Thursday, March 7, 2024 Vol. 133 No. 24

COVER

TRIN BONNER THE COLLEGIAN

FORT COLLINS FOCUS

TOP STORIES TOP STORIES FOCO EVENTS FOCO EVENTS

NEWS: CSU Climate Initiative aims for climate education across all disciplines PAGE 4

THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN

The Gallery at Gallipott grand opening 5-7 p.m. March 8

JAKE

Lory Student Center, Suite 118

Fort Collins, CO 80523

ADVISING STAFF

KIM BLUMHARDT ADVERTISING MANAGER

ASHER KORN KCSU ADVISER CHRISTA

L&C: WOLI to create confident outdoor leaders in women, nonbinary individuals PAGE 9

SPORTS: CSU equine polo turns chukkers into chuckles PAGE 13

SCIENCE: CSU Annual Flower Trial Garden is nature’s laboratory PAGE 18

A&E: The Rock Garden shares natural beauty of Colorado PAGE 23

OPINION: Head to Head: Should national parks be for everyone or preserved? PAGE 25

PHOTO: Skijoring and rodeo features PAGES 14-15

Mini Landscape Consultations Class by Bath Garden Center & Nursery

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 9

Watercolor Skies Beginning Class with Blue Moose Art Gallery 1-4 p.m. March 9

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

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

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

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

Allie Seibel | Editor in Chief editor@collegian.com

Ivy Secrest | Content Managing Editor

managingeditor@collegian.com

Lauren Pallemaerts | Executive Editor copy@collegian.com

Adah McMillan | Copy Chief copy@collegian.com

Nathan Carmody | Print Director design@collegian.com

Caden Proulx | Print Director design@collegian.com

EDITORIAL STAFF

Trin Bonner | Illustration Director design@collegian.com

Colby Clark | Social Media Coordinator socialmedia@collegian.com

Milo Gladstein | Photo Director photo@collegian.com

Garrett Mogel | Photo Director photo@collegian.com

Tyler Weatherwax | News Editor news@collegian.com

Hannah Parcells | News Editor news@collegian.com

Jenn Dawson | Science Editor science@collegian.com

Dominique Lopez | Opinion Editor letters@collegian.com

Damon Cook | Sports Editor sports@collegian.com

Emma Askren | Sports Editor sports@collegian.com

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

Christian Arndt | L&C Editor life@collegian.com

Parisa Farhadi | Digital & Social Managing Editor socialmedia@collegian.com

Colorado State University first-years Ly Gutierrez and Aidan Hallsworth and junior Hayden Lewis review images pulled from a camera trap on Hallsworth’s laptop at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area in Fort Collins Feb. 24. All three students are a part of The Wildlife Society at CSU.

PHOTO BY SAMANTHA NORDSTROM THE COLLEGIAN

ENVIRONMENTAL PREPAREDNESS

CSU experts discuss safety amid Colorado wildfire season

By Riley Paling @rileypaling

As Colorado prepares for another potentially intense wildfire season, with fires already sparking in Colorado and nearby states, authorities are doubling down on safety measures to mitigate risks and ensure the safety of Colorado’s communities and forests.

This year’s primary focus is on proactive strategies and heightened awareness. All types of wildfires have leading causes, some of these being dropped cigarettes and harsh weather conditions. While the causes and severity of wildfires are essential to understand, what is even more important is learning how individuals can prevent wildfires in forests and mitigate wildfire damage to their homes in case of emergency.

“Fires are getting larger, they are burning more acreage and they are costing a lot more,” said Jude Bayham, associate professor of agricultural and resource economics at Colorado State University.

One of the main things causing this increase in severity is climate

change. Climate change has exacerbated the frequency and intensity of wildfires, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

However, climate change is not the sole cause of wildfires. Another cause is the recent growth in fuel usage in the wildlandurban interface, which is the area where urban infrastructure meets undeveloped natural land. Together, these make up the three prime contributors to wildfires: weather conditions, fuels and vegetation. This combination provides fuel for fires to ignite and spread rapidly.

Another concern is that agencies responsible for fighting fires and the firefighting workforce are strained due to low recruitment and possible budget cuts.

Although there is an understandable amount of public fear that comes with these conditions, there are things anyone can do to help prevent fires, even under these conditions.

One of the most critical methods of wildfire safety, as explained by Bayham, is defensible space.

“(That’s) clearing vegetation, keeping limbs from trees and things off of your roof, using fire-resistant building materials and keeping leaves and things out of your gutters,” Bayham said. Defensible space guidelines are a top priority for those who want to be on top of fire prevention. Among other safety measures

people can take, Colorado State Forest Service guidelines advise residents to mow their grass and weeds to a height of 4 inches or less, rake and remove all pine needles and other flammable debris near their home and remove tree branches from their roof. The defensible space guidelines go into much more depth about how

to help prevent fire damage from every side of a house.

Guidelines on defensible space are the most important thing to adhere to, said Camille Stevens-Rumann, assistant professor of forest and rangeland stewardship. She explained other ways of preventing fire in a residential area, including replacing any wood shingles on roofs with fireresistant materials.

Due to the urgency of fire prevention and safety, state and local authorities have ramped up efforts to educate residents and implement preventive measures.

Poudre Fire Authority Public Education and Risk Reduction Manager Kaitlyn Truelove said people can help protect their homes in advance from wildfire damage by “installing fire mesh screen(s), taking care of landscapes and paying attention to weather conditions.”

“Early detection of wildfires is very important,” Truelove said. “Signs of smoke should be investigated. If you see abnormal smoke, (you should) call 911.”

Reach Riley Paling at news@collegian.com.

CSU, Montana State to form regional center for environmental justice

By Katie Fisher @csucollegian

Through funding awarded by the United States Environmental Protection Agency Jan. 19, Colorado State University’s Center for Environmental Justice and Montana State University will work to establish a regional environmental justice center.

The Mountains and Plains Thriving Communities Collaborative will service previously underrepresented

communities within EPA’s Region 8, which is composed of Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota, Utah and North Dakota, along with 28 federally recognized tribal nations.

“This Technical Assistance Center is really to get communities the support they need in order to access funding, (to) find that expertise to make those really technical decisions they need to and to build something we call civic capacity to engage with decision-makers,” Center for Environmental Justice Program Manager Mindy Hill said.

Environmental justice can be divided into two threads: distributive justice and procedural justice. The former is focused on where negative environmental influences have been placed in the past and the latter on how administrative justice and resources are delicate to communities in need.

“We take a very social and ecological approach to what we think about environmental justice,” said Dimitris Stevis, Center for Environmental Justice co-founder and co-director. “It’s not just about the nature, but it’s about humanity in nature.”

Communities most affected by environmental injustice are typically Black, Latinx, Native American or low-income, Center for Environmental Justice cofounder Stephanie Malin said. One of the collaborative’s goals, which is coordination, hopes to close that gap.

“A lot of times, the groups that are most impacted (are) the ones that don’t have a seat at the table,” Malin said.

Montana State University will also assist in the coordination of these relationships, said Julia Haggerty, collaborative project leader and Montana State University associate professor of geography.

“We have a lot of experience at Montana State as a land-grant with a big extension program with a lot of history working productively in both rural and tribal communities,” Haggerty said. “From that we have experience on kind of, like, how to build trusting, meaningful, reciprocal relationships.”

The ultimate goal of these relationships will be to give communities facing injustice a place to turn to in times of need when the next step may be unclear.

“If something were happening in your hometown, would you know how to talk to your leaders?” Hill said. “Would you know how to get a group of community members together to find out information and advocate for what you need?”

After connecting communities with experts, they will also work to connect individuals with funding opportunities.

“Our job in general is to help communities access funding, and some of that is going to be training to help them match up with funds they’re a really good match for,” Hill said.

Funding opportunities and connections will hopefully also be found at the national level, as

Center of Environmental Justice Committee Member Madeline Schomburg explained.

“We have ties to what’s going on at the federal level that I think some of the other centers may not have in the same way that we do,” Schomburg said.

The center is also strategizing on how to assist communities once funding ultimately runs out.

“We really want to build stronger networks so that once this funding is gone, once these programs are over, we are going to have a really strong environmental justice network in this region,” Hill said.

The center is set to soft launch in April 2024 and pilot inperson trainings beginning in August. However, during this development process, the center plans to stick to its roots and utilize the resources found on CSU’s campus.

“(Our goal) as a state land-grant university is that we really bring our expertise in environmental justice (and) clean energy policy to communities so it doesn’t just sit here in the university walls and in books on shelves,” Hill said.

Reach Katie Fisher at news@collegian.com.

COLLEGIAN FILE PHOTO

CSU Climate Initiative aims for climate education across all disciplines

By Laila Shekarchian @csucollegian

With climate change a prevalent concern among students and faculty alike, Colorado State University is committed to addressing the issue and continuing to lead in sustainability and climate education through the CSU Climate Initiative.

“CSU is already among the leading American universities focused on sustainability,” Director of the Climate Initiative Courtney Schultz said. “CSU houses world-class educators and experts working on all aspects of living with climate change and are poised to serve our state and region and educate the next generation of climate leaders.”

The Climate Initiative plans to integrate climate education into the curriculum across all educational disciplines to ensure all students are equipped with climate literacy regardless of their academic background.

“We are bringing together CSU’s many climate change experts from our institutes and beyond, across campus, to support collaboration and innovative curriculum development, which require integration across disciplines and community-based engagement,” Schultz said.

“We believe all students at CSU, regardless of background or study focus, should have equal opportunity to explore what climate change looks like through the lens of their discipline. We’ve intentionally woven together climate change perspectives from three colleges and five departments to create a flexible yet wellrounded experience for students.”

SARAH BADDING CLIMATE INITIATIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM MEMBER

One way CCI will begin integrating climate literacy into the curriculum is through staff training.

CCI plans to offer Climate Across the Curriculum, a two-day session for CSU staff members to learn about key aspects of climate change. Through this program, staff will be trained to integrate climate information into their classes, regardless of their background or academic focus.

“The goal of the workshop is to allow any instructor to add climate change content to their courses, and the workshop has a successful track record at the University of Colorado Boulder,” Schultz said. “Ultimately, climate change affects every discipline, so we recognize the importance of a wide variety of classes exposing students to the relevance of climate change.”

