The Independent Issue 62

Fort Lewis College News Magazine Issue 62

www.theindyonline.com

FREE November 2014

The Independent FLC

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The Independent FLC

Editors & Staff BUSINESS

Emma Vaughn Ariel Canterbury COPY EDITING

Ray Benton

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Trevor Ogborn

BUSINESS DIRECTOR

Aimee Gardere

CHIEF COPY EDITOR

Jaimee Souder

DESIGN Madison Bush Camden Smith PHOTOGRAPHY

Drew Lovell Charine Gonzales REPORTING

PRINT EDITOR

Deanna Atkins

ONLINE EDITOR

Carter Solomon

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

Remi Majeski

Catherine Wheeler Dan Riley Sean Summers Lauren Hammond Whitney Kidd Luke Perkins BROADCAST

Nic Hassinger Haylee Knippel Meryl Ramsey

LEAD PRINT DESIGN & PHOTO

Hanna Maddera

ONLINE DESIGN EDITOR

Julia Volzke

PR & ADVERTISING COORDINATOR

Lio Diaz

VIDEO PRODUCTION EDITOR

Anthony Martin

PR & ADVERTISING COORDINATOR

Emilie von Fay

COVER PHOTO

by Drew Lovell

From the Editor’s Desk

CONTENTS Campus News:

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Faculty Composition Hits Fort Lewis College Story by Catherine Wheeler

Community News:

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Veteran’s Club Seeks Involvement Story by Whitney Kidd

COVER STORY:

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Get Ready for Winter 2014 Story by Dan Riley

Sports:

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What Free Ride? Misconception About FLC’s Athletic Scholarship Story by Luke Perkins

Renovations:

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Fort Lewis Theatre Department, Projects and Productions Story by Lauren Hammond

Staff Columnist:

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FLC’s Hands-On: Masturbation and Its Sticky Situation Opinion by Remi Majeski

Entertainment: Indy on the Street, Horoscopes and Poll Results!

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In my last semester here at Fort Lewis College, I am more stressed than I’ve ever been. Holding down two jobs now while attempting to complete my senior sem alongside research paper after research paper is pushing me to my limits. I generally don’t know what I’m doing more than 24 hours in advance and I’ve completely given up trying to schedule things out because I know plans will change. I can’t begin to tell you how many appointments I’ve already missed and we’ve only passed midterms.

One thing contributing to this pile of madness is my involvement at The Independent, and I love how insane it is.

While my time at The Independent has been brief, it has not by any means been wasted.

This last year, I’ve been lucky enough to hold two positions with the organization, including my current position as Social Media Coordinator. I consider myself lucky because of what I’ve gained from these roles; as a print reporter, not only was I able to enhance my news writing skills, which I’ve lacked in the past, but I was able to truly experience the chaos that goes into creating the material that we create and work with it. As Social Media Coordinator, I’ve been able to truly grasp how important it is to create engaging content that is vital to our name and image. I’ve experienced minor breakdowns along the way with both of my jobs, but having my name and material out there has been well worth it.

In my two semesters working with this great organization, I’ve made some great connections and some amazing friends that have been so supportive of me along the way and I of them.

The Independent has helped me figure out what I enjoy doing most in life and I can’t wait to keep this momentum going forward with whatever I choose to do after graduation.

Remi Majeski

CAMPUS NEWS

Faculty Composition Hits Fort Lewis College

Story by Catherine Wheeler

Photo by Carter Solomon

Design by Madison Bush

aculty composition has become a leading issue among the Fort Lewis College Board of Trustees, administration, faculty and students. Justin McBrayer, an associate professor of philosophy, released a report on Oct. 1 that dealt with the issue.

The report focuses on the number of professors on campus and the composition of tenured and tenure-track or non-tenured faculty members, he said.

As the faculty representative on the Board of Trustees at FLC, McBrayer continues to bring faculty concerns to the forefront throughout his time on the board, McBrayer said.

“The number one concern on faculty minds is whether we have enough teachers to do our job,” he said.

There are several different types of teaching faculty members, each with individual responsibilities.

The main categories of faculty at FLC are tenured faculty, tenure-track faculty

and term faculty, which includes positions like lecturers, visiting faculty and adjunct faculty, according to the FLC faculty handbook.

“Tenure basically means that an employee has due process, and what that means is that an employer must have cause to terminate your employment,” McBrayer said.

