Thursday, December 8, 2022 Vol. 132, No. 16

BY TRIN BONNER

THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN

FORT COLLINS FOCUS

TOP STORIES TOP STORIES

NEWS: ‘If Rams took care of Rams, this wouldn’t happen on college campuses’: A survivor’s experience with the Title IX justice system PAGES 4 & 5

L&C: Intersectionality in feminism is crucial to a better movement PAGE 7

CANNABIS: What the unfortunate cannabis, abortion parallels teach us PAGE 9

OPINION: Stella: Let’s look for and celebrate women leaders at CSU PAGE 16

SPORTS: Title IX at CSU: A look back on Impact 50 PAGE 19

A&E: Do Better CSU amplifies student voices PAGE 21

PHOTO: Making her mark PAGES 10 & 11

FOCO EVENTS FOCO EVENTS

CSU Wind Symphony’s “Codex Gigas” at the University Center for the Arts 7:30 p.m. Dec. 9

Textiles: Exploring Boundaries at the Global Village Museum of Arts and Cultures 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekly, Tuesday through Saturday Eagle Watch at Fossil Creek Reservoir Natural Area 3-4:30 p.m. weekly, Friday & Saturday

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Letters to the Editor reflect the view of a member of the campus community and are submitted to the publication for approval. Readers may submit letters to letters@collegian.com. Please follow the guidelines listed at collegian.com before submitting.

Lory Student Center, Suite 118 Fort Collins, CO 80523

Nadia Henry, Ayanna Denning and Danielle Duncan practice their choreography to Hozier’s “Would That I” for their final project in their modern dance techniques course in the dance wing of the University Center for the Arts Dec. 1. The class was tasked by their professor, Judy Bejarano, to create a choreography that demonstrated their knowledge and skills from the semester. “It’s just about getting to share something that I’m passionate about with other people, like the piece we’re creating right now,” Duncan said when asked why she enjoys dance. “It has a lot of heavy emotion, and getting to share that with the rest of the class and see what they create (is) such an artistic process for all of us.” PHOTO

This publication is not an official publication of Colorado State University, but is published by an independent corporation using the name ‘The Rocky Mountain Collegian’ pursuant to a license granted by CSU. Approximately 59% of Rocky Mountain Student Media Corp’s income is provided by the Associated Students of Colorado State University (ASCSU) for the purpose of fostering student careers post-college and greater campus awareness and engagement. The Rocky Mountain Collegian is a 4,000-circulation student-run newspaper intended as a public forum and is printed on paper made of 30% post-consumer waste. It publishes every Thursday during the regular fall and spring semesters. The Collegian publishes online Monday through Thursday. Corrections may be submitted to the editor in chief and will be printed as necessary on page two. The Collegian is a complimentary publication for the Fort Collins community. The first copy is free. Additional copies are 25 cents each.

CORRECTIONS

Everybody makes mistakes, including us. If you encounter something in the paper you believe to be an error, please contact us at: copy@collegian.com.

Serena Bettis | Editor in Chief editor@collegian.com

Taylor Paumen | Content Managing Editor managingeditor@collegian.com

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EDITORIAL STAFF

Trin Bonner | Illustration Editor design@collegian.com

Tri Duong | Photo Director photo@collegian.com

Lucy Morantz | Photo Director photo@collegian.com

Piper Russell | News Editor news@collegian.com

Allie Seibel | News Editor news@collegian.com

Ivy Secrest | L&C Director life@collegian.com

Paul Brull | Cannabis Director cannabis@collegian.com

Bella Eckburg | Opinion Director letters@collegian.com

Karsyn Lane | Sports Director sports@collegian.com

Braidon Nourse | Sports Editor sports@collegian.com

Alex Hasenkamp | A&E Director entertainment@collegian.com

Alex Wilson | Social Media Coordinator socialmedia@collegian.com

BY REILEY COSTA THE COLLEGIAN

What the WGAC can, cannot do for CSU students

By Ivy Secrest @ivysecrest

Popular media often portray the college years as the best time of life. Movies and TV shows have developed high expectations that bring young students onto campuses prepared for the biggest four-year party of their lives.

Even with good intentions, traumatic incidents can derail young college students as they find their footing in higher education. At Colorado State University, this is where the Women and Gender Advocacy Center comes in to support and guide students through gender-based discrimination, abuse, harassment and assault.

Victoria Benjamin, interim assistant director for victim services at the WGAC, works with students daily to support them and give them guidance as they combat their traumas.

The WGAC’s goal is to advocate, educate and maintain a safe space for students on campus. This is so students can find resources and community as they address abuse in their lives. This pertains to sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking and topics of gender and social justice.

“In advocacy, we can support survivors by explaining the Title IX process,” Benjamin said. “As an advocate, we can’t give any sort of legal advice, but we can give legal information, and so we’re able to explain the process and then also support survivors through the process.”

Even with these support systems set up, the WGAC has limitations. They cannot give legal advice, as that can only be given by an attorney. They cannot advocate for nonstudents due to being partially funded by student fees.

“We’ve had folks call in from other states,” Benjamin said. “We will do that crisis intervention in the moment and then refer them to the appropriate resource.”

The traumas of sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking or even social justice pertaining to gender can affect more than just the primary survivors. Secondary survivors, such as intimate partners, friends and family of the primary survivors can also experience trauma surrounding those topics.

The WGAC doesn’t stop their advocacy at the primary survivors.

“When we talk about ‘we support students,’ that’s a way that we do that kind of support,” Benjamin said. “We can talk to a secondary survivor about how to best support the survivor and their life and how the violence has impacted them as a support person.”

Victoria Benjamin stands by the front desk of the Women and Gender Advocacy Center in the Student Services building Dec. 5. “We’re only able to serve students and not faculty and staff,” Benjamin said. “We can receive calls from anybody at least once, and then we’ll refer them to some of our awesome community and campus partners to get support otherwise, but we can’t do ongoing support of faculty and staff here on campus.” This limitation is due to the center being funded by student fees and because their team isn’t large enough to provide this additional support.

PHOTO BY SARA SHAVER THE COLLEGIAN

“(It’s) a direct service position, supporting survivors of interpersonal violence,”Benjamin said.“We provide confidential advocacy services. And then also, this role allows me to train volunteers for our 24-hour hotline ... or Victim Assistance Team.”

This does not mean they will turn away nonstudents or those looking for legal advice. Legal guidance can be given along with an explanation of the law, and nonstudents can be offered resources and referred to organizations that are built to help them.

Though there are limitations to the WGAC and advocacy, it is still an significant resource that works in tandem with the Office of Title IX Programs and Gender Equity, advocating for students.

Reach Ivy Secrest at news@collegian.com.

Rams took care of Rams, this wouldn’t happen on college campuses’: A survivor’s experience with the Title IX justice system

By Allie Siebel @allie_siebel_

Editor’s Note: Trigger warning: This story contains graphic depictions of sexual assault. All names have been changed.  Belle Simonds considered herself a normal 18-year-old first-year student at Colorado State University in fall 2021.

