Thursday, May 4, 2023 Vol. 132, No. 31

How CSU Athletics builds the stalwart experience

Story by taylor paumen

cover illustration by falyn sebastian and Reuel Indurkar

THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN

FORT COLLINS FOCUS

TOP STORIES TOP STORIES

NEWS: CSU’s animal research receives critical fine from USDA PAGE 4

LIFE: Fort Collins’ next steps in sustainable innovations PAGE 7

CANNABIS: Strain Review: Ease your mind with Durban Kush wax PAGE 9

OPINION: Eckburg: ADHD, autism diagnoses increase, include women in criteria PAGE 16

SPORTS: Head to head: Is CSU a volleyball or a women’s basketball school? PAGE 18

ARTS: CSU Fashion Show brings city style to the runway PAGE 20

PHOTO: Best of The Collegian PAGES 10 & 11

FOCO EVENTS FOCO EVENTS

6th Annual Starter Barter & Plant Sale at Sproutin’ Up 10 a.m. to noon May 6

Fort Collins Trolley 2023 Season Kick Off at the Fort Collins Trolley City Park Depot Noon to 5 p.m. May 6

FoCo Family Band Spring Market at The Lyric Noon to 5 p.m. May 13

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Letters to the Editor reflect the view of a member of the campus community and are submitted to the publication for approval. Readers may submit letters to letters@collegian.com. Please follow the guidelines listed at collegian.com before submitting.

Jake Skifstad, owner of the nonprofit organization Sheild 616, gives a speech to Larimer County Sheriff’s deputies and Fort Collins community members at the Timberline Church April 21. Sheild 616, in collaboration with the Timberline Church, local Fort Collins community members and Angel Armor, donated 126 rifle-rated vests to deputies.

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This publication is not an official publication of Colorado State University, but is published by an independent corporation using the name ‘The Rocky Mountain Collegian’ pursuant to a license granted by CSU. Approximately 59% of Rocky Mountain Student Media Corp’s income is provided by the Associated Students of Colorado State University (ASCSU) for the purpose of fostering student careers post-college and greater campus awareness and engagement. The Rocky Mountain Collegian is a 4,000-circulation student-run newspaper intended as a public forum and is printed on paper made of 30% post-consumer waste. It publishes every Thursday during the regular fall and spring semesters. The Collegian publishes online Monday through Thursday. Corrections may be submitted to the editor in chief and will be printed as necessary on page two. The Collegian is a complimentary publication for the Fort Collins community. The first copy is free. Additional copies are 25 cents each.

CORRECTIONS

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

EDITORIAL STAFF

Serena Bettis | Editor in Chief editor@collegian.com

Taylor Paumen | Content Managing Editor managingeditor@collegian.com

Falyn Sebastian | Digital & Design Managing Editor managingeditor@collegian.com

Adah McMillan | Copy Chief copy@collegian.com

Chloe Leline | Print Editor design@collegian.com

Trin Bonner | Illustration Editor design@collegian.com

Tri Duong | Photo Director photo@collegian.com

Lucy Morantz | Photo Director photo@collegian.com

Piper Russell | News Director news@collegian.com

Allie Seibel | News Director news@collegian.com

Ivy Secrest | L&C Director life@collegian.com

Bella Eckburg | Opinion Director letters@collegian.com

Karsyn Lane | Sports Director sports@collegian.com

Braidon Nourse | Sports Editor sports@collegian.com

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

Parisa Farhadi | Social Media Coordinator socialmedia@collegian.com

Grace Bernhart | Social Media Editor socialmedia@collegian.com

Deputies of the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office stand behind their donated rifle vests at the Timberline Church in Fort Collins April 21. Sheild 616 facilitated the donation from local community members who wanted to provide deputies with rifle-rated body armor.

PHOTO BY GARRETT MOGEL THE COLLEGIAN

PHOTO BY GARRETT MOGEL THE COLLEGIAN

ASCSU shifts strategy as fight against U+2 loses student engagement

By Dylan Tusinski @dylantusinski

After several failed attempts at mass student demonstrations against U+2, Associated Students of Colorado State University is changing its approach to abolishing the controversial housing ordinance. Rather than mobilizing students for larger events like the April 4 demonstration at Fort Collins City Council, CSU’s student government is using petitions and legislation as their primary tactics to combat U+2.

e shift in ASCSU’s strategy comes amid a significant drop in student engagement with the anti-U+2 movement.

e aforementioned April 4 demonstration was organized by ASCSU in an attempt to put U+2 on the November ballot. But despite the overflow of students in the City Council chambers, council members

skirted around their demands, leaving it unclear as to what exactly the protest had accomplished.

an Instagram post acknowledging they misunderstood a conversation with a City Council member and that the showing would not have any impact on the U+2 housing ordinance being on the November ballot.

“ e deal between us and a City Council member in regards to getting U+2 on the ballot was a miscommunication between our leadership and communication team,” the Instagram post reads. “Council has been incredibly supportive of our work over the past few months, and we jumped the gun after misinterpreting a conversation with them before having all of the facts.”

ASCSU also announced they were organizing similar student turnouts at every City Council meeting from then on, beginning April 18. Turnout was low for many of those meetings with most of the students in attendance being ASCSU executive officers.

A few days after the demonstration, ASCSU shared

e post also announced ASCSU began collecting signatures for a petition that, if successful, would place U+2 on the ballot. As of May 2, ASCSU Director of Housing Security Jorge Garcia said the petition has upward of 400 signatures.

In order to draw more students in, ASCSU promised free pizza and political change for those who came to the May 2 City Council meeting. Fewer than 20 students showed up for the pizza, and only six or seven spoke during the council meeting against U+2. Garcia, who organized both demonstrations, noted the low student turnout at the May 2 meeting, attributing it to end-ofthe-semester finals.

“I know there (are) not as many students as we hoped tonight, but I know it’s also finals week and that students have to prepare for their future,” Garcia said at the meeting.

President-elect Nick DeSalvo was among those who spoke before the council May 2, where he said ASCSU relied on state and local legislation rather than student activism to end U+2. He mentioned Senate Bill 213, which would prohibit local governments in Colorado from enforcing occupancy limits like U+2, but hinted toward using the petition as an alternative if the bill doesn’t pass.

“Senate Bill 213 hasn’t necessarily passed yet,” DeSalvo said. “ ere (has) been a slew of amendments that have been added to it, and so we’re not sure which direction it’s going to go. So on our end, in order to make sure U+2 no longer exists, we’ve created

some backup measures to reflect that change. ... We really have to address the housing problem if the state doesn’t.”

Reach Dylan Tusinski at news @collegian.com.

FORT COLLINS POLICY

The City Council meeting room at Fort Collins City Hall overflows with audience members before the council meeting begins April 4. A council member reportedly made a deal with the Associated Students of Colorado State University that if 200 or more Colorado State University students attended the council meeting, then she would put the city’s controversial U+2 housing policy on the ballot for Fort Collins voters to decide its future. PHOTO BY LUCY MORANTZ THE COLLEGIAN

“I know there’s not as many students as we hoped tonight, but I know it’s also finals week and that students have to prepare for their future.”

JORGE GARCIA ASCSU DIRECTOR OF HOUSING SECURITY

BY FALYN SEBASTIAN THE COLLEGIAN

CSU’s animal research receives critical fine from USDA

By Allie Seibel and Piper Russell @csucollegian

Colorado State University was charged with breaking federal laws in the negligent treatment of animals in its research program.

According to the university, the citations are both associated with a study evaluating a vaccine to prevent hemorrhagic diseases in rabbits. is disease cannot be contracted by humans, but it can by animals found in Colorado.

According to the Colorado Department of Agriculture, this disease is extremely contagious and fatal, oftentimes without visible symptoms in rabbits.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, a rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus serotype 2 vaccine is currently not licensed in the United States.

Stop Animal Exploitation

NOW!, a national research watchdog, filed an official complaint against CSU April 25 for violations against the Animal Welfare Act. e USDA cited CSU with two violations, one of which was a rare critical violation, in their inspection report Feb. 7.

CSU was cited for violating Section 2.31 Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.

e report from the USDA states that 12 rabbits reached temperatures over the humane endpoint of 41 degrees Celsius, the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee-approved protocol for rabbits. Six of the rabbits were found dead, and the others were euthanized.

