Thursday, April 17, 2025 Vol. 134 No. 28 by The Rocky Mountain Collegian

THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN

Tasha Marchant and another runner finish the Horsetooth Half Marathon April 13. Spanning 13.1 miles, the race started at Horsetooth Reservoir and finished at New Belgium Brewing Co.

PHOTO BY KATELYNN ORTEGA THE COLLEGIAN

FOCO EVENTS

“A Home for Steamboat” book signing with Casey Rislov and Zak Pullen at Old Firehouse Books 10-11:15 a.m. April 18

“Giselle” at The Lincoln Center April 18-20

Ramapalooza at Aggie Theatre 9-11:59 p.m. April 20

Colorado Basic Needs Summit unites activists, advocates for student well-being

By Chloe Waskey @csucollegian

The Associated Students of Colorado State University organized the first-ever Colorado Basic Needs Summit April 9, beginning what they hope to be an annual tradition of collaborative community outreach.

Hosted by CSU Spur in Denver, the event was attended by six nonprofit organizations and 13 colleges across Colorado, bringing together a multitude of perspectives, disciplines and areas of expertise. Jorja Whyte, the ASCSU director of basic needs, said the conference gave students an opportunity to brainstorm and work with larger advocacy organizations.

“(Students) understand what initiatives and what solutions and what programming is going to be effective and what’s going to work,” Whyte said. “That’s kind of what we wanted to create with the summit, is a space and time for professionals, and with a high focus on students to be able to talk about the work that they’re doing, share best practices, be able to build relationships and connections with one another and then be able to align our advocacy efforts so that we can work together on these things.”

The conference featured talks on a variety of subjects, ranging from housing security, food assistance and access to reproductive care and legislative action in Colorado. Amber Obermaier, the leader of the Food Security Advisory Council at CSU, said the summit aimed to highlight and address the gaps in meeting student needs.

“Having access to (food) is a basic human right, and having access to a safe and affordable place to live should be a basic human right,” Obermaier said. “But as we’ve seen, ... there’s such a gap in securing those basic human rights for so much of the student population. I just really think there needs to be a paradigm shift of putting those issues at the forefront and naming them as human rights and as the foundation of what we need as students to thrive.”

CSU’s Senior Program Coordinator for Basic Needs Kathryn Conrad gave the keynote speech, encouraging attendees to use the summit as a forum to build community, share perspectives and swap ideas.

“We’ve found that food insecurity tends to be tied with other basic needs and security,” Conrad said. “Usually, we find that if someone is consistently skipping meals or eating off the dollar menu or forgoing nutritious foods for what is cheapest at the grocery store, then it’s likely they’re also having a really hard time making rent, purchasing hygiene products, paying utility bills, paying for parking passes, car payments, bike repairs and other kinds of things like that. So it’s all intertwined, and that’s why we’re here today.”

Food insecurity was one of the main focus points at the conference, with nonprofit organizations Nourish Colorado, Swipe Out Hunger, Hunger Free Colorado and Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger all attending the summit.

Jordan Lamport and Alejandra Ospina Estefan from Hunger Free Colorado gave a talk on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — more commonly referred to as SNAP — policy and advocacy, alongside CSU students Yasmine Lawson and Gabi Goldberg, both of whom work with CSU’s Student Case Management. The talk detailed SNAP eligibility and common barriers to obtaining government

assistance, including immigration status, income requirements, monthly work hour minimums and more. Hunger Free Colorado works with a variety of organizations and universities to reduce barriers to food access and encourage nutritious eating.

“A quote that we opened our presentation with was, ‘Access without support is not opportunity,’ which is a quote by Vincent Tinto,” Lawson said. “That’s at the core of what we do.”

Students representing a variety of university food pantries and advocacy groups attended the conference to share insight on successful and unsuccessful approaches to addressing student food insecurity, as well as the importance of working toward sustainability. Angelica Marley and Lucinda Harger represented Metropolitan State University’s Rowdy’s Corner, which has partnered with several organizations to create robust food banks for students.

Lauren Davis, chair of the Housing Caucus at CSU, gave a talk on the intersection between food insecurity and housing insecurity. She presented an interactive map to the audience that illustrated how basic needs issues are related to one another, exemplifying the concept of systems thinking.

“There’s tons of people across the entire state, as we can see today, that are doing this work and that care about resolving that crisis, and so I want people to feel empowered to be able to connect and leverage each other for that work.”

JORJA WHYTE ASCSU DIRECTOR OF BASIC NEEDS

Systems thinking, the underlying ideology of the summit, seeks to understand the interconnectedness of several issues in order to determine a common cause.

“When you look at the systems map, you can kind of start to notice some of the root causes and connections,” Davis said. “(This is) where you can step in as students, as professional people, as anyone who has influence in the basic needs realm, and how you can kind of have that influence and change those root causes.”

Housing insecurity is another prevalent issue for students that the summit addressed. Representatives from the nonprofit Housing Colorado and University of Colorado Boulder’s Basic Needs Center gave talks on CU’s campus housing safety net, a unique service that provides students with emergency housing.

Lauren Fiddes and Ava Richardson gave a talk on behalf of the CU Basic Needs Center, presenting the university’s multifaceted approach to addressing housing insecurity and student homelessness.

“We created a more comprehensive definition for our center so that we could expand and grow but also see basic needs as a center for health and well-being,” Fiddes said. “This is more centered on, ‘How do we use basic needs for students to be

successful? How do we meet those needs in a comprehensive way?’”

This systems-based lens also extended to conversations about reproductive care. Olivia Friske, chair of the Women’s Caucus for ASCSU, delivered a talk on the importance of recognizing reproductive care as a basic need, detailing the work that CSU has done to accommodate students.

“There’s always going to be gender diversity; there’s always going to be people who menstruate; there’s always going to be people giving birth and people having sex, so it’s not going to go away,” Friske said. “Because such a large population experiences things like menstruation or pregnancy, there are certain things that are required and needed, and that makes it a basic need.”

In order to meet food, housing and reproductive needs on a statewide level, the summit highlighted the importance of policy advocacy. Wendy Peters Moschetti, the executive director of Nourish Colorado, and Greta Allen, Blueprint’s policy director, both gave a comprehensive overview of how the Colorado legislature works and how to advocate for policy change.

“Building relationships with legislators and policymakers and traditional power holders is absolutely everyone’s right and something that folks should do,” Allen said. “You have the right to talk to them (and) share issues that matter to you. You don’t need someone like me to do that. You don’t need your school to do that. You can do that.”

Young Invincibles, a nonprofit that encourages young adults to engage in political advocacy, also tabled at the summit.

ASCSU’s Deputy Director of Basic Needs Lauren Johnson said collaboration and advocacy is particularly important right now, given the possibility that access to basic needs could be limited under President Donald Trump’s administration.

“Given our current federal state and all of the drastic things they’re going to be doing, especially related to reproductive rights as well as housing, we’re going to have a lot of issues with that,” Johnson said. “Their budget is going to cut a lot of rent vouchers. They’re going to get rid of a lot of affordable housing, and so advocating in Colorado and in Fort Collins is so vital right now.”

The event concluded with a collaborative planning workshop where attendees crafted a statewide advocacy plan.

“It’s also forgotten how much we need to listen to each other, even the people who are completely against what we’re for because there’s a reason why,” Lawson said. “Maybe once we listen to each other, we can work together to find a common goal, find a way to make sure that just because I win doesn’t mean you lose, and vice versa.”

That sense of collective purpose and shared responsibility carried through the final discussions as participants looked ahead to tangible steps and ongoing collaboration.

“There’s tons of people across the entire state, as we can see today, that are doing this work and that care about resolving that crisis, and so I want people to feel empowered to be able to connect and leverage each other for that work,” Whyte said. “I want us to come away with actionable steps that we can take together, unified across the state to be able to continue to increase basic needs security among all of our institutions.”

Reach Chloe Waskey at news@collegian.com.

Associated Students of Colorado State University Director of Governmental Affairs Ava Wilkins takes part in the Powermapping and the Power of Storytelling breakout session during the Colorado Higher Education Basic Needs Summit in Denver Wednesday, April 9.

