The Rocky Mountain Collegian, Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Affirmative action in front of Supreme Court Wednesday | Page 5

Beer Water

PAGE 8

Breweries cope with effects of High Park Fire

THE RO CKY MOUNTAIN

COLLEGIAN

Fort Collins, Colorado

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Volume 121 | No. 43

www.collegian.com

THE STUDENT VOICE OF COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1891 ASCSU

Student gov. making slower progress

By CARRIE MOBLEY The Rocky Mountain Collegian

Approximately seven out of Regina Martel and Joe Eden’s 16 student government campaign promises have been completed halfway through the first semester of their administration, according to Martel, president of the Associated Students of CSU. At this time last year, the 2011-2012 administration had completed 15 of its 44 promises. The 2010-2011 administration completed four of its six campaign promises throughout its entire term.

“I think that in ASCSU, every year

is different,” Martel said. “I think that every administration has to deal with a different thing at different times of the year … We have a lot of room to grow and a lot of room to improve … But so far, I think we’re doing really well.”

Three of Martel’s accomplishments –– blue books, a biannual report on his administration’s achievements and the Old Town Late Night Bus Route –– have been continuing policies created by the previous administration and working to make them more sustainable.

Blue Books, for example, were made free to all students during Eric Berlinberg’s 2011-2012 presidential administration. The problem with

this, Martel said, is the amount that these books are costing ASCSU. “People have been taking many more than we anticipated, which means it is getting very expensive,” Martel said. “We have been exploring other alternatives to keep them free to students, such as professors handing them out in class instead of having them at the bookstore.”

Two of Berlinberg’s other achievements are also student MARTEL government initiatives that Martel is working to maintain.

“We are working with the Down-

town Business Association, the City of Fort Collins and the Fort Collins Police Department on how to keep the bus route sustainable,” Martel said. “We are constantly asking ourselves, ‘Is this too expensive, or not expensive enough?’”

Aside from sustaining three initiatives that carried over from last year, Martel’s administration has also set up a student Stadium Advisory Committee to field the campus’ opinions of the onSee ASCSU on Page 3

Still hot after 10 years CSU dining hall Chili Challenge continues to burn students’ mouths

By MIKAELA ANTONELLI The Rocky Mountain Collegian

EVENT DETAILS

Monday afternoon ignited the 10th annual Chili Challenge at Colorado State, a week-long event jointly hosted by CSU Dining Services and the Poudre Fire Authority at Corbett Dining Center.

The rules are simple: contestants who finish an eight ounce bowl of chili advance to the next day, with each day’s chili getting progressively hotter. Contestants who last all five days receive an “I Survived” tee-shirt and (maybe more importantly) bragging rights.

To get through the entire week, though, participating students can benefit from the knowledge of repeat competitors.

“Milk is your best friend,” said Brendan Isbell, a junior computer engineering major who has completed the challenge twice.

“After you eat, just lay down for the rest of the day.” said Matthew Clang, also a junior computer engineering major who has completed the challenge three times.

All students with an oncampus meal plan were eligible to enter, but the deadline for registration was Wednesday, Oct. 3. More than 250 students participated in the Chili Challenge last year.

The contest, which celebrates Fire Prevention Week, ends Friday.

“Relating the Chili Chal-

What: CSU Chili Challenge Where: Corbett Dining Center When: Oct. 8 – Oct. 12, 11 a.m.

- 2 p.m.

lenge to fire prevention week works really well,” said Brittany White, marketing director for CSU Residential Dining Services. “We get the fire department involved and the fire chief walks around and talks with the students.”

Though the PFA has been involved with the event in the past, it’s especially important for firefighters to be present this year to answer questions and give fire safety advice following the High Park Fire, said Jason Mantas, fire captain for PFA. “(The High Park Fire) definitely raised awareness and now students get the chance to come up to us and ask us questions about wildfire prevention,” Mantas said.

In addition to answering students’ questions, firefighters also serve the chili and, according to Mantas, enjoy themselves while doing it.

White said, “This is my favorite event, the students are excited about it. We have a lot of repeats each year ... it’s so fun.”

The contest’s sponsors include U.S. Foods, Cholula, Gilberto’s Gourmet, Horsetooth Hot Sauce and Dave’s Hot Sauce.

Collegian writer Mikaela Antonelli can be reached at entertainment@collegian.com.

DYLAN LANGILLE | COLLEGIAN

STRIP CLUB

Apparently, at least according to the avalanche of political ads that are swamping everything, there is going to be a big election in November.

And we have been told that the student vote is very important to the candidates this year. Given that students are a fickle and picky demographic, here are some suggestions on how to get us to vote:

Things that will win the student vote

Free Pizza

Students love free stuff. Stuff is expensive, and our budgets are stretched. We also happen to love pizza. If we were all handed a pizza with the name of a candidate on it, we’d vote for that candidate; no questions asked.

Legalize Marijuana

DYLAN LANGILLE | COLLEGIAN

Member of the Barack Obama campaign staff Nin Kadjar attempts to get students to register to vote at the will.i.am speech on the Plaza last Thursday. Today is the last day to register to vote for this November’s presidential elections.

Register now or hold your peace

By KATE WINKLE The Rocky Mountain Collegian

From top right, freshman business majors Eric Krieger, Ian Fox, Hulon Ware and freshman computer engineering major Corey Runyon tackle their bowl of chili during day one of the Chili Challange at Corbett dining hall Monday afternoon. The chilli challenge is a five day chilli eating competition, where each day competitors attempt to finish a bowl of chili spicier then the previous day.

the

There will be no more clipboard-carriers around campus and no more chances to have a voice in the election after Oct. 9: Tuesday marks the voter registration deadline for Colorado voters.