Tenure also includes a procedure through which termination can occur, he said.

“The institution has a responsibility to the professor and the professor has a responsibility to the institution,” Barbara Morris, the provost and vice president of Academic Affairs at FLC, said.

Tenured faculty have the responsibility of doing research, providing service to the institution and advising students, Morris said.

Tenure-track faculty are hired by the institution with the expectation that they will receive tenure after a six-year period

with evaluations and reviews throughout that time, McBrayer said.

At the end of the six-year period, an employee is either terminated or given a tenure contract, he said.

The functions of non-tenured and nontenure-track faculty are specifically outlined in the faculty handbook within the umbrella category of faculty.

These faculty are divided into subcategories, each with its own definition and outline of responsibilities.

The faculty do not all have the same research and service requirements and do not have to advise students, which can potentially hurt the college, McBrayer said.

Some non-tenured faculty fulfill some or all of those responsibilities, Morris said.

When non-tenured and non-tenuretrack faculty perform the same duties as the tenured and tenure-track faculty, they should be tenured and paid the same, McBrayer said.

The primary cause for this issue is fi-

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FLC College Board meets to discsss faculty retention.

“The number one concern on faculty minds is whether we have enough teachers to do our job.”

-Justin McBrayer “On the administration’s behalf, they are faced with the difficult decisions of how to allocate money,” he said.

“Financially, there is a state reduction in contribution to higher education,” John Wells, chairman of the Board of Trustees,

said.

There is only a certain amount of resources, and FLC has to budget accordingly, Wells said.

This is an issue where faculty and student interests align, McBrayer said.

“The reason departments care about getting more teachers is because they ultimately care about their students, and they care about the curriculum that they teach,” he said.

There are more opportunities that come with large numbers of tenured faculty, especially when it comes to research and internship opportunities, Scott Greenler, the president of The Associated Students of Fort Lewis College, said.

The ASFLC passed a resolution in support of McBrayer’s report in order to support students’ interest throughout this issue, he said.

The Board of Trustees met on Friday, Oct. 17, and discussed this issue.

Matthew Wassam, a member of the Board of Trustees, suggested a partnership in order to solve this issue.

“We have challenges, but we have to

face them together,” Dene Kay Thomas, president of FLC, said.

The board is seeking to work together to find a solution.

“After the board meeting, I am encouraged to see the willingness and support from all parties to take a critical look at the demand for more tenured faculty as well as how and where we allocate our budget,” Greenler said.

No definitive decision was made regarding this issue.

“We as the board have the ability to digest it and make recommendations in December at the next board meeting,” he said.

The ultimate goal is to continue to support the mission of the school in order for all parties to succeed, Wells said.

“The academic mission of the school, at the end of the day, is the reason the school is here,” Greenler said.

“We want the lowest student-teacher ratio, and we want a financially viable institution,” Wassam said.

FLC continues wanting to produce the best educated and most prepared students, Wells said.

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nancial resources, he said.

“Hiring fewer teachers and hiring untenured teachers are both ways of saving money,” he said.

Although the school allocated more money for faculty salaries, it did not result in more faculty but rather higher salaries to be on track with the national average, he said.

COMMUNITY NEWS Flags flow in the wind outside of Reed Library.

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Story by Whitney Kidd

Photos by Drew Lovell

s veterans are being drawn in by Fort Lewis College, the Veterans Club on campus is actively seeking members.

“It’s a sizable population,” Andrew Burns, director of admissions, said. “As more and more soldiers are coming back from the Middle East, we’re seeing an increase in interest and number of applications for veterans, and that’s something we certainly encourage.”

Fort Lewis College works closely with its student veterans and uses a variety of tactics to reach out to veterans, Burns said.

There are several military bases in Colorado and specifically in the Colorado Springs area, he said. FLC Admissions is working with local schools, community colleges and any of the bases in Colorado Springs to reach out to veterans and let them know about the programs the school offers.

Fort Lewis College participates in two programs: the Yellow Ribbon Program and the Voluntary Education Program, he said. Both provide help with tuition for veterans and can be used as a recruitment incentive.

The club has been strong in the past but is losing participants, George Usinowicz, student veteran and Veterans Club member, said.

“As a veteran, you don’t want to be stigmatized,” Usinowicz said.

“My experience when I came back to this country after conflict was that it took 20 plus years until I wanted to talk about it or mention it to anybody.”

