Table of Year in Review
Campus Rail Jam................................................................ 2 The Rise Of Taylor Hall...................................................... 4 Josh Tobey Creates Mountaineer Mascot........................ 6 New Taylor Time Capsule Finalized................................. 7 USA Pro Cycling Challenge............................................. 22 Doctor Patch Adams......................................................... 24 Honorary Art Donation for WSC................................... 25 Cross Country Impresses Nation.................................... 40 Hickenlooper Honors National Champs....................... 41 Women’s Basketball Wins Historic Game...................... 42 Adam & Chris.................................................................... 52 From Heritage to Horizon................................................ 62
Poetry
The Ring.............................................................................12 His Midnight Lullaby, Twenties Slang...........................13 Keep Them Closed, Melody of Seduction.....................20 I Am Not Mathematical, Boom......................................21 Residence, Moon Kissed..................................................38 Last Call At The Corner Bar, The Unbound Man........39 The Artist, Black Diamonds In The Sky........................50 Ready For Something New, The Tower.........................51
Fiction
Adam’s Loss.......................................................................14 Almost Eros.......................................................................26 The Scavenger Hunt.........................................................34 Opposable Thumbs..........................................................48 Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep.........................................54
Gallery
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design & layout by Adam Park
Contents
Pathfinder
by Kyle Spaulding Western’s annual campus rail jam event drew a huge crowd amidst the excitement of competitive park style skiing on campus. The rail jam occurred on Feb.17, 2012 and drew a crowd of over 400 people who watched as 33 competing skiers and snowboarders went against each other. This was the first year that Red Bull has sponsored the rail jam. WSC student and snowboarder Brenden Sullivan was in charge of creating the set-up for the jam. The event was sponsored by several organizations. Among these were: Colorado Freeskier, Colorado Boarder, The Last Chance Bar, WSC Facilites Department, WSC Program Council, WSC Freeride Ski Team, Steeze Tees, Sour Steezle Productions, with additional support from Gary Pierson, Paul Morgan, Loren White and RedBull Energy Drink. There were no disappointments this year, with an urban-style single-barrel down rail, a cannon-style PVC pipe in the middle, and a much shorter singlebarrel rail. The features promised to give the athletes a chance to show their skills for the Volume 20•2011/2012
judges, and to give the audience and the athletes a reason to get excited. Hunter Knoll, a sophomore at Western State, said “The jam was awesome! All of the features were set up perfectly.” “The most live audience and outstanding athletes as any Dew Tour stop I have been a part of,” said DJ DC who MC’d the event. The crowd was feeling good with the constant feel-good vibe DJ DC put out through on-point commentary and music. “It was cool to have such a big crowd there because when you would land a trick, you could tell if it was cool or not by the crowd’s reactions,” Knoll said. Practice for the competing athletes started at 6p.m., with qualifiers at 7p.m., and finals at 8p.m. The first few runs for each competitor were definitely needed, as it took a little while to get used to the icy landings. “At the very beginning of practice I wasn’t very comfortable on the features yet, so going into qualifiers I was a little nervous,” said Knoll. “After I got a couple tricks out of the way though, all that went away.”
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After an exciting first jam session, the judges took some time to discuss who would make it through to the final round. After the deliberation, the rider list was announced and the final round was on its way. The first drop was immediately followed with cheers from the crowd. A few large tricks were thrown pretty soon into the final round, with some of the competitors hoping to lock in a spot on the podium early. One skier, eager to have the biggest spin, attempted a blind-630 out of the cannon, but not quite landing it, hiked back up to try it again with success. An even cleaner version of the blind-630 was achieved sometime after, showing the judges something impressive. One athlete on the snowboard side was Elliott Tauscher. Although he didn’t make it to the podium, he still had many positive things to say about the jam. “The jam was pretty radical, I mean you can’t go wrong snowbaording in front of a crowd with all your homies,” said Tauscher. “I did not do as well as I had hoped… but I still had a grand time
Robbie Cushman took second place, showing the judges surface blind switchups, 270-on and out, along with 450s out of the cannon. Cushman made multiple lip-270s onto the down rail and one dangerous attempt on which he caught his tail on the rail, but to everyone’s surprise, he managed to ride away from it. He also had a few solid 270s-on to the down rail. Taking first place in the skiing division was Owen Tulip, with tricks such as a 270on, front side switch-up, frontside-270-out, and at least one 270-on opposite 270-out, a pretzel. In the snowboarder category Marshal Kratzer, who impressed the judges with a Blunt to 270-out, among many other tricks, took the third spot. Taking second
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place was Brenden Sullivan, who displayed a backside-360 off the cannon, and a 180on pretzel 180-off. Taking first place, was Hunter Knoll, with a big 180-on pretzel 360-off on the down rail, among many other tricks good enough to place Knoll on top of the podium and win himself $100.00. The rail jam went off without a hitch, the crowds were entertained, energy was high, and competitors were in high spirits. Even when the winter wasn’t looking to bring enough to snow to campus for the event, Sullivan and his crew pulled it together for one of the best times someone could have on campus.
western.edu/pathfinder
design & layout by Jessie Czopek
hitting the rails, the DJ was rad, the judges were rad. The best part was how kind the crowd was in keeping the riders hydrated.” A rail jam wouldn’t be the same without a couple of crowd pleasers, such as the very popular front-flip-off from a couple snowboarders and a few attempts at a misty and rodeo-off from a couple of skiers. During the last few minutes of finals, the competitors picked up the pace to get in as many drops as possible. With crowd enthusiasm at an all-time high, bigger tricks were attempted. Third place for skiers, Parker Clarkson gave it his all with a 450 on to the short single-barrel, just barely landing, and an even bigger 450 onto the down-rail.
Photos by Spencer Plum
Story courtesy of Top O’ the World
Year In Review
Pathfinder
by Alisandra Gulick
Volume 20•2011/2012
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An Open House for the new Taylor Hall was held on Thursday, September 1, 2011 as new students were getting acquainted with the buildings on campus. Students were welcome to mingle, enjoy some food, and check out what Taylor now has to offer. The Open House was held from 4-6pm and open to WSC students and the Gunnison community. This event celebrated Western’s 100 year anniversary, as the college first opened on September 13, 1911, and was meant to showcase the newest features. The renovated Taylor Hall is home to not only Communications, Visual Arts, Language and Literature departments, but also Academic Affairs and Academic Resources, Information Technology services, Registration, Extended Studies and the Cashier’s office — just to name a few. This is one building all students need to enter at some point throughout their college experience. For all of us who regularly have had classes in Taylor, we remember the hot classrooms on the third floor, the bathrooms with no ventilation, and that familiar, not so pleasant smell that lingered throughout the year in the old building. It’s an understatement to say we’re excited to have a new home. The process for the renovation of Taylor Hall began 3 years ago with the Taylor Hall Remodel Executive Committee. One member was Jack Lucido, WSC Assistant Professor of Communication. According to Lucido, about 2 dozen construction and architectural companies applied for the position, and after three months the committee eventually decided on Slater-Paull Architects and Nunn Construction. Once these companies were chosen, many decisions remained. The committee had to decide how to go about renovation. Lucido said the original idea was to do construction in phases, keeping the students in Taylor as it was being worked on in a different section. However, for the sake of minimal class disturbance, it was decided that all of the departments be spread between Ute and Keating Halls during renovation.