Although nothing has been finalized yet, CCI has already made great progress in its plan to update the curriculum and hopes to have new courses developed by the end of the year.

“Already, CCI is funding courses to be developed or updated with climate change content through the CSU Climate Initiative Sustainability Curriculum Innovation Grant, which includes courses focused on community engagement and public health,

geosciences, philosophy, graphic novel development and climate finance,” Schultz said.

In addition to the steps they have taken to update the curriculum, CCI is developing a 12-credit undergraduate certificate in Climate Change and Society with courses offered to all students through multiple colleges at CSU. Schultz said the team working on the initiative hopes to have students enrolled in the certificate program, entirely new classes created and climate change lessons integrated into existing courses by the end of 2024.

“We believe all students at CSU, regardless of background or study focus,should have equal opportunity to explore what climate change looks like through the lens of their discipline,” said Sarah Badding, a member of the CCI leadership team. “We’ve intentionally woven together climate change perspectives from three colleges and five departments to create a flexible yet well-rounded experience for students.”

The steps the university is taking in climate education are heavily dependent on community involvement to ensure there are no major discrepancies in their research and programs. Climatefocused programs at the CSU Spur campus foster community involvement in the project outside of Fort Collins to gain a wider range

of perspectives and involvement and benefit those communities.

“Locating our Climate Hub at the Spur campus presents a unique opportunity to connect with Denver’s population center and engage with community members affected by climate change impacts, particularly those in the neighborhoods surrounding the campus,” said Scott Shrake, CCI leadership team member. “This area, by some metrics, ranks as one of the most polluted zip codes in the United States.”

The hope of CCI is that the program will lead students to be more active and engaged in addressing climate change.

“Climate change will be an existential challenge for generations to come,” Schultz said. “Society will have to transition through significant changes, adapting to new conditions and moving towards a decarbonized future. CSU launched the CCI to ensure we are leading on this front — not just in our research and innovation, outreach and engagement but also by training the next generation of leaders with innovative and new programs of study.”

Reach Laila Shekarchian at news @collegian.com.

A place to reflect: Amache National Historic Site joins National Park System

By Tyler Weatherwax @twwax7272

National parks are often associated with beautiful mountains, landscapes and nature, but Colorado’s new national park tells an important piece of history right where it happened.

The former Granada Relocation Center was designated the Amache National Historic Site by President Joe Biden in 2022, and the historical site is now formally introduced into the national parks system as of Feb. 15. Colorado lawmakers have been pushing to see the historical site join the National Park System, and support also came from Rep. Ken Buck, who represents the area in which the park is located.

“Amache’s addition to the National Park System is a reminder that a complete account of the nation’s history must include our dark chapters of injustice,” National Park Service Director Charles Sams said in a statement from the U.S. Department of the Interior. “To

heal and grow as a nation, we need to reflect on past mistakes, make amends and strive to form a more perfect union.”

“When people think about national park sites, they do include these, you know, wild or scenic open spaces, but they also include places that ... represent some of the country’s most important history.”

CHRIS MATHER AMACHE NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE MANAGER

The Amache National Historic Site is located just outside the town of Granada, Colorado, and stands as a memory of the over 10,000 Japanese Americans who were detained at the Granada Relocation Center during World War II. The Amache site held over 7,000 people at most at a time. Amache was one of 10 relocation sites in the U.S. during that time.

Following the attacks on Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066, which authorized the incarceration of Japanese Americans. Soon after, Congress passed Public Law 503, which punished those who violated the order with up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.

Before the NPS acquired the land, the town of Granada owned the Amache site. In order to become a national park, the land must be owned by the federal government. After undergoing a special resource study, the land was found to be significant enough to become a national park.

“When people think about national park sites, they do include these, you know, wild or scenic open spaces, but they also include places that ... represent some of the country’s most important history,” said Chris Mather, a site manager for the Amache National Historic Site.

The stories of the people held at the camp will continue to be told and preserved at the new park and will inform future generations of the area’s history.

“There’s stories that, you know, we need to preserve, and I think that as an American, you know, we need to hear the most,” Mather said. “It’s confronting mistakes from our past but also honoring the stories of those who were ... imprisoned here at this site.”

The connection between the town of Granada and the Amache site is one that wasn’t seen elsewhere during the detainment program.

“There’s an interaction between these two communities that occurred out here that didn’t occur at any other site in the country

because of the close proximity to each other,” Mather said.

This week will see the introduction of new NPS information and signage at the site, and the process of hiring new park rangers to help the park has also begun. The historical site has received help from the local high school in the past, with students providing tours and information to visitors. Those students will continue to work alongside the park rangers, keeping the tradition going.

“Amache today is really a unique place,” Mather said. “It’s a place (to) reflect, recommit, and (it’s also) just a critical, important piece of American history. ... Sites like this (are) an opportunity for people to learn about what happened here and kind of just get a greater understanding of the histories of the people that were here and the communities that surround them as well.”

Reach Tyler Weatherwax at news @collegian.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

SkiSU bus ships students to slopes miles from school

By Allie Seibel @allie_seibel_

The closest distance between Colorado State University and a ski resort is 69 miles to Eldora Mountain Ski Resort.

Branching out to the more wellknown Colorado ski resorts, CSU is 156 miles from Vail, 138 miles from Breckenridge, 130 miles from Keystone and 123 miles from Arapahoe Basin, all of which are over two-hour drives from campus, yet the proximity to ski resorts is something CSU touts in its promotional materials.

“(Proximity to ski resorts) definitely was a contributing factor (for me coming to CSU),” first-year Bradley Hieber said. “I was looking at all schools that were, like, out here by the mountains.”

Hieber, originally from New Jersey, had been visiting Colorado for years before he moved to Colorado with his family before the start of his first year. For him, the distance to the slopes from campus was expected.

“I mean, it’s what I expected because I had been coming out here

for years before I knew it would be, like, the three hours,” Hieber said. “I feel like out-of-state students definitely might think that the mountains in general are closer than (they are) because it’s a bit of a journey to get over there.”

“A lot of the buses this year sold out before the school year started, which is insane, so my hope is that we just have enough buses to get everyone up there and meet customer demand.”

MCKENNA COURTNEY SKISU PROGRAM SUPERVISOR

Hieber’s time skiing has increased during college, especially when he drives to the slopes on the weekends and days off. But for some students who come to CSU with aspirations of skiing and struggle with the realities of the distance to the slopes, the SkiSU bus provides discounted rides to reach popular mountains nearby.

“Our main goal for the SkiSU bus is taking freshmen, other students and staff up to the mountains in a safe and sustainable way,” said McKenna Courtney, CSU senior and supervisor of the SkiSU program. “One goal there is to just make sure that everyone is getting up there safe and sound and cutting back on emissions (by providing rides) to people on campus.”

The SkiSU bus offers 12 trips a year up to mountains like Eldora, Arapahoe Basin and Copper Mountain.

“(We want to make sure) the freshmen have a way up because we know a lot of them, especially the out-of-state students, really want a chance to get up there, especially if they’ve never been there before, and we want to provide them with

the transportation to get there,” Courtney said.

Through a partnership with the Alternative Transportation Fee Advisory Board, Parking & Transportation Services and the Associated Students of CSU, the SkiSU program is able to offer discounted bus ticket prices at $25 for students and $34 for faculty for each round trip.

The SkiSU bus service was started in 2017 by a group of students who partnered with PTS. Following a soft launch the first year with five trips to the mountains and sold-out buses, the program has expanded each year.

“We’ve found that more students are accessing the Ikon Pass location mountains,” Courtney said. “The student passes are a lot less expensive than the Epic Pass mountains, so that’s how we narrowed down our paths of preference for everybody. Since then, we’ve noticed a huge spike in popularity with the program.”

For the 2023-24 ski season, the SkiSU program has partnered with the CSU Snowriders to send two buses up to select mountains some

weekends when the Snowriders are sponsoring events. Courtney said she hopes going forward, more buses can be sent up to mountains, as almost every trip is consistently sold out.

“Collaborating with other organizations on campus has been really important,” Courtney said.

“We’ve been pretty successful so far in our partnership with the Snowriders, so potentially going and seeing if the CSU Freeride team needs transportation for any of their competitions that happen (or) approaching the Outdoor Club, who might want to try it as well.”

Going forward, Courtney said she hopes SkiSU can expand even further to serve students who are looking to ski.

“Just a lot of collaboration and more integration from the CSU community into this service is what this is going to lead toward,”

Courtney said. “A lot of the buses this year sold out before the school year started, which is insane, so my hope is that we just have enough buses to get everyone up there and meet customer demand.”

Reach Allie Seibel at life @collegian.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SKISU PROGRAM

CSU SEEDS cultivates diversity in fields of ecology, sustainability

By Laila Shekarchian @csucollegian

Interested in ecology and sustainability and looking for a chance to explore the great outdoors? Check out Colorado State University SEEDS, a club dedicated to promoting diversity and representation in the field of ecology.

SEEDS stands for Strategies for Ecology Education, Diversity and Sustainability and is a program offered by the Ecological Society of America. The group’s mission is to promote diversity in the field of ecology and increase participation and leadership

by underrepresented groups through education and experiences.

CSU’s chapter of SEEDS was established by graduate student Sara Bombaci in 2017. Bombaci has since become an assistant professor at the university in the department of fish, wildlife and conservation biology.

“The main thing SEEDS does is provide opportunities for students to learn firsthand through their own experiences how cool the science of ecology is and to meet people from different backgrounds who also think ecology is cool,” SEEDS staff adviser Cynthia Brown said.

SEEDS provides students of all backgrounds and identities a space

to connect with their peers over ecology outside of classes.

“When I think about when I joined SEEDS as a member, it was a very welcoming environment, and I felt like I could really be myself, and there were a lot of people who were very passionate about things that I was passionate about, so I felt very at home right away,” said Fin Joyce, a SEEDS officer.

SEEDS plans several events for students to attend, get a greater understanding of ecology and gain experience firsthand. The most impactful events tend to be the field trips where members get to spend time in the ecosystem and enjoy the outdoors.

“Honestly, the highest-impact event for the members are the field trips, especially when we get to spend a couple days in an ecosystem, learn about it from people who know it well and enjoy the outdoors together,” Brown said.