Another reason involvement may be low is because the club does not have access to any databases that may contain a list of veterans on campus, he said.

“We have dinners every semester where we get together as a club downtown and speak with vets or dependents

of vets and learn their stories,” he said.

The Veterans Club’s primary mission is to achieve trust at a casual setting such as gathering off campus, which helps a lot, Usinowicz said.

Trust is important, as it’s hard to get across to some of the student vets in the area, he said.

Along with gaining trust and creating

pointed this semester, he said.

“Here’s this powerful woman, strong as can be, tough as nails,” he said. “She’s got this magnetic, huge smile that when she’s wanting to get something done, she flashes it, and it wins you over.”

Iron served for almost eight years, starting in 1998, when they assigned Italy as her first duty station, Iron said.

She entered the military because of her family’s military involvement in the past, she said.

“My uncles were veterans, and one of them died in Vietnam,” she said. “I became obsessed with Vietnam things from a young age and then decided to join.”

Students who are connected with military personnel should feel that they can participate on Veterans Day along with the vets, Iron said.

“There are a lot of students here who don’t even know they The US and CO flag flow in the Fall wind. have military in their family until they think about it, and it helps them reflect on the people in their lives,” she said.

Iron wants the veterans at Fort Lewis College to feel recognized, she said.

“I don’t know what the vet students here think, and although I know of them, they appreciate the recognition but won’t necessarily come out and be noticed,” Iron said.

“They’ve probably seen a comfortable environment for the stu- things that they don’t want to remember,” dent vets, the club is also trying to spread she said. “So, for them, here, it’s a fresh awareness of resources to veterans and start.” dependents of veterans, he said.

Some habits, such as schedules and “My perspective is much different,” orders, may be hard to lose, she said.

Usinowicz said. “I’m much older, and “I guess when you’ve been in the milI’ve got more experience having gone itary, you’re used to a certain way that through this already.” things run, and when it doesn’t run that The club is attempting to reach the way, it gets kind of confusing and a little younger student vets and dependents of annoying at times,” Iron said. vets on campus with the help of Lynn Iron, the club’s president who was ap-

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Design by Camden Smith

get ready for winter 2014 COVER STORY

Inside The Outdoor Exchange where they have many used outdoor winter equipment.

Story by Dan Riley

A

Photos by Drew Lovell

s the last of the leaves fall from the trees and the days start to become colder, the time has come once again to get ready for winter in Durango.

Preparedness is key to making the best of the upcoming snow and cold weather.

There are several resources in town and on campus that can help students and the community to make sure their winter is as comfortable, safe and enjoyable as possible.

Recreation

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Graphic by Hanna Maddera

Outdoor Pursuits, the outdoor program at FLC, has a large variety of winter equipment available for student rental.

This equipment includes alpine touring skis, splitboards, telemark skis, trekking poles and avalanche safety equipment, Brett Davis, the director of OP, said.

“For just $50, students can have access to thousands of dollars worth of winter equipment during the school year with no extra charges as long as they return their rented gear on time,” Davis said.

Design by Hanna Maddera

OP allows students to take out equipment for either one night or throughout the duration of a weekend, he said.

“It’s a great resource for students that want to experience the outdoors without having to pay for all of the expensive equipment,” Davis said.

Some of the most sought after rental items in the winter are avalanche beacons, probes and shovels, he said.

“There’s a lot of great, accessible backcountry skiing and snowboarding that’s

$80

prices of local ski resorts

$79

$70 $60

$58

Adult Full Day Lift Ticket

$63

Adult Half Day Lift Ticket $49

$48

$50

College Day (with FLC I.D.)

$41

$40

Tubing per Hour/Tube

$41

Hike/Board Pass

$30 $20 $10

$10

$12 $5

DURANGO MOUNTAIN RESORT

WOLF CREEK

SILVERTON MOUNTAIN

SKI HESPERUS

CHAPMAN HILL

Outside of Durango Car Care sits a snowplow waiting for the snow to hit. there,” Riggins said.

In addition to having the essential equipment, it is also very helpful for riders to educate themselves as much as possible about avalanches through means such as Avalanche 1 courses, which are taught locally through several companies and the college as well, he said.

Durango also has no shortage of traditional lift-accessed ski areas, as many are not far from town. These areas include Durango Mountain Resort, Wolf Creek, Silverton Mountain, Ski Hesperus and Chapman Hill.