Simonds, a self-described animal lover from California, is a zoology major. She worked at a dog rescue in high school and said she loves to give back to both people and animals.

“Personally, I’m very bubbly,” Simonds said. “I try to be the happiest that I can be around people pretty much all times.”

Simonds’ first year of college started normally — until a direct message set a spiral of events into motion that would drastically alter her life.

During the first week of classes, Simonds received an

Instagram direct message from a 22-year-old student named Dylan Whittle saying he thought she was cute and wanted to get to know her better. Simonds, who enjoys making friends, started to message with him.

“I love making friends; that’s not usually a problem for me,” Simonds said. “And at first, I was a little skeptical because I was thinking, ‘Who DMs people anymore?’ Every time he texted me, it took me a couple of days to respond just because I’m not very active on social media.”

Whittle would ask Simonds to go for drives — something she wasn’t comfortable with — so eventually Whittle invited Simonds to a party at his fraternity. She and her friends attended to meet him in person.

“At that party, he roofied me,” Simonds said. “I noticed, like, a weird, chalky consistency in my drink. I asked my friend, ‘Is yours the same way as well?’ and she said, ‘No, not at all.’ So I dumped it out immediately.”

Simonds and her friends left the party and went back to her dorm. Whittle later called her and asked her to come over to meet his roommates.

“I thought, ‘Yeah, that’s a great opportunity for us to get to know each other better,’” Simonds said. “When we got there, he led me directly into his bedroom. All the lights were off; his roommates were not there.”

“He put a movie on, and then

he began to make out with me, which I was fine with — I con sented to that part,” Simonds said. “However, he then started to touch me in places that I wasn’t comfortable with. I asked him to stop, and he stopped at first. And then he’d start to choke me sexu ally, and I didn’t really like that. So again, I asked him to stop.”

When the movie finished, Simonds asked Whittle to take her home. Whittle agreed and asked if she needed anything before they left. She asked for a glass of water, and he went into his bathroom to get the water, which Simonds noted was odd.

“I thought that was a little strange because the kitchen was right outside his bedroom,” Simonds said. “And about 15 minutes after I drank the water, I completely passed out, and I do not remember what happened the rest of the night.”

Simonds said she woke up one time during the night to find Whittle on top of her, kissing her and choking her to the point of her physically blacking out. Simonds had no idea what was happening.

“It was definitely very scary,” Simonds said. “At the same time, it was better than understanding that I couldn’t move or say anything to get help. My body was in that state of not being able to comprehend anything that was going on. The best way to describe it is when you’re going under anesthesia, where you can’t move; you can’t speak; you can’t scream for help.”

When Simonds woke up in the morning, Whittle would not let her go home. She frantically left his apartment after saying she hadn’t taken her medication the previous night.

All Simonds wanted to do was take a shower, but she didn’t want to wake her roommate up, so she grabbed her AirPods and went on a walk, calling the only person she could think of who would be awake that early: her grandfather.

“He asked me why I had makeup all over my face,” Simonds said.

“I was

thinking, ‘That’s strange. I already wiped all the makeup off from night prior.’”

When she returned to her dorm and finally went to take a shower, she discovered the “makeup” on her face was bruising.

“There was a huge bruise under my eye that was black, and then throughout the day a handprint around my neck became more progressive; the fingerprints got darker and darker,” Simonds said.

“It was just four fingerprints on one side and his thumbprint on the other side.”

if there isn’t enough evidence for law enforcement to proceed, still proceed with the case because you never know if your case could help down the line in another investigation. Even if reporting what happened feels wrong — and it felt wrong for me — still go through with it. At the end of the day, I didn’t tell the cops and go through with the investigation for myself. I did it for the other girls that he had hurt and for the other girls that he could potentially hurt.”

BELLE SIMONDS CSU STUDENT

After the dance, Whittle took Simonds back to his apartment again, which she never agreed to. Once again, Whittle overpowered Simonds and began asking her to take things further and touching her without her consent, forcing her to do sexual things to him several times that night. She was sober and brought her own water to be safe.

“When he finally took me home, that was the time that I realized, ‘OK, he’s a really bad person, and I need to stop hanging out with him,’” said Simonds, who was still trying to process what had happened to her.

The following day, Simonds texted Whittle saying she didn’t want to maintain connection with him anymore.

A few weeks later, Simonds was contacted by her resident director, who told her one of her roommates was concerned about her and reported what was going on to the resident assistant. RAs are mandated reporters in instances of sexual assault and are required to report incidents to their building’s RDs.

The RD sat Simonds down and had her call the Victim Assistance Team hotline number. The Women and Gender Advocacy Center, which runs the VAT hotline, connected Simonds with an advocate, and later that week, she sat down with her advocate and told her story for the first time.

“That’s when I found out that ... in both cases, I hadn’t consented, so this was rape and sexual assault,” Simonds said. “It was difficult for me to process these things.”

The emotional impact of this discovery weighed heavily on Simonds and led to a friend calling the CSU Police Department out of concern for her.

Simonds covered the injuries with makeup and kept telling herself it was an accident.

“(Whittle) would apologize profusely,” Simonds said. “He started to gaslight me to make me feel bad, saying that he just wanted to spend time with me.”

Several weeks later, Whittle texted Simonds a frantic apology asking her to come to his fraternity formal as a public place to talk and to work things out. Simonds, who wanted to forgive Whittle after befriending his roommates, agreed to attend.

“In my head, I just kept thinking, ‘This is all my fault,’ convincing myself that if I never went over there, it would have never happened,” Simonds said. “I was gaslighting myself into thinking I was the reason this happened — that it was because of the amount of makeup I was wearing or the way my hair was. It wasn’t about my clothes because both nights I’d been in leggings, high-top Converse and a baggy sweatshirt.”

Simonds was convinced her choices had led to things spiraling out of control with Whittle.

‘If

“Even

“As a freshman in college, this is a whole new world, and I was trying to figure out if I liked the way my body was or if I needed to lose weight or if I should change my style,” Simonds said. “I dress very tomboyish, and I kept thinking that maybe because I started dressing more girly, maybe that’s why he pursued me more — or maybe it was because I told him I was going to lose all this weight. I constantly told myself that it was all my fault.”

CSUPD could not do much with Simonds’ case because the assault occurred in an off-campus apartment, so the case was turned over to Fort Collins Police Services, who took her statement right after winter break. The District Attorney’s office began an investigation following her statement.

Because she had not gotten a sexual assault nurse examiner kit done after either event, the DA’s office said not much could be done, which was incredibly frustrating to Simonds.

“I feel that with most people that end up in my situation, your first thought isn’t, ‘Oh, I need to get (a SANE kit) done,’” Simonds said. “It takes you a while to fully process what had happened, and that had been the case for me. I made the report three months after the initial event and a month after the second, so there was a lot of time and in-between for things to heal.”

The medical evaluation was able to find that Whittle had punctured Simonds’ jugular vein, hence the extreme bruising on her neck. However, despite the text messages, calls and photos, the DA’s office determined there wasn’t enough evidence to proceed, and the case was turned over to the Office of Title IX Programs and Gender Equity at CSU.