Students can update their information or register for the first time at the City Clerk office on LaPorte Avenue until 5 p.m. Those unsure of their registration status can check it and register to vote at the Larimer County Clerk website at www.co.larimer.co.us/elections. Online registration

FOR MORE | PAGE 6 To find out more about getting registered and see the breakdown of currented registered voters

will be open until midnight.

Both the Obama and Romney campaign offices will also register voters.

The deadline, which includes registering for the first time and updating registration, will set the number of voters who will determine Larimer County’s stance in November’s election. As of Oct. 1, 14,751 people have registered to vote in Larimer County since the beginning of January, according to the

Colorado Secretary of State.

Of those already registered in Larimer County, about 18.66 percent are inactive because they either did not vote in the 2010 election, or they moved from a previous address. There are slightly more Republican voters registered than Democrats, but the numbers are close enough to consider Larimer a swing county. The unaffiliated voters and CSU students could determine the election.

According to the polls, the legalization of marijuana is wildly popular among the youth.

The first candidate to come out in favor of weed will undoubtedly receive our undying support.

$$

Debt Forgiveness

College is expensive. Really expensive. And a lot of students go into debt in order to get an education. If a candidate were to promise to make it easier on us, and thus make it a lot less painful to find a good paying job, we’d be eternally grateful. Just saying...

The Strip Club is written by the Collegian staff and designed by Design Editor Kris Lawan.

2 Tuesday, October 9, 2012 | The Rocky Mountain Collegian

Community Briefs Ornstein and Mann, political scholars, Oct. 17

Second annual Women Entrepreneurs’ Leadership Summit

Thomas Mann and Norman Ornstein will present “It’s Even Worse Than It Looks: A Conversation with Thomas Mann and Norman Ornstein” on Oct. 7. Priding themselves on a nonpartisan approach to political analysis, the pair will speak at the University Theater at 7 p.m.

Mann and Ornstein created substantial political controversy earlier in the year with their op-ed piece in Washington Post, “Let’s just say it: The Republicans are the problem.” A limited number of free tickets will available to the public at CSU’s University Center of the Arts box office.

Hosted by CSU’s College of Business and Institute for Entrepreneurship, the Women Entrepreneurs’ Leadership Summit will be held from 9 a.m. — 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 17, in the Lory Student Center’s West Ballroom.

The leadership summit will address the challenges women entrepreneurs face in today’s economic environment through practical advice, network connections and consultation to foster the growth of women-led enterprises.

The event includes a light breakfast, lunch and a networking reception in the evening from 4:30 — 6 p.m.

FORT COLLINS FOCUS Registration is $60 for the entire day, with student and faculty rates also available.

Herman Cain cancels visit to CSU campus Herman Cain, former GOP presidential candidate, has canceled his scheduled visit as a part of his College Truth Tour for both CU-Boulder and CSU. Herman’s organization has promised that they will reschedule for the spring, bringing Cain’s message of what he considers to be three of the most pressing issues facing our country today: The tax code, energy dependence and government spending.

-- Collegian Staff Report

DYLAN LANGILLE | COLLEGIAN

Junior music major Sean O’Connor practices at the University Center for the Arts Monday afternoon.

O’connor, who plays in the Colorado State Wind Ensemble, practices at the UCA on a daily basis along with taking private lessons to prepare for performances.

THE RO CKY MOUNTAIN

COLLEGIAN Lory Student Center Box 13 Fort Collins, CO 80523

This publication is not an official publication of Colorado State University, but is published by an independent corporation using the name ‘The Rocky Mountain Collegian’ pursuant to a license granted by CSU. The Rocky Mountain Collegian is a 10,000-circulation student-run newspaper intended as a public forum. It publishes five days a week during the regular fall and spring semesters. During the last eight weeks of summer Collegian distribution drops to 4,500 and is published weekly on Wednesdays. During the first four weeks of summer the Collegian does not publish. Corrections may be submitted to the editor in chief and will be printed as necessary on page 2. The Collegian is a complimentary publication for the Fort Collins community. The first copy is free.

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EDITORIAL STAFF | 491-7513 Allison Sylte | Editor in Chief editor@collegian.com Matt Miller | Content Managing Editor news@collegian.com Hunter Thompson | Visual Managing Editor design@collegian.com Andrew Carrera | News Editor news@collegian.com Elisabeth Willner | News Editor news@collegian.com Kevin Jensen | Editorial Editor & Copy Chief letters@collegian.com copy@collegian.com Nic Turiciano | Entertainment Editor verve@collegian.com Cris Tiller | Sports Editor sports@collegian.com

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Editor’s Note: News Editor Andrew Carrera interned with the Democratic National Committee this summer. He has removed himself from all political coverage, including writing, editing and discussions, as well as the paper’s daily editorial, “Our View.”

The Rocky Mountain Collegian | Tuesday, October 9, 2012

3

“I think Joe and Regina are a little more conscious about how students look at things and how our role impacts them.”

Robert Harris | Senator from the College of Natural Science

ASCSU |

Promises kept by ASCSU leadership this year

Continued from Page 1 campus stadium and report them to university officials.

Student government said it will continue to provide additional opportunities for students to voice concerns about CSU President Tony Frank’s decision to build the facility.

“We really want to make sure that all concerns are voiced,” Martel said. “We have a great relationship with Dr. Frank currently and as problems arise we will be sure to voice those concerns to him.”

