The Independent

Fort Lewis College News Magazine

Issue 40

FLC ELIMINATES EGCs FLC TO IMPLEMENT

GRADUATE PROGRAM NEXT FALL

FACTS ON “FIXES” AROUND CAMPUS

NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

CLEAN UP YOUR ACT WE WANT YOUR BLOOD! DO YOU RIDE

THE BUS? PSYCHOLOGY OF

FLC SPORTS

November 2012 FREE

PURGATORY PREPS FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON

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© The Independent 2012

FROM THE E d i t o r ’s D e s k

CONTENTS FLC Eliminates EGCs Story by Carter Solomon

FLC to Implement Graduate Program Next Fall Story by Meagan Prins

Facts on Fixes Around Campus Story by Jandrea Fevold

Native American Heritage Month Story by Megan Ripe

Clean Up Your Act Story by Meagan Prins

We Want Your Blood!

Story by Carter Solomon

Do You Ride the Bus? Transit Paid Through Student Activity Fees

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7 8 10

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Story by Jimi Giles

Psychology of FLC Sports

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Story by Megan Ripe

Indy on the Street, Horoscopes, & Food for Thought

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Column by Kirsten Dunlap

Purgatory Preps for the Upcoming Season

Dear readers of the Indy, As the Holidays approach and the semester comes to an end, many of us, both professors and students, are grateful that we will finally have earned some time off from school, maybe with family, or friends, and get the never-ending task of homework and classes out of the way for a few short weeks.

Many of us tend to sit and complain all semester long about how we are ready for it to be over, how our professors will never understand the workload they have placed upon us, and how we just don’t have enough time to get every demanding task done everyday. But doesn’t it feel so great when you finally finish the semester, and you feel so proud of everything you have accomplished, whether it be graduating or just making it through another term for the year?

As the copy editor here at the Indy, I feel like I am editing a story every five minutes, and that there is no way I can ever get them done on time and feel satisfied, as if the stories never end, and I feel like I need a full-time staff just to edit all these articles we are producing. The Indy is working on so much all the time, seeming somewhat unprecedented in the amount of news we are providing, and the stress can really bog some of us down.

But guess what? We do it all for you, our readers, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Knowing that I can be a part of this amazing publication, regardless of how much precious time it takes away from my life, I genuinely enjoy it. Every time a new issue comes out, it is proof that something has been accomplished by a huge staff that is doing everything we can in order to keep you informed. I am proud of the product we create, every single time, and I hope as our readers you are proud of what we are giving to you.

With that being said, please keep reading, and more importantly continue enjoying our magazine. We hope to be that small part of your day that can release you from all of the homework, appointments, and work, and we hope you enjoy the information we are providing.

Thanks for your support,

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Story by Jandrea Fevold Emily Griffin Chief Copy Editor

Cover photo by Adam Mohsin

Got something to say? We want to hear from you!

We encourage reader participation through our perspectives section. Submit letters, cartoons, or anything else you’d like to see in print to Editor in Chief Kaitlin Martinez at kmmartinez@fortlewis.edu or News Editor Jimi Giles at jegiles@fortlewis.edu.

Note: The Independent reserves the right to edit submissions as necessary or deny publication.

News tip? Contact Jimi Giles at jegiles@fortlewis.edu.

For any other inquiries, contact Kaitlin Martinez at kmmartinez@fortlewis.edu

If you would like to receive the Indy straight to your campus P.O. box, contact Jordan at: jmalexander@fortlewis.edu

FLC Eliminates EGC’s Story by Carter Solomon Photo by Daniel Huppenthal

The majority of previous EGC classes were held in Reed Library

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o graduate at Fort Lewis College, all students were required One hundred and seventy-one ballots were sent out, said Charles to take two Education for Global Citizenship courses.

Riggs, President of the faculty senate. Of the 171 ballots sent out, 145 These classes were counted as general education were returned, he said. credits to the state. At FLC, they were considered upper- divi“We had an 85 percent return rate on the ballots,” Riggs said. sion general education classes, required of all students to fulfill The ballots were due by and votes were counted on Oct 12, the graduation requirements. with the results being 56 percent of the faculty for the eliminaThey were designed in part to be transferable credits, said tion of the EGC courses, whereas 44 percent were in favor of Maureen Brandon, Dean of Natural and Behavioral Sciences. reducing the four credit general education classes to three.

“It was a way to distinguish the Fort Lewis general educaWith this outcome, the EGC courses will be eliminated. tion, as a way to be attractive to We had to get the credit load students,” she said. under 40, and by eliminating the “They were intended to be, and EGC program that brings it down I think they continue to be, interto 39, Brandon said. disciplinary, aimed at the global By doing this, FLC is now in perspectives,” Brandon said. compliance with the state limit on The proposal to eliminate the EGC general education credits. courses was a difficult decision, she said.

