FOCO EVENTS TOP STORIES
NEWS: Poet Yusef Komunyakaa to receive alumni achievement award PAGE 5
LIFE: Ram Country Dance Club gives students place to scuff, scoot their boots PAGE 8
SPORTS: Turning shadows into spotlight: Avery Morrow’s redemption run fuels CSU football PAGE 10
THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN
Lory Student Center, Suite 118 Fort Collins, CO 80523
SCIENCE: Winter pea research indicates diverse potential benefits PAGE 16
ARTS: CSU archives show fashion strutting through decades PAGE 20
OPINION: Helicopter parents need to give their college kids space PAGE 27
MEDIA: Walk down Memory Lane: CSU Homecoming welcomes Ram alumni back to campus PAGES 12-13
Spooky Swing Soiree: Let’s Get Ghoulish! at the Masonic Temple Event Center 7-10 p.m. Oct. 25
FoCo Boo Crawl in Old Town 7 p.m. to midnight Oct. 26
Hotel Fiction at The Coast 7 p.m. Oct. 27
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State University students and Grillo’s Pickles ambassadors Olivia Proctor and Liberty Alofsin serve Grillo’s Pickles spear and chip samples to CSU students on the Lory Student Center Plaza Oct. 17. “We are promoting Grillo’s Pickles just trying to get some community feedback and share the love of our favorite pickle brand,” Proctor said. “College students can apply to be their university’s pickle people. ... I applied on TikTok.” The two pickle connoisseurs promoted a Grillo’s merch giveaway, handing out free samples, seltzer koozies and coupons as a way
among students. PHOTO BY LAUREN MASCARDO THE COLLEGIAN
2024 Homecoming, Family Weekend schedule
By Katie Fisher @csucollegian
Colorado State University will be hosting its annual Homecoming & Family weekend beginning Oct. 24. The weekend offers events suitable for everyone, from reconnecting with old alumni and friends to making new memories with peers and family.
Below is a comprehensive schedule of the preplanned weekend events.
Distinguished Alumni Awards
Kick off the weekend by honoring students’ predecessors 5-9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24, in the Lory Student Center for the Distinguished Alumni Awards. Join the CSU community in celebrating alumni who represent achievement, selfless public service and a lifelong commitment to Ram Pride.
50 Year Club
Luncheon
Continuing into Friday, the 50 Year Club Luncheon is an organization that celebrates anyone who graduated from CSU 50 or more years ago. This year marks the 90th anniversary of their meeting,
in which the class of 1974 will be inducted, and Public Service and Career Achievement Award winners will be honored.
Festival on The Oval
After the aforementioned award ceremony, attendees can make their way over to The Oval 3-6 p.m. for the biggest party on the block. The Festival on The Oval will feature live music, inflatables, a beverage garden and interactive booths from more than 100 areas and organizations on campus and around the Fort Collins community.
The Member Mingle at Festival on The Oval
Calling all Alumni Association members attending the Festival on The Oval: Jaunt on over to the The Member Mingle to enjoy an exclusive member space inside the The Oval beverage garden for food and fun with other members of the green and gold community. The cost of the first drinks will be covered by the Alumni Association.
Friday Night Lights
After the sun sets and the celebrations on The Oval wrap up, everyone is invited to get their pep on at the Friday Night Lights festivities 6-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25. Join in on one of Homecoming’s most iconic
and renowned traditions featuring the bonfire, pep rally, fireworks and lighting of the A.
Homecoming 5K Race
Not too tired from the fun last night? Lace up those running shoes and arrive at The Oval 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, to participate in the 44th annual Homecoming 5K. Anyone from the community is invited to attend along with people of all genders, ages and abilities. Early registration is now open, and prices will increase after 6:30 p.m. Oct. 25.
Ram Walk Tailgate
After working up an appetite from the 5K or even sleeping in, attendees can come out and join fellow Rams during the Ram Walk Tailgate 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25. The Iris & Michael Smith Alumni Center will be open with food and drink will be available for purchase. CAM the Ram will pose for photos. Attendees can purchase a BBQ Meal Package before they sell out.
CSU vs. New Mexico
The Colorado State football team will kick off against the University of New Mexico at 3 p.m. in Canvas Stadium in the fifth home game of the 2024 season. Reach Katie Fisher at news @collegian.com.
GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY ASIYE UCTUK THE COLLEGIAN
REVERED RAM
Poet Yusef Komunyakaa to receive alumni achievement award
By Chloe Waskey @csucollegian
Renowned poet and Colorado State University graduate Yusef Komunyakaa will receive the William E. Morgan Alumni Achievement Award Oct. 24 at the Distinguished Alumni Awards ceremony.
Komunyakaa has received numerous awards throughout his career, including the Ruth Lilly Poetry
Prize, Griffin Poetry Prize Lifetime Recognition Award, Hanes Poetry Prize and, most notably, the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1994.
“While he was writing about race and war and pre-civil rights movements — violence and protests — he was also always writing about the living world,” said Camille Dungy, a university distinguished professor and author at CSU. “He was always writing with a really deep attention and love and connection to the plants
and animals and waterways that were around him.”
Komunyakaa was born in segregated Bogalusa, Louisiana, in 1947 and later served in the military as a correspondent and managing editor of the Southern Cross military newspaper during the Vietnam War.
“I suppose growing up in Louisiana, going out into the environment when I (was) 6, you know, discovering things I didn’t know — that in a way was a rehearsal for becoming a poet,” Komunyakaa said in a 2018 interview.
After the military, Komunyakaa earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs before coming to CSU, where he earned a master’s in writing. Throughout his time at CSU, Komunyakaa was an inspiration to his peers and professors alike.
“It was immediately apparent that this was a person with major talent,” said Bill Tremblay, former CSU creative writing professor and author.
“The poems were literally astonishing.”
Tremblay recalled a time when Gwendolyn Brooks, the first African American writer to receive a Pulitzer Prize, was invited to read at CSU and called Komunyakaa to the stage to read with her.
“It was a great honor but only the first of many,” Tremblay said.
Tremblay helped Komunyakaa write his thesis “Lost in the Bonewheel Factory,” which was later featured in Komunyakaa’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book “Neon Vernacular: New and Selected Poems.”
Here is an excerpt from the poem “Corrigenda” in “Lost in the Bonewheel Factory”:
I haven’t seen the moon fall open at the golden edge of our sleep.
I haven’t been there like the tumor in each of us.
There’s no death that can hold us together like twin brothers coming home to bury their mother.
Komunyakaa’s other works address a wide array of topics, from the Vietnam War in “Dien Cai Dau” to racial oppression in “Copacetic” and his childhood in “Magic City.” He is most known for his war poetry and incorporating themes of jazz and blues into his writing.
“I think the reader should be challenged because after all, the reader also has a brain, and the human brain is gluttonous; it wants to know everything,” Komunyakaa said at a 2014 poetry conference.
After graduating from CSU, Komunyakaa earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of California at Irvine. He went
on to teach at the University of New Orleans, Indiana University Bloomington, Princeton University and New York University.
Dungy, who knows Komunyakaa personally and will be accepting the alumni award on his behalf this year, described how his voice can captivate a room.
“When he talks, it’s almost like a song,” Dungy said. “When I think about the times I’m with him, I just think about that sort of leaning in that everybody around will do to hear what it is that’s going to be said.”
Dungy’s reflections highlight not only Komunyakaa’s compelling way of speaking but also the thoughtful, attentive presence he brings to every interaction.
