Photo illustration by Hannah Parcells, Trin Bonner and Nathan Carmody
THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN
FOCO EVENTS TOP STORIES
NEWS: CSU Student Affairs in Higher Education Program undergoing changes PAGE 6
L&C: Passion vs. paycheck: CSU students, professors discuss career fulfillment PAGE 16
SCIENCE: Extreme weather prompts new scientific collaboration PAGE 20
SPORTS: Rams to pros: Where are they now? PAGE 32
A&E: FC Moves, local artist prepare to brighten FoCo with asphalt mural installation PAGE 38
OPINION: Free speech is damaging to universities’ antidiscrimination policies PAGE 42
MEDIA: Ram Welcome: CSU Move In through the years PAGES 24-25
NOCO Humane Society Benefit Concert at The Coast 6 p.m. to midnight Aug. 11
Bike-In Movie Night at The Lyric 8 p.m. Aug. 15
Independent Silent Film Festival 5.0 at Avogadro’s Number 6:30-10 p.m. Aug. 17
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
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The smoke from the Alexander Mountain Fire burning near U.S. Highway 34 in Larimer County July 30. More than 200 emergency personell have responded to the fire since it was first reported, and residents in the areas surrounding the fire are under mandatory evacuation orders.
PHOTO BY HANNAH PARCELLS THE COLLEGIAN
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ASCSU executive cabinet details goals, student resources ahead of academic year
By Sam Hutton @sam_hut14
Following an intense spring semester, the Associated Students of Colorado State University are looking forward to another busy fall. With several new student programs, initiatives and resources in the works, CSU’s student government is seeking to build off what insiders hope is positive momentum.
However, the organization continues to be plagued by middling campus engagement, as evidenced by an 11% student voter turnout in the previous election. Dwindling membership numbers exacerbated by departing senators, supreme court justices and executive cabinet members also continue to affect ASCSU’s campus standing.
Annually, ASCSU collects over $1.5 million from student fees in order to fund campus events, including RailJam and the Community Roundtable; community resources such as bisemesterly blood donation drives; and campus transportation initiatives as well as consistent funding allocated for registered student organizations.
President Nick DeSalvo spoke on the role ASCSU plays in ensuring students have access to public transportation, housing and academic research resources,
pledging to continue improving student life on a policy level through the Colorado General Assembly. DeSalvo also stressed the importance of new students getting involved in campus organizations.
“The resources are there if you want to get involved,” DeSalvo said.
“There’s nothing worse than going to classes and then going back to the dorm or back home and not sharing in the full campus experience when it’s right in front of you.”
Vice President Braxton Dietz said maintaining existing programs and events as well as introducing new initiatives, such as the newly approved Temporarily Disabled Student Transportation Program, will allow ASCSU to continue providing resources for students and build a larger campus presence.
Following the successful return of the Grill the Buffs tailgating event last October, the executive branch intends to expand the event for the upcoming Rocky Mountain Showdown, serving as a valuable promotional opportunity for the organization at large.
“Students are going to see fall semester start off with a bang with Grill the Buffs,” Dietz said.
“Students can expect a lot of largescale national attention on not only that event but events around campus throughout the weekend.”
Dietz added that new event planning will focus more on quality
rather than quantity, evidenced by a marginal reshuffling in executive department responsibilities that will allow for fresh input in the planning process.
Chief of Staff Jakye Nunley emphasized his commitment to including new students in ASCSU processes, expressing interest in making executive cabinet meetings more visible and accessible to outside students. Nunley also helped create the Students of The Oval Caucus in the spring in order to inform outside students of ASCSU opportunities and ease them into an organization previously characterized as hostile.
“For a student who wants to know how to get involved in ASCSU or be a part of any process that we have, Students of The Oval will be a phenomenal program to get you to jump in,” Nunley said.
Nunley will also be implementing additional office hour requirements for cabinet members, ideally giving interested students additional opportunities to interact with ASCSU officials directly.
Jorja Whyte, director of the newly renamed department of basic needs, plans to expand the scope of her department to promote further campus outreach, with numerous new initiatives geared toward improving student health and wellness in the works. The department also intends to continue expanding former Vice President
Alex Silverhart’s health and wellness vending machine program, which will distribute reproductive health care products across campus.
Among the new initiatives are updates to the pocket pantry food donation sites across campus. The initiative, which will require senate approval, will expand the pantry to include hygiene products as well as culturally responsive and allergysensitive food items.
Whyte also intends to maintain existing relationships with Rams Against Hunger and the CSU Health Network; promote additional involvement opportunities with a formalized ASCSU internship program; and further account for student health and wellness by continuing to provide naloxone, commonly referred to as Narcan, and fentanyl testing strips at no cost to students.
“We’re really trying to make sure that people know that they can come to ASCSU but also that we’re actively engaging students to distribute (these resources) in less of a passive way,” Whyte said.
ASCSU senate does not convene the first week of classes, meaning several of the aforementioned proposed programs will require approval the second week of classes at the earliest.
Reach Sam Hutton at news @collegian.com.
The Associated Students of Colorado State University exterior entrance on The Plaza
PHOTO BY CADEN
PROULX THE COLLEGIAN
Illustration by Lauren Harris
CSU Student Affairs in Higher Education Program undergoing changes
By Aubree Miller @aubreem07
Colorado State University offers a plethora of master’s programs to graduate students. Among these is Student Affairs in Higher Education, known as one of CSU’s most diverse master’s programs. The program prepares students for a multitude of careers within higher education and university settings and has a 100% job placement rate.
Currently, there are two program options available: one residential at CSU and one online. However, the residential program is not taking applications at this time. This is the beginning of numerous changes being made to the entire SAHE program.
A CSU alumnus and recent graduate of the SAHE program discussed their experience with the program as well as what they know about the program’s future. They are undocumented, which greatly impacted their experience in graduate school, and they prefer not be named for safety purposes. In addition to being interested
in this graduate program, they disclosed that SAHE was one of the only programs they reached out to that was able to support an undocumented student.
Regarding the actual changes being made, there will no longer be a residential version of the program, only an online one.
“Fall semester of 2022, we received the news that the program was being restructured ... and that they were lowering the credit requirement,” the CSU alum said. “That was like the first change we started observing. ... It truly was a dramatic change between the curriculum.”
Along with curriculum changes, the program was put on pause for the incoming class. The cohort of students already in the program will continue their studies, but there will not be new students entering. However, there were many students who had already been admitted.
“Like two weeks later — it was, like, a very short turnaround — ... we all find out that the program is being put on this pause,” the alum said.
While not a complete pause, as the 2022-24 cohort will continue,
the dynamic of the program shifted with the loss of incoming students.
The alum discussed the feelings among SAHE students at the time this was happening and how they “started to be concerned about how ... the university (is) prioritizing our program,” they said. “Like, do they care about us? Are they investing in our program? The people who are produced by our program — we’re practically the backbone of the university. ... There’s just a lot of feelings there.”
Student affairs jobs are everywhere at CSU: housing and dining, financial aid, academic advising and more. These are the people students interact with every day.
Beyond this first shift, there was hope.
This past spring, students were told the program would start back up again like usual, but that hope didn’t last very long. There will be students admitted to the residential program this fall who will get their full two years, but after that, the program will be completely virtual.
“It was just kind of disheartening to see, once again, this ... reduction
of the program, ... kind of like they’re phasing it out,” the alum said. This move to a virtual-only experience will likely look very different from the on-campus experience. “I definitely have trust that they will do their best, but I do think it will impact the quality of the education that is provided.”
Alex Lange is the current coordinator of SAHE and provided some information about the changes and their impact on students.
“Unfortunately, the residential version of the program will no longer be offered after (the spring 2026) semester,” Lange said. “So future students wishing to apply to a residential SAHE program will look to other institutions for potential enrollment. The students in the online version of the program will experience no changes in course structure as a result of these changes. What may change over time is the faculty who teach in the program.”
As seen throughout the United States, many programs in both secondary and higher education have been undergoing changes or been cut completely. CSU is not exempt from this, and it has to
do with budget cuts throughout the various colleges, including the College of Health and Human Sciences.
“The school of education is absorbing most of our college’s budget cut,” Lange said. “The SOE’s structure will align with two academic priorities. First, undergraduate PK-12 educator preparation and new existing graduate programs surrounding schools and communities will be the focus of our residential offerings. Second, those programs focused on higher and adult education will be delivered online, which includes the SAHE program. So budget challenges prompted this organizational shift that directly affects the SOE — and thus SAHE — where the program is housed.”
With downsizing due to budget cuts and the upcoming tuition increase, it remains to be seen what other changes might be in store for programs at CSU. Reach Aubree Miller at news @collegian.com.
GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY CADEN PROULX THE COLLEGIAN
CAMPUS UPDATES
Brick by brick: Clark, Durward construction continues
By Aubree Miller @aubreem07
Campus looks a little different this fall with construction in progress on two main buildings. The Andrew G. Clark Building updates are still underway, with construction expected to be completed in the next three to four years, according to Colorado State University’s Clark revitalization site.
Clark was built in the mid1960s and first opened to students in the fall of 1967.
Since then, it has housed many liberal arts departments and has been home to virtually every CSU student for at least one class.
While the original building has served students for decades, former College of Liberal Arts Dean Ben Withers set forth a revitalization plan in 2016. This revitalization has shut down the A and B wings; C is not included in the revitalization plan to the dismay of some students and faculty.
Because two thirds of the building are closed off, the departments housed in A and B have moved. The most noticeable changes are in history and sociology, which have been relocated to trailers just behind Braiden Hall across from Canvas Stadium.
Dell Rae Ciaravola, CSU’s director of issues management, provided a recent update on Clark from Beth Etter, the director of communications for the CLA dean’s office.
“That part of the project is moving along, though due
to supply chain issues, (it) will be delayed on reopening until 2026,” Ciaravola said.
“Clark B will be taken down and replaced with a new four-story, state-of-the-art building for classes, labs, collaboration spaces and department offices.”
Updates primarily focus on electrical and HVAC systems, the basement and lobby and ADA accessibility. Asbestos abatement and window removal were among tasks completed over the summer; then the project moved into active demolition starting July 24. That demolition is scheduled to take around three months.
In recent Clark updates and communication, the timeline has been adjusted a bit. Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs Ryan Claycomb sent out an email detailing the new timeline.
“Many of you are aware that the Clark A Basement was originally slated to come back online by the summer of 2025,” Claycomb said. “Because of a series of circumstances — including procurement challenges and some further design details that more thoroughly tie Clark A utilities with the new building — that timeline has been pushed back by a year. Currently, Clark A is on schedule to reopen in the summer of 2026.”