Being general education credits, All Colorado schools are required the removal of these courses does to have no more than 40 general not directly affect majors, she said. education credits, but no less than “After the vote was tallied, the 31, according to Colorado state law faculty senate had to make deciconcerning higher education. sions about when to terminate the -Dean Maureen Brandon “That statute gave institutions program,” she said. basically a nine credit range in “Students who are graduatwhich to set up their general education,” she said. ing, either in May 2013 or in summer, August 2013, they will The EGC courses accounted for eight of the general edu- have to have both EGCs in order to meet graduation requirecation credits offered. The number of general credits that FLC ments,” Brandon said. had was 47, Brandon said.

“After that, the requirement is waived for students who are “An issue that we face that other institutions in Colorado don’t still enrolled for fall 2013,” she said. face, is that our general education classes are four credits, whereStudent Cooper Travis had taken an EGC class before this as at other institutions, they are three credits,” she said. decision was made.

The options given to reduce the credits to the state requirements He described that by eliminating these classes, it would were to either drop some other general education credits from four make his life easier. credits to three, or to drop the EGC courses, Brandon said.

“I won’t have to take more classes than I need,” he said.

“It was a very difficult choice,” she said “It puts me back on track for my major, because I would All of the faculty members were given the opportunity to have had to be here for another semester,” Travis said. cast a ballot on this issue, she said.

“

They were intended to be, and I think they continue to be, interdisciplinary, aimed at the global perspectives

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FLC to Implement Graduate Program Next Fall Story by Meagan Prins Photo by Hana Mohsin

Information about the new grad program is located in the Admissions Office near Berndt Hall.

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cademic Affairs raised the question to students and Durango community members: how can Fort Lewis College better its education experience?

The answer received was the prospect of graduate programs being a part of the FLC education.

The implementation of a master’s degree program is a part of FLC’s overall strategic plan, said Richard Fulton, the Graduate Program Director and education professor at FLC. Interest that the college incorporates some selected graduate programs was made across campus, he said.

The key word being “selected.”

This is by no means an initiative to turn the college into a Division 1 research institution, but rather a way to pursue programs that serve a regional need, he said.

Teacher Leadership will be the first graduate program offered at FLC, beginning in the fall 2013 semester.

Education is a great example of a program that will serve a regional and local need, Fulton said.

“There are a number of our graduates who go on to teach,” he said.

There is an incentive to earn a master’s degree, that provides higher pay, because of the salary schedule in school districts, he said.

Many teachers, including ones that graduate from FLC, will go on to get a master’s degree. becauseit is in such an isolated location, FLC, which does not have masters programs, loses a lot of their students to competing colleges

such as Adams State University and online programs, he said.

“When I followed up with area teachers to say that Fort Lewis is looking into providing a master’s program, they were really excited to have something here regionally,” Fulton said.

Teachers need a master’s degree in order to move up the pay scale, and having a local opportunity to get involved in a graduate program is exciting, said Kimi Hanson, an FLC alumn and teacher at Needham Elementary School, who is a prospective student for the program.

Before this program was proposed, the only option for local teachers and students planning to stay in the area was an online education to earn a master’s degree.

“I like to learn with other people, not online,” she said.

The program is also enticing because it takes into account what is going on in the nation with education, especially public education. It connects with the new directions that schools are moving towards with teacher leadership, she said.

There will be more graduate programs to come.

The two other programs most talked about right now are a principal licensing degree and another education master’s degree, focusing on cultural diversity, which will include a linguistically diverse endorsement or an English as a second language endorsement, Fulton said.

The application process for the new graduate programs is still under development, but Academic Affairs is looking to have the applications available for students in February, he said.

For students interested in applying for the program, Career Services is a resource to use because of their current series on graduate programs.

“The series that we do is very general and not specific to any graduate program in particular,” said Tana Versuh, a FLC Career Services coordinator. “We are trying the series for the first time this semester, and we start with an introductory workshop that asks the question: ‘Is grad school right for me?’”

The series explains what is involved in graduate school and all the small details pertaining to graduate school costs.

Students who decide that graduate school is right for them can move on to the second workshop that focuses on specific programs and which areas of study to pursue, she said.

The last workshop, held on Nov. 12, discusses the documents needed for graduate school and gives students an opportunity to have their application essays, letters of recommendation, and resumes critiqued and discussed, Versuh said.

Undergraduates may not have graduate school on the brain early in their careers, but there are some things that can be done early to make a student a better applicant in the future, Fulton said.

“You don’t succeed in a job without knowing how to be a leader in the workplace,” he said. “You succeed in an environment by making the people around you better.”

As an undergraduate, it is important to work well in groups and learn to be a leader, to cooperate and collaborate with others, and to always keep in mind what can be changed and what can be made better, Fulton said.

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Facts on “Fixes” Around Campus Story by Jandrea Fevold Photos by Hana Mohsin

Several areas on campus at the fort have been cordoned off for repairs.

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ome buildings on the Fort Lewis College campus have areas that are sectioned off and not being utilized, and many may wonder why this is.