“He’s shared a kind of way of being in the world,” Dungy said. “A kind of quiet, attentive, focused, caring way of being in the world.”
Although Komunyakaa could not be reached for comment, Tremblay and Dungy described a man whose influence extends beyond the world of Black literature and into the hearts and minds of those who know him.
“He has carried his honors with dignity,” Tremblay said. “And I am proud to call him a friend.” Reach Chloe Waskey at news @collegian.com.
PHOTO COURTESY OF COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS
COMMUNITY HEALING
Remembrance Roses event pays tribute to lives lost to femicide
By Katie Fisher @csucollegian
In a candle-lit room in Colorado State University’s Lory Student Center Oct. 15, portraits of women from 10 countries were spread along the wall as a tribute to their lives lost to senseless violence.
Hosted by the Survivor Advocacy and Feminist Education Center, El Centro and the Pride Resource Center, the exhibition entitled Remembrance Roses: Honoring the Lives Stolen by Femicide honored women lost to femicide.
“Femicide, which is the intentional killing of people who identify as women, ... tends to often be (committed) by family members or people who identify as cis men,” said Lili Zamarripa, SAFE Center media program coordinator.
October marks the intersection of Relationship Violence Awareness Month, Latinx/é Heritage Month and LGTBQIA+ History Month, which brought the three centers together in creating the exhibition.
The exhibit honored 10 women and girls from different countries, including Belize, Trinidad, Brazil, El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, the United States and Bolivia. Guests circulated the room while intimately interacting with each woman’s story and photograph.
Rose petals were scattered on each table and applied to a large canvas rose painting at the end of the exhibit. Zamarripa drew inspiration from the flower’s symbolism in several cultures for its inclusion in the exhibition and incorporated
it into October’s monthly observance.
“Our theme for Relationship Violence Awareness Month is ‘Surrounded by roses,’” Zamarripa said. “In a lot of different cultures, roses are used as a healing practice, and it’s also just something that I had always seen represent femininity, … so I wanted to incorporate that into this.”
“I think that it is important to reflect on and to consider for those of us that are called to do something about solving this problem because it is a global problem.”
AARON ESCOBEDO GARMON EL CENTRO DIRECTOR
The memorial also focused on Latinx/é women, with every country represented in the event except the United States being in Latin America. Femicide, as El Centro Director Aaron Escobedo Garmon explained, is an ever-present issue in the region.
“Within Latin America, femicide rates, genderbased violence are through the roof compared to other parts of the world,” Escobedo Garmon said.
In 2022 alone, at least 4,050 women were victims of femicide in Latin America, yet the number could be much higher when adding crimes that go unreported.
While this epidemic is not original to Latin America, several cultural aspects may play into its prevalence, Escobedo Garmon said.
“One is because of the role that masculinity plays within many Latinx
cultures,” Escobedo Garmon said. “Machismo is one of those reasons, but it’s also because of historical trauma that many families experience.”
Femicide can stem from many relationship dynamics, along with other systemic societal issues.
“Within Latin America, femicide shows up with partner-based violence,” Escobedo Garmon said. “So domestic violence and interpersonal violence that really escalates, also within violence that’s antitrans violence.”
The memorial paid tribute to Angie Zapata, a transgender woman who was murdered in 2008 in Greeley, Colorado. While the heaviness of the subject was prevalent in the room, it also made space for important, necessary discussion.
“It’s definitely heavy, it’s emotional, but I think it can open up our eyes to something outside of the United States, something that is intersectional across transness and gender and race and ethnicity, that I think will just give people a different perspective on how things like sexism can result in hard things and terrible things for some people,” said Maggie Hendrickson, Pride Resource Center director.
As guests left the memorial, Escobedo Garmon noted what he hoped visitors took away and what can be put into action to create longlasting, sustainable change.
“I think that it is important to reflect on and to consider for those of us that are called to do something about solving this problem because it is a global problem,” Escobedo Garmon said.
Reach Katie Fisher at news@collegian.com.
A display of the poem “Maria” and a femicide information card in the Lory Student Center during the Remembrance Roses: Honoring the Lives Stolen by Femicide memorial Oct. 15
PHOTO BY KATIE FISHER THE COLLEGIAN
Into the archives: Looking through history of CSU Homecoming bonfire
By Ella Dorpinghaus @csucollegian
This weekend, October’s creeping frost will melt away at the heat of Colorado State University’s annual Homecoming bonfire.
The fire will burn 6-8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25, on the Lory Student Center West Lawn. A respite from the chaos of Homecoming week and the biting cold, the Homecoming bonfire is a historic tradition at the university. First appearing in a 1910 issue of The Collegian, the bonfire celebrates the yearly return of alumni and parents to campus during Homecoming.
Gordon A. “Hap” Hazard, a Fort Collins historian, wrote an unpublished essay on the origin of Homecoming at CSU for the CSU archives. Hazard’s work credits the earliest mention of the bonfire tradition in a Collegian article from May 28, 1910, when it refers to “the peace pipe ceremonies and the bonfire” as part of the programming for commencement week.
As stated in an article written by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Public History Project, Pipe of Peace ceremonies were held at colleges in the early 1900s. At some colleges, students dressed up in costumes and smoked pipes, and at others, a pipe was ceremonially lit. Very limited information is available about CSU’s peace pipe ceremonies.
Bonfires were not limited to just spring commencement celebrations. Hazard’s work cites an Oct. 26, 1910, edition of The Collegian that mentions a bonfire at a football rally.
Ali Raza,assistant director for involvement at CSU, spoke on the importance of community during Homecoming. The bonfire provides a place for people to gather and a reason to visit campus. He noted the energy alumni bring to campus, especially when they gather to celebrate tradition.
“A lot of folks view Friday Night Lights as part of
their favorite part about Homecoming because it’s a huge community event as well,” Raza said. “I just feel like there’s an energy and a buzz on campus that really doesn’t exist any other time during the school year.”
Homecoming as a tradition at CSU rose from a need to centralize alumni-focused gatherings.
Typically, events for alumni were hosted at the spring commencement ceremony and around the holidays, but early articles in The Collegian criticized this schedule.
At the time, CSU had very few alums, and without a central time for them to reunite, the alumni class felt sparse. Thus, an event called commencement celebration — later Homecoming — was born. An editorial comment in The Collegian reads: “Come and let your eyes rest upon that banner of orange and green which still waves for you and is ever for you, though you may wander far into the four corners of the Earth.”
Even today, catering to different generations
of alumni proves a rewarding challenge.
“We have folks who come back and identify as Aggies, and we have folks who come back and identify as Rams, and that common green thread ... runs through everybody,” said Amy Jo Miller, Alumni Association marketing and communications director. “There’s something shared between people regardless of where they go or where they end up. There’s always that shared story that they have.”
A Collegian article from Oct. 15, 1954, by Floyd Shoemaker places the first CSU Homecoming in 1881. Hazard pointed out that Homecoming is not a tradition exclusive to CSU. Around this time period, other colleges, such as Harvard University and Yale University, established Homecomings of their own, often coupling them with football games and parades. The term “Homecoming” itself was not used at CSU until much later. A Collegian article from Nov. 17, 1921, hailed Nov. 19, 1921, as the first annual Homecoming
Weekend, complete with a pep rally and a parade.
Following that celebration, Homecoming traditions at CSU underwent great changes. Hazard’s notes detail traditions like selling yellow mums, wearing green and gold leis and throwing rotten eggs, traditions mostly spearheaded by the efforts of fraternities and sororities. World War II proved a great challenge for the holiday. Hazard said that with restrictions on civilian travel in 1942, the school canceled the event. Homecoming activities and football games did not resume until 1945.