According to Julie Feier, Associative Vice President of Finance and Administration, the total cost of the Taylor renovation was $21 million. The construction process was completed in June 2011 and the faculty moved in by August. After an entire school year with raucous construction and a lengthy detour around the building, students finally enjoyed the many updated features of the new Taylor. The new building included a multi-purpose room used for extended studies yoga classes and a theater classroom taking up what used to be Hatcher Theater. Lucido was especially excited for the 16 editing stations that are available for his film classes, compared to the six Western previously had. According to Lucido, the new classroom technology is more userfriendly so teachers can spend “more time teaching and less time fumbling around.” All the classrooms are “smart,” with lights that automatically turn on and off when someone enters or leaves the room and projection screens that come down with the push of a button. Lucido was also excited about the sound stage, a motion picture and television studio with green screen capabilities. KWSB Radio has three studios and more space than they’ve ever had before. There are also more bathrooms. When asked what they like most about the new building, most professors paused for a few seconds, smiling, as if it were a hard question. Dr. Mark Todd, professor of English, said the new building was a “chance to rethink learning spaces,” as a result of 21st century, state of the art technology. He also liked the mix between departments, as he shared an office suite with two professors outside the English department. Most professors were happy to return to
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Taylor or gain a new office in Taylor. Dr. Veronica Mendez, professor of Spanish, had been in Quigley Hall for 5 years and she was enjoying her new office. “I really love that I can work without interruption because when I close my door, students don’t know if I’m here or not.” Students also enjoyed the many new aspects of Taylor. Ted Prentice, a senior, was a DJ for KWSB. He appreciated that the new computers take less time to export MP3 information and that the radio station was not tucked away in the corner, but a major part of the building. Freshman Ryan Chipman was undecided about a major but said, “after being in here, it’s probably going to be broadcasting.” Sam Wheeler and David Gunther were COTH majors enjoying their first semester when Wheeler said, “I could spend my days here...there are no limits!” Gunther planned to take every opportunity he could to get involved with the COTH department and Mountaineer Media. There are a couple of cool things about Taylor that most students do not know. According to Todd, Taylor Hall has such historical importance that the exterior could not be altered. The new building was actually built inside the shell of the original Taylor. Also, President Helman revealed that Taylor is three buildings in one. The North part of Taylor was the original College, the south end was Gunnison’s first high school, and the middle section was added years later. Knowing this, students gained a greater appreciation for what the architects and builders had to work around during the renovation process.
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design & layout by Kayla Engebretson. Story & Photos Courtesy of Top O’ World and Kayla Engebretson
Year In Review
Pathfinder
by Rebecca Laughlin
The new Mountaineer statue outside of Taylor Hall was unveiled on December 10th, 2011 after its installment on December 9th. The Mountaineer, created by artist and alumnus Joshua Tobey (’00), stands a proud 9 feet tall and was dedicated to alumnus Dick Bratton (’54), a dedicated Western supporter and Gunnison attorney. Our bronze cast statue started out as clay, and is not the first artwork done by Tobey for Western. The bear and bull sculptures, also bronze, can be found outside of the Borick Business Building and are completely Tobey made. “Josh is an amazing artist and sculptor, and to have another one of his pieces adorn our campus is a gift in itself,” commented Tom Burggraf, the executive director for the WSC Foundation. The Mountaineer idea came about
Volume 20•2011/2012
when Tobey was “looking at the construction of Taylor Hall” and it occurred to him “that Western needed the mascot sculpted for campus.” After bringing the idea to Burggraf, they both agreed. The Foundation donated the funding to his artwork, but it was not the only helping hand in the project. Duane Vandenbusche, a history professor at Western, helped Tobey incorporate historical elements into the mascot. The multi-hued patina finish, Tobey’s signature look, brought awe and applause to the audience at the unveiling ceremony. Burggraf commented, “The Mountaineer looks magnificent. It’s a fitting gift to our campus in honor of Western’s 100year Heritage to Horizon legacy.”
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Year In Review
by Hannah Eflin
A committee of Western faculty created a new time capsule for Taylor Hall this fall. The committee included: Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs, Jessica Young; Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs, William Niemi; Library Director, Nancy Gauss; and Tracy Koehler, Director of Public Relations and Communications. The committee worked to select items that accurately reflect the growth of Western over the past century. “I know what sort of emotional responses I had when I touched certain items that were very tangible and so I think we started thinking of really polished, tangible, representative publications and items,” said Committee Head Jessica Young about the process of item selection. The capsule’s contents were selected in an attempt to “reflect our history, culture
and pay tribute to what Western is all about,” according to committee member Tracy Koehler. Some items include: campus photos, a campus map, a letter from President Jay Helman to a future Western president, athletics game programs, a rock from “W” Mountain, select Pathfinder press releases, the Look Back: 100 Years of Western State College book, a Western T-shirt, the 2011 Western Welcome issue by the Gunnison Country Times, and a Westerner alumni magazine. In addition to the items chosen by the committee, two essays written by current Western students were also admitted into the capsule. In the spring of 2010, Savage Library held a contest to determine which contemporary writing samples would be admitted. The essays for the contest were written from the prompts: “This Remarkable Campus and Valley” and “Hope for
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the Future.” Kaitlyn Mincey’s piece, “Boundless Beauty,” and Marshall Fisher’s “A Resilient Western” were selected to go into the capsule. The committee also hoped to collect questions from students regarding Western’s future to be placed in the capsule. “We really wanted to speak to the future by asking them questions” said Koehler. The location of the new capsule was not disclosed to the public in order to avoid any tampering. However, accurate location records capable of withstanding another 100 years were saved so the capsule may be recovered in the future with ease.
design & layout by Kayla Engebretson. Story & Photos Courtey of Top O’ World and Kayla Engebretson
1911 Time Capsule
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Pathfinder Fall
SCHOLARSHIP
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Gallery
Left Page
Silas McDonough Kathmandu Streets Acrylic 12˝x18˝
Right Page
Top: Alexander Cohen Ready to Ride Charcoal 20˝x30˝ Bottom: Callie Conrad Eastern Colorado Sunset Photography 18˝x13.5˝
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Gallery Left Page
Top: Silas McDonough Crested Butte Graphite 18˝x24˝ Bottom: Lexi Mohney Beyond the Panes Acrylic 12˝x13˝
Right Page
Top: Kristen (Kay) Schedell Techno Love Wax/Wire 5.5˝x5˝
Bottom: Caroline Murphy 360 Panorama of Print Room Photograph 20˝x20˝
SPRING
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Pathfinder
The Ring Spring Scholarship Winner
by Alisandra Gulick
Volume 20•2011/2012
There’s a ring around my finger, as I finger it my mind follows creases in the ceiling creating characters similar to those that dance in my dreams. I sip wine as my mind nods to the whine of a violin. My breath sways to the beat. My heart beats drums to my soul like the rain outside my window. I melt into my seat as a beam streams across my face. A kiss from the sun is almost as warm as a kiss from you. I watch the ring around your finger as your fingers pluck guitar strings like you pluck my heart strings but it’s okay, I’m in love with your melody. My mind lingers on different notes, words that make the hairs on my arm move as if to the whisper of an ocean wind. You say words don’t mean as much as gestures because they’re arbitrary, but words are my sanctuary. They’re the only thing that can creep under my skin, and win, and if you’ve never felt a rush or your heart skip a beat like a stone across water as a word drips from someone’s lips, I feel for you. I quiver at combinations of words because life without combination is absurd. Another’s presence is a gift. Singularity reflects strength on a sunny day but if it’s cold outside, who will be there to warm you? The ceiling asks me these questions and in between the grooves your guitar sings me the answers. My foot starts to bounce and we stand, your strings strum themselves and we dance. Smiles stretched across our faces, I wish we could cover the world with these smiles, but they’re big enough for you and me. Warmed by each other’s presence, the language of the music has moved us from silence. The notes are our words and they tell me we’ll be alright. Even when the sun hides behind the mountains and darkness blankets the garden, there will still be warmth, radiating from the notes that are our words.
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Poetry
His Midnight Lullaby by Atieno Natalie Tarasar
If the rocking angel sings of tiny spoons and painted wings spelled out in rhyme and thickened beats with dancing stars my baby screams of tiny spoons and painted wings, or maybe blackened, caved-in love with dancing stars my baby screams a song of naked angry dreams. Or maybe blackened, caved-in love, of Papa’s midnight lush-night rings a song of naked angry dreams. So hides, and finds our diamond cries. And Papa’s midnight lush-night rings that echo through soft lullabies, so hides and finds our diamond cries and burns as one CD repeat.
Twenties Slang by Kira Redzinak
It echoes through soft lullabies, spelled out in rhyme and thickened beats and burns as one CD repeat, if the Rocking Angel sings.
Dapper, dashing, daring flaring flappers dancing, prancing, speaking easy, appeasing me. Neckin’, nifty, naïve Eve cashing Adam, madam seeking mister, blister my feet. Prohibition, inhibition, fictions of feeble-minded blinded, with crime pantomime, a government wish. Roaring, rushing, ringing, singing sounds of an era, Hera, blessing a marriage between two twirling gams.