Simonds was more confident in the Title IX process and said she believes the amount of evidence she presented has contributed to the investigation.

The Title IX process for a student-reported sexual assault case follows a flow of seven steps, from the initial report being received to a hearing and decision, according to the Office of Title IX at CSU.

Through Title IX, if a perpetrator is found guilty, sanctions can be placed on them, according to the Office of Title IX’s website.

This is different from legal proceedings, wherein a person guilty of rape could be convicted of a felony and a lifetime registered sex offender status, according to Colorado law.

While less drastic than legal proceedings, Title IX sanctions could result in expulsion, withholding a diploma, disciplinary probation and loss of good standing, according to the Student Resolution Center.

“It was frustrating knowing that the justice system couldn’t do enough for me,” Simonds said. “But I’m trying to stay as hopeful as I can with Title IX.”

Since then, Simonds has connected with several support groups through the WGAC. She’s met others who knew of Whittle’s reputation and has grown comfortable sharing her story.

“It’s really great to have that community here at CSU and just be able to know that we’re not alone,” Simonds said. “It sucks knowing that other people have gone through similar events, like traumatic events; however, it’s nice to know that we’re not alone and that there is a community there for us in order to feel safer.”

Simonds now works with the WGAC and has shared her story and experience of still having her abuser on campus in front of a VAT training class as well as a panel consisting of members of a board of directors from around the university.

Even though Simonds was nervous to testify in front of both groups, she said the experiences helped her feel more at peace and become more comfortable sharing her story.

“One of the biggest takeaways for me was when someone on the panel said, ‘Rams don’t take care of

Rams,’” Simonds said. “Honestly, that has held true because if Rams took care of Rams, this would not happen on college campuses.”

The path to healing has been long and difficult, and Simonds’ Title IX case remains open a year later.

“Even if there isn’t enough evi dence for law enforcement to pro ceed, still proceed with the case be cause you never know if your case could help down the line in another investiga

her current partner. She said the energy he has put into maintaining a normal friendship and romantic relationship with her following her assault as well as understanding what happened while not treating her like a permanently broken person have helped her heal the most.

Her advice to fellow survivors is to find sources of strength in their lives and to never give up.

work into wanting to get better. However, they need to know that they’re not alone and that there’s so many people within not only the CSU community but the community in general that have all been through similar situations. We’re there to support people and also give them the opportunity to share their story if they’re ready.”

Reach Allie Seibel at news@collegian.com.

The race for equality: 50 years of Title IX impact at CSU

“My advice is to participate in athletics; do your best,” Koenig said. “Some will go to the Olympics, some won’t. But always balance it out, and get your education. And that’s really the value of Title IX is that (it) provides an avenue for many women who maybe couldn’t afford college to get an education.”

In the 50 years Title IX has been in effect, the landscape of women’s collegiate athletics has changed drastically, and so have the rights of students.

“We always think of Title IX for athletics,” Hirn said. “It has more to do with equal rights for women — equal for men and women.”

Title IX protects students from discrimination and harassment in the university environment.

“If they want to do a Title IX investigation, we can be there as an emotional support person through that entire process,” said Victoria Benjamin, interim assistant director for victim services at the Women and Gender Advocacy Center at CSU.

direction from anybody,” Hirn said. “They just said, ‘You need to be equal.’”

This lack of guidance from the government combined with inconsistent support of Title IX lead to many missteps in its implementation. Many universities were audited to ensure compliance, including CSU.

“You can’t belittle the effect of Title IX — it really opened up athletics to women,” Koenig said. “And in many ways, we’re treated equally. I just think, with a lot of the funding, it’s still secondary sports, compared to football for instance.”

Women like Koenig, Amy Van Dyken, Becky Hammon and Jennifer Buford were able to make their names in collegiate sports, and coaching careers of women’s teams like Tom Hilbert’s were made possible because of Title IX.

CSU students 50 years ago were accustomed to a very different type of campus. The promise of Title IX was brand-new, and the avenues it provided were yet to be revealed, and while it has changed a great deal legally, equity is still an ongoing social battle.

Koenig mentioned she’s disappointed with how some women’s sports still aren’t treated equitably. Her daughter attended CSU on scholarship and swam. Koenig said she couldn’t hear announcers at the meet, and the university wouldn’t replace the system even when it would’ve been free.

Despite this disappointment, she highlighted how so much has improved.

By Ivy Secrest @ivysecrest

Today’s Colorado State University women’s basketball team is the pinnacle of Ram pride. However, this wasn’t the case before the 1970s; in fact, CSU’s logo wasn’t even on the jerseys.

Their support was sparked by one federal law: Title IX. Passed in 1972, Title IX left universities to decipher how they would achieve gender equity on and off the court.

“If you didn’t have Title IX, you wouldn’t have Becky Hammon; you wouldn’t have women in the NCAA tournament,” volunteer historian and alumnus John Hirn said. “This was a (paradigm) shift for women in athletics all throughout the nation, not just CSU.”

Title IX states, “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.” This meant equitable scholarship opportunities and better access to the collegiate environment.

Wendy Koenig, former Olympian and staple of CSU’s women’s track program in the ‘70s, was one of many athletes whose lives were changed by Title

“It allowed me, first of all, to have a scholarship equal to the men,” Koeing said. “I received one of the first scholarships for women at CSU.”

“

Koenig came to CSU after competing in the 1972 Olympics. Wanting to be close to home in Estes Park and looking for affordable options with education, the passing of Title IX gave her opportunities she may not have received otherwise.

Since the ‘70s, CSU’s resources associated with Title IX have grown. The WGAC was founded in 1970, and the Office of Title IX Programs and Gender Equity did not exist prior to Title IX’s implementation in 1972. However, equity wasn’t achieved immediately.

“I mean, there was no direction from the government; there was no

Funding that had never before gone into women’s sports not only put the CSU logo on women’s jerseys but brought their talents to light, filling Moby Arena and bringing money to the school.

“I think that with all the things that could have happened with Title IX at CSU, coaches and staff were the epitome of professionals for all of the women that came in,” Koenig said. “They just embraced the whole program, and I was so fortunate to be at CSU because some schools weren’t as happy about it.”

“When I was running, I watched the commentary people stand and talk about the man’s race,” Koenig said. “And I could see us, you know, on a later video going along behind them. They wouldn’t even talk — the announcers wouldn’t even talk about our races. And that’s changed: People look forward to the women’s events and the men’s events.”

Progress is aided by law and legislation, which is why Title IX still holds relevance 50 years later. While social change must follow, legal protections change lives.

Reach Ivy Secrest at  life@collegian.com.

That’s really the value of Title IX is that (it) provides an avenue for many women who maybe couldn’t afford college to get an education.”

