STORY BY ALLIE SEIBEL
SEE PAGES 4-5
GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY NATHAN CARMODYNEWS: CSU RAs forced to pay back awarded financial aid PAGES 4-5
L&C: The essential guide for tailgating at CSU PAGE 8
SCIENCE: Fort Collins music fest fights opioid use stigma PAGE 10
OPINION: Have you decided who you’re going to be yet? PAGE 16
SPORTS: Taking off: Naeemah Weathers jets to stardom PAGE 19
A&E: Local farm stand shares fresh produce with Fox Den PAGE 21
PHOTO: Rocky Mountain Showdown PAGES 14-15
River Spell at New Belgium Brewing Company
5-7 p.m. Sept. 22
Oktoberfest at Salt Road Brewing
11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Sept. 22-23
Acrylic Dutch Pour art class at Blue Moose Art Gallery
10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sept. 23
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Lory Student Center, Suite 118 Fort Collins, CO 80523
ADVISER CHRISTA REED SENIOR MEDIA TRAINER
KORN
This publication is not an official publication of Colorado State University, but is published by an independent corporation using the name ‘The Rocky Mountain Collegian’ pursuant to a license granted by CSU. Approximately 59% of Rocky Mountain Student Media Corp’s income is provided by the Associated Students of Colorado State University (ASCSU) for the purpose of fostering student careers post-college and greater campus awareness and engagement. The Rocky Mountain Collegian is a 4,000-circulation student-run newspaper intended as a public forum and is printed on paper made of 30% post-consumer waste. It publishes every Thursday during the regular fall and spring semesters. The Collegian publishes online Monday through Thursday. Corrections may be submitted to the editor in chief and will be printed as necessary on page two. The Collegian is a complimentary publication for the Fort Collins community. The first copy is free. Additional copies are 25 cents each.
CORRECTIONS
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Allie Seibel | Editor in Chief editor@collegian.com
Ivy Secrest | Content Managing Editor managingeditor@collegian.com
Parisa Farhadi | Digital & Social Managing Editor managingeditor@collegian.com
Lauren Pallemaerts | Night Editor copy@collegian.com
Adah McMillan | Copy Chief copy@collegian.com
Nathan Carmody | Print Editor design@collegian.com
Caden Proulx | Assistant Print Editor design@collegian.com
Trin Bonner | Illustration Editor design@collegian.com
Milo Gladstein | Photo Director photo@collegian.com
Garrett Mogel | Photo Director photo@collegian.com
Samy Gentle | News Editor news@collegian.com
Ayla Sanchez | News Editor news@collegian.com
Christian Arndt | L&C Director life@collegian.com
Jenn Dawson | Science Director science@collegian.com
Dominique Lopez | Opinion Director letters@collegian.com
Damon Cook | Sports Editor sports@collegian.com
Emma Askren | Sports Editor sports@collegian.com
Alex Hasenkamp | A&E Director entertainment@collegian.com
As the end of summer approaches and fewer bugs are visible, remain vigilant, and keep the bug spray close by, as the risk of West Nile virus still looms.
First appearing in Colorado in 2002, the West Nile virus has had many cases over the years, with this year having a spike in cases.
Kori Wilford, communications and technology manager for the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment, said that as of Tuesday, there are 53 reported cases and 16 hospitalizations in Larimer County, with a majority being from Fort Collins.
Even as temperatures drop, the Larimer County Health Department is still prepared to see cases rise over the next month.
“We do continue to see cases through October because if someone got infected in August when the mosquitoes were really prevalent, it might take a few weeks before they start seeing symptoms
or before they get tested,” Wilford said.
Symptoms of West Nile virus vary, though the main symptoms one can expect would be a headache, fever, stiffness in the neck and disorientation. These symptoms can signify an early infection of meningitis or encephalitis, both of which should be met with immediate medical attention.
“Most people don’t actually have symptoms,” Wilford said. “About 80% don’t show any symptoms at all, (and) another percentage has real mild symptoms — they might have a headache (or) some fatigue, but otherwise they can recover at home. About 1% of people who get West Nile virus have what we call Neuroinvasive West Nile Disease, and that is something that can be more serious where people are having neurological symptoms (and) really severe headaches — they might need to be hospitalized.”
The West Nile virus has no cure. Most of the treatment given to someone who is hospitalized includes making them more comfortable with fluids, painkillers and overall supportive care.
When it comes to preventative care, Wilford mentions the four D’s of preventing mosquitoes: dusk/ dawn, dress, drain and DEET spray.
“We always talk about the four D’s — that stands for dusk and dawn, meaning that’s when the mosquitos are most active,” Wilford said. “So we recommend avoiding being outside during dusk and dawn or using a good repellent. We recommend DEET, which is another one of the four D’s. Wearing long sleeves ... is another D, and then (the fourth D is) drain. We really encourage folks to drain any standing water around their house.”
This is a zoonotic disease, which is contracted by vectors who carry the disease and spread it. The vectors are culex mosquitoes who spend a lot of time around the water.
“The type of mosquito that transmits West Nile virus are culex mosquitoes, and those particular mosquitoes really love to breed just in shallow, warm water,” Wilford said. “So even a wheelbarrow or a flowerpot that has been sitting outside can be a pretty significant breeding ground for those culex mosquitoes.”
Keep an eye out for mosquitoes as summer comes to a close, and begin to prepare for next year. Spread the word to family and friends about how to prevent water buildup and keep mosquitoes away from you. As with many diseases, those who are immunocompromised are more at risk.
“We always appreciate people letting their friends and family know,” Wilford said. “West Nile can impact anyone, but we see folks who get the sickest usually over 60, and so younger people can let their parents know (and) their neighbors know.”
Reach Ayla Sanchez at news @collegian.com.Some Colorado State University resident assistants are having to pay back the university part of their financial aid after a bookkeeping error awarded too much aid money to some students who were not originally designated RAs.
CSU submitted the complete list of RAs to the Office of Financial Aid
later than normal this year, which meant that some RAs received more need-based aid than typical for the position’s benefits. When the university realized that some of these students were living on campus as RAs, their predetermined need for financial aid was altered, and many RAs learned that they have to pay back the university some of the aid money awarded to them two weeks ago.
“There are 172 resident assistants or community coordinators at CSU, and 48 of those students are students who receive financial aid,” according to a joint email from Associate Executive Director of Housing & Dining
Services Nick Sweeton and Executive Director of the Office of Financial Aid JoeDonlay. “Aid at CSU is based on many factors, including a student’s overall cost of attendance and unique expected family contribution as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.”
Since RAs do not pay for food and rent expenses, their level of need in the eyes of the university Office of Financial Aid changes, and so does the amount of money they are awarded yearly.
“What they did is they gave me scholarships, and then they said, ‘OK, never mind, you need to pay it back — plus whatever else you were initially supposed to pay of your tuition,’” said Elizabeth Brink, an RA in Braiden Hall. “It ended up being just a lot more than I ever expected to pay.”
Brink’s financial situation and ability to afford college depend on the support she receives from being an RA, and she is now having to take on external loans because she can no longer receive subsidized loans. Brink is now being asked to pay back about $2,500 of scholarships and about $5,000 of workstudy money.
“I come from a
family of six,” Brink said. “My mom is an elementary school teacher, my dad’s a firefighter and I love them both, and I admire their professions, but they just don’t make that much. And there’s four kids, all of us are going to college (and) all of us are paying our way through college. So that’s what all my money right now is going towards.”
To pay for the added charge, Brink is picking up hours at another on-campus job, which has taken away the same level of commitment she was contributing to her RA job.