The administration has also collected student opinion by holding a finance forum Oct. 1 on the Lory Student Center Plaza, designed to give ASCSU an idea of CSU’s thoughts on subjects like tuition and fees. Martel said ASCSU did not record how many students participated and hasn’t yet reflected on the forum’s findings, having focused instead on preparing for the most recent Homecoming Weekend.

STAY UP TO DATE!

LOOK FOR BREAKING NEWS AND IN-DEPTH COVERAGE ON

www.collegian.com

Another finance forum will be held on Oct. 17.

“I think Joe and Regina are a little more conscious about how students look at things and how our role impacts them,” said Robert Harris, a senator from the College of Natural Science.

“They have taken steps necessary to make sure student voice is being heard.”

Student government has also reformed the Student Fee Review Board –– a group of students that approves or denies fee increase proposals –– to have 50 percent of its staff belong to the ASCSU Senate.

The change is part of a larger push on behalf of Martel and Eden to encourage student senators to take their positions more seriously. On top of giving the ASCSU officials more responsibility, the administration has also strictly enforced senate attendance and start times, said Chelsey Green, a senator from the College of Natural Science.

“In the past, that's been a problem of people just meandering in after talking on

their phones or something,” she said.

Promises still in the works include bringing a bike share program, also known as the Bike Library, to CSU’s campus, creating a “green, greener, greenest” rubric by which to grade student government-funded events’ environmental friendliness, creating a new dispatch system for RamRide, improving campus Wi-Fi, putting the Test File online and creating a syllabi sharing website.

Martel said she hopes to complete the remaining promises by the beginning of next semester.

“We know there are a lot of flaws in the student government right now,” Green said. “I feel as though they have made good grounds in improvement and I believe they are striving toward that goal of having a better functioning student government as a whole.”

ASCSU Beat Reporter Carrie Mobley can be reached at news@collegian.com. News Editor Andrew Carrera contributed to this report.

This year Promises kept by 2012-2013 student Government to date (7 of 16) Held student forums to better reach the student body Created the On-Campus Stadium Advisory Committee staffed by students and listened to CSU’s feedback regarding the stadium Kept blue books free

Held various finance forums and changed the Associated Students of CSU Constitution to allow more senate members on the Student Fee Review Board Increased outreach to the residence halls Increased outreach to student organizations Aided Senate in going “green”

Promises still to be kept by 2012-2013 student government (9 of 16) Providing more information on funding, motivation and timeliness of current construction projects Putting the student TestFile online Creating a syllabi sharing website Improving Wi-Fi across campus Creating an accountability report to be released biannually

Implementing a new dispatch system for RamRide Continuing funding for the Late Night Bus Route Creating a “Green, greener, greenest” rubric by which to grade ASCSU-funded events’ environmental friendliness Bringing the Bike Library to campus

Last year Promises kept by 2011-2012 student government this time last year (15 of 44) Implemented a car share program for students Club clips advertising student orgs around campus Created a Traditions Council Expanded test file access by housing them at the ASCSU office Made blue books free for students Funded College Councils to increase membership Addressed graduate student health insurance options

GIRLS BASKETBALL AND WRESTLING COACHES WANTED Starts week of October 22 through December 8 Saturday Morning Games with 2 practices per week Volunteer (Flexible Schedule) GREAT FUN!!

Contact Tom at 221.6385 Please call 224-6027, TDD/TTY 224-6002, for accessibility assistance.

Created a Greek Life liaison position Increased permanent RamRide student staff members Increased Student Funding Board funding Increased travel grant funding Brought “The Onion” to campus RamRide car and volunteer extension RamRide Old Town pick up loop Created twice monthly president roundtables

Collegian

OPINION Tuesday, October 9, 2012 | Page 4

your two cents

17%

23%

60%

Yesterday’s Question: What is your general perception of Greek Life on campus?

23% Mostly positive 60% Mostly negitive 17% Neutral

Today’s question: Are you regisitered to vote for this election?

*47 people voted in this poll.

Log on to http://collegian.com to give us your two cents.

This is an unscientific poll conducted at Collegian.com and reflects the opinions of the Internet users who have chosen to participate.

USA Incorporated

By Bryce liedtke

Fall has swiftly engulfed Colorado and brought all the usual seasonal niceties.

Leaves are flaunting vibrant shades of red, orange and yellow, pumpkin spice latte mania has begun, the first snow evoked widespread bewilderment along the Front Range and the air is abuzz with politics… Kind of.

We have all experienced the not-so-subtle subtleties of election years, from countless ads oozing from TV and radio, to bombardments of unsolicited emails and calls, there is no avoiding either presidential nominee. As slews of malicious accusations and manipulated facts spray from our media, most of us dodge these tools of persuasion as best we can.

The culmination of political aversion came almost a month ago when “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” was more successful in television ratings than either the Republican or Democratic National Convention. I repeat; Americans preferred watching the star of ‘Toddlers in Tiaras’ to the events that are intended to define nominees’ respective platforms.

Despite a dismal statement Honey Boo Boo’s ratings made on our pop culture, last week’s debate revived political engagement, capturing an audience of about 68 million and dominating social media, for better or worse. Although the public seems to have zeroed in on what they deem relevant to their voting thought process, it highlighted an ugly aspect of our political system.

Why is it that we try as hard as we can to avoid the political arena until campaign crunch time? It’s not because of disinterest or lack of political knowledge but rather there is an overwhelming sense of cheapness and superficiality to our process.

This is not anything new, but never has it been so evident that our politics are not just deciding how we run businesses, they are a business. Between lobbyists, super PACs, political consulting and direct donations, billions of dollars flow through our political system annually.

Last month, President Obama received about $180 million in donations, Mr. Romney has received more than $12 million in online donations since Wednesday’s debate alone, and in 2012 close to $2 billion will be spent lobbying by the collective industry sectors.