Winterizing Your Home Winterizing a home can help to keep it warm and efficient throughout the winter, Dawn Wright, a broker at Durango Property Management, said.

“There are a lot of simple things that people can do that make a world of difference,” Wright said.

Turning down the water heater and the heat and making sure all windows are closed properly are some ways to winterize a living area, she said.

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really close to Durango,” Davis said. “This equipment costs a lot of money when it’s not rented, so helping students have access to it essentially helps them to experience everything that this area has to offer in the backcountry.”

“Colorado is known for having some of the most unstable snowpack in the country, which makes it really necessary for backcountry riders to use the proper equipment,” Ryan Riggins, a guide for San Juan Mountain Guides, said.

“You always have to have that beacon, probe and shovel if you’re going to be out

SPORTS

Skyhawks scrimmage the day of homecoming game.

F

Story by Luke Perkins

Photos by Charine Gonzales, Hana Mohsin, and Remi Majeski

ort Lewis College provides multiple scholarships, but there seems to be a common misconception amongst students where athletic scholarships are concerned.

Fort Lewis College gives out $196,270 annually in athletics scholarships, Sandy Jameson, the scholarship manager for the Fort Lewis College Foundation, said.

This seems like a sizeable amount, but according to the athletic department’s website. 443 athletes are involved in varsity sports at FLC. If the school distributed the full allotment of athletic scholarships evenly between all 433 varsity athletes, each individual would receive approximately $453.

Standard tuition for a full-time student is estimated at $5,544 at FLC, according to the 2014-2015 Undergraduate Tuition & Fees PDF available on the FLC website.

The reality is that not every student athlete is offered a scholarship.

“It’s a myth to feel that every student athlete is on scholarship because they’re not, and they’re just doing it because of the love and passion they have for their sport,” Lynne Andrew, the associate athletic director at FLC, said.

“We try to get about 50 to 60 percent

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of our kids something,” Gary Hunter, the athletic director at FLC, said.

“That might be as little as $500 it might be as much as $10,000,” Hunter said.

“We’d love to be able to do things like that, but just realistically that’s not the way it is,” Oige Kennedy, the head coach of the FLC men’s soccer team, said.

For students who spend four years on his team, he strives to be able to offer them some amount of scholarship dollars, Kennedy said.

While most of the students who play for FLC do not have a substantial amount if any amount of their costs covered, some are lucky and talented enough to be offered a larger scholarship, Hunter said.

Jordan Ashby, a former football player and FLC alumnus received a larger scholarship, which covered tuition and fees, leaving him to cover the cost of books, room, board and the other costs of living in Durango, Ashby said.

According to the FLC website, an estimated direct cost of an out-of-state student is over $28,000 for the upcoming 2014-2015 academic year whereas an in-state students’ estimated direct cost is over $17,000.

“I still have student loans just like any-

Design by Camden Smith

body else,” Ashby said.

To earn a scholarship, each student athlete is required to maintain a 2.0 GPA and enroll in a minimum of 12 credits per semester, Hunter said. This is also required to be eligible for the National Collegiate Athletic Association sports.

Some teams strive for as high as a 3.0 GPA, like Fort Lewis College’s soccer team, Kennedy said.

In the 2013-2014 academic year, the students in the athletic programs altoFLC’s Whalen Gymnasium.

A student athlete with a soccer ball.

dard as everyone else,” he said.

Division I schools can offer students a full-ride scholarship, but at Division II schools like Fort Lewis College where full rides are not regularly given, student academic success is primary to maintaining their athletic scholarship, Andrew said.

This emphasis on academic excellence ties into the recruiting process, as each team is only given so much money for scholarships, Kennedy said. It is important that coaches get the most out of that money as possible.

To do so, the athletic department works closely with admissions, which gives out academic based scholarships, to assess how much help a player truly needs financially from the team, he said.

Teams largely recruit players in Colorado or schools where there is a reciprocal tuition agreement, such as New Mexico, to lower total tuition costs, which are $5,544 for in-state tuition as opposed to $16,072 for out-of-state tuition, Hunter said This allows the athletic department to further stretch the scholarship dollar while trying to remain competitive in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference,

Student athlete scholarships require students to take 12 credits and maintain a 2.0 GPA.

Kennedy said.

In addition to all of the academic and athletic requirements for being a student athlete, each student is required to have insurance coverage for any injuries he or she might sustain while playing, Ashby said.

