Issue 54 of The Independent

The

Fort Lewis College News Magazine

Issue 54

THREECREDIT

CURRICULUM ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION VAGINA MONOLOGUES AND MORE...

February 2014 FREE

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Tia J. Begay Alexa Chance

DESIGN

Hana Mohsin

Trevor Ogborn

Deanna Atkins

Graeme Johnston

Allie Hutto

PRINT DESIGN EDITOR

PHOTOGRAPHY Josh Plutt Andrea Araiza Jonathan Helvoigt

Taylor Ferraro Remi Majeski Leah Payne Sean Summers

BROADCAST Vanessa Vangelder Mariah Suneson Tyler Pecore

ONLINE/SOCIAL MEDIA PRINT NEWS EDITOR

Livia Hooson Lio Diaz Christian Garing Christina Tsosie Cover photo by Hana Mohsin

Jaimee Souder

Carter Solomon

Alie Pallat

VISIT US

CHIEF COPY EDITOR

Aimee Gardere

Chloe Eckerman

Anthony Martin

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

Julia Volzke

REPORTING

VISUAL EDITOR

LEAD ONLINE ONLINE & SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR COPY EDITOR

BROADCAST & VISUAL PRODUCTION EDITOR

COPY EDITING

BUSINESS DIRECTOR

ASSOCIATE EDITOR IN CHIEF

ONLINE DESIGN EDITOR

~ Stephanie Pena Lindsy Fuller

Haley Pruitt

Ayla Quinn

Editors & Staff

BUSINESS

PUBLIC RELATION DIRECTOR

on the web for breaking news, daily campus and community updates, sports, and much more! www.theindyonline.com

Breaking News:

Dear Indy readers,

3

Work Out, Get Rewarded

Story by Sean Summers

Campus Living Unspoken Rules of Alternative Transportation

5

Story by Remi Majeski

COVER Push for a Three-Credit Curriculum

7

Story by Taylor Ferraro

Since this is my final semester at Fort Lewis College, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the individuals that have made my time with The Independent so special. First, I want to thank everyone on staff for all the hard work they put forth in order to produce such an amazing publication. I would also like to thank our Practicum Director, Dr. Leslie Blood and our Content Adviser, Dr. Faron Scott for the invaluable support you have offered us. I want to extend my gratitude to every business and organization that has advertised with The Independent. Finally, a special thanks is always reserved for our readers, your loyalty is greatly appreciated.

Kind regards,

Sex/Health

9

Vagina Monologues Champion Female Body

Haley Pruitt Business Director

Story by Leah Payne

Green Nice Winter Could Mean Hazardous Summer

11

Story by Sean Summers

Entertainment Horoscopes, Crossword, Music Review, and Indy on the Street

13

LC

Connect with us!

From the Editor’s Desk

CONTENTS

tF n e d

nd

n

Th

pe e d e In

ent

n flci

d

e ep

LC

flc t n e

en

d

ind

e

n pe

tF n e d

e Th

p nI de

Breaking News

Work out, Get Rewarded

Story by Sean Summers

F

ort Lewis College is attempting to encourage physical fitness in students and faculty this semester by offering incentives at the Student Life Center for those leading a physically active life.

The incentive program has been in place for four years, but was restructured this semester, said Jeff Dupont, the director of recreational services.

In past years, they have offered a goal-based incentive program, where a student or faculty member must be physically active for a certain amount of time to receive the reward, Dupont said.

This semester, it is structured as a tiered incentive program, he said.

This new tiered incentive program began on Jan. 13, and activity tracking started on Jan. 22, said Kelly Holland, the wellness and marketing intern at the Student Life Center. “We really want to promote a well rounded lifestyle,�

Holland said.

Since its implementation, 83 members, including faculty and staff, have signed up to receive incentive points, she said.

In previous years, the destination-based program hindered participants who joined later in the semester from ever receiving a reward, so the tiered system makes it simpler for a person who joins later to still receive a reward for their efforts, she said.

At each tier reached, a reward is given. Rewards are earned based on the number of points participants report, Dupont said.

3

Photos by Joshua Plutt

Participants must report their activity hours to the weight room assistant, who records the amount each person has reported, he said.

The amount of activity each participant has is reviewed by the fitness intern and the incentive prizes are awarded at each tier that they reach, he said.

Students can earn a maximum of three activity points a day, Holland said.

In the past, there has been no limit on the amount of exercise that each participant could record each day, which encouraged over-exercising in some cases, she said.

One hour of physical activity is equal to one point towards a participants total, Dupont said.

Rewards for these points include high quality workout socks, which can be received at 50 points, he said.

At 100 points, participants receive an FLC Student Life Center coffee mug, he said.

For the 150 point tier, exercise shorts are given to participants, he said.

The maximum number of recordable points is 200.

Once this tier is reached, a compact rain jacket is rewarded, he said.

The incentive program is funded through a variety of sources, Dupont said.

Funding sources include staff memberships, student activity fees, day passes, locker rentals and program fees, he said.

The incentive program aims to help students be more consistent in their physical activity as well as track their

An active student utilizing the dumbbells in the FLC Student Life Center. progress, he said.

The program also focuses on students’ hours of activity and tries to raise the awareness of physical fitness, he said.