“It definitely makes it difficult because (in addition to) housing and the housing security, the food security aspect of being an RA is incredibly important,” Brink said. “I think it makes my ability to dedicate time to the students, which is what my job is, less feasible because I am picking up more hours to work to pay for school.”
Shelby Collins, another RA for Braiden Hall, is also having to pay back about $7,000 from her initial refund check.
“I was planning on saving my refund check for vet school,” Collins said. “But now I have to give that back. And I know for other people, some of (them put the) refund check in a CD (savings account), and you can’t touch that for a year or two. So for them, they’re going to have to pay, like, out of pocket or take up loans. When, like, for most of us, ... a majority of (being an RA) is ... trying to avoid loans.”
Collins said that when she saw the increased refund check, she wasn’t surprised because that also reflected the scholarships and grants she had been awarded.
Collins went to the Office of Financial Aid, but like in Brink’s situation, not much could be done.
“I honestly hope they, like, give us some kind
of explanation at least because I feel like the one I got wasn’t that thorough, and it still didn’t make sense when I talked to some of my other co-workers — they don’t quite understand,” Collins said. “That still doesn’t, like, make up for the fact that it’s going to affect a lot of people. ... I know with returning RAs, this has never been a problem before, but suddenly it is.”
Not every RA on campus was slapped with sudden charges, but a majority of Braiden Hall RAs were impacted.
Gilbert Leal Jr., a first generation out-of-state student and RA in Braiden, said the money he owed increased by more than $10,000.
“My mom is also in college right now to trying to also get a degree, and she’s having to pay her tuition and my tuition,” Leal said. “And I’m also absolutely, like, covering her grounds and a part of my tuition with the help of my mom, and it only just being us is putting us on that burden strain. And my mom really doesn’t want me to feel that strain; she wants me focused on college.”
Leal’s family experienced a financial burden after childhood surgeries, which has only increased with steep tuition.
“Growing up (with) that, a financial burden has always impacted us, especially since I had surgeries growing up, and those medical bills stacked up after a while,” Leal said. “So just feeling that burden of not only the medical bills (but) also tuition is really taking a toll on me, and I can only imagine how my mom (is) feeling.”
All RAs receive free housing and meals as compensation for their work, which includes unpaid training during the summer, an earlier move-in, being on call in 12-hour shifts for any issues their residents might encounter, hosting community building activities on their floors and attending weekly meetings.
“In my case, my (initial financial aid) refund was around, like, $2,000,” said Joshua Duran, a lead RA in Braiden Hall returning for his third year in the position. “That money that could go towards things like books (and) things that I need for school. And they’re not only trying to ask for that money back, they’re trying to add $4,000-plus dollars onto that, so the money that they’re trying to have me pay back is now around $7,000. It’s making it really hard to pay back for something that wasn’t our fault.”
Duran wanted to become an RA after the positive experience he had as a first-year in Edwards Hall and to help other students find a place to belong on campus.
“I’ve been at CSU for four years now,” Duran said. “And whether it’s parking, whether it’s housing — in any area, the financial aid office doesn’t care unless it’s paid. If you don’t have that money now, good luck graduating. ... I don’t know what to say. I don’t know what they expect us to do.”
The RA contracts state in the “Remuneration” portion that a “student will receive a stipend of $200 upon completion of two or more semesters of service and $300 at the conclusion of every semester thereafter,” a small sum that cannot cover the amount charged back by the university.
The housing contract clarifies that financial aid might be impacted by being an RA.
“If student receives financial aid, the terms and conditions of employment are subject to review by the Office of Financial Aid,” the RA contract reads. “Student must report all forms of financial aid or income to ensure that the need factor is not exceeded. It should also be noted that remuneration of room and board can and may have an impact on student’s financial aid. (Housing & Dining Services) encourages all students to contact Office of Financial Aid before accepting position offer.”
RAs acknowledged that they understand that changes to their financial aid might result from their position. However, the change being a few weeks into the semester is what caught them off guard.
“I understand that there was no (malicious) intent,” Duran said.
“There was no (malicious) attempt to try to hurt the financial pockets of CSU RAs, but it happened. So I feel like Housing needs to step up and take responsibility for what they do and talk to the financial aid office. However, that needs to happen between, like, the execs and directors of both offices. They need to ... go ahead and do that and kind of exempt us from paying this back.”
Duran received a scholarship from the Denver Scholarship Foundation that was put in its entirety toward the charge placed on his account by the university,
“We are aware that a number of resident assistants were unexpectedly impacted when they received room and board reimbursements in their financial aid package that should not have been included,” Sweeton said. “These room and
charges are already included as part of their job, so they were asked to return this portion of their package.
Financial Aid is in touch with these student staff and are currently working to meet one-on-one with each person to explain this process and discuss possible options for resolution.”
The statement noted that Housing & Dining Services is working to ensure that this mistake does not happen again.
However, of the RAs stuck with the increased charges, several are considering whether having the demanding job is worth the extra charges.
think that was an option. I was thinking, ‘Yeah, I would leave,’ because even though you get a lot of satisfaction from this job — and you do, I won’t deny it, you do get so much satisfaction from this job — the problem is that you’re still a student. You’re still you’re a student worker, ... and all of the things that CSU students have to deal with, you still have to deal with. The added benefit of the reduced housing was one of the driving factors to say, ... ‘I can create that balance. I can do all of that.’ But when you are now having to basically pay to be an RA? No, I’m not going to pay to do extra work on top of all the work that you have to do.”
Reach Allie Seibel at news“Whether it’s parking, whether it’s housing — in any area, the financial aid office doesn’t care unless it’s paid. If you don’t have that money now, good luck graduating. ... I don’t know what to say. I don’t know what they expect us to do.”
JOSHUA DURAN BRAIDEN HALL FOURTH-YEAR RESIDENT ASSISTANT
By Dominique Lopez, Amanda Monticue and Lizzy Rylance @csucollegian
Longtime Fort Collins resident Patricia Babbitt announced her run against Mayor Jeni Arndt as a write-in candidate. She and others shared their thoughts on some of the ordinances that were passed in the Fort Collins City Council meeting Sept. 19.
According to The Coloradoan, Babbitt filed papers Aug. 31 to run as a write-in candidate for mayor of Fort Collins. “If there’s nobody running against (Arndt), we won’t have important conversations,” Babbitt said in an interview.
During the meeting, Babbitt expressed her concerns for the city, local residents and specifically her desire to run.
“Unfortunately, too many people ... say that our city leaders often seem much more interested in accommodating developers and other powerful interest groups than listening to and addressing the needs of their constituents, and I tend to agree,” Babbitt said.
Two of the major ordinances that were passed in the meeting were ordinances No. 116 and 118, which pertain to a land use code for oil and gas facilities and the Affordable Housing Board.
The council passed Ordinance No. 116 in a 5-2 vote, approving new requirements for the minimum buffer space between occupied spaces and oil and gas wells. Some community members worry that these requirements may not be enough to reduce the potential risks related to leaks and contamination.
“I am very concerned about environmental issues,” Babbitt said. “How can we meet the needs of the people and the wildlife as our city continues to grow? ... I was interested to hear the take on the plugging of the wells, and I still have some concerns about that.”
Babbitt was not alone in her concerns; community member Ed Behan took to the stand during public comment to share his thoughts as well.
“The situation in Boulder County particularly highlights the need for proper inspection of old oil and gas sites,” Behan said, referencing a Colorado Sun article that detailed recent events in Erie
and Longmont, Colorado, where abandoned wells began leaking oil and methane gas. “The safety of the citizens of Fort Collins must
detail as they pertained to Ordinance No. 116.
