FOCO EVENTS TOP STORIES
NEWS: ASCSU falls short in voter registration competition PAGE 5
LIFE: Tai chi, yoga cultivate community, wellness in FoCo PAGE 8
SPORTS: CSU leaving MW is its best decision since joining PAGE 9
THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN
Lory Student Center, Suite 118 Fort Collins, CO 80523
SCIENCE: Devil’s Backbone exposes ancient history of the Front Range PAGE 14
ARTS: Neal Francis transforms Aggie Theatre into new decade of live music PAGE 16
OPINION: Talking about sex with your partner is important PAGE 19
MEDIA: Rocky Mountain Showdown brings largestever crowd to Canvas Stadium PAGES 12-13
Drag at The Lyric with Krisa Gonna 9 p.m. Sept. 20
40th Annual Historic Homes Tour in Fort Collins 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 21
First Day of Fall Celebration at Front Range Village 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 22
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A mule deer buck takes a break from rubbing the velvet off its antlers at Horsetooth Mountain Open Space Sept. 7. High testosterone levels trigger the hardening of antlers, and bucks use shrubs and vegetation to scrape the velvet covering off the bone. PHOTO BY ARIA PAUL THE
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COLLEGIAN
Clark B demolished as revitalization project advances
By Laila Shekarchian @csucollegian
The revitalization of the Andrew G. Clark Building on Colorado State University’s campus has reached a significant milestone with the completed demolition of the B wing. The project, which aims to update and modernize the building, is expected to be completed over the next few years. The A wing of Clark is scheduled to reopen in 2026, and Clark B is to reopen in 2027.
CSU Facilities Management provided an update on the current construction status.
“The demolition of Clark B is finishing up to clear the worksite to be able to begin the new foundation which will span the entire length between Clark A and C,” a statement from Facilities Management reads. The foundation and superstructure of the B wing will be put in place this fall and into the winter months.
Currently, internal renovations on Clark A’s basement and utilities are
“The complex will serve nearly every undergraduate student on campus at some point in their academic career at CSU. When the project is complete, we truly expect this
complex to be the heart and hub of much of the
activity on campus.”
building
academic
underway, while demolition debris is being cleared from the Clark B worksite, which will be a lengthy process.
“Not much will be visibly happening on site for several weeks, though a great deal of important work will be underway,” said Ryan Claycomb, College of Liberal Arts project lead and associate dean for faculty affairs.
While considerable progress is being made, the construction team will likely face unforeseen challenges in the process.
“As the contractors complete demolition, they will more than likely find a few surprises while setting the foundation and tying into the existing structures,” the statement reads. “This phase of construction is where we could encounter the most unforeseen conditions underground.”
The team is confident in Haselden Construction’s ability to mitigate and manage any risks, act accordingly and adjust the project timeline.
As the CSU community adjusts to the construction, campus safety continues to be a primary concern, especially over the next few months, as
excavation equipment and a crane will move into the construction site.
“(We know) that the construction site is altering people’s most convenient pathways around this part of campus,” Claycomb said. “That said, it remains vitally important for people’s safety that those not working on the project do not trespass on the construction site at any time.”
The revitalization project has displaced several departments to temporary office spaces around campus. For the most part, students and staff have responded positively to the construction and relocation.
“Most often, we hear that there are minor inconveniences, which is expected,” Claycomb said. “In many cases, people are pleasantly surprised. It was very important to faculty staff and students in the departments in B that they maintain community, and their current homes across campus enable that.”
Most of the project has remained on schedule; however, the revitalization of Clark A will be completed in the summer of 2026, which is later than initially planned.
“The complex will serve nearly every undergraduate student on campus at some point in their academic career at CSU,” Claycomb said. “When the project is complete, we truly expect this building complex to be the heart and hub of much of the academic activity on campus.”
Beth Etter, director of communications at the College of Liberal Arts, emphasized the importance of the project to CSU and the long-term impacts of the Clark revitalization.
“We hope that the CSU community can find the demolition and construction process fascinating, ... but more so, we want the CSU community to know that the investment of resources going into the revitalization of the Clark Building is an investment in the education, research and artistry that our students, faculty and staff regularly engage in,” Etter said.
Reach Laila Shekarchian at news @collegian.com.
A material handling excavator removes debris from the B wing of the Andrew G. Clark Building during demolition Sept. 12. The renovations, set to be complete by 2027, have seen the removal of the Clark B. PHOTO BY CAIT MCKINZIE THE COLLEGIAN
RYAN CLAYCOMB ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR FACULTY AFFAIRS
COMMUNITY EDUCATION
CSU guest lecturer explores connection between far-right ideology, fitness
By Claire VanDeventer @csucollegian
For the 17th annual Jack Gravlee Lecture, the department of communication studies at Colorado State University hosted Casey Kelly, a professor of rhetoric and public culture from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, whose research tackles the cultural and political rhetoric of the U.S. far right along with the presence of white nationalism in television, film and digital culture.
Kelly’s lecture, “From Keyboard Warriors to StreetFighting Men: Fitness, Active Clubs, and the New Rhetoric of White Nationalism,” explored the evolving tactics and rhetoric of white nationalist movements.
“My hypothesis is that the far right, particularly the digital far right, is preoccupied with bodies,” Kelly said. “What I mean by that is strong bodies, weak bodies or ambiguously gendered bodies. The body represents an ultimate signifier of social difference — a material item that can be held up as evidence of innate natural
differences between races, sexes, genders and so forth.”
Kelly said this extreme farright ideology, which differs from traditional conservatism, has a target demographic of young white men. Strength, muscularity and fitness are leveraged to attract men into groups with underlying currents of white nationalism and neo-Nazi ideals that promote ideas of innate racial and sexual differences.
Elizabeth Williams, chair of the CSU department of communication studies, conveyed the value of exposure to extreme perspectives to better understand the compositional strategies and rhetorical implications behind them.
“Tonight’s lecture highlighted for students how online propaganda works and explored the strategies the far right is using to attract young men to their ideologies,” Williams said. “Understanding the rhetorical tools groups use to influence and attract individuals allows students to be more critical of the messages they receive. In a time marked by divisive, extreme rhetoric, the ability to recognize and critique rhetorical strategies is of utmost importance.”
A key point of reference in Kelly’s research is the presence of alt-right
mixed martial arts gyms — or active clubs — to recruit white men into the nationalist movement. These gyms intend to emulate Spartan warrior society through combat sports, street fighting and intense fitness regiments and diets that seek to encourage a body that represents a political imperative of self-mastery, masculine supremacy and militarism.
“Alt-right fight clubs are reliant on the rhetoric, aesthetic and fantasy structure of the street fighting man as the ideal subject of white nationalism,” Kelly said. “Active club videos feature texts about resisting degeneracy and embracing pain, but they primarily engage in a visual type of storytelling that illustrates the process by which an individual body becomes hardened, capacitated and then assimilated into the larger white national body.”
These fast-moving videos juxtapose fitness and martial arts with images of white supremacist symbols, flexed muscles, clenched fists and scars and bruising, typically with a score of hardcore metal or hip-hop to encourage the viewer to get up and be active.
The Active Club Network is used as a form of propaganda for movements such as the Rise Above
Movement, which promotes these MMA gyms as hubs for young white men looking for community and comradery.
Court Fallon, a third-year Ph.D. student in the department of communication studies who attended the lecture, said research into far-right rhetoric is continuing to evolve as the field grows. Read the full version of this article at collegian.com.
