Thursday, October 10, 2024
THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN
FOCO EVENTS TOP STORIES
NEWS: Vote for Your Future discusses amendments, urges action in voters PAGE 6
SCIENCE: Clark’s asbestos abatement process poses no public health concern PAGE 8
L&C: India Nite celebrates culture, heritage through various events PAGE 10
SPORTS: CSU football primes for San Jose State air assault in week 7 PAGE 16
A&E: FoCo LGBTQIA+ comedy scene shines at New Belgium Brewery PAGE 18
OPINION: Students should enjoy luxury of dining halls while they can PAGE 20
MEDIA: 10 years of Tour de Corgi PAGES 12-13
2024 Wild and Scenic Film Festival in the Lory Student Center Theatre 7-9:30 p.m. Oct. 11
Sugar Skull! A Día de Muertos Musical Adventure at The Lincoln Center 4 p.m. Oct. 12
Ginger and Baker Fall Maker Market at Ginger and Baker 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 13
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
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Lee Conger, barista at Alley Cat Cafe, prepares a beverage Oct. 7. Alley Cat Cafe is a local cafe owned by father-son duo Mark and Connor Williams and has been open since 2003.
PHOTO BY KATELYNN ORTEGA
THE
COLLEGIAN
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CLASSROOM POLITICS
Local candidates debate education policy at Liberty Common School forum
By Chloe Waskey @csucollegian
Liberty Common School, a charter school in Fort Collins, hosted a student-led forum Oct. 3, providing a platform for candidates running for the Colorado State House of Representatives and Senate to discuss their views on public education ahead of the Nov. 5 election.
Claira Albright, the community outreach officer for Liberty Common School, moderated the forum with fellow student Xander Bassett, the school’s junior community outreach officer. Their questions, which centered on education policy, prompted candidates to address a range of issues.
Albright began by asking candidates if they believe in Liberty Common School’s universal truth.
“It is the right and responsibility of parents to direct the education and upbringing of their children,” Albright said.
All candidates agreed that parental choice is important in schools, but they disagreed on whether parental choice is under attack and if measures need to be taken in accordance.
“I don’t see this as a pressing problem in our school district currently,” said Yara Zokaie, the Democratic candidate for House
District 52. “I think parents are very much involved with their kids, and those resources are very much available for parents and for students.”
Steve Yurash, the Center Party candidate running against Zokaie, raised concerns that current protections for parental choice are insufficient. He highlighted his support for Amendment 80, the Constitutional Right to School Choice Initiative, which would allocate state funding to private and charter schools to expand educational options for parents.
Cathy Kipp, the Democratic candidate in Senate District 14, said Colorado already offers a variety of school choices for parents, claiming Amendment 80 would ultimately hurt school funding.
“(Amendment 80 would) blow up our state budget, and we can barely afford the public schools that we have today,” Kipp said.
The candidates held diverse views on state funding for schools, bringing Colorado’s 1992 Taxpayer Bill of Rights Amendment into question.
Critics like House District 53 Democratic Rep. Andy Boesenecker argued the amendment, which limits state revenue, ultimately hinders school funding.
“We are funding education in the state of Colorado at a metric that assumes that (1989) levels of funding for a student is
appropriate for a student in 2024,” Boesenecker said.
House District 14 Republican candidate Donna Walter disagreed and explained her support for TABOR.
“We do get enough money in, and right now we have Prop. HH that actually raised people’s property taxes 25% to 100%,” Walter said. “Where does that money go?”
Proposition HH was a 2023 initiative rejected by voters that would have increased property taxes to fund schools.
Walter was among several candidates who questioned whether funding was being effectively used in classrooms.
“I have not voted to increase taxes for public schools because it’s not going into the classrooms,” said Phoebe McWilliams, a Republican senate candidate in District 14. “I’m tired of funding a system that doesn’t work.”
Then came the issue of the Colorado Charter School Institute’s Mill Levy Equalization fund, which would help fund equity programs for charter schools.
“If we truly believe in giving equal opportunity, we also have to be willing to put the money behind it,” Zokaie said.
Boesenecker answered Walter’s question with his overall views on school funding.
“The question I would ask about any budget proposal, including this one, is, ‘Is it sustainable?’” Boesenecker said. “Meaning, is there a directly identified source of revenue that we can carry through year after year?”
In addition to school funding, candidates were asked about state education mandates, including teacher licensing for charter schools, curriculum standards and lowering the SAT graduation minimum in math.
Regarding state-mandated teacher licensing, Jeff Brosius, the Libertarian state senate candidate in District 14, disagreed with the policy.
“I don’t think you necessarily have to have the blessings of the government to be allowed to teach things for which you have extensive knowledge,” Brosius said.
Walter and Yurash agreed, while Kipp argued teachers truly dedicated to educating students should be willing to go through the licensing process.
McWilliams discussed her opposition toward curriculum mandates, linking it to her concern about immigration.
“We have illegal immigrants — immigrants in particular — that flood our schools and don’t speak English, and teachers have to make time for those children,” McWilliams said. “That takes away time from our kids to learn the skills that they need to learn in school.”
Zokaie, an Iranian immigrant, responded by emphasizing the value of diversity.
“I would like to say that the people who are different in our community, who are perceived as outsiders, who are immigrants, make us stronger,” Zokai later said.
Boesenecker said he supports an inclusive curriculum standard.
“It is critical to me that — whatever we decide those standards are — that we are telling the whole truth and letting our students wrestle with some of the discomfort that rightfully lives with us under democracy,”
Boesenecker said.
When asked about graduation requirements, Boesenecker, Kipp and Zokaie pointed out several factors that can affect accessibility and, in turn, harm test scores. Walter and McWilliams disagreed, with the latter citing the value of hard work.
Yurash and Brosius both asked voters to question why test scores may be declining, though Yurash ultimately supported lowering the graduation requirement to improve dropout rates.
“I think you’ve heard a huge diversity of opinions and grasp of concepts, frankly,” Kipp said in her closing remarks. “I hope that you will continue the conversation with each of us as we go forward.”
Reach Chloe Waskey at news @collegian.com.
Cathy Kipp introduces herself to the crowd at Liberty Common School’s student-led forum Oct. 3.
PHOTO BY JACE CARLTON THE COLLEGIAN
‘It’s going to happen to someone else’: Students allege use of date-rape drugs at off-campus fraternity parties, accuse CSU of inaction
By Hannah Parcells @hannahparcells
Editor’s Note: Trigger warning: This story contains mentions of nonconsensual drug use and references sexual assault. All names have been changed.
When then-first-year Jane Davis left her dorm room to go to an offcampus party February this year, she didn’t think she would be in the hospital the next morning.
Davis was drugged at the party she attended with her friends the night before, hosted by members of Colorado State University’s chapter of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity at an off-campus house. What followed was several months of repeatedly being told nothing could be done, an experience that left Davis feeling ignored by the people and systems that were supposed to protect her.
The party wasn’t supposed to be any different from the other parties she’d attended during her first year, Davis said. Davis was familiar with Phi Delta Theta and said she never felt uncomfortable in any of her previous interactions with members of the fraternity.
“That is the one frat that I (thought) I could go to a party (at) and I would feel comfortable setting my drink down and thinking that no one would touch it,” Davis said. “That’s the level of comfort that I had been made to feel with Phi Delt.”
She and her friends brought their own drink containers, only one of which was an open container. Davis said her friend drank from the container when they first arrived, but no one else did for roughly half an hour before Davis drank from the cup.
“I became so completely intoxicated about three minutes after that,” Davis said. “They couldn’t tell what was going on with me.”
The level of apparent intoxication and the speed at which it set in concerned Davis’ friends, so they decided to leave the party and return to their dorms.
They took Davis to a friend’s room in their dorm building to keep an eye on her, but her symptoms
got more extreme, leaving them all unsure of what was happening or what they should do.
“I couldn’t even sit up straight,” Davis said. “I kept falling. I couldn’t form words — couldn’t function at all.”
Davis’ roommate eventually brought her back to their room, hoping she would be able to sleep off whatever was causing her symptoms. Davis was told by her roommate the next morning that she stopped breathing at certain points.
A friend who slept in their dorm room to keep an eye on Davis told her she thought she had been roofied — a term that refers to when someone is drugged with Rohypnol without their knowledge or consent. Rohypnol is a central nervous system depressant commonly used to incapacitate targets of sexual assault and often referred to as a date-rape drug.
Davis was taken to the UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital early the next morning because she was still experiencing symptoms of intoxication. However, when Davis was examined by medical staff, she was told they did not have the capability to test what was in her system but that the UCHealth Harmony Campus might.
Davis went to the emergency room at the Harmony Campus location, hoping to figure out what she was drugged with. However, medical staff at the second hospital told her they were also unable to run a drug test that would detect Rohypnol or GHB — gammahydroxybutyrate, another sedative used as a date-rape drug.
The hospital on East Harmony Road gave Davis information on the nearby Day Reporting Center and recommended she go there to undergo a full drug test. The Day Reporting Center is a part of the Larimer County corrections system and does substance testing and sample collection. Davis filed a police report at the DRC before going home to wait for her results.
The center called Davis and informed her that she tested positive for Rohypnol.
“They (told me) that normally it could take up to two weeks, but my positive results come back within
about 30 minutes,” Davis said. “They said there was so much in my system that it was right there. So then I went to the police station.”
Davis went to the CSU Police Department after the call but was turned away because the incident occurred outside CSUPD’s jurisdiction.
“CSU police said because this was a fraternity house, they can’t do anything because they’re, like, satellite houses,” Davis said.
A satellite house is a privately owned, off-campus residence occupied by members of a fraternity and frequently used to host parties.