But that wasn’t the only concern that the public and Babbitt seemed
“We need more ordinary residents’ voices in our community to be truly heard and considered when making decisions, including decisions for issues such as our land use code and how it will impact our homes, our open spaces and our very limited resources,” Babbitt said.
Asad Aziz, a local resident and clinical professor of management for the Colorado State University College of Business, said the land use code of U+2 “is not a desirable state of affairs, but that’s what the current rules will say. ... This is also discriminatory. It’s 2023. Do we really need the city government telling us what constitutes a family or not?”
take the highest precedence in your considerations.”
As the media and outreach liaison for the Larimer Alliance for Health Safety & the Environment, Behan has played an active role in representing community concerns around the health risks associated with oil and gas facilities. After the meeting adjourned, Behan and Babbitt met privately to discuss their concerns in more
to have. According to The Rocky Mountain Collegian earlier this month, Resolution 2023-082 was passed Sept. 5, which discusses affordable housing and the U+2 land use code.
Affordable housing has been and is still an ongoing problem and debate within the community, and Babbitt and local residents mentioned that recent approaches have not worked to resolve the issue.
There was a lot of concern about the issues being passed, especially those regarding housing where more than three residents shared their concerns. Others discussed their own personal opinions, including Babbitt, who said in an interview with The Collegian, “I am still digesting it all.”
Reach Dominique Lopez, Amanda Monticue and Lizzy Rylance at news@collegian.com.
In the heart of Old Town sits Northern Colorado’s largest independent bookseller, Old Firehouse Books, a Fort Collins staple for over 40 years.
“I love Old Firehouse Books,” said Mikayla Masanets, an Old Firehouse Books customer. “They always put on amazing events, and I have bought some of my alltime favorite books from their recommendations.”
Old Firehouse started as the Book Rack of Fort Collins back in 1980 by Bill Hawk. The store was just a paperback store at the time, built on trading books and run by Bill, wife Maggie and daughter Marta.
This beloved paperback store grew for over 20 years and was sold to current owners Susie Wilmer and Dick Sommerfeld, who also owned the Book Rack locations in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Greeley, Colorado.
In 2009, the store moved into its current location on Walnut Street. The name of the business was changed to Old Firehouse Books to pay homage to the historic firehouse the bookstore moved into. With this new space, they also began author signings, book club meetings and other community events along with selling and trading books.
Nowadays, Old Firehouse is much bigger than the mom-and-pop shop it started as, but no matter where the store has moved or how large it gets, they have never lost sight of Bill Hawk’s goal to “have lots of fun while selling books in Northern Colorado.”
Old Firehouse Books stands out from other independent booksellers not only because of the history and longevity of the store but also its exceptional business practices. They take pride in their books, events and involvement in the Fort Collins community.
“Old Firehouse Books wouldn’t be where it is without the amazing community that supports it both inside and outside of Fort Collins,” said Andrea Day, event coordinator for Firehouse Books.
“Our biggest goal is to give our community an experience that makes them happy.”
Old Firehouse Books strives to maintain a large and diverse selection of both new and used books, cards, tees, bookmarks and bookish gifts. From bestsellers to hidden gems across all genres,
the biggest bookworms find their perfect title. Their expert guidance and welcoming atmosphere set the standard for independent bookselling in Northern Colorado.
Beyond the shelves, Old Firehouse is known for its ongoing community engagement.
with their readers. Any author can request to hold an event at Old Firehouse Books to help get their work into readers’ hands, and these events foster a sense of community connectedness and literary curiosity.
On Oct. 25, Old Firehouse will host bestselling romance author Ana Huang at the Fort Collins Marriott to celebrate her newest book “King of Greed” with a book intro and signing. Free tickets to this event are sold out, but those interested can join a waitlist on Old Firehouse’s events webpage.
Firehouse regularly hosts Low Sensory Hour 9-10 a.m. every other Wednesday and Saturday with dimmed lights, no music and low speaking voices only. The store is also open for trade 10 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends.
“Independent bookstores are nothing without their readers and customers, so we value them above everything else,” Day said. “We can only hope that we will continue to provide our amazing community with new books, adventures and experiences for a long time to come.”
Old Firehouse Books is not a donation center and does not accept books in poor condition, but they encourage customers to recycle or trade in their old books for in-store credit — usually about 20% of the cost of the books sold.
there’s something for every reader. Customers can now browse their expansive collection online and special order something if it’s not already in store.
“I come here solely for the cards (for) any birthday or holiday because I know they’re always going to be adorable here,” said Luke Unsworth, an Old Firehouse Books frequent customer.
“Firehouse is just so cute. I love the vibes and the ambiance. I think they’re so awesome.”
The staff is knowledgeable about a variety of types of literature, and they have genuine enthusiasm for helping even
They interact with readers in the community through book clubs, author events, low sensory time, book trading and literacy programs.
Registered book clubs receive 20% off their club books, and there are multiple groups already established for every kind of reader. Anyone can join the current book clubs: Informed Citizens Book Club, Traps and Trenchcoats Mystery Book Club, F*@#’d Up Book Club or Queer & Loathing Book Club.
Author events are held regularly, providing a platform for both local and internationally acclaimed authors to connect
It’s no mystery why Old Firehouse Books is Northern Colorado’s largest independent bookseller. The personal touch they put on all of their services sets them apart from larger corporate stores. They embody entrepreneurship, community engagement and genuine care for their customers.
Old Firehouse Books is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday at 232 Walnut St. Visit Firehouse Books on their website, or see their social media for special recommendations, promotions and content.
Reach Sophia Masia at entertainment@collegian.com.
By Ivy Secrest @ivysecrest
As National Hispanic Heritage Month begins, El Centro at Colorado State University will host the first of many events for students. El Centro aims to represent all aspects of Latinx heritage during this month, which spans from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.
“Latina identity is complicated,” Associate Vice President for Inclusive Excellence Shannon Archibeque-Engle said. “Like any of these socially constructed identities, they break down if you interrogate them too much, right? So this is a way to show that complexity by being across two months, making sure we’re representing more than one country, one geopolitical space.”
Prior to the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, parts of Colorado officially belonged to Mexico. Because Colorado is a state with its own history of Latinx heritage and erasure of Indigenous peoples, representation is that much more essential.
For the staff at El Centro, part of the goal of the event is to expand their representation of Latinx heritage, extending it beyond Mexico and making space for all Latin countries, El Centro Program Coordinator Mayra Orozco said.
Before the kickoff event Sept. 13, the center held a discussion titled, “Pláticas: Student Dialogue Series, What Does Heritage Month Mean To You?” which gave students and faculty the opportunity to express what their identities meant to them.
“I felt very honored to hear everyone’s different reasoning as to why Heritage Month is so important,” Orozco said. “Especially growing up here in Fort Collins, … I feel seen. There’s a sense of togetherness. The representation matters.”
“We can be broader than that,” Archibeque-Engle said. “We are broader than that. We’re not from a single place, and we don’t have a single story. We have a complicated story. That’s what makes it beautiful.”
The event included a stand covered in a variety of flags so that students could find their country’s flag and take photos. They also took the time to recognize the independence days of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico and Chile, all of which occur between Sept. 15-18.
“It’s exciting to know that this effort is being put out to be more inclusive of everyone to get away from that Mexican-centric standard that we’ve just kind of been accustomed to and been privileged of ourselves,” El Centro Student Success Coordinator Roberto
Escamilla said. “I’m incredibly excited and hopeful for us to all be better and stronger together.”
Students were also able to learn bachata — a traditional Dominican dance style — from Bachata Denver, who came up to perform for the kickoff.
El Centro Interim Director Aaron Escobedo Garmon addressed attendees by recognizing the hard work of staff and student leaders.