Reach Claire VanDeventer at news@collegian.com.
ASCSU falls short in voter registration competition
By Sam Hutton @sam_hut14
As part of the Rocky Mountain Showdown festivities, the Associated Students of Colorado State University partnered with the University of Colorado Boulder Student Government to encourage
CSU and CU students to register to vote in the upcoming national election cycle. With millions of nationwide college students set to be eligible to vote for the first time, a renewed national emphasis has been placed on engaging student communities, which is statistically the least-engaged voter demographic.
The registration period opened Sept. 4 and closed Sept. 11, allowing the rival institutions to compete ahead of the weekend’s football game. Both organizations combined social media and campus engagement efforts to urge students on their respective campuses to finalize their voter registration.
CUSG won the competition by engaging with 1,883 CU students, registering 349 new voters.
ASCSU engaged with 1,178 CSU students, garnering 209 registrations. Eighty-seven percent of those registered by ASCSU were under 25 years old, compared to CUSG’s 85%.
The competition is the latest in a long line of university-sponsored events as part of the CSU thematic Year of Democracy, which is geared toward increasing student political representation and engagement at the local, state and national levels. The initiative also emphasizes friendly political dialogue and cooperation, which remained central to ASCSU’s and CUSG’s vision for the voter registration competition.
ASCSU President Nick DeSalvo attributed the loss to ASCSU’s
involvement in multiple events and programs ahead of the Rocky Mountain Showdown. DeSalvo also mentioned CU’s larger campus population as a factor.
“Different aspects of our student government were worried about Grill the Buffs and tailgating and everything else to get done, and I honestly think (CUSG) had focused solely on this initiative,” DeSalvo said.
DeSalvo also mentioned that ASCSU trailed CUSG by half in the closing days of the competition and expressed pride in closing the gap.
As the representative from the losing organization, DeSalvo will tour CU Boulder’s campus in full Buffaloes gear, although an official date has not been set.
CUSG Student Body President Tyler Rowan expressed satisfaction in victory while also reaffirming the contest’s core mission.
“We’re obviously excited to win, but we’re honestly more excited to just work together and engage with students and get them registered to vote,” Rowan said. Rowan attributed CUSG’s triumph to the organization’s
social media engagement while also revealing CUSG’s own juggling of responsibilities throughout the competition.
Rowan said CUSG was involved in hiring new personnel while simultaneously engaging with students as part of the competition.
Ultimately, both organizations agreed that the competition as a whole was a success and a mutual benefit for not only the two organizations but the Colorado student population at large.
“One of the good things is that if we only registered 500 voters, that means probably the vast majority of people that interacted with us are registered to vote already,” DeSalvo said. “I think it’s good that students are civically engaged, and if they weren’t already, they’re starting to be.”
Alex Radz, another CUSG student body president, said he was especially happy with the two organizations’ ability to put rivalry aside for the benefit of Colorado students.
Read the full version of this article at collegian.com.
Reach Sam Hutton at news @collegian.com.
Casey Kelly addresses the crowd and answers questions about his presentation in the Lory Student Center Ballroom Sept. 16.
PHOTO BY JACE CARLTON THE COLLEGIAN
CULTURAL IMPACT
Fort Collins community connects during Immigration Show and Tell
By Robert Sides @csucollegian
Colorado State University students, faculty and community members gathered Sept. 12 at the Avenir Museum of Design and Merchandising to share and learn of the stories of Fort Collins immigrants at the Immigration Show and Tell.
“Museums offer an opportunity to provide networks of support to all community members and act as a resource center for care and connection,” Whittenburg said. “I think that events like this where people can come and share their own stories, not just hear stories that the museum is portraying, is really important, and I think it makes people seen and heard and hopefully find community.”
“Fort Collins and Colorado has so many transplants, but we often think of Fort Collins as lacking diversity. This just reminds you that there really is a deep diversity in this community — that folks are coming from all over the place. ... They’ve all got different stories.”
KATIE KNOBLOCH CENTER FOR PUBLIC DELIBERATION ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
The event was the idea of Cari Whittenburg, a Ph.D. student in the communication studies department. Whittenburg is working on her dissertation on the Tenement Museum in Manhattan, New York City, where she is focusing on engagement practices in the museum. The show-and-tell event is inspired by the Tenement Museum’s “Your Story, Our Story” series, in which immigrants can share their stories in an online exhibit. This series was replicated by Whittenburg, this time inviting the immigrant community in Fort Collins to share stories of their own.
The show-and-tell happened in four rounds of small-group discussion. In the first round, participants showed off their artifacts and told the stories behind them. Items like bracelets, bags and handheld fans had fascinating stories attached to them that were told during the discussion.
The second round had participants reflect on their own stories and the hardships that came with experiencing them and sharing them. Round three involved other participants, who shared their thoughts on stories other immigrants told. The last round had participants connect with each other and connect their stories to the Fort Collins immigrant community as a whole.
“I appreciated the opportunity to hear students’ stories and the stories of other folks in Fort Collins,” said Katie Knobloch, associate director of the Center for Public Deliberation and participant in the show-and-tell. “It was really neat to hear both the diversity in the room but also the ways that our stories of movement and our family stories of migration and immigration all were connected at the end of the day.”
Several cultures around the world were showcased at the event, and participants were exposed to cultures they may have never thought about before.
“Fort Collins and Colorado has so many transplants, but we often think of Fort Collins as lacking diversity,” Knobloch said. “But I think this just reminds you that there really is a deep diversity in this community — that folks are coming from all over the place. ... They’ve all got different stories.”
One of the participants in the event was CSU student Daniel Taylor. Taylor shared his experience traveling across the United States and his faith in Christianity during his time at CSU. The discussion allowed
Katie Knobloch shares the story of the chicken she is holding during Immigration Show and Tell Sept. 13. Knobloch said she “appreciated the opportunity to hear students’ stories and the stories of other folks in Fort Collins.”
PHOTO BY DARYN WHITMOYER THE COLLEGIAN
Taylor to reflect on his role in the Fort Collins community.
“My role in the community of Fort Collins is to love and serve my neighbors chiefly,” Taylor said. “It’s to seek to understand and don’t treat anybody like they’re uninteresting because that’s just not true. Everybody has something that’s interesting about them because everybody has a story.”
The emphasis on community and belonging is a value Whittenburg borrowed from the Tenement Museum’s engagement events. Whittenburg hopes to implement the element of connectivity in diversity in future showcase events.
“The big thing I think I wanted people to get out of it is a sense of connection and community,” Whittenburg said. “Whether it’s
your first year of college or you’ve lived here a really long time, I think everyone deserves to find places where they feel welcome and cared for and seen and supported, and I think ... a way we can do that is through this event.”
Reach Robert Sides at life @collegian.com.
Sweet vs. spicy: Battle of the pumpkin spice latte
By Jenna Landry @csucollegian
The leaves may still be mostly green, but pumpkin spice latte season is upon us. It seems to come earlier and earlier every year. Now is the time to be basic and enjoy the festivities of the season.
While a lot of chain coffee shops have already announced their fall menus, Fort Collins has not
every ounce of summer left. Cups has a pineapple coconut matcha drink on their special drink list, and Harbinger just took their summer menu away, not quite announcing their fall menu yet.
I was a barista in the past and an avid coffee drinker. I’m unashamed to admit to loving a PSL, but not all PSLs are created equal, so I created a list and rated what I could find.