Where does this money go? Well, a good part is spent

on teams of political consultants that sift through infinite amounts of data, transcripts and video hoping to divulge a potential campaign weapon.

Some is spent on lobbyist salaries, some spent on ads, some event planning, the list goes on and on but certainly nothing substantive for the American public is included.

If PBS ­— which Romney claims he would cut spending to if elected — received donations at the same rate as the former governor has the last five days the station would cover its yearly expenses in less than five months.

Unfortunately, Big Bird doesn’t have big business behind him. The bottom line? Policy is being bought, whether we acknowledge it or not.

The institution of political consulting in the U.S. dates back to the 1930s by a company known as Campaigns Inc., in large, paving the way for big money’s involvement in state and federal legislatures.

Since that time, we have witnessed exponential growth of lobbying and political consulting as well as the birth of super PACs, which — in laymen’s terms — is money laundering with a nicer suit.

The integrity of the respective campaigns face constant attacks from opponents yet all sides employ similar tactics. Our political system could be superimposed over AMC’s “Mad Men” without too many adjustments, the largest difference being, we’re being sold policy instead of cigarettes or slacks.

Neither Obama nor Romney bear sole blame for the flaws of our political inner workings but they are not doing anything to address the issue. Until we have the ability to insist and incentivize legislation and elections to be transparent we will continue to witness this big money trend. It is a daunting task with no clear solution and is almost certainly the kiss of death for any politician that approaches it.

Every major social movement from civil rights to women’s suffrage has taken years of dedication from countless individuals. Americans are discouraged by the way policy makers are conducting business, but the harsh reality is nothing can change when we only actively participate during the four weeks prior to Election Day. High caliber politics is the sum of an informed and engaged public, a year-round job. Unfortunately, this requires watching the news instead of Honey Boo Boo. Bryce Liedtke is a senior finance major. His columns appear every other Tuesday in the Collegian. Letters and feedback can be sent to letters@collegian.com.

our view

Where’s the accomplishments?

Next time you’re walking by the Associated Students of CSU offices in the Lory Student Center, ask yourself: What has your student government done for you?

At this time last year, your student government had provided free blue books, a CSU car share program and a RamRide Old Town pick-up route.

So far this year, ASCSU President Regina Martel and Vice President Joe Eden have created a committee, held “finance forums” to discuss changes to the student fee process, “increased outreach” with residence halls and student organizations ... and maintained the programs created by last year’s administration.

It’s pretty obvious which accomplishments were more tangible and which ones made a bigger impact on the life of the average student.

And this has been the underly-

ing issue plaguing this year’s ASCSU administration: The focus has revolved around vague statements like

“A leader needs to ultimately decide what’s right for the community, to perpetually move forward and strive to actually do something.” “increased outreach” and “soliciting student voice,” rather than actual

promises to take action.

Thus far, being adaptive to student voice has accounted for the bulk of their campaign promises.

Sure, it’s important for a leader to heavily consider the needs of their constituents, but a leader needs to do more than that. A leader needs to ultimately decide what’s right for the community, to perpetually move forward and strive to actually do something.

The good news is that Martel and Eden still have a semester and a half left in office to make a real impact on our university. And we implore them, the next time they’re walking through campus, to stop and ask themselves: What can they do for students?

Hopefully the answer is far more tangible than “increasing outreach” or “soliciting student voice.”

The Collegian Editorial Board is responsible for writing the staff editorial, “Our View,” and for the views expressed therein.

Letters and feedback in response to the staff editorial can be sent to letters@collegian.com.

Allison Sylte | Editor in Chief editor@collegian.com Matt Miller | Content Managing Editor news@collegian.com Hunter Thompson | Visual Managing Editor photo@collegian.com

Andrew Carrera | News Editor news@collegian.com Elisabeth Willner | News Editor news@collegian.com Kevin Jensen | Editorial Editor letters@collegian.com

Nic Turiciano | Entertainment Editor verve@collegian.com Cris Tiller | Sports Editor sports@collegian.com Kris Lawan | Design Editor design@collegian.com

Ag Adventure: Think past the grocery store

By malinda debell

How many stomachs does a cow have? Where do fruit, bread, vegetables and milk come from? What are your clothes made of?

These are just a few questions third-graders were asked when they attended CSU’s Ag Adventure on Sept. 26 and 27.

Every year for the past 12 years, students in the College of Agricultural Sciences have educated more than 2,000 third-graders from the Poudre School District. The purpose of this two-day extravaganza is to help the younger generation learn firsthand about the sources of their food and fiber.

Many kids and adults don’t think past the grocery store; Ag Adventure demonstrates that it all starts with farmers and ranchers.

U.S. farmers — and many others involved in our country’s food system — produce an abundance of safe, high-quality and reasonably priced food.

We might think our grocery expenses are high, but in the United States we spent just 9.8 percent of our disposable

personal income on food in 2011, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service.

Compare that to double-digit expenditures in other nations.

We are fortunate to live in a country that produces the best food in the world, yet many Americans are not aware of the effort and resources that go into our food.

That’s why the CSU College of Agricultural Sciences created Ag Adventure. Third-graders attend a special Ag Adventure field trip at the CSU Agricultural Research, Development and Education Center. There are other versions at the National Western Stock Show and select county fairs.

For the third-graders, CSU student volunteers set up a grand agricultural display with hands-on education stations.

After an introduction, the youngsters get tractor-drawn hayrides to stations where they learn about the intricacies soil and erosion control. They learn about the influence of climate on growing fruits and vegetables. They discuss livestock, meat safety and big-picture topics — including world hunger and food security.