WENDY KOENIG MAYOR OF ESTES PARK, FORMER OLYMPIAN, FORMER CSU ATHLETE AND CSU ALUMNA

IX. Now the mayor of Estes Park, Colorado, Koenig credited Title IX with gifting her an education and athletic support.

Wendy Koenig and her Olympic counterpart Pamela Greene in the 1976 Olympics.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN HIRN

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN HIRN

Intersectionality in feminism is crucial to a better movement

By Emmalee Krieg @csucollegian

With this year being the 50th anniversary of Title IX, it’s worth recognizing other topics within feminism that have gained prominence, such as intersectionality.

Social movements can prioritize what’s mainstream and flashy, leaving behind marginalized groups in the process.

Feminism, race, ethnicity, sexual identity, social class and disability play different roles in life experiences, and intersectionality tackles the different factors of discrimination and how they affect someone’s life.

“What intersectionality means really is that intersecting oppressions — that kind of informs a person’s experience,” said Victoria Benjamin, the interim assistant director for victim services at the Women and Gender Advocacy Center at Colorado State University. “If a person has multiple marginalized identities, all of those work together to create multiple sorts of marginalizations.”

Benjamin, who earned a dual bachelor’s degree in sociology and women and gender studies as well as a master’s in ethnic studies, highlighted the importance of intersectionality and how it is often white women who are the main focus of feminism.

“When we are talking about feminism, oftentimes it privileges the experiences of cis(gender) white women,” Benjamin said.

Savannah Johnson, a student at CSU, pointed out her hesitation with feminism. She is a peer mentor at the Black/African American Cultural Center office, a Giving Back, Empowering and Strengthening Our Culture program leader and the financial officer for the Black Student Alliance at CSU.

“Personally, feminism for me is very cis and very white focused,” Johnson said.

White feminism is used to describe the focus feminism tends to have on white women. A lot of people, like Johnson, do not identify as feminists because of this. Women in minority ethnic groups are underrepresented, and the oppression they face is often not acknowledged. Media can hide under the broad blanket of feminism while only portraying white women and giving them the most credit.

“People have intersecting identities obviously, like someone’s race, someone’s economic status, someone’s sexual identity, gender identity — all that is going to affect how they’re affected in the whole fem bubble,” Johnson said. “It’s important to have these

conversations so it’s not just uplifting one type of woman but all women.”

Recognizing different identities and how they intersect is key to a better social movement. Intersectionality in particular started gaining more prominence in the 1990s.

Kimberlé Crenshaw is an American civil rights advocate and a leading scholar of critical race theory. As a lawyer, she helped defend Anita Hill, who testified against Clarence Thomas with claims of sexual harassment in 1991. Hill was another Black woman facing discrimination based on her race and gender.

According to The Guardian, “Hill’s case cemented her idea of ‘intersectionality,’ set out in a paper two years before the hearing. The idea suggests that different forms of discrimination — such as sexism and racism — can overlap and compound each other in just this way.”

During Hill’s case, Crenshaw was also working on another paper called “Mapping the Margins: Intersectionality, Identity Politics and Violence Against Women of Color” on the history of Black women being sexually harassed and abused.

In “Mapping the Margins,” Crenshaw writes, “Although racism and sexism readily intersect in the lives of real people, they seldom do in feminist and antiracist practices.”

The next step toward intersectionality is education about different experiences.

different identities than you — is really important,” Benjamin said.

“Approach others with empathy because you don’t know what others’ backgrounds are and others’ experiences,” Johnson said. “Something that may seem obvious to you is not going to be obvious to another person.”

Benjamin highlighted how crucial privilege is and when it comes into play.

“If you’re a person with privilege (or) with privileged identities, it’s really important to contend with those and understand how both privilege and oppression forms your view of the world,” Benjamin said. “For me, I’m a cis white woman, right? And that means a very particular thing about how I’ll experience the world (and) how I’m treated in the world.”

While the first step is to acknowledge certain privileges individuals may hold, the second step is to actively combat ignorance. Learning new things happens all the time; choosing to act on and acknowledge those privileges holds weight and speaks volumes.

“Intersectionality is a term that was coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw, who is a Black legal scholar,” Benjamin said.

“I think doing self-education (and) understanding what you can about folks with different experiences than you — (or) have

“Some people are ignorant, but I feel like ignorance is a willful act,” Johnson said.

Reach Emmalee Krieg at entertainment@collegian.com.

“While the first step is to acknowledge certain privileges individuals may hold, the second step is to actively combat ignorance. Learning new things happens all the time; choosing to act on and acknowledge those privileges holds weight and speaks volumes.”

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY CHLOE LELINE THE COLLEGIAN

EUREKA Strawberry Clemonade — a swift, palate pleasing high STRAIN REVIEW

By Taylor Paumen @taytaypau

The world inside each dispensary is so different from building to building, but one thing that often stays consistent is their colorful displays, making stoners reminisce about being a kid in a candy store. One of those visual lures is the long lines of disposable dab pens draped across the walls.

Mystery flavor or Melon Madness, but this time around, I picked up the Strawberry Clemonade strain.

Most of these pens are hybrids in a sense they’re more there for the flavor than the sole purpose of boosting your vibe or putting you to sleep. However, the high is definitely still there along with the incredible taste.

Strawberry Clemonade could be a bit much for some, but if you’re tired of normal tasting wax, why not spice it up with something more fruity? The strawberry is very potent but creates a smooth inhale to exhale with a nice citrus hint from the clemonade.

OK, EUREKA got the points for flavor, but does it establish a good high? The answer is yes, it does. The high follows the characteristics of a hybrid, calming the body but keeping it energized enough to keep up with your surroundings.

EUREKA is one of many brands you can find across the board and falls under the products dispensaries almost always carry.

This week I headed to LivWell Enlightened Health dispensary to snatch a half-gram EUREKA Fusion Disposable reusable dab pen. LivWell offers several exotic flavors, like

Don’t be fooled, though, by its cute and colorful appearance, as the high will get you quick. Like a battery dab pen set on high, these little disposables will get you blasted after one big hit. This can be useful for a solid puff before a big dinner or easy to puff if you’re on the go.

The high hits quickly but falls almost just as fast, so if you’re a fairly consistent smoker, these little halfgram disposable pens might last you a week, maximum. With the

half-gram coming in at $25, these probably aren’t the best choice if money is tight, but they’re perfect if you want something different.

The biggest positive to purchasing these pens specifically is that they are rechargeable. If you’ve ever bought a disposable vapor device of any kind, when that flashing light blinks at

you, cross your fingers that you’ll find a charging port at the bottom of the pen. EUREKA pens, when fully charged, can last on a full battery for a day or two, obviously depending on how much you hit it.

With a solid battery life, amazing taste and a rapid high, the price might be worth it. Pick up any flavor

and enjoy the EUREKA pens with friends or simply a quick high for yourself. And remember, if you find yourself high in the clouds after a few hits, don’t panic; you’ll come back down to earth swiftly. Rating: 8/10.

Reach Taylor Paumen at  cannabis@collegian.com.

By Guest Authors @csucollegian

Editor’s Note: “Because I Got High” content consists of community story submissions and does not represent the views of The Collegian or its editorial board. The Collegian does not promote underage or excessive substance use or impairment for the purpose of creating a submission.