For consistency, I got a small size at each place, iced due to the
weather, with oat milk because I am lactose intolerant. Forewarning to other lactose buddies, there is some dairy in a few of the PSL syrups — a small price to pay to find the best.
Sweet Temptations Cafe
This PSL had more of an artificial-tasting pumpkin flavor, but it was not overly spicy. It was far too sweet for my personal preference, and while it’s conveniently close to a building that houses my practicum, I wouldn’t get it again. Rating: 4/10.
Dutch Bros
Dutch Bros technically doesn’t have a traditional PSL on their menu, so I just requested an iced latte with their pumpkin syrup. I’m not a huge fan of their roast espresso in their lattes because it leaves a weird burnt aftertaste, but the pumpkin syrup wasn’t overpowering or too sweet, which is important, but I wouldn’t get it again. Rating: 6/10
Cuppy’s Coffee and Smoothies of Fort Collins
By the dark color, I knew this one was going to be good. It was just creamy enough to overshadow the coffee flavor. It wasn’t too sweet, it had a really rich espresso taste and the pumpkin flavoring was very mild. If it was just based on the coffee, my rating would be higher,
but it didn’t give enough of a fall vibe. Rating: 6.5/10.
Starbucks
The quintessential PSL — it’s a tad too sweet, and they lean heavier on the pumpkin flavoring than spice, which I prefer. I’m a former Starbucks barista, so I made my shots blonde and ristretto, which I recommend. Rating: 7/10.
Lima Coffee Roasters
One of their five fall drinks for the season, it was creamy, not too sweet and an 1:1 ratio of espresso to milk. The hint of pumpkin spice lingers in a pleasant way. They have their own syrup, but it has no strong pumpkin flavor. The overall quality of the espresso and ingredients makes this one of my favorites. Rating: 8.5/10.
Snooze, an A.M. Eatery
At Snooze, you can either enjoy your PSL with pumpkin pecan pie pancakes or grab it at their bar area and take it to go. The spice flavor hits you first, but the pumpkin flavor isn’t hiding either. This latte tastes thicker than all the rest, and the earthy pumpkin flavor and slight texture lingers in your mouth after each sip. It’s like drinking pumpkin pie, so I made this one my winner. Rating: 9.5/10.
Reach Jenna Landry at life
GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY TRIN BONNER THE COLLEGIAN
SELF-CARE
Tai chi, yoga cultivate community, wellness in FoCo
By Evan Borman @csucollegian
The Gardens on Spring Creek is a botanical sanctuary offering classes in Eastern traditions such as tai chi, yoga and mindfulness. It’s a 12-acre garden home to butterflies and 2,680 species of plants, and it’s only a five-minute drive from Colorado State University’s campus.
“The Gardens provide the perfect opportunity to connect with nature, each other and oneself,” Senior Communication Specialist Mackenzie Merrill said. “It’s a place to gather with friends and family, find serenity and learn.”
On Saturday morning, amid the birds’ melodies, the monarch butterflies flapping about and leaves dancing in the wind, groups of all ages practiced tai chi and goat yoga, guided by practiced teachers.
“In this human structure, you have this instrument, whether you play the jazz way or whether you play the piano way. When it is working well, you can express yourself and be more in tune with your body.”
MIN FAN TAI CHI INSTRUCTOR
to discover and heal aspects of herself that are out of balance.
“Yoga is a breath-centered practice,” Mayrose said. “When you’re focusing on your breath, that automatically slows down the sympathetic nervous system, and it engages the parasympathetic nervous system, so it takes you out of a fight or flight state (and) into more (of) a rest and digest state.”
The class at The Gardens was taught by Min Fan, who moved to the United States from China and got her bachelor’s degree at the University of North Carolina. Fan made her teachings accessible for every skill level, encompassing metaphors connected with nature to express movement in the body.
“I like the connection to the ‘I Ching’ and the dao,” Fan said. “To be one with nature, you rise from Earth; you return to Earth. When you practice outside, you think about the trees. Be rooted,
Tai chi is an ancient Chinese martial art that helps calm the emotions, focus the mind and strengthen the immune system. It is often referred to as meditation in motion.
relax and extend. Part of it is realizing that we are a product of nature.”
Fan demonstrated that tai chi is more than a martial art or an exercise; it is a way to connect with the body and flow with the Earth. Tai chi isn’t about using muscle or force but about intention and energy propagating through the body.
“In this human structure, you have this instrument, whether you play the jazz way or whether you play the piano way,” Fan said. “When it is working well, you can express yourself and be more in tune with your body.”
Tai chi works closely with yoga through physical
expression to bring the mind, body and spirit into unison.
“Yoga is a heightened sensitivity and awareness of all life around us and within us and an outpour of love in reciprocation with life’s wonder and beauty,” the Bhagavad Gita reads.
Kendra Mayrose teaches yoga classes at The Gardens on Spring Creek, beginning in 2021 when COVID-19 restrictions pushed The Gardens to find a new way to bring the community together outdoors. Mayrose has been practicing yoga for over 10 years and finds it to be a great tool for self-reflection. She utilizes specific areas of focus
When you add goats into the mix of these practices, the results are evident in the laughter and smiles of guests at The Gardens. While they moved through warrior one, downward dog and low lunges, the goats walked, hopped and waited for the participants to look up and greet them.
“It becomes less about the yoga and more about being outside and being around the animals,” Mayrose said. “And I think that’s actually really nice because I think we can get hyperfocused on our tasks and our goals. Having something to break that up is really beneficial.”
Reach Evan Borman at life @collegian.com.
The morning group practices tai chi Aug. 31. “I love the spirit of the teacher,” participant Lori Davis said. “This class is just perfect.”
PHOTO BY AVA PUGLISI THE COLLEGIAN
SUMMIT SPLIT
CSU leaving MW is its best decision since joining
By Adam Gross @agrose_22
Editor’s Note: All opinion content reflects the views of the individual author only and does not represent a stance taken by The Collegian or its editorial board.
Colorado State pops a bottle of champagne while the Mountain West receives an unpleasant 25th anniversary gift.
Financial gain and the promise of the Power Five lie at the forefront of the Rams’ departure from the MW. The glamour the conference once held lost its shine since its formation a quarter-century ago.
In 1999, CSU chased money and status into the formation of the MW. A vision shared by a handful of university leaders in the crowded Western Athletic Conference sought to extract eight schools from the WAC. With those schools, a new dominant conference emerged.
CSU headed the move, backed by three WAC football championships under coach Sonny Lubick in 1994, 1995 and 1997.
Air Force, BYU, Utah, Wyoming, New Mexico and, later, San Diego State and UNLV followed. On Jan. 4, 1999, the vision became a reality, and the conference began its operation.
Now a group of university leaders’ reasons for joining the MW are the same for departing.
Playing in the WAC provided little opportunity for expansion. The market was stale; viewership was low. Too many teams resulted in too small a piece of the pie. After a $48 million agreement in
February 1999, the MWC earned a seven-year TV deal with ESPN.
The new vision begins July 1, 2026, when CSU, Boise State, Fresno State and SDSU will officially join the Pac-12 conference.
There are not enough teams in the Pac-12 for an official Football Bowl Subdivision conference.
The four join Oregon State and Washington State. Needing eight teams total, the schools the PAC12 should reach out to are no strangers to the conference.