PHOTO BY HANNAH PARCELLS THE COLLEGIAN

ASCSU Deputy Director of Basic Needs Lauren Johnson discusses the planning process for the Colorado Basic Needs Summit at the CSU Spur Campus in Denver. Johnson worked alongside other members of the basic needs department to organize the summit, which included speakers from several Colorado organizations focused on basic needs, as well as a full schedule of breakout sessions that concluded with a collaborative workshop to create a statewide advocacy plan.

PHOTO BY HANNAH PARCELLS THE COLLEGIAN

Policy Director at Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger Greta Allen discusses key legislative terms during the closing session of the Colorado Basic Needs Summit. Attendees participated in a collaborative planning workshop to develop a statewide advocacy plan focused on basic needs to end the summit.

PHOTO BY HANNAH PARCELLS THE COLLEGIAN

How Colorado defied the Rocky Mountain region’s red trend

By Chloe Waskey @csucollegian

Colorado is one of two blue states in the Rocky Mountain region, a clear anomaly in a sea of red for almost 20 years. The gradual shift from conservative stronghold to political outlier has left many asking: What makes the Centennial State different from its Western neighbors?

The answer, put simply, is that Colorado has Democratic demographics. Democrats tend to be more educated, wealthy and concentrated in urban areas, according to Pew Research Center. Colorado is the fourth-most educated state, among the wealthiest in the U.S. and has over three million people living near the Denver metro area.

“It’s such an educated state; it’s a wealthy state, a cosmopolitan state, (and) that tends to align with even the national Democratic Party right now,” said Kyle Saunders, a political science professor at Colorado State University. “Educated, wealthy, cosmopolitan people do not tend to vote for Trump, and so that has led the Republican Party in Colorado to be not doing very well.”

“Academic freedom is as safe here as it’s going to be anywhere in the United States, so we’ll continue to attract faculty who want to be here because, frankly, it’s better than working in Ohio right now.”

MATTHEW HITT CSU PROFESSOR

But Democratic demographics don’t just appear out of nowhere, especially in a state that was reliably Republican for so long. In the case of Colorado, the demographic swing came from other states, namely California. Matthew Hitt, another political science professor at CSU, said Colorado was once a hotbed of in-migration.

“Colorado’s population, for a time, was really booming, and a lot of in-migration was coming from, at the time, more expensive cost-of-living areas like California,” Hitt said. “Folks who are Democrats from other states moved to Colorado and particularly concentrate along the front range, right (by) the Denver area. That’s where a lot of job opportunity was.”

Hitt noted that Colorado looked attractive compared to surrounding Western states because Denver offered economic opportunity in a variety of fields and had uniquely easy access to other benefits like outdoor recreation.

“You’ve got a really serious, major big city that’s actually grown a lot since the ‘90s, with a lot of economic opportunity, an international airport and it’s also pretty close to world-class outdoor amenities,” Hitt said. “The mountains, you know, skiing, snowboarding — you can be skiing within an hour, hour and a half of Denver. A lot of other Western neighbors, they have beautiful mountains, but they’re not set up like that.”

Migration can also help explain why Colorado is so highly educated, even though it is among the lowest spenders on education nationwide. The high quality of life kept the educated population here, Saunders said.

“Net in-migration has really been to Colorado’s benefit,” Saunders said. “We’ve been able to bring in a lot of educated people, and it is a nice place to live. It’s high-quality of life, 300 days of sunshine, all of that. So that’s no doubt part of the story, and it has definitely sustained.”

Despite the low education spending and for reasons beyond sunshine, Colorado continues to be favorable to academics. CSU and the University of Colorado Boulder are both cutting-edge research institutions that are not at risk of interference by a Republican state government.

Hitt pointed out that recent legislation has been proposed or passed in dominantly red states — including Northern Colorado’s neighbor, Wyoming — that threatens to reshape higher education entirely.

“We chronically underfund our higher education, chronically underfund K-12, but highquality professionals, high-quality educators and researchers and professors continue to want to live in Colorado,” Hitt said. “Even if we’re underfunded, we’re not under threat. … In states with Republican-controlled legislatures, we are seeing really aggressive and unnerving lawmaking activity directed at universities.”

Although Colorado is equally subject to some recent federal initiatives directed at higher education, the state’s Democratic trifecta, in part, prevents experienced educators from fleeing, ultimately boosting the overall quality of education.

Security in Colorado’s Democratic hold is reinforced by the relative weakness of the Republican opposition. Saunders said the national Republican messaging in favor of President Donald Trump has failed to resonate among Coloradans, whereas state Democrats have adapted to the changing population.

“The Democratic Party in Colorado, at least the last 10 years, has done a much better job adapting to the changing electorate than the Republicans have,” Saunders said. “The Republicans could have gone with less ‘Trumpy’ candidates and perhaps had more electable success, but that’s not the national trend with the Republican Party.”

In fact, Colorado defied the 2024 national trend toward the Republican Party within Democratic districts, with every blue district only turning more blue.

While Colorado has become the blue sheep of the Rocky Mountain family, it hasn’t shed its Western roots. The region’s hallmark libertarian streak still shapes Colorado politics but in a distinctly progressive way.

“That notion of, ‘Stay out of my business; let me live my life’ — that’s a streak that infects Western states more than, say, conservative southerners,” Hitt said. “Some of that you can see in Colorado — the first state to legalize cannabis, one of the first states to legalize civil unions for same-sex couples. So those are very progressive stances but also libertarian stances. ‘Get the government out of our business.’”

Hitt said Colorado has created a unique identity for itself — one that evolved from its Western roots yet is distinguishable from its Western neighbors.

“The mountain communities have a culture and a vibe that’s distinctly Colorado,” Hitt said. “It’s not really Western cowboy stuff, but … there is an identity there that is very Colorado, very tied to our geography.”

Reach Chloe Waskey at news@collegian.com.

Colorado senators begin their session March 10. In attendance were members of the Associated Students of Colorado State University, who visited the Capitol building to learn more about legislative processes.

PHOTO BY CAIT MCKINZIE THE COLLEGIAN

WESTERN FOLIAGE

Annual Flower Trial Gardens offer vibrant area for Colorado horticulture research

By Sananda Chandy @csucollegian

Walking to the University Center for the Arts, pops of blue, violet, red, orange and yellow sprout from the grounds and in the orange pots laid along the path.

The Colorado State University Trial Gardens began in the 1970s, but its legacy continues to live on. As the trial gardens are constantly being developed, the team is dedicated to conserving the space as an accessible learning opportunity for the Fort Collins community. The Trial Gardens were initially located at the W.D. Holley Plant Environmental Research Center, known as PERC, from 1971 until 2000.

In 2000, the Annual Flower Trial Garden was moved to the park across from the University Center for the Arts, allowing for more spacious visibility and advancements in research and education.

Chad Miller has been the trial garden director since January 2023 after previous Faculty Coordinator James E. Klett stepped down from the role. Miller said he has enjoyed getting to work with plants and agriculture along with preserving the experience of plant trialing for students and those touring the gardens.

Miller also explained that as the evaluation for plant trials began to grow over time, there was a greater demand for space to conduct these trials.

“And the horticulture industry, with increased breed tech and efforts plus technological advances and the ability to create newer varieties, helped to push the need for increased capacity in trialing,” Miller said.

Miller said he found it beautiful to see how the general public has responded to the trial gardens. Many people biking along the path have sent messages thanking Miller for the new flower bulbs they see going to work.

“Not only are we meeting the mission for trialing plants and helping the industry know what to grow and to market, but it’s also providing consumers a visually pleasing and therapeutic space,” Miller said.

From the addition of the Pansy Trial program in 2003 to the development of the Perennial Trials in 2006, the gardens have cultivated various sites that test numerous plants under various conditions and factors.

“The landscape changes every year with different color patterns and color blocks; certain plants come on to flower sooner than later,” Miller said.

“You can easily go out there weekly

“It ties into its original purpose, which is demonstrating and researching plants that are good for Colorado gardens, but also (establishing) the overall well-being as people and having that connection to nature.”

ALISON O’CONNOR CSU EXTENSION HORTICULTURALIST

and see something new or (from) a different perspective.”

Alison O’Connor has been the horticulture specialist for CSU Extension in Larimer County for almost 20 years. She explained how, over time, the gardens have expanded and added more plant beds, diversifying the variety that the public can see.