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Pathfinder
Adam’s Loss g n i r p S rship a l o h Sc inner W
Volume 20•2011/2012
by Dorothy Stearns
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Fiction
I normally don’t give money to the homeless, since if you do once they always expect more, but I want to know what she is holding. The next day I hold three dollars in my hand as I walk down Eden Street towards the alley where she sits. As I near she hides her hands. “Excuse me, I have a couple dollars for you to get some food,” I say. “No, no food. I don’t need food,” she says, while looking at the spot in the skirt where her hands are hiding. “What do you have in your hands?” I need to know what is in her hands.
“It contains the knowledge of good and evil.” “You can’t have it. You came to steal it, didn’t you? You can’t have it! It’s going to make me rich.” “I’m not going to steal anything,” I say. She is looking me up and down, summing me up the same way business men do to their competition. “Did you come to buy it?” “Umm… yeah, I came to see if it’s worth buying,” I say. She looks down the sidewalk both ways, then slowly pulls her hands out and opens them until I can see inside. “It’s a fig. You’re holding a fig. what do you want for it? A dollar? Two dollars?” she closes her hands and hides them again. “You think I’m a fool,” she says angrily, “I stole this from Adam. It contains the knowledge of good and evil.”
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“Okay, well I hope you find a buyer,” I say before walking away. Each day I still see her hiding her hands and pulling them out, then hiding them again. The days pass by and flies begin to gather round her as juice drips through her fingers. She continues to hold the knowledge of good and evil as it rots.
design & layout by Bailey McLean
Every day on my way to work I pass her. Homeless people litter the streets of the city, and I usually pass them by without a second glance. She is different. Other bums are begging for money or preaching about the end of the world, while she sits quietly staring at something cupped in her hands. Each time someone passes her, she hides her hands in the folds of her skirt. Then after they pass she pulls her hands out and carefully opens them to stare at the object and make sure it is okay.
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Pathfinder Fall
SCHOLARSHIP
WINNER
Volume 20•2011/2012
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Gallery
Left Page
Top: Kelly Lynch Footprints of the Past Silver and river stone 2˝x1˝
Right Page
Top Left: Laura Heck Space Needle Sculpture Photography
Top Right: Brittany Conder Untitled Acrylic 11˝x14˝
Bottom: Lauren Kleppin Love Bites Watercolor 22˝x30˝
Bottom: Tiana Struble Self Portrait at Mill Creek Watercolor 22˝x30˝
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Pathfinder
Left Page
Right Page
Top Right: Brandon Grant Lost Acrylic Skate Deck
Bottom: Marten Pinnecoose Native Beauty Mixed Media 20˝x21˝
Top Left: Pidge Carlisle Rice Crisp Collagraph 78˝x8˝
Top: Laura Heck Jellyfish Trio Photography
Bottom: Jessie Czopek Sailing in the Bay Intaglio and Watercolor 11˝x14˝
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Gallery
SPRING
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western.edu/pathfinder
Pathfinder Melody of Seduction by Dorothy Stearns
Voodoo lingers, dark, in open alleys leading to underground jazz bars, where circumstance brought me. The corner shadows encompass his conjuring. His caress, a calloused hand across steel tension makes my eyes close.
Keep Them Closed by Atieno Natalie Tarasar
Necromancy vibrations rise, take over room, escaping under door frames.
I open my eyes, for breakfast I’ll have gum. It is bloating. Expanding. I spit it out, but behind my molar it’s still growing.
Resounding deviltry touches me, clinging to my skin. Dancing echoes linger
I open my eyes and toast burns brown. Burns up the whole house! In a hurry I’ll bring the borrowed prom dresses.
in sweat-tattooed brows. The ink expression of hoodoo strums again. Fingers stroke
I open my eyes to China—but not really. Oh, and the national debt? Bush paid it by selling the U.S. yesterday.
beats, vibrate eardrums. To your enchantment I succumb. In the lustfilled melody of Rue Bourbon
I open my eyes and roll over my stroller, blue and white striped. Off the side of Disney Cruise. I open my eyes and the physics final on my cell phone kept adding more questions. “Is the ocean right or wrong?” Yes, of course. Always.
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Poetry
I Am Not Mathematical by Bailey McLean Addition: a plus; you plus me does not equal us. Subtraction: a minus; subtract me consequences a negative fee. Multiplication: a reproduction; personality is a personal multiplicity. Division: a split; only one survives. Singled may be, but never in need, a total of two.
Boom!
by April Oleson I have a short fuse, yes I do, yes I do. I have a short fuse in my mind. It’s going to blow, yes I know, yes I know, on the next unfortunate soul. So don’t come close, dare you get a big dose of my anger that’s raging inside.
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Pathfinder
In August,
the world's top cyclists headed to colorado after conclusion of the tour de france to take part in the inagural USA Pro Cycling Challenge. Stage 1 of the weeklong race headed through Gunnison toward a finish in Crested Butte, while stage 2 started in GUnny. Known as the queen stage, the 131 mile stage is the hardest stage of any professional cycling stage race In the World, heading over both Cottonwood and Independence passes before finishing in aspen. The race returns to GUnnison in 2012 as the event was a giant success Students eagerly wait by a sprint checkpoint in front of the college for the riders to fly into town
Riders head out of Gunnison at the Stage 2 Start Volume 20•2011/2012
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Year In Review
Many clubs used the challenge as a major fundraiser
THe lead riders cross over cottonwood pass through hundreds of fans from Gunnison
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All Photos courtesy of WSC publications
students stand on a Giant W painted to be seen from the TV helicopters
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Pathfinder
r o t c do
s m a d A h c t a P Free Gave n o i t a t n e s e pr
C S W to
ial c o s A Leading Across nt e m e v o s m e s u p m a C College tion-wide na nts e d u t s reaching pression with Dbye Stephen Wilfong Western State College was the first institution on a collegiate speech tour by the world-renowned Dr. Patch Adams in the fall of 2011. “Patch Adams … deliver[ed] the closing presentation for the [Bridging the Gap] conference… open to all of our community,” said Kari Commerford, instructor for the Honors’ Rural Health class which organized the conference. “Then, after the conference [was] over, he addressed the college privately.” This second presentation was completely free of charge to all WSC students, faculty, and staff. It was scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 9, 2011 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Commerford said that Dr. Adams became “concerned that we are reaching record highs of college students suffering Volume 20•2011/2012
from depression, committing suicide, engaging in self-harm, and having substance abuse issues. So, he is preparing to lead this social movement across college campuses nation-wide.” “This speaking tour that Patch Adams [was] putting on target[ed] all the major medical schools in the country,” said Senior Biology major Alison Kicklighter, who is in the rural health class. “He [went] to Harvard, Yale, Stanford, and Johns Hopkins. The reason that WSC was also chosen to be on the tour was because of our location. Rural communities tend to have a higher rate of suicide and depression. Patch Adams [thought it was] a good idea to address a student body in a rural community such as ours.” Dr. Adams is famous for his
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contribution to rural healthcare, which is why the rural health class sought to have him speak. “The conference came out of a desire to start to combat some of the rural barriers of accessing healthcare,” said Commerford. “Part of our goal [was] to bring awareness that we have access to a lot of different health professionals right in our community.” According to Commerford, the Bridging the Gap conference had a variety of speakers, from pediatricians and psychologists to acupuncturists and naturopathic doctors, roughly threequarters of whom were local. The conference took place over three days and scholarships were also available.
Poetry
A y or Hon A r rt Donation for
"A collection of historic pieces of artwork that have served in the cause of fighting for racial justice."
wsc
"The show has been housed in international museums and exhibits."