Fort Lewis College also carries a secondary insurance policy to cover anything the student’s primary coverage does not, Andrew said.

Student athletes are also required to maintain a code of off-the-field conduct dictated by the coach of each team, Hunter said. Violating this requirement can lead to suspension and loss of scholarship.

“To maintain an academic scholarship, you obviously have to go to school and get the grades to maintain it,” Kennedy said. “Our guys are getting academic scholarships and maintaining soccer scholarships.”

It is a lifestyle that both athletes and non-athletes have to maintain, he said.

Fort Lewis College’s Ray Dennison Memorian Field hosts sports everts.

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gether had a cumulative 2.99 GPA, well above the student body as a whole, Hunter said.

In addition to academic requirements, each coach is allowed to require up to 20 hours a week in practice or other organized team activities, OTAs, while in season, which starts before school is in session, he said.

It is mandated that students are required to have one day per week away from team activities in addition to games, Andrew said.

These requirements drop down to eight hours a week and two days off during the off-seasons for the different sports, she said. Many students take the additional time they have available to them during the off-season to increase their class load.

“It always astounds me, their time commitment that they give to it, Kennedy said. “In any sport, you have to respect the level of commitment it takes.”

In addition to class, studies, OTAs, games and individual conditioning, many athletes either have work-study or jobs in the community to help cover the cost of living, Ashby said.

“You might have had a little leniency, but you were still held to the same stan-

RENOVATIONS

Fort Lewis Theatre Department, Projects and Productions.

Story by Lauren Hammond Photos by Charine Gonzales Design by Madison Bush

S

ince the beginning of the school year, Fort Lewis College’s theatre department has been working around renovations that will make the theatre building in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Although the work has not been completed yet, the department aims to get caught up and start rolling with a full year of shows.

Construction Projects - Theatre Building Basic ADA standards require the theater building to have a new sprinkler system, new ventilation system and reinforcements on the ceiling beams for stabilization.

“Hopefully, with our new ventilation system, our patrons will be much more comfortable,” Dennis Elkins, an artistic director and chair of the FLC theatre department, said.

In the past, the theater had to open doors at intermission for ventilation simply because the room was too hot and stuffy, Elkins said.

Not only did the department have to worry about ventilation but also weather conditions.

“When the building was built, there were no real codes for snow weight, and every time it snows, the crew from physical plant is over here shoveling snow off of our roof because we don’t want it to collapse,” he said.

The construction in the theatre building was supposed to have been completed by Sept.

1, but construction delays are always expected, Elkins said.

“The construction isn’t affecting class time, but it is affecting the space we have,” Ginny Davis, a professor of theatre at FLC, said.

“We planned ahead for the construction,” she said.

The theatre department arranged for its

Theatre improvements and construction.

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Theatre construction. first performance to be in town, instead of the theatre building, Elkins said.

The first play, “All My Sons,” took stage at the Durango Arts Center on Oct. 17.

“We’ve tried to be extremely patient, but we’re sort of running out of time at the moment,” Elkins said. “We’ve got projects that have to get completed now and are in negotiations to try and get as much of the space back by next week, the week of the 20th, if possible.”

“There is no other space on campus that we can do our work in,” he said. “There is no other shop that we can use to build stuff except this one, and we’re stuck.”

FLC Theatre’s Production Schedule The theatre department will not be taking its annual trip to New York for spring break this year. Instead, they will pay to bring an individual from New York to FLC who will lead a workshop as a guest artist in the spring, Elkins said.

The guest artist, Michael Burke, is a good friend and student of the artist Tim Miller, who came to visit the theater department at FLC last year, he said.

“So, even though we aren’t going to the city, we’re actually bringing New York here,” he said.

“It will just be a short weekend thing this year,” Elkins said. “That is, it will not culminate into a full blown theatre event like last year’s ‘GUTS.’” On Nov. 15, FLC theatre will put on “Seed”, a Rulan Tangen production. Tangen is an artistic director from “Dancing Earth” out of Sante Fe, New Mexico. “Seed” is a show dedicated to food sources, food growth and sustainability.

“It’s a comment on fast foods and GMOs that have been detrimental to indigenous peoples,” Elkins said.

Other productions the college can anticipate are Russian playwright Anton Chekhov’s three small, one-act plays.

“They’re all about love and marriage, and he just slam dunks it,” Elkins said.