From the perspective of SEEDS members, the field trips have given them a great

understanding of ecology and sustainability.

“The most impactful (trip), I think, was last spring, where we went out to the short grass depth research center, which is out by Ault, Colorado,” said Zachari Winters, a SEEDS officer.

In addition to field trips, community engagement and involvement at the local level are things SEEDS does to promote ecology education at different levels.

“SEEDS at CSU has been engaging students with weekly or biweekly meetings in which we host speakers or have ecologyand science-related activities,” Brown said. “In 2019, we held an ecology education event with Polaris Expeditionary Learning School where students learned how to identify and measure plants and aquatic insects. It was a blast.”

SEEDS also engages with different students from all over the nation through ESA-sponsored events and conferences, which provide even more opportunities for members to develop their careers and make connections in the field.

“The national organization also holds an annual leadership conference for SEEDS chapters at different research centers around the country,” Brown said. “These are ... great opportunities to engage in professional development activities and learn about careers in ecology.”

So far, SEEDS has been successful in its mission to promote diversity in the field and make sure everybody has a chance to use their voice.

“What I’ve heard and what SEEDS has done for me has allowed me to sort of understand the importance and the impact of often overlooked areas of ecology from overlooked voices,” Winters said.

Not only does CSU SEEDS promote diversity, but it also allows students to bond and grow together as they enrich their education and experiences in ecology.

“For me, the most rewarding part of SEEDS has been meeting new people and making friends,”Winters said. “There are some really amazing members in our SEEDS chapter, and the personal development and the growth that I’ve seen everybody go through has been so rewarding.”

Reach Laila Shekarchian at life@collegian.com.

Last-minute leisure: 5 road trips 5 hours from Fort Collins

By Ivy Secrest @ivysecrest

Spring semester moves at the speed of light. Amid the panic of midterms and the hustle toward graduation, it’s easy to let spring break plans fall to the wayside.

Luckily for all Rams, Fort Collins is exceptionally close to some of the most beautiful outdoor spots in the country. Within roughly five to six hours, you and your besties could be pitching camp beneath ancient stars and cracking a beer next to a campfire — fire bans allowing.

If you’re at a loss for ideas, here are a few spots to check out this spring break.

1. Red Feather Lakes

Roughly an hour northwest of Fort Collins, Red Feather Lakes is a charming mountain village home to stunning views, great fishing and friendly people. Cabins, camping spots and camper locations are all available, and for the truly last-minute planner, dispersed camping spots can be found all around Red Feather.

While staying in Red Feather, you can go explore Arapaho &

Roosevelt National Forests and the Drala Mountain Center. The center is home to North America’s largest stupa and hosts meditation sessions, educational programs and a variety of conferences.

2. Moab

Though it may feel like a basic trip to some locals, Moab, Utah, has a mystique that is anything but overrated. A thousand trips to Utah could hardly cover all the hidden beauty of the area.

Though it is definitely better to reserve a camping space within Arches National Park, dispersed camping spots and hotel rooms are also available depending on your budget. Moab is home to several accessible outdoor locations.

You can also participate in worldclass mountain biking and see naturally formed arches. Moab is a six- to seven-hour drive from Fort Collins, depending on your final destination in the area.

3. Great Sand Dunes

National Park

Recently seen “Dune: Part Two” and want to practice your sand walking? Conveniently, the

tallest dunes in North America are located under five hours south of Fort Collins in the San Luis Valley. Sandboarding, sand crane watching, stunning views of the sky and vast dunes to hike are all readily available at Great Sand Dunes National Park.

Luckily for spring breakers, February through March is the ideal time to go see the sandhill cranes, with their migration to San Luis Valley beginning in

early February and ending in late March.

4. Devils Tower

In northern Wyoming, roughly five hours from Fort Collins, standing at a staggering 867 feet, is Devils Tower. A rare geological phenomenon, the tower is the nation’s first national monument.

Devils Tower is known nationally for phenomenal crack climbing and is also known as Bear Lodge

and is sacred to Northern Plains Indigenous tribes.

Lodging can be found nearby in Cody or Gillette, Wyoming, and camping is nearby if you’ve got winter camping equipment.

5. Taos

Taos, New Mexico, is home to the Taos Pueblo, incredible skiing, the Kit Carson House and Museum and fantastic restaurants, among other things. Whether you are a cozy town tourist or an outdoors enthusiast, there’s a bit of something for everyone in Taos. Less camping is available near the town center, but fantastic inns and hotels are available near town, and camping is a short drive from the town center.

Whether you’re planning last minute or looking for future outdoor adventures, these locations are great examples of how diverse the Western landscape is. Though we may not have access to sunny beaches or the cultural meccas of Los Angeles or New York, the West holds the attention of its visitors through its natural prowess. Why not take advantage and explore?

Reach Ivy Secrest at  life@collegian.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CYNTHIA BROWN

PHOTO COURTESY OF GARRETT MOGEL

WANDERLUST

WOLI to create confident outdoor leaders in women, nonbinary individuals

By McKenna Van Voris @mckenna_vv

It wasn’t an idea but rather multiple shared experiences and noticeable room for improvement that sparked the start of the Women’s Outdoor Leadership Initiative.

While co-presidents Chloe Madden and Abby Taylor started WOLI at Colorado State University a month and a half ago, the club originally began in 2021 at the University of Utah. Having taken a course through the National Outdoor Leadership School, Taylor’s sister was frustrated by the sexism she experienced during her time in the NOLS. As a result, she created WOLI at CSU.

“She felt like she was constantly being second-guessed or secondguessing herself, and people were not listening to her even though she knew what she was talking about,” Taylor said.

Taylor said sexism and underrepresentation in the outdoors inspired her to be copresident of WOLI at CSU. She recalled one day during her NOLS course when the women and men

were separated, causing a significant difference in peer interaction as well as learning comprehension.

“WOLI’s goal is to build these technical skills for young women and these leadership and confidence skills to be able to feel selfsufficient outside. So I think that this club is a serious movement instead of more of a social club.”

EMMA SIMPSON WOMEN’S OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE OUTREACH COORDINATOR

and so wonderful,” Taylor said. “It just felt like a really supportive, safe environment, and I felt like I learned significantly more in that environment because I felt like I was comfortable speaking up.”

Taylor also touched on the difference in the explanation of concepts between a woman and a man in leadership. For instance, she said her cisgender male leaders were not very good at explaining how to have a period in the wilderness.

“It’s not really the same when you haven’t experienced it and you haven’t actually played that scenario out,” Taylor said.

Madden, WOLI’s other copresident and a guide through CSU Outdoor Programs, also emphasized the importance of spreading awareness of sexism in the outdoors.

“Not to say that there’s necessarily sexism in guiding, like the people who I work with, but it’s definitely present in the broader scale of the workforce of guiding,” Madden said.

“Having that day of a womenonly affinity space was so different

Together, having each done outdoor courses either through NOLS or Outward Bound, Taylor and Madden decided to bring WOLI to CSU.

“It was pretty intimidating to bring such a successful club from one university to another,” Taylor said. “It’s a very large, very welldeveloped club there, so we wanted to bring it here so everyone else could have the same safe space.”

For those looking to get involved, WOLI’s Instagram is where it’s at. Through there, members can join the GroupMe and find other information, such as event dates.

Emma Simpson, WOLI’s outreach coordinator, explains that while WOLI meets about once a month, whenever the club does get together, its goal is to provide an educational experience rather than being a club strictly for social aspects.

“WOLI’s goal is to build these technical skills for young women and these leadership and confidence skills to be able to feel self-sufficient outside,” Simpson said. “So I think that this club is a serious movement instead of more of a social club.”

WOLI’s goal as an organization on campus is to create a safe space for like-minded women and nonbinary people to support one another.

“What we’ve been striving for is just like building a squad of

people who are super stoked to talk about getting outside, to eventually go outside and learn technical skills along the way and then also put themselves in positions of leadership,” Madden said.

Madden and Taylor emphasized that anyone is welcome to join WOLI, no matter what kind of experience they have or what kind of outdoor environment they come from.

“Even if you have never, ever gone on a hike before, we really want you here, and we will support you (in getting) to where you want to go,” Taylor said. “One of our big goals is to make sure that we include people from all backgrounds.”

Simpson spoke about her love for helping those who might not be familiar with the outdoors to build their confidence and find a space to thrive.

“My favorite part of WOLI is meeting a bunch of people from all sorts of backgrounds and perspectives and getting them out of their comfort zone to do things that they don’t think they would have ever done,” Simpson said.

Reach McKenna Van Voris at life@collegian.com.

Members of the Women’s Outdoor Leadership Initiative pose for a group photo in the Colorado State University Warner College of Natural Resources Feb. 27 PHOTO BY GARRETT MOGEL THE COLLEGIAN

CSU rodeo ropes in new spring season

By Kensey May @rmcollegianspts

The Colorado State rodeo team is saddled up for this spring season.

After a strong season back in the fall, the rodeo team is excited to show off their skills in the next five upcoming rodeos.

Their first competition of the season is March 15-17 at Gillette College, and their closest competition is the Skyline Stampede April 5-7 at The Ranch Events Complex in Loveland, Colorado, which is organized by the students.

Opportunities for travel are plenty, as the team has rodeos in Colorado, Wyoming and even one in Nebraska.

Within the rodeo, they showcase a multitude of events, from tiedown roping to barrel racing, but there is no limit to how many events members can participate in.

The CSU rodeo team has about 20 competing members and is led by coaches Seth Peterson and Whitney Simmons.

Peterson has been coaching the rodeo team for two years now after receiving his education at Wyoming and moving to Wellington, Colorado, post-graduation.

Peterson has helped out many athletes, including Kelsey Story, a sixth-year rodeo member who has been participating in rodeos since she was 9 years old.

“We have a lot of great kids to just hang out with, and most of my friends are from the rodeo team.”

KELSEY STORY RODEO TEAM MEMBER

Story is going into the season with a love for competing and spending quality time with both her horses and teammates. She said she has a better appreciation for the sport after she was unable to compete at one point due to a back injury in 2021.

“We have a lot of great kids to just hang out with, and most of my friends are from the rodeo team,” Story said. “I have a really competitive edge and love horses, so it’s a great combination of those.”

One of Story’s teammates is McKinlee May, a first-year from Bozeman, Montana, studying equine sciences.