In-N-Out secret menu

One of the first times that I got high with my brother, he took me to an In-N-Out Burger. I was way too high to be reading a menu — not to mention I never went to an In-NOut before. I could not register the fact that the menu was so limited, and then my brother explained there was a secret menu. I was so anxious, and the interior of the place was low-key freaking me out, so I made him order me something he thought I’d like. I’d like to say that the meal was worth it, but I don’t even remember eating my burger. Also, the animal-style fries were mid.

Thermostat hot box

Over fall break, I brought my three closest friends to my hometown for

Thanksgiving. My parents are well aware of my smoking habits and said we were more than welcome to smoke upstairs. I was shocked. I tried telling my parents that they were being too cool and that I didn’t want to smoke flower in the house because of how potent it was. I figured we would be just fine smoking in the garage, so one night, my friends and I decided to smoke a joint there. The next morning, my mom told us we were smoking right next to the air intake for the house thermostat, gassing up the entire house. Fortunately, my parents said it helped them fall asleep. You’re welcome, Mom and Dad, for a good night’s rest; next time we’ll smoke upstairs.

To submit stories, email cannabis@ collegian.com or fill out our Google Form, which is linked alongside guidelines in our Letter from the Editor.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY SOPHIA SIROKMAN THE COLLEGIAN

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY AVA KERZIC THE COLLEGIAN

“Don’t be fooled, though, by its cute and colorful appearance, as the high will get you quick.”

What the unfortunate cannabis, abortion parallels teach us OPINION

By Paul Brull @csucollegian

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

On June 24 the Supreme Court of the United States of America overturned Roe v. Wade in the landmark case Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, rescinding Americans’ federal right to abortions. Since this case, 16 states have either severely restricted abortion access or outright banned the medical procedure. Other states still protect this right.

How does this bear relevance to the cannabis section or the Title IX edition of The Collegian? There is a set of unfortunate parallels between national dialogue about abortion and cannabis. Both exist in a nonfederalized system that severely penalizes people in one state for a perfectly legal action one state over. Both carry with them similar national dialogues about the merits of values versus public health. Both restrictions disproportionately affect

racial and ethnic minorities. By no means do I wish to conflate these issues; they are not the same. Their similarities, though, provide some insight and bring some relevant perspective to the issues.

Abortion is medicine. There are many cases in which an abortion is the safest way to ensure the health of a pregnant person, especially in cases of likely miscarriage. Cannabis is medicine too. It can sometimes alleviate PTSD symptoms when nothing else can, it can help manage pain without opioids and it can treat epilepsy, among other things.

Even if a number of people you know get medical cannabis cards for perhaps less legitimate reasons, there are just as many people suffering from all manner of mental illness and chronic pain who received the help they needed from cannabis. Even though medical use is sometimes justified under dubious medical claims, the other side of the coin is denial of treatment to those who really need it.

Abortion is not dissimilar in this way. Restrictive abortion laws, even when they do provide for medical exceptions in extreme circumstances,

usually tie doctors’ hands. The doctors are often unable to provide treatment early lest they risk malpractice claims or even murder charges in some states. Women in desperate need of abortion care may not be able to receive it, endangering them greatly.

Health care, though, is just the tip of the iceberg.  Recreational cannabis and nonmedically necessary abortions carry similar social justice implications. The people most affected by denial of access to both tend to be disproportionately poor and of racial and/or ethnic minority status. In the case of cannabis, this emerges in an incredibly punitive justice system that leverages use in these communities to disproportionately target and imprison people of color. Abortion restriction on a state-by-state basis makes it obnoxiously harder and more costly for richer communities but even harder for poorer communities in abortion-restricted states to get this service, creating similar socioeconomic disparities. Both also share a state of exception for the white and affluent.

A white person is less likely to be indicted on a charge of cannabis possession without even accounting for the socioeconomic access to legal services more frequently enjoyed by richer individuals. When it comes to abortion, a similar pattern emerges. White and affluent people can more frequently access care and jump through the necessary hoops to attain it.

So far, I have created a loose connection between these two topics, but what are the lessons learned from this parallel?

The first is the “why” behind access restriction. Both abortion’s and cannabis’s legal statuses are often wrapped in debate about each’s moral legitimacy rather than impacts. Unsurprisingly, these morals hinge on who they affect. President Richard Nixon couldn’t directly target “Blacks and hippies,” but he could target them through drug laws. The Supreme Court couldn’t target “the modern woman,” but they could target their health care. By leveraging biases against these groups, politicians create effective policies to police and restrict

autonomy while increasing their own power.

The second lesson is hope. Lately, whenever either abortion or cannabis policy is put to the voters on a ballot, it almost always turns to support for either, even in states with incredibly dominant conservative majorities. This last election cycle, Missouri — a state with a 10648 Republican supermajority in its House of Representatives — approved recreational cannabis. Last August, my home state of Kansas upheld its constitutional right to abortion despite heavy conservative leanings. If the votes for both issues are in these states, they’re there to make a change.

If we let them, politicians will be more than willing to restrict our autonomy. They will stoke fear to control the constituencies they don’t want to vote or influence politics, and their greatest weapon is despair. When we stop fighting and become afraid, we lose. Laws like Title IX are the product of our bravery, and we have to remember the votes are on our side.

Reach Paul Brull at cannabis@ collegian.com.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY DYLAN TUSINSKI THE COLLEGIAN

“If we let them, politicians will be more than willing to restrict our autonomy. They will stoke fear to control the constituencies they don’t want to vote or influence politics, and their greatest weapon is despair.”

1900s

1. Members of the Colorado State University women’s basketball team from the 1902 season pose for a team picture after being named Intercollegiate Athletic Association of Colorado champions. The team was the first women’s sports team established on campus.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN HIRN

1970s

2. A pitch is thrown during a softball game. Softball was established at Colorado State University in the 1970s and was one of nine women’s sports teams on campus.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN HIRN

3. A Colorado State University gymnast performs. Gymnastics was one of several sports added to campus after the formation of the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN HIRN

1980s

4. A Colorado State University women’s golf player tees off at a match. Rams golf is still around today, with men and women fielding teams each year PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN HIRN

5. A Colorado State University volleyball player bumps the ball. Rams volleyball won the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference championships in 1984 and 1985.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN HIRN

The evolution of women’s sports at CSU

See the transformation of women’s athletics at CSU since 1903

1

3

MAKING HER MARK

1990s

6. Former Colorado State University swimmer Amy Van Dyken sits on the edge of a pool. Van Dyken went on to have a prolific career as an Olympian for the United States, winning six gold medals.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN HIRN

7. Former Colorado State University basketball guard Becky Hammon leads the women’s basketball team onto the court of Moby Arena. Hammon was one of the most successful athletes in CSU sports history and went on to be a successful coach in the NBA and WNBA.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN HIRN

2010s

8. Former Colorado State University goalkeeper Jesse McGinley (0) punts the ball during a game against California State University, Fresno, Sept. 25, 2015. During her collegiate career, McGinley secured the title of most single-game saves with 10 saves.