According to the CSU Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life’s Joint Policy on Risk Management, all official chapter houses are required to be substance free, which is defined as “no alcohol or controlled substance on chapter premises.”
had. It’s going to happen to someone else; it’s going to continue happening until (there are) repercussions.”
Davis wasn’t the only one trying to get the university to respond to an incident at a fraternity party hosted at an off-campus house last spring semester. Sofia Miller faced the same roadblocks in her attempt to get the university to help her after she reported being drugged at a party in late January.
Miller was in her third year at the time and was invited to a party hosted by CSU’s chapter of the Sigma Nu Fraternity.
Members of the fraternity went to Miller’s sorority house to invite them to a party to celebrate the initiation of new Sigma Nu members. Members performed a song and gave the sorority a decorative invitation card.
The party felt off to Miller as soon as she and her friends arrived.
“CSU pretty much said unless this specific individual comes out, they can’t do anything. No repercussions are going to be had. It’s going to happen to someone else; it’s going to continue happening until (there are) repercussions”
JANE DAVIS CSU STUDENT
Due to this policy, any event where alcohol will be present must be held at a different location.
Davis said she reported what happened to the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life and spoke to other university officials, hoping CSU would be able to take some kind of action in response.
“CSU pretty much said unless this specific individual comes out, they can’t do anything,” Davis said. “No repercussions are going to be
According to the FSL Joint Policy, “any event an observer would associate with the fraternity or sorority or council” is considered a chapter event. Chapter events must register with FSL and must follow the proper guidelines, even if the event is hosted at a private location.
Those guidelines include compiling an official guest list and ensuring the list is monitored at the entrance to the party, a guideline Miller said was not met at this party.
There was a fraternity member at the entrance with a tablet who appeared to be checking the people entering, but he didn’t actually have a list, Miller said.
“He claimed that he had a list of who (was) coming into the party and asked us who we were,” Miller said. “So we just informed him that we were in my sorority. And then he turned around and showed us (the tablet), like, ‘Oh, we don’t have a real list.’ ... Kind of making a joke out of it.”
Miller and her friends were let into the party, which was primarily held in the backyard. Photos provided to The Collegian show a tent with the fraternity’s Greek letters painted on it. The timestamp and geotag of the photos match the invitation card Miller and her friends received.
Things took a turn when her group split up, Miller said. Two of her friends went to find a restroom, so Miller moved closer to the door of the house to keep an eye on them.
Three members of the fraternity then approached Miller.
Miller said they crowded around her, blocking her path as a fourth member approached the friends who were looking for a restroom. He told them the main floor bathroom was busy but that he could take them to the upstairs bathroom.
“I did not like that, so me and one other girl followed these two girls upstairs to the bathroom, and when we were trying to get up there, guys were trying to block us off,” Miller said.
Miller said she was able to push through the people blocking her way and get up to the bathroom.
“The guy who walked them up followed them into the bathroom, so then I pushed in, (and) he walked out,” Miller said.
Miller and her friends felt uncomfortable with what happened and decided to leave the party, but the same members who blocked her off initially approached them a second time, once again separating Miller and one friend from the rest of the group.
“My friends were noticeably smaller than the guys,” Miller said. “So you know, when guys are standing shoulder to shoulder, it’s kind of harder to push through them, and they were definitely not letting them push through.”
Miller said this was the moment she noticed she didn’t feel alright. Miller hadn’t drunk enough alcohol to be intoxicated and felt completely sober when she went into the house, but she began to feel dizzy and disoriented.
“I was super confused because, at this point, I’m very, very foggy,” Miller said. “I can’t figure out what’s going on. I’m just trying to get us out.”
One of Miller’s friends managed to pull her away, but the same fraternity members tried to stop them again, Miller said. Her boyfriend came to pick them up
and took them all back to his house as they tried to figure out what was causing Miller’s symptoms.
Miller’s symptoms worsened to the point that she couldn’t stand on her own. When Miller tried to put her arm around the friend who was supporting her, she felt a sharp ache in her arm.
“They all took a flashlight to my arm, saw the mark and (were) like, ‘Go to the hospital now,’” Miller said.
system, but they were unable to run a drug test to be sure.
In the days following the incident, a sample was sent to a testing facility in Denver to verify whether there was ketamine in Miller’s system, but she has not yet received her results.
“When I’ve experienced all of this and still nothing is done, it just makes me wonder how much they’ve hidden. It just feels like they don’t give a shit.”
SOFIA MILLER CSU STUDENT
Medical staff gave Miller fluids and treated her for alcohol overconsumption before testing her blood alcohol content, which was below the legal limit. Miller’s symptoms didn’t align with the test results, but medical staff told her they were unable to test her for drugs that might be in her system.
“I couldn’t speak,” Miller said. “I couldn’t see anything really whatsoever. It was just all black. Like, I kept falling asleep everywhere. One of the nurses had to help me go to the bathroom to get my BAC. I could not even function as a human being.”
One doctor told Miller her symptoms indicated ketamine, a dissociative anesthetic, in her
Miller filed a police report with Fort Collins Police Services while at the hospital. She then took the same steps as Davis, reporting to several university offices, including the Office of Title IX Programs and Gender Equity, FSL, the Survivor Advocacy and Feminist Education Center and CSUPD. She also provided the university with video footage of the invitation performance and a photo of the invitation card to identify the fraternity.
The university told Miller there was nothing they could do.
Both Davis and Miller met with various offices and university officials to no avail, receiving the same response time after time: Nothing could be done.
“I was so loud,” Miller said. “I went straight to the hospital. I told every office exactly what happened. Still there’s no support — none.”
The university sent a safety update email Feb. 9 following Miller’s report to the university. A line in the email referenced drug-facilitated crimes involving needle injections and warned students to stay alert. Beyond this, there has been no official action taken in response to Miller’s report.
“I just was so frustrated at that point,” Miller said. “Like, nothing was going to be done.”
Phi Delta Theta won a Fraternity & Sorority Life Community Award for Excellence in Harm Reduction & Risk Management last spring, and both fraternities are still in good standing with the university, something that concerns both Miller and Davis.
“When I’ve experienced all of this and still nothing is done, it just makes me wonder how much they’ve hidden,” Miller said. “It just feels like they don’t give a shit.”
The national organizations for both Phi Delta Theta Fraternity
and Sigma Nu Fraternity provided The Collegian with statements confirming they were made aware of the reports last spring.
“Upon learning of the allegations, General Headquarters worked with the university and the Fort Collins Police Department to investigate,” the statement from Phi Delta Theta Fraternity reads. “After review, no evidence was found linking any of our members to the incident. Should the investigation proceed further, Phi Delta Theta will carefully assess the situation and determine the appropriate next steps.”
Sigma Nu Fraternity also cited an internal investigation within the organization and confirmed the CSU chapter violated internal social event policies.
“The Fraternity’s investigation nor the university’s investigation corroborated the allegation received,” the statement reads. “The Fraternity’s investigation did result in remedial measures for the Delta Rho chapter to address adherence to Fraternity and University policies related to alcohol at social activities; these measures were supported by the university and completed by the Delta Rho chapter.”
Leadership at the Interfraternity Council confirmed they were made aware of the reports last spring but said they “could not act as an investigative or adjudicative body.”
A university spokesperson confirmed both incidents were reported to the university.
“Colorado State University reviews all reports of student and organization misconduct, including off-campus incidents, and initiates investigations when sufficient information is available,” the statement reads. “These cases lacked enough detail for an investigation to proceed. Individuals are encouraged to share any knowledge of misconduct to aid in investigations and allow the university to support impacted parties. The university can also reopen cases if new information arises.”
Reach Hannah Parcells at news @collegian.com.
DIRECT DEMOCRACY
Vote for Your Future discusses amendments, urges action in voters
By Katie Fisher @csucollegian
With 14 amendments and propositions set to appear on Colorado’s ballots come November, several students and local groups met for a Vote for Your Future panel Oct. 5 at Colorado State University’s Lory Student Center.
Hosted by the Planned Parenthood Generation Action, other local
nonprofits and third-party political groups convened to discuss multiple ballot measures, all centering on individual rights and freedoms. The panel featured four speakers, each representing one of the tabling groups in attendance.
Ian Whalen, the Denver regional organizer for Freedom to Marry Colorado, first took the microphone and directed the audience to Amendment J on their ballots. If passed, the amendment would
remove the ban on same-sex marriage from the Colorado Constitution.
“Back in 2006, the state of Colorado voters here passed — very narrowly — an amendment called Amendment 43, which defined marriage as between one man and one woman,” Whalen said. “And this law remains on our books to this day.”
While the ban is not actively enforced today due to Obergefell v. Hodges, which federally recognized same-sex marriages in 2015, it could go into effect if Obergefell were to be overturned. This would impact the about 25,000 same-sex couples in Colorado and “any same-sex couple that would want to get married in the future,” Whalen said.
Whalen concluded his segment by urging audience members to vote yes on Amendment J before handing the microphone over to Ashley Stroessler, a representative of the Colorado Working Families Party, a grassroots third party.
Stroessler drew the audience’s attention toward Proposition 131, the Top-Four Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative, a program that, if enacted into law, would implement a top-four primary election and ranked choice voting for future Colorado elections.
“(A top-four primary) means everybody would receive one primary ballot, and they would vote the normal way, and the top four vote-getters would then move to the general election,” Stroessler said. “And in that general election, you would get ranked choice voting.”
Stroessler cautioned the audience against supporting Prop. 131 for two reasons: lack of government involvement in the proposition’s creation and the potential costs of it.
“What’s also a huge problem is that no elected officials or election officials — so the county clerks or any of the offices that handle elections — were consulted in the making of this bill,” Stroessler said.