“Failure of the research personnel to adhere to the humane endpoints in the IACUCapproved protocol resulted in these animals experiencing unnecessary unrelieved pain and distress and constitutes a significant change that was not reviewed or approved by the committee,” the report reads.

e report explains CSU also violated Section 2.36 Annual Report for not reporting 26 animals “used in research involving accompanying pain or distress to the animals for which the use of appropriate anesthetics and analgesics were withheld.”

“ ey didn’t report what they were supposed to report because they withheld adequate pain relief and things for a study that

involved at least 26 rabbits, and they reported that zero animals underwent unnecessary pain and distress,” said Stacey Ellison, a research analyst for SAEN.

After learning of violations, the USDA will conduct an investigation and either give CSU an official warning or fine the university, Ellison said. e maximum penalty can be a fine of $12,722 per animal.

“Now Colorado State has two (critical violations), which (are) killing animals and leaving six rabbits to die and then the other six animals that had to be killed,” Ellison said. “ e severity of it is pretty severe; action (will have to be taken) on these because they were labeled as critical.”

SAEN monitors animal laboratories for animal abuse violations and cites individual laboratories for their wrongdoings.

“Measuring temperature in rabbits can be difficult as handling them can create stress, which can lead to a temporary increase in temperature,” said Nik Olsen, CSU director for integrative communications, in an email. “Knowing this, research staff used their best judgment

to try to avoid false positives and unnecessary euthanasias. Unfortunately, this did lead to some rabbits over the course of the study dying from the virus versus being euthanized.”

Olsen said CSU must file the second citation related to the animal census report with the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. He said the study did not properly reflect the numbers reported, and CSU rectified the error.

“Colorado State University takes seriously its commitment (to) care for all animals under its care and to ensure adherence to approved research protocol established by its Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee and is reviewing the APHIS report,” Olsen said.

“ is law is the only way that legal action can be taken against (the university) for breaking the law,” Ellison said. “As for how effective it really is, they were just fined $5,800 and then a month later killed 20 animals. So there you go for (lack of) effectiveness.”

Reach Allie Seibel and Piper Russell at news@collegian.com.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION

“Failure of the research personnel to adhere to the humane endpoints in the IACUC-approved protocol resulted in these animals experiencing unnecessary unrelieved pain and distress and constitutes a significant change that was not reviewed or approved by the committee.”

USDA ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH

Vindeket Foods, local author open dialogue about food insecurity

By Samy Gentle @samy_gentle_

e first time Fort Collins resident Gina Soldano-Herrle shopped at Vindeket Foods, she was worried she might have been taking the free food away from people who needed it more.

at was before she realized the true purpose of the nonprofit organization: fighting food waste. Vindeket Foods works with grocery stores, restaurants and farms to rescue food that can no longer be sold because it is past its best-by date. Instead of being thrown in the trash, the still-good food ends up at Vindeket.

Soldano-Herrle’s experience at Vindeket inspired her to join their team of volunteers. After months of work, she was motivated to embark on her own journey to share the messages about food waste, and she began to work on writing a children’s book about food scarcity, sharing the Vindeket message.

“I know for a fact (Vindeket Foods) feeds hundreds of people every Tuesday, and because of Vindeket, my own home has had more access to fresh, organic

produce and other foods we wouldn’t otherwise have been able to afford,” Soldano-Herrle wrote in an email to e Collegian

according to the Kickstarter page. Soldano-Herrle began writing in September 2022 and from there attempted to get interest from agents and editors with little overall success.

“Last month, I decided I was tired of waiting for someone to green light the story, so I took it into my own hands,” SoldanoHerrle said. “I approached Nathan, the guy behind Vindeket, and told him about my book. He was immediately on board and has been extremely supportive and enthusiastic about the project.”

To pay for an illustrator for her book as well as self-publishing fees, Soldano-Herrle started a Kickstarter campaign on April 7 with a goal of $3,000.

She found her illustrator, Abi Eaton, through a local art contest she held.

“ rough using found materials and so much more, (Eaton) brought not only my words but the heart of this story to life through her art,” SoldanoHerrle said.

inspire the creation of more food rescue organizations.

Food rescue and reducing food waste have held an important place in Soldano-Herrle’s life.

Soldano-Herrle’s book, titled “Nia’s Rescue Box,” will be a picture book for kids ages 4-7 years old that introduces the idea of food waste and food insecurity,

e heart of this story in question is her desire to open the conversation about food insecurity to adults and children alike, spread the message of Vindeket Foods and perhaps even

“My older sibling actually got me into dumpster diving, and I still remember how they frequently had a freezer full of bagels from their Panera Bread dumpster dives,” Soldano-Herrle said. “ e workers there doublebagged the bagels before tossing them in the trash, almost as if they knew. ... I can still remember the way those Asiago cheese

bagels tasted ... just as good as any other bagel.” rough her book, SoldanoHerrle hopes to normalize the rescue of viable food and have an impact on food insecurity.

“It can feel embarrassing to ask for help — at least, that has been my experience,” Soldano-Herrle said. “But through normalizing this conversation, we can bring it out into the open along with viable solutions like organizations along the lines of Vindeket Foods.” Reach Samy Gentle at news @collegian.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ABI EATON

“It can feel embarrassing to ask for help — at least, that has been my experience. But through normalizing this conversation, we can bring it out into the open along with viable solutions like organizations along the lines of Vindeket Foods.”

GINA SOLDANO-HERRLE VINDEKET FOODS VOLUNTEER

Comrades or conflict: The trials of living with a roommate

By Ivy Secrest @ivysecrest

College roommates are often make-or-break relationships. Some will remain friends for a lifetime, and others will manage to hate each other in one week and never speak again.

For many students, moving into college is highly anticipated. Move-in week across the country is so busy that signs line the highway warning drivers of increased traffic, and most upperclassmen avoid driving to campus until things settle down.

After the long trek to Colorado State University and the awkward process of families and roommates meeting, it’s hard to imagine that for many students, the chaos has just begun.

Darion Regalado, a resident assistant at CSU, said most roommates will eventually have some kind of conflict. Often, the things students think will make living with someone easier actually cause more problems, such as living with friends.

“It’s kind of hard to keep the same best friend relationship when you live with that person,” Regalado said.

Especially in the dorms where living quarters are tight and there’s very little personal space, it’s important to live with compatible personalities.

“If you’re planning on being super cleanly and not having people over and you end up living with somebody who always wants to have friends over (and) doesn’t really keep the room clean, ... that definitely becomes an issue,” Regalado said.

Random roommates can present issues as well. Kaleb Zimmer, a sophomore chemical and biological engineering major at CSU, said when he had random roommates last semester, he encountered several issues primarily consisting of cleanliness, following through and respect for boundaries.

Zimmer said issues of taking out the trash and eating bigger food items, like chicken, without permission were constant sources of conflict.

In one instance, a roommate of Zimmer’s got too drunk and threw

up in a bathroom that Zimmer shared with a third roommate.

ey didn’t clean it up, causing it to harden. is was the point at which Zimmer decided to move.

Tensions like this can put a strain on the academic and social lives of students. Zimmer avoided using common areas and his apartment in general, preferring not to interact with his roommates.

“I wish we were able to talk things out, but after the puke incident, I was like, ‘I just cannot live with you guys. Like, this is my home. ... It’s like this is my safe space, and it’s being attacked,’” Zimmer said.

Regalado said that often when frustrations occur, roommates aren’t talking to each other. ey think if they bring it up, they’ll make the other person angry or make the situation worse.

“I always tell my residents at the beginning of the year that when they are having issues with their roommate to talk to them first,” Regalado said.

Regalado recommended roommates in the dorms sign a roommate agreement to set

boundaries early on. It gives residents a framework for living together.

Ideally, this allows residents to navigate standards for cleanliness and differences in belief systems and sets a standard for communicating in the future. Once students move off campus, like Zimmer, those boundary-setting and conflictresolution solutions become much more self-motivated.

“ e biggest thing I had to tell myself is that my anger is justified,” Zimmer said. “I’m allowed to be upset about this, and ultimately, I need to say something because otherwise, people will continue to walk all over me.”

According to Zimmer, having roommates reveals to you your personal boundaries. For example, he knows he cannot live with messy people or people who frequently use substances. For others, this may not be a concern.