The gardens have maintained their goals of being a space for demonstration, promoting research in sustainable resources and irrigation management, especially in the semiarid state of Colorado.

“Nationally, the trial gardens on campus are one of the most recognized gardens that are available for the general public and for research,” O’Connor said. “As water becomes more scarce, having flowers that not only support pollinator health and are beautiful but are more drought (and) heat tolerant is important, too.

“There is such a significance with the history of having horticulture with our land grant institutions and continuing to do this research that is applicable for not only the industry but also for homeowners.”

Ashlyn Schall is a junior studying environmental horticulture with a concentration in nursery and landscape

management. She began working with the trial gardens as the annual coordinator after hearing about the opportunity from Miller during one of her classes with him.

“It’s very unique and incredible that it’s a public garden,” Schall said. “It is just a magical place to stumble upon, especially if you don’t know that it’s there.”

Although a recent addition to the team, Schall said she recognizes the value of the trial gardens, wherein the history has contributed to its overall growth. She believes it is a valuable experience for people to learn and engage with the demonstration gardens.

“In the past, there have been plants that have struggled in Fort Collins,” Schall said. “Through these innovations in breeding, we can see them start to come up in the market and be valid candidates in Fort Collins and in this region.”

David Staats has been working as a research associate in the department of horticulture and landscape architecture since 1993. Staats said he noticed how much more sophisticated the trialing process has become, resulting in improved plant breeding.

“The garden helps select superior plants for our landscapes and,

consequently, makes a higher quality of life for our communities with more beautiful neighborhoods and green spaces for all to enjoy,” Staats said.

O’Connor said the trial gardens have preserved their purpose of helping and informing the community throughout history.

Staats is looking forward to seeing how the gardens will continue to improve over the years with the development of a strong foundation. He said he believes the trial gardens will continue to showcase what is possible in plant breeding and maintenance for the public.

“It is very exciting to see plans developing that would create more of a space to demonstrate what the state of the art in horticulture could be for the public with beautiful and more sustainable landscapes,” Staats said.

Reach Sananda Chandy at life @collegian.com

LIVING LEGACY

CAM the Ram handlers keep traditions alive alongside beloved mascot

By Yoleni Paulo @csucollegian

CAM the Ram serves Colorado State University as its beloved animal ambassador. His presence at games energizes the crowd and represents CSU pride. Before kickoff, football players often touch his horns for good luck, a tradition that speaks to CAM’s symbolic importance on the field.

Suzie Halvorson, an animal ambassador behavior specialist for over six years, has been nicknamed “CAM’s mama” by fellow CAM handlers because she has been by his side since birth. Although she has years of experience working with other animals, CAM still finds ways to surprise her.

“I worked with dogs before, and so I know how smart dogs could be, and I was very impressed on how strong rams are but also how intelligent they are,” Halvorson said.

Far from the mighty fearless mascot, Halvorson knows a different side to CAM — one defined by playfulness and a love for his favorite treat: romaine lettuce.

CAM is a domesticated Rambouillet sheep, which is the largest breed of fine wool sheep.

“The first woolly ram, named Buck, made his debut at a basketball game against Denver University on Jan. 11, 1946,” the CSU Alumni Association’s website reads.

Halvorson is in charge of CAM’s welfare and believes positive

reinforcement is the most effective method for preparing him to handle the often unpredictable environment of university events.

“CAM never has to do something that he doesn’t want to do,” Halvorson said.

There are several negative preconceptions about CAM that Halvorson is used to hearing, especially when it comes to his intellect.

“People think that they always do what you tell them or follow what you do all the time,” Halvorson said.

However, to Halvorson, CAM is more than just livestock; he’s a loving, intelligent animal who thrives on the affection and attention he receives from his handlers and fans at events.

“I would just like everyone to know that CAM is an individual with his own personality, likes and dislikes,” Halvorson said.

Nick Clark and Jasmine Fernandez have served as Ram Handlers for about a year and a half. With no prior experience working with livestock, they stepped into the role fueled by curiosity and an open mind, unsure of what to expect but eager about the opportunity.

After applying, their handler training began in the fall, they underwent a rigorous program that included two days of orientation, stadium practices to become familiar with the environment and ongoing monthly meetings.

As CAM’s designated “mama,” Halverson is always present at the monthly meetings, offering CAM comfort and ensuring a safe environment.

During their first introduction, Fernandez was struck by CAM’s intelligence — a surprising trait that left a lasting impression.

“I did not expect him to be so, so smart,” Fernandez said. “I knew he knew basic commands like ‘stay’ and ‘go,’ but he knows over 20 cues. It’s so impressive how quickly he learns things.”

One trick that impressed Fernandez early on involved two footballs — one bearing the Colorado State University logo and the other marked with the University of Colorado Boulder logo. No matter how many times they switched the balls’ positions, CAM’s loyalty never wavered, always picking the CSU logo.

Clark, like Halvorson, was also amazed by CAM’s likeable personality and his uniqueness as an animal.

“He does have a personality; it’s kind of weird,” Clark said. “I had never worked with livestock, so that was the biggest surprise to me. ... I could already pick up on his quirks, things only he does, that you’re never going to get from any other ram in the future.”

CAM loves attention and has formed special bonds with all 15 to 20 of his handlers, which is more than usual for college animal ambassadors. He enjoys affection, scratches and cuddles, and his favorite part of the day is hearing his handlers arrive. He often runs excitedly to greet his handlers as soon as they enter the room.

To balance their academic responsibilities with their duties as CAM’s closest humans, the handlers

follow a flexible, low-stress schedule.

Each handler gets dedicated quality time with CAM, who is walked once a day as part of his routine.

“Then I really thought, he’s just like a golden retriever,” Fernandez said. “He’s so loving. He just wants to go on a walk, run and get his little treats.”

One of the primary responsibilities of a Ram Handler is accompanying CAM the Ram to university events.

During these outings, teamwork among the handlers is essential, as they work together to create a smooth and stress-free experience for CAM.

For Fernandez, keeping calm and focusing during these events is the most challenging part of the job.

“It’s just really trusting each other as a team,” Fernandez said. “When you’re on his leash, your main focus is how his behavior is doing and how he is doing.

When you try to do it all at once, that’s when it becomes incredibly stressful.”

As a team, there are always two handlers on CAM’s leash, supported by a ring of “crowd control.” They depend on each other to remain focused, allowing each member to give their full attention to their assigned task.

Another key aspect of the job is reading CAM’s body language and identifying potential triggers in the environment.

“You can kind of just look ahead and see if there are any possible things that might cause a disruption,” Clark said. “Just being able to look for those is pretty crucial, and that’s how I tend to stay calm.”

However, most of the time, CAM

thrives in social settings, soaking up all the attention and affection he receives from students, fans and the community.

Beyond their bond with CAM, Clark and Fernandez found a sense of community with fellow Ram Handler volunteers.

“Everybody in the Ram Handler family is very nice,” Clark said. “We all hang together. It is a very engaging community.”

According to the CSU Alumni Association, which supports CAM and oversees the Ram Handlers program, “A Ram Handler’s mission is to actively promote CSU through working with CAM the Ram and will engage with university constituents, model the Principles of Community and uphold the tradition of CAM the Ram.”

The CSU Alumni Association aims to recruit Ram Handlers from every college, not just agricultural sciences. For students interested in becoming a Ram Handler, applications for the 2025-26 academic year are already published on the Alumni Association’s website.

For those who would like to support CAM, donations to the CAM Forever fund “supports the daily care and training of CAM, the Ram Handler program and travel costs for CSU’s four-legged legacy.” Reach Yoleni Paulo at life @collegian.com.

“He does have a personality; it’s kind of weird. I had never worked with livestock, so that was the biggest surprise to me. ... I could already pick up on his quirks, things only he does, that you’re never going to get from any other ram in the future.”

NICK CLARK RAM HANDLER

COLLEGIAN FILE PHOTO

CEREMONIAL GAMES

Lacrosse traces deep roots to Native American traditions

By Yoleni Paulo @csucollegian

Today, many western sports such as lacrosse, rodeo and long-distance running are deeply rooted in Native American cultures. As European settlers adopted and reshaped these sports, they became widespread across the United States. However, Native American communities continue to honor and value these games, playing them according to their original styles.