California and Stanford’s football teams have traveled farther than any other program in the Atlantic Coast Conference this season. Because of the Pac-12 split, the 20,660 miles traveled from Cal and 14,018 miles from Stanford in the ACC may entice the teams to come home.
The best-case scenario is these eight teams comprise the new Pac12, meaning the conference lands a big streaming deal and profit falls onto a small group of teams. Think pre-PAC-12 implosion, before Apple TV balked at offering every school in the conference $23 million a year. Currently, each team in the MWC earns $4 million a year from media deals.
Again, hypothetically, national attention turns to CSU. The Pac12 earns its seat back at the Power Five table, resulting in the best team slotting into the College Football Playoff.
If the conference cannot secure California or Stanford, the next best option is UNLV: a dominant team with professional facilities and a vast viewership market. If they were to join, the MW could potentially become an illegitimate conference with only seven remaining teams
“Twenty-five years ago, CSU signed the marriage papers that gave Rams football the MW. Now, CSU serves it a divorce.”
and have to seek Big Sky Conference schools for replacement. If not UNLV, another school that brings a strong market is North Dakota State.
Colorado loses any reason for complaint that it plays a lowhanging MW team in the Rocky Mountain Showdown. Thus, the in-state rivalry consistently plays each season.
As for the Border War with Wyoming, it seems both sides are adamant in keeping the tradition alive.
CSU Athletic Director
John Weber envisioned taking CSU to the Power Five. After
spearheading the Green and Gold Guard collective and replacing former AD Joe Parker, his vision is coming one step closer to reality. The challenge is proving CSU can perform against teams like California and Stanford or any big-name team that stumbles into the Pac-12.
With a cash flow from a media deal, the Rams will have more opportunities to invest in good players, facilities, coaching and everything that comes with profit. It is reflective of the same events 26 years ago when the MWC was only spoken word. Overlooking
the initial financial downside, leaving the MW is CSU’s best decision since joining.
Each team leaving the MW is required to pay $17 million in buyout fees with a multiyear notice, and the Pac-12 faces a $43 million poaching fee. In total, the venture to the PAC-12 costs $111 million.
Twenty-five years ago, CSU signed the marriage papers that gave Rams football the MW. Now, CSU serves it a divorce. Happy anniversary.
Reach Adam Gross at sports @collegian.com.
Canvas Stadium packed full of Colorado State University students and alumni watching the first Rocky Mountain Showdown football game held in Fort Collins since 1996 Sept. 14. The game had a record-breaking 40,099 fans in attendance.
PHOTO BY CAIT MCKINZIE THE COLLEGIAN
CSU volleyball meets Pac-12 announcement with excitement, caution
By Will Engle @willengle44
Colorado State volleyball — along with CSU’s 15 other Division I programs — woke up the morning of Sept. 12 to the announcement that CSU would be joining the Pac-12.
“We’re
trying to compete with the biggest schools and the big dogs, which is exciting.”
TED KOPACZ
CSU VOLLEYBALL
ASSISTANT COACH
As CSU’s current largest women’s athletics program, the volleyball team nds themselves in a position to grow CSU women’s athletics to horizons previously untouchable while they were part of the Mountain West.
e Rams’ current media deal with the MW earns them nearly $4 million a year in media rights. e Pac12’s 2012 media deal had an average annual valuation of around $21 million a year per school. When the conference’s media rights deal expired in 2022, ESPN o ered them a deal with an AAV of $30 million per school.
While the exact nances of the deal have yet to be worked out, coach Emily Kohan said she believes this is an exciting time for the team moving forward.
“It’s a great opportunity — there’s a lot of upside,” Kohan said. “I applaud the leadership — the administration — for taking control of our fate and saying, ‘Hey, we’re going to try to be as aggressive as possible — to play at the highest levels as possible.’”
Along with the increased media attention, joining a potential Power Five conference means CSU volleyball will face a much higher level of competition throughout conference play.
In addition to CSU, three other schools will be joining the migration from the Mountain West to the Pac12: Boise State, San Diego State and Fresno State. ey will join Washington State and Oregon State, the only two remaining teams after the conference dissolved last year. e Pac-12 was given a grace period by the NCAA to get its total members to eight by 2026 in order to remain an eligible conference.
“It’s awesome to put Colorado State in a Power Five — potential Power Five — situation to play new teams,” setter Emery Herman said. “It’s been a while, and so getting to play better competition just (by playing) the higher caliber universities — I think it’s great.”
Herman, CSU’s starting setter, transferred from Arizona, a former member of the Pac-12, in 2023.
As the 2023 Mountain West Newcomer of the Year, Herman is certainly familiar with the level of competition in the conference. Out of the 64 matches she competed in in her junior and sophomore years at Arizona, she started in every single one. Since her transfer to CSU, Herman has
shown that her experience against that level of competition made her a force to be reckoned with, earning her All-Conference and AllTournament honors at the end of the 2023 season.
Now as CSU throws itself into the re of the Power Five competition, Kohan said she is excited but remains cautious due to the volatile nature of conference realignment.
“I don’t think conference realignment is over — we’ve got to add more schools,” Kohan said. “ e court case with the ACC kind of falling apart, you know, what does that do to the ACC? ... For 2026, it’s kind of waiting and not making any long-term decisions for our scheduling.”
While the future remains unclear, the news that CSU will be joining a branding powerhouse like the Pac-12 means new possibilities for the Rams’ recruiting.
Assistant coach Ted Kopacz, who previously coached at Colorado — another former member of the Pac-12 — said the news sends a message to recruits that CSU is ready to take that next step.
“It means we’re serious about athletics,” Kopacz said. “We’re putting money into it. We’re trying to be on the biggest stage possible. We’re trying to compete with the biggest schools and the big dogs, which is exciting. And it’s more money for volleyball, all the TV money — all that comes back to the athletic department. It means better resources for everybody, so I think it’s a great thing for recruiting.”
Reach Will Engle at sports @collegian.com.
Colorado State University’s volleyball team plays against Michigan State University in Moby Arena Aug. 31. CSU lost to Michigan State 3-1.
PHOTO BY LAUREN MASCARDO THE COLLEGIAN
CSU football gears up for UTEP, looks to mend early-season misfortune
By Damon Cook @dwcook2001
There is no amount of makeup that can cover the stye that has been the Colorado State football program through its first three weeks of the season.
CSU has been outscored 97-47 in those weeks despite playing a game against Northern Colorado, a Football Championship Subdivision school. For a season in which many expect the bottom line to be a bowl, the start has been less than desirable.
Although everything is screaming to look away, it’s simply not time to give up hope yet. Three games equal just one quarter of the season, and this will by far be the hardest quarter of teams the Rams will face this season.
No — the preseason hype hasn’t matured quite yet, but all it takes is one week for the CSU football stock to spike, and if it does, the 1-2 start will be long forgotten.
“We got a lot of season left, and we got all of our goals in front of us that we want to accomplish in our conference and in the remaining nine games,” CSU coach Jay Norvell said. “We’re not where we want to be exactly right now, but we have to be active participants in getting ourselves where we want to be.”
Now the Rams get a UTEP team that has yet to see the glory of victory this season.
Scotty Walden, the Miners coach, is in his first season coaching at the Football Bowl Subdivision level and certainly still has a lot to learn.
Despite having little experience, Walden and his squad aren’t to be taken lightly. UTEP has gotten better each and every week, and one of these weeks, it’ll rattle off an unexpected win. The Rams have to be prepared and make sure the Miners don’t play spoilers in Canvas Stadium this weekend.