A collection of historic pieces of artwork that have served in the cause of fighting for racial justice were donated to WSC this year. The collection, “Celebrate Freedom and Cultural Fusion: A New Generation in South Africa for the Millennium,” was donated to the college by WSC alumnus Edith Holden and her husband Paul. Holden was the first professor to introduce native African art to the highly Eurocentric curriculum at the University of KwaZulu-Natal during Apartheid. The Holdens were living in the U.S. managing their private art school when they were contacted by the South African Embassy in Washington, D.C. to compile some artwork celebrating the end of Apartheid and the presidency of Nelson Mandela. Holden went back to South Africa and collected a variety of art work for the show from artists of various different ethnic backgrounds. “I must say that I see this collection as a little part of my life’s work,” said Holden. “I was looking for artists who were creat-
ing stunning work. I am very proud to see how far these artists have come…Some of these pieces have hung in Nelson Mandela’s home…They have all played a role in bringing South Africa to the forefront.” After being showcased at the embassy, the artwork toured on exhibit throughout the U.S. and Holden served as the exhibit’s curator. As the art sold to collectors, the money made from the sales was sent back to the artists in South Africa. However, some pieces, mostly on account of their size, were not purchased. In order to keep the show together, the Holdens purchased the artwork themselves. The South African embassy has never before, or after, sponsored a group art show, and the collection is the only one of its kind, representing the theme of human rights in post-Apartheid South Africa. The full collection was donated by the
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Holdens to WSC and was unveiled on Jan. 27, 2012 in the College Center. “Small places don’t typically have such great treasures,” said Tom Burggraf, executive director of the WSC Foundation. “When you spend time to stand in front of a piece and read it, something happens to you…In a way it’s not really resting here, it’s helping us grow.” The unveiling ceremony was introduced by local professional opera singer, Ron Earl, who sang “Amazing Grace.” “As Tom said, who would have thought that we would have such extraordinary people and events in Gunnison,” said President Jay Helman “[The Holdens] have become such extraordinary friends of the college and of the community.” The show has been housed in several international museums and exhibits throughout the world, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York. “I was very happy to be the first person to bring these to the U.S.,” said Holden. “This is a wonderful way to find a place for this collection.” western.edu/pathfinder
design & layout by Jessie Czopek Stories courtesy of Top O’ the World
by Gavin Thompson
Pathfinder
Almost Eros by Hazen Goodyear I met you on this sort of funny bridge. It creaked and swayed every which way in the changing winds, and you never knew where to take your next step. A faded sign cautioned a warning against dangers in crossing unknown bridges. Bridges, which from a distance, look to have splintered planks and twisted, rusted, rails, begging for exposed skin. But bridges like that are beautiful too. They remind you of the excitement that life has if you’re willing to look: the endless and seemingly random possibilities that exist at any moment and are waiting for you. Looking from the bridge with you, I saw strange landscapes. Glittery tutus wrapped around dancing bedposts mimicking the fading night stars. A new and blank shoe growing in complexity. A room and roof filled with broken bottles for no reason other than to see what would happen, and cycling sunrises that blend into each other, melting away sleep filled eyes, bleaching the summer stars. And the stars, which I knew so well, they shifted and left me perplexed. It made me sad when you didn’t call, even though it shouldn’t have. Some bridges are short, I know, but knowing is different than understanding. Like those funny landscapes, you can see them and know them but they surprise you, like a fortune cookie after a familiar meal that holds a blank piece of paper, begging. Our fortune was good, wasn’t it? When it came time let go and walk on from that funny short bridge, my heart pinged looking for solid ground to shore itself. I looked from the landscape into your simple, but made complex, green eyes, and stopped there. I could only think to kiss you, you kissed me back, and the lingering taste of beer on your lips made them bitter.
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design & layout by Alex Cohen
photo by Erin Nolan
Fiction
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Pathfinder
Left Page
Top Right: Stephanie Marina Bollini Untitled Watercolor 18˝x15˝ Top Left: Ellie Fortune Candy Lips Oil 24˝x18˝ Bottom: Frank Stuard Artiste? Graphic Design 16˝x16˝
Right Page
Top: Adam Sinda No Direction, but to follow what you know Photography Bottom: Brandon Grant Underneath Mixed Media Volume 20•2011/2012
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Gallery Fall
SCHOLARSHIP
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Volume 20•2011/2012
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Gallery
Left Page
Right Page
Left: Becca Seifert The Rape of the Sabines Charcoal 48˝x36˝
Middle: Bailey McLean Maine Waterfall Silver Gelatin Photography 8˝x10˝
Right: Adam Park Welcome to Mfkin Bone Zone Digital Print w/Woodcut 16˝x46˝
Top: Rebecca Ingram-Bryant Thorns Colored Pencil 25˝x19˝
Bottom: Kylene M. Miller Simple Seduction and Detail Porcelain 20˝x36˝
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Pathfinder
Top:
Sarah Bryant Camelopardis Woodcut w/Watercolor 10˝x45˝ Left: Sarah Dore Parked Bike Pinehole Photo 10˝x8˝
Bottom: Max Matheny Kinetic Energy Photography 8˝x35˝
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Middle Right: Lizzy Clay Spot Woodcut 11.5˝x12˝ Far Right: Ellie Fortune Edandyll’s Cabin Digital Program SAI
Gallery SPRING
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The
Scavenger by Sarah Ward
The List
This tale begins with a single sheet of paper. On that paper is ink, painted in the form of symbols that claim to be words. These words will soon affect the lives of Todd, Melissa, and Stan. Each having their own reason for why they ended up in their current situation: boredom, sanction, contest. Like anyone, these mere individuals seek amusement from life. Their choice? a game: The Scavenger Hunt. Item 3: In a 5 minute conversation you must use the 5 chosen pick-up lines in a serious manner. Todd loosened his necktie as he glanced over the pick-up lines; he always seemed to be suckered into things that he never really wanted to do. His psychiatrist said it was because “he sought approval too often.” Nevertheless, there was a task at hand and after Melissa’s embarrassment with Item 7, this should be a piece of cake. Todd’s team patted him on the back with encouragement, but even Todd knew that the encouragement was empty. Though tall, dark, and attractive, Todd knew that with the selected pick-up lines, he would be lucky to last all five minutes with a girl and even luckier to get out without a slap to the face.
The List
1. 2. 3.
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Hunt
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Mission: Incomplete Todd coolly walked up to a girl in a long, blue, sequined dress with lengthy dark hair that was softly curled. She eloquently sipped her drink and smoked a cigarette, looking like a scene from an Audrey Hepburn movie. “Do you work at Subway? Because you just gave me a foot long.” The woman turned around and coldly asked, “Come again?” “Only if you join me this time,” Todd said with a sly smile. The woman stared at Todd blankly, pressed her lips together, and slowly turned around in her seat. This was getting embarrassing, but Todd knew he had to keep going. He walked around her stool to face her. “I’m sorry. What I meant before was, do you have any children?” The woman stared at him with her deep hazel eyes that had been lined with onyx. “No,” she said with an appalled tone. “Want to practice?” Todd slid in with an embarrassed smile. “You’re pathetic,” she sneered as she whipped her head around. “No, I don’t have children,” she said as she glanced up and over his head, “but I do have a boyfriend. Would you like to meet him?” the woman said as she guided her hand towards a handsome, much taller and
stronger looking man standing right behind Todd. Todd loosened his necktie even more; it had suddenly become stifling in the jazz club. He quickly reached in his pocket and grabbed a quarter: it was do or die time. “Excuse me sir,” Todd said to the large boyfriend. “I have only one more question to ask your lady here.” Todd turned towards the woman, “If I flip this coin, what are my chances of getting head?” Todd limped out that night with only a black eye to show for his attempts. Mission: Incomplete. Item 7: Get an older man’s (50-60 years old) number. Somehow throughout Melissa’s life she found herself getting tangled up in awkward situations, mainly due to her overly competitive edge. It was a Friday night and Melissa and her team were at Hennigans — a popular bar for the middle-aged, overworked man. Smoke hung heavy in the air, not moving due to lack of air circulation. Neon lights lit up the walls reflecting a faint reddish tint on any exposed skin. “Him,” Sally said, as she pointed to a middle-aged man sitting by himself at the bar. He was still in his suit from the day, obviously coming to Hennigans straight after work. Curse this game! Melissa thought. “Well,