Lacrosse is considered North America’s oldest organized sport, with documentation going back to the 17th century. However, many believe it dates all the way back to the 12th century, when it was played by the Haudenosaunee people in what is now Troy, New York, and areas in Canada bordering the state. Due to the sport’s adoption by Europeans, it is now widely associated with wealth, leading many to forget its Native roots.

Colorado State University Associate Teaching Professor Mike Mansfield’s

current research focus — the role sports play in Black communities — has led him to observe historical trends in sports.

“It definitely became a rich kids’ game,” Mansfield said. “Poor kids didn’t play lacrosse, (and) I think it will always have that association.”

Mansfield watched the Choctaw people play in Mississippi and witnessed firsthand the difference between the commercialized lacrosse many know now and the one that Indigenous peoples play within their communities.

“It’s fun to watch,” Mansfield said.

“Once you see it, you kind of get it. They hit each other so hard, blood’s flying (and) people got hurt. You know, I can see where people would get killed doing it.”

One key difference between the two variations is the physicality of the game.

For Indigenous communities, lacrosse was more than a game — it was a way to resolve conflicts.

Having studied American history extensively with a concentration in American sports history, CSU history department Chair Robert Gudmestad has gathered insights into the intertwined nature of conflict and sports.

“One description of lacrosse that was relatively common amongst the different tribal groups was ‘little brother of war,’” Gudmestad said. “That’s a literal translation, and that meant a couple of different things. Two different groups, if they had a dispute sometimes, they’d settle it by a lacrosse game rather than war.”

While lacrosse was played much more brutally, it was also a display of strength. Despite it being a form of conflict resolution, sometimes deaths still occured.

“I don’t think a lot of people realize how important stickball was to the culture,” Mansfield said. “Because if a young man could play stickball, you were a warrior.”

Early Native Americans played the game barefoot with no equipment and a loose set of rules.

“You are doing a lot of the same things you do either in war or hunting,” Gudmestad said. “You need stamina. You need power and handeye coordination.”

Additionally, the game held deep spiritual meaning, being used for ceremonial purposes and as a way to strengthen community bonds.

“Lacrosse was sometimes associated with religious rituals, and those who were competing in the lacrosse game believe that their best effort was kind of their gift to the Creator,” Gudmestad said. “If they worked hard and played hard, it was an expression of devotion to the Creator, and Indigenous people believe that all things came from the Creator.”

Upon European settlers’ first encounter in North America in the 16th century, French Jesuit missionaries deemed the sport as too aggressive.

“Initially, my understanding (was) they saw it as too brutal, but they realized that sport was a good way to get into the culture but recognized its importance.” Mansfield said.

The Jesuit missionaries’ primary goal was to convert the Indigenous population to Christianity. They then shifted their focus on the sport and established more set rules, making the game into what the modern world knows today and coining the term “lacrosse.”

“French men who were watching the games thought that the stick looked like a ceremonial stick that’s used in the Catholic Church; that’s why ‘la cross’ or ‘the cross’ got its name.” Gudmestad said.

Despite many differences from the original game, there are still elements of Indigenous culture that remain — the main one being the stick that is used.

“(In) many tribal groups, the ball that they used was deer hide stuffed with hair of some kind,” Gudmestad said. “And then the fact you’re scoring a goal also remains from the original game.”

As the sport grew and spread across North America, the gear material changed. The use of titanium and composite materials led to sticks that were lighter yet stronger, allowing for faster play and more precise control.

As of now, the Indigenous roots of lacrosse are gaining wider recognition. Centuries later, the sport is still played within Indigenous communities and remains deeply significant.

“For Indigenous peoples, lacrosse is more than a game,” Duke University Professor Larissa Soares Carneiro said in a Duke Today article about the roots of lacrosse. “It’s sacred. It’s a ceremony. It’s a game that can heal. It’s medicine. Lacrosse celebrates and entertains the Creator.”

Reach Yoleni Paulo at sports @collegian.com.

SMITHSONIAN AMERICAN ART MUSEUM, GIFT OF MRS. JOSEPH HARRISON, JR.

CSU rodeo cultivates connections between athletes, animals

By Sophie Webb @sophgwebb

“Rodeo has absolutely changed my life. I’ve always been riding horses and just been around them. And being able to compete in one of the most competitive and just amazing sports in the whole entire world is awesome; it’s absolutely changed the trajectory (of my life). … It makes you a better person.”

NINA BRADLEY CSU RODEO MEMBER

An essential part of a team sport is building chemistry with those around, but for the Colorado State rodeo team, the connections made transcend just humans.

Although rodeo is primarily thought of as a solo sport, there are two roles, the rider and the animal, working in tandem to win. And despite the animal aspect of the sport being overlooked, the horse is just as important as the rider.

“People don’t see it unless you have a horse,” rodeo competitor Isabella Hayden said. “She recognizes my truck when I pull in. You know, it’s a lot of trust, and it goes both ways. For them to be able to trust you, you have to trust them. You know, you’re putting your life in the hands of a 1,000-pound animal, you know, and they got to trust that you’re not going to put them in a dangerous situation.”

For Hayden, she has been strengthening the bond with her horse, Delta, for quite some time. In middle school, she realized there was more to horse riding when she

stumbled upon a video of a world champion barrel racer.

Since then, she knew she wanted to pursue the sport and began competing professionally at 16 years old. But it doesn’t stop there for Hayden.

“Hopefully at the end of (my college career, I’ll) go buy a pro rodeo card and then go around the circuit on that,” Hayden said. “I’d love for it to be my career.”

In CSU’s most recent event — the Skyline Stampede — Hayden competed in barrel racing but also worked behind the scenes, whether that was setting barrels for races or taking off ropes for the breakaway portion of the Stampede.

Considering Hayden is in a team with Delta, the day doesn’t just end when the race does, as it is still important for the two to spend time together.

“They really are like big puppies,” Hayden said. “They love cuddling; they love treats; they love seeing their people, and they also create bonds with the other rodeo horses as well, you know, because we all haul together, so they’re also all kind of like siblings.”

Nina Bradley, Hayden’s teammate, is working on a different side of the spectrum, as her horse was out last

season. She’s been working with her coach’s horse for roping.

And despite the majority of CSU members having just one event, Bradley competes in both barrel racing and breakaway roping, noting that “having two events is super beneficial.”

“Rodeo has absolutely changed my life,” Bradley said. “I’ve always been riding horses and just been around them. And being able to compete in one of the most competitive and just amazing sports in the whole entire world is awesome; it’s absolutely changed the trajectory (of my life). … It makes you a better person.”

The CSU rodeo team works to cultivate an environment for its 21 members to grow, whether they compete or not. Even those who competed in the Stampede but did not make it to day three were pivotal in making sure operations ran smoothly, as it was CSU that hosted the Stampede.

Even though McKinlee May was the only competing member for the Rams by the final day — eventually placing seventh in barrel racing — the arena was flooded with members wearing green vests.

“We’re also a club and a team kind of in one, so as far as club members go, those kids generally don’t compete,

but they’re still super active and very involved with our team, which we love,” coach Whitney Lee said. “If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t be able to do stuff like (the Stampede).”

And at the head of the operation is Lee.

Lee — who stepped into the role of head coach this past season after being with the Rams for six years as assistant coach — is a testament to all of the positive impacts rodeo can have.

“Really, it hasn’t been too big of a transition,” Lee said. “I mean, as far as planning has gone, that’s definitely been a big transition. I’ve had a lot more to do because of that. As far as involvement with the kids and stuff, that hasn’t changed.”

As head coach, Lee wants to continue to grow the team while building the program as an outlet for people to become involved with rodeo, whether through competition or not.

“I just want to keep bringing that in and growing their love for the sport and their understanding of what it takes to be the best and to make sure that they’re always striving to be good — in and out of the arena,” Lee said.

Reach Sophie Webb at sports @collegian.com.

Eastern Wyoming College, Gillette College, Lamar Community College, Laramie County Community College, Northeastern Junior College, Otero Junior College, Sheridan College and University of Wyoming.

Riders from various teams sit atop cattle panel shoots during the 75th annual Skyline Stampede rodeo final competition at The Ranch Events Complex April 6. The three-day intercollegiate rodeo competition was hosted by the Colorado State University rodeo team. Other competitors included Casper College, Central Wyoming College, Chadron State College,

PHOTO BY GARRETT MOGEL THE COLLEGIAN

MOGEL

RODEO EMBODIES SPIRIT OF THE WEST

1. A horse wears a decorated bridle displaying the University of Wyoming logo during the 75th annual Skyline Stampede rodeo April 6.