Stroessler then presented the financial burden that would fall on taxpayers if the proposition was passed: $21 million.
The panel then moved on to abortion rights with Cidney Fisk and Cobalt Advocates, an independent, Colorado-based abortion rights organization. Attendees were directed to Amendment 79.
With the Reproductive Health Equity Act, the statutory right to seek an abortion was written into law. The bill will be expanded by the Protections
For Accessing Reproductive Health Care package, which included three bills that went into effect April 2023. It requires private insurers to fully cover abortion-related health care and STI treatments. However, a previous amendment prevents those on public insurance from receiving the same benefits.
“We passed an amendment back in (1984) by less than a percent of a vote, which mimics the federal Hyde Amendment,” Fisk said. “(Meaning) you can’t use public funds for abortions.”
Amendment 79 seeks to enshrine the right to abortion into the state constitution and allows the use of public funds for abortions. This would treat abortion-related health care like any other medical procedure under state employee plans or Medicaid, as it has a zero-dollar fiscal note.
“We have this class of people with private insurance who can all get (an) abortion, and then we have a class of people with public insurance who can’t get abortions,” Fisk said. “That’s discriminatory.”
Read the full version of this article at collegian.com.
Reach Katie Fisher at news @collegian.com.
Sophia Johnson and Cidney Fisk speak with a participant following the Vote For Your Future event Oct. 4. “We have this class of people with private insurance who can all get abortion, and then we have a class of people with public insurance who can’t get abortions,” Fisk said. “That’s discriminatory.”
PHOTO BY DARYN WHITMOYER THE COLLEGIAN
Former state Sen. Polly Baca speaks to ASCSU on her impactful career
By Chiara Coronado Rosales @csucollegian
In recognition of National Latinx/é Heritage Month and the presidential election on the horizon, the Associated Students of Colorado State University and El Centro welcomed former Colorado State Sen. and Rep. Polly Baca to CSU Oct. 4.
Speaking at ASCSU’s Trailblazers Speaker Series, Baca stood as a pioneer in American politics, tearing down barriers as the first woman elected to chair the Democratic Caucus of the Colorado House of Representatives in 1977, the first Hispanic woman elected to the Colorado State Senate and the first Hispanic woman in the United States to be nominated by a major political party for U.S. Congress in 1980.
Baca’s political career is marked by multiple achievements, including serving as vice chair of the National Democratic Party from 1981 to 1989, working with three U.S. presidents as well as introducing National Hispanic Heritage Month.
“I met with my friend Congressman Esteban Torres early on when he was working for the labor movement, and quite a few of us were working with him to introduce the bill to have National Hispanic Heritage Week, so we just had a week at the beginning,” Baca said.
Eventually, the holiday evolved into a monthlong commemoration of Latinx/é culture, proclaimed by President George H.W. Bush in 1989.
Despite her achievements, Baca’s life was not without setbacks.
She grew up in a period when segregation was rampant, and her experiences with racism left a mark that fueled her passion for civil rights.
“The theaters were segregated — we could only sit in the balconies and there were signs in business establishments that said, ‘No Mexicans or dogs allowed,’” Baca said. “I knew I had to change this, and I found it was all on my shoulders. I believe it’s on each of your shoulders. … Each one of us has got a role to play to make the world a little bit better.”
An alumna of CSU, Baca initially pursued a Bachelor of
Science in physics. However, following a nudge by a faculty member imploring her to instead pursue political science due to her involvement in the Young Democrats Club, she went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1962.
As one of few Latinx graduates in her class, Baca reflected on her time as a student.
“You cannot get discouraged, and you cannot feel that you always have to win because you learn more when you fail than when you win,” Baca said. “I always enjoy coming (to CSU). One of the reasons I do is because this university changed my life, and I think it can change yours as well, but you have to be open to allowing change to happen.”
ASCSU Sen. Vladimir Lora Pardo, who works primarily on creating pathways for undocumented students in CSU’s Student Success initiatives, found Baca’s message of resilience inspiring.
“As an undocumented student myself, the word ‘no’ is very common in my life,” Lora Pardo said. “She allowed me to see that rejection is something that’s powerful, and failure is something that’s powerful.”
ASCSU President Nick DeSalvo said working alongside Baca on CSU’s Board of Governors has been a privilege and a learning experience.
“Polly’s incredible spirit continues to uplift me every time I see her,” DeSalvo said. “She is a sweet, 83-yearold, unassuming political powerhouse. She loves to say,‘I’ve lived an incredible life because I just said ‘yes.’ With this phrase, she reminds me that when opportunities present themselves, imposter syndrome can often take over, and sometimes taking a leap of faith and saying ‘yes’ can make all the difference.”
In light of the looming presidential election, Baca’s message to students was clear: The fight for justice is ongoing, and each generation has a role to play.
“I didn’t just watch (politics evolve),” Baca said. “I participated in helping the change happen.”
Baca also shared a memory of her time running for the state legislature. In the week before the election when she didn’t know whether she would win, it wasn’t the outcome that stayed with her most but the dedication of her supporters.
“What I still remember to this day are the two or three people
that walked with me in the snow trying to get the vote out,” Baca said. “Candidates remember those that are with them during the tough times. This is an election year — walk precincts, make phone calls and do all the things that I can’t do. Get to know your elected officials, and eventually, run for office yourself if you want.”
At the age of 83, Baca’s life experiences have been nothing short of remarkable. She was at Watergate when the break-in occurred; she was there when President John F. Kennedy was shot; and she witnessed police riots in Mexico City. She introduced and carried the very first pay equity bill in Colorado as well as other legislation that helped bridge the equality gap between men and women.
“I want students that come to CSU to value their experience here and everything they encounter on this campus because it’s a unique opportunity,” Baca said. “Not everyone is able to come to CSU. It’s a gift and an opportunity that you need to explore to the fullest extent.”
Reach Chiara Coronado Rosales at news@collegian.com.
Associated Students of Colorado State University President Nick DeSalvo sits with CSU alumna and former Colorado State Sen. Polly Baca as she gives a talk in the ASCSU lobby in the Lory Student Center Oct. 4. “I’ve been able to spend some pretty extensive time with Polly, and I love her,” Desalvo said. PHOTO BY SOFIA RAIKOW THE COLLEGIAN
BUILDING SAFETY
Clark’s asbestos abatement process is no public health concern
By Katie Fisher @csucollegian
With the Clark Revitalization Project in full swing at Colorado State University, one part of the process has been widely discussed around campus: asbestos abatement.
Asbestos is the generic commercial term for six naturallyoccuring mineral fibers. Because of these minerals’ unique texture, asbestos was renowned for its natural properties that lent itself to the manufacturing process. The fibers were used in thousands of manufactured products across the U.S. from the late 19th century up to the 1970s.
“There are at least six different types of asbestos that form incredibly thin, hair-like crystals,” Associate Professor Jerry Magloughlin said. “So they have what we call a very high aspect ratio.”
This texture allowed asbestos to be spun and woven like fabric into products, which also made it unable to be burned or dissolved in water. This strength was recognized by manufacturers, who used the texture in insulation, wallboard, plaster, floor tiles and more.
“Asbestos is in our buildings because it has really wonderful properties,” said Associate Professor Ryan Scott, who completed his undergraduate thesis on asbestos public policy. “It’s flame retardant. It’s strong. It has this fibrous property that we can use to enhance materials. We used it for good reasons.”
Use of the material in manufactured goods was banned in 1989, with the Environmental Protection Agency banning new asbestos products from being sold
after Aug. 25 of that year. This ban came following the growing evidence of asbestos’s relationship to asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma.
Yet no active health risk is posed to anyone on campus during the demolition of parts of the Andrew G. Clark Building due to the different classifications of asbestos. The material can either appear as friable or nonfriable, which marks the difference between the substance posing a health risk or not, said Eric March, safety and industrial hygiene manager for CSU.
“In Clark, it is a nonfriable material, which means that the asbestos fibers are bound in the matrix of the material,” March said. “It’s kilned, or the mix for the material is baked. It’s formed and pressed, and there’s adhesives that are used. So the only way that you can liberate or even potentially liberate asbestos fibers from nonfriable material is by pulverizing them to basically dust or powder.”
Asbestos only poses a health risk when airborne, as the same fibrous properties that lend to the material’s strength in the manufacturing industry also allow the fibers to become stuck to the lungs when inhaled. These fibers over time can cause issue inflammation and scarring and contribute to mesothelioma, a type of cancer of the thin membranes that line the chest and abdomen, or other lung, larynx or ovarian cancers.
“Friable material means that it can easily be crumbled by hand pressure when it’s dry,” March said. “That’s what you would find on the thermal system insulation and steam tunnels. These are always in nonoccupied areas, and Clark has very little friable material in it.”
While some materials in Clark are considered friable, these materials are not accessible to the student body or faculty.
“Small fittings on the thermal system, the heat exchange system, ... are typically above ceilings or in chases,” March said. “Chase is a small area that is covered up or sealed up. It’s not open to the public, and these fittings are in a hard state with a covering on them.”
The nonfriable materials present within Clark at one point included older ceiling and floor tiles as well as mastics, a term meaning any pasty material used as a protective coating or cement. But efforts over the years, even before the revitalization process began, sought to remove these materials, even though there was no present health risk due to their nonfireable, bound nature.
“During the project A Wing, we removed small amounts of floor tile and mastic,” March said. “And there weren’t any ceiling tiles that were asbestos containing in A Wing.”
The B Wing was first abated 15 years ago, a project March oversaw. In it, they removed all asbestoscontaining ceiling tiles, fitting for the heating system and adhesive tabs behind heaters. The building was abated again before demolition began, a process with strict oversight and regulation.