Additionally, there was an email sent to all CLA faculty and staff detailing the most recent changes made in Clark along with what’s to come next. The information was sent by Clark Building Revitalization Updates.
“The next phase of the project is the severing of Clark B from Clark C and Clark A,” the email read. “This will involve grinding of concrete and crushing of the concrete structure, which means noise levels will increase significantly. This work begins Wednesday, July 24, on the east side of B/C, then moves to the west side of B/C and finally to B/A. This effort will last upwards of three months.”
Students and faculty can expect noise from around 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The demolition is expected to cause disruptions. Staff and faculty are encouraged to be patient and supportive with adjustment conversations and to work around the noise whenever possible.
Because the building is mostly fenced off, it is advised that students plan accordingly for alternate routes through campus. There is no access to the Monfort Quad, and the C wing is only accessible from the south side.
Despite their displacement, professors still remain committed to being available for students; class syllabuses will be updated according to each professor’s temporary office space on campus.
While Clark is undergoing some big changes, it isn’t the only building on campus in transition. Another main construction point is Durward Hall, which is being remodeled and will not house students this academic year.
Read the full version of this article at collegian.com.
Reach Aubree Miller at news@collegian.com.
The temporary office trailer housing the sociology department while the Andrew G. Clark Building is under construction July 20. The temporary offices are located across Pitkin Street from the Iris & Michael Smith Alumni Center. PHOTO BY HANNAH PARCELLS THE COLLEGIAN
ONE LAST DANCE
‘The
end of an era’: Local country bar Sundance closes after 42
By Hannah Parcells @hannahparcells
The final last-call announcement inside Sundance Steakhouse & Saloon on Friday, July 26, signified the end of the Western-themed bar’s 42 years of operation.
Located on East Mulberry Street, Sundance served the Northern Colorado community as a bar, restaurant, music venue and dance hall for decades. The announcement that the establishment would be closing its doors was made on the brand’s social media Sunday, July 14 — just two weeks before the final closing night.
The online statement explained that the building needs “drastic renovations” for Sundance to continue operations. The decision to close came after the business was unable to reach “a fair agreement with the
property owners to ensure appropriate renovations were completed to extend our lease,” the statement read.
Members of the community responded to the news largely with support. Lines to get into Sundance wrapped around the side of the building in the days leading up to the closure, and an online petition was started in an effort to save the establishment.
The outpouring of support from the community continued through closing night. The dance floor was constantly full, the bar was packed and a line of patrons waiting to get in the door stretched into the back parking lot.
“What we have been shown in the past two weeks is amazing, outstanding,” owner Nicole Hendrix said in a speech to the crowd on closing night. “There are no words to explain the love and support you guys have shown us, and we
years
everyone could gather for a night out with friends and go dancing. Individuals under the age of 21 were welcome until close, and Tuesday nights were known as College Night.
“I’m thankful that I had the chance to go to Sundance and that I got the almost three years that I did get to go. I sincerely hope that they find a new location, so that way, people can continue dancing up here in Fort Collins.”
AUDREY TESTERMAN
RAM COUNTRY DANCE CLUB SECRETARY
CSU senior Olivia Sully, who first discovered Sundance during her first year, said she returned to celebrate her 21st birthday and has been going regularly ever since.
“It’s been a place where we can just dance and see all our friends and have a drink and kind of let loose and have fun,” Sully said.
“When we’re there, we don’t worry about work or school or anything. It’s just kind of like a safe place.”
That sentiment was echoed by Lorenzo Espino, a senior at CSU who has been going to Sundance for over a year.
“It was a place where we could just escape and have fun,” Espino said. “Now that it’s closing down, it just feels like the end of an era.”
Sully and Espino are both members of the student organization Ram Country Dance Club, which further connected
the campus community to Sundance. The club would meet on Tuesdays to learn a line dance, and it was tradition for students to go to Sundance afterward.
Audrey Testerman, the club’s secretary, said Sundance is part of the club’s origin and is integral to the community.
“I mean, without Sundance, I don’t think RCDC would be a thing,” Testerman said.
The small group of students who started the club in 2022 went to Sundance together the week of their first line dance lesson, Testerman said. It became a tradition that continued as the club began to grow on campus.
“It’s a place where a lot of people have gained confidence, grown friendships, started relationships (and) met people that they’re best friends with now,” Testerman said. “It’s a place of very fond memories.”
Sully and Testerman also expressed gratitude for being able to go to Sundance before it closed, as many students who aren’t in Colorado for the summer were unable to.
“I’m just happy that I’ve been here all summer long, that I’ve gotten to enjoy it,” Sully said. “I know some of my friends haven’t been here or they left halfway through the summer, … and my heart breaks for them, too, because I know how much it means to them as well.”
Though Sundance closed its doors for the last time at its current location, Hendrix isn’t done with Sundance yet.
“I think we have just proven to everyone, especially the landlords, that Sundance is not four walls,” Hendrix said. “This is a community, and we’re not convinced that Sundance ends here.”
The possibility of Sundance opening at a new location has been met with support, and many members of the community have voiced their hopes for the future.
“I’m thankful that I had the chance to go to Sundance and that I got the almost three years that I did get to go,” Testerman said. “I sincerely hope that they find a new location, so that way, people can continue dancing up here in Fort Collins.”
Hendrix said efforts are being made to find a new location, but as of closing, no further information was available on the future of the country bar.
Reach Hannah Parcells at news @collegian.com.
Colorado State University junior Marin Kasperbauer dances with fellow patron Dominic Foltin at Sundance Steakhouse & Saloon in Fort Collins July 26. The local Western-themed bar closed at midnight July 26 for the final time after 42 years of business.
PHOTO BY HANNAH PARCELLS THE COLLEGIAN
Mental Health and Well-Being Resources For Students
Here at CSU, we know that mental health is just as important as your physical health.
Whether you’re experiencing a situational problem, an immediate crisis, or other mental health concerns, CSU Health Network is here to help.
Scan QR code to learn more
LGBTQIA+ students discuss queer CSU experience, campus culture
By Caden Proulx @csucollegian
Editor’s Note: To protect the privacy of individuals interviewed in this article, some names have been changed to provide anonymity.
Junior Kathryn Carlos was not always a Ram. In fact, her experiences with homophobia are exactly what led her to Colorado State University from St. Louis.
“I actually had a big issue with one of my roommates my first semester in college,” Carlos said. “She found out I was queer, and like, that was fine, but then I invited her to a drag show that was hosted on campus, and she got really mad at me.”
Carlos described her roommate not speaking to her, and she dealt with anxiety all the time because of her living situation.
“I did have to move out because I did feel unsafe living with her,” Carlos said. “More
emotionally than physically but still unsafe.”
So is the LGBTQIA+ experience any better here at CSU?
In 2021, the Pride Resource Center participated in the National College Health Assessment conducted by the American College Health Association, a recognized data collection organization. The survey found some concerning statistics: One out of three LGBTQIA+ students feel they do not belong at CSU with only about 6% reporting feeling safe at night in the surrounding community.
Erin Fuller described their experience being queer at CSU.
“I get weird looks from people who are associated with religious groups, but otherwise, I feel pretty safe on campus and very accepted,” Fuller said. “Even with preachers, like, they don’t even talk to me; they don’t really, like, call me out or anything. It’s only if I wanted (to talk).”
College is often the first time in a queer person’s life that they start fully expressing their identity, and the campus environment deeply shapes that experience.
“My freshman year, I was in the girls’ hall — I just had come out and started using they/them pronouns that summer before freshman year,” Fuller said. “And I felt very validated — like, I would feel more comfortable living with
“If you stop doing things for the plot, the plot might start to feel neglected.”
“You’re
girls anyway just because I was born a woman.”
Fuller said it was important to them to freely express their queerness on campus as a role model for younger LGBTQIA+ students who might not feel as comfortable doing so.
For junior Caleb Cripe, only a small minority of people associated with religious groups are a problem, but otherwise, CSU is a safe place.
“I’ve never really felt unsafe or threatened because of my identity being a part of the LGBTQIA community,” Cripe said. “I know campus is a free-speech zone, and especially in The Plaza, people are allowed to come and table and express their ideas and opinions. But I don’t know — sometimes just walking around, like, in between classes and seeing protesters holding up signs that say being gay is a sin or being part of the LGBTQIA community is a sin just kind of — I don’t know — kind of ruins my day a little bit.”
Lila Hartley, a junior participating in Greek life who wished to use a fake name, acknowledged answering from a straight-passing perspective but still said she feels very comfortable sharing her identity at CSU. She also described her sorority as being a place where she feels affirmed, accepted and understood for her queer identity.
“The friends I made in my sorority was like kind of my first time having
other either gay or bi friends (with whom) I could talk about these things ... that I felt not comfortable talking to my straight friends about just because I feel like they wouldn’t relate,” Hartley said.
Hartley was not always sure the sororities on campus would be so affirming. As a first-year, she was hesitant to join Greek life because of her identity, but she said couldn’t be happier now.
While many LGBTQIA+ students would describe a positive experience at CSU and the university prides itself for being a safe and accepting campus for all, queer students say there’s a difference between feeling safe and feeling seen.
“CSU could do a lot better job of supporting and creating an environment where queer people feel safe and seen,” Carlos said. “While I don’t necessarily feel unsafe, I don’t feel seen in CSU’s environment at all. I don’t see a lot of queer professors being propped up; honestly, I feel like they are often not taken seriously, especially women queer people.”
Queer students suggested CSU could do more to incorporate celebration of their existence and individuality in the campus culture.
“I truly can’t actually think of a time that my identity has been a part of an experience at CSU,” sophomore Phoebe Williams said. Reach Caden Proulx at life @collegian.com.
The Colorado State University Pride Resource Center hosts a booth for National Coming into Queerness Day Oct 11, 2023. They had many resources for LGBTQIA+ education and a photo booth with pride flags.
PHOTO BY JULIA PERCY THE COLLEGIAN
CSU
FELINE FRIEND
Meet local celebrity Cuddles, ‘the UCA cat’
By Aubree Miller @csucollegian
Whether an arts student or simply a frequent visitor of the University Center for the Arts, one is likely to see a brown and white snowshoe cat, perhaps surrounded by people fawning over him. His name is Cuddles, and he is the unofficial mascot of Colorado State University’s UCA.
His owners, Makenna Majors and Forrest Wold-McGimsey, have lived in Fort Collins for years, and Cuddles has been roaming and exploring ever since WoldMcGimsey brought him from Oregon. Cuddles belonged to a
neighbor but would wander to Wold-McGimsey’s house. They started bonding, and Cuddles never left. Wold-McGimsey then unofficially adopted Cuddles.