The incentive program is not limited to just students. Faculty and staff are also eligible to receive rewards for being physically active, Dupont said.

Students and faculty can begin the program at any time throughout the semester, he said.

A main goal of the tiered incentive program is also to allow students to get the most use from their student activity fees by utilizing the facilities available to them, he said.

The Student Life Center has seen an increase in students signing up for the incentive program since it’s restructuring, he said.

In 2013, the last available year for data, 3,372 individuals checked in to the Student Life Center, he said.

On average, 850 people check in and use the facilities at the Student Life Center each Monday night, Dupont said.

This number will increase to over 1,000 people once intramural basketball starts, he said.

“Whether it’s playing drop-in basketball, or the incentive program, or playing intramural sports, or going to the bike shop, all those things provide students an outlet in the community,” he said.

The high number of people using the Student Life Center’s facilities is an indication of the healthy lifestyle led by many here, he said.

The encouragement for a healthy, physically active, lifestyle at FLC isn’t limited to the Student Life Center.

Student Wellness Initiatives is an organization at FLC which focuses on the well-being of students and faculty alike.

Although wellness isn’t necessarily a popular topic to discuss, it’s important to consider, said Kendra Gallegos Reichle, the coordinator of Student Wellness Initiatives.

Student Wellness Initiatives is available to students who would like to change habits, including diet and exercise, Reichle said.

Students involved in WellPAC, a registered student organization at FLC, offer motivational interview consultations to students who wish to talk through the habits they want to change, she said.

WellPAC is closely associated with the psychology department at FLC and helps train students to conduct peer advisory consultations in the form of motivational interviews, she said.

These consultations are designed to help students identify and talk through the habits or activities they wish to change, she said.

The consultations aim to provide motivation and support, she said.

The motivation found in these consultations helps to promote consistency and action in the students who take advantage of them, Reichle said.

Student Wellness Initiatives, located in the Terry R. Bacon Leadership Center inside the Student Union Building, exists to help students find and maintain balance in a holistic sense, she said.

“Your physical and mental health is absolutely crucial in academic success,” she said.

Educational books and DVDs are available at the Student Leadership Center for students to check out, she said.

Faculty and staff are also offered the ability to participate in wellness programs that promote physical wellness, she said.

A variety of weights available to students in the upstairs weight room at the FLC Student Life Center.

4

Campus Living

Story by Remi Majeski

I

5

Unspoken Rules of Photos by Jonathan Helvoigt

n an outdoor community like Durango there are many diverse modes of transportation ranging from cars to bikes, skateboards, busses, and walking.

While the rules for standard modes of transportation like motor vehicles are clear for most, the rules for alternative transportation are not widely known, especially when it comes to what is allowed both on and off campus.

In its documented Business Policies, Fort Lewis College has outlined what it defines as a safe campus environment when it comes to un-motorized transportation, as well as what is appropriate for use as transportation.

Policy 7-4: Bicycles, Skateboards, and Other Un-Motorized, Wheeled Devices on Campus states that “The College has been designated as a pedestrian campus with the safety and welfare of the campus community in mind.”

The policy also defines the use of bicycles, skateboards, in-line skates, scooters, and similar unmotorized wheeled devices on campus in order for Campus Police to ensure the safety of all and to minimize maintenance and repairs of campus grounds.

The policy also rules that all un-motorized wheeled devices be under control at all times, that they are not operated within or on any buildings, where to properly house these devices, and that pedestrians always have the right of way on campus.

Also detailed in the policy, the violation of these rules will result in fines, confiscation, and/or disciplinary action.

For example, when Campus Police receive complaints about people skateboarding recklessly or riding their bikes too fast around campus, the people receive a warning.

“We contact the person and remind them that it is their responsibility to ride their skateboard or their bike in a safe manner,” FLC Chief of Police Arnold Trujillo said. “They must obey all pedestrian and traffic laws and watch for pedestrians coming in and out of buildings and on the walkways.”

If someone is consistently breaking rules, Trujillo and the Campus Police have the authority to take the next step and file criminal charges.

“The law states that if you give somebody a warning for anything that’s against policy and they continue doing that you can file criminal charges on them,” Trujillo said.

In order to avoid receiving warnings and criminal charges, not only do bicyclists and skateboarders have to follow the College’s policies, but they must also adhere to the traffic laws of Colorado.

This includes following all posted road signs and traffic lights properly, as if the operator were in a motorized vehicle.

Because those on un-motorized devices must follow the

Graphics by Julia Volzke

same traffic laws as motorized vehicles, the protocol for dealing with indiscretions is the same across the board, Trujillo said.

“In my fifteen years here we’ve never had to file criminal charges,” he said.

“Everybody seems to follow the rules clearly,” said Conner McGann, FLC senior.

McGann uses her bike as her main mode of transportation on and off campus and has also taken personal safety measures while on campus for herself and pedestrians.

“I always look to make sure I know where people are going and I take the sidewalks that are less-traveled,” she said. “By now I’ve also figured out when certain classes get out and when areas around buildings will be full of people and when they’ll be empty.”

McGann said watching people and knowing where they are going to step so that they are not hit becomes easy.

Some pedestrians, however, have noticed a lack of vigilance on the part of skateboarders and bicyclists.

“Sometimes skateboarders blast by and nearly miss me, but I haven’t been hit yet,” FLC sophomore Chase Gaumond said.