Unless you are a faculty member, a resident assistant, or an employee who works on campus, you may not know how things get fixed, or why certain areas of campus are left unattended at FLC. Stories have spread iabout asbestos being behind the closed doors in the north end of Berndt Hall.

“When I hear asbestos I think of death or lung disease,” said Harrison Brown, a FLC senior.

Asbestos on campus could cause some concern, he said.

Asbestos is ctually everywhere in the buildings, said Wayne Kionass, FLC Physical Plant director.

However, it is not a threat unless broken up into particles, becoming airborne, Kionass said.

There is asbestos in the floor tiling, but that is not a danger, he said.

The north end of Berndt Hall is not unoccupied due to danger, but because that end of the building has not been assigned to anyone, he said.

That part of the building was supposed to be demolished and remodeled, and the plans have been drawn out and a model was built, he said.

The project to replace Berndt has been delayed because FLC is waiting on the state to fund the project, he said.

The closure is a short-term solution, he said.

Students should be aware that the campus is treated for asbestos, said Ted Gross, the Service Center manager at Physical Plant.

Physical Plant provides asbestos mitigation, and the process goes around and makes sure the buildings are safe, he said.

As for other fixes around the classroom and in structures on campus, the Physical Plant prides itself on taking care of issues promptly and thoroughly, Gross said.

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If a faculty member notices an issue or a repair needed, they put in a work order that gets sent directly to the Physical Plant, Gross said.

Physical Plant then accepts the request, sends it to the shop, and gets the repairs taken care of, Gross said.

When it comes to maintenance issues, the staff stays on top of repairs promptly, he said.

The plant takes pride in the great shape of FLC classrooms, he said.

Also keeping the campus running smoothly, inside and outside of the classroom, is the Information and Technology department.

IT handles just under 1,000 computers on campus, said Matt McGlamery, director of the IT Department.

The college is centralized with IT handling all technology on campus, he said.

This technology includes faculty desktop computers, networks, payroll, all labs on campus, the multimedia equipment, and all administrative systems such as WebOpus and Moodle, he said.

People contact IT for various reasons and concerns, most of the time calling into the IT center where a student employee will provide a first -level approach in managing the problem, he said.

If the problem continues, IT will then send a staff member, he said.

The calls and problems vary on the day and compile a range of issues like more disk space, Moodle questions, password problems, or if things are just broken, he said.

The labs there house over 100 different programs that are complex, slowing down the log in time, he said.

Also, the new Windows 7 has slowed down the system but IT is working to optimize that, he said.

“Any problem can be solved with time, money, or people,” he said.

Native American

Heritage Story by Megan Ripe

Month

November is Native American Heritage month, a month that what does that mean to be Native American because what it is set aside to honor the Native peoples and their culture. means now is not what we think it means in terms of historical With a 23 percent population of Native American students, context,” said Altaha. it is important for Fort Lewis College to honor the Native For the first week in November, elder resident Rick Williams, who population and recognize the fact that the college has had more is retired executive director and CEO of the American Indian College Native students receive bachelor’s degrees than any other four- Fund, is coming to the college to share his knowledge, Bilinski said. year institution, FLC senior Noel Altaha said.

This elder comes for a week and meets with November is a wonderful time for students one on one, she said. celebrating harvest, friends, family and “They meet with them in groups, they unity but Thanksgiving could have been a speak in the classrooms, they give a public factor to why that month was chosen as well, presentation, they do something that they said Yvonne Bilinski, director of the Native want to do with the students,” she said.

American Center.

Non-native people should recognize, respect, “Thanksgiving in general tends to be the and learn about the history and culture of romanticized vision of pilgrims and Indians, Native Americans, Bilinski said. this happy coexistence,” said Majel Boxer, “I want them to respect the students who are assistant professor of Native American and here from over 150 different nations,” she said. indigenous studies.

“I want them to respect who they are, that they Part of the month of November is to have a culture that is deeper than anybody acknowledge the celebration of the first else’s, except another native person’s, and it’s Thanksgiving, and also recognize what rooted here in this land that we all call our happened since that time because there wasn’t mother, to respect not only the students and always a peaceful coexistence, he said. culture but the land.”

Native American Heritage month began On Nov. 2, a concert by Carlos Nakai, in the 1980s as American Indian week Yvonne Bilinski is the director of the Native Eaton, and Clipman was held at the enacted by former President Ronald Regan, Community Concert Hall in celebration American Center. and since then, it has expanded into Native of NAHM. American Heritage Month, Boxer said.

Native American’s have a unique “The change was probably due to the political identity by having multiple general change within the US federal citizenships. Not only are they citizens of government to sync up and have the U.S., Durango, or students at FLC, but ‘Native American’ as the preferred term they are citizens of their own respected over American Indian,” Boxer said. tribal nations as well, Boxer said.