Post World War II, the parade and bonfire were closely intertwined traditions, often complementing each other. The tradition now continues as Friday Night Lights. Despite the changes these traditions underwent, the importance of community and connection is echoed today. Even folks who aren’t particularly excited about Homecoming events find community on campus.
“I’m not generally one who participates in Homecoming,” said Liana
Anderson, a student at CSU. “But I do enjoy hanging out with friends.”
Besides upholding tradition at CSU, Homecoming events are designed to build community and connection among Rams.
“Folks really have an opportunity to be with their friends, family and loved ones and just really feel that Ram pride,” Raza said.
“That’s awesome to see the bonfire, to see the music, to see the students and alumni dancing, hanging out and having a good time.”
Miller echoed a similar sentiment, finding inspiration and hope in the achievements of CSU alumni.
“Our campus has a very roll-up-your-sleeves, authentic, down-to-earth, like, get-it-done kind of attitude, and you combine that with the research and the education that’s happening at CSU, and you can see through these alums that really anything is possible,” Miller said.
Reach Ella Dorpinghaus at life@collegian.com.
PHOTO COURTESY OF COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES & SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
CAMPUS ACTIVITIES
Ram Country Dance Club gives students place to scuff, scoot their boots
By Bear Atwood @csucollegian
Along with squeaking shoes and clopping boots, the Ram Country Dance Club provides a community space for anyone to pick up the art of swing or line dancing.
At 6 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday, students make their way to Allison Hall at Colorado State University wearing heavy cowboy boots and shiny belt buckles as they prepare for the club meeting.
“They always make sure that you can always see the specific dance moves or the next steps or instructors, so it’s very inclusive,” first-year Isabella Boccia said. “They always try to make sure you’re heard and seen.”
Even though Boccia had never done country dancing before, a friend urged her to give it a try.
“I would just say it’s just one more thing to make me feel like I have something here at CSU,” Boccia said. “Especially as a freshman, just trying to find people to hang out with and find people and find things to do and just getting the most of my time. This is definitely just like a step into, like, that development.”
Along with group lessons, the club also provides one-onone workshops for those interested in competitive dance.
Boccia is not the only beginner, as there’s an estimated attendance of around 100 people per meeting. There is a mix ranging from those who’ve never country danced before to experts who’ve been boot scootin’ their whole lives.
Ram Country Dance Club co-founder and President Nani Tomich said that has been a purpose of the club since its conception.
“The original intention of starting this club was to create a place that was interested in welcoming to everyone, and that entails both people that wouldn’t necessarily be welcomed into the country Western community but also people that (would) not necessarily ... consider themselves to be dancers,” Tomich said.
Tomich has been a dancer since she was 2 1/2 years old, learning hula growing up in Hawaii. But coming to Fort Collins, she was introduced to line dancing by friends who encouraged her to join them at Sundance Steakhouse & Saloon, a recently closed local dance bar.
“Dance has always been part of my life, specifically choreography and storytelling through dance,” Tomich said. “I think line dance really clicked for me because it was choreography and just choreography done over and over and over again, so I picked it up real fast, and I just loved it.”
Although Sundance closed down, there are plans for a new venue, Chutes Dance Hall, set to open Oct. 26, but they will have a soft launch Oct. 23.
After seeing a niche for this kind of space on campus, Tomich and several others decided to start a club. Their first meeting was hosted in the lobby of Aggie Village Apartments and had around 20 attendees, Tomich said.
Lorenzo Espino, an instructor for the club, joined the club after watching them dance at Aggie Village.
“I thought country swing dancing was really cool, and I wanted to learn how to, but I never really had an opportunity to go and pay for a lesson,” Espino said. “We pride ourselves in creating a really fun environment, and we’re really hard on ourselves in light of
the fact that we want everybody to have fun.”
Ella Powell also started as a beginner before achieving instructor status this past semester. Powell was told about the club and the community by a previous instructor who attended the same youth group.
“That was just something I was looking for — just great community and being able to try out new skills,” Powell said. “I made so many amazing friends through it.”
While the club started off small, it had some help from the country dancing community, including Sundance when they were still in operation and the nonprofit Country KickUp based in Greeley, Colorado.
Tomich credits the University of Wyoming Cowboy Country Swing Club as an inspiration for how they run the club. The two clubs have made several collaborations together, including a Border War dance competition.
Tomich also credits the founding and operation of the club to the other leaders, who collaborated to make the club what it is.
“This club has a founding team of people,” Tomich said. “Being a leader on this team is basically a part-time, unpaid job, and the heart and soul that all of these leaders put into this space is incredible. I’m very, very grateful for all the people involved and all the people in this community.”
Some upcoming club events include an anniversary celebration and parent night Oct. 23 at Chutes Dance Hall, a fundraiser to cover club expenses at 6 p.m. Oct. 25 at Mash Lab Brewing in Windsor, a student tailgate before the football game Oct. 26 and plans for a winter formal.
Reach Bear Atwood at life@collegian.com.
Brian Goss and Alex Baird warm up with a dance before Ram Country Dance Club in Allison Hall Oct. 22. Founded by President Nani Tomich, Ram Country Dance Club meets every Tuesday and Thursday in Allison Hall to teach line dancing and swing dancing. PHOTO BY JULIA PERCY THE COLLEGIAN
EMBRACING MOMENTS
Turning shadows into spotlight: Avery Morrow’s redemption run fuels CSU football
By Michael Hovey @michaelfhovey
Athletes are often defined by a moment.
For Avery Morrow, that moment arrived on the field in the fourth week of Colorado State football’s 2024 season. Seventy yards of open grass stretched ahead of him, and with one decisive burst, he claimed it. It wasn’t just a touchdown — it was his reclamation.
But before Morrow could seize this second chance, he had to face the consequences of an earlier chapter in his life. Morrow was found guilty of misdemeanor assault over a year earlier, an incident that cast a shadow over his athletic career. He served time in workrelease and missed spring training camp in 2023, leaving his future in green and gold up in the air.
Still, he returned — humbled, determined and unwilling to let that moment define him.
“You never get anything out of giving up,” Morrow said. “Stuff gets hard. Life is hard. You’ve got to get over those obstacles and work through them.”
For Morrow, the work began long before that first explosive play.
“He’s a fighter,” coach Jeremy Moses said. “We’ve been through a lot together, and I’ve seen him grow — not just as a player but as a person. He’s not the same kid who made that mistake. He’s learned from it, and that’s why he’s thriving.”
In just four games as the starter, Morrow has emerged as a cornerstone of the Rams’ offense, averaging 145 yards from scrimmage and more than one touchdown per game. His return wasn’t just about numbers, though; it was about showing the depth of his character.
His resilience shines through both on and off the field.
“I think the biggest motivation for me is not letting my coaches or teammates down,” Morrow said. “They’re the ones who look to me, and if I mess up, I let them down. I can’t let that happen.”
Morrow’s role in CSU’s backfield was initially limited, but Morrow has since stepped up, and there’s been no looking back since. In moments when
other players might crumble under the weight of expectation, Morrow has thrived. His combination of speed, power and vision has turned what could have been a backup-caliber season into one defined by grit and perseverance.
“Life isn’t a cakewalk. You can’t just go through it doing what you want and expecting everything to be easy.”
AVERY MORROW CSU RUNNING BACK
“Avery is prepared for anything,” offensive lineman Drew Moss said. “He’s put in the work, and he’s ready. Every time he steps on the field, we know he’s going to give it everything.”