Gaumond primarily walks around campus to get to his destinations, but when it comes to personal safety measures, he simply stays aware of what is happening around him.

Bicyclists off campus in the community are subject to similar rules as those on campus.

In the City of Durango, the Multi Modal Transportation Program is in charge of transit, parking, bicycle, and pedestrian projects and programs.

“We work closely with the Streets Department to implement bike lanes, bike parking, ADA curb ramps and sidewalks, assess development reviews for new projects, monitor the transit service and run the routes, and create grants to help fund the transit system,” said Amber Blake, multi modal administrator for the city of Durango.

The Multi Modal Transportation Program also works on education about traffic laws and road safety between various modes of transportation.

According to Colorado State Law, bicycles are considered vehicles like cars and trucks and thus must follow all Colorado traffic laws, including posted signs, traffic lights and all road markings.

If these laws are violated, the Durango Police Department may issue citations, much like the Campus Police at Fort Lewis College.

“The Police Department has the authority to pull over someone and write them a citation and the fine for that citation is the same as it is for a vehicle,” Blake said. “For example, if you blow

Alternative Transportation a stop sign on your bike, you can get a $110 ticket.”

The City of Durango has implemented safety measures to help those who use alternative transportation remember that they must abide by the same rules, including dismount zones in Downtown Durango.

At the corners of each block on Main Avenue, there are plastic inlays that say “Dismount Zone” with a pedestrian and a bike in the center.

According to Blake, bicycles are not allowed on sidewalks in Durango and is a reminder to those who may be using their bicycles that they must dismount them or ride in the street.

“We’ve put in ‘sharrows’ in street lanes as a visual designator stating that bikes have a right to be on the road,” Blake said.

“The ‘sharrows’ are markers inlaid in the streets and portray a bicycle with two chevrons on top,” she said.

The Multi Modal Transportation Program also has a Multi Modal Transportation Master Plan available to the public on the city’s website, which presents a layout of the city’s streets, sidewalks, bike and transit facilities, as well as where its deficiencies are so that the city can implement the proper safety measures.

“An example of this would be the bike lane on East Third Avenue. Because it is only three feet wide, it’s not as safe as riding in the lane with cars, so it will be removed next year and replaced with the ‘sharrows,” she said.

Removing this lane also prevents possible injury if a person in a parked car opens their door in front of an oncoming cyclist because the lane is next to the parking strip of the street.

“We will be implementing about 25 percent of that plan this summer, which is also when our Multi Modal Map for 2014 will be available,” she said.

This map will show where bike lanes and “sharrows” are located, along with transit stations and pedestrian lanes in Durango.

One example of where “sharrows” and bike lanes exist near each other is on Florida Road.

Though a bike lane exists along Florida Road, it disappears at the roundabout in front of Chapman Hill and is replaced by “sharrows,” signaling to bicyclists and drivers that they must both share the lane in this roundabout until the bicyclist can safely enter the

There are many modes of alternative transportation, such as biking, skateboarding, and walking.

bike lane when exiting the roundabout.

These directions will be indicated on the Multi Modal Map. Bike lanes and “sharrows” only exist in certain streets of Durango because of our non-conforming roads.

Some roads are wider than others and not all of our streets were laid out as one system, therefore it is unrealistic to have bike lanes on all the streets, which is why “sharrows” and other bike route signs are posted where bike lanes do not exist.

“Another reason bike lanes do not exist on all Durango streets is because the cost to maintain the paint prevents Multi Modal Transportation from other bicycling facilitation and programs,” she said.

Other safety measurements include those outlined in the Bicycle Safety Bill passed by the Colorado State Legislature in 2009 commonly known as the “three-foot rule” where drivers of motorized vehicles must give bicyclists in bike lanes at least three feet of space from their passenger-side rear-view mirror when passing for safety reasons.

“Another rule is that cyclists are allowed to ride two-abreast as long as they’re not impeding traffic,” she said.

Cyclists are also allowed to take the lane of traffic with vehicles if a bike lane is not available or is unsafe to use.

“People downtown get really frustrated when I’m riding my bike because they have to slow down or go around me, but we have to share the road,” McGann said. “The rules are better communicated here on campus than in town because no one here gets really upset when you’re riding your bike around.”

Rules for skateboarding off campus in the community are not the same as on campus. In fact, there is only one area in Durango off campus where skateboards can legally be used.

“It is illegal to ride your skateboard on a sidewalk and in the street. The only place it is legal to ride a skateboard is at the skate park,” Blake said.

If individuals are found breaking these rules, the same law applies to those who disobey traffic laws and fines can be received.

“The rules are more clearly communicated on campus than in town,” McGann said.

6

Cover Story

THREE CREDIT The Fort Lewis College Administration three-credit curriculum, Thompson said. has proposed that the three and four-credit Most schools in Colorado are at the Story by Taylor Ferraro mixed curriculum that FLC currently has, three-credit model, so if a student transfers Photos by Hana Mohsin be changed to strictly a three-credit model to a different college or university in ColoraGraphics

by Graeme Johnston across the board. do, the courses will also transfer over because The Administration has been playing of the guaranteed transferability pathways, with the idea of changing from the mixed Thompson said. model curriculum to a three-credit model The state of Colorado is interested in crefor a while, Alex Thompson, the student body president, said. ating better transferability, but there is not a state law or state statute There are four main reasons to make this change, including the that is requiring FLC to go to the three-credit model, Fitzgerald said. accreditation process, the Colorado State Higher Education System, “I can tell that being an outlier in terms of credit structure can transferability of courses, and finally scheduling issues with a three, cause problems,” Thompson said. four-credit mix, Dene Kay Thomas, the FLC president, said.