Part of the history of the change in Native American History Month aims term is that many Native American to inform non-native people about the people feel the word ‘Indian’ is history to help bridge that gap, she said. problematic, and that the word Those who facilitate this month are ‘American’ denotes that they were only looking at how to inform non-Native recognized as a peoples once America people about the history of Native’s was colonized, he said. living in semi-sovereign, domestic, Each tribe has different ways of dependent nations as they The Native American Center is located celebrating. Performing, storytelling, are defined today, and in the basement of the Student Union going around to schools and teaching also how to share that building. others about different cultures and information so that traditions are just some of the ways in Native peoples are which different tribes honor the month. not a racial minority, but a whole body “It’s kind of reflecting back on who we were as people and of law that applies to the community then contemporary modern issues such as who we are now and as tribal nations, Boxer said.

Graphics by Sarah Zoey Sturm

Photos by Bryanna Kinlicheene

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Clean Up Your Act C

Story by Meagan Prins Photos by Hana Mohsin Graphics by Allie Hutto

leanliness is crucial in college because personal hygiene, from the way we keep our environments to the way we store our foods, doesn’t affect one person, but it affects the people and community surrounding you as well.

There are many ways to stay healthy in college and hygienic health is one of the easiest ways to do so.

There is, of course, the aspect of physical health, and by being hygienic you will have less chance of getting illnesses and diseases, said Connie Kitchens, assistant professor of biology at Fort Lewis College.

For example, good oral hygiene is going to prevent one from having some chronic diseases that are brought on by bad oral habits, she said.

Because many students live with other students and roommates, thinking about covering your mouth when you sneeze and disposing of your own tissues will help prevent some of the illness, she said.

“Hand washing is key,” Kitchens said.

When hospital employees come in and discuss infectious diseases, colds, and flus, hand washing is the number one preventable measure to help prevent the spread of disease, she said.

Being a little messy isn’t necessarily unhealthy, if messy refers to clutter, she said.

But being dirty is what can be detrimental toward hygiene, she said.

Much of the research being published today is showing that people are using excessive amounts of antibacterial soap and sanitizers, and going back to traditional hand soap would be beneficial to people’s health, she said.

If we are killing out so much of the bacteria, our body doesn’t have a chance to build up any resistance, she said.

The idea is to not live in a sterile environment or be excluded in a bubble, she said.

Some germs are good, Kitchens said.

There are areas in the home that are more important to keep clean than

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others, she said.

Cleanliness in the kitchen is crucial.

Many food-borne illnesses are self-inflicted, with people cross-contaminating through cutting boards or countertops, or by simply not wiping surfaces off, she said.

It is more important to practice good hygiene in the kitchen than the bathroom, because the kitchen is the area where people are putting items down and then placing them in their mouths, she said.

Lack of personal hygiene can cause serious hazards to a living environment. Any kind of nutrient-based waste that is sitting around the house can attract rodents, which can carry disease, said Deborah Kendall, FLC professor of biology.

Most of the mice in the area are deer and field mice, and if they are attracted inside a home, they will reproduce quickly because they are rodents, she said.

“Once they get inside the house and get established, you will have droppings and urine everywhere,” she said.

Urine and droppings carry serious health concerns, such as the Hantavirus, she said.

With the dry air of Durango, the virus becomes an aerosol that can be breathed in. Though it is a very rare disease, it has a 75 percent mortality rate and attacks the lungs and muscles of anyone who contracts it, young or old, Kendall said.

Pests are most likely to inhabit any place where there is food and there is warmth, she said.

Rodents will do this in the winter, and flies and mosquitoes are more worrisome in the summer, she said.

“Flies especially are terrible,” Kendall said. “Flies are one of the most dangerous insects on the planet, and in fact, mosquitoes are the most dangerous insects on the planet, because they can carry diseases.”

Keeping living environments clean and maintaining personal hygiene can reduce risk of harmful bacteria

Flies can carry typhus and cholera in their hair, she said. “They are worse than having cockroaches,� Kendall said.

Flies lay their eggs on rotten and decomposing things outside, and after crawling on these sites, they come into your house, she said.

By keeping a house clean, a person will prevent rodent entry, and by keeping a house sealed off with intact screens and by blocking up holes, a person prevents the flies and the mosquitoes in the spring and summer, she said.

Food is an important subject for keeping healthy, especially when it comes to storing and keeping it, said Marla Luckey, an environmental health specialist for the San Juan Basin Health Department, in a phone interview.

Bacteria is present in foods that need to be heated or refrigerated to be preserved, and these items are known as potentially hazardous food, Luckey said.

In order to fit with the internal temperature of food, cold foods should be kept at 41 degrees or cooler, and foods like chicken and leftovers need to be cooked at a temperature of at least 165 degrees, she said.

Food kept between 41 and 135 degrees are at risk by being in the temperature danger zone, where food-borne illnesses, such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites, can grow, she said.

Being careful with handling these foods is very important, she said.

With food that has been sitting out, a good gauge is the two- and four-

hour marks. If a gallon of milk has been sitting out for two hours, it should be fine as long as it is put back in the refrigerator. After four hours, food becomes high risk, and although it is personal discretion, throwing items out at this point is advised, she said.

Spoiled and undercooked meats can cause many health problems, she said.