“We follow strict regulatory control,” March said. “Colorado Department of Public Health and the EPA have all kinds of regulations on how (asbestoscontaining materials) are handled.”
Another form of regulation is the usage of a third-party consultant, who is, as outlined in CSU’s document addressing frequently asked questions regarding asbestos abatement, “retained by
the university to ensure that the contractor is performing work per applicable regulations and specifications. They also provide air monitoring and clearance activities.”
A consultant from Anser Advisory oversaw Clark’s abatement process.
Furthermore, as per the university’s policy for asbestos reporting, CSU may be fined up to $25,000 per day if ongoing asbestos abatement is performed using improper methods without certified personnel or appropriate permits issued by the state.
Permits throughout the abatement process are also publicly available on the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s public database. Each permit outlines what room and location in Clark the asbestos was removed from the start and end of work dates and times, as well as the amount to be abated down to the square foot and the type of material the asbestos is present in.
Regulations also put forth heavy guidelines to protect abatement workers from exposure, March said.
“Workers wear Tyvek overshoes and negative air-purifying respirators,” March said. “During removal, they use wet methods so that there’s no visible emissions. That’s all done in full containment, which is two sets of containment that are completely sealed with a negative air machine that scrubs the air through a series of multiple HEPA filters.”
Additionally, any contractors who work on the abatement process are specifically trained as per state regulations.
“You’re supposed to have special training,” Scott said. “The state has requirements as far as training programs so that we know people
are knowledgeable. There’s (also) training programs for inspectors.”
After the abatement process was finished on the B Wing in July 2024, demolition began Sept. 18. Water was used throughout the process to keep dust down, and no asbestos was present in the wing prior to the demolition, nor was there a public health risk associated with the construction activity.
“All of the asbestos was property abated under permit to any demolition,” March said. “So there were no materials left in B Wing when they abated it that had asbestos in them. It was completely asbestos free prior to demolition.”
Clark’s C Wing is scheduled to undergo remediation and immediate changes but will not be a part of the revitalization project. While some of the ceiling tiles contain nonfriable asbestos, no immediate public health risk is posed to students or staff in the still-operating wing, and improvements have slowly been completed over time.
“Approximately 40% of the layin ceiling panels in Clark C Wing contain asbestos,” March said in a follow-up email. “The asbestos content in these ceiling tiles is between 1 and 5%.”
Looking toward the future, while C Wing may not be a part of the Revitalization Project, March is championing for the eventual abatement of the entire building.
“I’ve been here for 28 years, and my goal is to get C Wing abated as soon as funding can be secured,” March said. “I am working towards that. I know there’s a lot of concern, but people need to understand that the concerns in Clark C Wing are very minimal.”
Reach Katie Fisher at science @collegian.com.
A material-handling excavator moves rubble from a pile of debris during the Andrew G. Clark B demolition Sept. 12. Clouds of dust get kicked up on a daily basis due to Clark renovations.
CULTURAL CELEBRATION
Global Village Museum presents Día de Muertos exhibit
By Ella Dorpinghaus @csucollegian
Global Village Museum of Arts and Cultures Collections
Manager Kat Bertram teamed up with guest curator Jody Snow to educate the Fort Collins community about Día de Muertos celebrations in Oaxaca, Mexico. This year’s exhibit puts a new twist on Día de Muertos, or Day of the Dead.
“I feel like most people are loosely aware of Day of the Dead but don’t really understand the specifics of it or what really what goes into the celebration,” Bertram said.
This is Bertram’s first year at the museum. She and Snow aim to educate the public on the traditions and culture behind Día de Muertos through the exhibit.
“This year, we were trying to branch out and do something a little different,” Bertram said.
“We’re looking at Oaxaca. It’s a city in Mexico, and it’s within the state of Oaxaca as well, and essentially, we’re looking at how it is celebrated in the streets.”
Creating the exhibit has proven to be a community effort. Museum staff and community members stepped in to decorate skeletons, create art for the exhibit and to support Snow in her mission to bring the Oaxaca streets to life.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve traveled to Oaxaca, so when the opportunity presented itself (for me) to come here, volunteer and do an exhibit for Day of the Dead, I thought it would be really fun to bring Oaxaca to me,” Snow said.
the museum, reflected on the community the museum aims to build.
“We’re both on the board, and so we have monthly meetings, and we get to come and make remarks ... and talk about board matters,” Gardner said. “For me it’s community and all this beauty. I just love it.”
“A lot of people in town have traveled the world and have gotten really beautiful artifacts from the various countries around the world. But all those artifacts do is sit around in their houses, ... appreciated only by them. With this museum, they’re able to bring their beautiful works in for display.”
GARTH MCCANN BOARD MEMBER
Sherry Gardner and Garth McCann, board members for
Inspired by her own travels to Oaxaca, Snow’s exhibit is full of personal touches. Interactive pieces dot the exhibit, including photo albums and notes written in Spanish. Segmented into areas resembling cafes, cemeteries and ofrendas, the exhibit provides an intimate look into Oaxacan life during Día de Muertos celebrations.
“A lot of people in town have traveled the world and have gotten really beautiful artifacts from the various countries around the world,” McCann said. “But all those artifacts do is sit around in their houses, ... appreciated only by them. With this museum, they’re able to bring their beautiful works in for display.”
Complete with live music, bright Oaxaca colors and local artwork, opening night proved a colorful place for Snow to tell her story and educate the community. The exhibit runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m Tuesday through Saturday until Nov. 23.
Reach Ella Dorpinghaus at life@collegian.com.
A paper mache skeleton representing Mexican culture during the art exhibit Street Vistas: Oaxaca’s Dia de Los Muertos at the Global Village Museum of Arts and Cultures Oct. 4. PHOTO BY KATELYNN ORTEGA
COLLEGIAN
CAMPUS TRADITIONS
India Nite celebrates culture, heritage through various events
By Sananda Chandy @csucollegian
Cheering echoed across the ballroom, uplifting melodious singers and musicians and upbeat and soulful dancers. India Nite highlighted diverse identities across the Indian subcontinent through performances, cultivating growth and cultural connection.
India Nite was started in 2002 by a small group of Indian students at Colorado State University and has since developed into a larger show. The 23rd year of this event was based on Hindu deity Sri Krishna, specifically showcasing his influence on Indian culture.
Vaishnavi Sonarikar is the president of the Indian Students Association and organized the event. She said she truly loves how India Nite has evolved in its participation, breaking cultural and linguistic barriers to form a genuine sense of community.
“I would like people to see Indian culture beyond its grandeur and color, discovering how it ties with human nature and the arts,” Sonarikar said. “(People) can
find a home away from home in our event.”
“By seeing the different Indian traditions in the ramp walk and dance performances, people can know more about the Indian culture, gaining a different experience.”
ANNAPOORNA
MYSORE NATARAJ CSU GRAD STUDENT
Samyuktha Pullikanti is a junior majoring in biomedical sciences and participated in the Indian Undergraduate Association’s fashion show, portraying actress Deepika Padukone in the movie “Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani.”
The IUA fashion show gave a voice to undergraduate students, Sonarikar said. Given the IUA is a newer organization, she was excited for student leaders to bring this newfound young energy to the performances.
Pullikanti said she enjoyed getting out of her comfort zone, making deeper friendships and connections through her participation. As someone who doesn’t often perform on stage, she was interested in trying it out and being able to represent her culture with friends.
“India has so many different cultures and aspects to it,” Pullikanti said. “Our culture is so diverse and multifaceted. Everything in India, from the food to the languages, should be the main takeaways.”
One of the more ambitious events in Sonarikar’s eyes was the Bridal Fashion Show, which showcased 10 couples in bridal attire from various states in India, such as Karnataka, Kerala and Punjab.
Annapoorna Mysore Nataraj, a first-year master’s student, modeled the bridal wear from Karnataka. She said this
experience has been beneficial in teaching her about teamwork and the beauty of fashion ramp walking.
“By seeing the different Indian traditions in the ramp walk and dance performances, people can know more about the Indian culture, gaining a different experience,” Nataraj said. “India Nite is going to be one of those unique events that stays in their minds forever.”
Pullikanti said she hopes India Nite will continue to grow and bring in students from different ethnic backgrounds. She said she loves having the courage to step out and share a part of herself.
Not only that, but India Nite allowed people to be present in a space where they could truly learn about students from the unique states and union territories of India.
“Us bringing our culture along for everybody else to see and to learn is just a huge step,” Pullikanti said. “We can let everybody know that because we’re learning about their culture; I feel like they should also learn about our culture as well. ... We are also here, and we are going to show everybody what India is truly like.”
Reach Sananda Chandy at life @collegian.com.
GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY TRIN BONNER THE COLLEGIAN
Decade of joy: Annual Tour de Corgi celebrates 10 years
By Sophie Webb @sophgwebb
For some, it might have been a normal day around Old Town in Fort Collins, but for hundreds of others, it was the meeting of the year.
This is the 10th year Tour de Corgi has paraded around Old Town. Compared to Fort Collins’ Tour de Fat, a costume parade on bicycles, this parade featured fluffy corgis in their costumes, and some owners dressed with them.
“All the little costumes are amazing,” first-time spectator Lauren Brunell said. “I’m having a lot of fun so far.”
Brunell said she enjoyed seeing costumes ranging from basketball players to cowboys, with some popular ones this year being bumblebees and dinosaurs and some elaborate ones being Winnie the Pooh and Greek gods.
Starting in Civic Center Park, the parade made its way to North College Avenue — where drivers were met with a fuzzy surprise — and finished back at the park, where tents for services such as permanent jewelry and dog grooming were set up.