“(I) had the opportunity to help some of the girls, and things came together, and I started coaching,” Peterson said. “Everything worked out great.”

May overcame a lot of anxieties around college competitions this past fall, as it was her first year competing at this level. May said she is excited for this upcoming season because she’s learned how to

not get as flustered and is looking forward to having fun traveling and performing well.

“I’m just going to go out there, do what I did at practice and not get so flustered,” May said.

May and Story aren’t the only ones heading into the season excited; Ral’Shaun Descheny is someone to watch out for. He is sitting third or fourth in the standings for team roping, Peterson said.

Although placing and competing well is exciting, Peterson talked

about how the atmosphere is just a positive space to be in.

“Some kids don’t get the opportunity to rodeo after college,” Peterson said. “So it’s very neat for them to be able to experience everything, and the crowds get into it — it’s a lot of fun.”

Fans can follow along with the rodeo team on their website and their Facebook page.

Reach Kensey May at sports@collegian.com.

McKinlee May practices roping at a Colorado State University rodeo team practice in Nunn, Colorado, March 4. PHOTO BY CAIT MCKINZIE THE COLLEGIAN

CSU’s tight-knit crew team rows to success, comaraderie

By Sophie Webb @sophgwebb

Although an often overlooked sport, the Colorado State crew team — also known as rowing — fosters a sense of belonging through the early morning practices and the difficult exercises the team endures together.

“I kind of just took a risk, and it was probably the best decision I’ve ever made.”

OSCAR WENHAM CREW ROWER

The team is currently in their winter and indoor season, which takes place from November to April or May, depending on the temperature. Regulations state the combined air and water temperature must equal 90 degrees or higher. The team has been lucky in avoiding frigid temperatures in the past.

“When you’re in a boat, it’s paramount to be synchronized, and if you’re not synchronized, then you’re letting your team down,” rower Oscar Wenham said. “I think there’s a lot of motivation to do a great job, which kind of helps you push yourself.”

One of the more challenging aspects of this team sport is that the team is dependent on all rowers. If one rower is lacking, the whole team pays for it, as subbing out a player during the middle of a match isn’t an option.

“It looks difficult, and it feels difficult, but it’s such a beautiful sport,” crew team President Caroline Collignon said.

The tryout process for the team is much more simple than some might expect.

“We take pretty much anybody regardless of experience,” Collignon said. “If you’ve never rowed before in your life, that’s totally fine with us.”

The team has found it easier to recruit members when there are less strict guidelines that people must

meet to join the team. Despite the easy process, crew can be a rigorous activity, especially when a rower is the coach and president.

Former coach John Truslow retired last spring, leaving Collignon to fill the coach’s shoes while the team searches for another volunteer coach.

“It’s kind of hard to find somebody to convince to be up at Horsetooth (Reservoir) at 4 (a.m.),” Collignon said. “We don’t have the funds to pay for a coach, so it’s a volunteer coach position, basically.”

Despite this, Collignon continues to create practice plans and lead the team of 24 the best she can.

Elections are being held this week to see if Collignon will continue her role as president, with one opponent running against her.

Collignon was originally the peer education development officer, then rose to vice president her sophomore year and currently serves as president.

The rowers who are now in Collignon’s previous position of peer education development officer are Keenan Loflin and Seth Schripsema.

As peer education development officers, Loflin and Schripsema present to the entire crew team about ways for the team to feel safer and teach the new members about crew and their competitions.

“I was just looking for something fun to do at CSU but something that I’ve never really done before,” Loflin said. “Crew was just on my radar.”

The team competes in both indoor and outdoor regattas: indoor on the rowing machines and outdoor on whatever body of water is big enough for the boats. The different competitions available are men’s and women’s eight, men’s and women’s four and mixed, which is composed of both men and women.

“We all have a goal that we want, and we all want to push for that as

hard as we can, and we’re all just there for each other,” Loflin said. “So it really makes it worth it.”

The team does not currently practice during the summer, but Loflin and Schripsema are trying to change that.

Most of the team is staying in Colorado and could gain an edge on the competition through summer practices.

“The people on the rowing team who really love it really make it worth it, and they put in a lot of effort, and that just makes you really want to put in that much effort,”

Loflin said.

For Wenham, this is only his first semester on the team, but he has already found a place within the team.

“I kind of just took a risk, and it was probably the best decision I’ve ever made,” Wenham said. “I love, love, love CSU.”

Wenham originally began to row in high school back in Minnesota

and found his way back to the sport as a junior.

“Horsetooth is just a beautiful, beautiful place, and in an effort to try to get more time outdoors with my busy schedule, I thought, ‘What better way to get in shape, be a part of a team and enjoy Horsetooth?’”

Wenham said.

Wenham is currently not an officer but sees himself becoming a peer education development officer.

“I think it’d be a really great opportunity to give back and maybe impact a student,” Wenham said.

The mix of physical work, a supportive team and spectacular views is just the tip of the iceberg of why the sport is so impactful and resonates with the team.

“I always say, ‘Once you row, it’s hard to not go back and row,’”

Collignon said.

Reach Sophie Webb at sports@collegian.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY CREW

CSU equine polo turns chukkers into chuckles

By Damon Cook @dwcook2001

In order to foster a familial relationship, one must first understand the art of horsing around.

For the Colorado State equine polo club, at least, that’s the most effective strategy they’ve found.

“You’ve got to have some screws loose to do this,” said Rhys Farber, the equine polo club president.

Working with people in a similar situation is truly what fosters that family environment for CSU polo.

The welcoming atmosphere becomes immediately apparent just by walking into the stables.

“It sounds really cliche to say, but CSU polo really is like a family,” said Sara Eggenberger, a horse manager for the team. “The horses only have us, so we really feel a lot of responsibility to them and to each other.”

While Eggenberger said she grew up kind of “yee haw” — knowing how to at least ride a horse — but she didn’t know what polo was.

While it’s turned into lifelong friends and memories, she said she originally joined as a joke.

“(I) was kind of like, ‘What is this?’” Eggenberger said. “I had no idea what it was. Joining the beginner program, (I) kind of fell in love with it. I ended up getting a job my freshman and sophomore year summer working training polo horses and made varsity my sophomore year, and I’ve just been in love with it ever since.”

Elyse Warren, who is a graduate student at CSU, joined the team last year after attending Oklahoma State for her undergraduate program.

Warren definitely knows a thing or two about polo, having been part of two different teams.

But what sets the CSU club apart from the rest?

“We have two really strong competitive teams,” Warren said. “So I think just going (into regionals) with a huge presence, even from being 13 hours away, we’re going to have more fans and more supporters than teams

that are only an hour away from regionals.”

Every sport fosters some healthy competition. Yes, the humans are as competitive as can be, but the horses might be even more so, and that’s ultimately what makes a good polo horse.

Because a rider has to change horses every chukker — a 7.5-minute period in a game — they need horses that look to chase that physicality.

“I love how physical it is,” Eggenberger said. “It’s very intense; my stepdad equated it to MMA. ... I love how intense it can get, but also, you have to be working as a team, or it doesn’t work at all.”

Sometimes when life becomes stressful, people might go to a gym or find a different outlet for their stress.

For most of the team, that outlet is their horses and the polo team.

“This has been my little (safe space),” Warren said. “It lets me have a little moment to myself where I don’t have to focus on study, I don’t have to focus on school. ... Polo is really just a place where you can go hang out with friends, hang out with horses and go blow off some energy and just be with a family community.”

That support certainly cannot be overstated.

“It’s one of those things that you meet everyone — a lot of them come in as beginners or freshmen,” Eggenberger said. “You don’t know them, and I feel like it’s such a unique way to get to know somebody through sport and taking care of something.”

With so many expenses, including taking care of the horses, it’s vital that the equine polo club fundraise.

One way the CSU polo team is able to make money is through their donations. Anyone interested in helping the team out can donate through their website.

“It’s a completely student-run organization,” Warren said. “All funding is based off of donations and all the fundraisers that we do through the university as well.”

Reach Damon Cook at sports @collegian.com.

PHOTO BY ARIA PAUL THE COLLEGIAN

The Colorado State University polo club varsity team poses with the Montana State University polo club for photos following the conclusion of a game Feb. 16. CSU won 16-6.

SKIJORING PHOTOS BY EMMA ASKREN

Tim McCarthy wrangles his horse while preparing for the national anthem ride at the Leadville, Colorado, skijoring event March 3.

Skijoring skier AJ Pestello snags rings while getting towed by rider Crow Call.

Skijoring rider Janelle Urista tows a skier.

Skijoring skier Craig Kopasz crashes after missing a jump during the first run of the skijoring event.

Sadie Johnson sits on a training barrel.

Diego Rolon takes off after a calf to practice roping.

Diego Rolon rides back from practicing roping. “It’s a pretty good opportunity to get better,” Rolon said. “I’ve been doing this for about five years now, and it’s going pretty good.”

A calf waits in the roping chute.

Ral’Shaun Descheny and Diego Rolon ride back from practicing roping a calf at a Colorado State University rodeo team practice in Nunn, Colorado, March 4. “Everyone helps out each other, and we consider each other as a family,” Descheny said. “It’s been a really good experience here at CSU.”

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CSU Annual Flower Trial Garden is nature’s laboratory

By Hania Nini @hanianini123

Why wait for rain to see a rainbow when the Annual Flower Trial Garden blooms right by the University Center for the Arts at Colorado State University?

This bright outdoor space serves as more than just a visual treat; it is a living laboratory, running from May to October, where researchers, students and garden enthusiasts gather to study, discover and analyze a variety of plants that are appropriate for the Rocky Mountain and High Plains region.

Chad Miller, director of the Flower Trial Gardens, emphasized that choosing plants for the trial garden is a collaborative effort between academic institutions and partner companies.

“We’re at the mercy of Mother Nature. If we perceive a major problem, we will go ahead and try to treat that, but part of the trial is also to see what plants are really strong and healthy.”

CHAD MILLER ANNUAL FLOWER TRIAL GARDEN DIRECTOR

“We don’t necessarily choose the plants,” Miller said. “The plants are chosen for us by cooperating companies.”

Research Associate David Staats elaborated on the dynamic aspect of engagement in the garden, echoing Miller’s sentiment.