The one-act plays will take the stage for the first time at Fort Lewis College in February.

“We’re also going to take one of his short stories and create a new one-act with maybe a

contemporary twist with that short story,” Elkins said.

The big show in April is a musical called, “The Producers,” which is based on Mel Brooks’ movie. The storyline follows a pair of theatrical producers who conspire to get rich by over-magnifying the interest of a Broadway flop.

Sun and Room Although the usual New York trip will not take place this academic school year, Davis will be taking a single show to New York City called “Sun and Room,” which is written by Danny Mitarotondo.

Theater students Matthew Socci, Zoe Pike and Leah Brewer will travel to New York along with a couple of technicians, Davis said.

“We are going to perform at the Paradise Factory in New York for three weeks,” she said.

Davis directed and debuted this play last November, she said.

It was also performed at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival in Los Angeles, Davis said.

“The play is very true to real life,” Matthew Socci, a theater major at FLC, said.

“Sun and Room” is set in a single evening with three characters, who are Socci, Pike and Brewer who play themselves. The Sun and the Room are also key elements that help symbolize what the characters experience.

“In a single night, you have your ups, you have your dramatic moments, you have your tragic moments, but you also have your lighthearted comedic moments,” Socci said. “That’s really what the play is about.”

The play is scheduled for five previews before opening night with a guaranteed two-week run, he said. If it looks like the show is selling out at least half of the house, the production will be extended for one more week.

“It’s an honor and a privilege for our school to send something to New York and be so proud of it,” he said. “It’s really wonderful, and we’re all just so proud.”

STAFF COLUMIST

FLC’s Hands-On: Masturbation and Its Sticky Situation Staff Editorial by Remi Majeski

Photo by Charine Gonzales

Design by Hanna Maddera

uch like eating and drinking, people masturbate. It’s a fact of life that no one can ignore. We do it in the day, at night, in private, with each other, and it’s nothing to be embarrassed about. At this day in age and at this point in our lives, we should pretty much be over the initial shame one might feel about it. By now we should all be well aware that masturbation won’t make hair grow on our palms, and we won’t be condemned in whatever afterlife we may or may not believe in.

Masturbation, though, still needs to be discussed. No, not necessarily the act in and of itself but more the circumstances surrounding masturbation as well as what results can come from it.

Masturbation is a normal habit. This fact has been proven over and over and will not change. There have been studies surrounding masturbation with myriad results ranging from depression relief and higher self-esteem to lowering blood-pressure to even functioning as a cardiovascular workout, particularly for those who have cardiovascular issues.

There are also obvious and immediate benefits of “playing with yourself ”: you don’t have to worry about sexually transmitted diseases or an unwanted pregnancy. Remember though, when it comes to something like mutual masturbation, or playing with yourself and a partner, there are still risks of pregnancy and sexually-transmitted diseases.

With all the aforementioned benefits, what seems to be the problem with masturbation?

Aside from many cultural taboos that still exist today surrounding masturbation, the biggest

concern about masturbation for college students is developing a masturbation routine in varied living situations.

The majority of college students live in some sort of roommate situation, whether it’s with a complete stranger their first year, their best friend they’ve known for some time, or even a spouse or other family members. Living situations can sometimes make masturbation difficult. If you’re lucky, your living situation won’t hinder your masturbation routine at all.

There are some fairly easy ways to work around your living situation that will allow you to release that sexual tension without potentially disturbing your roommate.

Get to know each other’s schedules. This can be an effective way of knowing when your room or your apartment will be empty and for how long. This is also one of the easiest solutions if you’re finding it difficult to know when you can and cannot masturbate. If this becomes an issue and you both find yourselves in-residence with each other more often than you’d like, start the communication process.

The key to a good masturbation routine while living with a roommate is communication, especially if you know you will disturb each other.

I was lucky once to have a roommate that felt open enough to text me and ask if she could have the apartment for the afternoon and possibly into the evening. She was having a lady friend over and did not want to be disturbed, nor did she want me to feel uncomfortable. God bless her. I was happy to oblige and hung out at a friend’s place for a few hours.

Communication like this is just one form

of conveying to your roommate that you need some privacy. If you feel uncomfortable about saying outright that you want the shared space for masturbation or sex, then it’s very easy to say to a roommate, “Hey, can I have the place to myself for a little bit? I need some privacy.”