Since living on Remington Street, Cuddles has visited the UCA basically every day unless there’s been a snowstorm. He especially enjoys hanging out in the gardens when it’s hot out and wandering around inside the building. Though many may worry over him wandering freely, he is never truly lost because he has a GPS collar that his owners use to make sure he’s safe.
Cuddles has become somewhat of a local celebrity with an impressive Instagram following of almost
Mr. Cuddles, known on campus as “the UCA cat,” walks along the pathway in front of the University Center for the Arts July 21.
PHOTO BY HANNAH PARCELLS THE COLLEGIAN
2,000. Students gather around to pet him in the lobby, and he wanders into rehearsals and classes, too.
Sophomore music student Ethan Barker shared some insight into what it’s like to have Cuddles around.
“I see Cuddles almost every day, and every time we see him in the UCA, it brightens up our day,” Barker said. “He definitely gives us a break from the rigor of music school, and he’s one of the best things in the UCA.”
While the Instagram page is home to a plethora of adorable photos of Cuddles, it also has served a greater purpose: saving Cuddles’ life.
In 2021, a car hit Cuddles, and someone nearby knew of the account.
“They messaged us on Instagram to let us know he was hit by a car,” Majors said. “And so that way, I could rush home from work and get him to an emergency vet. He got lucky — it only hit his tail and his back two legs, so he was able to recover.”
It was those who knew and cared about Cuddles who were able to get him help quickly and pay his vet bill unprompted.
“We had, like, probably like 25 messages asking for a GoFundMe,” Majors said. “We didn’t expect to get anything, but his vet bill was paid within the first day.”
While Cuddles primarily hangs around the UCA, he’s made an impact on his surrounding community, too. He has a dog best friend in the neighborhood, and when Majors and Wold-McGimsey bring him home every night, they are often stopped by people who want to see Cuddles.
“Just last night, we got stopped multiple times,” Wold-McGimsey said. “We were like, ‘Is this what it’s like to be a celebrity?’ But he’s the celebrity — no one knows who we are.”
Despite all the love and attention Cuddles gets, there are many people who don’t know much about him. Some think he’s owned by the school or doesn’t have owners. That
could not be further from the truth, as his owners are very diligent in bringing him home every day and making sure he’s safe.
Valerie Reed is the assistant events manager at the UCA and has seen Cuddles day after day for the past few years and witnessed how he has helped students.
“He just seems to be able to recognize when somebody’s having a hard time, and he goes over, and he just sits with them,” Reed said. “He just draws people together.” UCA staff do their best to protect visitors and students who have allergies. Reed said that many people with allergies will still spend time with Cuddles and make sure they wash their hands after.
A more recent Cuddles development is the release of stickers. They are for sale online and at both Mugs coffee shop locations.
“It’s kind of a badge of honor,” Reed said about the stickers.
There is no sign of Cuddles leaving any time soon, so he will continue to bring joy to the UCA and the greater CSU community.
“We just really love that people care about him so much,” WoldMcGimsey said.
Reach Aubree Miller at life @collegian.com.
5 new restaurants in Fort Collins worth trying this fall
By Love Masia @csucollegian
From popular fast food chains to mom-and-pop kitchens, Fort Collins is a foodie haven with over 300 places to eat and cuisine for almost any palette. It seems like every month, another restaurant is closing its doors, and a new one is waiting to take its place. If you want to branch out from the Northern Colorado staples this fall, here are five restaurants that have opened within the past year worth trying out.
1. Agave Underground
Not to be confused with the beloved Blue Agave Grill located underneath the Museum of Art Fort Collins, Agave Underground is an authentic Mexican restaurant next to Foothills Mall that has developed a cult following since opening its doors in late 2023. They’ve become so well known for their margaritas and flavorful takes on classic dishes, you don’t hear about the gorgeous ambiance of the space that pays homage to Mexican culture. Agave Underground aims to
bring Fort Collins a unique culinary experience that showcases exquisite and traditional upscale dishes from all over Mexico.
2. Sushi-Fi
Sushi-Fi is an all-you-can-eat sushi spot off East Harmony Road and South Lemay Avenue that took over the Nimo’s Sushibar space. They just opened in May and are already drawing rave reviews from sushi lovers and frequent customers. Sushi-Fi offers two tiers of all-you-can-eat sushi — either basic or premium — a la carte sushi options, rice bowls, Japanese appetizers and a large sake collection. Sushi-Fi is dedicated to freshness and quality. Each sushi roll is prepared in-house with ingredients imported from Japan.
3. Avery Eatery
Replacing Next Door Street Bar in Old Town, Avery Eatery opened its doors in January and is bringing gratitude, enthusiasm and sustainably sourced ingredients to the table. Avery is owned by the same people as Little on Mountain who are committed to sourcing local ingredients. They
offer baked goods, coffee drinks and hot breakfast, along with lunch, inbetween food, drinks and a full supper menu. They want to create a space that is for everyone and give back to the community — it’s a great restaurant with an even greater purpose.
4. Horsetooth Tavern
As the name implies, Horsetooth Tavern is tucked into Horsetooth Mountain Open Space near Horsetooth Falls and the Horsetooth Reservoir South Bay Campground. They offer a cozy, family-friendly American pub-type atmosphere with hearty comfort food and gorgeous views of the foothills from their patio. Previously known as the local favorite Canyon Grill, the restaurant reopened in mid-June as Horsetooth Tavern after being closed for a year, now under new management. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, and they have a full bar, live music and karaoke night every Wednesday 7-10 p.m. Horsetooth Tavern aims to marry mountain life with lake life and create a familiar place for tourists and locals alike.
5. Yellow Crunch
Yellow Crunch is NoCo’s first Colombian restaurant and opened in The Exchange in January, racking up five-star reviews since. Named after the crunchy yellow cornmeal that makes up a variety of foods like arepas rellenas and empanadas, Yellow Crunch is a family-owned store that strives to share dishes rich in Colombia’s culture. Their customer service,
specialty cocktails, happy hour deals and vegetarian and glutenfree options have solidified them as a Fort Collins favorite, as they are already looking to expand their space to accommodate even more customers and create a more extensive menu in a bigger kitchen. Reach Love Masia at life @collegian.com.
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By Emma Souza @csucollegian
The average person will spend 90,000 hours of their lifetime at work. Ninety thousand hours. Ninety thousand spent providing a roof and a meal, 90,000 spent chasing a dream. Ninety thousand working from a cubicle, attending office meetings, researching out in the field or curating a portfolio. How many ballpoint pens would one go through? How many coffee runs, red-eye flights or business dinners does one experience?
Ninety-thousand hours, yet only half of Americans feel fulfilled in their jobs.
A 2023 Pew Research study stated that only 44% of Americans are extremely or very satisfied with their opportunities for training and adopting new skills. Only 34% feel the same way about their salary, and only half say their job is even enjoyable.
For the majority of Americans who aren’t satisfied with their salary and for the half who dislike their jobs, what are those 90,000 hours put toward — a honed passion or a long paycheck? A dichotomy forms between pursuing a career that emotionally satisfies and pursuing a career that financially satisfies. For some, both are attainable. But for many, picking a career means sacrificing one consideration for another in an equally difficult choice. What makes a
meaningful career?
Above all else, careers contribute to the human search for meaning. According to another Pew Research study conducted across 17 countries, a median 25% of adults surveyed said their occupation gave them meaning in life.
Students and faculty at Colorado State University currently search for career meaning while trying to pick between a loved passion and a good salary.
Michael Steger knows this search all too well. Professor of psychology and founder of the Center for Meaning and Purpose at CSU, an organization that promotes psychological well-being, Steger has published multiple journals on meaning and positive psychology. He best defines meaning in life as believing that one’s experiences make sense and matter. Meaningful work — a combination of factors like ambition, commitment,
Passion vs. paycheck: CSU students, professors discuss career fulfillment
Some work for the money, others for their dream; is it ever possible to chase both?
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engagement, innovation and culture in a workplace — is a large contributor to a meaningful life.
“Meaning in life is certainly possible with any kind of work, but it is easier to have when your work is meaningful,” Steger said. “Especially when … you want to contribute to the world around you.”
Although meaningful work can boost life satisfaction, the searching process is not as simple as it may seem.
“Meaningful work is not easy to obtain,” Steger said. “Especially given distortions in (the) workplace where employers are actively working against meaningful work through policies and efforts to exert influence over workers.”
But even before the search for meaning begins, there comes a career plan.
Engineering
a path of their own
“Seeing people enjoy a sunny day pisses me off,” Jack Smith says. “You don’t know how bad I wish I could be hooping right now.”
Smith and Kai Oganeku sit across from each other at a picnic table, arms folded in mock jealousy. It’s a postcard Friday in Fort Collins: 75 degrees with a slight breeze, clouds dotting a blueberry sky like lazy brushstrokes on a painting. Students gather in clusters to lounge on the Intramural Fields, flipping like pancakes every 30 minutes to get an equal number of kisses from the sun. But for Smith and Oganeku, first-year engineering students at CSU, even the prettiest of days are all work and little play.
“A lot of people don’t understand the sheer scale of work (engineers have),” said Oganeku, an electrical engineering major. “I have about six more hours to do today.”
Despite the heavy workload, both Oganeku and Smith said the strenuous time and effort are well worth the payoff — literally. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual salary for an electrical engineer in 2023 was $106,950, while mechanical engineers made $99,510.
“I’ve always been told to choose a career that makes decent money,” Smith said, laughing. “I’ve also always had an engineer mind, though. … (I would) play with legos and cars growing up. That developed into taking objects apart and putting them back together.”
Unlike Smith, Oganeku admitted that engineering isn’t exactly a noble dream of his.
“If we’re being completely real, it’s a sucky degree — it’s really hard,” Oganeku said. “If what we were doing paid 60,000, I would not be doing it.”
For these two, career fulfillment might be defined by how much they make. But for others — including creative nonfiction MFA student Julia Marquez-Uppman — it’s defined by the art they create.
Rewriting the narrative
Marquez-Uppman comes to every class with her tumbler of coffee and a toothy grin framed by bouncing hair as she paces about the room. Twentynine and pursuing her master’s degree at CSU in creative nonfiction, she
teaches classrooms of college students just as eager and bright-eyed as she was a decade ago. At their age, however, Marquez-Uppman didn’t realize her passion for writing until it was — presumably — too late.
“My junior year in college, I took a fiction workshop, which was just kind of on a whim,” MarquezUppman said. “I was like, ‘Oh, my god, if I had taken this my first year of college, I would 100% be an English major.’”
Although she doesn’t regret her Spanish and gender, women and sexuality studies degrees from Grinnell College, MarquezUppman couldn’t help but feel aimless after college.