Spoiled dairy meats puts the consumer at risk of listeria, and meats and poultry can carry salmonella that is transmitted when not properly cooked, she said.

All food can carry health risks, even rice that is left out can raise a concern, she said.

When it comes down to it, hygiene is important because it is a respect issue, she said.

Maintaining a clean home and body shows respect for those living with you and others around, she said.

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We Want Your Blood!

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Story by Carter Solomon Photo by Bryanna Kinlicheene Graphics by Graeme Johnston

urango often offers community members the opportunity to donate blood.

There are many uses for donated blood, said Charlene Smith, the United Blood Services of New Mexico’s marketing and communications and media relations manager.

“One pint of blood has the ability to impact three different patients as it can be separated into three components—red blood cells, platelets, and plasma,” Smith said.

There is no substitute for blood, she said.

“Donated blood can be used for transfusions for surgeries, cancer treatment, organ transplants, shock and burn victims, patients with hemophilia and other clotting disorders, and other medical treatments,” Smith said.

When donating blood, a full pint of blood is taken from the donor, Smith said.

“On average, a normal, healthy individual who donates a unit of blood will fully recuperate from the blood loss in four to six weeks,” she said.

Blood is made up of a variety of components, Smith said.

Red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to all other body tissues, while white blood cells defend the body against disease, and platelets help produce blood clots, she said.

Plasma, another component of blood, is the fluid that is made up of 92 percent water and 7 percent vital proteins and other clotting factors, she said.

A whole blood donation can be done every eight weeks, and a double red cell donation can be done every 16 weeks she said.

“Hospitals need all types of blood,” she said.

There are four blood types: A, B, O, and AB, and there is also a RH factor of positive or negative, according to United Blood Service’s website, www.unitedbloodservices.org.

“Type O negative is the universal blood type,” she said. “Anyone can receive it and it is important to always have that available for emergencies when there is no time to type a patient’s blood.”

Because this blood type is so common, it is needed the most, she said.

“The hospitals served by United Blood Services in Colorado and the Four Corners region are not

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experiencing a blood shortage, and we are very proud that there has not been a shortage,” she said.

There are guidelines set in place for donating blood.

“In Colorado, 16- and 17- year- olds can donate with parental consent, and there is no age limit to donate blood,” Smith said.

All donors must be in good health and not under the care of a doctor, weigh at least 110 pounds and have a photo identification, she said.

“Donors ages 16 to 22 have additional requirements based on total blood volume,” she said.

The first step to donating blood is meeting these requirements, Smith said.

Eating a good meal and being hydrated is also recommended, she said.

After giving blood it’s important to stay in the recovery room for 15 minutes, she said.

“There are other post-donation instructions, but it’s important to not involve yourself in heavy physical activity for at least four hours after donating,” she said.

Fort Lewis College freshman Joey DiPaola donates blood.

“I did it as often as I could,” he said.

DiPaola started donating blood his second semester of his junior year in high school, donating blood three times before coming to college, he said.

His first decision to donate was spur of the moment, he said.

Someone asked him if he wanted to donate, so he did, DiPaola said.

United Blood Services holds blood drives nearly every month at FLC, Smith said.

More information on donating blood can be found on www.unitedbloodservices.org.

Donating blood can be used to alleviate several medical conditions.

Do You Ride the Bus? Story by Jimi Giles Photos by Daniel Huppenthal

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Transit pass paid through student activity fees

riving, biking, hitching, and hiking describe the various mechanisms Fort Lewis College students and faculty’s trek to campus.

Add bus riding to the mix.

The Transit, Durango’s public transportation system, is a service that all students pay for through their student activities fees, said Mark Mastalski, director of FLC’s Leadership Center.

A student Transit pass is a sticker distributed by the Skycard office or at the information desk in the student union building once registration of the student is confirmed, Mastalski said.

Students can receive their Transit stickers at such places of distribution, he said.

The college signs a contract with the city every five years, and, in the agreement, the college pays the city out of the student body activity fees, he said.

“The contract does not have anything to do with the actual service itself,” Mastalski said. The contract does not dictate which routes the buses take to the college, but it refers to amount of money is paid by the college to the city, he said.

The contract was renewed this year, and in the agreement, the college pays the city $79,441, and the amount increases 2 percent a year for the duration of the contract, he said.

The 2 percent annual increase in the contract accounts for increases in fuel, labor, and capital costs that the city sees in their public transportation system, Blake said.

The city generally sees a 5 to 8 percent increase in overhead each year, which is not fully covered by the annual 2 percent increase in the contract, Blake said.

The cost of the contract to the city is divided by the number of registered students.

“Everybody’s paying for it,” he said. “We want you to utilize it.”

The Transit is a great service for everyone, he said.

With the contract, students pay about $20 a year for a Transit pass through their student activity fees, but without the contract, students would have to pay $20 a month for a monthly Transit pass, said Amber Blake, the multi-modal administrator for city operations.