2. Miss Rodeo Colorado Sierra Southerland rides with the American flag before the final competition at The Ranch Events Complex in Loveland, Colorado. The three-day intercollegiate rodeo competition was hosted by the Colorado State University Rodeo team.

3. Eian Smith, with the Central Wyoming College rodeo team, competes in bareback riding. Smith placed fourth, with a score of 143.0.

4. Clay Nyhus, who competed for the Eastern Wyoming College rodeo team, holds onto his bucking horse. Nyhus tied for fifth in saddle bronc riding, with a score of 75 points.

5. A competitor sits atop a horse before the final competition. CSU, Casper College, CWYC, Chadron State College, EWC, Gillette College, Laramie County Community College, Northeastern Junior College, Otero Junior College, Sheridan College and University of Wyoming all competed in the rodeo.

6. Tanner Olsen, who competed for the Chadron State rodeo team, falls off his horse during the bareback riding event. Olson placed fifth with a score of 140.

7. A horse stands covered in sweat after competing. UW won the women’s competition with 480.00 points, and came in second in the men’s competition with 580.00 points.

8. Nyhus holds onto his horse’s reins in the saddle bronc riding event. He is from Saskatchewan, Canada, and came to EWYC to join the rodeo team and study beef production.

9. CWYC’s Smith controls his horse in bareback riding, a horseback event done without a saddle, which necessitates coordination and balance.

10. Rhett Tattrie, who competed for the Laramie County Community College rodeo team, holds onto his horse during the bareback riding event.

John Matsushima’s research impacts cattle industry decades later

By Riley Paling @rileypaling

John Matsushima is a name known by most everybody in the animal sciences and cattle industries. He is a renowned figure in the field of animal science, specifically cattle nutrition. Born in Colorado to Japanese-American parents, Matsushima’s career spanned over 70 years, and his contributions helped revolutionize the livestock industry not only in Colorado but across the globe.

At 104 years old, Matsushima still visits his office at Colorado State University about once a month. With a long list of awards and accomplishments to his name, he has lived a life to hang his hat on.

One of Matsushima’s most impactful innovations was the development and promotion of high-energy feedlot rations, specifically the use of corn-based diets in cattle finishing.

“He literally pioneered the process of steam flaking corn,” said Ryan Rhoades, CSU associate animal sciences professor. “I don’t even know how to quantify that, but essentially, ... it makes cattle more efficient on feed, so they gain faster. It revolutionized the design and how people feed in feedlots, and it’s probably been worth billions and billions of dollars to the cattle industry in terms of efficiency.”

This technique significantly improved meat quality, marbling and efficiency in beef production. Matsushima’s work helped shape and build the feedlot system into what it is today. The modern system dominates today’s beef industry, allowing for more consistent, affordable beef in the U.S. and abroad.

Matsushima also played a key role in introducing these feeding techniques to Japanese markets, improving international trade and understanding of U.S. agricultural practices. He made several trips to Japan as a consultant, where he observed that “cattle are fed in small groups in the mountains,” according to The Fence Post, a nationwide agricultural newspaper. “The Japanese feedlot ration ... is similar to rations utilized stateside, though,

rice straw is utilized rather than corn silage or alfalfa hay.” His efforts were instrumental in establishing the beef market in Japan.

Matsushima was also a beloved professor at Colorado State University, where he mentored generations of students in animal science. His passion for education and deep knowledge of ruminant nutrition left a lasting legacy in both academia and the cattle industry.

best for her advocacy for animal welfare and her groundbreaking designs for humane livestock handling systems. Her work complements Matsushima’s legacy by focusing not just on how animals are fed and raised but how they are treated and understood. Together, their careers are a symbol for CSU’s broad and humane impact on the livestock industry, encompassing everything from nutrition and behavior to ethics.

In more recent decades, CSU became home to another legend in the field: Temple Grandin. Grandin is known

Both Matsushima and Grandin have helped make CSU a global leader in animal science, agriculture and ethical

livestock production. Their foundational research laid the groundwork for a new generation of innovation — one that is starting to shape the industry today.

The animal science industry is undergoing a transformative shift, driven by technological advancements, sustainability and animal welfare. Modern livestock management now incorporates precision agricultural tools such as artificial intelligence, drones and real-time monitoring systems to enhance productivity and ensure animal wellbeing. These innovations aim to optimize resource use, reduce environmental impact and improve the overall efficiency of animal production systems.

CSU stands at the forefront of this evolution. The department of animal sciences offers a comprehensive curriculum that combines foundational sciences with practical experience in livestock production, marketing and processing. Students engage in handson research and fieldwork, preparing them for a variety of careers in animal agriculture and related industries.

CSU’s commitment to innovation is evident in its research initiatives that focus on sustainable livestock practices, animal nutrition and welfare. The university’s extension offices across Colorado facilitate the dissemination of research findings, supporting local producers in adopting best practices. Moreover, CSU’s integration of cuttingedge technologies into its programs ensures that graduates are equipped to address contemporary challenges in animal science.

As the industry continues to evolve, institutions like CSU play a pivotal role in shaping its future through fostering advancements that benefit both animals and society. Matsushima’s legacy is deeply embedded in the department’s ethos, inspiring ongoing innovation and excellence in animal science education and research. His pioneering spirit continues to influence the university’s approach to addressing the complex challenges of modern livestock production.

Reach Riley Paling at science @collegian.com.

“He literally pioneered the process of steam flaking corn. I don’t even know how to quantify that, but essentially, ... it makes cattle more efficient on feed, so they gain faster. It revolutionized the design and how people feed in feedlots, and it’s probably been worth billions and billions of dollars to the cattle industry in terms of efficiency.”

RYAN RHOADES CSU ANIMAL SCIENCES ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR

PHOTO COURTESY OF COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES & SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

Regenerative agriculture gives back to local soil environments

By Natalee Garcia @csucollegian

Colorado State University’s College of Agricultural Sciences is collaborating with farmers to explore and promote regenerative agriculture techniques. Regenerative agriculture is a practice that can improve soil health, enhance ecosystem services and support a sustainable food system. Regenerative farming is also known to boost product yields and crop quality, which improves a farmer’s profits over time.

The benefits from this holistic land management practice are going to be helpful not just for farmers but for at-home planters. It can foster healthier plants and is more environmentally friendly.

Regenerative agricultural practices can benefit the climate. They can reduce emissions by storing carbon and provide better crop defense against climate shocks. Meagan Schipanski, an associate professor in the department of soil and crop sciences, gave more insight on this practice.

“Regenerative agriculture supports diverse production systems that replenish resources and support healthy and thriving communities through outcomes-based, adaptive management,” Schipanski said. “Regenerative agriculture can help decarbonize the food system and make farming resilient to climate shocks. Guided by ecological principles, it enhances economic viability, provides nutritious food and empowers farmers with versatile decisionmaking tools.”

The department has developed a strategy to better match the college’s purpose with regenerative agricultural methods. Many of their

plans circulate around connections, research, developing curricula, advancing stakeholder performance and supporting other enterprises.

The purpose of regenerative agriculture is to replenish the decline of the planet’s rich soil, biodiversity and native seeds, which compose an imminent threat to long-term human existence.

The advancement of farming techniques can be a game changer for future farmers who tend to have problems with dry, unsustainable soil.

This is especially important because soil promotes food production, filters water and supplies nutrients to crops. Regenerative agriculture seeks to achieve precisely that. Recent research has shown that regenerating soil may retain up to 30% more water than typically treated soil.

“Regenerative agriculture encourages things like diverse crop selection, increasing organic matter and avoiding harmful practices like tilling and use of synthetic pesticides and herbicides,” said Rebecca Lampl, an applied horticulture student at CSU.

Regenerative agriculture promotes the utilization of a variety of crops to create a more balanced and resilient environment. This variety helps control pest populations, nurture soil bacteria and decrease dependence on synthetic fertilizers. Composting, cover cropping and decreased cultivation assist in increasing soil organic matter.