COLLEGIAN FILE PHOTO

9. The Colorado State University women’s volleyball team holds up the 2019 Mountain West Conference Championship trophy in Moby Arena Nov. 16, 2019. CSU volleyball has won all but six Mountain West titles since 2000.

BY LUCY MORANTZ THE COLLEGIAN

2020s

10. Colorado State University track athlete Lauren Gale runs in the women’s 400-meter finals at the Doug Max Invitational April 16, 2022. Gale competed in the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo as the youngest member of Canada’s track and field team.

BY SOPHIE STERN THE COLLEGIAN

11. Colorado State University basketball guard McKenna Hofschild (4) dribbles around a University of Denver guard at Moby Arena Dec. 6, 2022. Hofschild recorded a double-double and surpassed 1,000 career points in the Rams’ 85-54 win.

PHOTO BY SERENA BETTIS THE COLLEGIAN

PHOTO

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Title IX should educate more on sex-based discrimination COLLEGIAN COLUMNISTS

One governmental action can help in certain areas but often falls flat in others. If we examine the slow process of desegregation in the United States, we can see that although the legality of segregation changed, the precedent did not. Amendments made by the government can make certain things illegal or can set a goal for equality, but they cannot change ideology.

So if the government cannot just sign a piece of paper with a nice little message above it to rid the country of its problems, what exactly can it do?

By Brendan Henry @brendanhenryrmc

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.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 offers governmentally regulated protection from sex-based discrimination in schools and programs that are provided with federal financial assistance. It covers both educational and athletic activities, and you are more likely to hear about it when speaking of athletics.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, Title IX impacts “approximately 17,600 local school districts, over 5,000 postsecondary institutions and charter schools, forprofit schools, libraries and museums.”

This amendment is an interesting one simply because it addressed an issue of its time. The ‘60s and ‘70s saw a shift in gender roles: Women were becoming more empowered, and at that point, it became fitting to make sure women were given the same opportunities as men in the spheres of education and activities.

Title IX has undoubtedly helped equalize the playing field for genders in schools, but are government regulation and policy always effective at eliminating discrimination? Of course not.

Educate, educate, educate. If values of equality and an absence of prejudice are instilled in children now, these children will pass down their values to their children. We would likely see a downward trend in sexual violence and discrimination in schools instead of an increase if there was a heightened focus on these topics in the education system.

The government can sign an attempted catch-all amendment — or they could actually mandate education on the topic in an attempt to completely eradicate it.

Growing up, your parents likely told you when something you were doing was wrong. There were probably times when you continued to do whatever it was they tried to stop you from doing because you did not know why it was wrong. If your parents explained to you why it was wrong the first time, you probably would have stopped because you understood their reasoning.

Sexual violence in schools is currently on the rise, an issue that Title IX attempts to prevent. Some of this stems from ignorance of Title IX protections; students do not know where to go or how to report instances of sexual violence or discrimination. There are also schools that are too conservative on what they consider an issue, and this leaves students who need help helpless.

Pointlessly early or late finals.

Icy sidewalks.

The government should mandate education on the topic of gender discrimination rather than trying to rely on a dated catch-all amendment. While the amendment works on a surface level — like equality in sports — it does not do much to change harmful ideology. Ideology starts in the home, but ideology in the home starts with education.

Reach Brendan Henry at letters@ collegian.com.

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The government should mandate education on the topic of gender discrimination rather than trying to rely on a dated catch-all amendment.”

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Let’s look for and celebrate women leaders at CSU

another high-achieving woman as the finalist to fill the role.

university. It is evident in most actions the university takes: the land acknowledgment, its focus on creating inclusive environments for all sexual orientations and gender identities and its focus on protecting the environment.

An area the university could focus on more, however, is its representation of women leaders.

As The Collegian celebrates Title IX protections, we cannot just celebrate this historic piece of legislation but must look for ways to actively improve upon the legacy of Title IX.

Title IX is an amendment of the Civil Rights Act and prevents discrimination based on sex.

By Michael Stella @michaelstella_

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.

In 2019, Joyce McConnell was named the first woman president in Colorado State University’s more than 150-year history. Then, over last summer and after a

mutual agreement with the CSU System Board of Governors, her tenure of only three years came to an end.

The decision to let McConnell go was not only a shortsighted move for the university in a number of ways, it also comes at a time when women’s voices need to be elevated.

As the Presidential Search Advisory Committee finished its search process Dec. 2, it was a positive sign that they chose

It is encouraging that the search committee chose not only a woman but a woman with the background Amy Parsons has.  Parsons has experience in higher education at CSU, but more importantly, she was CEO of an international company. Something McConnell lacked was more experience in the business world.  CSU, though it may not like to admit it, is a progressive-leaning

McConnell was the most visible woman leader at the university while she was employed, but there have been and currently are incredible women leaders at CSU.

Temple Grandin is the first name that comes to mind. Grandin has taught and researched at CSU for more than 30 years. Her work in animal science is widespread and well known.

Universities — where research is conducted and students grow into their roles in society — are

often catalysts of change. One aspect of Title IX was the funding requirements set in place for college athletics.

Becky Hammon, head coach of the Las Vegas Aces and CSU women’s basketball alumna, is one of the most accomplished female athletes to come out of CSU. She is the only women’s basketball player in CSU history to have her jersey number retired.

Hammon has had a successful coaching career in men’s and women’s professional basketball. She was an assistant for the San Antonio Spurs, the first full-time female coach in the NBA and the first rookie head coach in WNBA history to win the WNBA title.

Whether it is women like Grandin leading the way in research, women like McConnell and now Parsons setting an example of leadership at the highest level or women like Hammon leading the way in professional sports, CSU should celebrate them all and look for every opportunity to promote women’s voices in leadership roles.

Reach Michael Stella at letters@ collegian.com.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY CHLOE LELINE THE COLLEGIAN

“As The Collegian celebrates Title IX protections, we cannot just celebrate this historic piece of legislation but must look for ways to actively improve upon the legacy of Title IX.”

Title IX is not just about sports, it includes all of us

By Callum Burke @burke0621

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.

The discussion of Title IX, specifically within a college setting, is not uncommon. It is a topic mentioned in classrooms, lecture halls and even in passing conversations on campus among students. But seldom do those discussions lead beyond the notion of the amendment giving women equal opportunities in sports.

Although true and a pivotal role in the popularity of Title IX, equal sporting opportunities are not all there is to the amendment that a regular student should be able to comprehend.

At its core, Title IX prohibits sexual discrimination in any educational program or activity that receives federal funding. This does include sports, but beyond

athletics, Title IX has provided women immense increases in educational and professional opportunities since coming into legislation in 1972.

In fact, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics found that in 2016, 42% of women ages 25-64 “held a bachelor’s degree and higher, compared with 11% in 1970.”

Unfortunately, not many people are well versed on what exactly those prohibitions are in terms of sexual discrimination, nor do they know how to file a complaint. I am here to feed you a spoonful of some fresh knowledge for the next time Title IX is mentioned on campus or beyond.