“We’re thrilled that the Fort partners with us, and we think we’re really lucky because Durango and Fort Lewis College has a really strong ‘town gown’ relationship,” Blake said. “It benefits the city, and in turn, it benefits the students.”

Most colleges have their own transportation system that links with the surrounding city’s public system, she said.

“The Fort isn’t in the transportation business,” Blake said.

“On the whole, especially with the physical, environmental constraints of there being the college on the mesa and town downtown, it’s helpful,” she said.

The contract states that a member from the Associated Students of Fort Lewis College, FLC’s student government, sits on the multi-modal

advisory board, Blake said.

The multi-modal board is similar to a city council, and it looks at the various mechanisms of mobility in Durango, Blake said.

“It’s really important to us that the member on the board from Fort Lewis is active because Transit is crucial to many students,” Blake said.

ASFLC Vice President Lewis Wittry is the college’s current representative, she said.

Last year, ASFLC’s former vice president sat on the multi-modal board, so Wittry thought it fitting that he do the same.

“We advocate to try and make the Transit as easy as possible for students to use,” he said.

Wittry and the chair of the student services committee are in the process of generating a student body survey for student opinions and suggestions concerning FLC multi-modality, he said.

Part of the survey will evaluate Transit service, and part will discuss the possibility of more bike frames on campus, Wittry said.

If students or faculty have suggestions for the efficiency and effectiveness of the Transit, they can contact Blake and the ASFLC, she said.

“You’ve got this huge matrix of different demographics, and then meeting those needs, the ones that speak up that you know about, are going to be addressed,” she said, concerning the diversity of Transit users and the users that have suggestions for better efficiency.

Members of the Durango community who ride their bikes as transportation are urged to register their bicycles at either the police department or the Transit center, Blake said.

Registering a bike is free, and it increases the likelihood of a bike’s return if it is stolen, lost, or found, she said.

“Durango has a really high instance of missing, lost, and stolen bikes that actually get returned to the police department,” she said.

Durango also provides the Buzz Bus, a public designated driver that will take an individual wherever they want within city limits for $5, she said.

The bike rack on the front hill allows students to hitch or hike up to campus.

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P s y c h of

FLCSports Story by Megan Ripe

Photos by Bryanna Kinlicheene

Being a student athlete means finding a balance between sport and school. Not only do athletes represent themselves, they also represent the college they attend.

Fort Lewis College athletics contribute economically to the college by helping with recruiting and providing entertainment, said Gary Hunter, FLC Athletic Director.

There are more athletes than there are scholarships, which contributes greatly to the colleges funding, Hunter said.

FLC has between 100 and 125 football players, but only about 16 to 17 scholarships are provided, meaning there are over 100 young men paying full tuition books, fees, and room and board, having a significant impact on the college economically, Hunter said.

FLC facilitates 11NCAA sports as well as club sporting events for entertainment for the student body and the community as large. These games bring publicity to FLC, Hunter said.

“You get publicity and recognition that significantly helps our enrollment and the image of our college out there that can’t be measured in dollars and cents,” Hunter said. “We couldn’t afford to go buy the publicity that we get by having the papers, the radio, and the television cover our sports.”

Basketball, soccer, football, and volleyball all seem to have pretty fair attendance, said Hunter.

“We don’t get as much in lacrosse and softball as we would like,” Hunter said.

Lacrosse and softball are both spring sports and are relatively new to the FLC campus, so the goal is to improve on marketing

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and publicity of these sports, he said.

Sports such as cross country and golf have non-traditional settings, making them harder to watch, Hunter said.

A possible reason why FLC sporting events are not attended as much as other schools could deal with the geographic location of Durango, Hunter said.

“A lot of students come here to go to school but they ski and they hike and they bike and they raft,” Hunter said. “Often times, the only time to do that is during the weekends and that’s when we usually participate collegiately: Friday night and Saturday afternoon.”

Alumni Jane Barden, who was on the women’s soccer team for the past four years, said most attendance comes from athletes spreading the word in classes and support from friends and other athletic teams.

“Athletes try and support other athletes, other sports teams try to support each other, but practice and their own games interfere with that opportunity sometimes,” Barden said.

Hunter is always looking for ways to raise student involvement at sporting events, and encourages students to take a chance because they receive free admission with their student ID, he said.

Sampling sporting events allows students to see how successful some teams have been, such as volleyball, soccer, lacrosse, softball, and both men’s and women’s basketball, he said.

“Give us a chance, there’s always time to go skiing, hiking and biking and do both, so just come over, the entertainment

o l o g y Student athleticism requires a balance of studying and practicing that can be time consuming. value is good,” Hunter said.

Crowd attendance and participation has a huge effect on any sports team’s morale, Hunter said.

“When our games are poorly attended you can just see the energy level drop, and when our students come in large numbers or are very enthusiastic at an event you can just see the spirit and morale and effort increase,” he said. “Student spirit is very important to athletic success.”

For Barden, attendance doesn’t have any negative effects on the team, only positive ones, she said.