Zimmer said he wouldn’t do a randomized roommate situation again unless it was only one roommate. Currently living with some friends, Zimmer has found a much more harmonious living

environment and believes some friends can live together well.

“It depends on the friend because my best friend, her and I are very different, but our friendship is very strong,” Zimmer said. “And we know that we wouldn’t be able to live together.”

Learning to manage conflict and live with others is an essential life skill. College roommates can teach you these skills without damaging your community, your health or your academics if communication and boundaries are strong. ese conflicts are rarely onesided. Zimmer said that looking back, there were definitely times when he could have reacted in a better way.

“Acknowledge that you will have to make sacrifices living with other people,” Zimmer said. “It’s not always going to go your way. If you want everything to go your way all the time, get a onebedroom apartment.”

Reach Ivy Secrest at life @collegian.com.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY CHLOE LELINE THE COLLEGIAN

GOING GREEN

Fort Collins’ next steps in sustainable innovations

By Hania Nini @csucollegian

Fort Collins has made significant steps in its efforts toward sustainability. e City of Fort Collins has identified six key areas for sustainability and has set specific goals in each of these areas.

ese goals are aimed at reducing waste, minimizing carbon emissions, fostering a world-class workplace, promoting resilience and sustaining the city’s public lands while using water resources efficiently.

Honore Depew, the climate program manager for the city, said the City Council adopted the Our Climate Future framework in 2021.

e framework includes a commitment to a 100% renewable electricity goal, an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and a zero-waste goal all to be achieved by 2030.

Additionally, the city aims to be carbon neutral by 2050, with an interim goal of reducing carbon by 50% below baseline by 2026.

CAM’S CANINES

“Setting targets allows us to check whether we’re making progress in the right direction,” Depew said. “And it allows us to do an annual inventory of greenhouse gas emissions and check against our targets whether we’re going up or down.”

e benefits of achieving these sustainability goals extend beyond just environmental impact.

Depew said climate disruption is exacerbating major challenges across the region and the globe, such as extreme weather events, hotter temperatures, more fires and floods and unpredictable precipitation.

“Mitigating our climate impacts as a community is really important,” Depew said.

To track progress, the city conducts an annual greenhouse gas inventory that collects data and reports from businesses, residents and industrial and commercial sources. Depew stressed there’s more to measure than just greenhouse gas emissions.

“One of the most important things of Our Climate Future

framework for action is putting people at the center, putting people first,” Depew said. “To meet our goals, it’s not enough to just take an engineering approach with more renewable energy and better energy efficiency. It really has to be hand-in-hand with the work that we’re doing to make the future more equitable.”

Collaboration with other organizations is also key to achieving these sustainability goals.

Depew cited Larimer County and businesses like New Belgium Brewing Company as examples of collaborators. e city also works with organizations like Colorado Communities for Climate Action to support climate-friendly legislation at the state level.

Depew highlighted the importance of innovation and creative problem-solving. He said that in order to tackle complex issues related to sustainability, it is essential to think outside the box and explore different approaches.

“Innovation is really important,” Depew said. “We need to be

thinking about different ways to approach these problems.”

By establishing clear objectives for waste reduction, carbon emissions reduction, and sustainable land management, Fort Collins is taking steps toward a more sustainable future.

“When it comes to trying to center equity and people more in our climate work, we’re just about to launch a couple of really interesting programs, including

a small grants program for leadership capacity building,” Depew said.

By adopting the Our Climate Future framework, partnering with many organizations and putting an emphasis on community, the city has demonstrated its dedication to accomplishing a number of sustainability objectives. Reach Hania Nini at life @collegian.com.

What every college kid should consider before getting a dog

don’t have a lot of free time to get your friend proper play time and exercise, you should seriously consider a lower-maintenance pet. You also need to be free to feed them, take them to doctor’s appointments, walk them, socialize them with other dogs and clean up after them. No puppy is without accidents, and as the pet parent, it is your job to take care of that.

Breed

Not every dog is for everyone. If you’re super active, you may consider a husky or herd dog; if you like to hike but also love your downtime, consider a labrador or golden retriever. If you’re relatively inactive, look at smaller dogs that get tired quickly.

you’ll need to make sure your new buddy can’t slip out of the gates. Considering the space you have access to is vital in considering what kind of dog you should get and if you should get one at all. Your pet deserves to live a happy life, and outdoor time for dogs is the minimum requirement for joy.

Future

By Ivy Secrest @ivysecrest

Missing the family pet is among the most prominent growing pains experienced by college kids. According to Washington State University, 75% of first-year students experienced some level of pet-separation anxiety.

is ache in your heart for a fuzzy friend may lead you to the nearest rescue or pet store to purchase

yourself a cute puppy to cart home.

If you find yourself in that position, there’s a lot to consider beyond how cute their little nose and paws are. Pets are a huge responsibility, so before leaping in, evaluate your ability to commit.

Cost

e cost of your new friend will vary depending on the type of dog you get and where you get them from. Sites like Rover can help you get a better understanding

of the cost range, but you can expect to spend hundreds of dollars on first-time costs like vaccines, adoption fees and puppy gear. Rabies vaccines in the state of Colorado are mandatory, and even if you do the bare minimum for your pup, you’ll likely need to prepare for spaying or neutering costs as well.

Free Time

Your lifestyle will impact the health of your buddy. If you

ese pups can’t help the characteristics that were bred into them, and while you may want to pick one over the other based on aesthetic, you’ll be much better off if you don’t attempt to fight nature. Consider rescuing a dog as well — often the pup’s personality is wellknown by workers at the animal shelter, and they can help you find your perfect match.

Location

You can definitely have a dog in an apartment, but you may want to consider what parks and trails are nearby. If you have a yard,

Not everyone stays in their college town over the summer, and if you plan on heading home, you need to secure transport for your dog. You may even want to consider postcollege plans. Even if a dog feels like a great idea now, you are committing to that animal for the rest of its life, meaning it’ll be joining you in all of those adventures. If you feel like you’d be better off solo, don’t half-commit to a dog. On the other hand, if you’re down to commit and it feels doable, all dogs deserve a happy home.

Puppy love is magical, but if you truly want a dog in your life, remember the responsibility. Missing pets at home is no reason to be rash, but a truly loved and cared-for college pet has the ability to change your college experience.

If you feel confident about cost, free time, breed, location and your future plans, consider filling that puppy-shaped hole in your heart with a likely enthusiastic new buddy. Reach Ivy Secrest at life @collegian.com.

Fort Collins City Hall located on North Meldrum Street and Laporte Avenue in Fort Collins April 20. PHOTO BY REUEL INDURKAR THE COLLEGIAN

Mochi, an Australian Shepherd and Husky mix, plays with balls at Spring Canyon Dog Park May 3.

PHOTO BY TRI DUONG THE COLLEGIAN

BY TRIN BONNER THE COLLEGIAN

BECAUSE I GOT HIGH

A camping miracle, movie trip, golf steroids

By Guest Author @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.

A camping miracle

Last semester a few friends and I decided to take advantage of the warmish fall weather and head up the Poudre Canyon to do some camping. After driving in and out of different camp spots, we had finally found one just as the sun was hitting the top of the Rockies. So after getting the speaker connected with some groovy nature tunes and cracking open a beer, we set up our two tents, put all our yummy snacks and meals into the bear box, started a small fire and put all our games and activities on the picnic table.

Once we could settle down and take a seat in our camp chairs around the fire, I thought it would be the perfect time to pull out the good stuff We were only camping for two nights, so I bought a pack of five pre-rolls, which had only one left come night two. I went to pull out the last joint,

and it had a small tear in it right where the filter met the flower, showing a small hole but a big problem. at was our only thing left to smoke, so it was crucial that I found a way to fix it. So after a small panic among the group, I went through all our inventory to see what could be our fixing savior. at’s when I found what everyone should have on a camping trip because it could come in handy in more ways than one: a first-aid kit. I pulled out the smallest butterfly bandaid I could find and did some prestigious surgical work and completely rehabilitated the pre-roll to a form that was smokable. I was thanked deeply by all my friends when I presented them with what they were waiting for, and we ended up finishing up a great smoking — I mean camping — trip.