“Fort Collins is so unique in what they put on,” Brunell said. “I think it just sets Fort Collins apart. We’re just cool. We appreciate the little things.”
Huntington Beach, California, hosts Corgi Beach Day, otherwise known as the biggest corgi party on the planet. After watching videos of it on Facebook, Tracy Stewart said she was inspired and founded Tour de Corgi.
Stewart’s once-small idea spiraled into so much more, needing vendors and volunteers and continuing to grow each year.
Sarah and Nathaniel Vochis have been some of the more loyal paradegoers, having attended eight with their furry friend Fergus, including the first Tour de Corgi ever hosted.
“Fergus came to the first, and then we’ve gone to almost all of them,” Sarah Vochis said.
This year, the family took inspiration from their son’s grim reaper Halloween costume and dressed spooky, as they typically dresses up to compliment Fergus’ look.
“If you just want to do something that makes you feel happy, you should come to the Tour de Corgi because there’s just, you know, something about them — with their short little legs and their fluffy butts and their smiley faces — just makes people happy.”
TRACY STEWART TOUR DE CORGI FOUNDER
“(I love) the warm fuzzies of doing something for a good cause and also just the warm fuzzies of how happy it makes everybody,” Stewart said.
The Vochis’ favorite year of costumes was when they dressed their baby as a chili pepper, Fergus as a taco and themselves as the chefs.
“(It’s) just a fun event to celebrate our corgi, and it’s been a fun time to see all the people loving on corgis,” Sarah Vochis said. “It’s really joyful. It’s cute to see the corgis when they’re babies to older and just fun for everyone.”
Not only are vendors able to promote their business, but they get to watch different events like the costume contest, which features several categories, offering multiple chances for winners.
“The costume contest (is my favorite part) — just seeing all the dogs was so fun,” said Shay Riccio, a vendor and pet photographer.
Riccio said she’s had a booth at the past three Tour de Corgis after seeing it one year and thinking, “It was just, like, the cutest thing I’ve
ever seen in my life.” She plans on continuing in future years.
Stewart sold T-shirts during the contest, so she was unable to witness the full experience, but she — along with anyone else who wants to — will be able to stream the event on YouTube.
“If you just want to do something that makes you feel happy, you should come to the Tour de Corgi because they’re just, you know, something about them — with their short little legs and their fluffy butts and their smiley faces — just makes people happy,” Stewart said.
The event, similar to previous years, was a smashing success, bringing smiles to hundreds of faces, including those furry friends who were just happy to take a stroll around town.
Tour de Corgi will continue in future years, so those wanting to catch the happy parade will be able to do so.
“If you love dogs or have a heartbeat, you should come to this event because it’s just so heartwarming and adorable,” Riccio said.
Reach Sophie Webb at life @collegian.com.
Cecilia Styles and her corgi Potato, who is dressed in a biker outfit, at the 10th annual Tour de Corgi Oct. 5. This is Potato and Styles’ fourth year participating in the parade. “Fort Collins is always fun,” Styles said PHOTO BY KATELYNN ORTEGA THE COLLEGIAN
10 years of Tour de Corgi
1. Wusuowei attends their first costume contest at Tour de Corgi as a Ram in a Colorado State University shirt Oct. 5. This is the 10th annual Tour de Corgi parade and costume contest held in Civic Center Park.
PHOTO BY KATELYNN ORTEGA THE COLLEGIAN
2. Penelope competed in the Purdiest category of the Tour de Corgi costume contest and took the silver medal. The proceeds from Tour de Corgi will go toward 4 Paws Pet Pantry, Colorado Corgi and Friends Rescue, Wyoming Dachshund and Corgi Rescue and Bandits K9Care.
PHOTO BY JULIA PERCY THE COLLEGIAN
3. Cannoli, who is dressed as The Very Hungry Caterpillar, walks in the parade.
PHOTO BY JULIA PERCY THE COLLEGIAN
4. Liz Pruessner and her corgi Princess Nubbi compete in the Purdiest category in the Tour de Corgi costume contest.
PHOTO BY JULIA PERCY THE COLLEGIAN
5. Pibi and his gold-winning costume as a dog paddler in the Olympian costume category. This was Pibi’s fourth year attending Tour de Corgi.
PHOTO BY KATELYNN ORTEGA THE COLLEGIAN
6. Winston, dressed as the pork sled, won silver in the Olympian category at the costume contest.
PHOTO BY JULIA PERCY THE COLLEGIAN
7. Corgis Thomas, Bacon and Mazi pose for a photo by the vendor stands before the parade.
PHOTO BY JULIA PERCY THE COLLEGIAN
8. Pam Rogge and corgi Tanner rest and talk to people complimenting their costumes before the costume contest commences. Tanner was dressed as a donut-sniffing specialist.
PHOTO BY JULIA PERCY THE COLLEGIAN
6 7 8
Challenges loom large as CSU basketball ramps up for new season
By Damon Cook @dwcook2001
Like the sun rising over the Rockies, Colorado State men’s basketball is illuminating its surroundings as the dawn of a new season approaches.
A dawn not of familiarity, but one of a new era filled with questions about the absence of the greatest player to ever suit up in green and gold: Isaiah Stevens.
“When you have a transformational player, you learn a lot from them, but you also learn that they’re transformational because they were unique,” coach Niko Medved said. “And I think all these other guys are unique, too.”
Now all eyes turn to fifth-year guard Nique Clifford. A year ago, the breakout campaign began for Clifford. After averaging 5.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game in his final season at Colorado, he exploded on the scene in Moby Arena, jumping to an average of 12.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists in his first season for the Rams.
One big thing that will help Clifford this season is his work in the weight room over the past summer. Adding about 10 pounds of muscle, his desire to step up his game was made clear Oct. 3 when he was the last person in the gym shooting after practice.
“The big thing for me this offseason was getting my body right,” Clifford said. “From a mental standpoint, I think as you get older as a player, I think you just learn how much more mental the game is than physical. So just trying to watch more film, build my IQ up and be smarter.”
Clifford is not only in line to take a step up in production on the court but also to assume a bigger leadership role.
Some of the great leaders Clifford had the opportunity to learn from will be invaluable as he steps into his leadership role this season. He specifically mentioned guys like Evan Battey and McKinley Wright IV from his time at Colorado and, of course, Stevens from his lone season at CSU.
“Even though I was an older guy last year, I had a guy like (Stevens) who you see the leadership skills from,” Clifford said. “So taking guys like that and seeing what they do from a leadership perspective and then putting my own unique style on it as well to help the guys out ... (will) get us ready to go.”
Getting the locker room ready to play will be crucial with less than a month left until the season tips off. With a good mix of returning players, veterans added from the transfer portal and new recruits, CSU will look vastly different from a season ago.
Although Medved doesn’t quite have an idea of what his rotation will look like, some of the veterans he brought in, like Nikola Djapa, Ethan Morton, Bowen Born and Keshawn Williams, should push for consistent minutes, with some first-year players competing as well.
“When we recruited the new guys, I really felt like we had some really quality dudes — guys who would really fit int0 our culture (and) what we believe in,” Medved said. “It’s everything I expected and more that way. This group of guys came in ready to work.”
Being ready to work will be crucial as the season inches closer. The starting lineup on opening night will feature guys who have never played together. Learning each other’s tendencies and developing as much chemistry as possible will be pertinent to the Rams’ success.
Similar to last season, depth on the court should be a strength for CSU.
“We have a ways to go,” Medved said. “Maybe this team is as deep as we’ve ever had, and I don’t know that yet. … People probably get tired of me saying this, but I’m a team together guy. So I think whatever we can do collectively to be the best team we can be, that’s what we’ll do.” Morton is one of the more intriguing additions to the squad. The 6-foot-7 guard from Purdue wasn’t exactly a key piece of the Boilermakers’ game plan last season, but he was still on a team that went to the NCAA national championship game.
Morton took part in a lot of winning during his time at Purdue, and he sees some of the things he saw there in CSU.
guard Nique Clifford (10) dunks
“ This is the time of the year where we got to get better. You (have) got to be ready to go for the first game because you can’t get off to a slow start, or you’re not going to make March Madness. And we know that as a team, so I think just continuing to build on what we’ve already done, getting our guys healthy as well and be ready to go on Nov. 4 (are important).”
“The biggest thing ... is the people and how they go about their business,” Morton said. “There’s a lot of parallels with how coach Medved does his thing here compared to what is being done at Purdue.”
Another thing that stuck out to Morton was the team’s collective IQ, something that has been important for the Rams over the past several years with Stevens.
Stevens understood how to break down a defense, and thus, the offense had to be in the right position. A sign of a good offense is ball movement, and oftentimes, good ball movement is a sign of a smart team.
“Aside from having really good players, I think you have really good people in the gym, and that makes a big difference,” Morton said. “Obviously, their knowledge is top tier, but that kind of stuff is what makes winning happen. Because at this level, everybody’s good with the X’s and O’s, but how can you make the most out of your guys? And these guys know how to do that.”
The X’s and O’s are really where Medved has made a name for himself. His signature baseline out-of-bounds and sideline out-of-bounds plays have been a key piece to the CSU offense for several years. Stevens, of course, made that much easier, something Medved won’t have this year. Instead, he will have to break out the white board and draw up some different stuff.
Medved said it’s not about finding someone to fill that role Stevens did so well but rather figuring out ways to get the other guys involved based on what they do well. A lot of things will probably look different this year, a challenge that excites Medved.
“There is a lot of guys who can step up and play a different kind of role,” Medved said. “And I think as a coach, sometimes that’s fun. You’re going to have to adjust. It’s going to look different in a lot of ways, but hopefully
there’s going to be some similarities, too, in the style of play and kind of what we expect.”