“It’s interesting that it’s kind of whoever wants to pay the entry fee, so it’s largely self-supported through entry fees,” Staats said.

On CSU’s end, the criteria for plant selection is straightforward. CSU allows any company that pays the entry fee to enter their plants.

“There’s really no criteria other than they pay us to trial them,” Miller said. “So long as they can provide the plants and pay the entry fee, we trial them.”

However, for the partner companies, certain qualities in plants are taken into account.

“(The companies) decide, typically — newer varieties, newer cultivars, numerous selections, usually within the last couple of years,” Miller said.

The main objective is to find plants that grow well in the area and help the local community as well as the larger horticultural sector.

“They’re trying to pick out the best plants that do well for this area and promote the better ones,” Staats said.

The standout of the 2023 annual garden was the Dahlia Dahlegria Apricot Tricolor from Syngenta. This plant, crowned Best of Show, captivated visitors with its vibrant blend of colors set against striking dark foliage. It is appealing to bees and resistant to mildew, which made this dahlia variety have a lasting impression in the trial garden.

Miller acknowledged the challenges posed by unpredictable factors like weather and pests. In the face of these problems, the garden’s team employs strategic measures to ensure its upkeep.

“We’re at the mercy of Mother Nature,” Miller said. “If we perceive a major problem, we will go ahead and try to treat that, but part of the trial is also to see what plants are really strong and healthy.”

Staats emphasized the importance of maintaining a careful balance between intervening to address issues and allowing plants to undergo natural trials, ensuring the garden’s research remains authentic and comprehensive.

“We try to find that balance in between not babying them so much,” Staats said. “We need to give them an actual trial in the climate that we’re in and all the different pressures that a plant could perceive in the landscape.”

Nicole Darling, administrative assistant at the University Center for the Arts, walks by the flowers every time she goes to work.

“I think they’re beautiful,” Darling said. “I love the different levels: You have the

pots, you have the in-theground flowers, you have the ones under the shaded area — you just have like a blanket of color everywhere.”

Sam Altaffer, who works adjacent to the garden, said they share this feeling, highlighting their favorite part of working in the department.

“At least for me, it is just working outdoors,” Altaffer said. “I’ve always really liked

the outdoors, and so being able to make that the main premise of my job, even if it’s raining, snowing, whatever — I’m always really thankful for that.”

The garden’s commitment to providing hands-on learning opportunities for students while also fostering a sense of community ownership and involvement in its upkeep and activities is highlighted by the role of student workers

and volunteers in maintaining community engagement.

“We definitely employ students,” Miller said. “Some of them will come back, some will go find other jobs, but we definitely involve students.”

Reach Hania Nini at science @collegian.com.

MELTING SLOPES

Climate change is shifting future of snow sports

By Lizzy Rylance @csucollegian

As global temperatures rise and winters become shorter, the elusive powder day could become even rarer for skiers and snowboarders. This is troubling news for states like Colorado, where snow sports are a cornerstone of outdoor recreation.

With climate change threatening to alter the snow sports industry as a whole, the ski community is now grappling with how to move forward.

Shorter ski seasons, complex patterns

Ski seasons across the U.S. are expected to get shorter over time because of climate change.

Climatologist Russ Schumacher, professor of atmospheric science at Colorado State University, said most climate models predict a shift to earlier snowmelt in the spring as temperatures rise.

All models contain some level of uncertainty because they have to simplify complex natural processes like atmospheric conditions into

mathematical equations. This makes it more difficult to predict the effects of climate change in specific geographic areas like the Rocky Mountains.

“The more you drill down to the local level, the more uncertainty there is in the future projections,” Schumacher said. “That’s especially true in the complex terrain of Colorado because climate models don’t represent the details.”

One thing is certain: The ski areas with the highest elevations will stay colder for longer.

“When it comes to our mountains here (in Colorado), they’re much higher elevation than a lot of the other ski areas in the country,” Schumacher said. “It will take a lot of warming to get to the point where, above 10,000 feet, it’s too warm for snow in the winter.”

The same is not true for lowerelevation ski areas like those on the West Coast or the Northeast, Schumacher said. The impacts of climate change will be felt much sooner in these areas, and many have already taken a hit.

Even in Colorado, there has been a modest downward trend in snowpack in the winter, said

Brian Domonkos, supervisor of the Colorado Snow Survey. However, he emphasized that there is a lot of variability in these trends.

“There are some sites that are showing increases (in snowpack) over that timeframe or over some portions of time, but the majority of sites are showing a slight decrease over the longer term,” Domonkos said.

Schumacher added that rising winter temperatures could potentially lead to more rain and heavier, wetter snow, particularly in the shoulder seasons: spring and fall. If so, it would be bad news for the coveted powder snow Colorado is known for.

Community-driven activism in the ski industry

The relationship between sustainability and outdoor recreation can be paradoxical at times. When people appreciate nature, they are more likely to value protecting the environment, but at the same time, outdoor recreation can be harmful to natural areas and wildlife.

“Our passion for the slopes and trails often clashes with our awareness of our own environmental impacts,” said Graham Zimmerman, professional alpinist and filmmaker. “It’s a dilemma many in our community wrestle with: the desire to appreciate nature’s beauty while acknowledging our role in its degradation.”

Zimmerman is the athlete alliance director at Protect Our Winters, a nonprofit organization that is spearheading climate activism in the outdoor recreation industry. The organization was founded in 2007 by professional snowboarder Jeremy Jones to shift the conversation around climate change in the outdoor community.

“It is crucial for outdoor sports enthusiasts to understand the threat of climate change because our love for landscapes and outdoor recreation is directly impacted by the changing climate,” Zimmerman said. “As temperatures rise and climatic patterns shift, we are witnessing the very landscapes we cherish transform before our eyes.”

Many ski resorts have already begun taking steps toward

sustainability. Over 200 ski areas in the U.S. — including 23 Colorado ski areas — have joined the Sustainable Slopes program through the National Ski Areas Association. In this program, ski areas pledge to address climate change by making their operations more energy efficient and less harmful to the environment.

Some ski resorts, like Arapahoe Basin, have come up with detailed sustainability plans to reduce their carbon emissions. Many ski areas are now incentivizing skiers to carpool to the mountains.

Even with these changes, there is plenty of room for improvement. Still, Zimmerman said he believes imperfect activism is the best way forward. As imperfect humans, he said, it is better to pursue progress than perfection.

“By uniting as a community and embracing imperfect advocacy, we can drive meaningful progress toward a more sustainable and resilient future,” Zimmerman said.

Reach Lizzy Rylance at science @collegian.com.

“As temperatures rise and climatic patterns shift, we are witnessing the very landscapes we cherish transform before our eyes.”

GRAHAM ZIMMERMAN PROFESSIONAL ALPINIST AND PROTECT OUR WINTERS ATHLETE ALLIANCE DIRECTOR

COLLEGIAN FILE PHOTO

Rooted in innovation:

Exploring 7 leading research centers at CSU

By Hannah Parcells @hannahparcells

Colorado State University has always been connected to the wonders of the natural world. Founded in 1870 as Colorado Agricultural College, CSU has a rich history of connecting with outdoor spaces. Over a century later, the university has distinguished itself as a top research institution and continues to lead scientific innovation.

The CSU System is home to scientific research labs focused on a range of scientific disciplines. Though there are a great number of laboratories and research centers connected to the wider CSU System, here are seven research labs highlighting different elements of the great outdoors.

1. The Mola Lab

Part of the forest and rangeland stewardship department in the Warner College of Natural Resources, The Mola Lab researches plant and insect interactions. Though bees are the most common organisms studied in the lab, research there also focuses on conservation, forest and fire ecology and other pollinators.

Created in 2022, The Mola Lab is relatively new to campus, but the scientific research being conducted on pollinators and the environment addresses important topics in environmental science.

2. Panacea Life Sciences Cannabinoid Research Center

CSU’s premier cannabinoid research facility is a state-of-the-art laboratory located within the Chemistry Research Building on CSU’s Fort Collins campus. The lab was built as part of a partnership between the College of Natural Sciences and Panacea Life Sciences, a local cannabinoid manufacturing company. The facility conducts a wide range of cannabinoid research, including analytical studies, pesticide and solvent testing and other relevant research.

3. Plant Growth Facilities

One of many research centers in the College of Agricultural Sciences, the Plant Growth Facilities consist of

research greenhouses, growth and biocontainment chambers, teaching facilities and a conservatory. The facilities host a variety of plant research, including plant breeding and genetics programs, invasive weed studies and crop sciences. The facilities also provide public resources and education.

4.

Edward M. Warner Spatial Analysis Lab

One of many research laboratories within the WCNR, the Edward M. Warner Spatial Analysis Lab is a geoscience facility featuring advanced spatial analysis technology. The lab allows for expansive research within the field of geosciences through the use of structural analysis software, geochemical modeling programs, seismic surface wave measurement and more geological technologies. The lab provides students and faculty alike with valuable research capabilities that can address many current geological disciplines.

5. Colorado Water Center

Established in 1964, the Colorado Water Center is

one of the country’s premier water research institutes. The CoWC is part of CSU’s greater impact in groundbreaking research, notably including the first watershed sciences degree program in the country. The CoWC conducts interdisciplinary research across many water-related topics such as irrigation, groundwater, water resources management and sustainability.

6. CSU Mountain Campus

Located just over 50 miles west of CSU’s main campus in Fort Collins, the Mountain Campus houses several educational programs and laboratories. Research in multiple fields of study is conducted at the Mountain Campus, which is also home to environmental data collection via weather stations, groundwater monitoring wells, stream monitoring equipment, a precipitation gauge and a seismic activity monitoring station. The campus operates as a research field station, allowing students to gain hands-on experience in scientific research and fieldwork.

7. Cooperative Institute of Research in the Atmosphere

Located at the CSU Foothills Campus just a few miles west of the main Fort Collins campus, the Cooperative Institute of Research in the Atmosphere is an atmospheric research facility run as part of a cooperation between the Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service. Research at CIRA includes satellite algorithm development, climate-weather processes, tropical storm research and more.

While impressive on its own, this list is in no way a complete overview of the scientific research facilities within the CSU System. The university produces highquality research across a variety of subjects and has significant impacts across the world through scientific study.

