THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN
FoCo PIE continues to advocate for change
Monday, September 28, 2020 Vol. 130, No. 12 COLLEGIAN.COM
The local organization protested outside FCPS to speak out against racial injustice By Meagan Stackpool @MeaganStackpool
so special because it really worked alongside all the artists in the area to create a community where everyone felt comfortable,” said Lucas Wood, bassist for Satellite Pilot. “I always felt good about playing a PBJ show because I knew I would see countless familiar and friendly faces when I got there.” Satellite Pilot is a Loveland-based psychedelic indie-pop band who played over 10 shows at the venue, including both of their album releases.
The Fort Collins People’s Initiative for Equity held a Rally for Justice Friday night. The demonstration took place in front of the Fort Collins Police Services building, where approximately 20 people gathered along the road. Demonstrators held signs demanding racial justice, both locally and nationally. FoCo PIE describes itself as a community organization dedicated to dismantling all forms of injustice, according to their website. Sabrina Santos, the volunteer coordinator for FoCo PIE, explained their goals for the evening. “We are focused on giving people tangible things that they can do,” Santos said. “Standing outside is a great physical demonstration, it’s a great reminder to our community of what’s going on, but we also want to give our volunteers a way to get more active to make a bigger difference instead of just being physically present.” The rally focused on encouraging conversations between community members and providing resources for further involvement. Organizers brought posters with information about local resources, like the Fort Collins City budget public hearing and the Colorado Freedom Fund, as well as national resources, like The Innocence Project and Save the Post Office. Shayne Weber, a first-year graduate philosophy student and a research volunteer for FoCo PIE, expressed why he felt the need to attend the rally.
see PINBALL on page 8 & 9 >>
see CHANGE on page 4 >>
The Ghostbusters pinball machine at Pinball Jones Feb. 25. Pinball Jones’ Campus West location had pinball machines, retro arcade games and a bar. PHOTO BY DEVIN CORNELIUS THE COLLEGIAN
Campus West Pinball Jones closes its doors Musicians and fans mourn the pioneering DIY startup By Maddy Erskine @maddyerskine_
Growing up in this town, Pinball Jones has always been one of my favorite places, both as a venue and an arcade. In high school, my friends and I were always checking the schedule to see if they had a show that week we wanted to see. During the last few years, so many people I know and care about have played shows there. When I finally got the courage to join a band, our first real gig was opening for someone at Pinball Jones Campus West.
It was one of the most exciting moments to see our band’s name on a flyer for a show. Unfortunately, the show was canceled due to COVID-19. And now, Pinball Jones has sadly announced that their Campus West location will not be reopening. The closure of local venues and bars isn’t a surprise with COVID-19. Many of these places are struggling to make ends meet since their businesses rely on drawing crowds and hosting large groups of people. Pinball Jones Campus West has been open since 2017. They
have dozens of arcade and pinball games and have been a hub for local music over the last few years. The downtown location also has dozens of pinball machines and arcade games and remains open. There is a possibility that, once it is safe again to have shows, live music will resume at this location. The closure of Pinball Jones Campus West has many local bands heavy-hearted. It was known for being a DIY venue for anyone to play shows and share their music with the community. “I think (Pinball Jones) felt