In addition to the transferability issues that the mixed curriculum Colleges and universities alike go through the reaccreditation procauses, there are also some problems with faculty workload equability. cess every 10 years, said Chuck Riggs, an associate professor and chair Some faculty members are teaching classes at three-credits and some of Anthropology and president of FLC’s Faculty Senate. are teaching at four, he said.

There is a fair amount of people who say that when the Higher Each full-time professor is required to have 24 contact hours per year.

Learning Commission comes to do FLC’s reaccreditation and there This translates to 12 credits per semester and with the mixed credit modhas not been a change in the credit structure, it could cause a problem. el, this means that most professors are teaching three courses, said Nancy The argument that the administration is making is that higher educaCardona, an associate professor and chair of the English department. tion has changed, as should FLC’s credit model, Riggs said.

“For most of us, it would mean that we would end up teaching an What the HLC wants is for FLC to fill out a form stating the extra class per year,” Riggs said. “It is about taking contact time and reasons that the school has a mixed curriculum, he said. dividing it up differently so it adds up differently.”

The reality is that if FLC has not done something to resolve the By definition, the difference between a four-credit class and a issue before the HLC starts the reaccreditation process, the HLC three-credit class is that the four-credit class is more time, he said. will dig around and find out that there is internal conflict, and that is An extra hour in the classroom for a faculty member generally not good for the institution, he said. means more assignments to grade and extra prep time, he said.

The last time the HLC came for FLC’s reaccreditation, a note “Our workload is something that is very personal, not everyone was made that FLC has a mixed three and four-credit curriculum. feels the same about this change,” Riggs said. “One of the things that There were no problems with it at all, Janine Fitzgerald, a professor we are doing as a senate is surveying the faculty.” of sociology and human services, said.

If this change were to be approved, currently, the Engineering and “If we go to a three-credit model now, we will be vulnerable to acPhysics department would not have the faculty to make that happen, creditation because we will have made a dramatic change just as they Ryan Haaland, a professor and chair of engineering and physics, said. are coming in,” Fitzgerald said.

“Many faculty agree that that the workload issue that the science Another reason to make the change is to comply with the Coloradepartment is experiencing needs some relief,” Cardona said. do State Higher Education System, which encourages a three-credit Currently, science faculty have up to 18 contact hours per sesystem, Thomas said. mester in addition to teaching two or three labs, Shere Byrd, a FLC is an outlier in terms of credit structure, most schools have a professor of biology, said.

7

A view of the Fort Lewis College campus Prior to the presentation of the proposal to the Board of Trustees, the Faculty Senate tasked a group of 12 staff members to conduct research on how the change would affect each department, as well as the students, Fitzgerald said.

“One of the things that our three, four-credit task force did is address the issue with the sciences,” she said.

The task force created a two course and two lab curriculum for the Science department, she said.

There are so many labs in the biology curriculum. For engineering and physics, it is a different balance between lecture and lab, Haaland said.

“The Faculty Senate created the task force in spring of 2013 to study the credit issue and make a recommendation,” the FLC Provost, Barbara Morris, said.

The reason for getting the task force together was to look at the change in depth, weigh the pros and cons, and come up with some sort of agreement, Riggs said.

“We were tasked by the faculty senate to look and see whether it was sustainable to keep a three, four-credit mix, keeping the problems of scheduling and workload in mind,” Fitzgerald said.

“We asked every department how the potential change would affect them, 18 out of the 22 departments responded,” she said.

The task force decided that keeping the three, four-credit mix is in the best interest of the faculty and the students, she said.

“For those of us who know the benefits of having an extra hour in the classroom, it does not make sense to take away that class time from students or faculty,” John Baranski, a professor of history, said. “There is a reason Liberal Arts Colleges across the nation have a three and fourcredit course mix.”

From the student perspective, this change will mean that all of the courses offered at FLC, with the exception of practicum courses, will change to three-credits, Cardona said.

Students would be taking more courses within their major in terms of numbers, not necessarily in terms of credits, she said.

“They can be full time at 12 credits by taking three classes as opposed to four,” she said.

The three-credit model, for the most part, depending on the discipline, encourages a lecture format, Cardona said.

The English department does a lot of hands on collaborative learning, which relies upon process and time for students to sit with ideas and think about them. The three-credit model would really change the ability to do that, she said.

“We are concerned that this will change the way we work with our students and change what the students take away,” Cardona said. “I’m not saying there is not value in breadth but I also think that there is real value in depth. The emphasis we have now is depth in terms of process, breadth in terms of what you are exposed to. The change would shift that emphasis.”

The report was completed and presented to the Board of Trustees at their December meeting, Morris said.

There was an implication from the faculty representative and Morris that the task force had not addressed the issues that needed to be addressed, Fitzgerald said.