Reach Hannah Parcells at science@collegian.com.

COLLEGIAN FILE PHOTO

Rocky Mountain National Park to bring back Artist-In-Residence Program

By Sophie Webb @sophgwebb

Rocky Mountain National Park was one of the first national parks to host an Artist-In-Residence Program. It was an annual tradition from 1984 to 2017 but has been on pause the last six years.

When applying, artists must provide a summary of their creative work: two pages talking about what exhibits, galleries, performances and publications they have done. They also must submit a statement of purpose sharing what they hope to gain from the Artist-In-Residence Program and how their work would contribute to the values of stewardship: education, recreation and preservation of the National Park Service.

“Art has an incredibly important history in the National Park Service, and we’re thrilled to be one of over 50 national parks in the National Park Service to offer an Artist-InResidence Program,” said Jamie Richards, NPS public affairs specialist.

Richards is involved with supporting the Artist-In-Residence

Program, building its webpage and working with other staff members to help support it.

“I grew up here in Colorado, and I really love the opportunity to connect with so many different people from across the country in the field of public affairs,” Richards said.

Once admitted, artists earn their choice of a two- to three-week time period there, housed in the William Allen White cabin, which looks out over Moraine Park.

Although common mediums for the artists are photography and painting, all forms are accepted. Playwrights, songwriters, composers, poets, short story authors, dancers and sculptors can submit an application, and any medium can be accepted.

Unfortunately, in 2017, the residency was closed due to a need for renovations in the William Allen White cabin. Repairs were delayed along with shifting priorities within the park. Then COVID-19 hit, and the snowball spiraled, the residency lost in the mess.

“We’re coming out of COVID-19 — we’re ready to get the program

back up and running, so I’ve been helping over the past year with other staff members on the Artist-InResidence Program,” Richards said.

There is no age limit for the artists, and they sometimes get up to 200 applicants.

“We had a youth artist that was 8 years old,” Richards said.

The park works with the artists on their schedules since most are adults; they can begin in the middle of June, and the latest starts in October.

After their residency has finished, artists submit one final piece of work, which is donated to the Rocky Mountain Conservancy.

The program provides an opportunity for artists to connect and be surrounded by nature, having access to several destinations for inspiration. John Hulsey participated in the program in 2010, attempting to paint two pictures daily.

Hulsey has now made a name for himself, co-running a website, The Artist’s Road, to inspire people in their creative lives.

“I didn’t have to choose a career,” Hulsey said. “I always tried to paint; I was just drawn to that, and I had a lot of energy (and) a lot of curiosity.”

In 2010, Hulsey was living in Kansas and took interest in the program at RMNP since he had already completed the artist-inresidence programs at the Yosemite and Glacier national parks.

“I really enjoyed the experience of painting in the moonlight up on the trails with no one else around,” Hulsey said. “That was a phenomenal, almost religious experience to be out there like that. Very few people get to have this, so it’s a special moment.”

Once the park has closed and the tourists have cleared out, all that is left are the artists, nature and the calm moonlight.

“I like that it’s a real place,” Hulsey said. “There’s an element of danger if you are foolish. … To me, (it) makes you more aware. … It heightens your senses.”

Husley encountered bears in Yosemite and Glacier, but due to the high population of tourists in the Rockies, artists are less likely to experience as much wildlife.

“The sunrise coming up over the mountains and the sunset going down — … wow, spectacular: You’re in a cathedral outside, and it’s just

like stained glass windows, light shining and bouncing everywhere,” Hulsey said. “I’ve never seen it dull before, even when it’s overcast.”

Although it has been 14 years since he last participated in the Artist-In-Residence Program, Hulsey said there is a good chance he will find himself in the program again.

“I might (submit for) Rocky Mountain again,” Hulsey said. “There (are) a lot of places in the Rocky Mountain(s) that are down low that are still spectacular, or you can drive your car to get out, walk out a few feet and paint.”

Applications have closed for this year, but if an artist finds themself interested in the opportunity, they can apply next year.

“This is a really inspirational program; it’s open to artists of all mediums, all genres,” Richards said. “We’re very excited to see what type of artists we’re able to highlight this year, and we’re really excited to bring this program back.”

Reach Sophie Webb at entertainment@collegian.com.

“I like that it’s a real place. There’s an element of danger if you are foolish. … To me, (it) makes you more aware. … It heightens your senses.”

JOHN HULSEY PAINTER

COLLEGIAN FILE PHOTO

The Rock Garden shares natural beauty of Colorado

By Sananda Chandy @csucollegian

From beautiful natural stone veneers and displays to vastly unique rock landscapes, The Rock Garden of Northern Colorado is dedicated to helping its customers learn about the use of locally sourced stone. They work to raise appreciation for natural stone, bringing innovative designs to life.

The Rock Garden is a locally owned quarry operation that is one

of the only places that mines natural stone in Northern Colorado. For 20 years and counting, they have been quarrying sandstone, brownstone and Aspen and Cherokee sandstones to create all sorts of different materials with various dimensions, sizes and thicknesses.

Jacob Govero is the general manager and sales manager at The Rock Garden and has been working there for about five years. Since starting at The Rock Garden, Govero has grown in his

appreciation for natural pieces of stone that each uniquely capture a part of history. He said each stone holds value in its own way, and they wish to highlight that in every design.

“I almost look at us as recyclers utilizing something that’s been there in the past,” Govero said. “You pull it out, and every piece of stone is completely unique. No rock looks like the next one; each piece of stone has its own completely unique characteristics.”

They have a show garden surrounding the building with a plethora of displays of boulders, chairs, benches and archways. One of the biggest reasons for the business’s name came from the original founder’s desire to truly showcase what one could do with the material in natural surroundings.

Govero said they have gotten a healthy mix of people who either come to enjoy the overall beauty of the garden or feel inspired to have this stone in their own home. He passionately spoke about how their garden is eye catching and draws people in.

“This is open to the public,” Govero said. “So we get a lot of people that are just coming to check

it out for wedding photographs or graduation photos. Individuals can get a beautiful spot in town to walk around. ... It’s a whole gauntlet of things that you could think of that would bring people in, and it (also) acts as inspiration for clients.”

Receptionist Katelyn Davis has been with the business for almost a year and said she has found the overall experience of working with customers to be fulfilling. She said she appreciates how it’s unlike any other place in that it prioritizes community and enhances the more open-minded mentality toward using local stone.

“It’s just interesting to see how rock can be used and manipulated into beautiful things,” Davis said. “It takes more pride (in) where you’re located, utilizing the resources in your community and in your environment. When using nature stone, you have to appreciate that this was formed by the Earth, and (there are) certain beauties along with that.”

Quarry Manager Francisco Bejarano Gonzalez has been working at The Rock Garden for 19 years and helps to carry the natural stone out of the ground. He said he has a big passion for

natural stones and understands both the environmental and cultural benefits of constructing them into beautiful creations.

“I think (the purpose) is to serve people and make our city look beautiful and nicer,” Gonzalez said. “Nature stone pollutes less than other building materials. We are working with Mother Earth, trying to be as clean and efficient as we can.”

Govero acknowledged that one of the biggest strengths of The Rock Garden is its team, which fulfills certain roles efficiently. Whether it’s pulling and cutting the stone or working with customers to execute the desired design, the employees put passion into everything they do.

Govero said he hopes to see growth in their prominence, bringing more people in to see what they are doing.

“As far as growth is concerned, we’d like to just continue to grow our reputation and scope, speaking with different clients and customers,” Govero said. “Hopefully we’ve earned the reputation as a company that actually cares about what we’re doing and our customers.”

Reach Sananda Chandy at entertainment@collegian.com.

A stone sculpture at The Rock Garden Feb. 29. Located on North College Avenue at the south shore of Terry Lake, The Rock Garden is a landscaping supply store featuring several sculptures.

PHOTO BY MICHAEL MARQUARDT THE COLLEGIAN

CSU’s ‘Fairview’ brings comedy, reflection to stage

By Aubree Miller @csucollegian

With outstanding performances and brilliant wit, Colorado State University’s production of “Fairview” by Jackie Sibblies Drury is a must-see, with shows up until March 8. The Pulitzer Prizewinning sitcom examines race in a way that is equally humorous and thought-provoking. It premiered March 1.

The show follows a sitcom setup with a Black family preparing for their grandmother’s birthday dinner. Things take a slight turn into absurdity, however, when white characters come into Act Two and begin a conversation on race and observations of the family. Things progress from there, and to avoid spoiling anything, it is an absurdly fun and socially relevant show.

Ray Black, professor of ethnic studies at CSU, was approached to be director.

“(Director of Theatre Megan Lewis) knows my theater

background, so (when) she went and did a search for somebody to hire directors, she asked me, and I said yes,” Black said.

“There is the different assertion of wanting to be able to live and function as a Black person without expectations,” Black said.

Some issues discussed are freedom, stereotypes and commentary.

“Freedom encompasses being seen as a human without expectations, without being put into a stereotype, without it being negative.”

RAY BLACK “FAIRVIEW” DIRECTOR

While there are many connecting themes throughout the show, it mostly centers on surveillance and expectations placed on Black people throughout Western society.

“Freedom encompasses being seen as a human without expectations, without being put into a stereotype, without it being negative,” Black said.

Numerous reflective questions are posed throughout the show as it progresses.

“How do we do this in actuality?” Black said. “How do the white people see Black people, and then what does that come with — that expectation?”

While there are white characters, the focus is still kept on the Black family and their story.

“The theater department has been really good about recruiting African American actors,” Black said. “The balance with African American theater, with Black theater, has always been to entertain and enlighten.”

“Fairview” combines that entertainment and enlightenment to produce a funny, witty, captivating and reflective show. Audiences will take something insightful away from it while still having fun. It blends a real issue, expectations and humor in a meaningful way.

“These expectations sometimes are really challenging and humorous,” Black said.

First-year theater performance student Bolu Saliu plays Keisha, a character who stands out from the rest of her family.

“She is described as the hope and the light,” Saliu said. “She doesn’t dim her light for anyone. She’s just who she is, unapologetically.”

Another aspect of the play is listening to how narratives have been changed throughout history.

“It’s a whole lot of the white gaze and how Black people live in a society that has been manufactured mostly for white people and how we’re trying to find our place,” Saliu said.