Edibles: The best movie snack

For 4/20 this year, I was trying to figure out how I wanted to spend my day. I had already decided I was going to ditch all my classes for the day as it was a national holiday, at least for me. Now that I had a whole day to myself to get super high, I headed to a dispensary and got a few packs of edibles. I reached out to all three of my friends, but they all decided to be better students than me and said they couldn’t partake in

the best day of the year until later that night. So I tried to think of something fun to do alone while being super high. I decided to go to a movie. So I took a few edibles and looked to see what movie would be the most visually appealing. I knew the winner right when I saw it: “ e Super Mario Bros. Movie.” It was just the kind of humor and color spread I needed, and it was definitely a 4/20 for the books, as I was one of three people in the theater that day. I highly recommend the activity for yourself or even with friends.

Cannabis golf steroids

Last weekend one of my best friends and I went to hit some rounds at one of the golf courses in town and lit up a quick joint as we went up to the first tee box. A few holes later, we had killed the pre-roll and were downing water. But come hole 18, I realized I had achieved one of the best scores I’d ever had on a golf course. I had two birdies, and as par was 36, I hit a 43. Might try out for the CSU team now, but only if they don’t require drug tests before tournaments. To submit stories, email cannabis @collegian.com or fill out our Google Form, which is linked alongside guidelines in our Letter from the Editor.

Ease your mind with Durban Kush wax

By Miles Buchan @buchanmiles

We are hurtling toward the finish line with less than two weeks left in the academic year, and the burnout rate is accelerating. With everything going on, I wanted to find some kind of mild-minded hybrid that would help ease my stress but not kill my productivity.

Luckily that is exactly what I found when I picked up a gram of Durban Kush wax from our friendly Verts Neighborhood Dispensary. Verts’ location on West Elizabeth Street is a convenient walk from my home and close to Colorado State University’s main campus, which makes it an easy dispensary to frequent.

When I go to Verts, I will typically pick up 1 gram of regular wax for anywhere between $12$22, and so I was happy to pick up this gram of Durban Kush for $19. At Verts and most other dispensaries, there are standard wax and shatter strains, which are the most affordable concentrates, and then there are many levels above the standard that include things like live budder, resin or different kinds of hash.

For me, the standard wax works just fine for most occasions as they are incredibly high in cannabinoid concentration regardless. Durban Kush shows tests for three cannabinoids: 6.7% THC, 80.77% THCA and 0% CBD, with its total THC level marked at 77.54%. is was a selling point for Durban Kush, as

its overall THC level is high for a standard wax concentrate. is concentrate is produced by HRVST Labs and is just one of many strains labeled with the HRVST logo that you might find at Verts. HRVST Labs creates recreational high-quality concentrates and maintains a high standard of practice cultivated by the two founding extractors. is Durban Kush concentrate looks, smells and tastes highly refined and gave me nothing to complain about. Looking at the gram, it presents as a nice, buttery chunk of wax that has a light tan coloring. Typically I find if the wax is darker in color, it may not taste as clean or be smoked as smoothly, so I appreciate Durban Kush’s hue.

In addition to its great looks, I must also praise Durban Kush for its smell and flavor profile. Even though it does not have an overtly citrus-like smell, there is a keen freshness to this wax that is just downright pleasant.

It smells similar to the aroma of pine trees but with sweeter undertones. As a stoner, I recognize my bias, but I would expect this kind of freshness from a very special scented candle. e amount of praise given to the smell can also be given to the flavor profile in the same way.

I mentioned at the start of this article that I was looking for a mellow-minded strain, and I couldn’t think of a better way to describe the effects of Durban Kush. As this product is a concentrate, I will say it is easy to overdo it if you’re not familiar

with the dabbing process, but at the right dose, this strain may offer you a high that feels both relaxing and rejuvenating.

In my case, I wanted to find a hybrid strain that would not be too psychoactive because as a graduating senior, I would very much like to not have an

anxiety attack during finals week. However, I am the type of person who likes to be high while remaining productive, so I did not want to get a strain that’d shut me down completely.

is is why I picked an intermediate hybrid strain that I thought may relax my mind

and replenish my mindset. After several sessions of smoking Durban Kush, I can say that this effect is exactly what I got. All things considered, this is an exceptional wax by HRVST. Rating: 9/10. Reach Miles Buchan at cannabis@collegian.com

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GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY FALYN SEBASTIAN THE COLLEGIAN

YEAR IN REVIEW: A visual timeline of the 2022-23 academic year

FRAME BY FRAME

FRAME BY FRAME

1. Students play-fight on an inflatable attraction on the intramural fields at the Ram Welcome Carnival Aug. 18, 2022.

PHOTO BY SARA SHAVER THE COLLEGIAN

2. Kacy Blanchard rides her bike during the Fort Collins Tour De Fat bike parade Sept. 3, 2022. “I just wanted to show up and be as bright as I possibly could,” Blanchard said. Tour De Fat is an annual free-to-participate event put on by New Belgium Brewing Company featuring live music, costumes and beer.

PHOTO BY GARRETT MOGEL THE COLLEGIAN

3. Running back Alex Berrouet (29) runs out to the field at the start of Colorado State University’s Homecoming Game against Utah State University Oct. 15, 2022. The Rams lost 17-13.

PHOTO BY REUEL INDURKAR THE COLLEGIAN

4. U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet responds to a comment from U.S. Senate candidate Joe O’Dea during their final debate before Election Day in the Lory Student Center Oct. 28, 2022.

PHOTO BY LUCY MORANTZ THE COLLEGIAN

5. CSU guard McKenna Hofschild (4) maneuvers around California State University, Fresno defenders at Moby Arena Dec. 29, 2022. The Rams won 64-58, with Hofschild contributing 29 points and 8 assists. PHOTO BY SERENA BETTIS THE COLLEGIAN

6. Earvin Johnson leads the Martin Luther King Jr. Day march through Fort Collins with an estimated 3,000 people Jan. 16. “I’m blessed, Black and highly favored, and I’m out here every day to represent that,” Johnson said. PHOTO BY MILO GLADSTEIN THE COLLEGIAN

7. Amanda Hoffman, CSU swimmer, celebrates after the 100-yard butterfly event during the 2023 Mountain West Swimming & Diving Championships in the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center Natatorium at the University of Houston Feb. 17. Hoffman finished with a time of 54.11 seconds, adding 16 points for the team.

PHOTO BY TRI DUONG THE COLLEGIAN

8. Bartender Brianna Potestio burns a stick of cinnamon with a torch at Social in Fort Collins Feb. 26. The burnt cinnamon is a garnish for a rum swizzle that Potestio advises be dipped in the drink to infuse the cinnamon. PHOTO BY REILEY COSTA THE COLLEGIAN

9. Natalia Wynters performs to “Night of Your Life” by David Guetta featuring Jennifer Hudson at CSU’s Drag Show “Drag Through the Decades” April 9. PHOTO BY LOUISA PETRILLO THE COLLEGIAN

10. Peyton Harrington, Sloan Struble and Norrie Swofford of Dayglow perform “Hot Rod” during RamFest at Moby Arena April 27.

PHOTO BY MICHAEL MARQUARDT THE COLLEGIAN

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Committing to failing my classes for The Collegian

By Bella Eckburg @yaycolor

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.

All of a sudden, I find myself in the last week of classes and inching toward that graduation stage, praying I don’t eat shit in my heels in front of everyone.

e anxiety is borderline flesheating, and I just realized the body doesn’t come with the dress I ordered online for graduation, so it drags behind me like a medieval train. I unfortunately am not 6 feet tall.

us I have come to a very reasonable conclusion. I intend on failing my classes this semester and living full time in the newsroom. is decision comes after months of consideration and careful plotting. Looking at my grades on Canvas, I don’t think I can drop all of them to failing levels within the week, but I’ve planned for that. If they won’t fail me, I will stage a scene.

“While y’all take your finals and sweat the small stuff, I’m looking to the future of hiding in the RMSMC walls. Instead of turning in my final essays, I’m submitting a picture of Gibby from iCarly with the caption ‘Gibby no like’ in PDF format.”

is decision will give me ample time to grow to 6 feet tall and keep me in my current position at the Rocky Mountain Student Media Corporation. If I take the same three credits over and over again for the next four years, I can work my way up the chain of command.