“It was just this postcollege feeling of, ‘Ah, what am I doing?’” Marquez-Uppman said. “And eventually, I just had this dream to live in Chile, in South America, for a while. I couldn’t explain why, but I had this really strong need to go there. And so that’s what I did.” Marquez-Uppman taught English in Chile for six months. There, thousands of miles away from the life she had known, an inspiration for a new one began: She wanted to pursue writing. Her family and friends were supportive, but no amount of support could shield Marquez-Uppman from the societal stereotypes she’d face in following her passion.
“I’ve internally contended with the stereotype that people won’t take me seriously,” MarquezUppman said. “I’ve learned from myself and other students that
writing is so hard, but everyone thinks they can write a bestselling novel. People are like, ‘Why do you need to go to school for that?’ But it takes years and years to learn, and it’s hard to sit down and make something meaningful.”
In the time it takes to write a book, however, an author’s salary may not be sufficient. In 2022, according to The Authors Guild, the average full-time, self-published author’s book sales and associated earnings only amounted to a median yearly salary of $27,800.This is nearly equivalent to the salary of a grocery bagger.
“By the time you get to the point where you want to be a writer, you’ve sort of made the decision that your career is not going to be about money,” Marquez-Uppman said. “When I first started the MFA, I thought I would just write and do a book deal and then be a writer. No. You have to do a lot of work to go up.”
Todd Mitchell, associate professor of creative writing at CSU, would agree. It took him over 10 years to get his first book published, but Mitchell still enjoyed the journey.
“It’s essential to be patient with yourself and adopt a perspective that allows you to love the process — even when others don’t seem to love what you’re doing,” Mitchell said. “Love every step of the journey. That’s the secret to persevering in a healthy, sustainable way when the external rewards are slow to come.”
When asked whether he’d rather pursue his dreams or obtain a high salary, Mitchell said he prefers the former.
“I’ve known many people who chose a high salary over following their dreams and ended up miserable,” Mitchell said. “I’d much rather be happy and fulfilled than rich.”
The choice between love and money can feel like an impossible one, but the pressure to find either builds soon as college starts.
“It’s a really terrifying thing,” Marquez-Uppman said. “Especially for undergrads, to put this (choice) on them when they barely know who they are (at that age).”
The pressure to know
It can take decades to find a meaningful career, but oftentimes undergraduate degrees don’t even dictate one’s career field.
Read the full version of this article at collegian.com.
Reach Emma Souza at life @collegian.com.
CRETACEOUS DISCOVERY
CSU digs paleontology, inspiring careers in field
By Hana Pavelko @csucollegian
“Life finds a way,”Ian Malcolm said in “Jurassic Park” — and it seems like it has. Despite the passing of millions of years, scientists are still discovering evidence of previous life on Earth, which helps people understand the life on the planet today.
Evidence of past life comes in the form of fossils — the preserved remnants, traces or impressions of plants or animals in the crust of the Earth through a process called sedimentation. Through careful examination and dating of fossils, paleontologists have created a timeline of life on Earth deemed the fossil record. Paleontology is the study of current and previous life via the examination of these fossils.
One of the most recent breakthroughs in paleontology had the help of a Colorado State University alumnus and affiliate faculty member. Joe Sertich, who graduated from CSU in 2004, is one of the co-lead authors of the paper on the new dinosaur species Lokiceratops rangiformis.
“(The discovery) changes our understanding of what was going on across western North America during that time ... and changes the way we think about diversity,” said University of Utah Professor Mark Loewen, one of Sertich’s fellow writers.
Named for its facial resemblance to the helmet of the Norse god Loki, made famous by the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, the Lokiceratops was discovered in northern Montana in 2019. Its name translates to, “Loki’s horned face that looks like a caribou.” The Lokiceratops has a different pattern of horns compared to similar ceratops species, Loewen said.
A cast of the Lokiceratops skeleton now resides at the Natural History Museum of Utah, while the original skeleton was sent to be displayed in Denmark.
“Undergraduate researchers were involved with this project,” Loewen said. “(We) want to get undergrads excited about research now so it’ll be better for them as they move forward.”
For CSU students who have a love of paleontology and want to get involved with research themselves, there is an opportunity to apply to
CSU’s Paleontology Field School, which holds a summer session. Led by paleontologist Thomas Bown and biological anthropologist Kim Nichols, students have the opportunity to learn about paleontology hands-on.
“I didn’t even know you could be a paleontologist before I applied to the CSU Paleo Field School,” said Luke Weaver, a CSU alumnus who participated in the first rendition of the field school in 2013. “I barely knew what paleontology was. But by the end of the summer, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in paleontology.”
The first week of the course starts in a traditional classroom setting, teaching students the fundamentals of several topics, including geology, paleontology, mammal and primate evolution and tooth anatomy, Weaver said.
After a week of lecture and lab, students travel to Bighorn Basin, Wyoming, for field excavation. Students spend a week in the field excavating fossils, followed by a week of analysis of the fossils found and presentations to the rest of the class.
“It was the coolest experience of my life up to that point,” Weaver said.
“I learned more from Tom and Kim that summer than I ever had before, and it was like a light switched on, and suddenly, I could see.” Weaver went on to earn a Ph.D. in 2021 from the University of Washington and currently works at the University of Michigan on a tenure track as an assistant curator of fossil mammals at the Museum of Paleontology. Weaver
also works as an assistant professor in the department of earth and environmental sciences.
“I can say with 100% certainty that none of this would have ever happened if it wasn’t for Tom, Kim and the CSU Paleo Field School,” Weaver said. “There is no better place to start your foray into paleontology.”
Reach Hana Pavelko at science @collegian.com.
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Voted
Extreme weather prompts new scientific collaboration
By Marinna Stopa @csucollegian
“The U.S. is experiencing nearly six times more major weather and climate disasters per year than it did 40 years ago,” U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said.
On May 21, the Biden administration announced $6.6 million for a new data assimilation consortium, marking a significant step forward in protecting populations most vulnerable to these disasters all around the country.
This project, known as the Consortium for Advanced Data Assimilation Research and Education, represents a collaborative effort between leading universities in the field of atmospheric science.
The consortium will bring together institutions from all around the country and globe, including the University of Oklahoma, Colorado State University, Howard University, the University of Maryland, Pennsylvania State University and the University of Utah. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign,
State University of New York at Albany and City College of New York will also participate but will not receive funding under the proposal.
Additionally, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research labs and operational centers, the Earth Prediction Innovation Center, the United Kingdom’s Meteorological Office, the University of Reading and the new Transatlantic Data Science Academy will play a vital role in this initiative.
This effort hopes to produce results that will be felt around the world, no matter if a country is directly involved, and help everyone better forecast and prepare for weather and climaterelated disasters.
“Data assimilation is a science that combines observation information and numerical models together to produce an analysis that estimates the status of the Earth system as it evolves, for example,” said Project Director Xuguang Wang, who is a professor of meteorology at the University of Oklahoma.
In other words, data assimilation is the mathematical process of continuously combining
observational data with model data, or real life with theory, to better inform future models.
“For this consortium, we are trying to actually fill two gaps,” Wang said. “One is to fill the serious gap in workforce. We like to get students ... interested in data assimilation, (knowing) what a data assimilation is and, you know, study it and use it down the road. So the other gap is (that) there is a lack of sustained support for innovative research for data assimilation.”
In meteorology, data assimilation provides a starting point for the forecasts people use every day.
Peter Jan van Leeuwen, a professor in data assimilation and physical oceanography at CSU, said it also plays a huge role in studying the ocean and cloud formation and in forecasting hurricanes as they grow and evolve. Van Leeuwen has been involved in research for over 30 years and serves as CSU’s representative for the project.
Van Leeuwen’s department has an existing collaboration with the NOAA’s Collaborative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere, which will aid in this new initiative.
Although not involved in this specific project, Scott Denning, a CSU atmospheric science professor, uses the field of data assimilation in his research on the global carbon cycle and measuring carbon dioxide levels in the air and oceans.
Wang said the field “brings together those who study math, physical and dynamical processes, modeling, measurements, higher performance computing and data science, and it has applications in many areas.”
The primary goal of this research, however, is focused on improving weather forecasting.
“This is a very broad collaboration nationally and internationally,” Wang said. “That’s one thing I’m quite excited about. The other one is, you know, the impact of this consortium. ... We’re going to address a serious gap in workforce. This is a known issue — nationally, internationally known issue — about the workforce gap in data assimilation.”
By improving the technology that goes into numerical weather prediction models, public and public safety officials have access to more accurate and timely information. This, Raimondo said, will make communities more climate resilient.
Additionally, the consortium hopes to educate people on what data assimilation is, addressing a significant knowledge gap in the field. Most directly, this will involve graduate and postdoctoral students becoming specifically trained in the field, thereby enhancing the workforce pipeline.
“It’s not that we don’t know how to figure it out,” Denning said. “It’s just that the field is continuously evolving and being reinvented in the light of new technological advances. The lack of people with knowledge in the field makes it challenging to adapt to.”
The best way to do so, van Leeuwen said, is through science projects. His team will use data assimilation to address existing problems within the physics and math equations that drive the current models. They’ll also
focus on the errors models make based on real-time observations from satellites.
“So now we have six universities involved there,” van Leeuwen said. “There are many universities in the U.K., obviously in the U.S., ... where data assimilation is done. That way we can train people. ... Our hope is for many people within NOAA that, that there will be funding to extend this.”
As well as holding the project director role, Wang will lead two research projects of her own. The first involves machine learning and artificial intelligence and how they can be used to reduce the computational cost of data assimilation. The second focuses on addressing the interaction of land and atmosphere during data assimilation to improve short-range forecasts.
Wang said the entire consortium will address 12 research topics, two at each institution. These vary from short-range to seasonal predictions and from new data assimilation methodologies to implementation and will focus on extreme weather like hurricanes, tornadoes and wildfires.
Involved professors and scientists at NOAA offices will also travel to other universities within the collaboration to guest lecture and spread their expertise.
Alongside these higher education-based research initiatives, the consortium will develop material to be used in high school classrooms, hold summer workshops for students and publish training materials online.
Work doesn’t start until August, and funding lasts for three years, Wang and van Leeuwen said. Unless it is renewed by the next administration, the worry lies in sustaining research, the workforce and support from the scientific community. Without advancements, the future of weather forecasting and numerical weather prediction risks falling behind.
Reach Marinna Stopa at science@collegian.com.
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10 unsung CSU research projects impacting NoCo
By Jenn Dawson @csucollegian
The usual suspects of CSU research can be difficult to escape. Everywhere students look, there are ongoing studies about obscure animals adapting to climate change, creative interventions for dementia or something about lasers. Northern Colorado culture guarantees the latest debates on water, wolves and wildfires — not to mention the way an occasional infectious diseases study hits the public like a bat out of hell.