“They wanted to make sure that we put out what our intentions are for this month,” Escobedo Garmon said. “That includes creating a space that is welcoming outside of a centralized physical space, that is welcoming of all of the diversity and intersectionalities.”
The bachata lessons livened up the Lory Student Center Sutherland Gardens, and even faculty joined in the celebration.
“Join us,” ArchibequeEngle encouraged students. “We have a good time. We laugh. We eat good food. We’re in the community. We have really good conversations and lots of educational opportunities.”
El Centro will be hosting events well into October, including keynote speaker Kim Guerra Sept. 19 and Borderlands Speaker Cleopatra Tatabele Oct. 12.
Reach Ivy Secrest at life @collegian.com.
By Alexander Wilson @alexgrey0604Tailgating is an activity that has been around for decades and has become embedded into Colorado State University’s athletic culture.
So what even is tailgating? Well, it’s when the community comes together before an athletic game to eat, drink, play games and show their team pride before the game.
Many students dress in their Rameralls, paint their faces green and gold or wear burnt orange to show their love for the Aggies.
“I think students should tailgate because it is a great way to meet other people and have some fun before a big sporting event,” said Meron Siyoum, director of traditions and programs for the Associated Students of CSU. “Tailgates help unify fans and are a great way to prepare people for long events. People should be eating and drinking water to prepare themselves to stay for the entirety of an event.”
It is difficult to navigate the tailgate, and it takes a lot of work to accommodate all those who participate. To make this easier for guests, CSU provides a map highlighting where
the tailgate is on campus. However, many students simply enjoy Ram Town, where the heart of the event lies.
Ram Town hosts the Coors Light Ram Walk Tailgate, family-friendly games, inflatables, special guests from the cheer team and CSU Marching Band, live music and local businesses.
Ram Walk is a CSU tradition involving the Marching Band walking through Ram Town to meet the team bus. At the bus, players, Golden Poms and members of CSU cheer join the band to walk toward the stadium.
“Across campus, you will find a variety of things to do before stepping into Canvas Stadium for the game,” Siyoum said. “In Lot 585, you will find groups like the Music Business Collective hosting different bands. You can find bounce castles on the (Intramural) Fields, play some yard games and eat great food with different organizations like the Black/African American Cultural Center located in Ram Town for each game. The Ram Walk Tailgate, hosted by the CSU Alumni Association and CSU Athletics, is an open-tothe-public free tailgate with live music, and they provide Brothers BBQ for anyone in attendance. Overall, there is a lot to do around campus,
but if any student wants to do something of their own, they’re encouraged to join us at the student tailgate.”
Tailgating at CSU begins four hours before kickoff and ends 30 minutes prior to kickoff. Ram Town will open on Hughes Way during this time period, and about three hours before kickoff, the Ram Walk begins. An hour and a half before kickoff, the stadium gates will open. Forty-five minutes later, the Comatose cannon will fire to sound that there are 45 minutes before kickoff. Fifteen minutes before kickoff, the CSU Golden Poms and the Marching Band take the field for the pregame show. Then, the national anthem will begin 10 minutes before kickoff.
Although tailgating is a fun time, there are many rules to follow in order to be safe and avoid consequences. CSU requires tailgaters to register on the CSU Athletics website, but to walk through the tailgates, there is no registration necessary. No cannabis or alcoholic drinks above 15% alcohol by volume are permitted during the tailgate. Alcohol cannot be brought into the stadium but can be purchased after entry, and security will deny entry to any intoxicated individuals.
Reach Alexander Wilson at news@collegian.com.
On Saturday, Sept. 9, The Lyric held the Fight the Stigma Music Festival to support the cause to end drug overdose. Many musicians, bands, advocates and Fort Collins community members attended. Marty Rein, therapist and owner of Rein Therapeutic Counseling & Consulting, attended the festival alongside many other esteemed health professionals.
“We were all concerned that, as a result of the recent COVID crisis, mental health and substance use conditions had escalated significantly — depression, anxiety, relapses, escalated drinking and (suicide),”Rein said. “Having worked in the substance use and mental health fields for some time, we felt it necessary to create a local community action to fight the stigma of substance use disorders and mental health disorders.”
West Side Joe & The Men of Soul played their well-known hit “Keep Climbin’,” which is about continuing life even when it gets hard.
“I actively fight the stigma by being honest with my own struggles,” said Joe Schicke, a guitarist and vocalist for West Side Joe & The Men of Soul. “I am beyond grateful to be sober, and I know that I can keep that
up by continuing to be honest about my experience and willing to be there to talk to folks who might be having troubles currently.”
Soviet Mothers was another band that attended the festival.
“I was happy to be part of something that could help others who might be fighting their own personal battles every day and feeling alone and isolated,” said Paul Rogers, a founding member of Soviet Mothers. “Getting to participate was a great way to show others that it’s OK to have problems and it’s OK to reach out to others when you need help.”
Many peer-reviewed studies have shown that being open and honest with loved ones about addiction can lead to higher sobriety rates.
“We wanted to address why it is difficult for people to ask for help when they are in distress,” Rein said. “This is very pervasive in addiction and mental health issues. We wanted to help people to know that it was OK to not feel OK and that it was OK to ask for help. We also wanted to create awareness for the stigma of these issues. What we are told to believe about them (is) a false barrier to getting the help one needs, whether they themselves are struggling or if someone they care about is struggling.”
“Opioid use disorder is associated with feelings of social isolation …
and, at the community level, lower social capital,” said Nina Christie, a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of New Mexico.
“For someone who is fighting their addiction, it is important to share what is going on with a health professional (or) someone you trust or to seek out other people who are working through the same issues successfully,” Rein said. “It’s a tall order to bring issues like this to light for many reasons related to the stigma of what these issues mean in society. We may fear judgment from others, or we may be afraid of what our lives will look like without the substances present. If you are struggling, the most important thing is to bring it to light where you can receive support, compassion and guidance through it.”
Overdose is the leading cause of death for those ages 18-45 years in America today. Currently, in the state of Colorado, there is an overdose every 4 hours, 45 minutes and 9 seconds.
To combat these numbers, Colorado State University has begun multiple initiatives. CSU partnered with SAFE Project in order to begin said initiatives with the CSU Health Network. Not only does the CSU Health Center offer free fentanyl testing strips, naloxone and training, but it also offers medication-assisted
treatment using buprenorphine for opioid usage. Over 200 pharmacies in Colorado carry naloxone, and many do so at no cost.
For clarification purposes, Narcan and naloxone are the same drug; Narcan is the most commonly used brand name, and naloxone is the generic name.
According to the National Institute of Health, “naloxone works to reverse opioid overdose in the body for only 30-90 minutes.” However, many opioids can stay in the body’s system for much longer than that, so it is essential that the person is still brought to the hospital in case of long-term effects of an overdose.
The Food and Drug Administration has approved two versions of naloxone: an injection and a prepackaged nasal spray. There are programs to help anyone struggling with addiction and their loved ones. The Never Use Alone website has a 24/7 crisis hotline for those struggling with addiction. Access Point Colorado has a syringe access program in Fort Collins that offers HIV testing, food bank access, housing opportunities, transportation programs and emergency financial assistance.
Reach Alexander Wilson at science@collegian.com.
Editor’s Note: This is a satire piece from The Collegian’s opinion section. Real names and the events surrounding them may be used in fictitious/semi-fictitious ways. Those who do not read the editor’s notes are subject to being offended.