You may be asking why I wouldn’t just graduate and then apply for a job at RMSMC, but there’s a very reasonable answer: If I did that, I wouldn’t be special.

I’m a goal setter, unlike most of y’all, and my goal is to fail.

I will also spend the next four years with ample free time because I will only be taking three credits, and this will allow my investigative reporting skills to explode and rise in value.

Is it the most economically sound decision? No! But this is America, and I have to take risks to get recognition. Living in the newsroom will be super cozy because we have no windows.

While y’all take your finals and sweat the small stuff, I’m looking to the future of hiding in the RMSMC walls. Instead of turning in my final essays, I’m submitting a picture of Gibby from iCarly with the caption “Gibby no like” in PDF format. Enjoy graduation and/or being 6 feet tall — I’ll get there eventually. Reach Bella Eckburg at letters @collegian.com.

Brain cell deterioration. Take-home finals.

Orange spray tans.

Staying hydrated.

Visiting family.

The Collegian. cannabis tolerance.

Speeches.

When people use you for class answers.

Chihuahuas wearing Pit Vipers.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY MADELYN HENDRICKS THE COLLEGIAN

Sustainability, local focus, community building make FoCo beer heaven

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.

Northern Colorado and Fort Collins are often regarded as the Napa Valley of beer due to the large number of breweries in the area. With over 20 unique and specialized breweries, Fort Collins boasts the most impressive lineup for a city in terms of drink options for beer lovers.

However, beer in Fort Collins is not just about enjoying a refreshing and tasteful drink; it is about supporting the local community. Beer plays an important role in Northern Colorado culture because it allows residents to support local businesses as well as build relationships.

“Colorado has a rich history of brewing, dating back to the 1800s,” said Charlie Hoxmeier, chief brewing officer at Gilded Goat Brewing Company. “Many of the state’s early settlers were

European immigrants who brought their brewing traditions with them, leading to the establishment of numerous breweries in the region. Beyond that, Colorado residents have developed a deep appreciation for craft beer. ere is a pride and passion for locally brewed beers, and people in Colorado take pride in supporting their local breweries.”

like Gilded Goat have recognized this and implemented sustainable practices to protect this lifestyle.

“We put a strong emphasis on sustainability and environmental stewardship,” Hoxmeier said. “We strive to reduce our impact on the environment and our valuable Poudre River Watershed through practices such as water conservation, waste reduction and energy efficiency. is awareness and appreciation for the local community and environment (are) a key feature of Colorado beer culture.”

Northern Colorado breweries help drive the local economy by sourcing their ingredients from nearby farms and family-owned businesses.

Another important aspect of Colorado beer culture is the emphasis on brewing beer sustainably. Outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing and swimming in Horsetooth Reservoir are essential to the lives of many Colorado residents. Breweries in the area

“We take pride in supporting local farmers and suppliers and strive to incorporate Colorado-grown grains, hops and other ingredients into our beers,” Hoxmeier said. “ is commitment to sourcing locally not only contributes to the quality and freshness of our beers but also helps support the local economy and reduce their carbon footprint.”

Beer plays an integral role in how Fort Collins residents socialize with

each other and build community. Breweries use their taprooms to not only showcase their craft beers but build relationships with the community by providing welcoming spaces for people to hang out.

“Craft beer plays a key role in Colorado’s culture by fostering social connections, community building and celebrations while also contributing to the state’s economic vitality,” Hoxmeier said. “ e enthusiasm for

craft beer, the socializing opportunities it provides and its integration with Colorado’s outdoor lifestyle all contribute to the state’s reputation as a craft beer mecca.”

In Fort Collins, beer is not just a means to get drunk but also a source of pride. It is grown, crafted and enjoyed by local residents, making Fort Collins beer heaven. Reach Aaron Peck at letters @collegian.com.

COLLEGIAN COLUMNISTS

“Beer plays an integral role in how Fort Collins residents socialize with each other and build community.”

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY BELLA ECKBURG THE COLLEGIAN

ADHD, autism diagnoses increase, include women in criteria

By Bella Eckburg @yaycolor

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.

Autism exists on a spectrum, and so do the symptoms of attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder. Both are forms of neurodiversity, simply meaning your brain is wired a little differently, and you may experience difficulty fitting into a neurotypical crafted world.

It’s like being left-handed. Nothing is actually wrong, but you may notice driving a stick shift with the right hand is a little funky because it wasn’t made with lefthanded people in mind.

Autism and ADHD are not new, and their definitions have morphed over the years to better capture their complexities. ough the histories of autism and ADHD are riddled with misconceptions and a lack of understanding about neurodiversity, it’s clear that recent research dedicated to the fields is proving fruitful.

You may have heard that autism and ADHD diagnoses are more common now and wonder why more people seem to be popping up with it, but there is a key factor that has been underrepresented in autism and ADHD research for decades: women.

e stereotype of ADHD is a hyperactive boy in a classroom, unable to sit still and pay attention. Women are less likely to be diagnosed with ADHD as children simply due to the socialization differences in boys and girls along with a lack of understanding regarding the difference between inattentive and hyperactive ADHD, according to an article in the National Library of Medicine.

ADHD tends to run in families, which can make it hard to catch.

Parents and siblings of those with ADHD likely also have it themselves, meaning behaviors that could be deemed different will be completely normal within the family system and, therefore, hard to diagnose.

“ADHD medication prescriptions like Adderall increased at the beginning of the pandemic, and this likely had to do with more understanding about how neurodiversity appears in women. Plus, those who medicate their ADHD are visible right now in the media because of the nationwide Adderall shortage.”

Autistic traits in girls are often missed because the model is not made to fit women, leading to a much later diagnosis. A young girl having a special interest in horses or fairies may not seem out of the ordinary, but a young boy doing the same would raise flags that might lead to early diagnosis.

In an article in the Child Mind Institute, Dr. Wendy Nash said girls are more likely to control their behavior in public settings like school events, which would make them easy to miss.

Additionally, if these girls are socially interested yet still display odd behaviors that could be linked to autism because they don’t quite click into the interaction, they are often given a pass by the other girls in the group. To an untrained eye, this would seem like a lack of social difficulty.

It’s been shown time and time again that women are notoriously understudied, underfunded and underrepresented in research areas. Even crash test dummies in cars are made with male dimensions assuming a man will be driving a car and in an accident.

It’s not that more people spontaneously have autism or ADHD after the pandemic; it’s that science is including women in diagnosing criteria for the first time, and that is more than a good thing. Understanding neurodiversity means scientists must study every type of neurodiverse brain, not just the brains of neurodiverse men.

ADHD medication prescriptions like Adderall increased at the beginning of the pandemic, and this likely had to do with more understanding about how neurodiversity appears in women. Plus, those who medicate their ADHD are visible right now in the media because of the nationwide Adderall shortage.

I would encourage you to do more research into neurodiversity and interact with autistic or neurodiverse creators online as they can give you the best information about their diagnoses aside from a professional.

Including women in science is important to gain more understanding about the human experience, body, brain and emotional complexity. e rise in diagnoses of neurodiverse women shows we’re being understood.

Reach Bella Eckburg at letters @collegian.com.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY TRIN BONNER THE COLLEGIAN

Without national title, CSU Athletics still makes millions

By Taylor Paumen @taytaypau

In the 2021-22 athletic season, over 85,000 student tickets were distributed at Colorado State University for football and men’s basketball games, expanding the college experience we’ve all become comfortable with again after an odd few years.

e experience of going to college-level football or basketball games can be some of the most memorable moments for students. However, creating just as noteworthy of an experience for the athletes is something athletic departments strive to achieve.

Success for an athletic department can be measured in a few different ways, but the general goal for every sport is to become conference and national champions. Getting to a national championship level isn’t an easy task, as the collegiate industry is one of the most competitive. Key things through the season can help a team, though, like doing well in a postseason conference play and making it to the Division I NCAA championship tournament.

CSU has felt the tough end of the competition, as they have never won a team national championship in any sport. Before getting to compete at the national level and benefit from it, the Rams have to perform well in the Mountain West Conference.

In the last 10 years, CSU Athletics earned 23 MW Tournament Championships: eight coming from women’s and men’s indoor track and field, six from women’s and men’s outdoor track and field, six from volleyball and three single championships for softball, women’s basketball and men’s cross country.