Clifford has his eyes on returning CSU back to the Big Dance. Under Medved’s command, the Rams notched their first tournament victory in 11 years against Virginia, a game in which Clifford and the Rams won by more than 20 points.
Clifford isn’t shy of the bright lights, and should the Rams put together the season they expect, Clifford will have that chance to shine again. But first things first: Start on Nov. 4 against North Dakota.
“This is the time of the year where we got to get better,” Clifford said. “You (have) got to be ready to go for the first game because you can’t get off to a slow start, or you’re not going to make March Madness. And we know that as a team, so I think just continuing to build on what we’ve already done, getting our guys healthy as well and be ready to go on Nov. 4 (are important).”
These final days will certainly be critical, but Medved said the practices in July meant just as much as the ones in the next couple weeks will.
For now, CSU is in its final home stretch. Although the NCAA Division I college basketball season officially commences Nov. 4, the Rams have an exhibition match Oct. 30 against Adams State University. As the eagerness grows to showcase the work the team has put in this offseason, Medved said it’s important to remember to push through because the start of the season will be here just like that.
“I think they’re all important,” Medved said. “I think what’s important more than ever is: Are you improving? ... So to me, that part is critical — is to keep pushing, to keep getting better at the details and really understanding yourself and what you need to be.”
Reach Damon Cook at sports @collegian.com.
Colorado State University guard Nique Clifford (10) practices his 3-pointer before the game against Wright State University Nov. 10, 2023. Clifford was the Rams’ secondhighest scorer of the night with a total of 19 points. PHOTO BY AVERY COATES THE COLLEGIAN
NIQUE CLIFFORD GUARD
CSU football primes for San Jose State air assault in week 7
By Michael Hovey @michaelfhovey
Colorado State football is getting a chance to set the record straight.
CSU kicks off conference play in week seven at Canvas Stadium against San Jose State, a team known for its passing attack. The Rams are coming off a seasonbest performance against Oregon State in which they fell 39-31 in double overtime. With the return of key players and a fresh start in Mountain West competition, CSU looks to transition into their peak midseason form.
Maintaining healthy players is a step in that process. Wide receiver Tory Horton and defensive lineman Nuer Gatkuoth both returned from multiple-game absences last week and made immediate impacts. Horton finished with 158 receiving yards, while Gatkuoth had a forced fumble and two tackles off of a limited 25 snaps.
“Tory was fantastic,” coach Jay
Norvell said. “Horton looked like his old self out there. Our offensive line is probably playing as well as any offensive line I’ve ever had. … The nucleus of our team is starting to come together, and it’s coming together at an important time.”
CSU’s offensive line was on display in week six. The Rams have been running effectively in the past few weeks, but pass protection will be key in their next matchup.
SJSU totaled 327 passing yards last week in their victory against Nevada, and they currently rank No. 8 in the NCAA passing offense. The Rams’ defensive backs will have to focus more on the opposing wide receivers compared to last game, in which they were required to step up and hit.
After leading CSU in tackles against OSU, Dom Jones knows there’s still a lot of football left to play.
“For us, it’s just all about opportunity and perspective,” Jones said. “We have everything — all our goals are still out there in front of us, and it’s ours to take. That’s what we plan to do this week.”
The Rams started bringing it together in week six and hinted at a ceiling higher than they’ve performed so far. Communication woes and offensive penalties stifled scoring drives at times, but CSU turned out a decent showing otherwise.
Offensive lineman Tanner Morley played his part in setting up another successful rushing attack for the Rams.
“(The) main word that I’ve been using to describe us, to describe our team recently, has been ‘jelling,’” Morley said. “We’ve been jelling together up front, offensively and defensively, and
especially with that quarterbackwide receiver connection.”
CSU put up their most productive passing performance last week, as quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi threw for 263 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions. The offensive line has remained one of the most consistent aspects of the Rams’ play this season.
So far, SJSU has averaged 409.6 yards and 35.4 points per game.
Stopping the Spartans altogether seems unlikely, so offensive production will be a primary focus going into the matchup.
SJSU isn’t an unfamiliar foe, though, and CSU will look to recover from the loss they sustained against the Spartans the last time they played.
“There’s a sign of respect that you have for people that you play against,” Norvell said. “That familiarity is important, and it helps (in) preparing for them. I think we know the kind of team that we’re going to play and what we need to do to beat them.”
The Rams need to fix their own mistakes, but the Spartans have troubles of their own. SJSU finished their last match with seven penalties, totaling 75 yards.
The team that makes the least number of errors will have an advantage.
“We want to be like lions,” Norvell said. “A lion, when he’s not hunting, he’s resting and he’s recovering. But when he hunts, it’s all gas and no brakes. That’s the way we want to be. Every day we practice, we want to hunt. Every day we play, we want to play balls out.”
Reach Michael Hovey at sports @collegian.com.
INCARCERATED EXPRESSION
Global Village Museum Inmate Art exhibit heals lives through creativity
By Sophie Webb @sophgwebb
A new exhibit at the Global Village Museum of Arts and Cultures opened, representing a group of artists typically overlooked: inmates.
Inmate Art from Larimer County Jail opened Oct. 4, displaying an exhibit of inmate art projects. Attendees will be able to see it until Jan. 5, 2025.
When visitors step into the back hallway of the museum, they are met with vibrant colors erupting from the art lining the walls. The paintings feature landscapes, football helmets, quotes and whatever else the artists wanted to express most.
“The exhibit serves as the community outreach extension of the art project I initiated at the Larimer County Jail,” Larimer County Program Specialist Clint Burkholder said. “It provides inmates with an opportunity to showcase their work, express their dreams and share their creations.”
Burkholder’s original goal was to get about three to five inmates to participate, but as word spread and he started to display the paintings around program rooms, other inmates were able to see the true form of the project, and the rest was history.
By September 2024, over 60 inmates participated in the project. Their art now lines the walls of the Global Village Museum.
“Art offers significant benefits to our inmates by providing a constructive outlet for selfexpression and emotional release, which promotes mental well-being,” Burkholder said. “It builds a sense of community and improves social interactions, contributing to a more positive, rehabilitative atmosphere within the facility. I’ve witnessed these transformations firsthand.”
At first, several artists were reluctant to share that form of self-expression, nervous about rejection.
“Providing (the inmates) with the opportunity to showcase their art publicly is a significant step in their personal growth,” Burkholder said. “As their artwork began to be displayed on the walls, others became inspired
and eager to join the project, curious to see what they could create themselves.”
Because the inmates are still in custody, they are unable to see their work displayed. But Burkholder has done his best to collect their contact information so they are able to see their work when they are released.
“I recognize the benefits and the quality of the artwork produced, but more importantly, I see the positive impact it has on those creating it,” Burkholder said. “My goal is for participants to carry their talents and newfound sense of self-worth beyond these walls, continuing their artistic pursuits and inspiring others in the community.”
Heidi Cross, a retired police officer, was visiting the jail when she saw the art facility filled with
creative pieces and suggested Burkholder reach out to the museum for an exhibit.
Global Village Museum
Director Barbara Schoenberger visited the jail with an associate, and thus, the idea of Inmate Art from the Larimer County Jail was born.
“(We) were taken at the variety of style and substance of the art pieces, particularly since the program was so new,” Schoenberger said. “Many pieces were remarkable in the skill displayed. We agreed immediately that this was a unique and meaningful artistic expression that needed to be shown.”
With the idea from Schoenberger, Burkholder was able to build the project from the ground up, first purchasing supplies last January.
“An added incentive was when (Burkholder) informed us that families and friends of the inmates would not be able to see their creations since the art facilities were restricted,” Schoenberger said. “We are excited for this new opportunity.”
One of the more prominent differences between this exhibit and the rest is the credentials. Usually, an artist’s name is listed along with a summary, but the artists in this exhibit will not be identified.
Though the artists are unknown, the audience can understand their purpose through the work and its significance.
“(Burkholder) beautifully captured the essence of this exhibit,” said Leisa Taylor, Global Village Museum director of communications and outreach.
Burkholder said that with this project, inmates have developed
new skills not just in the artistic realm but skills that provide them with a sense of community. It has made their time incarcerated not only go by more quickly but also lessened the chance of recidivism — the likelihood of a convicted individual to relapse into criminal behavior.
“This exhibit offers (inmates) a sense of belonging and selfworth, which we hope will help prevent their return to jail,” Burkholder said. “As members of a marginalized part of society, your appreciation gives worth to us, to our work and to our dreams. Simply by opening your eyes to our art and your hearts to our experiences, you are making a meaningful difference. We thank you.”
Reach Sophie Webb at entertainment@collegian.com.
The Inmate Art exhibit at the Global Village Museum of Arts and Cultures Oct. 5. The gallery features art from the Larimer County Jail, where a group of inmates come together to draw, paint and create art, and runs until Jan. 25, 2025. PHOTO BY JACE CARLTON THE COLLEGIAN
ARTS
FoCo LGBTQIA+ comedy scene shines at New Belgium Brewery
By Riley Paling @rileypaling
The vibrant energy of Colorado’s queer comedy scene took center stage Thursday, Oct. 3, at New Belgium Brewery in Fort Collins. The venue hosted a night filled with laughter, community and smiles.
Thanks to Rocky Mountain Equality, Fort Collins had a very entertaining night. The Beers, Bikes & Bottoms event showcased a lineup of both local and out-oftown LGBTQIA+ comedians, each bringing their unique perspectives, experiences and humor to an enthusiastic audience.