“At the December Board of Trustee meeting, the Board requested that the President and I would present a concrete recommendation to them prior to their February meeting,” she said. “We presented the recommendation to a sub committee of the Board on Dec. 19, 2013.”

“I think what the administration was hoping is that we would come out and say let’s switch, so they would have our back, but we did not,” Eric Huggins, a professor of business management said.

“The administration completely overrode the faculty-driven committee’s decision,” Huggins said. “That is not how FLC has ever been run, and it worries me that that is how its starting to be run.”

The Board of Trustees will discuss the recommendation at their next meeting on Feb. 7, Morris said.

The meeting on Feb. 7 is for Board of Trustees to discuss the proposal, not make a definitive resolution, Thompson said.

Initially, the Administration proposed the change by fall of 2015 but with some of the resistance that has come up, the change will probably not be put into effect until at least fall of 2016, he said.

“One concern, especially among those of us who teach and work directly with FLC students, is the way a three-credit curriculum will impact working students, students with disabilities, students with family responsibilities, and students who are already struggling with taking three, four-credit classes a semester,” Baranski said.

Taking five classes, each worth three credits, would elevate stress levels of students. It is not the number of units that students are taking but the content of the subject, sophomore, Eva Johnson, said.

Students would have to divide their attention between more subjects rather than just focusing on a few, she said.

The student forum on the proposed return to a three-credit curriculum model was held on Jan. 24. The forum served as a general information session that gave students the opportunity to voice any concerns on the issue.

“Should the proposal pass as written, I imagine the student response would be as mixed as the faculty opinions I’m hearing,” Amy Wendland, a professor of Art and faculty representative to the Board of Trustees, said. “Some students would miss the in-depth time of a four-credit class yet like the block schedules. Some may like the three-credit classes but feel pressured by concentrating on five classes a semester.”

“As an institution, FLC should be helping these students the most to succeed, not making it more difficult. Adding another course to their semester will make it more difficult,” Baranski said.

The forum was held to help students become aware of the process of the change, Thompson said.

“Students have an empowering voice that will be taken very seriously if they are adamantly objected to the change,” he said. “If students are objecting to this change, I will fight with all powers I have,” he said.

“I will record any comments, questions, or concerns and take them to the top level of administrators and the Board of Trustees,” he said.

Both the Administration and Board of Trustees will be well aware of what the students are concerned about because the Board of Trustees is in charge of making the final decision, he said.

Provost Morris will be presenting the proposal to the Board of Trustees on Feb. 7 in the Vallecito Room at 8 a.m. The meeting is open to the public.

8

Sex/Health

a n i g a V Monologues Story by Leah Payne Photo by Andrea Araiza

Champion Female Body

O

n Feb. 13 and 14, Fort Lewis College will put on she bought about 2,000 tampons and put labels with the show inthe production of “The Vagina Monologues” at 7 formation on the tampons to pass out during the parade, she said. p.m. in the FLC Theatre. Tickets are $10 for stuThe monologues tend to push the envelope both on the dents and $12 for community members. stage and off, some people were upset that Tampax was a sponThe performance is based on interviews with real women. sor of the production, Gregory said.

Eve Ensler is the playwright, and her collection of monologues “I thought that, if anything, it would make an impact during the emphasize women reclaiming and celebrating their bodies. parade, and at least I could tie it into a sponsor,” she said.

Each monologue is based on a real story.

However, the year after this Snowdown Parade, more The format of the play changes from year to year. Ensler restrictions were imposed on “The Vagina Monologue” selects new monologues to mix in with some which have been marchers, she said. in every play. A new one this year is “One Billion Rising.” This “Fort Lewis did their own monologues for a few years while particular monologue encompasses the statistic that one in the town did their own but then took hiatus for a few years,” every three women will be raped. said Nancy Stoffer, the coordinator for the Fort Lewis DiThe first performance of “The Vagina Monologues” in versity Program.

Durango was on Feb. 9, 2002 at the Smiley Building.

In a phone interview, FLC alumni Drew Tomasi Helen Gregory was the director as well as the coorsaid he started “The Vagina Monologues” again at dinator for the event. She had a cast of six womthe college in 2011 when he was president of en, most of whom had never been onstage beHumans for Equal Rights Phoenix and difore, but they sold out the auditorium. rected them for two years before turning it In the middle of the first show, a man over to Julianna Little in 2013. in the back row took out an air horn “The Vagina Monologues” went and started blasting it while the cast on intermission when the club was onstage beginning the opening Feminist Voice fell apart mostly set, Gregory said. due to a lack of interest from the At first, she thought it was students, Tomasi said. the fire alarm. Then audience When Tomasi was the presimembers started to stand up and dent of HER Phoenix he deshout at this man, who contincided to change the name back ued to blow his air horn. At that to Feminist Voice because that is point the crowd turned ugly, to more familiar and recognizable. the point she thought there might In order to get a script for “The be a riot, Gregory said.

Vagina Monologues,” whoever is -Eve Ensler, playwright “I was sitting onstage and I reputting on the show has to select of the Vagina member, very distinctly, watching a an organization which will help emMonologues group of people rush to this fellow, power women for all the proceeds to go pick him up and literally throw him out to, Tomasi said. of the theatre,” Gregory said. “The audi“In order to get a script you have to go ence cheered on his removal from the theatre. through the formal paperwork of designatI took a deep breath and said, once the crowd ing which organization will receive the show’s had calmed down, ‘Let’s begin again, shall we?’.” proceeds,” Tomasi said in a phone interview.