“They are very challenging schematically,” Norvell said. “They go fast on offense, they use a lot of fast skill players, their quarterback is very
capable and they put pressure on you.”
“We still have a lot of loyal fans that have stuck by us through thick and thin. So I think we owe it to ourselves and we owe it to them, who aren’t the ones on social media giving us as much as they want — the ones that have been patient for a while.”
PADDY TURNER CSU PUNTER
One area the Rams absolutely have to win is the
turnover battle. The Miners have given up the ball five times over the course of three games, the Rams seven.
For a ball-hawking defense that forced 20 turnovers a season ago, they’ve failed to live up to that, forcing only two over three weeks. Health is one reason; another is the new faces in new places across that CSU defense, so it may take some time to gel together.
“I just feel like as a whole collective we’re all still learning how to play together,” Navy transfer Elias Larry said. “It’s only the third week — I feel like we actually had good stretches in games where we’ve done very well. I just feel like we just have to put together a more complete performance.”
It’s not just the defense that needs to put on a complete performance — the offense needs to do so as well. However, both sides of the ball will have to do so without some key pieces. Norvell announced Tory Horton, Alex Foster, DeAndre Gill, Jr. and Nuer Gatkuoth are all expected to be out this weekend.
That means young guys like Tanner Morley and Aitor Urionabarrenechea will have to step up, Norvell said.
“I’m encouraged,” Norvell said. “We’ve got a lot of guys that are emerging players that can add to some of our experienced guys that can make a big contribution.”
If the Rams who take the field Saturday can find their footing and create some momentum, there could be a huge opportunity to get things back on track once their stars get healthy.
Everything will commence against UTEP with a chance to prove CSU’s doubters wrong.
“The maturity in our locker room is at an all-time high since I’ve been here,” CSU punter Paddy Turner said. “We still have a lot of loyal fans that have stuck by us through thick and thin. So I think we owe it to ourselves and we owe it to them, who aren’t the ones on social media giving us as much as they want — the ones that have been patient for a while.”
Reach Damon Cook at sports @collegian.com.
Colorado State University defensive lineman Mukendi Wa-Kalonji (92) hypes up the crowd during the Rocky Mountain Showdown football game Sept. 14. The University of Colorado Boulder won 28-9.
PHOTO BY CAIT MCKINZIE THE COLLEGIAN
Rocky Mountain Showdown brings largest-ever crowd to Canvas Stadium
1 2 3 4 5
different
1. Colorado State University starting quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi (16) runs down the field with the ball during the Rocky Mountain Showdown football game Sept. 14. The University of Colorado Boulder won 28-9.
PHOTO BY CAIT MCKINZIE THE COLLEGIAN
2. CAM the Ram signals a hand heart at the camera.
PHOTO BY AVA PUGLISI THE COLLEGIAN
3. An hour before the start of the football game, three paragliders fly down with
flags to entertain a packed Canvas Stadium. PHOTO BY AVA PUGLISI THE COLLEGIAN
4. The CSU football team celebrates a tackle made during the second half of the game.
PHOTO BY AVA PUGLISI THE COLLEGIAN
5. CSU students cheer for their football players as they enter the field.
PHOTO BY CAIT MCKINZIE THE COLLEGIAN
6. Fowler-Nicolosi (16) throws the ball to an open player.
PHOTO BY AVA PUGLISI THE COLLEGIAN
7. Fowler-Nicolosi (16) speaks to a coach on the sidelines before the game.
PHOTO BY CAIT MCKINZIE THE COLLEGIAN
8. Wide receiver Jamari Person shakes hands with a teammate after making a good play.
PHOTO BY AVA PUGLISI THE COLLEGIAN
9. CSU defensive back Henry Blackburn (11) runs after CU Boulder wide receiver LaJohntay Wester (10).
PHOTO BY CAIT MCKINZIE THE COLLEGIAN
10. CSU defensive back Isaiah Essissima (1) questions a call from the referee.
PHOTO BY CAIT MCKINZIE THE COLLEGIAN
NATURAL FORMATIONS
Devil’s Backbone exposes ancient history of the Front Range
By Hayley Bisant @csucollegian
The name Devil’s Backbone likely conjures up intimidating images for those who aren’t familiar with the site. However, the owner of this title is nothing sinister.
In fact, it’s a popular outdoor recreation area in Loveland, not too far from Colorado State University. Named for its main attraction — a row of knobby rocks sticking up into the horizon — the Devil’s Backbone Open Space attracts a wide variety of visitors. While it is undoubtedly interesting visually, the story behind its formation is where the real intrigue lies.
Let’s start at the very beginning. Several million years ago, a seashore was depositing sand and gravel in the area where this formation is today. Later on, these sediments were pressed down and cemented together, creating the layers of sedimentary rock now known as the Dakota Group.
Geologic processes are known to take a fair chunk of time, and this
was no exception. There are four distinct layers visible in the Open Space currently.
“The age of the sedimentary units exposed at Devil’s Backbone ranges from Permian in age, roughly (250 million to 300) million years ago … to UpperCretaceous — about 90 million years,” said John Singleton, structural geologist and associate professor in the Warner College of Natural Resources. This explains the sandstones, shales and conglomerates that make up Devil’s Backbone, but a lot more had to happen to form the landscape seen currently.
Sedimentary strata like the Dakota Group are known to be horizontally oriented when they originally form. However, with enough pressure, rocks will bend into a fluctuating pattern, similar to a sine wave. Two main types of folds are created during this process. The ones that open downward, resembling an arch, are called anticlines. The Dakota Group was bent into this type of fold by the Laramide Orogeny, a 55 million to 75 million-year-old mountain-
building event also responsible for the formation of the Rocky Mountains, Singleton said.
Following the Laramide Orogeny folding event, weathering and erosion took place, eating away most of the anticline until only the very bottom remained. This forms what is known geologically as a hogback, characterized by an almost-vertical fin of hard rock that sticks up from the ground. The reason for the spinelike appearance of Devil’s Backbone, Singleton said, can be attributed to this weathering process, in which softer layers of the rock are eaten away first, leaving their tougher counterparts behind.
But the forces that created the iconic hogback were nothing small. In fact, Devil’s Backbone is related to a much larger geologic formation, known as the Dakota Hogback. Dinosaur Ridge is another outdoor area dedicated to this sizable formation. Located in the Denver area, it is known for an abundance of tracks belonging to dinosaurs, among other animals, said Amanda Rea, Dinosaur Ridge education, camp and collections manager. Though many miles away, the rock
outcrops there are also comprised of the Dakota Group and were exposed because of the same process.
“The Dakota Hogback runs from Southern Wyoming all the way through New Mexico,” Rea said. This being said, the Devil’s Backbone is a unique outcrop.
In geologic news much more applicable to modern times, Devil’s Backbone wasn’t always an area of conservation like it is today. As said by Julie Enderby, education and volunteer supervisor with Larimer County Natural Resources, before it became an open space, the area belonged to Alfred Wild. Under him, it was mined for gypsum, a soft mineral commonly used in plaster.
It was only later on in the 1990s when the formation was recognized to be a landscape worth preserving, that it was acquired by Larimer County and turned into an Open Space, Enderby said. The area now sports several trails that show off unique geologic features with signage for visitors to learn about the land along the way.