Morrow’s big performances have always come with a sense of gratitude. He often speaks about his appreciation for the offensive line, giving them credit for every big play, every open lane. He’s also made a point of giving back, handing out donuts to the linemen after every 100-yard game.
“Those guys are my brothers,” Morrow said. “I can’t do anything without them. Every yard I get is because they’re out there putting their bodies on the line.”
Beyond football, Morrow’s personal growth is evident to those around him. He’s become a mentor to the younger players, imparting lessons he’s learned the hard way — about discipline, accountability and resilience.
“I try to touch base with everyone,” Morrow said. “I want to make sure I’m giving everybody some love and showing them that I’m here for them, just like others were there for me.”
The Morrow of today is not defined by a single moment of success or failure. He’s defined by his response — by the work he’s put in to build relationships with his peers, gain his coach’s trust and claim his story, both on and off the field. In doing so, he’s shown those around
him how to never give up.
“Life isn’t a cakewalk,” Morrow said. “You can’t just go through it doing what you want and expecting everything to be easy. I had to learn that the hard way, but I’m grateful for the lessons.”
As the season rolls on and challenges inevitably mount, Morrow’s focus is clear. He’s not running from his past, nor is he trying to erase it. Instead, he’s embracing every moment — every opportunity — to write his future.
“God has a plan for me,” Morrow said. “I don’t know what’s coming next, but I’m ready for whatever it is. I’m prepared to make the most of it.”
Reach Michael Hovey at sports@collegian.com.
Colorado State University running back Avery Morrow (25) stands on the sidelines watching CSU play the U.S. Air Force Academy Oct. 19. CSU won 21-13. PHOTO BY CAIT MCKINZIE THE COLLEGIAN
DEFUSE UNM
SPORTS CSU football on prowl for 3rd straight victory in battle against Lobos
By Damon Cook @dwcook2001
There’s a reason the Mountain West trophy isn’t a tiara; football was never meant to be pretty.
Colorado State has epitomized that this season, as it sits with a record better than .500 through seven games for the first time since 2017 — the last year CSU made a bowl game. The Rams sit tied atop the MW standings at 2-0, with a prime opportunity to extend that lead Saturday against New Mexico.
The product on the field hasn’t exactly looked as expected, and the statistics don’t necessarily jump off the page, but the Rams found a way to victory four times this season.
“I think a lot of statistics are overblown, to be honest with you,”
coach Jay Norvell said. “We’ve been the team with the flashy stats and not a lot of wins, and that’s not always a good thing.”
The Lobos are entering the game with those eye-popping stats, having scored 50 or more points in each of the last three weeks.
Devon Dampier has been one of the most prolific quarterbacks
in the Mountain West for UNM this season. Dampier is leading the Lobos in rushing with 487 yards and passing with 1,760 yards. The biggest benefactor to the Lobos’ air attack has been Luke Wysong, who has reeled in 50 catches for 663 yards.
This will be another week when someone on the edge will have to show out. When a QB has the running prowess of Dampier, discipline will be huge in securing the victory, and containing Dampier in the pocket will be nonnegotiable.
“We have really fast D-ends, really fast linebackers, (so) we’re trying to keep contain on them,”
CSU linebacker Buom Jock said. “When you’ve got a quarterback that can run and throw the ball, you want to keep them in the pocket as much as you can.”
Winning at the point of attack has been one of the biggest reasons for the Rams’ success. Doing so on both sides of the ball has been key to the success CSU has seen so far this season. With Gabe Kirschke having a breakout game against Air Force and Nuer Gatkuoth poised to be available, CSU’s defensive front should be set.
On the opposite side of the ball, the Rams have somehow managed to exceed expectations. After a
fantastic year from the offensive line last season, CSU’s front five have played like some of the best in the nation and have by far been the best unit on the team. As physical as CSU’s O-line has been, the mental side of the game has been just as much of a factor in their jump this year.
“I think the running back group is going to be the best we’ve played all year — the combination of all three of them.”
BUOM JOCK CSU LINEBACKER
“We think about that a lot,” CSU offensive lineman Drew Moss said. “We’ve got to make sure Jacob (Gardner does his job). Obviously, he has a big job on his hand running the offense through him. Especially
our run game, so him being able to do that and all of us communicating everything at all times — it’s one of those key factors.”
UNM brings a heavy blitz package with lots of stunts, something the O-line and Gardner will be instrumental in deciphering.
If the Rams can get things going on the ground like they have the past several weeks, with Avery Morrow rushing for more than 100 yards four games in a row, they should be in a good position for a Homecoming game victory.
On the other side of the ball, CSU will have to find consistency. This isn’t the UNM team from the past; the Lobos are dangerous. Norvell wants to control the pace and tempo of the game. Keeping the lethal Lobos’ run game in check and not allowing explosive plays will be crucial in doing that.
“I think the running back group is going to be the best we’ve played all year — the combination of all three of them,” Jock said. “They have a really nice group of receivers. (Wysong is) a really good receiver. … We have to do a good job of trying to limit their best guys.”
Reach Damon Cook at sports@collegian.com.
COLLEGIAN FILE PHOTO
1. Colorado State University Marching Band members Alexa Hudson, Brenna Hudson and Yonathan Wassen pose next to the Homecoming bonfire after performing at the Pep Rally Oct. 13, 2023. CSU hosted their annual Friday Night Lights on the lawn of Lory Student Center, featuring a DJ performance, fireworks, lighting of the A and food trucks.
PHOTO BY JULIA PERCY THE COLLEGIAN
2. CAM the Ram interacts with Colorado State University football fans from the field during the game against Middle Tennessee State University at Canvas Stadium Sept. 10, 2022. The Rams trailed the Blue Raiders 34-0 at one point before scoring late points, bringing the final score to 34-19.
COLLEGIAN FILE PHOTO
3. Colorado State University community members watch a fireworks show on the Intramural Fields during Friday Night Lights Oct. 13, 2023. Part of CSU’s Homecoming celebration, the event featured performances from the CSU Marching Band, color guard and cheerleaders as well as speeches from coaches and a bonfire.
PHOTO BY MICHAEL MARQUARDT THE COLLEGIAN
4. Colorado State University President Amy Parsons speaks at Friday Night Lights Oct. 13, 2023.
PHOTO BY MICHAEL MARQUARDT THE COLLEGIAN
5. Colorado State University fans wear game day bibs while cheering for the team during the Homecoming football game, Oct. 15, 2022. Game day bibs are a student favorite and available for purchase at the CSU bookstore.
COLLEGIAN FILE PHOTO
6. The Colorado State University Marching Band leads the parade of pom dancers, cheerleaders and football players into Canvas Stadium before the Homecoming game Oct. 9, 2021.
PHOTO BY AVERY COATES THE COLLEGIAN
7. Colorado State University students dance at Friday Night Lights Oct. 13, 2023.
PHOTO BY MICHAEL MARQUARDT THE COLLEGIAN
8. A Colorado State Forest Service member lights the bonfire at Colorado State University’s Friday Night Lights Oct. 13, 2023.
PHOTO BY MICHAEL MARQUARDT THE COLLEGIAN
SUSTAINABLE
CSU researcher studies breakthrough emissions tracking, solutions
By Leah Stephenson @csucollegian
Mark Easter, a long-time researcher at Colorado State University, has studied agricultural greenhouse gas emissions for the majority of his career. For over two decades, Easter has worked at CSU on strategies to track emissions from agriculture and ways to reduce emissions.
Easter was a senior research associate at the Natural Resource Ecology Lab before he retired in 2021. Now he continues his work with the lab as an affiliate senior research associate.