The rest of the evening went without further inWhen Tomasi was in charge proceeds went to the cident, Gregory said Women’s Resource Center the first year and the second The cast also made it a point to march in the Snowdown Payear they went to Our Sister’s Keeper and the Native Amerirade each year alongside the performers from FLC. The first year, can Center.

“ Vaginas

are beautiful.

Our self-hatred is only the internalized repression and hatred of the patriarchal culture. It isn’t real. Pussies Unite.

“

The proceeds from this show will be donated to Durango’s Sexual Assault Services Organization, Avant said.

“I am glad ‘The Vagina Monologues’ will be put on because a show like that raises awareness of women’s bodies to a larger audience,” said Laura West, FLC alumni and a volunteer for SASO. “It can be uncomfortable but I think it is necessary,” West said, “The topic is too often swept under the rug, the monologues make it interesting and fun.”

Tomasi said something similar in a phone interview, “I think it is important for stories to be told.”

Even though Tomasi is a male-bodied person the monologues have spoken to him and stick with him to this day. “The Woman Who Loved to Make Vaginas Happy” is one he particularly identified with, he said.

Sarah Lipp, an FLC senior said this year she will perform “The Woman Who Loved to Make Vaginas Happy.” Last year she performed “Hair.” Her interest was sparked by “The Vagina Monologues” when she saw her friend on stage.

“I couldn’t believe they were on stage talking about vaginas,” Lipp said.

From that moment she decided to challenge herself to try out for them the next year, she said.

Rachel Sill, an FLC junior said she saw a poster for tryouts and decided to go with her roommate. She received the monologue “Because He Liked to Look at It.” “This monologue is meaningful to me,” she said.“I remember being young when I lost my virginity. I thought my vagina was gross and ugly and couldn’t understand the appeal of it.”

This monologue in particular is very relatable to all women because the vagina is not often talked about, so women are then unsure about their own vaginas, she said.

Sill enjoys the production because it puts subject matter that is ordinarily hushed away onto a pedestal.

“The more we talk about it, the less embarrassed we feel,” she said.

There are a few first-time performers this year. Katie Server’s roommate was in the program last year so she thought she’d give it a try.

“I’m nervous because I’ve never been in a production before,” Server said.

This will also be Brittani Sullivan’s first time on stage. She is a Gender and Women’s Study major.

Sullivan was asked to join by Kelly Avant, the student coordinator for the Monologues. Sullivan will introduce the show as well as the individual pieces.

“I definitely really wanted to get out of my comfort zone, not that I’m uncomfortable with the subject matter, just being an actress is stepping out,” Sullivan said.

Jamie Draper will have the first piece after the introduction, “The Flood.” She got this piece because she says it with a funny New York accent. Her friends had been involved with “The Vagina Monologues” before which prompted her to join.

“I think it is a cool way to build self confidence,” Draper said.

Although Avant has been involved with Feminist Voice for the past three years, this is the first year she helped set up “The Vagina Monologues.

In addition to her student coordinator duties, Avant said this year she will also be performing the piece “Reclaiming Cunt.”

The monologues are being produced by Feminist Voice collaboration with the FLC Theatre.

This is important because the two have not always been linked.

By starting the connection between them, the two will last for years to come, Avant said.

“I think it is a really important piece, and I wanted to make sure it was produced at Fort Lewis this year,” she said.

Avant said she finds feminism exciting because the theories provide different ways to look at society and ask why it is the way it is.

“I personally think the expectations of the female body are really problematic and harmful,” she said. “I think that in America we are separated from our bodies, especially women, because we think of them as projects rather than tools and ‘The Vagina Monologues’ are a way to reclaim our bodies.”

“I like to see the performers feel empowered by the experience of performing these monologues and by being around other strong independent women,” she said.

The goal of the monologues is to get someone who wouldn’t ordinarily think about the oppression or celebration of the female body to go to an event about it. She has had people come up to her after the program and tell her that the performance changed their perspective.

“It’s exciting to be a part of something that is actually producing visible change,” she said.

FLC students Allie Hutto, Rachel Sill, Madison Bearher, Michaela Steiner, Taryn Bargy, Katie Sever, Dana Mastrangelo, Kelly Avant, Jamie Draper, Brittani Sullivan, Riley Burchell, and Sarah Lipp in rehearsal for the Vagina Monologues.

10

Green

Nice Winter Could Mean Hazardous Summer Story by Sean Summers

F

Photo by Joshua Plutt

ort Lewis College students have been taking advantage of the unseasonably warm weather this January, but this enjoyable warm spell may lead to complications later in the year.

Students have been checking out more summer-oriented gear, such as tents, than is typical for this time of year, said Madison Vlass, an employee at Outdoor Pursuits.

While less winter gear is being checked out, the winter-based trips like cross country ski tours and snowshoeing are still going to take place, Vlass said.

The weather has encouraged students to rent camping gear and take trips to Utah for the weekend, she said.

While the unseasonably warm weather is enjoyable, it has caused an issue for skiers and snowboarders looking for fresh snow, she said.

“It’s nice, but the snow is lacking,” she said.