Reach Hayley Bisant at science @collegian.com.
“The age of the sedimentary units exposed at Devil’s Backbone ranges from Permian in age, roughly (250 million to 300) million years ago … to UpperCretaceous — about 90 million years.”
JOHN SINGLETON STRUCTURAL GEOLOGIST AND ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
Rock formations at sunrise located at Devil’s Backbone Open Space Sept. 12. The Devil’s Backbone has a geological feature known as a hogback in which flat sedimentary rock is eroded unevenly, leaving harder layers exposed vertically.
PHOTO BY ARIA PAUL THE COLLEGIAN
Donald Trump got his own movie he doesn’t even want
By Gigi Young @csucollegian
Frequently spoofed on “The Simpsons,” some might say the biggest star of “Home Alone 2,” go-to parody man of “Saturday Night Live” and former president of the United States of America Donald Trump is a household name. But now, he’s the subject of a movie no one seems to want.
“The Apprentice” is a biopic about young Trump, played by Sebastian Stan, and his relationship with New York City lawyer Roy Cohn. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2024. Despite its moderately unbiased portrayal of the controversial figure’s formative years, the film struggled to find a distributor.
The film itself is a visual throwback with choppy cuts and film roll-like coloring — it evokes the grit and chaos of late 20th-century New York City. It begins with a young Trump — similar to a postgrad in his early 20s — shown as a confused kid navigating the business world. While he is cautious in his interactions with professionals he admires, he also finds himself desperate for a mentor. This search brings him to Cohn, played masterfully by Jeremy Strong of “Succession.”
Strong nails the role of Cohn, portraying him as a scheming anticommunist mastermind who chews people up and spits them out, all with that same cold, ruthless energy he brought to “Succession.” At the same time, Stan steps up as Trump, capturing his egotistical swagger and making him both fascinating and repulsive. Together, their performances take the movie to another level.
The film touches on weighty themes like the AIDS epidemic and the
ruthless real estate world of the late 20th century, making it more than just a biopic — it’s also a period piece. Cohn’s influence on Trump is at the center of the story, and some could argue the movie is more about Cohn than it is about Trump. Cohn introduces him to a cutthroat version of success, driven by manipulation and power. His rules for success ultimately shape Trump’s worldview, turning the film into a dissection of how mentorship can mold a person’s ethics, for better or worse.
“The Apprentice” also dives into Trump’s family dynamics — or lack thereof. The film shows a young Trump seeking his father Fred’s approval and Cohn ultimately taking over that fatherly role in Trump’s life.
The complexities of his relationship with his first wife, Ivana Trump, and their marriage is portrayed with a raw intensity — Ivana’s sharp intelligence and ambition contrast Trump’s desire to project dominance. Scenes of their early relationship are some of the most revealing, offering glimpses of vulnerability and power struggles that suggest deeper motivations behind Trump’s need for control.
Along the way, we see myths and controversies surrounding Trump laid bare as he evolves from a brash businessman to one of the most powerful figures in the world. It’s familiar yet deeply unsettling, like watching a train wreck in slow motion — you can’t look away.
The film ends with Trump absorbing Cohn’s rules for success — not exactly principles to admire — and it’s easy to see how young, impressionable viewers could see this film and misconstrue them as something to emulate. Yet the film mirrors Trump’s transformation,
revealing the roots of his controversial persona.
As Trump, Stan has been attached to the project from day one, and director Ali Abbasi poured his artistic vision into every frame, believing in the movie’s success.
Still, after the world premiere, other big contributors to the film like investor Daniel Snyder, the former owner of the Washington Commanders and assumed Trump supporter, threatened to leave the project for fear of how it would be perceived on U.S. soil. To no surprise, members of Trump’s reelection campaign were also against the movie, making U.S. production studios hesitant to take on the film.
What I would describe as a coming-of-age story, “The Apprentice” delves into the psychological and personal factors that shaped Trump into the polarizing figure we know today. It offers an artistic and intimate look at his life, setting it apart from usual political biopics.
Ironically, this difference may be why it’s proving so difficult to sell. This reluctance has become part of its narrative, making “The Apprentice” almost as controversial as its subject.
No studio wanted this movie. The influence Trump has leaves distributors hesitant to take the plunge.
But Briarcliff Entertainment stepped up, acquiring the film and betting on its ability to ignite conversation. It is set for a preelection release this October, and audiences, reviewers, Trump supporters and Trump haters will have a chance to do their favorite thing once again: judge.
Now the big question is: How will the world perceive it?
Reach Gigi Young at entertainment@collegian.com.
Neal Francis transforms Aggie Theatre into new decade of live music
Neal Francis performs at the Aggie Theatre Sept. 11. The band’s performance filled the venue with psychedelic funk, and in return, the audience filled it with a wave of dancing. “This is the best show of the tour so far,” Francis said.
By Ruby Secrest @csucollegian
Neal Francis performed at the Aggie Theatre Sept. 11, filling a simple Wednesday night with the blissfulness of psychedelic funk music and transforming not just the venue but the audience as well.
Francis brought him, his band and an entirely new decade of music with him. It was a show not seen very often. Everything from the stage to the audience to the performers banded together to create a show memorable for all.
Performing both their hit songs, such as “Changes, Pt. 1” and “Can’t Stop the Rain,” while also creating an atmosphere that resembles a jam band, the musicians were able to wear their
hearts on their sleeves and pass the feeling through the crowd.
“This is the best show of the tour so far,” Francis said as he reflected on the band’s tour, as it makes five stops in Colorado with a seemingly endless number of shows across the United States.
Francis is a Chicago-based musician with a band that consists of him as lead singer and pianist, Kellen Boersma on guitar, Mike Starr on bass and, last but definitely not least, Collin O’Brien on drums.
The band draws from influences such as instrumental funk, soft psychedelic rock and New Orleans jazz to create a musical sound that takes its audience back to the good ol’ days.
During their show at the Aggie, they did just that. Their music allowed the majority of its songs to be guitar heavy without drowning
out the free-spirited drums or the piano performance that seemed to be perfectly in sync with Francis’ personal emotions during the show.
A performance that created an atmosphere of its own. The stage was filled with instruments and a cohesive passion between the musicians. The stage was set with two pianos set up corner to corner in the center of the stage. Along each side of the pianos were the bass and guitar players, and on the far left of the stage were the drums.
This stage setup allowed each member of the band to be in the front of the stage. In return, the audience was able to engage not only with one another but also with each member of the band and what they contributed to the night.
The audience responded with a shifted mindset — a mindset of getting loose. By allowing one another to dance
to funk psych the way it’s meant to be danced to and creating an environment of tremendous love and understanding, the whole venue was then able to turn into a wave of nonstop cohesive movement and sound.
Each member’s style complemented the others’ as well, uniting a style that matches the era of their music, with both shaggy and long curly locks, denim and colorful patterns galore, as well as an overall style that takes their audience back to the time of The Doors, Peter Frampton and Led Zeppelin.
Put all of these elements together, and you have one hell of a performance. It is a show that not only displays incredible music but is curated to transport and, even more so, transform its listeners.
Reach Ruby Secrest at entertainment @collegian.com.
PHOTO BY RUBY SECREST THE COLLEGIAN
SONIC EVOLUTION
History of indie rock is vast, important to new music
By Christian Arndt @csucollegian
Indie music is often associated with reverbed guitar riffs and softsounding vocals, but the vastness of indie music has much more depth than one might think.