“If there is not anyone there, we are not concerned, because once you are on the field, you are in the game,” Barden said.

“We’re going to play a game no matter what.”

“We’re there to play, it’s what we do,” she said.

To be a student athlete is to be a student first. Last fall, there were over 300 FLC athletes participating at the NCAA that managed a 2.99 GPA average, Hunter said.

“That’s very difficult to do when you figure they have a nearly 40 hour a week job during the season,” he said. “They not only have a full class schedule but they have a full practice schedule and a full competition schedule.”

Athletes often have to schedule their classes according to their sports schedule, Barden said.

“It’s hard to take a lot of credits because we are missing a lot of class and leaving on weekends,” Barden said.

Student athletes travel often, especially at FLC because of its isolated location, Barden said.

“It seems like everyone is in Denver and we are just in this tiny mountain town,” Barden said.

Many athletes study while they are traveling but for some it’s harder to concentrate in a van setting, she said.

“You’re just with your friends all the time, because you’re on a team, everyone has homework, we are all on the same boat,”

Barden said.

Demands of sports are more than they used to be and require time management and organizational skills from student athletes, said Mary Ann Erickson, professor of exercise science.

“A lot of freshmen are not prepared for that,” she said.

When freshman students begin their FLC career, the demands of the college, being organized, completing assignments, and being on their own, are all factors in success, she said.

“But if you put sports on top of that, it can become overwhelming for some of those students,” Erickson said.

The NCAA limits the number of hours per week teams can practice to about two to three hours a day, and this doesn’t include off-season training.

“It’s very time consuming to be a student athlete, but we’re very proud that they perform at a high level athletically and an even higher level academically,” Hunter said.

Within the moment of the game, different types of athletes approach their sport with different mind-sets, Erickson said.

Much of the success depends on a student’s orientation.

If a student is task-oriented, they will tend to look at a loss as something that can be improved upon, but if they are egooriented, they may look at a loss as a total failure, Erickson said.

Competition is stressful and athletes learn how to attempt to facilitate that stress, Erickson said.

“There are outside factors: parents, fans, coach’s stress,” Erickson said. “There is that kind of winning stress that’s out there, and we look at it as how to manage that.”

Stress can be seen manifesting physically through symptoms such as sweaty palms, butterflies, loss of concentration and focus. There are techniques that can be used to help control that pressurized feeling, Erickson said.

“That might be imagery, that might be through stopping, positive self-talk, or visualization,” Erickson said.

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Indy on the Street

oscopes r o H

What is your favorite Thanksgiving dish and activity?

Photos by Emily Griffin and Allie Johnson

Josie Snow, 20, Pagosa Springs Stuffing and the family tradition of watching “Back to the Future” Alyssa Spencer, 18, Durango Stuffing and yelling at the Redskins when they lose to the Cowboys every year

Jake Montoya, 20, Denver Stuffing and watching football

Jenna Steele, 21, Oregon Cheesy potatoes and being with family Editor’s Note: This column was contributed by the Environmental Center. The Indy is not responsible for any views stated in this piece. The Indy is open to suggestions and requests for column space from other campus organizations. For more information contact the News Editor, Jimi Giles.

Food for Thought Column by Kirsten Dunlap, Environmental Center staff writer The time of year has come again for all the holiday treats, feasts, and copious amounts of waste.

Massive meals not only fill the stomachs of those eating them, but the landfills as well. Oversized portions and meals are the cause of large amounts of leftovers and food waste every year. It is estimated that every American will generate 100 pounds of food waste over the holiday season, and according to www.recycleworks.org, overall waste increases by 25 percent.

So how do we combat the rapidly reproducing heap of rubbish? Just as there are many sources of the issue, there are many simple solutions as well.

The most proactive of these is to plan ahead before whipping up the traditional Thanksgiving feast laden with an overabundance of food. The first step of this process is to make a detailed grocery list. The second step is to stick closely to this list.

Be sure to stray from specials or sales on items that are not on your list. Buying more perishable items because of a lower price is not true saving, instead it creates more waste. Purchasing the necessities ensures a reasonable amount of food on the table and more money in your wallet that can be spent during Black Friday.

Once the table is cleared and the insurmountable amount of leftovers pile up, people may be questioning what to do with all of the leftovers. Do not fret, instead compost the excess food! Rather

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than letting the potatoes, stuffing, and cranberry sauce rot in a landfill, transforms them into rich and nutrient filled soil. This composted material can save money on fertilizers in the spring and provide healthier produce after harvest. While enjoying fresh and nutritious fruits and veggies, a better feeling can be found knowing that the efforts of saving and reusing food had a positive impact on the environment and kept waste out of a landfill. However, one must be careful when composting leftovers. The Environmental Protection Agency website lists many products that should not be composted. Among these items are animal products, fats, oils, and grease. As for the leftovers that cannot be processed, homeless shelters and missions will possibly take these.