As Rams, our friendship is evergreen. The ties that bind us together are more precious than gold. Our voices are as bright and bold as the “A” on a mountainside directing traffic in the sky. Side by side, we acquire knowledge, expertise and memories for a lifetime. But there is one thing we share freely among ourselves that none — not even the full strength of our administration, government nor our most modern science — can take from us: disease.
Each year, we fill these halls of education with our lively presence and our airtransmissible diseases. The air we share delivers the crucial particles, bacterial or viral, of indestructible diseases to our lungs so that we all may partake. The secret is as simple as community. Merely sharing space is all it takes to enter our colony of curated disease.
We give nothing more freely than our uniquely bred plagues so that any who cross our path are
adorned with gifts of communal particles. Think of the lineage and direct ancestry that our illnesses derive from — each generation of the Ram family leaving their mark as a mutation of the disease they survived. We carry on a historic tradition with the very air we breathe as our DNA houses the signature of every infection that passes through our lungs like a microbial yearbook. This is the legacy that truly impacts the lives of students and staff, not murals, time capsules or buildings. A photo in a glass case cannot persist interactively with students, it cannot impact the trajectory of an entire school and it can never be as invincible or as powerful as a germ.
While some Rams revel in sports, impose traditions or acquire diplomas, I believe the work that matters most takes place in dormitories and mandatory lecture halls. All it takes is a single carrier of allergies to pass along the pure spirit of Ram culture.
The girl who sneezes over her shoulder baptizing all those behind her in viral mists, the boy using shared equipment while eating a bag of chips — are they even aware of the great inheritance they bear?
As I walk down the stairs of the Andrew G.
Clark Building, colliding with passersby funneling through the doorways, I like to pause and breathe in the consecrated air deeply. A mere dry cough or two can mark the difference between business as usual and a rescheduled exam.
A well-timed shout can thicken the cloud of particles filtered by our overworked and oxygendeprived lungs. In the stairwell, wheezes echo, and I’m reminded of our collective mandate to continue the evolution of illness in the name of Colorado State University.
Participants of our great university petri dish ought to understand the honor and appreciate the pride we take in our infections. We do not hide our diseases under a bushel to inevitably die in shame. No! We cough into our hands and bless each door handle, each desk, each personal electronic device with the infectious symbols of Rams gone before us.
We remember previous generations of students by distributing their pathogenic seed to travel among us and mutate, providing those pathogens to the future Rams who will continue to carry our legacy onward through history.
Reach Jenn Dawson at science@collegian.com.
For the first time since 2019, Colorado State University faced the University of Colorado Boulder in the legendary Rocky Mountain Showdown. The rival teams played at Folsom Field in Boulder and sold out with over 50,000 fans, tickets priced as high as $649. This ancient rivalry game dates back to 1893 and has been played almost every year since, aside from the break taken 1959-82. The showdown formerly took place at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver until the contract ended in 2019. After a four-year hiatus, it was decided the game will alternate schools each year it is played. This year brought the biggest spectacle the rivalry has ever seen: Coach Prime, fights, ejections and ESPN College GameDay. The game now holds the record for the most viewed late-night college football game on ESPN in history at 9.3 million views. Despite being the underdog, CSU held their own and even led most of the game. After an intense double overtime, CU Boulder ended up pulling out the stops and winning the game 43-35.
By Dominique Lopez @caffeinateddee6
Editor’s Note: All opinion section content reflects the views of the individual author only and does not represent a stance taken by The Collegian or its editorial board.
Believe it or not, we are already almost done with five weeks of the fall semester. So the real and most important question is — whether you are a first-year student or a fourth-year student — have you decided what kind of college student you want to be yet?
There is always so much pressure around deciding and picking what you should do as a student to become more successful. It isn’t necessarily just your ideas that you give yourself as a student; it also has to do with who you decide to be outside of your school life.
I wrote a piece a few weeks ago about the stress of tabling, and while I was not someone encouraging you to go walk through The Plaza and talk to everyone, did you take the opportunity to go and check it out? There are so
many events happening on campus for students to participate in that can help you decide who you want to be.
However, those moments, opportunities and events are only as effective as the students who choose to attend them. So what have you done? Have you taken the necessary steps to achieve what you want to?
As a college student, I cannot tell you the number of times you will be asked the questions, “How is college going?” and, “Have you found your people yet?” And maybe that is just my family, but you likely still get asked these types of questions in some variation. There is a lot of focus placed on what our image in college should look like, and many of us have probably revamped our personas to create a new image that aligns with our personalities. Or maybe some of us haven’t. There are a lot of different opportunities and ways we can find out who we want to be and who we are going to be. This could mean taking the time to attend a few meetings on campus, attending games to find a new
crowd or even just becoming friends with those in your classes and asking them to study.
The opportunities are endless, but at this point in the semester, it seems like you should have already made a decision or should be making that decision now. You might feel like there may never be an opportunity for you to find the place that you should be; however, Colorado State University provides opportunities for all students to find a place they belong.
I am in no way pressuring you all to find a place where you belong and stay there forever, nor am I pressuring you to know exactly who you are meant to be right now. Rather, I am informing you that you should take the opportunity now in your college years to find out who you want to be.
Taking the time now as a student to find the place where you want to belong is the best way to find out who you want to be and what you want to do with your future.
Reach Dominique Lopez at letters @collegian.com.
Editor’s Note: All opinion section content reflects the views of the individual author only and does not represent a stance taken by The Collegian or its editorial board.
As U+2 remains off the fall ballots for the upcoming city elections, students and young adults who are new to the stress of the workforce now have to choose between longer commutes or breaking the law when it comes to housing options.
U+2 is a residential law requiring that all renters lease with only two
other people who are unrelated to them. Breaking this law comes with a hefty fine of about $1,000, not to mention losing your lovely landlord’s reference for your future residences.
Despite the law keeping the good opinion of Fort Collins lawmakers, U+2 was first introduced to Fort Collins in the
1960s but was not enforced in the city until 2007 — just before the recession in 2008. However, this outdated law now prevents many students from accessing affordable housing.
According to a study by Corona Insights, the number of violators of U+2 decreased by half when it began to be enforced. This prompted tenants to either move or find leases in Fort Collins legally, which decreased the number of available housing options in the city, with a sudden surge of people scrambling to find housing.
As the number of vacancies in Fort Collins has dropped dramatically, rent prices for a twobedroom apartment have steadily increased by about 1% each year. The lack of vacancies is not from an increase in population, either.
The population of Fort Collins has increased by about 2.5% every year from 2001-18. The main factor to this is glaringly obvious: U+2.
U+2 has made it very hard for students to find affordable housing in Fort Collins. Working part time as a college student is incredibly difficult, but what else is there to do when
rent is so high and the alternative is making a lengthy commute?
Fort Collins, like many other places in Colorado, is becoming exponentially more expensive to live in. Being able to live near my place of work and where I attend school is convenient in many ways, especially because I don’t need a car or have to contribute to the environmental damage that driving causes.
Many other students and I are being forced to choose between breaking the law or being overworked in order to afford rent. If U+2 has good reason to stay, then it should be decided by the constituents of Fort Collins, and that starts with having it on the ballot again as soon as possible.
This law has made the City of Fort Collins become a hard place to live, and it is counterproductive to what the law originally set out to do. Instead of creating affordable housing options that keep landlords from hiking up rent prices, it causes people to either break the law or commute in order to find housing. It would be most productive to reexamine this law and amend it so that it can justly serve Fort Collins residents.
Reach Lacey Ceriani at letters @collegian.com.
Coming off a heart-wrenching defeat, Colorado State football and Ram Nation will have to find a way to move forward.
The Rams will again enter hostile territory as they travel to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, to take on Middle Tennessee.
With the controversies and national media attention the Rams have received since the Rocky Mountain Showdown, this game will be a nice change of pace.