In 1999, Keith Paustian, a senior research scientist and professor of crop sciences at CSU, was looking for a research associate for a new project. Easter joined CSU to research and assist this cause.
This project was the result of a contract written by the United States Environmental Protection Agency; Easter and Paustian were trying to implement the first U.S. greenhouse gas inventory for agriculture.
The EPA contract stemmed from the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. At the Summit, countries attempted to identify their largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions and collaborated on ways to reduce them.
At the time, scientists were aware of significant emissions from soil and microbes.
“There was no consistent method or measurement to figure out (agricultural emissions) at a countrywide scale,” Easter said.
The scientific community began to search for a way to add up agricultural emissions, including carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and other trace gases produced during the process of growing food. Easter said the first official methods of comprehensively counting agriculture emissions were released in 1996 and 1997.
Using those methods, Easter and his team began “adding up the greenhouse gas emissions, and we started improving on (the methods) as time went on,” Easter said.
Easter described counting emissions as “cradle to grave,” meaning his work follows food from when seeds gets planted to when food is decomposed as waste. Between its birth and its death, there are far more factors than the plant itself to consider.
“You have to manufacture farm chemicals, (and) you have to manufacture fuel and equipment,” Easter said. “You have to grow seeds and ship all of these things to a grower to use in their field.”
After the crop materials are prepared, the growing process begins.
“Then (growers) have to go out, prepare the soil, plant the crops, and then they have to deal with weeds and, potentially, pests,” Easter said. “They have to harvest the crops at the end of the growing season. The crops that are harvested get shipped to a distribution system.”
In this distribution system, materials such as wheat or soy are sent to a processing plant, where they are milled or turned into other products like animal feed. Those products are then shipped to buyers, such as restaurants or grocery stores.
“And when it’s all said and done, there will be leftovers to be dealt with, and those leftovers typically go into landfills,” Easter said.
The entire process emits greenhouse gases. The agriculture industry produces 10.6% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Even though gasoline contributes to this statistic, most of those emissions are coming from microbes, not farm equipment.
“The majority of those emissions are not coming from burning fossil fuels; they are coming from microbes in the soil and microbes in the guts of animals,” Easter said. Other microbes contributing to agricultural emissions are in “lakes filled with manure that are found at most large dairies in the U.S.” and “the depths of landfills.” Easter described these microbe populations as “methane factories.”
Methane is produced as a form of anaerobic respiration. When there is a lack of oxygen around microbes, they can no longer respirate normally. To stay alive, they begin to produce energy anaerobically, which produces methane as a byproduct instead of carbon dioxide.
Although other aspects of agriculture are prone to producing methane, most microbial emissions from soil are from carbon dioxide.
“There’s almost two times as much carbon and organic matter in the soil of the world than there is in the atmosphere right now,” Easter said. “It’s an extraordinarily large pool of carbon.”
This carbon buildup is caused by mismanagement of crop soil. Primary causes include tilling soil, preventing crops from growing or “not feeding the soil community very effectively,” which means that soil is deprived of nutrients that it needs for microbes to thrive.
But Easter’s work has emphasized the idea that you can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from soil by managing soil more effectively. Easter said reducing tillage and growing cover crops are among the solutions that help the soil.
“By feeding that soil, we can increase the health of the soil, which improves how the soil cycles nutrients to crops so that crops can take up
nutrients more efficiently,” Easter said. As a result, greenhouse gas emissions from soil can be reduced and prevented.
Additionally, Easter discussed the importance of composting and diverting food waste from landfills. While writing his debut book, “The Blue Plate: A Food Lover’s Guide to Climate Chaos,” Easter said he kept coming across composting and its effect on climate health.
“What people are demonstrating is that you can prevent your food waste as well as your yard waste from going to landfills,” Easter said. “When we create compost, if you can divert that over for farmers to use, whether that’s for humans to use or for livestock, there (are) all kinds of benefits.”
Easter said when compost is used and organic matter is increased in soil, croplands become more resilient in the face of harsh storms or droughts. He said that water is also better retained in the soil when it has more organic matter, which keeps soil microbes and crops alike happy.
“It also helps level out the playing field for farmers because the soils have more nutrients available to the plants that they can utilize during times of stress, and also, farmers don’t have to apply as much fertilizer,” Easter said.
“Manufacturing fertilizer is a very energy-intensive practice that has greenhouse emissions all its own.”
Composting and feeding the soil community can result in many benefits, including stronger farms and more nutritious food.
Easter also said that by nurturing microbes to prevent carbon dioxide emissions, “it’s the same as not burning gasoline. You’re avoiding putting greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere.”
Reach Leah Stephenson at science @collegian.com.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MARK EASTER
CLIMATE AGRICULTURE
Winter pea research indicates diverse potential benefits
By Hayley Bisant @csucollegian
Whether it relates to solving new problems or improving previous methods, there are many areas currently in need of attention when it comes to our management of natural resources. It can be overwhelming trying to individually deal with all these problems simultaneously. One study poses a solution to this issue, tackling three diverse areas all at once.
Scientists at Grand Valley, one of three farming facilities that make up the Western Colorado Research Center, have been studying the effects of growing peas in the winter for the past couple of years. The project started off looking for a way to conserve water by planting a crop in the fall, growing it over winter and then harvesting it the following summer. This process reduces the number of instances plants need to be watered.
“You don’t have irrigation water during those fall and winter months anyways — usually the water’s turned on around April — so they would only be irrigated a few times before they were harvested,” said Jessica Davis, agronomist and one of the study’s head researchers.
Essentially, this method relies on moisture from snow to sustain the plants. Though the study is still in the data collection stages, it has found enormous success in terms of this initial goal.
“You’re consuming half the amount of water,” said Perry Cabot, an extension professor who leads the study with Davis and colleague Daniel Mooney. “For rough numbers, instead of a 3-foot deep block of water over an acre, you’re talking about an 18-inch deep block of water over that acre.”
Peas weren’t only chosen for their ability to thrive in Colorado’s colder months, though that was an important initial qualifier. Reducing water consumption has remained a central focus of the project, but the benefits for agricultural economics and soil health have also been essential topics of interest, Davis said.
With the growing market for plant protein in recent years, there is currently a larger demand for peas. Accordingly, growing them would allow farmers to diversify their crops while simultaneously diving into new economic opportunities. The water conserved would also allow farmers to profit from their water rights; essentially, they would get paid to use less water, and these conserved resources could be applied elsewhere, Cabot said.
Another benefit tied in is that peas give back to the soil.
“Legumes plants have this association with bacteria in the soil, this symbiosis, where the bacteria can basically swap nitrogen for carbon from the plant,” Davis said. “Being a legume gives peas an important advantage compared to other crops because it’s likely to lower fertilizer requirements. There’s even a possibility that nitrogen would be left behind in the soil afterward, lowering the amount of fertilizer necessary for the next crop planted.”
Five varieties of peas are currently being tested in hopes of discovering which type performs best. The conditions most indicative of maximum plant production are also under observation.
As for the long-term goals of the study, it’s all about how findings can be accessed and used by farmers.
“All of our research is meant to be really transferable,” said Amanda McQuade, Western Colorado Research Center interim manager. “We aren’t doing things in theory; we’re really doing things for very practical application. After data collection is completed and processed, the results are intended to be compiled and distributed according to modern methods that focus on community outreach.”
Reach Hayley Bisant at science@collegian.com.
GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY TRIN BONNER THE COLLEGIAN
ENCOURAGING ARTISTRY
CSU professor creates environment where future alumni thrive
By Ruby Secrest @csucollegian
“Getting a degree in the fine arts is a waste of money, and there’s no future for making a real career for yourself.” This is the comment many art students hear every day when pursuing a bachelor’s degree.
As students look forward to Homecoming and think on the accomplished alumni in every field, including the arts, one has to wonder: Why is this still the stigma surrounding graduating college with an arts degree? Why is it that someone is not seen as accomplished with their earned degree unless they have a 4.0 GPA and a plan for a career that yields a consistent, large paycheck?
The advanced painting course, which BFA-seeking students studying painting take as their capstone, cultivates a structure and atmosphere that
directly contradicts that exact mindset.
Assistant Professor Aitor Lajarin-Encina has taught this class since he first became a professor in 2019, building an atmosphere with magnetic dart boards, extensive clapping, mannequins with sparkly top hats and a constant flow of banter. It’s a classroom that does not have painting assignments or deadlines; instead, each student is assigned to bring a snack for the class to share.
“We work to make them feel (like) this isn’t class but that they are a part of a culture,” Lajarin-Encina said. “(It is) a culture that doesn’t actually end when the degree ends.”
It is this culture that has fostered hard work — work one might see shadowing a professional. It is not a class grade that has determined the success of students but the commitment to art itself. The due dates are also set up in a way that students decide for themselves when
they’re done, when they want to start something new and when they need to take a break. It is this structure that sets students up for graduation.
“There is a difference (between the art and chemistry departments) because of the expressiveness and the work that people are making — you get to know them on a different level,” said Casey Callaway, a student in the class. “I would say I know my lab partner in O-chem, but I don’t know a lot about her personal life or the way she thinks about the world. … But the people here — I know who they are as people because it comes through in their art.”
The class includes builtin white walls designated to each student for their own studio space. The walls are theirs to decorate, mess up and clean. On its own, the space actively prepares students for post graduation. It is up to them whether they choose
to have a clear space or a compilation of inspiration.
“They encourage us to make it our own space, to make it cozy, to make it welcoming,” said Ariel Sophabmisay, a student in the capstone. She specializes in painting about her identity as a biracial first-generation American woman. “You don’t have to necessarily be painting every time you come in, but just being in your space allows you to get into that creative mode.”
The class is also an open space many firstyears and sophomores pass by on their way to class.
The open display allows students, staff and visitors to see their art and draw inspiration from it.
“I had three classes behind this room before I got here, so I was always walking through,” Sophabmisay said. “I didn’t realize they were for undergrad. So when I found that out, I was like, ‘No way.’ ... It was definitely a mile
marker to have my own studio space.”
It’s very clear that these students are comfortable with each other and appreciate what one another brings to the table. The students in this course created an atmosphere open to everyone. All students, whether they’re studying art or another degree, are welcome to observe students’ creations and engage in open conversations about the painting process.
“It is a privilege to study art, and I think that it’s a privilege to be able to answer those questions,” said Carrigan Grow, a student painter interested in working in local community art. “Art is something that isn’t utilitarian; it can’t be calculated, and it can’t be put into a spreadsheet. So I feel more of a responsibility to do something more creative.”
Reach Ruby Secrest at entertainment@collegian.com.
Colorado State University visual arts capstone student Carrigan Grow writes in her notebook, brainstorming ideas for future projects Oct. 21. “I remember walking through here when I was (in) intro classes and was as so amazed by the work that was being done in here and inspired,” Grow said. PHOTO BY RUBY SECREST THE COLLEGIAN
CSU Marching Band: Exploring history of CSU’s largest student organization
By Janaya Stafford @csucollegian
The Colorado State University Marching Band comprises around 250 members with students from every college working toward various degrees. This diverse group of musicians is a staple in CSU sports and events, and it’s the largest student organization at CSU.
The Marching Band performs at all home football games, the 9News Parade of Lights, the Colorado Bandmasters Association regional and state festivals, Denver Broncos games and NCAA football bowl games in the United States.
In 1901, a group of students at CSU — then known as the Colorado Agricultural College — suggested the idea of forming an Aggie band on campus while playing in the Fort Collins city band. Representing the group, Charles Jones was sent to discuss the idea with faculty.
CAC faculty allowed the band to form under one condition: They had to be ready to perform in six weeks.
Sure enough, the group proved themselves ready,
and the band has remained a staple of the community. The CSU Marching Band features brass, woodwinds, percussion, the color guard and the Golden Poms dance team.
CSU’s band continues to show determination and readiness, practicing 4:156:15 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Game days include an extra rehearsal to prepare for the pregame parade and halftime performance.
“It’s made me a more structured person,” said Andrew Ressetar, saxophone player in the CSU Marching Band. “It’s a very dedicated time commitment.”
Members of the Marching Band sacrifice their time to practice, which translates to school spirit through the language of music and unique visuals. They promote school spirit at games, keeping everyone engaged and ready to support the CSU football team.
“I think that the Marching Band helps to hype up both the players and the fans before the game,” said Marley Deulley, the baritone section leader.
the entire game whether we are winning or losing.”
While the band plays a large part in the Fort Collins and CSU communities, they also create their own. The extended hours spent together along with frequent collaboration foster closeknit bonds between members. The positive energy keeps members motivated during physically demanding practices and performances.
“Everyone is very nice,” Ressetar said. “I’ve made a lot of good friends because of the Marching Band. It can be very exhausting sometimes, but just having people there that I enjoy being around makes it a lot better.”
The CSU Marching Band is composed of a diverse group of people. Students from all different backgrounds, identities and fields of study are welcome to be a part of the student organization.
“Overall, we just keep a positive vibe going through
“I think a common misconception about the band is that most of us aren’t actually music majors,” Deulley said. “It’s very common that we have STEM majors, such as myself, and other colleges outside of liberal arts.”
The CSU Marching Band’s membership is open to all students. There is a required preseason camp in August every year along with drumline, color guard and Golden Poms auditions in late spring and early summer.
“Do it!” Deulley said when asked what she would tell someone who was considering joining the band. “You will make some of your best friends and be the face of spirit at CSU. Take the amazing opportunity to be such an integral part of the game day experience.”
It is important to recognize the hard work band members put into creating each performance. As the years go by, community members will have an opportunity to witness the band’s growth and dedication to Colorado State University.
Reach Janaya Stafford at entertainment@collegian.com.
HISTORIC FITS
CSU archives show fashion strutting through decades
By Aubree Miller @aubreem07
History is always repeating itself, and that is especially true in the fashion world. The rule of thumb for the fashion cycle is 20 years, but due to social media trends and the rise of fast fashion, that 20-year cycle is shortening more and more by the day.
Nevertheless, the cycle has continued. A look into the Colorado State University archives reveals the variety of fashion and expression across campus from generations and decades past.
1960s
The cultural revolution of the Swinging ‘60s was mostly led by youth, and music was a driving factor that immensely influenced fashion. A notable hallmark of the time was mini skirts and dresses, popularized by British fashion designer Mary Quant.
The overall fashion of the decade was much more casual, though maybe not compared to today’s standards.
There was an increase in brightly colored and patterned clothing along with an increased use of synthetic fabrics. The antithesis to this was the hippie movement and culture, which began in the late ‘60s and extended into the early ‘70s. Modern and futuristic styles were also present, particularly in the high fashion realm.
Overall, a mixture of many different aesthetics and styles hallmarked the decade, yet many are distinctly recognizable as the 1960s.