For CSU’s national level history, 12 Rams individually have won a Division I NCAA Championship in sports like wrestling, men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track and field and women’s swimming.

Athletes, recruiters and fans benefit greatly from wins in the

postseason in more ways than just the bragging rights. It’s obvious to say making money is a big positive to any department, and to do that, you need wins long before the postseason. Individual athletes’ and teams’ success can bring positive attention to athletic departments in hopes to be more competitive during recruitment times.

In the 2023 March Madness Tournament, San Diego State University, an athletic department in the Mountain West, made it to the championship game, where the Aztecs faced off against basketball icons at the University of Connecticut. While the Aztecs lost 76-59, their run benefitted the MW by covering 62% of the total $1.49 million that will be spread to the conference’s teams over the next six years.

In the 2021-22 season, Saint Peter’s University’s men’s basketball team’s quarterfinals game was the furthest a No. 15 seed team made it through the March Madness Tournament, upsetting teams like the University of Kentucky, Murray State University and Purdue University.

e Peacocks saw $130 million in media value and a 47% increase in donors due to its Elite Eight run.

e CSU men’s basketball team got a chance that same year with a historic No. 6 seed ranking to only be taken down by the Big Ten University of Michigan Wolverines in the first round. Chances like this don’t come often for CSU’s recognizable teams like basketball and football, but they’re also not part of a billion-dollar conference like the Big Ten. Although resources are more limited for CSU Athletics, taking advantage of these postseason moments is crucial.

For some perspective, the University of Michigan Athletic Department made over $210 million in operational revenue in the 2021-22 year, and CSU made less than half of that at just over $61 million — the third highest in the MW. About 30% of that revenue

comes from Canvas Stadium alone. However, the stadium’s money stays with the football program and doesn’t get spread to the rest of the department. But before CSU can work toward the postseason, they get a little support from the university long before any of the seasons start. A common way athletic budgets are comprised is with a mixture of student fees, self-generated revenue and university support.

of managing and disbursing this budget every year. Matt Klein, a CSU alumnus and Colorado local, has been working with CSU’s athletic budget department for the last decade but more recently became the senior associate athletic director for business operations and the chief financial officer.

Klein works closely with Joe Parker, CSU’s director of athletics, and Steve Cottingham, the deputy director of athletics, to organize the needs and priorities of the coming year. With a budget in the bottom half of the NCAA, Klein has to take the approach of being resourceful for the greater good of all 14 teams, as the capabilities of CSU’s budget only go so far.

“I think we always look at the greater good — it’s a ripple effect,” Klein said. “We always talk about ourselves as the department of athletics. Every team (has) tunnel vision of, ‘What I need is the most important,’ and that’s the great balance. Where do we put our resources to benefit the department the best?”

for compensation to assistant coaches, almost double his budget from the University of Nevada, Reno. Norvell has also been very active in the recruitment field, signing over 50 players in his first season and into this next season. A fairly new $220 million football stadium and a fresh coaching staff made CSU’s football program look more inviting to outside prospects despite the inconsistency to win games.

Putting money toward improving facilities can be an effective way for an athletic department to be more competitive as athletes look at other schools as options. But while recruiting and renovating are key ways for CSU’s Athletic Department to try and keep up with the industry, it’s what money can’t buy that pulls staff, athletes and students to Colorado State.

For the 2022-23 year, CSU’s total education and general expenses were $510,330,191. After taking out financial aid that returns to the university, $7,363,650 goes as direct support to the Athletic Department. While that is a lot of money to the average person, that’s only 1.4% of the entire University’s E&G budget but contributes to about onethird of the revenue budget for the Athletic Department.

For the 2023 fiscal year, CSU’s Athletic Department nonstadium budget was $41.9 million, so you may be wondering who is in charge

Over half the expenses in 2022 for CSU Athletics, including Canvas Stadium, was spent on the general operations and compensation to keep the entire department running, but a key spot the department has to spend money to make money is on recruitment within those operation funds. is ties back to those postseason exposures that teams spend all year working toward. e more media exposure and wins a team can get, the more money, which in turn helps make a program more visually appealing for outside recruits.

Another strategy would be recruiting a new coach; for example, when Jay Norvell became CSU’s 24th head football coach in 2021, he signed a contract paying him $1.6 million a year with a $100,000 raise each year he stays, becoming the highest paid coach in the MW at the time.

is new status allowed CSU Athletics to offer Norvell $3 million

“ is is one of the reasons (why) I love CSU Athletics,” Klein said. “We have a really good team culture — the people are what kept me here for so long. Our mission statement is to educate, engage and excel. (It’s) super simple, but it’s very impactful.”

One of the best ways CSU Athletics stays successful is through constant teamwork and collaboration with their athletes, their coaching staff, CSU administration and the campus community. Klein meets with each team every year to reintroduce himself and what resources he has to offer to ensure each athlete has a positive experience as a Ram.

“We have hundreds of student athletes that we need to make sure feel valued (and) know they’re important and (ensure) that they realize we’re doing everything in our power to provide a championship-level experience for them,” Klein said. “A change this year we installed was that the entire executive staff is actually attending our SAAC meetings.”

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

Reach Taylor Paumen at sports @collegian.com.

“Having a positive and engaging environment may be a stronger factor for recruits than a shiny new stadium, but proving the Athletics Department deserves that 1.4% support from the university is easier when you have the stalwart Rams representing green and gold.”

Colorado State University fans wear game day beads and cheer during the Homecoming Game Oct. 15, 2022. Game day beads along with other merchandise can be purchased at the bookstore. PHOTO BY REUEL INDURKAR THE COLLEGIAN

Colorado State University fans hold up their hands and cheer during the basketball game against the University of Wyoming Feb. 23 at Moby Arena. CSU won 61-55. PHOTO BY MILO GLADSTEIN THE COLLEGIAN

Is CSU a volleyball or a women’s basketball school?

HEAD-TO-HEAD

At the beginning of the 2022-23 school year, we argued whether Colorado State University should be considered a football school or a basketball school. Ultimately, after disappointing seasons from both the football team and men’s basketball team, we realized our failure to recognize the real argument: whether CSU is a men’s sports school or a women’s sports school. Now we realize this school year has been mostly dominated by women’s sports, particularly the volleyball team and the women’s basketball team. So that begs this new question: Is CSU a volleyball school or a women’s basketball school?

Note: We know that women’s track and field is a very good team, and it’s impossible to talk about women’s sports at CSU without mentioning their success and large number of conference championships, both team and individual. For the sake of this head to head, we thought it would be best to argue between two sports that compete in head-to-head games and have W-L records.

Recent history will tell you: CSU is a volleyball school

By Braidon Nourse @braidonnourse

In my estimation, Colorado State University is a volleyball school. Before I go into why, I want to first acknowledge the success of women’s sports at CSU, particularly women’s basketball and track and field. So many incredible athletes have done their thing on the court, the track and the field.

In just the past few years, we’ve been able to see an Olympian in recent graduate Lauren Gale, conference champions, Mountain West Conference players of the year and a great number of CSU record breakers.

Onto the case for volleyball being CSU’s overarching sport.

Admittedly, the Rams volleyball team is going through a stint of missing out on NCAA Tournament berths dating back to the 2020 season. Before that, they went to a stunning seven NCAA Tournaments in a row from 20132019, not to mention plenty of appearances prior. And their last losing season? 1994.

is was largely due to the genius of former head coach Tom Hilbert, who is widely regarded as one of the best college volleyball coaches ever. Hilbert retired at the end of last season after a crushing fiveset defeat to San Diego State University in the first round of the Mountain West Conference Tournament.

CSU women’s basketball team shines as athletic powerhouse

Hilbert won’t be coaching anymore, but his protege Emily Kohan will be. Kohan has been on Hilbert’s staff for seven years, spending the last three as associate head coach before being named head coach in December 2022. If Kohan emulates any type of success that Hilbert had, the program will be in good hands.

In terms of a roster shift from last season to their upcoming season, there’s relatively little change. ey’ll take some big hits from losing outside hitter Jacqi Van Liefde and setter Ciera Pritchard, but Malaya Jones and University of Arizona transfer Emery Herman are capable replacements.