While the Rams will still enter into a hostile environment for the Blue Raiders homecoming game, there won’t quite be as many eyes on the team this weekend.
Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi has been granted the keys to the jet and will lead the Rams’ air raid offense against the Blue Raiders.
Fowler-Nicolosi led the Rams to 35 points against Colorado after showing some flashes of what the Rams and Norvell have envisioned of the quarterback position.
“I think the big thing about Brayden is that he made some mistakes,” Norvell said. “But he kept playing, and he kept firing that ball, and he kept giving his guys an opportunity to make plays, and that’s the credit of a good player, a good quarterback.”
Over the course of a game and a half this season, Fowler-Nicolosi has completed 70% of his passes for five touchdowns. He’s shown flashes of being a great quarterback, though he’s still had his struggles this season, throwing four interceptions in CSU’s two games.
“We don’t expect him to be 100% errorfree, but he’s got to learn from those mistakes, and he’s got to keep giving his guys a chance to make plays,” Norvell said. “He made some incredible throws in that game.”
Part of the progression Fowler-Nicolosi will need to make is through in-game reps. Having logged only two career starts to this point, there is still a lot of room to grow.
One of the things Fowler-Nicolosi will help the Rams with is spreading the ball around to all the weapons on the offense.
Tory Horton is obviously the Rams’ No. 1 wide receiver, but two games into the 2023-24 season, four different Colorado State players have gone for more than 100 yards receiving. Last season, the only player to eclipse 100 yards at that point was Horton.
“He just sat back in that pocket and found our open receivers — found our playmakers — so that’s how he performed really, really well,” O-lineman Oliver Jervis said.
Watch: CSU O-line
A season ago, the Rams gave up nine sacks to the Blue Raiders. Norvell said this is a team that likes to blitz the quarterback. If the Rams can keep Fowler-Nicolosi clean, then they have a chance to get the air raid offense going yet again.
“Coach (Bill) Best has a really good game plan for us,” Jervis said. “We’re working to our strengths. We’re not allowing them to decide the game in terms of what they want to do. We’re going to play our game. … We’re five guys up front — if it’s not five guys playing together, we’re not going to succeed. So we just have to trust the guy next to us that if they twist, our guy’s going to be there, and if they blitz, we got to keep our eyes on the right place.”
Defense
The Rams’ defense will look to continue their good play against a tough Middle Tennessee offense.
Similar to the Rams, the Blue Raiders run the air raid-style offense. MSTU’s QB
Nicholas Vattiato burst on the scene this season in true breakout fashion.
“I think there’s been some similarities in our first three games that we’ve had to deal with defensively,” Norvell said. “You know, we did a lot of good things defensively in the game last week, and then we slipped a little at the end, but it’s going to be another challenge, and we’re still looking for that type of defensive performance where we’re really locked in and playing with great discipline.”
The Rams will have an opportunity to do that again, but MTSU is a tough team and a good program. It will be the Blue Raiders’ homecoming weekend, so the fans will be out in full force. The Rams’ defense will have to make it tough on Vattiato.
“Just getting pressure and playing tight coverage on all sides,” cornerback Chigozie Anusiem said. “With all due respect, this is probably the best D-line he’s going to see, (and) this is probably the best DB core he’s going to see as well.”
These are bold words considering the Blue Raiders played Alabama in week one. While Anusiem surely didn’t mean any disrespect by his claims, he exuded the utmost confidence in his guys and his unit.
Watch: Mohamed Kamara
Kamara is a top edge rusher in the Mountain West and has been shot out of a cannon to start the season. Kamara has three sacks through two games. Kamara will look to come in during the second half of play after he serves his one half suspension for his targeting penalty against CU.
“Yeah, it’s the respect we have for him,” Anusiem said. “Mo (Kamara) is somebody on the defense who works. It doesn’t matter if it’s a 5-yard drill — he’s going to try and be first. He’ll race the DBs.”
Reach Damon Cook at sports@collegian.com.
By Damon Cook @dwcook2001
Finding an All-Mountain West player in a recruiting class can be a challenge. Finding two is that much harder.
In 2020, Colorado State did just that by bringing in two of their current stars. Kennedy Stanford broke onto the scene in 2021, taking the MW by storm. A year later, Naeemah Weathers joined her as one of the stars and leaders of the team.
“What you see on the court is kind of a microcosm of who (Weathers) is as a human,” Stanford said. “She is truly one of the most outgoing and bubbly people that you’ll ever meet. To have her as a classmate and as a roommate and as a best friend is one of the greatest things that has happened for me at Colorado State. … She’s truly my rock.”
Weathers is known by her nickname, Nemo, with her teammates and is hard to miss on the court. Similar to Nemo from “Finding Nemo,” Weathers possesses the nonstop energy and charisma that help elevate her team to a higher level.
Not only does her talent stand out, but you might also notice
her as one of the team’s biggest cheerleaders. Often being the most animated after a Rams point, you can see her jumping up and down with an ear-to-ear smile on her face.
“It’s so beneficial for all of us,” Stanford said. “I am someone who is a little more stoic on the court, and so I always crack a smile whenever I am literally lifted off my feet by a hug, and so it’s really good energy,
and I think it balances out a lot of our other personalities as far as us being kind of stoic outside of that.”
Although the celebrations are welcomed and enjoyed by her team and Ram fans alike, head coach Emily Kohan said she gets a lot of comments about fans who worry about Weathers hurting herself celebrating too hard, but Weathers just wants to show appreciation for her team.
“The way that I celebrate is I jump around, I give hugs; I want to be their biggest cheerleader because they just make me so happy,” Weathers said. “And it’s so easy to cheer for a team that is so talented and so well rounded and such good people off the court. And they make it so easy, so I’m definitely flying around and bouncing off of people.”
Kohan reiterated the sentiment that Weathers is one of the most enthusiastic cheerleaders on the team.
“I think to give to your teammates just as big as you give to yourself — I think she celebrates harder for her teammates than she does for herself — is a really cool attribute to have,” Kohan said. While Weathers can be trusted to bring the energy after every point, she can also be counted on to bring in points for the team.
After playing inconsistently her first two years, Weathers finally got her chance to shine. She took that chance and ran with it, never looking back.
Weathers tapped into her potential by buying into the coaching staff and the program. Kohan said that coming out, Weathers was really athletic and had a ton of potential but maybe hadn’t put the pieces completely together; however, her willingness to learn, absorb as much she could and take that and work really hard is what got her to where she is today.
“The kid has to be invested into a two-year kind of developmental process,” Kohan said. “No, your role isn’t going to be the biggest, most glamorous thing at a DII or a lower level DI. You might get more playing time in those first two years, but we’ve had a lot of success training players like her into something really great. … So I’m really proud of her for staying true to her process.”
As Kohan mentioned, Weathers could have gone to a smaller school and played more her first two seasons, but that wasn’t in her plans. During her recruitment process, she knew that she bled green and gold.
“I was super excited, especially when I got my offer,” Weathers said.
“This is sort of my dream school, so I’m really excited to be here.”
Currently fourth in the MW posting a .426 hitting percentage, Weathers has cemented herself as one of the most efficient hitters in the conference.
While Weathers’ growth on the court has been immense, her growth as a person and a leader for the Rams has been just as great.
“I think the team looks at her as a leader now,” Kohan said. “To go from (a) raw, athletic project player Nemo … to one of the top people in hitting efficiency, she’s got to feel really good about how far along she’s developed on both fronts.”
Despite being one of the Rams’ top players, there is always room for growth. With conference play just over the horizon, Kohan has some things that she wants to see.