As Lampl said, regenerative agriculture aims to reduce the use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers that can harm soil health and biodiversity. It also promotes reduced or noncultivating methods to preserve the soil’s foundation and the existence of bacteria.

While regenerative agriculture is coming to CSU with many benefits, it also has its

challenges. Financial restrictions, a scarcity of natural soil additives and oppositions to change are among the obstacles that regenerative agriculture must overcome.

“From the farmer and (agriculture) industry perspective, regenerative farming often requires a shift in mindset from one focused on maximizing crop yields each year to a longer-term view of optimizing the overall system, reducing input costs and maintaining stable, profitable yields over time,” Schipanski said. “This can present increased real and perceived risks for farmers as they transition from this shorter-term to longerterm net profitability focus.”

Transitioning to regenerative techniques may necessitate initial investments in resources and instruction, which can be problematic for many farmers and gardeners. When there is a scarcity of natural inputs, such as manure or compost, the implementation of regenerative methods may be impeded. As research is being conducted on the resistance that can arise when transitioning from traditional farming techniques, it may also pose a considerable problem.

Although there are many challenges, the success of this practice may help take farming and gardening techniques to a new level. The work of farmers will not go unnoticed, and the tools they use will now make their work more efficient. Regenerative agricultural practices will increase the health and resiliency of crops, even helping them withstand harsh weather conditions.

“It is an ecosystem-based farming that understands that by mimicking nature, we can create sustainable and resilient food systems that regenerate our current degraded resources and ensure future food security,” Lampl said.

Reach Natalee Garcia at science@collegian.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES

HYDRO HISTORY

Colorado confronts water vitality in American West

By Katie Fisher @csucollegian

Water, the most fundamental, life-sustaining element in the natural world, has shaped the American West for millenniums. An overlapping tale of peoples, interactions, management, infrastructure and nature, the everchanging role of water continues to shape the very fabric of Western existence in the United States.

Water played a vital role in Indigenous cultures, impacting the Native Colorado homelands of the Ute, Arapaho and Cheyenne peoples.

“The land and water were not just the source of their livelihoods — they were also the source of their spiritual values,” said Glenn Patterson, a Colorado State University ecosystem science and sustainability faculty member. “As they knew, water is life, and the American West is defined by scarcity of water.”

Similarly, the Ancestral Pueblo people, who built Mesa Verde, constructed basins to hold at least 10,000 to 25,000 gallons of water at a time.

European patterns of colonization and settlement of the Western United States was also directly influenced by water.

“Water will become the central feature for settlement patterns and the

development of towns, villages, cities, farming opportunities and agricultural communities,” said Doug Sheflin, a CSU associate professor of history.

“All that stuff is based on, very loosely, access to some kind of water, even when it doesn’t run all year long. So it’s quite literally the lifeblood of western expansion and settlement.”

Within the Colorado territory, the earliest example of delegated water rights was found in the 1852 digging of the People’s Ditch in the San Luis Valley by Hispanic settlers. Traditional Hispanic water laws are known as acequias, which are “water distribution systems that established rules for water sharing in times of scarcity and enforced a commitment to community-based water governance,” according to Colorado Water Knowledge.

Rapid population growth fueled by the 1858 Colorado Gold Rush led to the creation of the Colorado Doctrine, a series of formalized legislation that defined prior appropriation — the state’s first water law system.

“(Under prior appropriation), the right to water is based upon the concept of first in time, first in right,” said Kathie Troudt Riley, a water rights attorney and CSU instructor of water law, policy and institutions.

Early European settlers’ knowledge of the state’s arid landscape influenced

their push for the system that still delegates water control in the modern era.

“They knew that in this semi-arid region, control of water meant control of productive land, food, industry, wealth and political power,” Patterson said. “They did not want such wealth and power concentrated in the hands of a few large riparian landowners. Instead, they wanted small farmers of modest means, even those with land far from water sources, to have a chance to build farms and thrive.”

Under state law, as the Colorado Constitution reads, “All surface and groundwater within Colorado is owned by the public and is dedicated to the use of the people through water rights established as prescribed by laws of Colorado and the United States.”

John Tracy, former director of the Colorado Water Center and faculty member in the department of ecosystem science and sustainability, elaborated further.

“All of us as citizens of the state have a stake in this,” Tracy said. “So the state set up rules for letting other people use (the water), and this is where water rights come from. So basically, you’re giving somebody a water right to use somebody else’s property, which is the state’s property.”

As Colorado’s population has continued to rapidly increase since the 19th century, water management has been an issue.

An over $40 billion industry in Colorado, agriculture remains the state’s dominant water consumer.

Simultaneously, water demands have increased from the state’s growing cities. When an urban area meets the capacity of its given water rights, it’s forced to acquire others.

“Bringing water means (developers) have to go out and search for sufficient shares of water for sale that they can then transfer to that community water system to be able to serve their new development,” Troudt Riley said.

Water management in the Colorado River Basin has faced growing threats in recent years, with prolonged regional droughts and a changing climate. Seven states — California, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Arizona and Colorado — as well as Mexico and several Indigenous reservations’ shares of the river are delegated by the Colorado River Compact of 1922.

This management delegation has faced growing challenges in recent decades.

“As water demand increases and water supply diminishes due to warming temperatures and increasing frequency and intensity of droughts, there is a looming threat that the lower-

basin states of California, Nevada and Arizona could wind up in a shortage situation and place a ‘call’ on the flows from the upper-basin states,” Patterson said. “This could result in curtailment of junior users in Colorado, including the city of Denver.”

While the region’s challenges are ever present, Colorado has met them head on through direct countermeasures, including developing the Colorado Water Plan.

“The state has a carefully developed water plan and a planning process that is inclusive of stakeholders in all of the major river basins,” Patterson said. “This process has resulted in greater awareness of water issues, greater cooperation in solving water problems and greater efforts toward activities such as water conservation programs.”

Continual, collaborative effort and proper water management will allow the lifeblood of the American West to continue to shape the region for many generations to come.

“It’s certainly not a ... calm time, but there’s so many different opportunities for new thoughts and the ability to negotiate, the ability to really spot problems and try to resolve problems,” Troudt Riley said.

Reach Katie Fisher at science @collegian.com.

COLLEGIAN FILE PHOTO

COMMUNITY CREATIONS

21st Annual Masks Fundraiser & Exhibition fundraises for MoA Fort Collins

By Janaya Stafford @csucollegian

The 21st Annual Masks Fundraiser & Exhibition presents a diverse collection of donated masks to raise money for the Museum of Art Fort Collins. Open until June 6, the exhibit showcases multiple mediums of art and various artistic backgrounds.

LOCAL PAINTER

Blank masks were handed out to participants who could decorate them however they chose. After handing them back in, they went live for an online auction to raise money for the museum’s exhibitions and educational programs.

Over the past 21 years, more than $2 million has been raised, and 3,500 masks have been created. This wouldn’t have been possible without the support of new and returning creators who take the time to create a mask.

“The fundraiser had already been a part of the museum when I got here, and it’s only grown stronger over the years because it really is such a community fundraiser and exhibition and highlights all the creativity going on in the community,” said Lisa Hatchadoorian, co-executive director at the Museum of Art Fort Collins. “It really is our biggest fundraiser for the museum and our programs and exhibitions.”

The exhibition showcases a variety of creations. This year’s online auction will include 224 masks. Few guidelines limit the creativity of the artists, allowing them express what they feel is fitting.

“Masks ignite the imagination,” said Sandra Gisonti, a Northern Colorado-based artist and creator of the mask titled, “The Seeker.” “There is a spiritual power in masks that transports one into realms unseen and gives voice to things unspoken.”

This unconventional canvas enables creators to think outside of the box. While some masks highlight aesthetics, others tell stories, act as social commentary or represent cultures, ultimately meaning something unique to each artist.

Community members are given a platform to showcase what they find valuable for others to see.

“When I thought of participating in the mask event, I wanted to send a message at the same time,” said Claudia Ginos, former interior designer and creator of the mask titled, “Tribute to Bees.” “Human beings need to understand bees are part of the biodiversity on which we all depend for our survival.”

Similar to “Tribute to Bees,” plenty of other masks have messages that are visualized through the artists’ unique stylistic decisions.

This exhibition encourages creators to form a sense of community, as they each work together to make something meaningful.