Originating in the ‘70s, indie music became synonymous with the developing rock scene between the United Kingdom and the United States. Indie music spawned from a diversifying punk scene, experimenting with different sounds and vocals while staying true to their roots with a do-it-yourself attitude.
1970s
The late ‘60s to early ‘70s were the beginning of it all. Bands were exiting the punk scene and creating post-punk music, which had the same mentality as punk but experimented with different sounds and song structure.
Bands like The Velvet Underground and Joy Division aided the development of indie music, with The Velvet Underground creating soft and melodic rock music and Joy Division creating dark and
atmospheric music with Ian Curtis, providing uniquely deep vocals.
The ‘70s was a great jump-off point for bands to take advantage of experimentation in their music, which aided the developing indierock scene.
1980s
The transition from the ‘70s to the ‘80s took a turn as a genre, and indie began to be used as more of an umbrella term. The genre began to splinter out, with bands further separating themselves from the traditional rock sound.
There were bands such as the Violent Femmes that blended folk with punk on their self-titled debut, which created a cult following. Meanwhile, The Smiths broke onto the scene with bright, jangly guitars and Morrissey’s melancholy lyrics.
Moving through the ‘80s, bands like The Pixies and Dinosaur Jr. utilized their unique sound and took loud instrumentals and paired it with vocals that had excellent range.
The bands mentioned had a massive influence on indie bands to come.
1990s
The transition into the ‘90s produced some of the most
recognizable indie bands. Bands like Nirvana, Sunny Day Real Estate, Slint and Sonic Youth embraced the original DIY mentality and produced incredible music because of it. Although these bands began making music in the ‘80s, they made their most impressive albums the following decade.
Nirvana and Sunny Day Real Estate made more grunge and alternative music, while bands like Slint and Sonic Youth created more experimental tracks using creative noise and unique songwriting structure, which made them standouts during this time.
The general indie sound of the ‘90s was loud and drenched in distortion. Indie, while becoming broad in meaning, gave a space to artists who didn’t fit one specific one genre over another. In turn, this created an exciting listen for indierock enthusiasts at the time.
2000s
The transition from the 1990s into the early 2000s was an interesting time for indie music.
The early 2000s was when indie rock truly took form into what we know as traditional indie rock today. Bands like The Strokes, The White Stripes, LCD Soundsystem and
Interpol came onto the music scene around this time and produced some of the most revered music of this period. These bands, including others during that time, laid the groundwork for what is seen today in indie music.
The White Stripes and The Strokes featured a garage rock indie sound that is prominent in the indie scene today, while LCD Soundsystem and Interpol took a more alternative approach.
Present day
Indie-rock music today is one of the most popular genres. With bands like Car Seat Headrest; Black Country, New Road; and Current Joys, indie rock is just getting more interesting. Although the sounds and instrumentals differ from indie rock in the beginning, the same mentality and experimentation still reside.
With artists continually releasing stellar records, if there is one genre of music to keep an eye on, it’s indie rock.
If you would like to listen to a playlist that contains songs from every artist included in this article, find RMSMC on Spotify.
Reach Christian Arndt at entertainment@collegian.com.
DISRUPTIVE ENVIRONMENT
Skateboarders need to get out of the way of campus
By Ava Naiditch @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.
Picture this: It’s 9 a.m., and you are walking to your first class of the day. The sun is out, but it’s still early enough in the morning that the heat won’t make you drown in a pool of your own sweat. You’re walking among the pillars of trees as the smell of wet grass sweeps past your nose, when all of a sudden, your feet leave the ground as you fall on your butt after being knocked out by a skater who has come out of nowhere.
The world was suddenly disrupted by skateboarding in the 1950s when surfers decided the ocean wasn’t cutting it anymore and they needed to switch to asphalt. After that, skateboards could be found anywhere, whether that be Val Surf, the first
store to sell skateboards, or on the big screen below the feet of Marty McFly in “Back to the Future.”
Following the fame of Tony Hawk and skateboarding becoming an Olympic sport, skateboarding is not just an activity or mode of transportation — it is also an art.
Let me make it clear: I have nothing against skaters or skateboarding in general. In fact, it is something I truly admire, and I find it very impressive considering it is nearly impossible for me to skateboard successfully.
My issue lies with the skaters who think it is a good idea to skate down a busy sidewalk where there is no space for walking and skating to coexist.
There is a feeling people get when they hear a skateboard approaching. As the sound of the wheels scraping against the ground gets closer and closer, people’s hearts start racing, and they start looking all around to figure out where the skateboard sound is coming from. They need
to know where to step to get out of the way before a potentially painful collision. Nobody deserves to feel this way. People should be able to walk wherever they want in peace. So here is my message to all the skaters: Please get off the sidewalk. I have found skaters will usually expect you to get out of their way, but the expectations should actually be reversed. Why should people have to move out of the way for someone who is riding wheels on a road meant for walking?
Colorado State University has designated paths meant to be ridden on by anything with wheels. Skaters should fulfill the intentions of that path and ride on it. This issue is not entirely the fault of
skaters. There seems to be a lack of space around campus for skaters to skate freely without having to worry about the people around them. Maybe the addition of skate parks on campus is all that is needed. Fulfilling this need might be what is best, as skaters continue to use the desolate hockey rink on campus as an area to skate freely.
Because skating is so embraced on campus, it would be nice if CSU could give them enough space to properly work on their skills. This way, students could peacefully walk on campus without skaters having to put their skills to a halt.
Reach Ava Naiditch at letters @collegian.com.
Colorado State University student Nate Mock skates in front of the Andrew G. Clark Building Sept. 12. PHOTO BY JULIA PERCY THE COLLEGIAN
Talking about sex with your partner is important
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.
For many young people, having sex is much easier than talking about it. It can often feel awkward to bring up sexual desires in conversation with a sexual partner or partners, but it is an essential part of developing a positive sexual relationship, not only with your partner but also with yourself.
So why is it sometimes harder to talk about sex than it is actually to engage in sexual acts?
This can be attributed to multiple factors, including shame and not wanting to offend a sexual partner, to name a couple. It is also common for people to grapple with feelings of guilt when discussing sex with their partner, as many folks are socialized to believe that prioritizing pleasure is selfish. Bringing up sex, whether it be positive or negative, can come with some discomfort, but it is a crucial part of forging a healthy, thriving sex life. Seeking pleasure and satisfaction in your sex life — both for your partner and yourself — is not selfish and is known to increase relationship satisfaction.
Whether a person is in a monogamous relationship or has multiple sexual partners, enjoying sex is crucial. Avoiding the topic of sex with a partner can lead to a decrease
in satisfaction within both the sexual and romantic aspects of the relationship.
One issue that disproportionately impacts female-bodied individuals during sex is the epidemic of orgasm faking. More than 50% of sexually active women admit to faking an orgasm at least once in their life. Many women cite reasons for faking orgasms that include wanting their partner to feel good about their sexual performance and wanting the sex to end due to exhaustion.
Orgasm-faking is just one example of how not speaking up about sex can be damaging to one’s sex life and overall relationship satisfaction. Not being forward about wants, needs, likes and dislikes in the bedroom can leave a person feeling dissatisfied and unhappy with their sex life.
Many people do not address intimacy with their partner until they start experiencing issues, which can lead to negative feelings about sex in their relationship. Instead of only discussing problems with intimacy, it can be incredibly beneficial to experiment with bringing up sex in small ways in daily conversation.