Saliu’s character Keisha quite literally speaks to the audience

when she breaks the fourth wall in the third act. She tells the story honestly and beautifully, both on the part of the words spoken and Saliu’s performance.

“(Keisha is) very essential in telling the story of how to break free,” Saliu said.

By the end, Keisha is simply asking for someone to listen, including the characters in the show and the audience.

“She wants people to listen to her — and not just her, but she’s kind of the representation of the Black community,” Saliu said.

The significance of “Fairview” is poignant and tangible in numerous ways.

“It’s important because it’s reality,” Saliu said. “(It is) telling our story the way we see it and not how the world has tried to tell and change our stories for years. Whatever you get from the play is whatever you go in and reflect on and how you can be a better ally and a better listener.”

Reach Aubree Miller at entertainment@collegian.com.

Colorado State University students Faith Buckley, Kaleb Chaney and Nylah Walker act on stage in the School of Music, Theatre and Dance’s production of “Fairview” Feb. 28. They play Jasmine, Dayton and Beverly, respectively.

PHOTO BY JULIA PERCY THE COLLEGIAN

Should national parks be for everyone or preserved?

HEAD TO HEAD

National parks are extremely popular travel destinations, but they are still frequently treated horribly by those who visit. Collegian columnists Hana Pavelko and Emma Souza try to answer the question of whether access to national parks should be limited in order to preserve the environment or whether they should be open to the public with a set of guidelines that all attendees should know so everyone can bask in the beauty.

We need stricter visitor rules to protect our parks Stop keeping national parks from out-of-staters

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.

In 1872, Yellowstone became the first national park — the first of its kind anywhere in the world.

Over 40 years later in 1916, former President Woodrow Wilson signed an act to create the National Park Service.

What started with a singular national park has now expanded to over 400 national park sites across the United States and its territories. Colorado itself has 13 national park sites.

These areas were set aside to preserve the landscape for the enjoyment of present and future generations as well as promote the education of visitors about the importance of these outdoor spaces. However, visitors who come to the park are continually destroying this goal.

When I was younger, I participated in the Junior Ranger program at every national park my family and I visited. I would complete a certain number of activities in the booklet they gave me, make an oath and receive my official Junior Ranger badge.

While the oath to be a Junior Ranger varied slightly at every park, there was one portion that was consistent: Leave the park better than you found it.

Throughout the years, that part of the oath has

always stayed with me. These places were specifically set aside for preservation to maintain these areas for future generations to see. However, people — perhaps those from out of state who haven’t been taught the values of the national parks before — neglect this fact and effectively destroy these beautiful areas.

It is disheartening to go to a national park, yearning to see the beauty of the landscape, only to see trash discarded along trails and people trampling fragile native plants because they are walking where they should not be.

One of the most horrible pieces of evidence of people’s disrespect for national parks is the fading of the Morning Glory Pool in Yellowstone National Park. The water’s color used to be a beautiful blue, resembling the flower that became the pool’s namesake. However, after years of visitors throwing trash into the pool and clogging its thermal vents, the pool has turned vibrant shades of yellow, orange and green. By clogging the thermal vents and therefore lowering the temperature of the water, visitors have allowed for microorganisms that live at these lower temperatures to thrive in the pool and tint it with these different colors.

The carelessness of visitors has ruined the Morning Glory Pool for generations of visitors to come, completely destroying the intended purpose for national parks. National parks have been a staple of the United

States for over 100 years, but the influx of visitors has destroyed the natural beauty of these places.

Despite the rich history and natural wonders found in the parks, visitors treat a one-of-a-kind landscape as a run-of-the-mill playground or just another place to get a picture for their next Instagram post. People no longer appreciate national parks for their intended purpose, ruining the experience for other visitors as well.

If people are unwilling to take the time to make sure they are treating national parks properly, then the National Park Service should make more drastic limits on visitors in the park, like limiting visitors to people who already spend a lot of time in these environments and know how to take care of the national parks. While this may sound drastic, increasing expectations of visitors and limiting who can visit the park may be the only way to preserve the history and beauty of these national parks.

Plus, if people cannot treat national parks with the respect they deserve, then it is clear they shouldn’t be there in the first place. The National Park Service has a duty to protect, preserve and educate people about the areas, and people disrespecting the parks is something that should not be tolerated. Visitors of national parks should take some time and ask themselves: Are we the problem?

Reach Hana Pavelko at letters@collegian.com.

By Emma Souza @_emmasouza

Editor’s Note: All opinion section content reflects the views of the individual author only and does not represent a stance taken by The Collegian or its editorial board.

Colorado is undeniably gorgeous. As an out-ofstate student coming from a place that has zero mountains — Minnesota, which has hills, and they’re pretty, but that’s it — I gawk like a weirdo every single time the foothills behind our campus look snowy and majestic.

Out of every state in the U.S., Colorado has the fourth most number of national parks: Rocky Mountain, Mesa Verde, Black Canyon of the Gunnison and the Great Sand Dunes. For a Colorado local, this number may not seem like that impressive of a feat. However, for 20 other states, it’s an enormous luxury.

Yes, 20 states in the U.S. do not have a single national park as of 2024. This is not to say that those 20 states lack nature or beauty; each region has its own unique features and topography. But in terms of national parks, the distribution is far from equal.

According to Smithsonian Magazine, Rocky Mountain National Park was the fifth most visited national park in

2023 with 4,115,837 visits.

First was the Great Smoky Mountains, followed by the Grand Canyon, Zion and then Yellowstone.

Rocky Mountain is consistently in the top 10 of every list, which makes perfect sense; Colorado’s increasing population subsequently increase our national park tourism. More people who aren’t Coloradans traverse our parks, and this induces a collective worry that unaware tourists might pollute, trespass or mistreat Colorado wildlife. And there are many questions about whether we need to gatekeep our national parks to prevent mistreatment. Is preservation success dependent on the amount of tourism parks receive? Will our beautiful landscapes crumble at the feet of those who disrespect such sacred nature? Or, specifically, is it the fault of unsuspecting out-of-state tourists?

Although these worries are valid, there are several flaws in this line of logic.

Nature was at its peak tens of thousands of years before humankind existed. No feet existed to trample its grass, no guns to shoot its animals and no drills to mine its resources.

Similarly, national parks were likely the most healthy, most beautiful and most safe before they were labeled national parks, before any of us existed — yes, even Coloradans.

The danger of harming national parks is not dependent on where a tourist is from. The issue, rather, is a lack of knowledge about park safety and rules in general.

While out-of-state tourists are less likely to know specific Colorado park nuances, we should redirect our time to spreading park awareness rather than gatekeeping them from nonlocals.

Although the fear of deteriorating national parks is real and valid, we must not let that fear get in the way of nature’s beauty. There is a way to both enjoy the parks and preserve them. Especially considering the fact that so many states don’t have a national park of their own — and considering how gorgeous Colorado is — we should welcome tourists with open arms so long as they know the guidelines.

Nobody owns these amazing landscapes.

Our national parks existed before any of us did, so who are we to deny beautiful nature to someone just because they don’t live here? After all, when people say, “Protect our parks,” they don’t mean, “Protect our parks from out-of-state tourists.”

Everyone is entitled to nature as long as we are vigilant about keeping it clean and safe.

Reach Emma Souza at letters@collegian.com.

A letter from your neighborhood bear

By Addy Dollaghan @adollaghan

Editor’s Note: This is a satire piece from The Collegian’s opinion section. Real names and the events surrounding them may be used in fictitious/semifictitious ways. Those who do not read the editor’s notes are subject to being offended.

Dear humans,

I’d like to start this off by noting that we’ve always had a decent relationship. You’ve left us to do what we do; we leave you to do the same. If either party encroaches on that line, justified consequences naturally ensue. However, the past few decades haven’t been great, and I’m the only one brave enough to call you guys out. I’m going against the grain here; I’m somewhat of a revolutionary and the only bear around here with the balls to say what I’m about to say: We are starving, and it’s all your fault.

I’m generous enough to offer some solutions to this predicament — no thanks to any of you. Below are some helpful tips and potential solutions to fixing this little issue you’ve created.

Firstly, please leave your trash out when you’re camping. Right by your tent is ideal: We can smell it, mosey on over and get a quick lunch. Fast food, if you will. If that’s not an option, just keep it near your campsite — even if there’s one of those fancy trash cans you can’t even open, which is very inconsiderate (I’m looking at you, National Park Service). Just try to keep trash as close to you as possible and low to the ground.

Next, anything with a strong scent should be on you at all times. We need our homing beacons, so hold onto things like gum and toothpaste that smell like mint chocolate chip ice cream. Having those on you or in your tent is perfect for us to come find you. Even if we’re disappointed at the lack of ice cream, humans taste so much better.

Thirdly, leave the damn bear spray at home. It’s ridiculous how many times I’ve been sprayed directly in the eyes because I was hungry. Do you realize how bad that can Pavlov a bear? Every time my stomach grumbles, my eyes get all teary, and it’s hard to breathe. Only cowards bring bear spray. Don’t be a coward. It’s embarrassing.

Another great way to get attacked is to surprise us. Here’s the thing: I’m not a jumpy bear. I like to think I’m pretty aware of my surroundings. However, there are some times when some sneaky little hiker has their noise-canceling headphones on and scares the bearjesus out of me.

Or when they try to get a picture of me from way too close. I’m a total Monet, to quote the cinematic masterpiece “Clueless.” The closer you get, the worse I look.

And it’s so frustrating knowing there are horrendous pictures of me out there. I can’t be the one ruining the brand for bears. It’s embarrassing, and no one wants to sit next to me on my lunch break, and it sucks. Therefore, I lash out. Is it my best quality? No. Do I do it anyway and enjoy it? Absolutely. I will defend my public presence until my last breath. Plus, it’s kind of fun. So get as close as possible and surprise us, please. It’s great entertainment and really brightens up a slow day.

The final, most important part of interacting with us bears is to feed us. We can typically get our own food. Have you ever seen National Geographic? Yeah, we don’t need your help.

However, a hearty lunch of Doritos, grapes and a Lunchable is a nice break from the stuff our instincts tell us to eat. If it’s unnaturally orange, that’s usually a good indicator that it directly violates whatever Mother Nature intended, and it’s also tasty as hell. Bonus points for feeding us because it makes us more comfortable around people, which is great. Once we realize you’re not that scary, we’re back in control.