Though popular topics like soil productivity and polymer innovation are undeniably compelling, colleges around campus are creating golden nuggets of research in unexpected areas. CSU hosts world-altering, odd and sometimes subtle research looking for ways to make life better for everyone. Of course, all of this research, from dark matter to blooming corpse flowers, deserves a time and place for attention. These 10 areas of science are only a small sample of the research that is quietly improving everyday life.
1. Local democracy: Center for Public Deliberation
The Center for Public Deliberation guides Northern Colorado through polarizing community issues while continuing research on democracy, civic engagement and public communication. With tools found in brain and social sciences, the CPD explores deliberative democracy while on the ground with local citizens.
2. Poverty: Center for Marketing and Social Impact
Science has only recently begun to study the intersection of poverty and resource scarcity. At the Center for Marketing and Social Impact, business scientists reach beyond the usual affluent marketplace research and explore the impacts of deprivation on behavior and well-being.
3. Music therapy: Brainwaves Research Lab
Music has played a role in therapy since ancient civilizations. However, contemporary science
continues to uncover new ways to take advantage of music’s potential. At the Brainwaves Research Lab, neuroscience and music therapy are teaming up to study the impacts of music on the attention skills of children with autism.
4. Performing arts: Enriched Environments for the Healthy, Aging Brain
Dance, symphony and theater have made their way into health sciences. In the project Enriched Environments for the Healthy, Aging Brain, researchers from design and merchandising, communication studies and psychology collaborated to study engagement in performing arts as an intervention to delay or reduce cognitive decline. CSU’s performing artists are rarely featured in peer-reviewed science studies.
5. Interior design: Spatial Perception and Cognitive Experience Laboratory
The mission of the Spatial Perception and Cognitive Experience Laboratory is to bring
neurodiversity into consideration for interior design and user interfaces. By combining building modeling, sensory tracking, neuroimaging and sometimes virtual reality, researchers collaborating from the design and merchandising and neuroscience departments have begun developing a new and inclusive approach to planning interior environments.
6. Humanizing user interface: Natural User Interaction
Computer scientists are training augmented and virtual reality systems in more intricacies of human communication in the Natural User Interaction Lab. Barriers to interaction are evaporating as the technology becomes more intuitive with natural gestures, microgestures and, soon, emotion recognition. Is your lab researching ways to change the world? Tell us all about it at science@collegian.com.
Read the full version of this article at collegian.com.
Reach Jenn Dawson at science @collegian.com.
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Ram Welcome:
CSU Move In through the years
2012
A student rides a mechanical bull at the Ram Welcome Carnival, typically held midweek after all new students have moved into their dorms.
COLLEGIAN FILE PHOTO
2013
Greek life students aid first-years moving into Summit Hall. Members of fraternities and sororities traditionally help students and families carry belongings into the dorms during move-in.
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2015
Ram Welcome Leaders on the Hike to the “A.” Transportation is provided for students to reach the trailhead and complete the traditional hike, signifying the beginning of their time at Colorado State University.
Two students take a spin on a ride at the Ram Welcome Carnival. The carnival, a traditional activity, is held on the Intramural Fields.
COLLEGIAN FILE PHOTO
2019
Parents of first-years sort through items and wait outside Newsom Hall during move in. Ram Welcome runs the course of move-in week with activities planned for each day first-years move into their new homes.
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2021
The Pride Resource Center tables at the Ram Welcome Street Fair. Back to school protocols in 2021 included mask mandates for all indoor activities and suggested masking for outdoor activities as well.
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2023
COLLEGIAN FILE PHOTO 2016
Local musicians Jack Costanza and Seeder Whaley of Fort Collins indie-pop band Co-Stanza at Ram Welcome’s annual event, Ramapalooza, outside of the Lory Student Center.
COLLEGIAN FILE PHOTO
CSU soccer preview 2024: Schedule, insights, players
By Michael Hovey @michaelfhovey
Time to run it back.
Colorado State soccer has a chance to follow up a historic previous season coming into 2024. After appearing in their first-ever Mountain West Conference championship, the Rams have an opportunity to finally secure something that has forever eluded them — a conference title.
CSU concluded last season 12-6-4, one victory shy of a school record in singleseason wins. The Rams played the largest number of matches in program history last year, something that could benefit their current returning key players. A conference championship — and subsequently, a ticket to the NCAA tournament — is well within reach this season. The schedule is as follows:
Aug.
8 North Texas
The Mean Green averaged 2.31 goals per game last year — almost double their opponents’ averages. CSU’s single-season leading goal scorer, Olivia Fout, may need to step up in the season opener.
Aug. 15 Idaho State
Following a 4-13-2 finish in 2023, the Bengals pose little threat to the Rams. A win early in the season could generate some momentum.
Aug. 18 Nebraska
A tough road game awaits in Lincoln, Nebraska. The Cornhuskers outscored their opponents 67-29 last season and, in turn, ranked fifth in total goals in the nation.
CSU’s Mia Casey managed to score CSU’s second-ever hat trick last year, something that would turn the tides even in a matchup like this.
Aug. 22 Northern Colorado
This will mark the first meeting between these teams since their 2021 game, which ended in a tie. The Bears finished second to last in their conference last season with only one win.
Aug. 25 California Baptist
After boasting a record of 11-2-6 in 2023, the Lancers could be one of the tougher opponents this year. CBU averaged 2.05 goals per game, whereas their opponents only managed 0.68 per game.
Aug. 29 Texas State
The Bobcats finished 9-74 last year, slightly above .500. TXST played better at home, so the Rams’ first stint in Texas won’t be a given.
Sept. 1 UTSA
Six of the seven Roadrunner wins last season came within a margin of two points or more. CSU could have decent odds if they keep the game close.
Sept. 12 Denver
CSU goalkeeper Shayna Ross could have her hands full in this one. The Pioneers averaged 16.61 shot attempts per game last season, ranking No. 27 in the NCAA.
Sept. 20 Omaha
CSU has yet to suffer a loss to the Mavericks — a team that finished 7-5-7 in
2023. This will be the first encounter between these two teams since 2016.
Sept. 26 Air Force
The Falcons turned out a below-average record last year while also losing to CSU in the back half of the season. The Rams haven’t lost to USAFA since 2015 and now have another chance to keep the streak in the first conference bout of the year.
Sept. 29 Colorado College
Efficiency could be key in this matchup, as the Tigers ranked No. 12 in the nation in saves last season. Tigers’ goalkeeper Regan Wallace was instrumental in those outstanding numbers and will likely start every game once again.
Oct. 3 San Jose State
A crucial conference win is attainable against a Spartan team that finished last in the Mountain West in 2023.
Oct. 6 Fresno State
The Bulldogs finished 4-43 within the conference last year, just below the Rams. CSU managed a 1-0 win against Fresno State last season.
Oct. 10 Boise State
As a top contender in the Mountain West, the Broncos look to replicate their success from 2023. Besides beating the Rams 4-1 last year, BSU also finished at an impressive 11-4-6.
Read the full version of the article at collegian.com.
Reach Michael Hovey at sports@collegian.com.
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CSU football preview 2024: Schedule, players, insights
By Michael Hovey @michaelfhovey
Colorado State’s key pieces could finally click this year.
The Rams’ 2023 season resulted in an overall standing of 5-7 — a subpar record in simple terms. However, the real story was a team with three onescore losses and a developing young roster led by a second-year coach. If the passing attack remains stellar, a positive season lies within sight.
The schedule is as follows:
Aug. 31 Texas
The most difficult task for the Rams will be their first. Quarterback Quinn Ewers will be the focal point of the Texas attack that ranked No. 9 in total offense in the nation last
year. CSU star wide receiver Tory Horton and quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi will have to shake off the rust early to stand a chance. Texas profiles as a top-ranked team that seemingly had a solid offseason, so Ram fans may just have to hope for the best.
Sept. 7 Northern Colorado
Northern Colorado ranked last in the Big Sky Conference in total offense last year, which presents an undemanding task for CSU’s defensive leader, linebacker Chase Wilson. The stage is set for a win as the Rams have claimed victory in every contest against UNC dating back to 1905.
Sept. 14 Colorado
After all the hype surrounding Colorado football and coach Deion Sanders, the Buffs ended dead last in the PAC-12 at 4-8 in 2023. CSU safety Jack Howell and the secondary will have their hands full against the elite Buff duo of Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter.The Rams boast homefield advantage this year, marking the first matchup hosted in Fort Collins since 1996. CSU finally has a chance to break the six-game losing streak against CU in what could again be the most electric competition of the year.
Sept. 21 UTEP
Just before the Ram’s first bye, the Texas at El Paso Miners will wander into town. With a newly anointed coach and only seven returning starters, UTEP’s quality of play has yet to be determined. The Miners went 3-9 last year and have only garnered one winning season in the past nine years. CSU defensive lineman Nuer Gatkuoth could have himself a day against a UTEP offensive front that lost all five starters from last year. The Rams seem to have decent odds against a team that appears to be in structural transition.
Oct. 5 Oregon State
A team that was red-hot two years ago has since taken two steps back. Possibly a consequence of the
near-total destruction of the PAC12, Oregon State lost its head coach and a majority of its key players. Rams running back Justin Marshall could have a significant role in this matchup should he maintain his hold as a starter. Marshall erupted for 311 yards in the final three games last season and could be a crucial piece moving forward.
Oct. 12 San Jose State
San Jose State hasn’t typically been a winning program in the last couple decades, but a new era is in motion. The new offensive coordinator for the Spartans likes to throw the ball. A lot. CSU’s secondary and safety Henry Blackburn will need to step up to keep this game competitive.
Oct. 19 Air Force
CSU has lost its last seven encounters with Air Force; the Falcons’ grit cannot be understated. Air Force finished No. 2 in the NCAA in rushing last year and only allowed an average of just over 18 points per game. The Rams will have to prepare to hit and get hit on both sides of the ball while staying keyed in on playmakers. The Falcons’ game plan revolved around controlling the clock and maintaining possession last year, so the Rams will have to find a way to break free.
Oct. 26 New Mexico
New Mexico’s record of 4-8 last year was a slight step up from 2022. Thankfully for the CSU offense, the Lobos had a difficult time stopping the run and generally applied little pressure from their defensive front. If the Rams’ offensive line can give Fowler-Nicolosi time, the score could skew in CSU’s favor.
Nov. 2 Nevada
CSU coach Jay Norvell will return to his former stadium in this matchup. Nevada’s linebackers are solid, but the rest of the defense should be soft enough to put up points. If CSU can extend a lead early, it seems unlikely the Wolf Pack will mount a comeback.