The evening began with an opening from the hosts and festival co-founder Ren Q. Dawe. Dawe is the primary organizer of the Colorado Queer Comedy Festival as well as a comedian. The atmosphere was alive, the crowd cheering and laughing along with each act, creating a supportive space for comedic expression.
The comedians tackled topics ranging from personal anecdotes
about love and identity to the trials of everyday life, all infused with a distinctive queer flair.
“This kind of caters to a lot of different types of people that are here for a lot of different reasons, but the one reason that we’re all sharing is that we’re here to actually just be happy together, and it’s, like, the brand — it’s the point,” Dawe said.
Throughout the night, the brewery transformed into a lively
stage, with colorful lights framing the performers and the smell of freshly brewed beer wafting through the air. Attendees were treated to a selection of New Belgium’s finest craft beers, including the Queer Beer, a special limited release brewed just for the event. The combination of quality comedy and delicious beer made for an unforgettable night.
“I like powerful comedians’ strong stage presence,” said Imani Denae,
a queer comedian from Portland, Oregon. “I also look up to physical comedians because I like to do physical humor like Jim Carrey, Eddie Murphy and Raven-Symoné. You may not know what’s going on, but you will know what’s going on from their face.”
The event drew a diverse crowd and a packed room.The crowd varied from long-time Fort Collins residents to newcomers eager to engage with the local queer scene.
“I feel so joyful after the event, and I think that all the comedy and all the people here just (contributes) to the queer community,” said Madelyn Hirschuber, an attendee of the event.
“It’s beautiful, and it’s here, and it’s fucking queer.”
The laughter echoed throughout the brewery from before the show started, creating a sense of community among strangers who quickly became friends.
“It feels so great to be able to perform at a queer comedy festival, one, because you’re doing this in front of like-minded peers that are also LGBTQ,” Denae said. “It’s great to get to
be within the same affinity with one another.”
The success of Beers, Bikes & Bottoms was a step forward for a bigger and brighter future of LGBTQIA+ comedy in Fort Collins. Colorado Queer Comedy Festival has two more nights planned in Boulder, along with other events in the near future, aiming to build on the momentum and provide a regular platform for queer comedians.
“It’s literally like finally getting to speak, to talk to someone who speaks your native tongue,” Dawe said. “When you get a bunch of queer comics in the room, the energy is very light, and it’s so joyous and so funny because everybody is riffing off each other all the time.”
As the final act, the headliner, Calvin Reid, wrapped up the night as the audience erupted in applause, whistles and joyous cheering. It was clear this was more than just a night of laughter — it was a celebration of identity, creativity and community.
Reach Riley Paling at entertainment @collegian.com.
Calvin Reed performs at the Colorado Queer Comedy Festival at New Belgium Brewing Company Oct. 3. KATELYNN ORTEGA THE COLLEGIAN
Fort Collins volunteers draw 9-mile chalk memorial for children killed in Gaza
By Isabella Becker @csucollegian
On the afternoon of Sunday, Oct. 6, several volunteers from the Northern Colorado Liberation Coalition came together one day before the anniversary of the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war Oct. 7, 2023.
The path started at Fort Collins City Hall and travelled down College Avenue to Harmony Road before going back up South Timberline Road to create a U-shape that spanned 9.05 miles.
Volunteers drew chalk outlines of children along the path using stencils, each paired with the name of a child killed in Gaza. The names started with babies at city hall and ended with 18-year-old victims on Timberline. Flowers were placed sporadically along the path.
Statements like, “Our tax dollars are funding a genocide,” and, “16,500 children dead,”
accompanied the outlines along the sidewalk. A UN impact snapshot published Oct. 2 estimated there were 11,355 Palestinian children confirmed dead in Gaza and more than 10,000 people reported missing or under rubble.
“We are trying to demonstrate this is what our taxes are funding,” said Kimberly Conner, the event coordinator. “People need to actually pay attention. And it is a local issue. Our own local businesses profit from this.”
The purpose of this event was different for every volunteer. For one volunteer in charge of drawing chalk outlines for the dead babies in Gaza, this demonstration was a way to release emotion and direct awareness of the conflict from the Fort Collins community.
“I’m feeling a lot of the collective grief just around everyone who is suffering right now,” said the volunteer, who chose to remain anonymous. “Maybe nothing that any of us do today directly stops anyone (or) any bomb from falling,
but maybe something that we’re doing today helps someone wake up a little bit.”
This volunteer said creating a peaceful and creative memorial was the most effective way to express emotions surrounding the IsraelHamas war.
“Even though we are a year out, a lot of America, especially, has returned to business as usual and is now embroiled with the election, but this is still ongoing,” the anonymous volunteer said. “This infuriating, disgusting display of, like, human depravity towards each other — I’m so angry, and it’s better to do something productive and maybe potentially helpful with that anger.”
For Martin Bates, a member of Veterans for Peace who showed up to deliver water and chalk to volunteers, this demonstration was more about the religious significance opposed to political ideologies.
Bates said assisting the volunteers with this chalk memorial means enshrining the legacy of Palestinian Christians.
“The Christians in Palestine are the fastest diminishing population over there,” Bates said. “I don’t think we think of it as political as much as human rights. You know, it’s easy to think that politics is what allows us to do this, you know, because we have certain constitutional rights. … But really why we’re doing it is a matter of heart.”
For another anonymous volunteer who is a graduate of CSU, their participation was to humanize the child victims.
“What really brought me here was my sister had a baby a couple weeks ago, and there are children his age, which is about 2.5 weeks, on this list,” the anonymous volunteer said. “And I don’t think people necessarily put together the child until they get to see a clear reference. ... I think I’m just trying to feel like I’m doing more than just watching children die on Instagram and, like, maybe doing something that will help stop it.”
Reach Isabella Becker at entertainment@collegian.com.
As part of the Northern Colorado Liberation Coalition’s effort to chalk 9 miles of sidewalk, a volunteer draws an outline of a young child in chalk Oct. 6. PHOTO BY CAIT MCKINZIE THE COLLEGIAN
OPINION
Students should enjoy luxury of dining halls while they can
By Emma Souza @_emmasouza
Editor’s Note: All opinion section content reflects the views of the individual author only and does not represent a stance taken by The Collegian or its editorial board.
Last year, like every other firstyear, I regarded Colorado State University’s dining hall food with the same respect I would prison slop, not even because the meals were that bad. In fact, CSU’s dining halls serve comparatively better food than other universities across the nation. Regardless, I’d begrudgingly trek to every meal with low morale, sighing and eyeing up the salmon like it’d jumped straight from the sea onto my plate.
But now, less than two months into cooking for myself, I desperately want to go back —
not for the dining hall’s food quality and certainly not for its ambiance but for the luxury of not having to cook.
I don’t hate cooking; I tolerate it. There are moments when it’s enjoyable, of course. Executing a recipe rewards hard work, and simmering garlic makes my nose happy. But to say cooking brings me joy? That would be a lie.
Part of my reluctance in the kitchen simply comes from not knowing what I’m doing.
Here’s a scarily accurate depiction of my most recent 15 texts with my mom: “How do I cook salmon?” “Do I have to let it thaw?” “How long?” “OK, now that it’s thawed, should I keep the skin on?” “OK, I think it’s cooked, but the meat looks kind of funny. Look at the pic I sent.”
But the bulk of my distaste for cooking manifests from laziness. Most days, I don’t want to meal prep, I don’t want to grocery shop and sometimes
I don’t even want to use the stove. Despite spending hours scrolling through dinner inspiration on TikTok, I frequently revert to the old Maruchan ramen standby.
Not only is cooking a lot of work, but it’s daunting to learn, especially as a self-diagnosed hypochondriac. I constantly fear my food isn’t cooked all the way, my produce is crawling with bugs or everything in my fridge is expired.
I used to enjoy the idea of making something for myself. I’d get random spurts of creativity, conjuring up elaborate meals even my college self couldn’t dream of. So why does cooking frighten me now? I certainly shouldn’t dread grocery shopping — nonetheless boiling a pot of water.
The culprit is shockingly clear: CSU dining halls.
I got so used to the routine of having food served to me
GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY TRIN BONNER THE COLLEGIAN
on a platter — literally. I didn’t have to meal plan; I didn’t have to clean my dishes; and I didn’t have to watch my bank account drain after every grocery trip. I got comfortable and complacent with the luxury of dining halls. Despite my complaints about and bitter distaste for some of the food, money and time were never issues that determined what I ate.
Not to mention the danger of having excess meal swipes. Friday nights became snack shopping sprees, and money was no longer an object when I had $30 left to
spend on Chex Mix and Topo Chicos. My perception of food and its value became so warped so quickly.
That’s why the transition between last year and this year felt so culinarily daunting. I know many others are in my exact position, so to reaffirm you, our collective cooking panic is completely normal. And although the kitchen still scares me a bit, week by week, I regain my footing and my curiosity to make something new. Who knows — maybe I’ll take up baking next.
Reach Emma Souza at letters @collegian.com.
CSU Marching Band needs to move out of student section
By Dominique Lopez @caffeinateddee6
Editor’s Note: All opinion section content reflects the views of the individual author only and does not represent a stance taken by The Collegian or its editorial board.
As a student who has attended her fair share of Colorado State University’s football games, I understand that the seats located at the 50-yard line are highly coveted,
especially in the student section. But since the moving of CSUs marching band to this highly coveted area, it seems like the environment of the student section has changed.
I mean, during my first game, I couldn’t find a seat anywhere, so I needed to go up to the level above the student section, which technically has ticketed seats. And during that game, I ran into the issue of University of Northern Colorado students making comments like, “How dare CSU students think they can sit wherever they want.” Despite the fact that my
roommate and I were sitting there just fine, we just didn’t ask if the seats were taken. And then when I tried to move down to the student section and sit with the other students, there was no way to get close to the field. I was in the back row staring at the screens instead of being able to watch the game actually play out in front of me.