“One thing the volleyball team has over the women’s basketball team last season was the fact that they sold out Moby Arena for the first time in program history for their first of two matches against the University of Colorado Boulder, where the Rams beat the Buffs in four sets in front of Moby.”

Not to mention, more star power will return in Kennedy Stanford, Karina Leber and Annie Sullivan, who were by far the top three Rams in kills last season — the three combined for 874 kills in the 2022 season. So in terms of the roster and coaching staff, the Rams are still in good hands.

One thing the volleyball team had over the women’s basketball team last season was the fact that they sold out Moby Arena for the first time in program history for their first of two matches against the University of Colorado Boulder, where the Rams beat the Buffs in four sets in front of Moby.

From roster turnout to crowd turnout, from team performance to a winning culture, it may be safe to say this: CSU is a volleyball school. Reach Braidon Nourse at sports@collegian.com.

By Karsyn Lane @karsynlane1

If you are unaware of the Colorado State University women’s basketball team, you must be living under a rock. Although I’ve previously argued that the men’s basketball team rules Moby Arena, it is obvious that the women’s team is the real champion.

After an eventful 2022-23 season, the Rams finished off tied for third in the Mountain West Conference with unforgettable achievements along the way. is time last month, the Rams were in Las Vegas at the omas & Mack Center sweeping the Mountain West Championship and ultimately taking third place in the semifinals against the University of Wyoming.

From the getgo, the Rams rolled their opponents regularly, shelling out 20-point victory after 20-point victory. On day one, the Rams shut down Colorado Christian University 78-47 in the exhibition game as a sneak peek at the stalwart power the women brought this year. A legend on the team, guard McKenna Hofschild averaged just over 20 points per game this season, and it sure showed.

“The Rams are a stalwart force to be reckoned with at CSU. They’ve set the standards high for women’s sports and will continue to dominate Moby Arena for years to come.”

Team and Mountain West Player of the Week three separate times this season. Additionally, guard Destiny urman left quite an impact in her first year, claiming Newcomer of the Year. urman was introduced to the Rams this year alongside four other transfers and took on her role as a guard with passion. With the Rams, she recorded season-highs in points, rebounds and assists: 29, 11 and six respectively. is isn’t it for the Rams though, as they have a promising future with continuing news on new recruits. So far, the women’s basketball team has announced three new Rams for the 2023-24 season: Ann Mary Zachariah, Jackie Carman and Sanna Ström. Zachariah is a 6-foot-2-inch forward transferring from Howard College in Big Spring, Texas, where she averaged 15.4 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. Carman, a 5-foot8-inch graduate student guard from Wofford College, where she spent all five years playing, showed exceptional growth offensively, as she averaged about 15.1 points per game last season. Finally, Strom is a 6-foot guard transferring from the University of Kansas who averaged a 30% 3-point percentage.

On top of stealing the leaderboard, Hofschild racked up a hefty number of remarkable accolades this season including becoming a Nancy Lieberman finalist, Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Preseason and Midseason Watch List, Preseason All-Mountain West

With all that being said, the Rams are a stalwart force to be reckoned with at CSU. ey’ve set the standards high for women’s sports and will continue to dominate Moby Arena for years to come. Reach Karsyn Lane at sports @collegian.com.

‘Music chooses us’: Director Wes Kenney to retire this semester

By DJ Vicente @deejmako

After over 20 years as a resident instructor at Colorado State University, Wes Kenney, the director of orchestras at the University Center for the Arts, looks to retire from his role as a full-time professor this semester.

Kenney prepares for his final symphony as the director of orchestras, “A Monumental Close,” featuring composer Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 3. He commented on this piece being a parallel to his time at CSU as well as the growth he saw in the CSU symphonies over the last two decades.

“Going into what I found here when I first arrived to what the orchestra has been capable of doing over the years, I never, ever stopped dreaming about what the possibilities are,” Kenney said.

With his retirement drawing near, Kenney gave his thoughts about his long career as a music educator and director. He remarked on his experience and growth over the years and on lessons learned that shaped his philosophy in

his life before and during his involvement as a mentor at CSU.

through CSU something about the human condition, I’m connecting them with something that I hope is something special.”

From his birth in New York listening to music in theaters and circuses, to picking up the trombone at 7 years old when his family moved to California, Kenney developed an appreciation with music as he grew up. His appreciation swelled when he began “to notice conductors who were waving their arms in front of the ensembles,” Kenney said, referring to the work conductors put behind pieces of music.

Kenney noted the need for tenacity when pursuing a passion for music. ere must be no doubt when entering music as a career, something he tells prospective high schoolers that approach him for advice.

conducting, giving hypothetical examples of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic, he found his experience at CSU invaluable to his music career.

“I’ve had enough musical moments in my life that standing in front of an ensemble like that would certainly be a great experience,” Kenney said. “But to be able to get in front of an ensemble like the CSU Symphony, playing Mahler’s ird Symphony for the very first time in their lives and having them get it, that’s just as good.”

how a composer comes out of their environment and makes a statement within their art.”

Kenney also remarked on the importance of music to human culture as well as the significance of musical preservation in regard to artists like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. “Culture, in many ways, is the antidote to a lot of what ails us right now,” Kenney said. “I’m not saying that I’m out to save the world, but we could do a whole lot worse than listening to some great music.”

“It’s one thing just to play straight through a part, but it’s quite another when you’re dealing with a piece of music that has a tremendous amount of depth to it,” Kenney said. “If I’ve shown students who have come

“You can tell by my hair color that this is not an easy life,” Kenney said. “I’m definitely of the philosophy that we don’t choose music — that music chooses us. … You have to have that kind of focus and wherewithal to run the gamut.”

Kenney also said he felt despite not reaching the “absolute pinnacle” of his goals when it comes to

While conducting the Minnesota Music Educators Association AllState Orchestra in February 2022, the orchestra was playing Ukrainian composer Sergei Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 5 at the height of tensions in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, days before Russia invaded Ukraine. Kenney said he found significance in this moment.

“Listen to what one man writing music can do with their thoughts,” Kenney said. “ e best part about it was the experience of the orchestra players themselves being awakened to what was going on in the world and the parallelisms in

Although Kenney is retiring from a full-time position at CSU, he still aims to involve himself at the University Center for the Arts. He looks forward to being recognized as faculty emeritus as well as taking on a role in summer programs for graduate students. Kenney also said he will continue to direct the Fort Collins Symphony for four more years.

“A Monumental Conclusion” will be performed 7:30 p.m. May 4-5 in the Griffin Concert Hall at the UCA.

Reach DJ Vicente at entertainment @collegian.com.

“I’m definitely of the philosophy that we don’t choose music — that music chooses us. … You have to have that kind of focus and wherewithal to run the gamut.”

WES KENNEY DIRECTOR OF ORCHESTRAS AT THE UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Wesley Kenney, professor and conductor at Colorado State University School of Music, Theatre and Dance Sept. 14, 2021.

PHOTO BY GARRETT MOGEL THE COLLEGIAN

ELISE TEICHMAN DM 474 FASHION SHOW PRODUCTION AND EVENT PLANNING STUDENT AND PROMOTION AND PUBLICITY COMMITTEE MEMBER

THREADS

CSU Fashion Show brings city style to the runway

By Hania Nini @csucollegian

e Department of Design and Merchandising Fashion Show at Colorado State University is just around the corner, and attendees are eagerly awaiting the showcase of student designers’ collections.

Elise Teichman, a student in DM 474 Fashion Show Production and Event Planning and a member of the promotion and publicity committee, said senior capstone students will present their collections on the runway.

“We have 17 different designer looks as well as a dripping class that is for the design students as well, and they created garments as part of their final project,” Teichman said.

e theme this year is “City Strut: e Sidewalk is Your Catwalk.” It will take place 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 5 in the Stadium Club at Canvas Stadium. Grace

Curtis, who worked on the stage and set committee, described the runway as a sidewalk with streetlights and street signs, creating a city-oriented ambiance.

Teichman said students have a great opportunity to showcase their talents and gain experience in the industry.

“I think the fashion show kind of brings a light to that,” Teichman said. “(It) makes people aware of the fashion department and just fashion in general because it’s not the main aspect of Colorado. It’s a way to shine a light on fashion in general and give the students a chance to experience something that most people don’t get to experience.”

Teichman said the event evolved over the years, allowing students to take the reins and organize most of the event themselves.