Thank you for reading this far, truly. For a bear with a blog, I don’t usually get a lot of traffic on my page. I also have damn good advice, and it’s a crying shame I don’t get recognized for it.

But I digress. The next time you want to venture into the woods, go camping or move to Colorado — looking at you, Texas and California — take a gander at this list to prepare yourself for dealing with bears. We appreciate it.

I guess this is all for now. I’ll see you the next time you leave your trash out.

Signing off,  Beary Keoghan

Reach Addy Dollaghan at letters @collegian.com.

Colorado’s famous activities aren’t as accessible as you might think

By Darien Rhoads @darienrhoads

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.

Colorado’s attractiveness for outof-staters is largely due to outdoor access and activities like skiing and hiking that come with it. As a Coloradan, I can attest that in these communities, outdoor activities and status symbol are deeply correlated.

The obvious illustration of this phenomenon is the tourists coming in hordes during the winter months to take the perfect Instagram pictures in Aspen or Vail. In reality, taking a ski vacation is inaccessible for the majority of Americans and is a status symbol for those who can partake.

“A large part of this shift in outdoor culture is consumerism. Buying gear for any outdoor activity is extremely costly.”

Smaller, more local mountains like Winter Park have historically had cheaper lift tickets. In 1985, a full-day lift ticket cost $22, which is equivalent to $63.06 today. According to the Winter Park website, the cheapest full-day lift ticket for this month is March 20 at $174. That’s more than double what the lift ticket cost 40 years ago.

Even for residents who don’t have to account for out-of-state travel costs, this price point is simply arbitrary and doesn’t account for gear, transportation or food. This is recognized statewide; a study commissioned by Colorado Ski Country USA and Vail Resorts reported that during the 2013-14 season, there were only about 500,000 Coloradans who were skiers and snowboarders.

So if Coloradans aren’t really skiing, they must be hiking. Hiking is arguably the most accessible of Colorado’s outdoor activities and free by nature. Here in Fort Collins, there are trails and green spaces everywhere that are accessible by public transportation.

More remote hiking trails — the kind seen on social media — are not public transportation friendly, though. Sometimes not even a fourperson passenger car is adequate, as

hikers need a vehicle with off-road capabilities to get to the trailhead.

This is common for Colorado’s 14ers, even Mount Princeton Trail — which is widely recognized as a more beginner-friendly mountain — requires off-roading to arrive at the uppermost parking lot. Without this kind of vehicle, hikers are adding around 5 miles to their hike.

Seen as the biggest and best mountains in Colorado, 14ers are all over social media. The irony in this example lies in the handwritten cardboard signs people display in their photos at the summit. These people just arrived at a mountain in their $60,000 car, hiked up in $500 worth of gear, took a picture on their $1,000 phone but are holding up a cardboard sign written in Sharpie.

Having the free time, money and capabilities to hike in Colorado is a privilege.

A large part of this shift in outdoor culture is consumerism. Buying gear

for any outdoor activity is extremely costly. Having the newest and best gear to show off is incredibly symbolic of status in any field but especially in outdoor recreation.

Gear swaps and shopping secondhand are great ways for new people who think outdoor activities may be beyond their financial means to start exploring them.

Not only is it a great way to save money, but outdoor gear is built to last a long time. Past-season skis are usually significantly discounted, and there is a large market of used ski sellers in Colorado.

Fitting in with Colorado outdoor activity “standards” has become unattainable for the average person.

If you’re new to skiing or hiking, it can be deceiving based off standards set by social media and tourists of high economic status.

Reach Darien Rhoads at letters @collegian.com.

COLLEGIAN FILE PHOTO

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Celebrate, respect Colorado’s outdoor culture this spring

By Allie Seibel @allie_seibel_

Dear readers, Colorado has 3.5 million acres of natural wilderness. We’re world renowned for our mountains and our natural resources, and the song “America the Beautiful” was written about the view from Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

We’re home to at least 40 federal wilderness areas, four national parks and 42 state parks. We’re abundant in world-class skiing areas and 14ers, and it is hard to find a resident of Colorado who doesn’t acknowledge the natural beauty we have in our backyards.

That privilege comes with a significant responsibility to be good patrons of the outdoors and show respect to the nature we inhabit together.

Colorado State University attracts students from all over the country and the world in part because of our abundance of nature. Look no further than the students who flood ski resorts to hit the slopes in the winter or

climb 14ers in the summer to see how a significant portion of the student body chooses to spend their weekends.

We are visitors and tourists of the natural resources we live on, and it is our job to make sure we respect those resources.

CSU’s history is incorporated into its sustainability mission as a university. CSU is a platinumrated bike-friendly university, received four consecutive platinum STARS designations from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, was listed on the Green College Honor Roll on the Princeton Review for 10 consecutive years and was ranked the No. 1 greenest college in 2016 and 2018 by bestcolleges.com — among a list of other sustainability accolades that emphasize CSU’s deeply connected relationship with nature and the resources we use as a school.

As a land-grant institution, CSU’s research-focused mission pays homage to the land traditions and agricultural roots that started this university. Each and every student and educator

on campus is impacted by our global sustainability role and our tradition of upholding research and nature stewardship. Eight CSU residential buildings are designated LEED-certified buildings, which are awarded for exceptional environmental design. As a university, we live in symbiosis with the outdoors.

As we begin spring break, a time when the masses go to camp, hike and ski, keeping our impact on nature at the forefront of our actions is pivotal.

The smallest of actions can have impacts beyond our immediate perception. Taking the time to recycle, carpool and actively reduce emissions and being kind to our pollinator friends demonstrate our appreciation for the beautiful place we live.

Through the CSU Land Acknowledgment, the university acknowledges its historical placement in this region and how CSU’s founding impacted Native peoples and landscapes. As we plan to spend time in the great outdoors this break, it’s important to remember our region’s history and our evolving

relationship with the land we inhabit.

Aside from sustainability being a reason to enjoy and respect the outdoors, nature is peaceful and calming, and we’re extremely fortunate to be able to retreat into the great outdoors in close proximity. I’ve grown up in Colorado and lived elsewhere for a few years, where I spent almost the entire time longing for mountains, spruce trees and that famous Colorado blue sky.

I’m not the biggest nature nerd you might find on this campus, but I do enjoy skiing in the spring, hiking to admire the beautiful foliage in the autumn months, taking a moment each day to admire the beautiful foothills and catching a glimpse of mystical Longs Peak in the distance from the higher-elevation points around campus.

It’s a magical world out there. Get outside, and enjoy our nature respectfully this spring break!

Sincerely,

Allie Seibel, editor in chief

Reach Allie Seibel at letters @collegian.com.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY TRIN BONNER THE COLLEGIAN

Sudoku

WEEKLY HOROSCOPE

By Abby Flores

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (03/07/24)

ARIES (MARCH 21 - APRIL 19)

Tarot card: The Hermit

You’ve been in the mood to stay inside more and be a homebody these days. You are finding peace by reconnecting with old friends. You may also be discovering a renewed sense of self through introspection.

TAURUS (APRIL 20 - MAY 20)

Tarot card: Page of Wands

You may have recently started a new hobby or project, but you’re not sure where it’s going. My advice is to keep following your heart and to stay true to yourself. Everything will come naturally.

GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUNE 20)

Tarot card: Wheel of Fortune

You are experiencing transformation within your life and relationships. You are developing a new friend group that makes you genuinely happy, and you’re making decisions that align with your highest self right now.

CANCER (JUNE 21 - JULY 22)

Tarot card: Justice

You are balancing work and fun amazingly this week, Cancer. You know when you feel tired or energetic on any given day and take care of yourself based on your needs. A weekend getaway is exactly what you need this spring break.

LEO (JULY 23 - AUG. 22)

Tarot card: Four of Pentacles

You are saving money and working on your finances right now. You are starting to keep track of the things you spend, and you’re doing better at making decisions that align with your desires. The universe will bring abundance back to you as you continue to do this.

VIRGO (AUG. 23 - SEPT. 22)

Tarot card: Seven of Wands

You have many options and decisions to make at this time, Virgo. You are focused on your career and are figuring out what you want to do in the long run. You know how to follow both your head and your heart, so trust yourself because you’re going to make the right choice.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23 - OCT. 22)

Tarot card: Ten of Wands

You’ve finally let go of a past situation, and it’s bringing you great peace, Libra. These feelings of tranquility and freedom are what you deserve. You have a bubbly personality, and people love when you uplift them. Keep going because you’re making a difference.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23 - NOV. 21)

Tarot card: The High Priestess  Being sensitive is not a negative trait, Scorpio. It’s

actually something powerful to have because you know how to read people and environments you’re in. Trust your intuition in any relationship you have because a situation may come up that makes you rethink everything.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22 - DEC.

21)

Tarot card: Ten of Wands

You got the same card as Libra, Sagittarius. You may have been carrying unnecessary weight from a past situation but may have finally released it through spiritual practice or cleansing. Be proud of yourself.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 - JAN.

19)

Tarot card: Six of Wands You are finding harmony in your relationships and feel more content than ever. You are living life exactly how you want to, and that’s important. Keep staying healthy and productive because that is bringing great abundance into your life.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 - FEB. 18)

Tarot card: Judgement You are receiving messages from the dream world right now, Aquarius. You should keep a dream journal and decipher what your highest self is trying to say. It may be difficult to keep track of at first, but you will find the answers you need.

PISCES (FEB. 19 - MARCH 20)

Tarot card: The Hanged Man ou had a very restful and relaxing weekend, but work is popping up quickly this week. Keep organized, and you will find the work will go smoothly. You’ve totally got this, Pisces.

Last edition’s crossword solution

Last edition’s sudoku solution

8 Get the picture

9 Go wrong

10 “Stop right there!”

11 Depressions

12 Mincemeat ingredient

13 Brings to a close

18 Dandy

21 Formulas

22 Deadly

23 Stimulate

24 One Washington

25 Barren

26 By means of this

27 Doesn’t own

29 Drags one’s feet

30 Gofer’s job

31 Riding

32 Put on

34 Patriarch

37 Pole tossed as a test of strength in Scotland

41 Type of chair

43 Czech composer

44

“I

5

6

“There