These two short sentences don’t even hint at why you want to be alone, so you should feel no embarrassment. Leave it up to your roommate to fill in the gaps as to why you need it.

That’s their problem, not yours.

Another effective form of communication could be some sort of sign, a “sex signal,” if you must. It could be something as simple as a word you text your roommate or a sock on the door. Making “sex signals” can even be an opportunity to get creative with your roommate. Who knows? You may even bond a bit over how silly the ideas you two form can get.

Remember, “sex signals” can double for masturbation or sex. Unless you make it obvious, your roommate will never know what you’re using it for.

Masturbation, as fun and as healthy as it may be, ultimately boils down to common courtesy when living with someone else. Figure out how you can take care of business in a way that won’t disturb the one you share your space with. Whether you masturbate during shower time, that rare few minutes you’re alone, during your roommate’s lunch break or even with your roommate, it’s up to you to make sure that your living situation is not disturbed. Of the many rules and regulations you and your roommate lay down, those concerning masturbation and sex should not be avoided or ignored.

Sex toys offered at the Fallen Angel.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Indy on the Street What is the best pick-up line you’ve heard?

Alex Newmyer Age: 20 Hometown: Littleton, CO Answer: I noticed you noticing me, so I wanted to put you on notice that I noticed you too.

LEO (July 23 – August 22): Shape up! No more pressing snooze 6 times in the morning. Wake up early enough to enjoy a cup of coffee and relax before you start bustling around all day.

VIRGO (August 23 – September 22): You have been very brave recently, so I think that only you could muster enough courage to choreograph a complete flash mob dance routine and perform it with friends on Main St. LIBRA (September 23 – October 22): It is never too late in the semester to become buds with the kid that sits in the desk in the corner of the classroom and keeps to him/herself.

Carrie Sheets Age: 18 Hometown: Pueblo, CO Answer: Is your daddy a baker?

Because you have a nice set of buns.

SCORPIO (October 23 – November 21): There is no harm going on that date you were invited to, even if you think it won’t work out. Maybe it will go great, or maybe you’ll just recieve free food. But either way, free food is somehow more delicious.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 – December 21): Have you noticed that there are a ridiculous amount of hot springs in the area?

Take advantage of these wonderful places and relax in some spring water.

Ami Gabryszewski Age: 18 Hometown: Albuquerque, NM Answer: Going to bed? Mind if I Slytherin?

CAPRICORN (December 22 – January 19): Keep an emergency pint of your favorite ice cream flavor in your freezer. You just never know when you’ll need it if the grocery store has already closed.

Open Daily 970.247.1438

The

c D E F G H I J K L A B

CANCER (June 21 – July 22): Remember that it is definitely okay to have days where you block out everything with headphones. Find a new jam and bop to it on your walk across campus.

Jamie Draper Age: 20 Hometown: Fruta, CO Answer: My pants are really smelly, can I get into yours?

Indy

ARIES (March 21 – April 19): Get crafty tonight! Have you ever heard of arm-knitting? Look it up - you could probably make a scarf large enough to burrow into during these cold nights.

GEMINI (May 21 – June 20): Your recent generosity does not go unnoticed - you have helped someone out recently, and they just don’t know how to go about thanking you.

Dana Mastrangelo Age: 20 Hometown: Boulder, CO Answer: Are you a cigarette, becasue you’ve got a hot butt.

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An unoffical statement written by an Indy staff member.

TAURUS (March 20 – May 20): If you find yourself making a decision between studying for another hour and sleeping, choose to sleep. It will be better if you are well-rested for your test.

Emilio Martinez Age: 21 Hometown: Alamosa, CO Answer: Damn girl, you hot like sauce.

Celebrating 30 years!

HOROSCOPES

960 MAIN AVENUE DURANGO, CO

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AQUARIUS (January 20 – February 18): Alright, Aquarius. The Universe is aligned in your favor this week, so here is a phrase to keep in the back of your head: “TREAT YO SELF.”

PISCES (February 19 – March 20): Cook yourself something that warms your stomach. While eating your home-cooked meal, appreciate your hard work in making a recipe into a reality.

Your Input is In: Poll Results on the Upcoming Midterm Elections Graphics by Julia Volzke If you follow us on Facebook (The Independent FLC) or Twitter (@flcindependent), you saw us post this survey in October:

With your help, we gathered these results:

The

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from The Independent News Magazine

from The Independent News Magazine