“It’s really up to the students to make this happen and to get everything booked, (get) everything

set up, (figure out) how to sell tickets and things like that,” Teichman said.

Grace Martens, an apparel and merchandising major and member of the garment and modeling committee, described the diversity of the collections and what attendees could expect to see at the event.

“I would say that you’re gonna find a lot of the garments, ... just like the collections, are very specific to each designer,” Martens said. “You will see a lot of streetwear but also country outfits, dresses (and) very formal outfits, and they’re all based off of what each designer wanted.”

Curtis described the impact the show has on the local community, saying it’s a great way to showcase the school’s commitment to the fashion industry.

“ e fashion show is just a way for students to showcase what they learned,” Curtis said. “It’s mainly the fashion design students, but we all kind of get to be a part of

it from other concentrations. It’s just a really great opportunity to experience CSU from a different lens if you aren’t a fashion major because I think a lot of people don’t realize how great this major is and how committed our professors are (at making) it just get bigger and bigger.”

Martens also highlighted the importance of the fashion show in showcasing the university’s fashion program to the public.

“I think that no one really knows how big the fashion program at CSU is,” Martens said. “ e fashion show is there to showcase that CSU is not just like a science school but that it has fashion majors that are going into huge places.”

Curtis highlighted the program’s focus on renewable resources and how it can make a positive impact on the industry.

“We do offer that sustainable aspect, and these are designers who

are going to go into the real world soon,” Curtis said.

Teichman notes that the event is a significant learning opportunity for students.

“I think that, for merchandising especially,it’s a good way for us to figure out the planning aspect of what our jobs might consist of, ” Teichman said. “I’ve worked with my communication skills, my planning skills, being able to juggle a lot — I think that helped a lot with what I expect in the future.”

Similarly, for Martens, the fashion show is a way for the students involved in it to prepare for their future.

“I worked with people I didn’t know,” Martens said. “Organization was really important because you can’t be in charge of 70 models and not have it fall apart without organization.”

Reach Hania Nini at entertainment@collegian.com.

“You will see a lot of streetwear but also country outfits, dresses (and) very formal outfits, and they’re all based off of what each designer wanted.”

Haley Heynderickx mesmerizes crowd with intimate concert

By Dylan Tusinski @dylantusinski

Most sold-out concerts don’t have the feel of an intimate studio session. But Haley Heynderickx’s April 27 show at e Armory was not like most sold-out concerts. Instead, the whole night had a diaphanous feel to it. As Heynderickx and her bandmates upright bassist Matthew Holmes and drummer Daniel Rossi took to the stage, a hush fell over the crowd. e 200odd concertgoers were captivated as Heynderickx opened the show with of one of her most popular songs, “ e Bug Collector,” before seamlessly transitioning into a powerful, heartfelt rendition of “No Face.”

Heynderickx’s presence on stage was as calm, witty, introspective and contemplative as her music, which quickly enamored the capacity crowd at e Armory. roughout her set, Heynderickx and her bandmates fed off the energy in the room, chatting with each other and the audience about growing blackberries, open communication and the warm aura of the night.

“I really don’t say this every night, but this is the coziest room we’ve played in all tour,” Heynderickx said. “ is is so beautiful.”

Heynderickx has carved a name for herself as a rising star in indie folk with her soft guitar style

and opera-like vocals meshing together to create a raw emotional vulnerability that very few artists can replicate. Heynderickx’s music revolves around themes of nature, growth, uncertainty and upheaval, all of which were on display at e Armory on ursday night. roughout the show, Heynderickx weaved her way through crowdpleasing old tunes off her 2018 album “I Need to Start a Garden” and new songs from an unreleased, upcoming record. She said her next album will be released next year.

“I am a very impatient person, and my label says we can’t release (the album) until next year, so we’re just kind of touring and sharing the songs anyway,” Heynderickx told the crowd.

Heynderickx asked the audience permission to perform each of her new songs, which she called “newies.” e audience met each request with roars of applause.

“Permission to play our new ‘Mother-Nature rage-emo song?’” Heynderickx asked the audience, who responded with bursts of cheers.

“ is song is told from the perspective of a cabbage,” Heynderickx said. “ e cabbage is very afraid to be eaten. e cabbage is also disappointed with how humans have treated our food sources over the years, and so that is why it’s our cabbage rage song.”

As the night began to wind down, Heynderickx politely informed the crowd that she and her band had only two more songs left to play. e audience reacted with playful shouts of “More!” and “Encore!” which Heynderickx politely brushed

aside with a chuckle and a smile.

“We’re not fun people; we don’t know how to encore,” Heynderickx said. “But we’ve had a really lovely time. Again, this is one of the prettiest venues we’ve ever played in.”

Heynderickx’s show at e Armory was the eighth stop on

her 2023 Spring Tour. She had three more shows scheduled in Colorado, including shows in Denver April 29 and Boulder April 30.

Reach Dylan Tusinski at entertainment@collegian.com.

Haley Heynderickx, center, plays a sold-out show at The Armory in Fort Collins alongside upright bassist Matthew Holmes and drummer Daniel Rossi April 27. PHOTO BY DYLAN TUSINKSI THE COLLEGIAN

Haley Heynderickx smiles at her bandmate Matthew Holmes during a sold-out show at The Armory in Fort Collins April 27.

PHOTO BY DYLAN TUSINKSI THE COLLEGIAN

Sudoku

OVERHEARD AROUND CAMPUS

“The girlies are girlying.”

“Have you tried putting your car in a bowl of rice?”

“I’m going to have an opinion.”

WEEKLY HOROSCOPE

By Abby Flores

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (05/04/23)

ARIES (MARCH 21 - APRIL 19)

Your sign rules the crown chakra, which means you tend to have a strong connection with yourself. As independent as you are, you should remember it’s OK to ask for help or advice when you need it. There are people out there who care about your progress.

TAURUS (APRIL 20 - MAY 20)

You are not only elevated in style but grounded too. You value routines and rituals that are your own. This week is all about embracing your inner power and showing people the authentic you regardless of what they think. You are more confident than ever.

GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUNE 20)

Mercury retrograde tends to be difficult for you. It may feel as if all sectors in your life are restarting. Sometimes we need this push in order to truly embrace a new beginning. You have been waiting for change, and this is confirmation that it starts now.

CANCER (JUNE 21 - JULY 22)

Many people care about you and don’t want you to feel like you have to distance yourself when you are in an emotional state of mind. The animal you are ruled by is the crab, which means you are

protective of yourself and others. Talk to the people you trust when you are dealing with hardship.

LEO (JULY 23 - AUG. 22)

When you love someone, you love them with all your heart. You must remember that if someone doesn’t appreciate or understand your kind efforts, you shouldn’t blame yourself. You are on a different positive frequency.

VIRGO (AUG. 23 - SEPT. 22)

You are in the process of discovering a new spiritual gift. From memorizing rock properties to studying astrology, there is a lot to explore behind the veil we cannot see. You may not believe it now, but your consciousness will expand.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23 - OCT. 22)

You may feel as if your scales are tipping this week, Libra. Some of your own relationships are unbalanced because the

“Two girlbosses, one night.”

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

people around you cannot relate to one another. You are always put in the shoes of a mediator. Peace will come when you let the universe work this out.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23 - NOV. 21)

You are learning how to live a more peaceful life by putting work into yourself and reflecting on your energy. Your manifestations have a high chance of coming true this week. You always vibrate at good frequencies.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22 - DEC. 21) You are in a waiting period of finding clarity within your own path. Where must you go next? How will you find peace again? The true answer is that you must find ways to be in states of quiet reflection again.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 - JAN. 19) As you near the end of completing projects and tasks,

you tend to worry that people will not recognize your efforts and hard work. In reality, you should be proud of yourself, Capricorn. You have worked very hard to get where you are now.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 - FEB. 18)

Friendship is very important to you, and you always want to make sure the relationships you have in your life match your needs. Mercury retrograde has been putting a bit of strain on this sector of your life, but it is resolvable. You will find how to work things out again.

PISCES (FEB. 19 - MARCH 20) You are appreciated by all kinds of people in all walks of life. It is because you listen intently and have an openness to you, similar to the ocean. You go with the flow, and it shows how authentic you are. Keep up the high vibes, Pisces.