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here’s to winning,” Melissa said as she raised her bottle in the air. With a chug of encouragement, she started off towards the man. Melissa wore a tight black dress that showed all the cleavage she could manage to scoop up, and she topped the outfit off with black shoes. With liquid encouragement and AC/DC’s “Back in Black” playing over the speakers, Melissa confidently made her way towards the man. She sat down on the stool next to him. He faced away from her, only revealing a head full of thick, brown hair. Glancing down she noticed he was drinking a Scotch on the rocks. Gross, Melissa thought. It reminded her of something her dad would drink. Taking a deep breath, Melissa started with her opening line, “Don’t I know you from somewhere?” The man turned towards Melissa and gave her a peculiar grin. Oh God, oh God! Melissa screamed in her head. This man was one of her dad’s associates. This was not good. Melissa glanced back and saw her friends watching her; she couldn’t just leave. No, she would have to play this out and get the points. “Yes, yes you do know me. I’m Pete Johnson, I work with your father,” the man said. “And my, my. Haven’t you just grown up, Ms. Melissa,” Pete said, as he looked
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Mission: Accomplished her up and down, his eyes hesitating over her cleavage. Melissa just giggled and brushed her hand over his quickly. Pete began to make small conversation and every time he made a sexual innuendo, Melissa’s hatred for this game increased. “I’m sorry. Can I get you a drink?” Pete asked as he placed his hand on the small of her back. “Yes! I mean, of course. Bartender, I’ll have a Long Island Ice Tea with a shot of whiskey on the side.” “Well, you mean business, don’t you?” Pete said as he gave her thigh a little squeeze. Oh you have no idea, Melissa thought as she clenched her teeth behind the smile she was attempting to maintain. I need hard liquor if I want to finish this. Tonight, without a doubt Melissa was sure she was going to throw up; if not from the copious amounts of liquor, then surely from Pete’ sexual advances. As soon as the Long Island arrived, Melissa downed it and polished it off with her shot of whiskey. “You young, sexy little things these days,” Pete slurred as he squeezed harder and higher on her thigh. “Yea, you know how it is,” Melissa said as she teasingly pushed his hand away. “You know Pete, I was wondering,”
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turned back towards Pete. “Oh, don’t say a word to my father!” Mission: Accomplished. Item 5: Guy challenge: You must wear a bra and underwear on the outside of your clothes in public for at least 5 minutes, and then promptly go into the women’s bathroom and use the sink as Melissa hesitated. “Do you think I could a urinal. Stan was not up to this challenge, get your number?” she asked as she slightly but then again, he honestly didn’t have bit the corner of her lip. anything else to do. Always seeming to be Pete gave a cunning smile. “Say, why bored and never complacent, Stan turned don’t we skip the number part and get to stupid activities, such as Scavenger straight to a hotel,” Pete said as his left Hunts, to find some sort of thrill within hand grabbed around her ribs, a little too his non-zealous life. What the hell, Stan close to Melissa’s breast. thought. Tomorrow at 9a.m. he would “Oh, but you see,” Melissa said as she waltz right into his math exam wearing grabbed his hand and lowered it back a bra and underwear outside his clothes. down into his own lap, “I have a special Exactly 5 minutes in, he would excuse outfit, I think you would like it. And, well, himself and use the woman’s bathroom: I’d love to grab it before I go to a hotel. If an easy 10 points. you give me your number I can call you The painful sound of the alarm came when I’m heading there.” Melissa hoped all to quickly the next day. Stan put on his Pete would just go for the idea and this clothes, topping the outfit off with a pink embarrassing misery would soon be over. bra and black underwear that he had “Special outfit, huh? Ok, I like where borrowed from his sister, disgustingly this is going.” Pete grabbed the nearest enough. Why couldn’t I just have decided to cocktail napkin and wrote his number focus on Math for my entertainment? on it. The snickering began as soon as Stan “Great!” Melissa exclaimed as she got out of the car. Like a man on death snatched the napkin out of his hand as he row walking to the chair, Stan solemnly barely finished the last digit. Melissa stood made his way to the exam room, ignoring up and began to walk away, then suddenly all the outlandish comments that he had
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Fiction
Mission: Regretfully Accomplished and pointed to the second half of Stan’s assignment. Stan just rolled his eyes as he raised his hand. Mrs. Hadsel quickly walked over. “Yes? What is it?” “May I please be excused to go to the restroom?” “Absolutely not, you’re taking an exam,” Mrs. Hadsel said in an angry whisper. “I promise to take these outer garments off,” Stan said. “Fine. Just go, you’ve disrupted my class enough.” All eyes were on Stan as he left the room. A sigh of relief came from his lips as soon as the door shut. Finally no one could glare at him, especially Carolyn. Stan quickly walked down the hall to the rest rooms; he was ready to get this challenge over with. With a simple glance over his shoulder, he casually made his way into the ladies bathroom. He bent over, looking for shoes under the stalls. Nothing. Nobody was in there, what a relief. Stan quickly walked up to the sink
and prepared himself for his “challenge pee.” Just as he started a steady stream, a girl with blonde hair walked in. “Ahh!” she screeched at the top of her lungs. “Pervert!” Her voice was piercing, the tone telling a story of fright. It didn’t take long for the School policeman to come and cuff Stan, and for all the classes on that hallway to come out of their rooms and witness the event. The blonde girl was loudly explaining how much of a pervert Stan was as he was escorted down the hallway, still wearing the black underwear and a pink bra. Matthew lay on the ground clutching his stomach and crying from laughter. Next to Matthew was Carolyn and, like a dagger to the heart, Stan saw a new look upon her face: it was pure disgust. Her eyes were all Stan needed to see. She would never have anything to do with him. Todd and Melissa had only lost their dignity, but he had lost something more. Mission: Regretfully Accomplished.
design & layout by Bailey McLean
brought upon himself. Stan took a deep breath as he reached the exam room door. “Here goes nothing,” he murmured to himself. Being about 3 minutes late, everyone saw Stan’s big entrance. Giggles, glares, and shocked looks were given to him from every angle. The worst look of all, though, was the peculiar face Carolyn was making at him; it was almost as if she was trying to see right through him. “Mr. O’Connor!” the teacher fiercely said. “Take your seat. I believe you’ve gathered enough attention by now.” Stan slid into his chair beside his friend Matthew, who was also on his Scavenger Hunt team. Matthew hit him on the arm and gave him a thumbs up. “Don’t encourage it, Mr. Smith,” Mrs. Hadsel said as she passed the exam out. Stan stared at the test but couldn’t begin to think about it. The only thing running through his mind was the look Carolyn had given him. It had started out as an elementary crush that had progressively grown into intense secret infatuation over the years. Though nothing had ever happen between them, Stan held on to hope. Stan was quickly drawn out of his trance with a kick from Matthew. Matthew slid the Scavenger Hunt list to the edge of the desk
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Moon Kissed
by Alisandra Gulick White cotton nightgown tickles my toes sinking my feet into a fuzzy sea, I walk towards my window. pulling aside the sheer curtain to talk with my love; I press fingers against the pane to hear. I lift the glass: wind licks my ear as small mountain ranges rise on skin. He seduces me into the sky, I climb out, but feet don’t touch the ground. Flying toward the stars, voice sings joining the moon and his guitar. I stretch my arms, dark hair whispers secrets from him, blowing across shoulders, tickling my neck. My dance with the moon: weightless. Like my nightgown. Burning cheeks, passion floats on a nearby cloud. Sweet aromas call me to him. Caught in his deceiving brightness, I fall to my knees, pleading him to kiss my face.
Residence
by john Russell Don’t try to extinguish these fires on my bridges, throw fuel on them and watch them burn. Because out of these burning bridges, I will build walls from the rubble greater than the Wall of China, more oppressive than the Wall of Berlin, so I can reside within this prison, for this cellular structure restricts me from this biotic growth that I am.
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Poetry
Last Call at the Corner Bar by Dorothy Stearns Seven shots down. Now sitting in contemplation, wondering what her soul is worth to a devil offering trade. For emptiness that’s pervading between the mask of hate she wears and the surface of thin skinned lies.
The Unbound Man
She makes the deal, sealed with a handshake, connecting human and sin. She is left in contemplation.
He wove clenched fists like perforated pockets of sunshine, fingers un-bathed with the soap of wrath. As anger ground in irony fiery men can’t find, calloused hands hanging useless. Still, as a dial-toned pay phone stands.
Drinking red-handed tequila shots. Questioning and laughing how she could deceive a son of Satan by selling off her damaged soul.
His enemy, toe to toe, offense taken, spits through raked-over teeth the language of the chain-laden. A fellowship of pride, bound in bailing wire who vomit obscenities with coarse tongues, forsaken
by Josh Stupka
to straight-lined, blood-blazed eyes. Staring against close-lipped boundless love, empathetic sincerity and freeze-wrapped compassion, though drops the sword, red letter dreams everlasting.