Students see how crops at the research farm are planted and grown.

They also visit horses, cattle and sheep, and even observe sheep shearing and the spinning of wool.

When Ag Adventure goes on the road, the exhibit provides information about Colorado’s wheat, corn, dairy, beef, egg, sugar beet, sheep and fiber sectors. It also includes displays featuring green housing, soil sciences, water and other natural resources.

The goal is to effectively communicate the impact that Colorado agriculture has in our lives. After all, agriculture contributes an estimated $40 billion to the Colorado economy, according to the state Department of Agriculture.

As a volunteer for both versions of Ag Adventure, I’ve seen the limited amount of knowledge people have about agriculture. It is important to me to contribute to this knowledge because agriculture’s future will be demanding in the realm of production of food with the growing population and depletion of land.

It is our goal to raise awareness of the bright and intricate future agriculture has and how it will impact the lives of everyone on earth.

After our Ag Adventure last month, it’s great to know that local third-graders better understand how agriculture is important in their everyday lives.

They go home able to answer questions like those posed earlier: Cows have one stomach with four different compartments where digestion takes place.

Bread is a product from wheat.

Fruits and vegetables are grown from plants, trees and bushes that thrive in open, cultivated fields.

Dairy cows produce milk.

Many clothes can be made from cotton or even from wool, which comes from sheep.

Malinda DeBell is a sophomore animal science major. Her column appears every other Tuesday in the Collegian.

Letters and feedback can be sent to letters@collegian.com.

Collegian Opinion Page Policy

The columns on this page reflect the viewpoints of the individual author and not necessarily that of The Rocky Mountain Collegian or its editorial board. Please send any responses to letters@collegian.com.

Letter submissions are open to all and are printed on a first-received basis. Submissions should be limited to 250 words and need to include the author’s name and contact information. Anonymous letters will not be printed. E-mail letters to letters@collegian.com

Collegian

OPINION Tuesday Tuesday, October 9, 2012 | Page 5

Yays and Nays Yay | To chilli! Chilli to solve the winter chill. There’s only three ways to stay warm: Chilli, chess and chilli.

Nay | To tech companies trying to destroy innovation with patent wars. Try thinking about the consumer, not just your profits.

Nay | To Rams football losing again. We’re disappointed but no longer surprised.

Yay | To our volleyball team, continue to make us proud! At least we have one

Yay | For Jim Tracy quitting. It’s time for some fresh leadership. Let’s go Rockies!

A rolling stone gathers no moss.

team that knows what a win looks like.

Nay | To Herman Cain no longer visiting CSU campus. No free Godfather pizza for everybody, now.

It’s not reverse discrimination – it’s discrimination

Students can’t afford to attack Iran

By brooke lake

The question is on the table — in order to neutralize the existential threat Iran poses with its uranium enrichment; will the United States use military action against them?

This is the question buzzing around Washington, Israel and the Middle East.

However, this question needs to be regarded by students of higher education particularly because the answer to this question will invariably affect our immediate and long-term future.

As students looking to enter into a career relatively soon and establish financial independence, international relations can seem out of view and irrelevant.

There needs to be a shift in our paradigm. We absolutely must engage ourselves in foreign affairs, for it is our civic duty as well as in our best interest.

Let us establish a context and framework of Iran’s uranium enrichment program and the effects upon the American and international community if the United States decides to use military action upon Iran.

According to an executive report published by the Iran Project, unilat-

We at Colorado State University are fortunate to have a president as thoughtful and communicative as university President Tony Frank. Dr. Frank’s email on Oct. 1 announcing his decision on the stadium issue epitomizes both of those traits. Although many will disagree with his conclusion and his interpretations of the issues surrounding this discussion, few can argue that his decision was made in haste or without consideration of the full scope of the endeavor.

Rather than continue to expend energy continuing the debate, we suggest that the CSU community begin moving forward down a path that reflects the concluding statement of Dr. Frank’s email. That the reasons we exist at CSU are for “teaching and learning, research and discovery and creativity, service and engagement, and application”. We believe that if a new on-campus stadium is to be built, the process should be viewed as an opportunity to help us fulfill this core mission.

How might this be accomplished?

Following on with Dr. Frank’s vision of CSU 50 years from now, our vision would be that Colorado State would be recognized as the first institution of higher learning to have been forward

eral air strikes would only delay Iran’s plan of enrichment up to four years — not shut down the program completely.

In order to eliminate Iran’s uranium enrichment project altogether through regime change, terrific numbers of military personnel and force would be required, costing more than the U.S. invested with its military action in Iraq and Afghanistan combined.

Ultimately, the result of a preemptive strike against Iran would prove to be anticlimatic for the U.S. and Israel alike.

Using military action against a sovereign nation who claims their uranium enrichment will be used for peaceful purposes, and who is also a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty would be an informal declaration of war.

Obviously war is the most expensive activity a country can participate in. With unemployment finally dipping below 8 percent, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan drawing out, our economy can not afford to fund another expensive, long and unpredictable international conflict.

Even more significantly, if the U.S. decides to use military action against Iran, we can expect retaliation from Iranian proxy groups such Hezbollah and Hamas, as well as extending antiAmerican and anti-Israeli sentiment throughout the Arab Middle East and North Africa.

The last thing the U.S. needs is to waste our resources (both human and financial), deteriorate our already delicate relationship with Middle Eastern powers, jeopardize our national security, and proliferate our robust national debt.

Beyond our domestic view, consequences for an attack on Iran would also be felt globally through regional instability in the Middle East as well as threaten global economic markets.