“I think one of the biggest things we’re saying is,‘How do we get her into a situation to get more balls?’” Kohan said. “What has made her really good is what we call one ball, and she runs it really fast. … We’re really developing her to be able to handle more of a load with more sets, and so she can be a bigger part of the offense beyond a perfect pass situation.”
Reach Damon Cook at sports@collegian.com.
On Saturday, Sept. 16, Colorado State’s safety Henry Blackburn was flagged for a late hit personal foul on Colorado cornerback and wide receiver Travis Hunter.
In his Monday press conference, Rams head football coach Jay Norvell revealed that Blackburn and his family had been receiving death threats and had their addresses and phone numbers leaked via social media.
“I’m really concerned about some of the trends that are going on in college football right now and the reaction that people have to the players on the field,” Norvell said.
While Norvell said they do not coach that kind of style of football, it still happens. Late hits occur in football, and Norvell said it wasn’t Blackburn’s intention to injure Hunter. Norvell said he hopes Hunter can heal and get back out on the field quickly.
“I’m very concerned for our kids,” Norvell said. “These are 18-22 year old kids. They play college football. I know a lot of people get excited about that, but there’s really no place for that in athletics and sports, and
I hope everybody’s healthy and that Travis gets healthy and gets back out there, but we certainly don’t want to see anybody get hurt.”
Now post-Rocky Mountain Showdown, both Hunter and Buffs head coach Deion Sanders have come forward and called for the death threats to stop.
“It’s football at the end of the day,” Hunter said via his show Twelve Talks on Bleacher Report. “Stuff like that happens.”
Sanders also called for the death threats to stop.
“Henry Blackburn is a good player who played a phenomenal game,” Sanders said in his Tuesday press conference. “He made a tremendous hit on Travis on the sideline. You could call it dirty; you could call it he was just playing the game of football. But whatever it was, it does not constitute that he should be receiving death threats.”
Since Blackburn’s hit, the national media and several celebrities and sport personalities have taken to social media to voice their opinions. Some of these players include Lebron James, J.J. Watt and Shannon Sharpe, who called for Blackburn to be thrown out during the game.
The game garnered a lot of national attention, totaling 9.3 million views, making it the fifth most-viewed game on record aired by ESPN.
This large viewership attracted a lot of negative national attention toward Blackburn. There were a lot of people on X, formerly known as Twitter, and other social media platforms who called for violence against him and for the NCAA to take action.
ESPN reached out to CSU Director of Athletics Joe Parker.
“We’re very concerned about our player’s safety, as Henry and his family have continued to receive these threats,” Parker said. “Henry never intended to put anyone in harm’s way on the football field. It’s not what we teach or coach. We hope that the irrational vitriol directed at Henry stops immediately.”
Norvell also said that both the campus police and local authorities have been working together to ensure Blackburn’s safety.
While originally from above, it looked like Blackburn lined up the hit. However, from a separate angle, it looks like a bang-bang play. At least, that’s the way Norvell described the play in his press conference.
“I reviewed the play — it’s a play that happens sometimes,” Norvell
said. “When you throw a deep ball and you’ve got a guy playing middle safety, he’s got to react on the boundary, and he’s going full speed. It was a bang bang type of play, and the officials looked at it, and we looked at it. That’s certainly not something that we teach or coach. It happens in football sometimes.”
Despite a large push by Buffs fans and some of the Buffs media to suspend Blackburn, neither CSU nor the NCAA has suspended the safety.
Fellow Rams defensive back Chigozie Anusiem said in Monday’s
press conference that he and the team will rally around Blackburn and make sure that he is OK.
“We just stay together,” Anusiem said. “Whatever he needs, he can call us, stay with us if he needs to.”
Since the events, Blackburn has made his X account private. The Rams will take on Middle Tennessee State Saturday Sept. 23 and will look to move forward with their season.
Reach Damon Cook at sports@collegian.com.
and Mexican people,” said Betty Aragon-Mitotes, president and founder of Mujeres de Colores.
Silva’s art specializes in colorful pieces on both large-scale murals as well as canvas, and this mural is no exception to those bright colors and themes. The mural was painted on the north-facing side of the Los Tarascos. Beginning on the far left side, it shows Chuck Silvano, a close friend of Aragon-Mitotes, as a young boy working in the fields to provide for his family.
family in their success, in their love and in their glory,” Silva said.
The central figure is a portrait of a Hispanic woman looking east into the distance, holding a short hoe with a look of determination across her face. Though the woman herself is not a portrait of anyone specific, Silva used the eyes of his mother for his reference.
Solis performed a traditional Hispanic dance accompanied by the music of the Sol De Mi Tierra mariachi band.
Solis also expressed her gratitude to the crowd. She said she was grateful to dance and represent the Museum of Memory through History Colorado.
By Ruby Secrest @csucollegian
Family, friends and fans of local Colorado artist Armando Silva gathered Sept. 15 as Silva officially revealed to the public his newest mural, “Para Mi Familia,” on the side of Los Tarascos, a Fort Collins Mexican restaurant.
Silva was commissioned to create this mural through Mujeres de
Colores, a local charity that specializes in helping women and children of color reach their full potential through education, healthcare and community development, according to their website.
Silva was deliberate about the timing of his mural reveal, as National Hispanic Heritage Month began Friday, Sept. 15.
“This is about continuing to amplify the voice of the Hispanic
“Chuck is my friend, but more importantly, he is an icon to our community,” Aragon-Mitotes said. “He’s given representation to our community for many years and has worked in the beet fields since he was 7, giving young field workers a voice. … It’s a representation of every kid that has to work those fields.”
As the mural continues, it goes to an older hand holding a human heart, followed by the image of a family of five sitting on the foothills.
“The idea was to keep (the imagery of the family) loose and just show the representation of a
“The idea behind this woman is what holds our families together: the mama, the madre,” Silvas said. “Ninety-five percent of the work that I get to do is because a woman asks me to try something. ... In the essence of what is ‘Para Mi Familia,’ it’s the tia, the abuelita, the mama that is the glue, the rock, the core of what the family is.”
Lastly, behind these images are written the words “Para Mi Familia,” meaning “for my family” in English.
“For me, I became a father here this last year, and I’ve been asking the question of what am I doing and how am I contributing to future generations, so the theme ‘para mi familia’ has really stuck with me,” Silva said.
As people gathered to watch Silva and Aragon-Mitotes give their speeches of gratitude, Yadira
“Everyone is showing just love and coming together,” AragonMitotes said. “I love this.”
The night continued on with lots of dancing, music and reflection of what “Para Mi Familia” means for each individual. Mujeres de Colores also had a booth set up with merchandise that could be purchased to support their cause to continue to amplify the voices of women and children of color and show representation within their Hispanic community.
“When the ask is to be represented and to be seen, it is a hard ask because we are all so different and bring so much to the table,” Silvas said.
Reach Ruby Secrest at entertainment@collegian.com.
In the heart of Fort Collins, a collaboration between the Well Fed Farmstead and The Fox Den: No Waste Cafe & Roastery brings fresh, locally sourced produce and goods to the neighborhood, all while promoting sustainability and reducing waste.
For Patricia Acheson, the owner of Fox Den, this partnership was a way to add convenience for their customers.
“Ryan (Ericson), the owner of Well Fed Farmstead, came to me about this idea at the perfect time because we were already creating a little bodega, which is a little neighborhood convenience store for those items you tend to always forget to buy at the store,” Acheson said. “Tampons, toothpaste, laundry detergent, sponges, etc., so we decided to add his farm stand into our little bodega for fresh produce, eggs, greens and more.”