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Pathfinder
Cross Country Impresses Nation by Kerstin Minchow
Western’s men’s Cross Country team won the NAIA national championship title Nov. 19th, 2011, followed closely by the women’s team who took second place. The men were lead by Ryan Haebe, who won with a time of 30:45.1. Leading the women was Lauren Kleppin, who took third overall with a time of 21:16.6. Haebe became the first individual to win the national title race since runner Michael Aish won it in 2001. Haebe and Aish are the only two men in Western’s history to win this award. “Honestly, coming across the finish line followed directly by my teammates giving us the DII national title was one of the best feelings I have ever had,” said Haebe. “I am so proud of both the men’s and women’s teams this year and extremely proud to be a part of the WSC Cross Country program. Both teams gave everything they had and raced great.” In addition to the national titles, Head Coach Jennifer Michel won her first Regional Coach of the Year Award. Also taking regional honors were Gabe Proctor and Lauren Kleppin, who received Regional Runner of the year honors. Also achieving for WSC was runner Julianne Payton, who placed fifth at the national meet and secured her third All-American award. For the men’s team, senior Tyler Pennel finished second in the nation after Haebe. “With our strong support system from the alumni, administration, and college, it has been beneficial in keeping us an NCAA presence,” said Coach Jennifer Michel. The women have an ability to stick together and run in a pack, which greatly helped them at nationals this year. “I think a great deal of Western’s success can be accounted to the genuine Volume 20•2011/2012
desire of each one of us to uphold the Western State name,” said runner Sophie McNeely. According to Kleppin, she and her teammates share a common expectation to do their best and take necessary steps to do so. “Anyone involved in the sport knows there are other factors that can separate the best from the rest on any given day,” said Kleppin. “To the athletes on the team, the expectation is to win,” said runner Trevor Blackman. “We have been second for far too long, and while some teams may think being the second best team in the nation is great, we know we can do better.” “The adrenaline and excitement when you are standing on the starting line with hundreds of people lining each side of the course for a couple hundred feet is intense and pretty indescribable,” said senior David Goodman, who finished 5th. “Nationals is a great time. They have been some of the most memorable races of my career, both as a fan and as an athlete,” said Pennel. “If you are racing, it can be very intense and it requires you to be very focused and ready to run. If you are a fan, it is one of the most exciting trips ever. Besides spending around 40 hours in a car, you get to go and watch your teammates run in the best race of the year. If it was not for the dedicated fans that travel out to nationals, I think that we would not compete as well at nationals.” 85-100 miles per week over the summer, early season brought hard workouts and long miles, while post-season tapered off to 50-60 miles and it was more about the quality, rather than quantity, according to Michel. “Pre-season was more of a tune-up for nationals. We put all the hard work in,
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and the little things in the long run really added up, such as; stretching, getting a good night sleep, eating healthy, and most importantly, we stayed hydrated,” said Proctor. “To put it bluntly, we train our asses off,” said senior Sarah Lyle who finished 12th. “We all care about running and our team so much. We all put in the work we need to even when no one is watching.” “Our program has a tradition of success and that can be contributed to a supportive coaching crew and environment,” said Kleppin. “Of course, a great coaching staff is always the most pivotal factor! We also do all of our runs and workouts together and key-off one another’s energy, so teamwork is crucial to our success as well,” said Payton. “Our coaching staff is fantastic,” said Pennel. “They are great at bringing in athletes that are willing to buy into the training and team philosophy, and the altitude helps some too. We are able to train our aerobic systems at a high level, while not running too fast. This allows us to run our best at the end of the year. ” “Also, from a physiological stand point, training at altitude is ideal for runners because it optimizes our ability to carry and utilize oxygen,” said Blackman. “There is nothing quite like flying to a new place, going to sleep the night before, and having it feel kind of like Christmas as a kid,” said Kleppin. “You’re so excited you can’t sleep, but know you need to rest. Toeing that line with your teammates is truly one of the best feelings.” “Being able to run through the elements and weather here in Gunnison makes you tougher than the other schools you are racing,” said Goodman. “The level of dedication and commitment displayed by my teammates is really inspiring,” said Blackman. “Every day I get to see them pushing themselves through wind and rain and snow, and that’s just what we go through during the fall. Let’s not even get started on our winter training.” Western’s men’s and women’s teams have qualified for Nationals every year since 1992, and compete with some of the top runners from DI schools. Money can be an issue, especially compared to some of the other schools funds, but that makes their success that much better.
Year In Review
Hickenlooper Honors National Champs by Cody Hazen
design & layout by Alex Cohen
photos by Mark Myles
Governor Hickenlooper paid a visit to Western State College on Friday, January 13th, 2012, to honor the national champion Mountaineer Men’s Cross Country Team. Students, staff, and community members filled the Paul Wright Gymnasium to see the governor speak at halftime of the men’s Basketball game versus Colorado Mesa University. Hickenlooper congratulated and took pictures with each member of the Cross Country team, as the announcer read-off all of the accomplishments and awards the team had gathered during their impressive season. Special attention was given to sophomore Ryan Haebe, who finished the season as the NCAA Division II National Champion and was the first Mountaineer in ten years to earn that title. At the conclusion of the halftime ceremony, Haebe held up the national championship trophy and received a standing ovation. Hickenlooper also recognized Head Coach Jennifer Michel for her outstanding season, where she earned her second National Men’s Coach of the Year award. The governor said how proud he was of the team and all of their accomplishments. He also joked about the unfair advantage runners at Western State have over their competition. You think these guys running so well has something to do with the altitude?” he said. Hickenlooper also commented on how well the Western State basketball team was performing, who went into the halftime break tied 24-24 with Mesa. The governor stayed for the second-half of the game and it seemed that his presence may have inspired the Mountaineers, who won 58-57 in an exciting fashion. The women’s Cross Country team was also honored Friday night during the women’s basketball game, although the governor was not present for those awards. The ceremony seemed to have a similar effect on the Western State Basketball team, however, as the Mountaineers rallied from a 10-point first-half deficit to take down the Mavericks, 75-64. Hickenlooper’s visit marks the first time a governor has visited the Western State campus since 2009. Although it was a fairly standard speech, the governor did manage to get the crowd cheering at the end with an exuberant “Go Western!”
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by Cody Hazen
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Year In Review
‘‘ ’’
‘‘
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design & layout by Alex Cohen
The crowd rushed the court to celebrate with the victorious Mountaineers.
photos by Lance Kittel
Western came out of the break with a bang, quickly taking the lead back and got up 40-35 with 14:45 left. Western continued to hold this lead throughout the rest of the game, leading by as much as nine points. A couple of mistakes by Western allowed the Orediggers to come within two baskets, and Head Coach, Latricia Trammell, was heated as she talked to her team during a late time out. The dagger for the Mountaineers came with 1:15 left in the game, as senior Brooke Pendergraft drained a three pointer to put Western up by seven. The crowd exploded when Western was fouled with 26 seconds left in the game, ensuring no possibility of a come-back by the Orediggers. As the clock hit zero, the crowd rushed the court to celebrate with the victorious Mountaineers. Coach Trammell was emotional after the victory and ecstatic for her team’s accomplishment. “I’m elated for these girls,” she said. “I’m so impressed with how hard they worked this year, and the leaders on the team were exceptional.” The celebration lasted long after the final buzzer, as the Mountaineers got to cut the net down to commemorate their victory. “This is so great, it’s an awesome feeling,” said Trujillo. “After four years I finally get to cut down the net.”
Paul Wright Gymnasium exploded Tuesday, February 28th 2012, as women’s basketball defeated Colorado School of Mines, 66-57, and won their first playoff game in school history. “We worked our butts off this year,” said senior Nikki Trujillo. “This was a result of all the blood, sweat and tears we put into this season.” The crowd was electric for this historic event. This was the first time Western has hosted a playoff game in 25 years and almost everyone in the crowd was decked out in red. Some students even wore costumes and body paint to show their support. The Orediggers entered the gym to a sea of boos from Western State fans, and the energy never left. Mountaineer fans were on their feet from the time of the national anthem and didn’t sit down throughout the entire game. Western scored first with 17:35 on the clock and held the lead through the first quarter of the game, leading 15-12 with 15:00 left. The Orediggers head coach was rattled early, jumping up and down while calling for a time out in the first half. Mines took their first lead of the game with 13:48 on the clock, 16-15. The Mountaineers tied the game by shooting fouls, but a pair of three-point shots from Mines put them up, 31-25, going into the half.
story courtesy of Top O’ the World
Western came out of the break with a bang.