This can be through flirty remarks, complimenting your partner’s appearance and even making sex-related jokes. Exploring casual conversations about sex can normalize the topic between you and your partner or partners, which will in turn make more serious intimate conversations less daunting.
Another great opportunity to discuss intimacy is during the sexual act itself. Not only can it be effective to give your partner real-time feedback and encouragement about
their sexual performance, it can also enhance the heat of the moment, as many individuals find sexual praise deeply arousing.
Responding positively both physically and verbally during sex can be very affirming and encouraging for your partner, and it also creates a safer space for one to speak up if their partner are doing something that doesn’t feel especially good.
Additionally, periodically asking your partner what they want and what they like is another sexy way to encourage communication. Making an effort to not only advocate for yourself but also express a desire to make the experience as enjoyable as possible for your partner will keep your sex life positive and mutually supportive.
Talking about sex through text messages or sexting can also be a productive way for sexual partners, especially young people, to discuss sex. Sexting is uniquely valuable in that it eliminates some of the feelings of awkwardness that can come with having intimate conversations face-to-face. Exploring desires and fantasies with your partner through sexting gives you the space to discover more about your sexuality in a low-pressure setting. Discussing sex is one of the most essential parts of maintaining a healthy and successful sexual relationship, especially with a longterm partner. Prioritizing the pleasure of both your partner and yourself will help you maintain a strong, happier and more trusting long-term relationship.
Reach Astrid Thorn at letters @collegian.com.
GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY TRIN BONNER THE COLLEGIAN
Toys are not just for kids anymore
By Hana Pavelko @hanasolo13
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.
Most people remember playing with toys when they were kids. There are memories of brightly colored blocks being stacked, toy dolls going on actionpacked adventures and coloring books with pictures colored outside the lines. Even the simplest things could be toys like paper folded into airplanes or fortune tellers.
As we got older, toys started to dwindle. Playing with dolls was not cool anymore, and coloring books turned into workbooks for school. Toys became
something that were just for kids. What seemed like such an important part of our day-to-day lives suddenly became something we had no use for anymore.
Toys, especially those like coloring books and Legos, foster creativity. In our later years, it is easy for our creativity to fizzle out. But building things with Legos or deciding which colors to use on a beautiful picture helps inspire our creativity again.
However, in recent years, it’s felt like there’s been an increase in toys, like Legos and coloring books, for adults. It might seem a little weird at first — the idea of toys being marketed to adults while they are usually classified as things for children. While it might seem like a little bit of a culture shift, it is actually a good thing that these are on the rise.
Adult coloring books have actually been around since the 1880s, but it seems like only recently they have gained popularity. A little more sophisticated than children’s coloring books and featuring a wide range of different subjects featured within their pages, adult coloring books appeal to a large range of ages.
It has also been more obvious that some Lego sets have started to be tailored toward adults. Certain Lego sets are considered to be collector’s items, and we all know from the Lego movie that adults can form a certain obsession with them.
Despite that, it might not be a bad thing that coloring books and Lego sets are being marketed toward older populations because toys are not just for kids. There are actually benefits to adults using coloring books and Legos.
Toys foster creativity. In our later years, it is easy for our creativity to fizzle out. But building things with Legos or deciding which colors to use on a beautiful picture helps inspire our creativity again. Creativity, like any other skill or quality, needs to be exercised. Legos and coloring books can provide us with a great way to exercise our creativity. These toys also provide us with a way to reduce stress and anxiety. Toys provide an outlet for any stress and anxiety that have been acquired during the day. Adult lives can be full of stress, so having a way to get rid of it is important. Some people use exercise or meditation to get rid of stress, but if that is not working for you, you can always try coloring books and Legos as an alternative.
Reach Hana Pavelko at letters @collegian.com.
KCSU IS OUT OF THIS WORLD
GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY TRIN BONNER THE COLLEGIAN
MEDIA
Sudoku
WEEKLY HOROSCOPE
By Sophia Masia
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (09/19/24)
ARIES (MARCH 21 - APRIL 19)
This week is all about slowing down and setting healthy boundaries. Don’t be afraid to be a little picky in your interpersonal relationships and say goodbye to the people who drain you. You know what you need to let go, Aries.
TAURUS (APRIL 20 - MAY 20)
Rapid changes are coming to your social circles and relationship status. If you find yourself panicked or uncomfortable, give yourself downtime to focus on your goals and hobbies. Some stability will go a long way, Taurus.
GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUNE 20)
You might be stepping into a big career milestone, accepting a promotion or even deciding to walk away from a role that no longer aligns with you. It’s a powerful time to release the past, but make sure to carve out extra time to rest and care for yourself, Gemini.
CANCER (JUNE 21 - JULY 22)
Making waves isn’t really in your nature, but your emotions are getting heavy, nearly unignorable, and the only way to get the weight off your chest is to stand in your truth. Find your voice in a way that’s comfortable, Cancer.
LEO (JULY 23 - AUG. 22)
The universe is asking you to reflect on what brings you a sense of security. Whatever safety means for you, ask yourself how you could stay grounded if everything changed. Not saying it will, but working through any emotions that come up can be empowering and transformative, Leo.
VIRGO (AUG. 23 - SEPT. 22)
You’ve been focused on your goals, your daydreams and yourself, but you’re ready for phase two. Be prepared for some kind of ending to your relationships, goals and life path, but a beginning as well. The changes coming are fated; try to go with the flow, Virgo.
LIBRA (SEPT. 23 - OCT. 22)
The one thing standing between you and Libra season is this long week. Protect your time, peace, energy and resources by setting healthy boundaries. Stop worrying about making everyone else happy for once; you are the main character of your life. You got this, Libra.
SCORPIO (OCT. 23 - NOV. 21)
This week is asking you to bravely go toward the things that feel good while bringing changes to your relationships. You don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings, but staying in a situation that doesn’t
serve you is a disservice to yourself. You never know who could come into your life and change it, Scorpio.
SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22 - DEC. 21)
Adventure is calling but not in the way you’re expecting. You could be stepping into a major role or feeling the call to leave behind a path that no longer excites you. Big changes are on the horizon. Be gentle with yourself, Sagittarius.
CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 - JAN. 19)
This is a time for you to advocate for yourself at work and finally get the recognition you’ve been working so hard for. Whether it’s sharing your ideas or standing up for what you believe in, this is your moment to make an impact. Embrace the change and make your mark, Capricorn.
AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 - FEB. 18)
There’s so much to see and do this week. You’re dealing with finances, relationships, insecurities and beliefs. Things are shifting quickly and you may feel an urge to address deeper insecurities, anxieties or trust issues. Embrace these transformations, even if it feels heavy at the moment, Aquarius.
PISCES (FEB. 19 - MARCH 20)
This week brings attention to your intimate connections, specifically beginnings and endings. People who leave or enter your life right now are meant to. Focus on healing your emotions so you can move forward. Trying to escape problems will get you nowhere, Pisces. Lead with your heart.
Last edition’s crossword solution
Last edition’s sudoku solution
OVERHEARD AROUND CAMPUS
“I’m trying not to smoke unless it’s Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday.”
“I’ve been drinking my Haterade.”
“Your teeth are more important than his family.”
“There’s not a gay bone in Ariana Grande’s body.”
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!
Praying mantises
Hangovers
Glitter everywhere
Packing peanuts
Owls