1970s
The 1970s continued the cultural shift that happened in the previous decade, and the hippie style became more mainstream. Stevie Nicks, the lead singer of Fleetwood Mac, sported whimsical, flowy outfits
and a shag haircut that became synonymous with the decade.
Another recognizable look is flared clothing, whether on pants or shirt sleeves. Men and women often donned bell-bottom jeans, and platform shoes typically went with them. Though bright patterns emerged in the ‘60s, they held strong in the ‘70s, with gendered clothing lines blurring throughout the decade.
Women’s style also took influences from the 1930s and ‘40s. Gunne Sax was perhaps one of the most well-known fashion companies, and their dresses now resell for hundreds or thousands of dollars. Its most recognizable style is prairie-style dresses, as skirts and dresses generally got longer after the mini revolution of the ‘60s. Gunne Sax eventually moved into prom and formal dresses in the 1980s.
1980s
Today, we have seen the fashion of the 1980s make short-lived comebacks with each release of a new season of “Stranger Things,” to the dismay of some and the joy of others.
Fashion from the 1980s appears to be polarizing in the modern
era, with a variety of looks and recognizable elements. Bright colors and bold patterns were popular as were pastels. What most people now call “athleisure” became much more mainstream with the boom of leotards, sneakers and Lycra — or spandex.
The era was also known for power dressing, as more women were joining the workforce. Those looks often included blazers and suits, either with pants or pencil skirts and shoulder pads. Many looks of the ‘80s favored a triangular silhouette, with large belts being a popular accessory to accentuate it.
Most fashion during the ‘80s placed an emphasis on doing more, leading to brighter colors, sharper silhouettes and, of course, bigger hair.
Although fashion is always changing and reinventing itself, looking to the past helps anticipate what the future might bring for the fashion world. At CSU specifically, a trip through the archives provides a glimpse into what was cool to those who came before.
Reach Aubree Miller at entertainment@collegian.com.
PHOTO COURTESY OF COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES & SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
7-DAY FUN
Homecoming activities should extend throughout whole week
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.
Now, I know what you must be thinking. You read the title of this article and thought, “But isn’t Homecoming mostly for the alumni of Colorado State University? Why would we want to extend the activities to occur throughout the week?” The answer is because there are students like me who work all weekend and would like to partake in the festivities, too.
Ever since my first year, I have had the unfortunate joy of working when most of the homecoming activities have happened. And now that I actually have people I want to spend the weekend with, I have to sacrifice missing work or missing out on a social life.
Therefore, the best solution for those of us who want to be able to
attend the Homecoming festivities but not miss out on the hours they need to work to pay for their fun is to extend the activities into the week. This way, all CSU students can be a part of the fun and enjoy being a part of their school community without feeling like they are missing out because the weekend is targeted toward our alumni.
“I could just attend the football game and then feel as though I have done my Homecoming festivities. The issue is that doesn’t make it any more special than the weekends when we have football games and I try to rush over after work.”
The students of CSU are just as much a part of the CSU community as the alumni. This is why those of us who don’t have traditional work schedules would like the opportunity to get immersed in the Homecoming fun as well — even if it is just for one day or one activity.
I mean, for me, having an event on Tuesday and Thursday evenings that I could do would make me feel more connected to the Homecoming weekend and realize it was here. This would be better than hearing the fireworks go off on Friday night and remembering it is Homecoming weekend.
At that point, I am already nearing the end of my shift as they are nearing the end of the night. So I just get to search for the fireworks outside the windows of my work rather than enjoy the bonfire and food trucks on The Oval.
I could just attend the football game and then feel as though I have done my Homecoming festivities. The issue is that doesn’t make it any more special than the weekends when we have football games and I try to rush over after work.
GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY CADEN PROULX THE COLLEGIAN
Besides, that was all I did my first year, too. There was never a year when I had the opportunity to join and attend the events for the entire weekend of Homecoming. So let’s just extend the weekend out a few days so we all get the chance to enjoy the festivities. Even if our parents aren’t able to come into town for those festivities, it would still be fun. But in case parents have nontraditional work schedules like
their students, it would allow them to enjoy Homecoming & Family Weekend festivities and still go do their work on the weekend. I know Homecoming in college is supposed to be different from Homecoming in high school, but even a week full of wacky dress-up days might help.
Reach Dominique Lopez at letters @collegian.com.
SERIOUSLY
CSU football takes over Homecoming halftime show
By Emma Souza @_emmasouza
Editor’s
Note: This is a satire piece from The Collegian’s opinion section. Real names and the events surrounding them may be used in fictitious/semi-fictitious ways. Those who do not read the editor’s notes are subject to being offended.
In celebration of Colorado State University’s Homecoming weekend, the CSU football team put together a special halftime show to replace the marching band’s performance.
Although this change was planned as a surprise, I’ve managed to secure insider information about what to expect this upcoming weekend.
First-year linebacker Tony Chestnut described the show as a mix between television shows “Glee” and “Friday Night Lights” with “more passion and fewer gay people.”
“I’ve always loved singing,but it turns out the coach loves it, too,” Chestnut said. “So for the halftime show, we’re going for the musical genius of Lady Gaga’s Super Bowl show but with the sex appeal of ‘Pitch Perfect.’”
The featured songs include “CHAMPIONS” by NLE
Choppa, “All I Do Is Win” by DJ Khaled and “Fearless” by Taylor Swift.
“Nothing heals the heart more than watching some 6-foot-2, 300-pound players do shitty TikTok dances with pyrotechnics in the background.”
CANTPLAY FORSHIT
CSU FOOTBALL ASSISTANT COACH
“Yeah, I know what you’re thinking,” Chestnut said. “‘Football players can’t be Swifties.’ That’s an old stereotype — grow up. And, for the record, I’m personally going for a ‘Red’ type vibe for the show. Several songs will be dedicated to those who have left me in the past. This one’s for you, Joe Parker.”
CUSTOMIZABLE POKE
Despite the ever-inflating budget of the CSU Athletics program, sustained by its ex-director Joe Parker, the team plans to spend roughly $500,000 on the 15-minute show. Chestnut said this is due to the team’s “inability to care about any other sport but themselves.”
Assistant coach Cantplay Forshit agreed.
“We’re focusing on entertaining the crowd, and that’s it,” Forshit said when asked about the financial decision. “Lord knows the students are mad at us during the games — we’ve got to compensate somehow. Nothing heals the heart more than watching some 6-foot2, 300-pound players do shitty
TikTok dances with pyrotechnics in the background.”
Along with a fireworks show, the team purchased several percussion-grade marimbas, a cameo from CSU basketball alumnus David Roddy, an exact Coach Prime lookalike, a carton of eggs, tar, feathers and a whole CVS pharmacy’s supply of steroids.
“The other coaches and I stand against drug use of any kind on the field,” Forshit said. “These are merely performance-enhancing measures for the show. How else are our players going to hit a low A? Half of their balls never even dropped — they’re basically mezzo-sopranos.”
I reached out to the pharmacist for a comment. She happily agreed to collaborate with The Collegian.
“They told me they’d give me anything I wanted in return,” said Dope Dup, who is entering her 11th year as a CVS pharmacist. “I asked for CU season tickets and Shedeur Sanders’ mouthguard. I’ve never been a fan of CSU sports, and I was skeptical about giving a team ‘roids, so I thought I’d ask for something they’d never be able to give. To my surprise, the coach reached into his back pocket and pulled out the mouthguard, right there and then. It still smelled like his saliva, and it fit my teeth perfectly.”