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Fall
SCHOLARSHIP
WINNER
Left Page
Top: David Stephenson Untitled Woodcut 7˝x11˝
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Bottom: Adam Sinda Upper Room Photography
Right Page
Top Left: Steven Walker Bel Air Photography 8˝x10˝
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Top Right: Taylor Long Rauschenberg Study Acrylic 18˝x14˝
Bottom: Jon Spruill Curious Cow Watercolor 11˝x18˝
Gallery
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Pathfinder Left Page
Top: Erika Buscovick View of Gunnison Oil on Masonite 34.5˝x46˝ Bottom Left: Jennifer Xavier Vannatta Bad-Ass-Bags Acrylic and Ink 14˝x10˝ Bottom Right: Sarahjane Howard Girl with Lollipop Chromogenic Print 14˝x9˝
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Gallery SPRING
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Right Page
Jennifer Swartwood Little Man Graphite 13˝x10˝
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Pathfinder
Opposable Thumbs by Kira Redzinak The day I was born, I thought I was a fish. The warm gooey fishbowl in my mother’s uterus looked empty without me in it... When I was 2, I realized my head was far too big for my body. I thought maybe I was a mistake, a lost cause...an ALIEN. I kept getting my head stuck in the strangest places: doors, toilets, plastic buckets...they even made a warning sticker, just for me and my giant brain... When I was 5, I realized I had opposable thumbs, and hands! Someone had given me hands! Maybe I was a monkey, born to bracchiate in the branches of life, boldly going where no monkey had gone before... When I was 10, I heard waves crashing on the beach and thought I could become the ocean. I fell to the dunes and rolled back and forth, yelling as loud as I could. The waves sang the “Hallelujah Chorus” with me. Even with the awkward amounts of sand collecting in my pants, we were in perfect harmony... Volume 20•2011/2012
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Fiction
When I was 15, I saw a boy. I wondered if maybe I were a boy? What made him a he and me a she? Maybe I was both or maybe I wasn’t either. Besides the obvious, were we really that different?... When I was 18, I realized I may actually be a dog. I was sleeping all day and wanted to hump everything I saw. I wanted to scream at passing cars and the neighbors’ vertically challenged gardener. I seemed to startle people. Perhaps I was barking too loud...
Layout & Design by Adam Park
When I was 22, I saw a seagull sailing the length of the sky. Circling with the wind, its wings bold and endearing; it looked so effortless. Like Icarus, I wondered where my feathers were. I thought again....I realized my opposable thumbs were important to me.
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Pathfinder
Black Diamonds in the Sky by Genessa Heide
Leave the air Simple Obsurdity. Adrenaline in the Fire, in Hendrix, given from the devilish trees breezed in crawling bark, Simple obscurity.
The Artist
No one can penetrate the tingle of energy in the air, the energy boiled in a body curled by a fire.
by Emily McLemore It’s December, and there are no poems here, only a few familiar songs, erstwhile verses lost in the low growl of fluorescent lights to which the modern world gravitates, hungry as moths. We write our own poetry in the dark, whispering lullabies and incantations, and you stroke my palms, your fingertips instigating a synapse with every touch. You see me, drink me in as I am: all fire and elation and innocence and futile wit. You are my muse, my revelation; my skin comes alive under you cool hands. The words rise up in my throat – a gracious gift after so many nights without any – and what I do not speak in the dark, I immortalize in your absence.
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Poetry
Ready for Something New by Taylor Long I am feeling. no ambition. no drive. I am thirsty, so very thirsty. I am easily distracted. Colors blur. My vision. My eyes. Are heavy, they have seen enough. My ears are filling. My hands hurt, and my body. Is dying. My soul still soars, my dreams still vivid. I think. I need a vacation. I need a castle and maiden. I need, we want, they have, I will. I want to feel the grass of Other lands on my feet. My eyes, my ears, my hands, my body needs this. I’m ready.
The Tower: An Attempt to Talk Less and Say More design and layout by Thomas Bommarito
by Richard Buchanan
When your towers have grown too tall, knock them down, watch them fall. Gather up all the stones and sticks, trade them in, purchase bricks.
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Adam and Chris
by Cody Hazen
January 2012 was a sad month for Western State College, as the school saw two of its alumni die in avalanches. “It hurt a lot, like losing a brother,” said Greg White, club sports coordinator and former rugby teammate to Chris Norris. Norris, 28, died on Jan. 22, 2012 while skiing inbounds on an open trail at Mary Jane Ski Resort. Originally from Chicago, Norris moved to Colorado in 2002 to attend Western and follow his passion for skiing. Norris graduated in 2007 with a degree in Environmental Studies and decided not to leave Colorado. He married his college girlfriend, Lynn, and was working for a mineral company in Denver at the time of the avalanche. White talked about what a great person Norris
Volume 20•2011/2012
was and all of the good times they had together as teammates. “He loved to have a good laugh,” he said. “He always liked being around a lot of people. He loved skiing and playing rugby.” White said he will remember the time they shared on the rugby team the most. “We’re always going to have good stories,” he said. “I’ll always remember the long road trips and all the stuff we would get into.” Norris leaves behind a wife, a two year old daughter, and a two month old son. Memorial donations for his family can be made to the Christopher Norris Memorial Fund at any Wells Fargo Bank.
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Year In Review Donations can be made in Adam’s memory to the campaign to build the Canyon Country Discovery Center at the Four Corners School of Outdoor Education. At www.fourcornersschool.org
Chris
“WSC plays Regis for the Chris Norris Cup. The match is an annual tradition where we play for the trophy and keep his memory alive.” -Greg White.
“[Norris] touched a lot of people’s lives,” said White. “If anybody has a couple bucks to help out the family it would really make a difference.” Adam Lawton, 30, graduated from Western in 2003 with a degree in Recreation and Environmental Studies. Lawton died on Friday, January 6, 2012 while skiing the backcountry in British Columbia. A native of Connecticut, Lawton moved to Colorado in 1999 to attend school at Western. Upon graduation, Lawton moved to Utah where he earned his Master’s in Experimental Education from the University of Utah. Lawton moved to Salt Lake City where he became the Outdoor Experiential Education Manager at Gateway Academy. While there, he worked with troubled adolescents, putting his education to use, getting them
focused on school and on track for success in life. “He was a great student who was sometimes quiet,” said Kevin Nelson, Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs. “But when he did speak he had great things to say.” Nelson had been Lawton’s professor for several Recreation classes and remembered him well. “I felt like he was reserved yet had this great desire to learn and grow. I was greatly impressed by him,” said Nelson. According to his obituary, Lawton died doing what he loved best: ski mountaineering with close friends in remote and beautiful areas. “To die in this way, an avalanche, would be pretty scary for me. I certainly hope he didn’t suffer,” Nelson said. “Yet, at the same time, I know that he was out doing what he loved. I’m not sure you can ask for more than that.”
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design & layout by Kayla Engebretson. Story & Photos Courtesy of Stefan Beattie and Top O’World.
Adam
Pathfinder
Now I Lay Me by Roger Wiley
The sun slipped slowly down, the horizon opening its maw to swallow the glowing orb whole. As the shafts of light slithered like hissing serpents out of the living rooms and cobblestone streets, the shadows crept in like predators. They came from over the roofs, filling bedrooms and taverns, drowning candles in gloom thick as molasses. The hounds of Hell slunk stealthily over the sleeping grass to windows and doors, tongues lolling, mouths drooling with the promise of prey. The children cowered in their beds as the demon dogs climbed the stairs with footsteps that could’ve been drowned out with a whisper. Mothers and fathers recited sacraments in hushed monotone. They closed their eyes and bowed their heads
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Down to Sleep
Fiction Poetry
The children cowered
in their beds as the demon dogs to avoid seeing what was about to happen, folding their hands climbed the stairs with footsteps they rise interfere. thatlest could’ve beentodrowned out The hounds stole into the rooms, snatching with a whisper.screaming Mothers andbabies fa- while their fathers left their swords lie recited rusting in their sheaths. thers sacraments in hushedThe moon, too, hid its ivory eye and the stars retreated to the farthest edges of the universe. The monotone. They closed their eyes turned itstoback andcosmos bowed their heads avoidand pretended not to notice. seeing what was about to happen, The sun reached flaming fingers across the sky, brushed away folding their hands lest they rise to the remnants of darkness and went about its normal routine as if interfere. nothing had changed. The people arose, gave thanks,
Layout & Design by Adam Park
buried their children, and blamed mystery.