Sexual discrimination can come in a lot of forms, so buckle up. First, it can be as simple as an establishment denying the admission of a person into an educational or training program strictly on the basis of their sex or even

providing unequal educational resources to students of one sex compared to another. This is fairly easy information to grasp if you’re a remotely understanding person, but it doesn’t stop there.

aid or service and/or subjecting someone to separate or different rules. It is a sad realization that these ideologies weren’t common knowledge back in the day, but at least we’re showing some progress now as a society.

Now, although most commonly known for its protections for women, Title IX emphasizes the protection of all students from sexbased discrimination.

What’s even more important than obtaining a somewhat knowledgeable understanding of Title IX — so you can look out for infractions in your everyday life — is knowing how to report a violation and make a claim if you feel discriminatorily violated. It’s not as confusing as you might think.

and Gender Equity. The form may be “filed online, via email, by postal mail or in person” at their on-campus office. After that, the hard part is completed, and what’s left is to await the procedures for the investigation to determine the claim. It is a simple procedure for what could be a monumental case — and even an eventual win.

Altogether, Title IX has been the frontrunner in prohibiting sexual discrimination within an educational setting and provided countless opportunities to those who may have otherwise never been given the chance.

Title IX also prohibits the denial of any person in need of

At Colorado State University specifically, the impacted party can file a written formal complaint with the Office of Title IX Programs

As a student, it is important to have a baseline understanding of what Title IX does for you and your fellow peers. Additionally, knowing how to report a violation and not feeling overwhelmed or intimidated by the process is equally as important. Everyone deserves the same opportunity, no matter their sex, and Title IX has paved the way for that change.

Reach Callum Burke at letters@ collegian.com.

“Altogether, Title IX has been the frontrunner in prohibiting sexual discrimination within an educational setting and provided countless opportunities to those who may have otherwise never been given the chance.”

CSU’s women’s hockey team deserves your support, not sexism

By Dylan Tusinski @dylantusinski

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.

First and foremost: Yes, Colorado State University has a Division I women’s hockey team, and they’re really good. The team is currently sitting at fourth in the standings with an 8-5-0 record to start the season. They’ve won multiple games with points in the double digits, including a 16-0 blowout against rival University of Wyoming.

Even with all their success, the team was the subject of sexist harassment that underscores a problematic culture within the hockey community.

During a game against the University of Jamestown in early November, two men showed up with signs attacking the CSU women’s ice hockey team. “NEW GOALIE STILL SUCKS,” one read in all caps. “2300/YEAR TO LOSE,” read another, alluding to the fact

that hockey isn’t a recognized sport at CSU, meaning players must pay to play.

personal — and frankly sexist — way. As someone who grew up playing hockey, I can tell you firsthand the sport has a real problem with sexism. It’s time we talk about it.

Hockey is a demographically unique sport. Its fanbase is whiter and more conservative than any other major sport in the United States, according to Morning Consult. Perhaps not surprisingly, hockey and the culture surrounding it are facing retribution regarding racism, homophobia and sexism. Chirping players in-game is common in hockey culture, but there’s a difference between a chirp and a slur.

problem within the fabric of the game: Women, apparently, just aren’t welcome.

It’s an issue that’s been seen on both a national and international scale. Just weeks before the signs appeared at the CSU game, it was revealed that Hockey Canada, which governs the sport in Canada, had worked to cover up a sexual assault allegedly committed by its players years ago.

of money to play the game they love, the team’s stellar performance and the hardships each player has survived to play collegiate hockey, they were still attacked by a couple of men on the sidelines.

If that’s not the most perfect example of what’s wrong in hockey, I don’t know what is.

The signs were targeted at the CSU players. These grown men showed up at the women’s hockey game and targeted the team in a

While all of those are bad in their own right, hockey’s sexism problem is perhaps the most deeply rooted. More than any other sport, hockey has a massive gap between the number of men and women playing the game. USA Hockey, the sport’s governing body within the U.S., reported it had 459,458 registered male players in the 2021-22 season compared to 87,971 female players.

Those numbers alone both exacerbate and indicate a huge

In the U.S., ESPN introduced Leah Hextall as the sport’s first female national play-by-play announcer. After her first season announcing, she came forward about the violent sexist harassment she endured from hockey fans.

The reports have brought hockey’s cultural problems further into the mainstream, with women hockey players coming forward to publicize and call out the toxic behavior in the sport.

Much like the scandals and harassment seen within the sport, the signs at the CSU women’s game are only symptoms of hockey’s underlying issues. Despite each of the team’s players paying large sums

In the face of the sexism ingrained within the sport, female players need support. Especially at a school that lacks hockey culture like Colorado State University, it’s important to build a community that supports its teams through hardship. Not only does the CSU’s women’s team deserve support amid sexism, they deserve support for being a flatout good team.

The Rams will be back home for a set of rivalry games against the University of Wyoming Jan. 27 and 28, 2023, at the Edora Pool Ice Center. It seems like a perfect time to go support the team, if you ask me.

Reach Dylan Tusinski at letters@ collegian.com.

“In the face of the sexism ingrained within the sport, female players need support. Especially at a school that lacks hockey culture like Colorado State University, it’s important to build a community that supports its teams through hardship.”

RAM RECKONING

Title IX at CSU: A look back on Impact 50

By Karsyn Lane @karsynlane1

Since 1972, Title IX  has guaranteed female athletes the right to equal opportunity in sports in federally funded educational institutions ranging from elementary schools to higher education, like Colorado State University. Title IX is celebrating its 50th anniversary and has ultimately changed the game for student-athletes.

Discrimination based on gender is prohibited in educational programs and activities, including in athletics. It grants female student-athletes equal opportunities to effective accommodations like well-known facilities, athletic financial assistance through scholarships and the fine details of creating a strong program.

Rights to anything and everything considered necessary to

run a successful athletic program are granted through Title IX. This includes equipment and supplies, game and practice schedules, travel, coaching, practice and competition facilities and support services. Although Title IX implements these standards, it is ultimately up to the university to apply them.

Since January 2022, Colorado State Athletics has welcomed the #Impact50 campaign to celebrate, support and highlight the 50th anniversary of Title IX. Over the span of a year, Colorado State emphasized the impact — both nationally and locally — through content and historical impact moments.

There were countless historical moments for Colorado State Athletics this year in its 10 NCAA programs, not including the handful of club and

intramural sports offered. Let’s take a step back and reminisce on the successful year for Colorado State Athletics.

collegiate athletes earning money for their name, image and likeness. This opened a whole new door of opportunities for student-athletes because it allowed them to financially profit off their personal brand — the one that has come to be supported.

As NIL was implemented, CSU stood by its athletes, and new relationships formed throughout the Fort Collins community. Most recently, CSU announced a new partnership with Opendorse, the leading athlete marketplace and NIL technology firm founded to assist athletes’ NIL transactions.