The warm rash that Durango has been experiencing may be indicative of a dry summer, but it isn’t necessarily a guarantee for a dry year, said Julie Korb, a professor of biology at FLC. It is typical to get a lull in precipitation in mid January in Southwest Colorado, Korb said.

It is too early in the year to accurately predict what will happen for the rest of the year, she said.

“If we don’t get our big storms that we normally get in March, that’s when you’re going to start to see some of the ramifications of us not having a lot of precipitation this winter,” she said.

Most of what the forecast for the rest of the year will

11

Graphics by Julia Volzke

look like is dependent on how much moisture the region gets in the spring, she said.

According to research, Southwest Colorado is not in a drought yet, but it is classified as abnormally dry, she said.

Sudden aspen decline is one possible consequences of an unusually dry winter, she said.

Insects that act as parasites in the trees are able to spread more easily throughout aspen stands when the trees are stressed for moisture, she said.

This kills the aspens, which increases fire danger later in the year, she said.

One way for these insects to be killed off is by a severe winter with cold temperatures, she said.

Temperatures must dip to between minus 20 and minus 40 for three to five consecutive days to kill the insects, she said.

If the insects are able to remain unhurt throughout the winter, a Spring drought would allow them to attack and kill off the trees right away, she said.

In Southwest Colorado, there is a range of insects which target and kill trees, including aspen and spruce, she said.

These dead trees create a dry environment in which fire spreads easily, she said.

Regionally, Southwest Colorado is at 75 percent of its average snowpack for this time of year, she said, though it is not representative of the whole state.

“You always need to put things into perspective,” she said.

In other areas of the state, such as farther north near Steamboat Springs, Colorado is at 110 percent of average snowpack, she said.

These large discrepancies in moisture make it hard to know for certain if the state as a whole will be at risk

of a drought, she said.

Weather patterns are consistently moving farther north than Durango, she said.

While rivers around the state are at normal levels, rivers in the region are below average levels, she said.

La Plata county is only zero to three degrees off of its normal temperatures for this time of year, she said.

Snowpack at high elevations affect the moisture levels at lower altitudes, and when the weather is as warm as it is this time of year it can lead to early meltoff, she said.

A lack of snowpack in the winter can lead to frozen soil in the spring, Heidi Steltzer, a professor of biology at FLC, said in an email.

When there is not enough snowpack to insulate the soil through the winter, it has no protection from the freezing temperatures, Steltzer said.

However, if the winter brings a particularly high amount of snowpack at high elevations the soils are able to remain thawed, she said.

The soil temperatures can affect the pollination of plants later in the spring, she said.

Early snow melt can have a large range of impacts on the ecosystem, such as causing plants to green earlier than intended, she said.

Early greening and flowering in subalpine ecosystems can lead to issues with pollination of plants, she said.

When insects are still nesting and the plants are beginning to green, the insects that normally pollinate the plants miss their opportunity which causes an imbalance in the ecosystem, she said.

Korb and her students have been conducting research on the effects of early greening and warming temperatures, which provide an insight into the implications of climate change, she said.

These weather patterns are indicative of a specific type of drought known as a global change drought, she said.

A global change drought is different from a normal drought in that the temperatures are warmer in addition to the dryness, she said.

While a global change drought is no drier than a standard drought , the warmer temperatures associated with it create some complications, she said.

This combination of heat and lack of water stresses animals more than a non-global change drought, she said.

Global change droughts also set the ecosystem up for a higher risk of wildfires, she said.

The issue comes when the large fuel supplies for fires, such as large trees and fallen logs, are able to dry out, she said.

These large fuel supplies are known as 1,000 hour fuels when they are dried-out, indicating a high risk fire year,

she said.

The 2002 Missionary Ridge Fire is a great example of this, she said.

The standing trees that qualified as 1,000 hour fuels had an extremely low moisture content, enabling the fire to thrive, she said.

During the Missionary Ridge Fire, the state was considered to be in a global change type of drought, she said.

For comparison, the moisture content of the 1,000 hour fuel sources in the Missionary Ridge Fire was lower than the moisture in cut and lumber, she said.

This global change drought led to observable sudden aspen decline, which added to the fire’s fuel supply, she said.

“We’re seeing this type of pattern of global change type drought more frequently,” she said.

If this pattern of weather continues, it could mean that Southwest Colorado is going to enter another global change type drought this summer, she said.

If the snowpack in the winter does not allow for these large trees to become rich with moisture, then they will lack the necessary defense against fire and insects come summer, she said.

Subalpine snowpack typically lasts until about mid-June, which is right when the monsoonal rain season begins in Colorado, she said.

If the snowpack melts too early, this allows time for the large fuel supplies to dry out, making them more susceptible to fire, she said.

“If the snowpack melts out in early April or late March, and then we don’t get monsoonal rain, it has all those months to dry out, and really then create the perfect storm for a fire,” she said.

Early snowmelt also affects agriculture at lower elevations.

If the subalpine snowpack melts too early, farmers will not get the water required for irrigation of their crops, she said.

Much of the future for the climate of Southwest Colorado is reliant on the spring and the precipitation it receives during that time, she said.

The majority of the precipitation that Colorado gets as a state comes from snow in the spring, she said.