Nov. 15 Wyoming
CSU has a chance to snap a threegame losing streak against Wyoming, but it won’t be easy. This is a game that could get ugly unless the Rams stay attentive. UW plays tough on both sides of the ball with heavy hitters and a strong run game. The Cowboys are coming off an impressive ninewin season, and it looks like their game plan should generally stay the same. CSU needs to match UW’s physicality to stay in it.
Read the full version of this article at collegian.com.
Reach Michael Hovey at sports @collegian.com.
COLLEGIAN FILE PHOTO
BEGINNER’S GUIDE
CSU volleyball preview 2024: Players, matches of note
By Will Engle @willengle44
Getting off on the right foot as a new coach is certainly no easy task, especially with the everlooming shadow of the illustrious 26-year career of coach Tom Hilbert there to set the bar high.
Coach Emily Kohan did not back down from that challenge. Setting the tone with an upset against No. 10 Kentucky in front of a record-breaking crowd right out of the gate, the 2023 Colorado State volleyball season showed that Kohan and her squad were not there to sit back and stay happy with their previous success. They were hungry, and they wanted more. When everything was said and done, the team led the Mountain West in hitting percentage, finished second with a record of 19-12 and lost in the conference championship to Fresno State.
The 2024 season is shaping up to be filled with that same hunger and drive. Kohan is returning with the same core squad as last season, with her three 2023 All-Mountain West players leading the charge: Malaya Jones,
Other players of note this season include Kekua Richards, Kennedy Stanford and Maria Brun.
Richards, who saw limited minutes last season, is a 6-foot-7-inch middle blocker with the potential to be a young defensive star for the Rams should she remain injury-free.
Stanford, who recorded her 1,000th career kill and 100th career match as a Ram last season, is entering her last year of eligibility for the green and gold this year. While the 2023 season saw Stanford working through ups and downs in her productivity on the court at times, she still contributed greatly to the Rams’ success and will be a key part of the squad in 2024.
Brun is the only international player for the Rams this year.
Hailing from Barcelona, Spain, the 6-foot-1-inch outside hitter previously played for Catalonian team Club Voleibol Sant Cugat, which placed third in the Spanish Cup.
In addition to her club, Brun has also played on the international stage, helping Spain win the Western European Volleyball
Association’s U19 tournament. While Brun is certainly young, her experience in big situations will make her a welcome addition to a squad that undoubtedly wishes to go deep in the playoffs once again.
Here are some matches to look out for:
Aug. 30 Florida
Can lightning strike twice?
To open the season in Moby Arena, the Rams will take on No. 19 Florida, an opponent that will force the Rams to show their strengths and discover their weaknesses. While a loss certainly does not spell doom for the rest of the season, picking up an early win could do wonders for the team’s momentum and self-confidence.
Sept. 6 Oregon
Exactly a week after their matchup against Florida, the green and gold will step up in intensity once more as they take on No. 7 Oregon. This match will not only be a challenge to see if the Rams can step up to the competition, but it will also show if the squad is able to take the lessons they learned from the previous week of play to improve upon their strengths and
Seniors Naeemah Weathers (9) and Emery Herman (4) high-five in between plays Oct. 28, 2023. CSU won 3-0 against Boise State University.
PHOTO BY CAIT MCKINZIE THE COLLEGIAN
patch up their weaknesses.
Sept. 19-20
Colorado
Few environments bring out the competitive spirit like that of a heated rivalry. The Rams will host the Buffaloes in Moby Arena Sept. 19 and then move down to Boulder to finish up the showdown Sept. 20. In addition to being rivalry matches, these two matches will be the final nonconference contests of the season. If CSU is looking to make a statement heading into conference play, the Rocky Mountain Showdown will certainly be the time to do that.
Sept. 26, Nov. 23
Utah State
Perhaps the biggest obstacle CSU will need to overcome this season will be the Utah State Aggies. The Aggies, who finished first in the conference with a 24-7 record and a staggering 17-1 conference record, beat the Rams in every instance they met last year. If the Rams are looking to be top dogs this year, setting the tone against USU in their first conference-play matchup Sept. 26 and finishing strong in their final match
of the regular season Nov. 23 will certainly be a goal for the green and gold. Oct. 5, Nov. 14
Fresno State
There are few things as sweet as revenge. After fighting their way to the MW championship last season, the Rams took a 2-0 set lead. After several errors and a surging comeback from FSU, CSU was reverse-swept and left the arena empty-handed. As their rematch with the Bulldogs approaches, the Rams will be looking to show they won’t make the same mistakes twice.
Oct. 8, Nov. 5
Wyoming
The Border War never fails to impress. Last season, the Rams fell in their first match against the Cowgirls in Laramie, Wyoming, but they evened up the count in their second matchup with a 3-1 victory in Moby Arena led by Jones, who recorded 23 kills. This year, the rivalry will have its first battle in Moby Arena Oct. 8 and finish in Laramie Nov. 5.
Reach Will Engle at sports @collegian.com.
Emery Herman and Naeemah Weathers.
Zonal
Rams to pros: Where are they now?
By Alex Graser @alexgraser5354
Colorado State athletes have always prided themselves on being hardworking, dedicated individuals. Some Rams have been able to take this dedication to the next level.
The Rams named on this list are some of the few who were able to play professionally
and represent CSU on the big stage.
Trey McBride (2018-2021)
During Trey McBride’s career at CSU, he recorded 164 receptions and 2,100 yards receiving. McBride caught 10 touchdown passes and had one rushing touchdown in his career at CSU. Following the 2021 season, McBride had one of the best seasons in Ram history. He was
named a unanimous All-American in 2021 and won the John Mackey Award, which is awarded to the best tight end in college football.
McBride was drafted in the second round as the 55th pick to the Arizona Cardinals, where he sat behind former Super Bowl champion Zach Ertz in his rookie season. In his second season in the NFL, McBride won the starting job at the tight end position. He had a Pro Bowl-level year, catching 81 receptions for 825 yards and making three TDs. McBride is looking like a top-10 TE in the NFL and still has much more to prove.
David Roddy (2019-2022)
One of the most electrifying forwards to ever play at CSU, David Roddy made an immediate impact his first year, starting in 19 of the 32 games he played in his first season. He finished his sophomore and junior years in the top 10 in scoring in the Mountain West. In his final year with the Rams, Roddy helped the team make a bid for March Madness.
Roddy was drafted 23rd overall in the 2022 NBA Draft. He played his first season and a half with the Memphis Grizzlies before being
traded to the Phoenix Suns. So far, he has averaged 6.6 points, three rebounds and one assist per game.
Becky Hammon (1996-1999)
Becky Hammon is one of the best basketball players to ever step foot in Moby Arena, and her accolades back it up. Her achievements include four-time All-Conference first team, two-time West Athletic Conference Mountain Division Player of the Year, WAC Pacific Division player of the year and WAC freshman of the year. She also holds the career record at CSU for points, three-pointers, steals and shooting percentage.
Hammon went on play in the WNBA 1999-2014, where she was a six-time All-Star. She finished her career with great career stats, averaging 13 points, 3.8 assists and 2.5 rebounds per game and shooting 43.8%. After she retired from the WNBA in 2014, she became the first woman fulltime assistant coach in the NBA for the San Antonio Spurs. In 2022 she became the head coach of the Las Vegas Aces and won back-to-back championships in 2022 and 2023.
Janay DeLoach (2004-2008)
Janay DeLoach was a world-class athlete during her time at CSU.
During 2008 in her senior year, she placed first in the Mountain West track and field championship in the long jump and second in the 100-meter dash. She was named to the CSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017 and to the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame. She still holds the Alaska state women’s long jump record of 19 feet, 5 inches, which she set in 2003 at the age of 17.
She was a three-time USA indoor long jump national champion and a silver medalist at the 2012 World Indoor Championships. In 2012, she qualified for the London Summer Olympics, where she won a bronze medal. DeLoach also qualified for the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics but missed the finals by 0.03 meters. DeLoach retired from track and field in 2018 to focus on her family. Read the full version of this article at collegian.com.
Reach Alex Graser at sports @collegian.com.
COLLEGIAN FILE PHOTO
5 spots to jump-start your live music addiction
By Ruby Secrest @csucollegian
Whether you’re new to Fort Collins or have been in town for years and are looking for a change in pace, here are the top five stops we recommend checking when starting your live music addition — and trust us: It’s an addiction.
1. Wolverine Farm Publick
House
If you grew up with earbuds in and your nose always in a book, observing rather than participating and you have an obscure theory in the back of your mind just waiting for the right moment to share it, Wolverine Farm Publick House live music nights might just be your safe haven.
The establishment is a true jack of all trades, working as a bookstore, publishing company, coffee shop, group event provider, live music venue and so much more. Whether you prefer to grab a friend or bring a book, your night can only get better with an evening of live music at the local Wolverine Farm.
2. The Coast
On the opposite side of the live music spectrum is local music venue The Coast. If you like to wake up sore the next morning from a good ole mosh pit and a slight ringing in the ear from standing a little too close to the amp, The Coast is likely a great fit for you.
The venue is structured as a bar in the front leading into a small stage and pit, reaching capacity at 300 people. The intimate stage
LASTING CONNECTIONS
setup is what makes this venue perfect for your first local Fort Collins music experience.
3. New Belgium Brewing Company
One of the main attractions in Fort Collins is New Belgium Brewing Company, and while bikes and beer make for excellent companions on their own, the brewery’s live music scene is well overlooked. If you are someone who likes to sit, watch and take it all in with the occasional get up and dance, this spot is for you.
The brewery primarily showcases local artists ranging from bluegrass to DJs. It’s a great spot for music lovers to sit, grab a beer and enjoy the music and beautiful outdoor scenery.
4. Washington’s Washington’s, which originally started as a sports bar and grill, has evolved since its 2017 remodel into a beloved show venue in Fort Collins’ Old Town. With a capacity of 900 people, a balcony in case standing in the pit isn’t your style and a wide range of contemporary music, the venue is a great place for most anyone.
The only thing that may hold you back from experiencing live music at Washington’s is that most of their shows are for people over the age of 21. If you are under 21, you might be lucky to find a few shows that are exceptions, but for the most part, the venue is only open to 21-andolder crowds.
5. Aggie Theatre
A list of live music venues in Fort Collins
wouldn’t be complete without Aggie Theatre. Aggie Theatre is the true pipeline of live music in Fort Collins. Even though it is not the largest venue in town — and not even the largest on this list — it is one of, if not the most, loved venues in town.
Hosting multiple shows every week all year-round for every genre imaginable, the Aggie has created a reputation for itself as the primary concert venue of Fort Collins. If you are looking to see a big-name local band or touring artist, check on the Aggie website, as they might have something exactly your taste coming soon.
Reach Ruby Secrest at entertainment @collegian.com.