“It’s, like, the most beautiful process ever, especially when you are working with someone that you have a very similar creative and motivated mind (as),” said Jackie Lausier, who collaborated on a mask with Mark Neubauer. “It really ignites that energy together, and everything kind of unfolds as you talk about it, and the dream state becomes reality before you know it.”

This fundraiser will help financially support the Museum of Art Fort Collins and provide a space for people of all professions to let their creativity flow.

The exhibition contains work made by accountants, graphic designers, students, teachers, defense attorneys and so many more. Despite differences, art can bond everyone together.

“Probably half to two-thirds are just community members who don’t do art as a profession,” Hatchadoorian said. “They just like to be creative, and the masks are really phenomenal, so it really highlights the diversity in the community, and they work with so many different materials.”

Anyone can stop by the Museum of Art Fort Collins to view the masks and bid online for the chance to own one of these pieces. The money will support the museum in its future exhibitions and educational programs. This year, the auction will close 9 p.m. June 6.

“You get mosaic; you get photography; you get quilting, felting, ceramic, painting — everything under the sun,” Hatchadoorian said. “So it all makes for this lovely, wonderful, diverse exhibition.”

Reach Janaya Stafford at entertainment@collegian.com.

NoCo artist Heather Burton showcases passion through Western art

By Natalee Garcia @csucollegian

Heather Burton, an oil painter based in Northern Colorado, had to choose between her desire to create art or the pressure to adopt a more conventional lifestyle.

Burton, originally from upstate New York, is a traditional-style artist who enjoys oil painting and studying horses and landscapes.

She has won many notable awards, including first place 2D on a canvas for the Cowgirl Up! exhibition; first place in the Oil Painters of America Summer Showcase; a Bold Brush award in 2023 and first place in the Bold Brush competition in 2024; and an honorable mention in the Oil Painters of America Spring Show 2023.

Burton’s work will be displayed in the Governor’s Art Show in Loveland, Colorado, from May 2 to June 14. Achieving this goal has prompted Burton to continue advancing her skills at the professional level.

“I had a successful career but hated my job,” Burton said. “I was painting work I didn’t love at night, and I knew I wanted to create a certain kind of work at a certain caliber. I wasn’t able to do that and knew I needed more education.”

As a struggling artist, Burton wanted to engross her son in the arts as much as possible.

“Equally, I felt that I wasn’t teaching my son the right lessons,” Burton said. “If I wanted him to follow his passion and work toward his goals, I was going to have to give him that example.”

But when trying to pursue dreams, logistics can be an obstacle.

“The logistics of learning what I wanted to do was difficult,” Burton said. “Workshops are a great route for someone to learn how to paint like they want to, but I was a single mom with a 4-year-old son, which meant I couldn’t go to school or workshops all the time and work full time and be present for my son. So I needed to find a school that taught the art that I wanted to learn, (so I could) take out student loans, quit my job and be a full-time student and mother.”

While overcoming these hardships, Burton recalled her grandmother as the source of her artistic inspiration. Her grandmother also served as an example for her other grandchildren.

As a result of her grandma’s motivation, Burton’s dedication to her craft has evolved, with her artwork and technique becoming more complex.

“My grandmother was easily one of my favorite people, if not my favorite person in the whole world,” Burton

said. “She made art fun and made it part of all of us. Her love for it was easy to see, and it was contagious.”

While Burton’s love of art helped her find a profession, it established new connections in her personal life, too.

“I met my husband, a fantastic Colorado artist, in 2014 while he was in Maui, (Hawaii), for an art show,” Burton said. “In 2015, my son and I moved to Colorado. I am so excited to be living where beautiful landscapes, horses and wildlife are abundant sources of inspiration. My two amazing, unique and beautiful children are also a constant source of inspiration.”

Burton’s artwork beautifully expresses her profound love for horses. Her admiration goes beyond their graceful appearance; she is eager to immortalize their dynamic movements and energy.

Through her art, Burton captures the essence of horses in action, showcasing their physical beauty, spirit and vitality — characteristics that make them so captivating. This appreciation reflects her dedication to portraying horses in all their glory.

Pursuing one’s passion from the start might result in rewarding possibilities. The art industry offers several professional opportunities, and several artists, like Burton and her husband, have made the move from

graphic design to fine art full-time. This transition serves as a reminder that there are several paths to success in the arts, and each one may be just as fulfilling as the next.

“Not everyone fits into the traditional world, and there needs to be a space for fine artists,” Burton said. “Fine art doesn’t just need to be recognized; it should be legitimized as a valid trade. I do wish more young people realized that there are careers in fine art. It’s not easy, but if it’s your passion, it’s better to follow that route from the start.”

Burton said she believes it’s important for people to pursue their goals, giving themselves the chance to be successful in a dream career. For those who are determined to pursue what they love, the prospects are endless.

“There are thousands of jobs for artists,” said Burton. “My husband and I were graphic artists before being able to be full-time fine artists. I don’t think that’s a bad route either.”

Reach Natalee Garcia at entertainment@collegian.com.

A mask designed as a composite of multiple images of different faces is fastened to the wall of the Museum of Art Fort Collins April 13.

PHOTO BY ERICA PICKERING THE COLLEGIAN

PHOTO COURTESY OF HEATHER BURTON

Modernization of country dancing is sweeping across nation

By Hana Pavelko @hanasolo13

Editor’s Note: All opinion section content reflects the views of the individual author only and does not represent a stance taken by The Collegian or its editorial board.

Popular dancing shows often introduce the general population to new dancing styles like the cha-

cha, pasodoble, Viennese waltz and Charleston. These are only some of many styles of dance, and in recent years, I have seen firsthand the increase in popularity of a different dance style: country.

Country dancing encapsulates several different styles of dance, including the two-step, square dancing, country swing and line dancing. Each one has its own unique style and rules. Some

styles of country dancing are more popular in certain geographical areas than others, but I have witnessed the rise in popularity for most of these styles during my time in college.

“In addition to the modernization of dance moves and music choices in country dancing, there have also been advancements in how it’s being shared. The country dancing population is taking to Instagram, TikTok and other social media sites to spread its popularity.”

Country dancing is a loose term, and its history is intertwined with Western dance. It was not until recent years that country swing seemed to become its own category of dance. While it used to be considered strictly Western dance, the Urban Cowboy movement of the ‘70s and ‘80s prompted country swing to

be considered its own distinct category of partnered dance.

While country swing can still be found in “honky-tonk” bars — where it originated — people can also go to dance halls, like the new Chutes Dance Hall in Fort Collins, to get their fix of country swing.

These dance styles, which many people associate with southern or western states like Texas or Wyoming, have spread across the nation. Dancers can now compete in line dancing and country swing competitions, and there are even clubs to learn the basics of these dances. Colorado State University’s own Ram Country Dance Club offers lessons on Tuesday and Thursday nights.

The apparent country dancing takeover is widely due to the modernization of these styles of dance. Because country swing is still considered a relatively new style of dance, new moves are constantly being created and popularized through social media. These new moves make country swing feel fresh and ever-expanding, and there seems to be no end to what the moves can look like.

The freedom and creativity that comes with country swing keeps people interested. I have been country swing dancing for over a year, and I still cannot seem to catch up with all the moves there are. However, not knowing all the moves keeps me interested and actually makes me want to dance more.

Country swing is not the only evolving dance style. Line dancing is also changing, not just in moves but in music as well. As someone who loves to line dance, I have noticed that I am more often dancing to artists like Pitbull or Jason Derulo than to traditional country music artists like Tim McGraw or George Strait. These modern artists have music that is more upbeat, allowing for new, complex and stylized dances.

In addition to the modernization of dance moves and music choices in country dancing, there have also been advancements in how it’s being shared.

The country dancing population is taking to Instagram, TikTok and other social media sites to spread its popularity.

Many of my friends follow hashtags about line dancing or country swing moves so their repertoires are constantly updated with the latest trends.

Country swing dancers can share new moves or teach mini-lessons via social media, which people can follow along with. Line dancers can showcase their newest choreography and share videos of themselves dancing to the most popular line dance songs.

Country dancing is taking full advantage of the modern age. With new moves, songs and even ways to share, country dancing has swept the nation and changed the way people think about the dance style.

Reach Hana Pavelko at letters @collegian.com.