Having the Well Fed
Farmstead at Fox Den also helps support local farmers. It contributes to the cafe’s mission of no waste, said Becca Webster, a barista at Fox Den.
“We just want to support our local farmers and help them out and make sure that everyone’s getting food that’s actually good quality and unprocessed,” Webster said. “It helps us prevent any waste, and people love coming here and getting food instead of going to the grocery store where it’s all wrapped in plastic.”
Other Fox Den workers hold the same opinion.
“We want to make the cafe a one-stop shop for people in the neighborhood, especially for those who prefer biking or walking,” said Sydney Johnson, another barista at Fox Den.
Local customers have welcomed this initiative with open arms, recognizing the value of supporting local farmers; enjoying
the convenience of fresh, sustainable options in their own neighborhoods; and embracing the positive impact on the community’s overall well-being.
“People in the neighborhood have responded really well,” Johnson said. “It’s all selfserve, so people can just come in, get what they need and walk out. It’s convenient, and it aligns with our community’s values.”
Webster added that the local community has enthusiastically embraced the initiative and appreciates how easy it is for the people to get the food they need.
“Everyone has been super supportive,” Webster said. “I see so many people come in just to grab some fruit or veggies, so I think people genuinely enjoy having food so accessible and locally grown.”
For Acheson, seeing the positive reception from customers has been gratifying and shows the value of the
collaboration.
“The customers have loved the farm stand, and while it’s still new, we are already seeing a lot of customers using it and commenting on how nice it is to have it in the neighborhood,” Acheson said.
Acheson also shared her vision for the future.
“I think the bodega will continue to grow based on the customers’ needs and recommendations,” Acheson said. “With our coffee shop being smack dab in the middle of a neighborhood, more and more people will see this as a place to get their fresh local goods and only being a few steps away from their door.”
The Well Fed Farmstead’s presence at Fox Den is an example of a collaboration that benefits the local community, promotes sustainability and lowers waste.
Reach Hania Nini at entertainment@collegian.com.
KCSU’s annual Battle of the Bands competition took place Sept. 14 at Colorado State University’s Lory Student Center Theatre, where one talented band won the fan vote.
Due to poor weather, Battle of the Bands was moved from the LSC West Lawn to the LSC Theatre, but the gloomy conditions didn’t stop students from filling seats to support the four local competitors.
“I love Battle of the Bands,” CSU student Benjamin Stickland said. “This is my second time going ever, but local music is so slay — it’s so important to support local artists and Fort Collins music. Every band in that room is extremely talented.”
The bands that play at the annual competition are local to Northern Colorado and composed of mainly CSU students and alumni. This connection to the community brings in students and Fort Collins music fanatics alike.
This year’s competitors — Stil Runnin, Bridge Renaissance, Basement Baby and Clementine — played for a chance to win the title along with a cash prize and spot playing at Ramskeller Pub & Grub later in the month.
From 3-6 p.m., the bands played both original songs and covers of
popular songs that the crowd went wild for. Music and cheering could be heard echoing through the LSC throughout the event, but in the end, Basement Baby reigned victorious as the crowd’s favorite.
“Oh, I wanted them (Basement Baby) to win,” audience member Mattie Morris said. “I’ve got to look
them up on Spotify or something. I really liked them the most. All of them were great, but they deserved to win.”
Basement Baby is an indie-rock band from Fort Collins comprised of Jill Smith, lead singer; Audrey O’Malley, keyboardist; John Michael, guitarist; Rilee Paler,
bassist; Parker Orth, drummer and singer Mason Martinez.
The group met through the CSU transfer program and had classes together during the school year. They quickly became friends and found they shared the same dream of making music for a living. Soon enough, Basement Baby was born.
“I think we’re kind of like a family,” said Paler, who received “awwws” of agreement from his bandmates. “We’re definitely a family. We just get along so well.”
The band described themselves as a family with “chill and groovy” vibes, and they said they hope students will see the thought and work they put into every song they play together. Their main focus is the music and connecting with people who enjoy their kind of sound.
Just last year, the group attended Battle of the Bands as audience members and remarked that it was their dream to play on that stage. Before their performance, the band said they were excited to even be there.
“I honestly didn’t even think we’d get into a Battle of the Bands, let alone win,” Smith said. “It’s been such a journey getting here. I just feel so grateful. The local music scene is crazy here, and I can’t believe we’re a part of it. I feel so unbelievably lucky to be able to share my music with such an amazing, supportive community.”
Basement Baby, Clementine, Stil Runnin and Bridge Renaissance can be found on all major music streaming platforms. Basement Baby will be performing again 5:307 p.m. Sept. 21 at Ramskeller.
Reach Sophia Masia at entertainment@collegian.com.
To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the numbers 1 to 9.
if you intuitively already know things. You will be receiving a good gift this week.
CANCER (JUNE 21 - JULY 22)
By Abby Flores
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (09/21/23)
ARIES (MARCH 21 - APRIL 19)
Your goal is to find beauty in the small things you have, Aries. You tend to live a fastpaced life, but when was the last time you studied a work of art? The answers are within you, and it’s time to unlock them.
TAURUS (APRIL 20 - MAY 20)
You are going to rediscover things you loved as a child this week and have a fun time experimenting with arts and crafts. If you plan to give your creations to people, give them to those who truly matter to you.
GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUNE 20)
You are questioning the universe and may have gone through a rabbit hole of searching spiritual topics online. You don’t know what you want to study or read anymore because it seems as
As a Cancer, you most likely have a love for family and home. There is nothing like home-cooked meals and being around places that feel familiar. You will meet a new person this week who may feel as if you knew them in a past life.
LEO (JULY 23 - AUG. 22)
This fall will be a happy time for you. Enjoy watching the leaves change, and embrace the cozy moments that come with the season. This week will be focused on your self-care because you deserve to feel relaxed and unbothered.
VIRGO (AUG. 23 - SEPT. 22)
You have the ability to read both positive and negative energies when you’re around a group of people but tend to be overwhelmed when people want to learn more about themselves from your observations. Stay true to your intuition, and only tell those who need it.
LIBRA (SEPT. 23 - OCT. 22)
You are sometimes an inconsistent planner and don’t confront people easily. You are trying to change this because you want to be able to have a good balance between social, work and romantic lives. Your soul deserves to feel free.
SCORPIO (OCT. 23 - NOV. 21)
Seeing there is an upcoming
moon in your sign Sept. 19, I suggest you journal and meditate to get the clarity you need for your next steps in life. Be proud of who you are and how far you’ve come.
SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22 - DEC. 21) You are working on a new workout routine or health regimen, and it is keeping you busy in a great way. Embrace this journey toward a healthier version of you, and continue to invest in your appearance. You look great.
CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 - JAN. 19) You have a great work ethic and a passion for staying up late and completing projects. Just be sure you are still getting enough sleep. Your body needs rest, and you shouldn’t ignore it. Keep it up, Capricorn.
AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 - FEB. 18)
You are tuning in to your creative mind this week and coming up with new ideas that have the potential to change your community. Your positivity is increasing as you continue working toward your goals.
PISCES (FEB. 19 - MARCH 20)
While daydreaming may be enjoyable, you’ve likely noticed it isn’t particularly helpful when you’re trying to study or focus on something. This week, consider refreshing your environment. A clean home often leads to a peaceful mind.
“Do I love him the generic brand, or do I love him Neutrogena?”
“I had men apply, but then I wasn’t impressed.”
“Sometimes I wonder if this is a major or cult.”
“There were a lot of bangers — and some falling down the stairs-type bangers.”
Have you overheard something funny on campus? Put your eavesdropping to good use. Tweet us @CSUCollegian and your submissions could be featured in our next paper!