The Music District provides valuable space for local musicians
By Sophie Webb @csucollegian
Fort Collins offers a multitude of opportunities for residents looking to explore their artistic interests, and for incoming students at CSU wanting to explore that creative side of themselves, The Music District is located right next to campus.
The nonprofit organization creates a space for musicians and local music businesses to build connections within the industry while perfecting their craft. Several amenities are granted to members, including exclusive events, access to the entire Music District campus, usage of professional gear and collaboration with the staff.
“There’s always an employee there that’s able to give valuable information or suggestions on how to better my track,” said Paul Cauchi, a current MD member. “The people are a main part for me.”
Besides the dedicated employees, The Music District’s campus includes soundproof rehearsal and production rooms so that artists have access to an area that gives them a high-quality edge to become successful within the industry.
“It provides a really valuable space for beginners, intermediates and really anyone in music to have a creative space with peers,” Cauchi said.
Besides the seven rehearsal rooms at artists’ disposal, there are also opportunities within The Music
District to host meetings and connect with the business side of music. So instead of just learning about it, students get a hands-on experience with their potential career.
With many people being fulltime students, one large factor when exploring a membership is the cost. For $30 per month, members have 14 hours in that month to use everything The Music District has to offer, from software to a detailed setup.
“To devote to music has been really awesome,” Cauchi said. “It’s surprisingly helped me with time management. I’ve been able to really maximize my time.”
But if the price does not work, The Music District still houses opportunities for nonmembers to be involved through things like public workshops and Groove Theory, a monthly music production meetup for anyone from audio engineers to recording artists to connect.
Mervin Montante, otherwise known as with love, harlōw, was the most recent special guest and masterclass presenter at Groove Theory.
“The coolest part about The Music District is just to bump shoulders with people and kind of open your eyes to different genres and different people and all ages,” Montante said.
The Music District originally flew Montante out to Fort Collins for a sync writing class.
“Basically, what they do is have a bunch of local Colorado people come through, and they flew out producers from all over the U.S. to kind of facilitate a sync writing opportunity,” Montante said.
Montante is a Filipino American artist based in Detroit, exploring multiple genres throughout his songs, such as indie, electronic, R&B and rock.
“During my stay (at The Music District), they’ve just been super hospitable,” Montante said. “They opened their doors.”
Montante plans on returning to Northern Colorado in the future and partnering with The Music District.
Offering several unique resources, The Music District continues to draw in new members and keep the original ones, one of those being Lance Lang, whose stage name is Lane-O.
Lang is a part of the Dream Create Inspire Tour. The tour travels around and teaches music through workshops, which is how they connected with The Music District. Because Lang was frequently associated with DCI, he was also asked to come down to Fort Collins.
“The rest was kind of history,” Lang said.
Lang became a member and has continued to work with The Music District for the past year as they have consistently
supported the growth of his passion.
“That’s a big part of The Music District — is being able to network, ... and The Music District is pretty much a great hub for that,” Lang said. “To be able to meet other musicians or music business professionals, and within that, that’s how you (are) able to move around in the music industry.”
Those looking to expand their career beyond just connections can do so in the several rooms around The Music District campus that are specialized for each artist’s needs. The Music District is currently at capacity for membership but accepting submissions on their waitlist.
“I just aspire to be in a space where I can give back from my artistry, and I think The Music District would be a great place for me to be able to do that as far as the opportunities that ... supported me and then the things that I’ve learned,” Lang said. The music industry is a competitive one, and not every member is guaranteed success, but the love, passion and resources provided are an ideal starting place.
“I’m able to use The Music District and develop being who I am unapologetically,” Cauchi said. “That unapologetic behavior of being myself is what really, I think, helps musicians stand out.”
Reach Sophie Webb at entertainment @collegian.com.
Ian Ehrhart puts on a headlining performance with his band, Jesus Christ Taxi Driver, at the end the first night of the Fort Collins Music Experiment festival at Aggie Theatre April 19. PHOTO BY RUBY SECREST THE COLLEGIAN
PHOTO COURTESY OF SARAH HELLER
• 6 Hot tubs
• 2 Entertainment lounges
• 3 Fitness centers
• 7 Grills
• 2 Swimming pools • 3 Dog runs
FC Moves, local artist prepare to brighten FoCo with asphalt mural installation
By Allie Seibel
@allie_seibel_
The City of Fort Collins will be completing the city’s largest asphalt art installation at the intersection of Canyon Avenue, West Magnolia Street and South Sherwood Street in conjunction with FC Moves and local artist Jess Bean.
The mural, which will be installed Aug. 14-18, also serves to enhance community safety by aiming to slow traffic speeds, shorten pedestrian crossing distances and protect vulnerable pedestrians from vehicles, according to a press release from the City of Fort Collins.
“The idea is that not only are we painting an infrastructure, but we’re also bringing art to the people,” said Anna Kelso, City of Fort Collins active modes specialist. “It’s street beautification, and it’s placemaking so that when our streets look like people belong there, then people drive like they expect to see people on the street. It’s a totally different psychology for how we experience, like, our general environment, but it also changes how people behave behind the wheel.”
The project has been in motion since 2020, Kelso said, inspired by a city repair project in Portland, Oregon. Fort Collins was one of the recipients of the Bloomberg Philanthropies Asphalt Art Initiative grant, a philanthropic fund that gives 25 cities in North America the money to install public artwork that both prioritizes public beautification and enhances road safety.
“The magic of this is we’re coupling it with what they call tactical urbanism,” Kelso said.
“We can make safer streets on a shorter time frame with less money than, like, this intersection ... where we plan to redesign it with poured concrete. ...
The design has a natural effect where (it) pinches down traffic, therefore slowing traffic speeds and shortening the distance that pedestrians are crossing the streets.”
The design of the asphalt installation is by local artist Jess Bean and will emphasize bright colors and vibrancy with a design inspired by archival research around the street names.
“Canyon (Avenue) is named because it was a passthrough for trucks coming down from the canyon,” Bean said.
“And that is why we’re doing, like, wavy lines — to kind of represent, like, movement or water flow. And then we have Magnolia (Street), but then I was thinking, (and) I was looking into (it and found) that magnolias are not native plants to Fort Collins or Colorado in general.”
Bean said the design is also inspired by the actions of Native Americans who resisted the suppression of American government officials like Frank Sherwood, Sherwood Street’s namesake.
“If you research what Indian agents did, they basically placated local natives and just tried to keep them happy without actually giving them anything at all,” Bean said. “So to kind of reclaim the streets, I went the other route and used a feather that represents Chief Friday, who was a local Arapaho chief here that went to Washington D.C. a couple times to fight for Arapaho rights.”
Eventually, Friday took his tribe to safety up the river in Wyoming. Bean plans to represent this in her art by having magnolia
leaves push out the native feathers.
Bean said public murals are statistically proven to increase public morale by up to 40% and can deter crime by up to 90% because of public visibility.
“It slows people down,” Bean said. “Like I said earlier, you know, people just engage with it, slow down and kind of take in the neighborhood a little more. But yeah, I really want to have the locals come out and have a good time and feel like they own a piece of this mural as well. And it’s not ... just mine — it’s everybody’s.”
Part of the mural’s goal is to make art more accessible to the people of Fort Collins, both through the creation of the mural and the beautification efforts.
“There’s an effort to bring this institution to the people,” Kelso said. “Because, like, historically, ... not everyone feels welcome to come to museums. And so locally here in Fort Collins, the city is very dedicated to our (diversity, equity and inclusion) mission, and part of that is making art more accessible to the people, and so that’s where public art comes in.”
The city is seeking volunteers to help install the mural. No prior public art experience is required.
“I want to see everybody come out and come together, meet new people and be able to tell stories about it,” Bean said. “And tell generations in the future, ‘Yes, I worked on that; I worked on this huge piece, and it was so cool.’ I want to see people that have thoughts about expanding their art careers and feeling safe to expand their art career after working on this.”
Reach Allie Seibel at entertainment @collegian.com.
“It slows people down. Like I said earlier, you know, people just engage with it, slow down and kind of take in the neighborhood a little more. But yeah, I really want to have the locals come out and have a good time and feel like they own a piece of this mural as well. And it’s not ... just mine — it’s everybody’s.”
An asphalt street art project in Pittsburgh that served as inspiration for the Fort Collins project. PHOTO COURTESY OF FC MOVES AND JESS BEAN
JENN BEAN LOCAL ARTIST
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Welcome back to The Collegian: Your go-to for independent CSU news
GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY TRIN BONNER THE COLLEGIAN
By Allie Seibel @csucollegian
Dear readers,
Welcome to Fort Collins and Colorado State University, Rams! Whether this is your first year on campus or one on top of many, allow me to welcome you to CSU and The Rocky Mountain Collegian
My name is Allie Seibel, and I’m returning for my second year as editor-in-chief of The Collegian. A little bit about us: The Collegian has been around since 1891 and is the oldest college newspaper west of the Mississippi. We’re among the
oldest college newspapers in the country and are also one of the oldest publications in the state of Colorado.
The Collegian has always existed to serve Fort Collins and CSU, and it has seen the campus and community through every major historical event in the last 133 years. We’ve had different names, different masthead logos and different editorial staffs that bring different ideas, but the core mission of The Collegian — to report unbiased, local news to our audience — remains the same.
The Collegian is unique in its structure as a paper. We’re the
HOROSCOPES
By Love Masia
ARIES (MARCH 21 - APRIL 19)
You know how to work hard and play harder. The planets are passing through your houses of work, health, routines and pleasure, asking you to reassess your work-life balance. Putting off homework to doomscroll and then pulling an all-nighter to finish your work isn’t going to cut it this semester. How you spend your days is how you spend your life, Aries.
TAURUS (APRIL 20 - MAY 20)
The sun is illuminating your home and family this week, bringing an urge to nest. Whether you’re just down the street or 1,000 miles from home, Fort Collins is becoming your headquarters until December. Now is the time to resolve that issue with you know who, make your space as cozy as possible and nurture your soul. You deserve a relaxed life, Taurus.
newspaper department of an independent company called Rocky Mountain Student Media Corporation. In 2008, RMSMC was formed after a rather dramatic incident involving profanity, politics and personal beliefs being printed in about 70-point font — if you’re curious, Google it. It made international news.
In the best interests of both the university and The Collegian, RMSMC was formed as an entity separate from CSU. That means we’re fortunate enough to be an independent newspaper, free from editorial control of the university. We can publish what we want and are funded through advertisers, donations and a contract with the Associated Students of CSU.