It is also important to contextualize the dry weather in comparison to the rest of the state, she said.

Areas north of Durango have been experiencing regular precipitation throughout the winter, she said.

“It’s not as bad as we all think,” she said. “We really need to look at the long term trends.”

Since Colorado received more than average precipitation, the soil still has moisture in it, she said.

Until spring comes and delivers its precipitation, it cannot be known if this will be a dry summer, she said.

12

Entertainment

Horoscopes Pisces~ February 19- March 20 Things are getting hectic for you, and this is unfortunately not going to let up for awhile. Keep your chin up and you’ll pull through.

Aries~ March 21- April 19 You’re headed for a patch of good luck soon—make the most of it! Try new things, meet new people and enjoy it while it lasts, because it won’t be forever.

Taurus~ April 20- May 20 For some reason the people closest to you are driving you crazy. Spouses, significant others, roommates, children, and even friends have been absolutely maddening. Just remember that they care about you, and be careful what you say.

Capricorn~ December 22- January 19 Fortunately your classes are going well, and should continue to improve for several weeks. Use this time to get some champion work done just in case it doesn’t last.

Aquarius~ January 20- February 18 A friend will entrust you with something deep and personal soon, and you’ll have difficulty helping them out of a tight spot. Trust in your friendship and you’ll be fine.

Artist: Quilt

Virgo~ August 23- September 22 Things are calming down for you, and you may feel lonely or rejected. This is temporary, and people still love you, they just need to shift focus for a few weeks. It will pass.

Libra~ September 23- October 22 Your luck will improve soon, so enjoy the happiness this will bring. Stay away from experiences that you aren’t very comfortable with, though, as these spell trouble.

Gemini~ May 21- June 21 Things are picking up for you, but this isn’t a permanency. You’re headed for a rough patch a few weeks down the road, so be prepared.

Scorpio~ October 23- November 21 Restlessness plagues you lately, and the lack of snow is probably driving you up the wall. You want to get outside and move, and stagnancy feels like torture.

Cancer~ June 22- July 22 Fortunately, your love life is going to change for the better soon. You and your special someone will connect on a whole new level, bringing the relationship to even greater strength.

Sagittarius~ November 22- December 21 You are headed for a crossroads in your life, and though you might not know it at the time, the choice you make will affect your life for many years to come.

Music Review Album: Held

In Splendor

Stylistically speaking, it can be argued that all modern rock music is simply reinterpreting, reimagining, or unabashedly ripping off the styles, artists, songs, and albums that have come before them. Nothing is new. Little is original. It’s all “been done”. Take the aforementioned with equal parts hyperbole, cynicism, and most importantly, truth. Within the last 10 to 12 years numerous bands have taken a shot at modern psychedelia, producing a bevy of albums amounting to watered down, uninspired, and boring stabs at homage. That being said, many others have managed to pull it off (see: Spaceman 3, Galaxie 500, and The Black Angels to name a mere few). Quilt, a trio from New York by way of Boston, has managed to make a record that blends a variety of styles quite nicely into one cohesive offering for the fantastic Mexican Summer record label. Held In Splendor was recorded over a month’s time by Jarvis Taveniere, who plays with lo-fi psych folk contemporaries, Woods. His influence and touch on the recording is well fitting. The track ”Mary Mountain” nods to the psych infused Baroquepop of forbearers The Zombies while “Tired & Buttered” could be a stripped-down outtake from Thee Oh Sees or fellow San Franciscans White Fence. With Anna Fox Rochinski sharing vocal duty on at least half the album, it’s easy to draw comparisons to Pacific Northwest retro-rockers Rose Windows as well. Should the name-dropped artists listed above not be enough to make fans of this sort salivate, there are elements of Deerhunter, Psychic Ills and The Holydrug Couple peppered throughout the record to boot. Having followed this band’s trajectory since releasing its self-titled debut back in 2011, this is, derivations considered, their best offering to date and gets better with each subsequent listen.

13

Leo~ July 23- August 22 You’re off to a busy start this semester, and things are going to keep you on your toes. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, just make sure to keep the important things in your crosshairs.

- Mexican Summer Records

Review by Bryant Liggett

Indy on the Street If there was a movie on your life, who would play you?

Garrett Lundberg Salida, CO 19 Sophomore

Gage Norris Denver, CO 18 Freshman

Heath Ledger

Christopher Walken Sara McMahon Arvada, CO 19 Sophomore

Ryan Standish Alice Springs, Australia 20 Sophomore

Zooey Deschanel

Andy Samberg Bekka Crawford Belfast, Northern Ireland 21 Junior

Kenzie Hill Glenwood Springs, CO 20 Sophomore

Beyoncé

Jennifer Lawrence Photos by Jonathan Helvoigt

Valentine’s Day Crossword ACROSS

1. Strong feelings of affection 3. A colorful plant often given in bouquets 4. A type of candy derived from the cacao bean 7. One is the loneliest number...

DOWN

2. The holiday falling on February 14th 5. A symbol of love, contained within most living things 6. A sugary food often given as a gift on Valentine’s day

ARE YOU PREPARED? Valentine's Day - Friday 2/14/14

561 Main Ave Durango, CO 970-259-1408 CO.Durango00001@rmcf.com

Open Everyday 10am–9pm Pre-order today for easy pick-up or shipping.