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Volume 20•2011/2012
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Gallery
Left Page
Top: Richard Buchanan Coffee Break Time Charcoal and Graphite on Gesso and Water Color 29.75˝x22˝ Bottom: Zach Minard West Elk Throwback Pen and Colored Pencil
Right Page
Left: Rebecca Feigenbaum Untitled Photography Top Right: Jon Spruill Lady Hops Pastel 18˝x24˝ Bottom Right: Kristen Novess Conceptual Self Watercolor and Ink 18˝x24˝
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Pathfinder
Left Page
Top Left: Jennifer Swift Pipe Smoker Graphite Reduction 7˝x5˝ Top Right: Beverly Minard Hues Photography Bottom: Amanda Evyn Holley Untitled Oil Painting 24˝x30˝
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Gallery Right Page
Top: Karen Howe Untitled Wire 12˝x18˝ Bottom Left: Alexandria Eldrige Lady Long Lithograph 12˝x19˝ Bottom Right: Spencer Plum Huckin Photography 8˝x10˝
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Volume 20•2011/2012
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Gallery
Left Page
Top Left: April Oleson Untitled Photography Top Right: Edana Lefeuvre Mademoiselle Tulipa Woodcut 22˝x15˝ Bottom: Holly Nichols Patagonia, Chile Photography 14.24˝x9.5˝
SPRING
SCHOLARSHIP
WINNER
Right Page:
Top: Kristen Novess What is Love? Baby don’t hurt me... Oil on Wood 24˝x24˝ Bottom: John Russell Frackin Fractals Ink 12.5˝x15.5˝
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Pathfinder
FROM TO
Volume 20•2011/2012
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Year In Review
by President Jay Helman
Recent news reports regarding apossible name change at Western State College of Colorado (WSC) and the addition of two women’s sports have provided a glimpse into the many proposed actions designed to secure Western’s future. I would like to share the importance of these and other endeavors toward ensuring the continued evolution of the institution. Despite reductions in state support to Colorado’s public higher education institutions ($3 million -- 25 percent -- during the past two years at Western), we have continued optimal operations for the present while and building and planning for the future. We have maintained a diverse array of undergraduate program offerings, and continue to deliver quality education for our students with rich experiences and small class sizes. In addition, we have maintained strong support for our intercollegiate and club athletic programs (including a national championship in men’s cross-country and national finishes in skiing and cycling competitions). We have developed a budget reserve that has been helpful in promoting strategic initiatives. As we anticipate a reduction of more than $500,000 in state funding for the next fiscal year, the strategic use of this reserve will be a critical component as we transition to the new funding realities. Undergraduate enrollment is lower than our desired goal and we are working on increasing enrollment through a number of recruitment and retention efforts. One of those strategies is the addition of women’s soccer and women’s swimming and diving to our NCAA athletics program. These sports are popular among female student-athletes and will help Western to increase its mix of female undergraduate students. To ensure student success, we have developed a first-year
experience class and have revised our orientation program to better acquaint students to college life at Western. We also have worked to plan and build for Western’s future. When the new fieldhouse and recreation center opens in the winter of 2014, we will have completed $127 million in new and renovated construction on campus. These projects position Western well to meet prospective students’ expectations of campus facilities and amenities. The WSC Foundation has raised more than $40 million in the past nine years, which has established important building blocks for Western’s future. Private endowments for faculty and program support have made certain that Western will continue to thrive in academic areas that fit our geographic niche. We also are grateful for generous local support, such as the Zugelder Endowment for Teacher Education, which is essential for developing and maintaining academic programs at Western. Our graduate programs -- M.A. in teacher education and a M.F.A. in creative writing -- increased enrollment by more than 30 percent in their second year. We anticipate that these, and future graduate offerings being developed, will provide advanced educational opportunities and help secure our fiscal future. Strategies to generate revenue and support the regional economic and educational opportunities for our community also are underway. This summer, we will open a Center for Executive Development that will provide continuing education for individuals in the energy industry. This program, in partnership with corporate entities, will diversify revenue for Western, bring professionals to the Gunnison Valley, and enhance Western’s reputation and visibility. We also are exploring the development of a Center for Wellness and Human Performance.
higher education institutions to increase access to Western’s classes for high school students. The opportunities to gain college credit for courses that also count toward their high school diploma will develop a better educated citizenry and enable more students to consider higher education aspirations. Discussions about a name change from “college” to “university” are another strategy for the long-term health of Western. We do not consider a name change to be a “silver bullet” to increase enrollment. The possible name change is, however, an important recognition of today’s world and the foreseeable future. Increasingly, the term “college” connotes an institution that confers two-year degrees, while “university” is associated with four-year and graduate degrees. A name change strategy that includes university, then, accurately describes Western for the present and assists us with program initiatives in the future. These are challenging times for us all that require courage and vision in the face of many uncertainties. Western will continue to be a strong force for economic and cultural vitality in the Gunnison Valley. We ask that you continue to support Western as we navigate these rapidly changing times and continue our efforts to provide outstanding educational opportunities while simultaneously evolving to meet the demands of our ever-transforming world. Please share with visitors the exciting opportunities that exist for higher education, conferences, recreation and cultural events in our valley. Western has been a significant part of the heritage of our community for the past 100 years. We look forward to our continued partnership in Western’s second century of service.
We are also partnering with our local school district and with a consortium of
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design & layout by Zach Minard
Charting Western’s Future
Pathfinder
Design team: Faculty advisor: Terri Murphy Editor: Aaron Boyers Front Cover: Thomas Bommarito Back Cover: Zach Minard Inside front cover: Adam Park Inside Back Cover and mast head: Bailey mcLean
Assistant Editors:
&
Erika White Rustin Hammon Tiffany Mitchell Adam Bruns Dorothy Stearns Janelle Moorhouse Maggie Samek Austin Peters Brooke Benke Alisandra Gulick Riley Sokora
Top O’ the World Writers:
Hannah Eflin Rebecca Laughlin Alisandra Gulick Kyle Spaulding Gavin Thompson Stephen Wilfong Kerstin Minchow Cody Hazen
2011-2012 Vol. 20
Year in Review Creative Writing
Art www.western.edu/pathfinder
Art Director: Shea Lewis
Jessie Czopek
Alex Cohen
Kayla Engebretson
Thanks Pathfinder’s twentieth year marks two decades of student and faculty dedication, twenty years of fine artistry and linguistic craft, and twenty years of student creativity. Pathfinder displays exactly the unique combination of interdisciplinary skills that Western strives to achieve given our liberal arts curriculum. Poetry, journalism, art, and fiction, from students of every discipline, collide to make Pathfinder the unique and interesting publication that the Western community expects every year. I would like to thank last year’s Editor, Angela Watts, and Professor Terri Murphy for this opportunity, as well as Mark Todd and Teresa Milbrodt for their assistance and support. I would also like to thank the dedicated students who designed the layouts for Pathfinder and who really make the magazine stand apart from others. Finally, I’d like to thank the readers. It has been an honor to be a part of this lasting collegiate endeavor. Here’s to another twenty years, Pathfinder. Cheers! Volume 20•2011/2012 Aaron Boyers
This year marks the twentieth anniversary of Pathfinder Magazine. In tribute, Terri Murphy was asked a few questions: In the next 20 years, where do you think Pathfinder magazine will be? Maybe images blasted directly to our brains! I hope not, I love the smell and feel of ink on paper.
Have the creative piece, art and literature, changed drastically in 20 years? If so, what was the trend? I think the quality of the work that all students submit has just gotten better. Every edition becomes a “bench mark� for the next year. What are the more significant changes that Pathfinder magazine has gone through in the past 20 years? Technology has drastically changed how we do everything! Our first few years, we printed out type in columns and used hot wax to paste them down to large, paper templates. Also, printing color was very expensive--we had to choose limited pages that could have color on them.
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All rights reserved. First copyrights belong to the original author/poet/artist. The Western Pathfinder Magazine is published by the council of creative expression of Western State College Student Government association and is soley funded through student fees. The views and opinions stated herein are not necessarily those of the staff. All submitted work is judged anonymously by the staff. Submissions are assumed intended for publication in whole or part and may therefore be used for such purposes. The staff disclaims all responsibility for return of unsolicited material. Nothing may be reproduced in whole or part without written permission from the publisher. Printed for the 2011-2012 Academic School Year.
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