. Let go of what you need to in the next coming days by putting time into your passions. Our communication planet, Mercury, will soon enter Aquarius Feb. 11 and help us sort things out in a logical way. It will also encourage us to stay positive and upbeat.

Yours truly,

A Sagittarius Moon

LIBRA (SEPT. 23 - OCT. 22)

The last couple days may have felt unstable because you are typically chosen to mediate situations that are not your own. Be proud of how far you’ve come in terms of staying loyal. Your energy is serene and helps others slow down. Taking naps will help rejuvenate you throughout the week.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23 - NOV. 21)

Your intuition has been on a roll lately because you are trusting your feelings more. This will only grow in the next coming weeks as the universe pushes you to get out of your comfort zone. You will find yourself socializing with more people and developing close friendships.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22 - DEC. 21)

Discipline is not your strength, especially because the independent energy of Aquarius has been tempting you to experience something spiritual and outside of yourself. Remember that your mind is a dreamscape, and it is OK to let your thoughts wander to the revelations coming from your heart.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 - JAN. 19)

You may have started a health and fitness journey recently. Not only has this been bringing you more energy throughout the day, but you feel more spontaneous and social. Your confidence is magnetic — keep up the good work.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 - FEB. 18)

You are the sign of friendship and openness. As your social circle expands, watch out for miscommunication among the people within it. Personalities may clash, but as always, you know how to restore balance and take all perspectives into account.

PISCES (FEB. 19 - MARCH 20)

You tend to be closed off on the exterior when in reality, your thoughts and emotions have been more heightened than usual. These feelings will pass once you allow yourself time to reflect on your inner self. Don’t be afraid to open up to people at this time. You are loved by many.

“Give

“Ah!

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