Even more, China and Russia would never support a U.S. decision to use military action on Iran. Since these two countries hold significant power as two of the five permanent U.N. Security Council members, the United States could not expect a U.N. Security Council backing on their decision to attack Iran.

It must also be noted that there could be unforeseen economic catastrophes for America because of Chinese and Russian disdain for military action against Iran.

A suffering economy goes hand in hand with high unemployment — a fact which needs to be taken into consideration when deciding whether to attack Iran or not.

So why should you concern yourself with whether the U.S. decides to use military action against Iran?

It is the same reason you care about the economic status in our country, the same reason you care whether your family member must be deployed, and the same reason you fear terrorist attacks.

The same reason you wonder if you will be able to find a job after graduation — you care about these things because it directly affects the livelihood of you and your loved ones.

Editorial Assistant Brooke Lake is a senior international studies major. Her column appears every other Tuesday in the Collegian. Letters and feedback can be sent to letters@collegian.com.

Guest Column thinking enough to have constructed a stadium that is so green that it meets and exceeds the highest LEEDs certification standards.

Here are three examples of how this might happen. First, stadium materials should be purchased from recycled sources whenever possible, and all stadium concessions should be operated with 100 percent recyclable materials.

Second, the stadium should incorporate into its basic architectural design solar panels capable of generating the electricity needed to operate the facility, as well as provide additional energy for the campus.

And third, because Fort Collins is situated in a semi-arid climate, design strategies need to be in place not only for basic water conservation, but also for rainwater capture, storage for use on the natural grass field and the surrounding green scape.

Thus, we envision a stadium that is not only carbon and water neutral, but one that can generate and capture these resources for use elsewhere on campus. There is little doubt that these features will further increase the cost of the stadium, but when viewed through a 50 year lens, the operational savings should help offset the cost, and the

positive PR for CSU as “The Green University” would be substantial.

Even more important would be the process by which such a design could take place. CSU has a world renowned faculty and students that are among the best and brightest Colorado has to offer. We suggest that students and faculty from across campus can be creatively engaged in the design process, perhaps organized by the School of Global Environmental Sustainability, so that the new stadium and its operation exceeds the highest standards for energy and water sustainability.

By doing so, the stadium as Dr. Frank states in his email, can indeed “benefit the university and the community beyond the six football games played there each year” and the design of the stadium will become central to the broader research and educational mission of the university.

Respectfully, Alan K. Knapp, Senior Ecologist and Professor; Diana H. Wall, Director, School of Global Environmental Sustainability; Eugene F. Kelly, Professor and Head Department of Soil and Crop Sciences

By kevin jensen

Wednesday, the constitutionality of the use of affirmative action will be debated in the U.S. Supreme Court. Due to the composition of the Supreme Court, the potential racial discrimination currently allowed by affirmative action in higher education admissions may very well cease to exist.

This court case has special importance to me because I am in the midst of applying to law school, trying to fulfill my lifelong dream of earning my Juris Doctorate and serving the American public.

The fact of the matter is that if the allowance of race as a determining factor in admissions is abolished before my application is processed, I have a better chance of getting into law school.

If the color of my skin is no longer taken into consideration, I have a better shot at achieving my dream.

I believe — as previous Supreme Court rulings have established — that diversity is an integral part of creating a stimulating learning environment.

But the idea that the color of my skin is a detriment to my application to law school is abhorrent, and is supported neither by the Constitution nor subsequent Supreme Court rulings.

In Regents of the University of California vs.

Bakke in 1978, the Supreme Court found UC Davis Medical School's admissions policies unconstitutional when it set aside spaces for racial minorities — but the court also recognized that diversity is a legitimate goal of admissions.

Justice Powell, however, when writing the majority opinion for UC vs. Bakke, 1978, emphasized the importance of considering each particular applicant as an individual, assessing all of the qualities an individual possesses and evaluating that individual's contribution to the unique setting of higher education.

In Gratz vs. Bollinger, 2003, the Supreme Court found that the University of Michigan's admissions policy of automatically distributing 20 points, or one-fifth of the points needed to guarantee admission to every "underrepresented minority" applicant solely because of race violates the Equal Protection Clause.

On the exact same day as that ruling, though, the Supreme Court also delivered their decision on the University of Michigan affirmative action case Grutter vs. Bollinger, ruling that attempting to

achieve a "critical mass" of racial minority students who might be otherwise excluded does not violate the 14th Amendment because it is narrowly tailored to achieve the school’s desired goals.

This idea of attempting to achieve a “critical mass” of racial minority students is the focal point of Wednesday’s Supreme Court case. But the composition of the Supreme Court has changed a lot since the ruling on Grutter in 2003 — where Justice Kennedy joined three conservatives in dissent to the ruling, and wrote his own dissent separately as well.

“Preferment by race, when resorted to by the state, can be the most divisive of all policies,” wrote Justice Kennedy in 2003, “containing within it the potential to destroy confidence in the Constitution and in the idea of equality.”

On Wednesday, Justice Kennedy will lead the charge in what is anticipated to be a 5-3 vote, where affirmative action could be radically changed or ruled unconstitutional altogether.

I agree with Justice Kennedy; using race as a determining factor of admissions stands in stark contradiction to the Equal Protection Clause and undermines the integrity of our Constitution.

I believe that diversity is a critical and valuable part of higher education, and that diversity is indeed a valid goal of admissions — this has long been established by the Supreme Court.

But a person’s admittance based on diversity should be measured on an individual basis, not under the general categorical assumptions of skin color and race — as multiple Supreme Court decisions have affirmed.

When measuring an individual’s contribution to a diverse learning environment, we should be measuring them based on the content of their character rather than the boxes they check on their application.