However, if those leftovers look too good to be left behind, there are many fantastic and healthy recipes out there specifically created for excess turkey and trimmings. Many sites online can provide inspiration for a leftover inspired turkey meal. In addition to reducing turkey waste, these recipes call for produce that can be bought from a local grower. This will save space in the landfills and will boost health and the local economy by consuming local produce!

Thanksgiving is a time of food, family, and fun.

This year, make it one of sustainability. Everyone can do their part and be less wasteful!

Graphics by Allie Hutto

Aries- Self improvement should be your focus. The sun will continue to highlight your inward focus this month, and you will be in touch with the deepest elements of your personality.

Taurus- This month is about relationships for you, especially ones involving commitment. Set your ego and personal concerns aside and concentrate on forming strong alliances.

Gemini- It is time to focus on work and health matters in your personal life. Going over past errors is important for growth, as well as delving into new outlets. Take some time to be good to your mind and body.

Cancer- The sun is aligned to effect your pleasure-seeking needs. Romance and creativity may blossom this month, as long as you can let go of your past. Focus on having fun and enjoying yourself.

Leo- This is a time to recharge and get in touch with your inner feelings. Spend time with your family and friends while you learn how to be comfortable with yourself.

Virgo- A sense of peace will boost your mood and outlook this month. Act out of curiosity and try new things. Allow yourself to be adventurous.

Libra- Take this time to use your renewed energy towards your work and health. Chase the lighter side of life and you will be rewarded in your personal life.

Scorpio- Your energy and charisma are in full force. Go out and start important projects and be flexible with the new things that come.

Sagittarius-Push yourself to keep busy, but also take time to rest and withdraw yourself from competitive situations. As a result, creative urges will follow.

Capricorn- You will be drawn to social situations this month, but have a lack of fulfillment from them. Don’t be afraid to take time to get to know your inner self.

Aquarius- Pressure will come from career or school this month, as will success. Work hard through the struggles and you will be pleased with the results.

Pisces- Be prepared for big ideas and energy this month. Don’t worry about others, but do not deceive them. Change may occur.

Editor’s Note: Indy horoscopes are for entertainment purposes only and are done by students on the Indy staff.

No professional astrologist contributed to this piece.

PURGATORY

PREPS Story by Jandrea Fevold Photos by Hana Mohsin

Fall comes and goes quickly, resulting in much cooler temperatures and the upcoming winter forecast, snow.

Durango Mountain Resort is set to open on Nov. 23, the day after Thanksgiving, said Kim Oiler, the director of communications at DMR, in a phone interview.

In the past several years, DMR has been opening around the same time, she said.

Employees start the process of making snow at the beginning of November, and this year employees are scheduled to start on Nov. 1, she said.

In preparing for winter, DMR completed a variety of necessary procedures to prepare for its opening, she said.

By clearing brush from different trails employees help to improve the condition of the slopes in the early season, she said.

DMR has installed new lift shacks and a winch cat, which is a grooming machine used for making steeper slopes, she said.

Chairlift maintenance was also completed all over the mountain, she said.

DMR held a job fair on Sunday, November 11 at the La Plata County Fair Grounds, Oiler said.

DMR also held a volunteer hiring fair on Nov. 5, she said.

They were looking to hire volunteers and paid staff in many departments, such as food and beverage and the ski school, she said.

Interviews were conducted during the fairs for all of the departments.

In the beginning of opening the days, the front side of the mountain will be concentrated snow, hopefully with Mother Nature’s help, she said.

Employees will supplement by creating snow for a nice foundation.

For this winter, DMR has seen predictions for cooler temperatures in October, November, and December, she said.

Above-average predictions for precipitation have been

forcasted, which is good news for the resort, she said.

“Mother Nature gives us what she’s going to give us,” she said.

DMR is looking forward to a good season, she said.

In order to prepare for the season, Fort Lewis College’s Outdoor Pursuits is offering a “learn to slide” clinic in partnership with the Native American Center this semester, said Sam Hensold, the OP assistant coordinator.

The clinic will be offered on Dec. 1, and transportation and lift tickets will be included in the price of $35, which can be purchased at OP, he said.

This clinic is geared towards beginners learning to snowboard, he said.

During the winter semester, OP is offering a “learn to telemark ski” clinic, he said.

The difference between telemark and alpine skiing is the placement of the bindings.

Telemark ski boots are bound at the toe, whereas alpine skiing boots are bound at the toe and heel.

Students are looking forward to the upcoming season.

FLC freshman Derek MacGuffie planned his fall and winter semester schedules around the ski season.

This semester, MacGuffie is scheduled for Monday, Wednesday, and Friday classes, so he can ski on his offdays, he said.

Next semester, he will schedule classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, in order to increase his ski days, he said.

“My family owns a condo at Purgatory, and I have my pass, so I’ll be skiing there often,” he said.

MacGuffie will also be skiing backcountry in Silverton and on Red Mountain and at other resorts such as Telluride and Crested Butte, he said.

MacGuffie aims to take advantage of the nearby recreational areas.

“I will be going to Telluride and Silverton a lot since it is close,” he said.

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