Colorado State University junior Marin Kasperbauer dances with Dominic Foltin at Sundance Steakhouse & Saloon in Fort Collins July 26. The local Western-themed bar closed at midnight Friday for the final time after 42 years of business.

PHOTO BY HANNAH PARCELLS THE COLLEGIAN

STEREOTYPICAL TUNES

Country music songwriting is antiquated

By Emma Souza @_emmasouza

Editor’s Note: All opinion section content reflects the views of the individual author only and does not represent a stance taken by The Collegian or its editorial board.

To be completely transparent, country music has never been my thing. I don’t consider myself the most qualified person to talk about this, in part because I’m not an avid listener of the genre but also because the majority of those around me or from my hometown also reject country music — or really anything deemed country.

Though this is a byproduct of where I’m from, such beliefs have instilled a vehement distaste for the genre within me. The only country songs I’ve ever

listened to on my own time were “Before He Cheats,” by Carrie Underwood because it is really good, and “Drunk on a Plane,” by Dierks Bentley because it is so, so laughably bad.

Maybe, truly, if I gave country music a better chance, I’d find more gems. But it’s hard for me to put in a valiant effort when every song I’m exposed to, either by friends or randoms, relies on one of the country genre’s holy trinities: relationships, vehicles or alcohol.

I recognize that saying this essentially boils a whole music genre down to three incredibly artificial stereotypes. And, to a certain extent, all genres will have a similar trifecta of topics that popular songs frequently pull from.

Again, I’m not the most qualified person to say such criticisms, so take it from country star Brad Paisley himself; here’s some of the lyrics from his 2011

hit song, “This is Country Music”: “You’re not supposed to say the word ‘cancer’ in a song / And telling folks Jesus is the answer can rub them wrong / It is not hip to sing about tractors, trucks, little towns and mama / Yeah that might be true / But this is country music and we do.”

On a more serious note, the actual reason these stereotypes rub people the wrong way is because a lot of popular songs contain lyrics that follow antiquated gender roles, if not containing downright sexism and overall bad taste. Here’s some of the lyrics from a 2013 song, “Redneck Crazy,” by Tyler Farr: “I’m gonna aim my headlights into your bedroom windows / Throw empty beer cans at both of your shadows / I didn’t come here to start a fight, but I’m up for anything tonight / You know you broke the wrong heart, baby / And drove me redneck crazy.”

It’s not that the whole country genre writes distasteful songs about messy relationships, old-fashioned trucks or a broken bottle of whiskey. But when more than 10% of hit country songs reference liquor in the title alone, country music as a whole looks disproportionately offputting, and the public becomes wary.

There are several country artists who have called out the genre’s stereotypical depiction of women, including Maddie & Tae. Here’s some of the lyrics from their 2015 song, “Girl in a Country Song”: “Being the girl in a country song / How in the world did it go so wrong? / Like all I’m good for is lookin’ good for / You and your friends on the weekend, nothin’ more / We used to get a little respect / Now we’re lucky if we even get / To climb up in your truck, keep our mouths shut and ride along / And be the girl in a country song.”

No matter how much I dislike certain country songs, I will never discount an entire genre. Artists such as Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton have inarguably and collectively made some of the best and most long-standing hits of any genre in the industry. Their success, however, does not negate the fact that many popular artists today have platforms built on decades of stereotypical songwriting. Maybe there’s an audience for it; there could be a whole community of “Drunk on a Plane” enthusiasts. But until those artists produce songs that reflect the current world we live in, modern country music songwriting will continue to be perceived as antiquated.

Reach Emma Souza at letters @collegian.com.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY ALLI ADAMS THE COLLEGIAN

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By Sophia Masia

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (04/17/25)

ARIES (MARCH 21 - APRIL 19)

This week, you can kiss brain fog, miscommunication, insecurities and confusion goodbye. You’ve been put through the astrological wringer lately, but your ruling planet in Leo brings you a major confidence boost and a reminder of how capable you are. Confidence isn’t a prerequisite; it’s a result, Aries.

TAURUS (APRIL 20 - MAY 20)

Your new chapter is almost here, but you need to wrap up the final pages of this one first. Remember that you’re right on time, you’re where you’re supposed to be and you can enjoy being in the present, even when it’s uncertain. One day at a time, Taurus.

GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUNE 20)

Your sense of belonging comes back online this week. You’re ready to reconnect with people and projects that have been on pause. Pack your schedule

with study dates, and spam your close friends story. You’re on fire, Gemini.

CANCER (JUNE 21 - JULY 22)

It’s time to revise. Whether it’s your career path, your home aesthetic, the way you dress or how you act, know that you can always change to be more aligned with yourself. Your people will stick around through every season, Cancer.

LEO (JULY 23 - AUG. 22)

Um, aren’t you forgetting something? In the chaos of seemingly never-ending, unprecedented times, you seem to have forgotten who the hell you are. This transit is about freedom, pleasure, radical joy, confidence and courage; go find it, Leo.

VIRGO (AUG. 23 - SEPT. 22)

This week, the planets are helping you put what you’ve been feeling into words. Being able to name your hurt might help you move past it, so be honest with yourself. Remind yourself how sweet it is to prioritize your nourishment, Virgo.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23 - OCT. 22)

Rally your troops; you’re being offered a second chance at making relationships with strong boundaries from the get-go. Nobody is expecting

perfection, but we are expecting you to honor your truth. Make requests, not resentments, Libra.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23 - NOV. 21) Free from the planets’ grasp at last, you’re ready to get going and have grand ideas of what you want to do. Instead, try assessing where you’re at and setting small goals. Without a routine, measurable goals and a direction, you won’t get very far, Scorpio.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22DEC. 21)

Something has been on your mind, and this week is the push you need to get it out there. If you’re still not feeling confident, know that your spark is coming back. Rediscover your joy, ease and expansiveness, Sagittarius.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 - JAN. 19)

You’re ready to connect with your sense of nurture this week. Be gentle with yourself; you might have a hard exterior and a reputation for being stone cold, but I know you’re a softy on the inside. You don’t have to carry the weight alone, Capricorn.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 - FEB. 18) Say it with your chest this week. Whatever has been stuck in the back of your throat is ready to be heard, so deliver the message — even if it’s not perfect. You’re being asked to meet others with your heart more than your head, Aquarius.

PISCES (FEB. 19 - MARCH 20)

Now out of the cosmic darkness of the woods, you’re feeling closer to normalcy and basking in that feeling. While appreciating what you have is great practice, you have the power to make more of your life. Where could you add a little magic, Pisces?

Last edition’s crossword solution

Last edition’s sudoku solution

“Turn off that TV Girl and get you a beer.”

“No FOMO for this homo.”

“RFK will RF-pay.”

“You look like you have a peanut allergy.”

“I don’t know when they became attached at the goddamn dick.”

Have you overheard something funny on campus? Put your eavesdropping to good use. Tweet us @CSUCollegian and your submissions could be featured in our next paper!

Broken appliances

“Not on 4/20, that’s the people’s holiday.” Nice weather

Dubious lunch meats

Losing water bottles

Roommates

Fire ants

“Carrie” the musical Cat grass

Well-done movies

Turning 21

Thursday, April 17, 2025 Vol. 134 No. 28

THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN

FOCO EVENTS

TOP STORIES

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

CORRECTIONS

EDITORIAL STAFF

Colorado Basic Needs Summit unites activists, advocates for student well-being

How Colorado defied the Rocky Mountain region’s red trend

WESTERN FOLIAGE

Annual Flower Trial Gardens offer vibrant area for Colorado horticulture research

LIVING LEGACY

CAM the Ram handlers keep traditions alive alongside beloved mascot

CEREMONIAL GAMES

Lacrosse traces deep roots to Native American traditions

CSU rodeo cultivates connections between athletes, animals

RODEO EMBODIES SPIRIT OF THE WEST

John Matsushima’s research impacts cattle industry decades later

Regenerative agriculture gives back to local soil environments

HYDRO HISTORY

Colorado confronts water vitality in American West

COMMUNITY CREATIONS

21st Annual Masks Fundraiser & Exhibition fundraises for MoA Fort Collins

LOCAL PAINTER

NoCo artist Heather Burton showcases passion through Western art

Modernization of country dancing is sweeping across nation

STEREOTYPICAL TUNES

Country music songwriting is antiquated

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