Then for the Rocky Mountain Showdown, despite entering the stadium an hour and a half before kickoff, I still was forced to find seats in an area that was ticketed, and even when trying to go to the areas where the student section should extend, I was stopped from entering because they were a ticketed area. I mean, with the CSU marching band right in the center of the student section, my group and I were forced out of nearly three spots before filing in on the stairs and waiting for people to move for us to make our way into the stands.
The issue with the marching band being in the middle of the student section isn’t just that they are at the 50-yard line; it is because of the amount of space they take up.
I mean, as a former band student, I don’t ever remember being so close to the student section in the football stands because we didn’t want our instruments to be damaged. And I get that this is why a large perimeter is blocked off around the marching band. But that also creates an issue in which the students can’t even get close to the band due to the tape and event staff surrounding them.
The goal of this move, according to an email sent to those who receive athletics updates, was that it would provide an opportunity for them to “work with the student section and use our cheer and pom teams to work in unison with our students to create a competitive advantage for our teams.”
But from a personal stance, I don’t see much more organized cheers happening now that they have moved. Instead, I think it is more whoever is the loudest will get their attention. They seem to be more like a noise you hear in the background and accept.
But if the goal is to create an immersed environment with the students, wouldn’t it make more sense
to not have them blocked off by the students being able to join them? Wouldn’t it make more sense for the students to be able to get as close as possible to join and share in the fun with them?
I mean, if we are going to put the band in the student section that is already pretty packed, it would make sense to let people still pack into their highly coveted seats as close as possible. But if that isn’t enough, then it would also make sense to just move them back so the highly crowded student section doesn’t have a glaring patch that will be even more obvious when students start to leave.
But the biggest thing is that students can’t get super close to the band once the stadium starts to clear out, and students file in to make it less obvious that the student section left when CSU isn’t winning. So having them there may pack the stands, but really, it just makes it more obvious how unenthused our student section is when we lose.
Reach Dominique Lopez at letters @collegian.com.
Women aren’t unfriendly for ignoring male strangers
By Leah Stephenson @csucollegian
Editor’s Note: This content reflects the views of the individual author only and does not represent a stance taken by The Collegian or its editorial board.
I love meeting new people. But like many other friendly and outgoing women, I rarely feel safe striking up a conversation with people I encounter in public, particularly men.
For women, it is unfortunate common sense to avoid conversation with unknown men in public. Men do not have the same constraints. I am jealous of men because they can simultaneously be friendly and safe. The same is rarely true for women.
Men, for the most part, don’t have to worry about being harassed or assaulted by people they don’t know. They can connect with anyone, anytime, largely without worrying for their safety or fear that their friendliness will be fatally misinterpreted as romantic or sexual interest.
Based on past experiences, I am reluctant to extend any signs of friendliness to male strangers because, even when I’m not friendly, men do inappropriate things.
For example, I attended a senior awards ceremony at my high school this year. After the show, the father of someone in my grade came up to me and told me how beautiful my picture was.
Because I was receiving an award for a painting, I began to talk about my piece. He interrupted me and said he was
COLLEGIAN FILE ILLUSTRATION
not referring to my painting but rather my photo, which was displayed on a projector screen while I received my award. He quickly and repeatedly emphasized that my photo was just so beautiful and so gorgeous. He was standing too close, his eyes were grossly intent and he drove the point home that he thought I — an 18-yearold — was just so beautiful. Every time I tried to back away, he moved closer.
I was stunned. It had gone from a genuine compliment to an unsettling comment in the blink of an eye. I didn’t even know who he was.
approached me and started a conversation.
He was slurring his words so badly that I couldn’t even understand half of what he said, but he eventually asked me if I wanted to give him a gift. I was confused.
A gift? He had already eaten, so he wasn’t asking for money or a free sandwich.
He went on to explain that in his country, it is customary for me to give him a gift — with emphasis on me, a woman, and him, a man.
All I could do was pointblank turn away from the creep and wonder whose strange father just hit on me. He felt it important to search for me — a girl the age of his own child — after the ceremony just to tell me how much he appreciated my beauty. I was nauseated. After experiences like this one, I don’t believe I should ever be expected to extend excessive politeness or even friendship to male strangers in public. Sometimes, putting on a stone face and feigning deafness or ignorance is just what it takes to keep myself safe. I am willing to play the silent card any day if it means I don’t get hit on.
Putting on a stone face doesn’t fit my self-image; however, I don’t feel like I or other women have a choice. But I often consider that this stone facing portrays me as less empathetic than I am.
When I was 16 and on break from my job at a sandwich shop, I was leaving when a man who appeared to be intoxicated
I was being propositioned for sex.
I value kindness and empathy, both in others and in myself. I value friendship with others and connecting with those in my community.
But I wasn’t safe from a creep at my own high school. My parents were 10 feet away when he approached me. Other parents, students and teachers were standing around us. Their presence should have deterred such a strange and sexual comment, yet it happened.
I wasn’t safe at a sandwich shop in my small hometown during daylight hours when all I wanted was to eat during my break. Why wasn’t minding my own business enough?
My stories are a couple drops in the pond of what women face for existing. Many women have stories like these, and worse, when their only crime was being in a public space.
So why should I bother being friendly? Clearly, I don’t have to do anything to be a beacon for men twice my age.
It is a bitter truth that to keep ourselves safe, we must mislead others about our character.
Reach Leah Stephenson at letters@collegian.com.
Sudoku
WEEKLY HOROSCOPE
By Sophia Masia
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (10/10/24)
ARIES (MARCH 21 - APRIL 19)
This week is all about reflection and growth. You’ve been going through a lot mentally, and now is the time to gain clarity in your conversations, especially in your relationships. It’s a good moment to revisit some important discussions from the past and finally resolve any lingering issues. You’ve been doing the hard work; now it’s time to start seeing the rewards, Aries.
TAURUS (APRIL 20 - MAY 20)
It’s time to broaden your perspective. This week nudges you to reassess your financial situation and consider how your professional life aligns with your core values. Are you feeling fulfilled by what you’re earning, or is it time for a change? Slow and steady wins your race, Taurus.
GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUNE 20)
Ever the communicator, this week your creative and romantic conversations feel effortless. You’re filled with the confidence to schmooze whoever you choose, but this is also a great time to pick your own brain about how you’re presenting yourself to the world. Are you being true to yourself in all your relationships, Gemini?
CANCER (JUNE 21 - JULY 22)
This week offers a boost of confidence, helping you take action in your creative projects and romantic life while offering a period of introspection. Pay attention to shifts in your relationships, and reflect on healing from past patterns. You didn’t come this far to only get this far, Cancer.
LEO (JULY 23 - AUG. 22)
You’ll feel extra social this week, making it a great time to gather with friends, network or collaborate. You might also feel called to reassess your longterm goals, especially when it comes to your community and friendships. How supportive is your support system, Leo?
VIRGO (AUG. 23 - SEPT. 22)
You’re getting recognition at work this week, so don’t be shy about sharing your ideas and contributions. This is the time to reflect on your career goals and how you want to move forward. If there’s a personal project or romantic endeavor that’s been on hold, now might be the time to bring it back into the spotlight, Virgo.
LIBRA (SEPT. 23 - OCT. 22)
This is a great week to reassess your belief systems and maybe revisit some old ideas that need deeper reflection. You might feel a need to expand your mind, whether through travel, education or self-discovery. Unexpected shifts could arise in your emotional or financial life, so stay open to changes that push you to grow. Stay above the drama, Libra.
SCORPIO (OCT. 23 - NOV. 21)
It’s time to invest in yourself, whether that’s in your hobbies, romantic life or anything that brings you joy. This week offers a boost in self-confidence and a desire to explore new adventures. You’re also reevaluating your relationships and how much time
and energy you’re putting into others. Make sure you’re getting as much as you’re giving, Scorpio.
SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22DEC. 21)
Your emotional connections are in the spotlight this week. It’s a good time to explore intimacy and shared goals with someone close to you. You might also find yourself reflecting on your relationship goals and reconsidering where you want to head. There’s growth to be had if you’re willing to address unresolved issues, Sagittarius.
CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 - JAN. 19)
Be honest, is pulling the allnighter to get your work done ever worth it? This week, you’re being asked to find better ways of balancing work and play. It’s time to move forward in a healthy, sustainable way so you can reach bigger goals. Don’t let work take over your life, Capricorn.
AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 - FEB. 18)
Coming into week eight of the semester, you’re getting a much needed boost of productivity. It’s a great time to get things done, but while you’re turning that essay in four minutes before it’s due, brainstorm some ways you can avoid this in the future. The literal and metaphorical dishes need to be done, so get to work, Aquarius
PISCES (FEB. 19 - MARCH 20)
You’re probably going through it right now. If not, awesome! Knock on wood, and continue on. If you are, take this week to be kinder to yourself than the world has been. Socially, you might be reconnecting with old friends or experiencing a change. However you proceed, make sure you’re honoring your feelings while recognizing your part in your current situation. Hang in there, Pisces.
Last edition’s crossword solution
Last edition’s sudoku solution
OVERHEARD AROUND CAMPUS
“Sounds like I’m doing better than you because you have a legal problem.”
“Maybe I need head trauma.”
“God, that little whore George Washington.”
“Not a lot of football happening, so people decided to commit crimes.”
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
Vet bills
Project-based classes
Headaches
Wildfires
Banana bread
Mac ‘n’ cheese
“Cars” the movie Crocheting Corgis