Be sure to catch CSU football’s homecoming performance this Saturday, Oct. 26th. Chestnut requested that I promote the event by inserting this quote last:
“All you lovely ladies will have a lucky chance to own an item of mine very near and dear to my heart. We were sick of the T-shirt cannons, so I’ve created a new invention just for this game: a nut-cup cannon. Five of them are signed, and two are unwashed!”
Reach Emma Souza at letters@collegian.com.
GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY ALLI ADAMS THE COLLEGIAN
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Helicopter parents need to give their college kids space
By Astrid Thorn @csucollegian
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 Homecoming weekend draws nearer and campus will soon be filled with excited families living the college experience with their children for a few days, it is crucial for parents to remember to maintain healthy boundaries with their college-aged kids.
In recent years, there has been a significant increase in overlyinvolved parents of college students attempting to insert themselves into their children’s lives, even when they are living on their own in a different city. While some involvement and encouragement can be very beneficial, taking on a helicopter parenting style causes more harm than good.
Helicopter parents are defined as parents who are overly involved in their child’s life. This can include parents who are overbearing about their child’s grades, relationships and activities. Helicopter parenting has become increasingly common in recent decades, especially as children enter the transition into college.
While the intention of the parents is seldom malicious and is more often to provide support and ensure success, this level of involvement can make the student feel insecure.
Helicopter parent tendencies often stem from the parents fearing for their child’s well-being and success in social and academic areas, which is a completely valid feeling for a parent to experience. It is human nature for one to want the best for their child and to attempt to ensure they thrive in every station of their life.
There are many ways for parents to support and cheer on their college-aged kids, including the parent-oriented university events that take place during Homecoming weekend. However, once parents drop their kids back off at their college apartments and head back home, they need to give them the space to live their own lives.
Technology and social media platforms like Facebook have made campus life significantly more accessible for parents. Parent forums, online student portals and even apps like Life360, which parents use to monitor their children’s location.
In past generations, parents had to rely solely on letters and phone calls to get in contact with their college kids, which made it significantly more difficult to keep a
close eye on them. Now parents have countless ways to keep track of their kids’ behaviors and whereabouts via their cell phones, making it difficult for students to forge completely independent lives in college.
This increase in connection between college students and their parents is not always a negative thing, as it can help with loneliness, homesickness and support if the student is struggling. However, parents must give their adult children the space to navigate life on their own without feeling like they are being monitored.
Parents of first-years frequently form Facebook groups with each other. While this network can be helpful, many parents often use the platform to request other
students befriend their child, help them with assignments and assist with other issues their adult children should be navigating without the help of their parents.
aged person’s life can significantly hinder their social development and transition into adulthood and cause immense frustration for university staff.
“While many students rightfully reach out to their parents for support, most cases of helicopter parenting are against the child’s wishes and make them feel like they are not trusted to navigate life on their own.”
Additionally, many parents frequently monitor their children’s grades and take it upon themselves to contact professors and administrators when they are unsatisfied with their child’s performance. This level of involvement in a college-
While many students rightfully reach out to their parents for support, most cases of helicopter parenting are against the child’s wishes and make them feel like they are not trusted to navigate life on their own. It is crucial for people to experience all of the highs and lows of college life and tackle all of the challenges independently from their parents.
So to all of the parents of college students: Let them spread their wings, let them navigate difficult situations on their own, believe in their ability to be autonomous and self-sufficient and celebrate their milestones with them rather than attempting to take their success into your own hands. Join them for family-oriented events like Homecoming weekend if you can, visit them a couple of times a year if possible, but most importantly, trust them to forge beautiful lives on their own terms.
Reach Astrid Thorn at letters@collegian.com.
GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY TRIN BONNER THE COLLEGIAN
MAKE A NEW FRIEND THIS SEMESTER
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LEMAY AND ELIZABETH
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Sudoku
WEEKLY HOROSCOPE
By Sophia Masia
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (10/24/24)
ARIES (MARCH 21 - APRIL 19)
You might be hitting roadblocks that are impeding your progress this week, so collaboration is key. However, whether at work, with friends or in relationships, the likelihood of getting ghosted is high this week, so try to meet people where they’re at.
TAURUS (APRIL 20 - MAY 20)
This week you’re going to question if what you’re doing actually aligns with what you want to do. Lean on your besties during this time, as Scorpio season is asking you to focus on your relationships. Sometimes laughter really is the best medicine, Taurus.
GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUNE 20)
School is good, work is good and maybe your lowcommitment, no labels, longterm fling is going a little too well. As Scorpio season kicks in, your focus will shifts to a more manageable routine; now is the time to rest and recover. You can’t do it all, Gemini.
CANCER (JUNE 21 - JULY 22)
After the fiery few weeks of transits for you, things might
feel seriously tense in your home life right now. Scorpio season is asking you to reconnect with your creative side and what makes you feel alive. Try to find your peace in old — or new — hobbies. Deep breaths, Cancer.
LEO (JULY 23 - AUG. 22)
You’ve been pushing yourself hard lately, and it’s starting to show. It’s time to let go of a stressful obligation and lighten your load before you burn out. Scorpio season is also turning your attention to family and home, so make sure you’re not pouring yourself into work this week, Leo.
VIRGO (AUG. 23 - SEPT. 22)
I’m not encouraging poor financial decisions by any means, but this week is asking you if missing out is worth a few extra dollars. Over the coming weeks, Scorpio season is helping you learn how to move in silence.
LIBRA (SEPT. 23 - OCT. 22)
The recent transits have really chewed up and spit you out over the last few weeks. The cosmos are urging you to hit the reset button. This week, it’s time to get back on your feet and build a stable foundation in your professional life.
SCORPIO (OCT. 23 - NOV. 21)
The water signs as a whole are struggling right now, but you’re feeling bold and thriving in the moodiness. You’re probably wanting some major change, but before you cut those bangs or book that flight, make sure you’re not detracting from sustainable life changes.
SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22DEC. 21)
The downside of showing you’re talented is that everyone’s turning to you for answers this week, and it
feels equal parts flattering and overwhelming. Receiving the respect you wanted comes with the pressure to perform, but Scorpio season is asking you to evaluate how you spend your time.
CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 - JAN. 19)
This week is all about networking for you, as Scorpio season is focusing on your social circles and close connections. You’ve been working nonstop for a while now, and it’s time to include some fun. If power struggles at work are getting on your last nerve, spend time on personal projects with your closest friends. You bring people together, Capricorn.
AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 - FEB. 18)
You tend to think you know better than others, and this week may humble you as a friend’s advice asks you to take a pause. It might not be easy for you to admit you’re in the wrong, but knowing when to fold makes you wiser. Scorpio season shifts your focus to your career and being a leader, so promotions and new tasks could be on the horizon.
PISCES (FEB. 19 - MARCH 20)
This week, you’re the star of the show. After a dramatic and rough few weeks, you’re finally standing up for yourself and possibly ruffling a few feathers in the process. As Scorpio season begins, your confidence is blooming, and you feel more secure in sharing your thoughts and ideas.
Last edition’s crossword solution
Last edition’s sudoku solution
OVERHEARD AROUND CAMPUS
“Every year, every gay person in Colorado should fight to be the Gaylord of the Rockies.”
“I think my oral surgeon made a deal with the devil.”
“Shorty doesn’t have any sense of modern medicine.”
“I know you didn’t use AI because AI is better than this.”
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!
Police alerts
Fruit punch Gatorade
Anemia
Replacing printer ink
Train-induced traffic
Pretty washi tape
Socks
Andrew Garfield
Finishing a cover letter
Butterscotch