Diversity should be measured by examining differing cultural experiences and unique worldviews — not on whether the applicant's skin is colorful enough for the front page of a school's admissions pamphlet.

Affirmative action was created with the best intentions, but the reality of its consequences are that my race is a detriment to my law school application and a potential impediment to my future. This isn’t reverse discrimination — it’s discrimination.

Affirmative action — as first put into effect by J.F.K. — was intended to combat injustice, not to create it. If we are trying to help the socioeconomically disadvantaged, then we should base preferable admissions on a candidate’s financial capabilities, not on race.

If the only thing that prevents me from achieving my dream is the color of my skin, how can anybody tell me that I am not a victim of discrimination? Where is my protection under the Equal Protection Clause?

Editorial Editor Kevin Jensen is a senior English major.

His column appears Tuesdays in the Collegian. He can be reached at kjensen@collegian. com or on Twitter @kevinrjensen.

Find Your Voice The Collegian wants to hear from you. Submit letters and columns to letters@collegian.com, guest columns will be featured on Opinion Tuesdays. Also, join in the conversation online and start a discussion on Twitter using #CollegianOpinion.

Collegian Opinion Page Policy

The columns on this page reflect the viewpoints of the individual author and not necessarily that of The Rocky Mountain Collegian or its editorial board. Please send any responses to letters@collegian.com.

Letter submissions are open to all and are printed on a first-received basis. Submissions should be limited to 250 words and need to include the author’s name and contact information. Anonymous letters will not be printed. E-mail letters to letters@collegian.com

6 Tuesday, October 9, 2012 | The Rocky Mountain Collegian

Julian Assange fans ordered to pay his bail

BY HENRY CHU The McClatchy Tribune LONDON — The cost of helping WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange fight allegations of sexual assault became painfully real Monday for a group of supporters who were ordered by a British judge to pay money they had pledged for his bail now that he has fled inside the Ecuadorean Embassy.

Nine of the anti-secrecy campaigner’s backers are on the hook for about $150,000 among them because he jumped bail in June by putting himself out of the reach of British police. Assange, 41, sought asylum inside the embassy in central London to evade extradition to Sweden, which wants to question him in connection with allegations that he sexually abused two women last year.

Chief Magistrate Howard Riddle said Monday that the nine supporters had “failed in their basic duty” to ensure that Assange did not abscond.

The group had acknowledged making no attempt to persuade him to give himself up, out of sympathy with his fears that the Swedish investigation was merely a

pretext to spirit him to the United States to face possible charges of espionage in connection with WikiLeaks’ release of thousands of classified government files.

Riddle wrote in his judgment that he felt “real respect” for the nine backers’ convictions.

“In declining to publicly (or as far as I know privately) urge Mr. Assange to surrender himself, they have acted against self-interest. They have acted on their beliefs and principles throughout,” Riddle wrote in his judgment. “In what is sometimes considered to be a selfish age, that is admirable.”

But he said the integrity of the bail system needed to be upheld. Moreover, it should have been clear to the nine supporters that Assange, who had vowed to fight extradition tooth and nail, posed a substantial flight risk, Riddle said.

The judge reduced the amount of money to be paid from the originally pledged sum of $224,000 to $150,000, out of recognition of some of the backers’ limited means.

The nine include Nobel Prize-winning biologist John Sulston and journalist Phillip Knightley.

Great time of year for

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I should prepare to vote this election

LSC Plaza Fill out a form Fort Collins City Clerk (300 W. LaPorte Ave.)

In person

(If voting in Colo.)

Romney campaign office (700 S. College Ave.)

Sign the form

Obama campaign office

Online

(1205B W. Elizabeth St.)

(Colo. or out-ofstate voters)

Confirmation: You will receive an official information card from the county clerk and recorder’s office about 20 days after registering.

Fill out the electronic form

Go to your state’s voter registration website.

Colorado’s is: www.elections. colorado.gov.

Sign the form electronically and submit it.

Voting: Oct. 22 - Nov. 6 In person: If you are registered in Larimer County you can vote in the Lory

Mail in: You will receive your ballot before the election; fill it out and send it no later than Nov. 6

Student Center starting Oct. 22 with early voting. Bring a form of identification like a Colorado driver’s license, identification card or passport.

Voting Statistics As of Oct. 1: 237,442 have registered to vote

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The Rocky Mountain Collegian | Tuesday, October 9, 2012

7

#Room-Antics

Daily Horoscope

Nancy Black and Stephanie Clement TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (10/09/12). Dive into realizing a dream

JADE

this year. Boundaries and your view of them expand exponentially. Discovery through research, travel and practice opens new doors to your goals. So craft a solid plan, with finances organized to support. It’s all lining up.

To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

Wondermark

Tim Rickard

Brewster Rockit

Rochelle Peeler

Meh Comex

Ctrl+z

Chelsea London

ARIES (Mar. 21-April 19) –– 8 –– You can find plenty of work and income, if you’re willing to look. Keep your objective in mind. Leave time for romance. Tiny deceptions get unveiled, so avoid them.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) — 8 — Make changes, but not to core values. Talk it over with family before deciding. Old lessons prove useful again. Find a way to do what you love.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) –– 7 –– Reorganize your workspace for maximum productivity. There’s a lot to learn, and plenty of work to practice with. Your curiosity rewards you with useful skills. Get into powerhouse mode.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) –– 6 –– Seek balance between power and pleasantries for a philosophical partnership. Creative opportunities abound. Emotions surround you, but true love is not for sale. Go with your heart.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)–– 8 –– You’re more than ready to make changes for the better over the next few days. Learn from a master, and listen to the whole lesson. Be generous with your appreciation.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) –– 5 –– Friends can be a great help, especially in solving a puzzle and fixing old problems. But don’t follow blindly. Your intuition is excellent. Reaffirm a commitment.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) –– 7 –– It’s all about friends. To honor John Lennon’s birthday, remember the words of his wife and friend, Yoko Ono, “A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.”