Each and every member of our staff is incredibly proud of the work, history and legacy of The Collegian. We all devote ourselves to maintaining the honorable tradition of accurate reporting, and as we begin another school year, we invite anyone interested in reporting to come write for one of our six content desks or join us
GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUNE 20)
This week, you’re all about expressing yourself. The sun in your communication sector has you feeling curious and expressive, but your ruling planet, Mercury, in retrograde could cause interpersonal issues. Some texts are best left as drafts, Gemini. Use your inventive spirit elsewhere.
CANCER (JUNE 21 - JULY 22)
It’s a great week to revisit your money matters. Mercury retrograde is urging you to be more financially responsible, but don’t panic! Jupiter and Mars are revving up your intuition right now. You don’t need to become the resident finance bro to be successful. Trust your gut, Cancer.
LEO (JULY 23 - AUG. 22)
Is it hot in here, or is that just you? Venus is adding a touch of sweetness to your material resources, Jupiter and Mars are boosting your social circles and the sun in your sign has you glowing from within. Later in the week, you might feel inspired to take on whatever project you’re working on, and you’d be wise to make the most of it. The world is your oyster, Leo.
VIRGO (AUG. 23 - SEPT. 22)
Releasing control isn’t really your forte, but this is a time of ultimate surrender for you. The sun is illuminating your spirituality and old wounds along with it. You have the opportunity to see yourself more clearly right now and explore
an illustrator or a photographer. All of our positions are paid, and I can confidently say you’ll become acquainted with CSU’s campus and Fort Collins in an incredibly unique way, and you’ll meet some amazing people.
If you’re a first-year reading this in your new dorm room, welcome to the beginning of one of the most exciting adventures of your life: college. It’ll be scary, it’ll be overwhelming and, hopefully, it’ll be wonderful. You’ll have good days and bad days, you’ll fall on your face likely a few dozen times more than you’d like and you’ll make some of the most vibrant memories possible. You’ll meet people from all over, and you’ll hear their stories. You’ll learn how to be a student and, more importantly, how to be a person. Go easy on yourself as you adjust to this new environment.
We’ve got a massive year coming up on campus. CSU is hosting three huge rivalry football games at Canvas Stadium in the fall alongside many more student community-building events that start this week with Ram Welcome.
Beyond campus, it’s a presidential election
new spiritual practices. Dealing with your pain is an act of self love, Virgo.
LIBRA (SEPT. 23 - OCT. 22)
Say it with me: “Not my circus, not my monkeys.” With the sun highlighting your social circles, drama is on the rise. Usually your desire for peace gives you the courage to mediate, but courage and stupidity are interchangeable right now. Mercury retrograde might be blocking the big picture, so don’t be afraid to turn on Do Not Disturb and save the sticky conversations for later. Rest and reflect, dearest Libra.
SCORPIO (OCT. 23 - NOV. 21)
While everyone around you is complaining about classes starting again, you’re ready to lock in. The planets are bringing focus to your professional goals and giving you the extra luck you need to make progress. You want to be the person in charge, read every book, check everything off your to do list and more, but remember Mercury might bring setbacks. Rome wasn’t built in a day, Scorpio. You have time.
SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22 - DEC. 21)
Nobody wants to admit it, but we all know you are the wise owl of the zodiac. You’re on top of your game lately, giving great advice, excited for adventure, ready to complete goals and preparing to crush this semester. However, Mercury retrograde might have you spinning your wheels. Don’t sweat it, take time to be adaptable and
year — possibly the most unprecedented and contentious yet — which will bring different perspectives, beliefs and conversations to the campus community. While it is impossible to know now what will happen at the ballot boxes in November, it is important to remember that each student on this campus shares in being a Ram and to exercise kindness, maturity and good judgement when engaging with differing ideals. The Collegian takes our responsibility to be a trusted news source very seriously, so you have my commitment to unbiased and fair news, political or otherwise.
As always, we’ll be with you for everything this year — every up and down, every victory and defeat, major and minor news. We’ll get to the bottom of systemic issues through our investigative journalism and hopefully inform you of some unique moments in Fort Collins this year.
If you ever want to discuss The Collegian, share story ideas or get involved in any way, don’t hesitate to reach out to editor @collegian.com.
Welcome home, Rams.
Allie Seibel, editor-in-chief Reach the editorial board at editor@collegian.com.
control what you can. Luck is on your side, Sagittarius.
CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 - JAN. 19)
Over the summer, the planets have been pushing you to make meaningful life changes for the better. Now is the perfect time to reflect on what’s working, and what’s not. Selfawareness isn’t just holding yourself accountable for the negative, it’s about recognizing your talents and beauty as well. Don’t bring old issues into the new semester, Capricorn. Great things await.
AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 - FEB. 18)
You’re no stranger to, “It’s not you, it’s me,” but in this case, it’s probably you. The planets have been drudging through your social circles, romantic conquests and reputation as of late and asking you to reassess your role within them. I hate to be the one to tell you that your crush can’t read your mind, but you had to hear it from someone, Aquarius.
PISCES (FEB. 19 - MARCH 20)
We all feel like dissociating right now, but you’re going to have to get your head out of the clouds and join us sooner or later. The spotlight has been on your well-being routines lately and Mercury retrograde is asking you to pinpoint how you can live a healthier life and the obstacles that keep you from it. Consider this your note of encouragement, Pisces: Start now.
Free speech is damaging to universities’ antidiscrimination policies
By Addy Dollaghan @adollaghan
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.
America’s Founding Fathers prided themselves on creating a free country for its citizens, especially one where people could speak unencumbered by government restrictions.
Controversies surrounding free speech have become more prominent in recent years; for example, Harrison Butker’s commencement speech at Benedictine College in May ignited significant backlash for his anti-LGBTQIA+ comments and misogynistic undertones. Similarly, many Colorado State University students were outraged at Riley Gaines’ presence on campus in April due to her outward scorn for transgender athletes competing in sports.
Free speech is the crux of America; however, universities have their own policies regarding it. Speakers like Gaines and Butker prove that free speech, while important, undermines certain policies and can even damage them.
CSU’s policy on discrimination and harassment states that the university is committed to creating an inclusive environment and “prohibits discrimination and harassment … by or against any member of or visitor to CSU.”
On April 3, Gaines spoke on behalf of Turning Point USA in favor of banning transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports.
Her speech incorporated a significant amount of religious rhetoric. While CSU’s policy encourages practicing one’s religion, there’s a fine line between practicing it and using it to go after certain groups of people.
“We are denying, of course, biblical truth but objective truth,” Gaines said. “The most basic of truths at that: man and woman.”
Not everyone believes in the Bible. Christianity, while prominent, isn’t proven to be the “objective truth” to nonChristians. Transgender and gender-fluid people have existed since the beginning of humanity. In certain Native American tribes, the term “two-spirit” has been used for centuries to describe individuals who don’t fit with their biological identities.
There’s no denying that there have been and will always be people who don’t identify with the traditional Western binary. Using Christianity as a measure of “objective truth” outwardly denies the validity of these individuals and therefore violates CSU’s discrimination policy.
Even on a highly religious campus like Benedictine College, free speech can still violate and damage the school’s policy. According to the Benedictine College student handbook, “The college
prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, marital status, parental status, genetic information or any other classification protected by law.”
On May 11, Butker, an openly Christian football player for the Kansas City Chiefs, gave a commencement speech that angered millions. He referred to LGBTQIA+ pride as “the deadly sins sort of pride that has a whole month dedicated to it.” Openly calling an entire group of people sinful in a religious context is openly discriminatory, directly compromising Benedictine’s policy.
Free speech is a massively important part of the nation’s history and part of what makes America unique. However, when used to discriminate and openly disapprove of entire groups of people, it absolutely damages policies set in place by universities like CSU and Benedictine.
America is great because people can speak their minds, but hate has no place here, especially on college campuses. College is where young people are expected to grow, change, learn and find themselves during their entrance into adulthood. It’s a chaotic and beautiful time in students’ lives, a time in which they should feel and be protected by their school’s policies.
Reach Addy Dollaghan at letters@collegian.com.
GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY TRIN BONNER THE COLLEGIAN
FINDING WORK
Campus job attainability is inaccurately portrayed
GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY TRIN BONNER THE COLLEGIAN
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.
Not to speak on behalf of all broke college students, but I’d pretty much do anything for an extra penny or two. Especially during the
school semester, when money seems to practically evaporate out of my wallet — when, realistically, it’s my fault for ordering Uber Eats three out of seven days of the week. It’s hard, though. When I lived in a dorm, I didn’t have a car, and I was entirely new to Fort Collins. Because of this, the city felt daunting. Despite seemingly endless restaurants and independent companies around the area, I didn’t have the physical
means to commute for work, let alone the means to apply.
At this point, one would expect the assumed savior to swoop in and resolve this issue — that savior being a campus job. Campus jobs are a convenient fix when scrambling for cash. Not only are they flexible and accommodating to Colorado State University student schedules, but they also involve students or faculty as both employees and employers. And the location could not be any more opportune; one can apply, interview and work in the same space where most of his or her time is already spent.
The convenience carries over into a predominantly online application process called Handshake. The preferred job application platform at CSU, Handshake allows different departments and buildings to post job openings or recruit certain students deemed fit for the job. Although similar in structure to Indeed or even LinkedIn, Handshake is tailored specifically for colleges rather than companies. This likely sounds enticing — it sounded enticing to me and to many of my friends upon arriving
at CSU, too. But the appeal of campus jobs only exists at face value. Because while many can recognize the benefits of the job, one of the hardest — and earliest — hurdles becomes overlooked: getting the job.
At the beginning of this past spring semester, I had several friends apply for various CSU desk jobs through Handshake. A certain friend applied to 10, one of which required her to submit a recommendation along with the application. She never got a response from that position or eight others. Out of 10 jobs, she only received one email back. As I’m writing this six months later, the other applications are still marked on Handshake as submitted or reviewed.
Not only is this unprofessional, but it’s disrespectful. Rather than a silent rejection, an email should be the bare minimum, no matter if the application is for a desk or corporate job.
While I could never know who is in charge of monitoring Handshake for each individual job posting, I can speculate on why so many applications are ignored.
There is a blatant lack of communication between CSU employment and its students on the attainability and availability of these jobs. Work study is consistently portrayed as a feasible opportunity for all, yet there is no communication on how competitive the process might be. For this reason, students are under the impression that these jobs are more attainable, so many apply. The supply, however, will never match the demand, so the cycle of endless applications and neglected responses continues. After all, Handshake can only keep up with so much.
I don’t know if this is the exact reason for ghosted job applications, but I’d like to think it’s not out of laziness or a lack of trying.
No matter where the blame lies, however, students deserve a better chain of communication and a more realistic portrayal of campus jobs. At the end of the day, when spending thousands of dollars to obtain an education, the education should spend a couple of hours on us.
Reach Emma Souza at letters @collegian.com.
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