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) –– 7 –– Talk to everyone, and more money may even come in. Ignore distractions to focus on a creative project. Learn from mistakes. Reconnect with someone from your past.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) –– 7 –– Express love to your significant other, friend or family member. With a few adjustments, you get the perfect picture. Saving is better than spending now. Savor kindness.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) –– 5 –– You’re entering a transformative cycle. Out of the rubble, something new gets built.

Work with a partner, listening carefully. Optimism expands to fill available space.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) –– 7 –– Care for houseplants or garden work goes better with the help of a female. You’re more exposed to the elements now. Make sure you understand the rules before proceeding.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) –– 6 –– You’re getting busier and very productive. Behind-the-scenes negotiations lead to a sweet deal. Finish a tough job before going out. You’re making a good impression.

David Malki

RamTalk

compiled by Kris Lawan The deadline to register to vote is Tuesday... THANK GOD! Speaking of God, ‘Can I ask you a couple questions?’ ...... dang.

Daily cartoons and games available at Collegian.com. Send feedback to design@collegian.com.

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle

To the girl that just spilled her drink in the cube and just left, what are we, in high school? Clean up after yourself.

To the couple in my psychology class: While your romance is adorable, being unable to go more than 3 minutes without holding hands is clingy. Good luck with that.

To the girl wearing high heels while longboarding, how did you ever think that could end well?

Text your rants to 970-430-5547.

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Today’s RamTalk sponsored by:

Yesterday’s solution

Today’s Sudoku sponsored by:

49¢ Wings on

Mondays

Monday Night Football 1 3 3 5 W . E l i z a b et h • 9 7 0 - 4 8 2 - 9 4 6 4

Across 1 Actor Lorenzo 6 Crumbly cheese 10 Mt. Rushmore’s state 14 Where Crockett famously fought 15 Disappearing Asian sea 16 Running rate 17 Design theme 18 *Ginger ale brand 20 *It gets you a ticket to ride 22 Badminton target 23 “Arrested Development” star Jason 26 Rushing units: Abbr.

27 “Star Trek” weapon 31 Makes an appearance 33 Investor’s online destination 34 *Hold that might precede a noogie 38 Give out, as a signal 39 Loser to DDE 40 School near Burlington, North Carolina 41 *Umpire’s call 44 Fix on a stake 46 Loggers’ contest 47 Get the better of 48 Cup rim 51 Tom Brokaw’s domain 53 French president’s palace 55 *Sack with letters 60 *Neck-and-neck election campaign 63 “Cheers” barmaid 64 Broadway auntie 65 Bleacher feature 66 To no __: fruitlessly 67 Nestlé ice cream brand 68 Air France hub 69 Drink with steamed milk Down 1 Baby bleater 2 1966 N.L. batting champ Matty 3 Protective floor coverings 4 “I __ you are!”

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13 Conservative pundit Alan 19 Ate in style 21 Hard to come by 24 Level of authority 25 “The Simpsons” watering hole 27 Nestling noise 28 Webmaster’s file type 29 Verdi’s “Caro nome,” e.g.

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8 Tuesday, October 9, 2012 | The Rocky Mountain Collegian

Fort Collins breweries cope with effects of the fire New Belgium strives to produce quality taste after High Park Fire

By Haleigh Hamblin The Rocky Mountain Collegian Since the High Park Fire burned 136 square miles near Fort Collins over the summer, ash has been filtering into the Poudre River — a main supplier of Fort Collins’ drinking water — every time it rains.

In a brewing community, such water contamination can be concerning.

In response to ashes in the Poudre, local companies have been taking measures to ensure that they continue to produce a quality product.

New Belgium installed a personal water treatment facility allowing the company to process water, though it still draws from the Fort Collins water system.

“Everyone uses the same water,” said New Belgium

Spokesman Brian Simpson.

“No faucet is different, we continue to supply the same quality as we did before the fire.”

New Belgium, the manufacturer of Fat Tire beer, does not have a personal reserve of water, though it works closely with the Fort Collins Utilities department.

It receives the same quality of water as other Fort Collins businesses and residents.

The United States Department of Health requires all water suppliers to meet standards specified by the Safe Drinking Water Act. “The amount of water we take and/or if we take water depends on precipitation and the amount of ash that runs into the Poudre,” said Kevin Gertig, water resources and treatment manager.

Access to the Poudre

Water Quality info For more information on Fort Collins water quality and update on Poudre river quality visit : http://www.fcgov.com/

River stopped in June, after water turned black with ash.

The Fort Collins Utilities office then made Horsetooth Reservoir the main source of water.

In September, Fort Collins Utilities’ water treatment operations began blending a small amount of water from the Poudre River to its current supply from Horestooth Reservoir.

Michelle Peth, bar manager of Mayor of Old Town Brewery Bar, has not tasted a difference in flavor since the High Park Fire. Peth has been in the bar industry for

Kevin Johansen | COLLEGIAN

The Poudre River has been running black with ash ever since the infamous fires of this past summer. The ash is preventing Fort Collins from using the Poudre as a source of drinking water.

the last nine years.

“New Belgium wouldn’t allow a different beer out in

production,” Peth said. “New Belgium is a reliable company that focuses on quality.”

Collegian Writer Haleigh Hamblin can be reached at news@collegian.com.