Bohemian Foundation

Name, image and likeness

A piece of legislation adopted after years of debate rocked the college sports world July 1, 2021. The NCAA lifted limitations on

In early September, Colorado State women’s athletics received a $5 million donation from the Bohemian Foundation. The athletic influence of the CSU student-athlete experience for

all women’s sports was altered. The Mountain West Conference has never received a larger contribution to women’s athletics, recognizing the incredible work done for student-athletes.

The $5 million will directly increase the budget for the women’s soccer and softball facility upgrade project and finalized the second phase of the Moby Arena upgrades. This includes additional locker room facilities for volleyball, softball and soccer, as well as a locker room for teams who train away from Moby Arena (golf, tennis and track and field) to utilize.

Considering everything, Title IX has altered women’s athletics and played a special role in building the Ram program that exists today.

Reach Karsyn Lane at sports@ collegian.com.

“Considering everything, Title IX has altered women’s athletics and played a special role in building the Ram program that exists today.”

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY CHLOE LELINE THE COLLEGIAN

Vegas Invitational a major embarrassment to women’s basketball

By Damon Cook @dwcook2001

Nov. 25-26, the Colorado State University women’s basketball team participated in the Las Vegas Invitational tournament at The Mirage hotel and casino. The tournament has since received major backlash from fans and athletes alike. One of the major stories to come out of the tournament was the serious injury to Auburn University’s freshman forward Kharyssa Richardson.

Richardson’s injury was a scene that left everyone in attendance rattled. After Richardson hit her head hard on the floor, she laid there and waited 45 minutes for paramedics to arrive on the scene. Emergency medical services are usually a mainstay at professional sporting events, especially big tournaments that feature multiple teams playing. While Richardson appeared to have avoided any serious injury, it could have been much worse due to the lack of response time in her receiving medical care. Richardson has yet to play again this season.

Roll-in TVs as scoreboards, carpet that looked like it was out of an ‘80s-themed arcade and

Union tournament. This is a tournament that included Indiana University, which was ranked No. 6 at the time.

“I don’t think they’ll get another good team to play at this tournament,” University of Connecticut legendary head coach Geno Auriemma said in a press conference after the game.

His words so far appear to be tracking, as the Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic, slated to start Dec. 19, saw three major teams withdraw. These teams are Purdue University, the University of Dayton and Texas A&M University. All of the teams cited safety concerns as their reasons for withdrawing.

This isn’t the first time the NCAA has failed to ensure the comfort and safety of women’s college basketball. During the 2021 March Madness tournament, University of Oregon redshirt sophomore forward Sedona Prince went viral on TikTok for showcasing the women’s inferior weight setup in comparison to the men’s.

The events and lies that transpired at the Las Vegas Invitational are undoubtedly a major loss for women’s hoops. In the town that brought home

GENO AURIEMMA UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT WOMEN’S BASKETBALL HEAD COACH

Senior guard McKenna Hofschild (4) passes the ball to her teammate during the Colorado State University game against the University of Montana in Moby Arena Nov. 11. Hofschild surpassed 1,000 career points during the Rams’ game against the University of Denver Dec. 6. PHOTO BY SERENA BETTIS THE COLLEGIAN

“I don’t think they’ll get another good team to play at this tournament.”

STUDENT SUPPORT

Do Better CSU amplifies student voices

By Emmalee Krieg @csucollegian

Reporting interpersonal violence can be daunting, so having as many outlets and resources as possible is important for the well-being and equality of all students.

Last year, Instagram account  @dobettercsu was constructed to give Colorado State University students a platform to share their stories. The account creates a space where students are able to anonymously report instances of gender-based violence and harassment at CSU.

The account features slides with short descriptions of encounters regarding gender discrimination, violence and sexual harassment. Each post is anonymous and accompanied by a trigger warning for the information the reader will encounter.

The Instagram page states, “We aim to provide a platform for those who have been harmed and to compel our administration and community to take direct action to end the violence.”

“From my understanding, Do Better CSU is really to give voice to students,” said Casey Malsam, the interim director at the Women and Gender Advocacy Center. “It’s a chance for people to find some healing and speak up about their experiences on campus.”

While the account is not a formal reporting service, it does

provide a space for students who are unable or uncomfortable officially sharing their experience with the school.

“The thing I appreciate about accounts like this is they do work to do awareness-raising for folks who may not be able to fully share their story,” Malsam said.

Malsam also emphasized the fact that students have more than one outlet when it comes to reporting.

“Accounts like Do Better CSU are great at raising awareness, and there are other options that students have that are also anonymous,” Malsam said.

Araiña Muñiz, Title IX coordinator and director for the Office of Title IX Programs and Gender Equity, mentioned privacy within CSU departments.

“We are not confidential, but the WGAC and counseling — the Health (and Medical Center) — those are confidential resources on campus,” Muñiz said.

According to their website, the Title IX office is responsible for “providing support resources

and information related to sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, gender discrimination and genderbased violence related to students, staff and faculty.”

They are not completely confidential because they are required to share information on a need-to-know basis when it comes to services involved in resolving the disclosed account.

“We try to make it as easy as possible to come in and to meet with us,” Muñiz said. “But we do understand that there are still potential barriers or perceptions of barriers that might exist, and we’re still an official office at the university, so it feels so absolute.”

Upon filling out a report for the Title IX office, the impacted party will typically receive an email that includes information about Title IX and the Violence Against Women Act, along with options for resolutions.

“We’ll invite that impacted party in for an informational meeting,” Muñiz said. “And really what we would like to do is begin the process.”

Muñiz mentioned the impacted party can simply stop reporting the incident and go on to discuss supportive measures. However, they also have the option for informal resolution, which includes restorative conferencing or voluntary resolution agreements. Students may also choose a formal investigation through which they can seek disciplinary action with allegations.

Offices such as the Title IX office and WGAC can create options for students regarding how they want to handle an incident, and Do Better CSU can create recognition and potentially uncover mutual experiences.

“It’s a useful tool for folks to do some awareness raising and really to hold systems accountable for the ways in which those systems impact folks who have had adverse or traumatic experiences,” Malsam said.

You can learn more about the account on Instagram @dobettercsu.

Reach Emmalee

Krieg

at entertainment@collegian.com.

“Offices such as the Title IX office and WGAC can create options for students regarding how they want to handle an incident, and Do Better CSU can create recognition and potentially uncover mutual experiences.”

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY MADELYN HENDRICKS THE COLLEGIAN

OVERHEARD AROUND CAMPUS

WEEKLY HOROSCOPE

By Abby Flores

ARIES (MARCH 21 - APRIL 19)

You are the leader everyone looks up to. After you put a lot of time and energy into work, your friends and family will be happy to finally see you out of

your shell again. The upcoming new year will bless you with balanced routines.

TAURUS (APRIL 20 - MAY 20)

You have been feeling creatively inspired lately and eager to explore the world. Books and works of art will transport you and spark visions for you to accomplish. You are ruled by the beautiful planet Venus, so this is a good time to embrace your values and aesthetics.

GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUNE 20)

The last couple weeks were stormy, but sunlight has cleared your path and gifted you with the realization that you deserve happiness. You are living in the moment this week and cherishing everything that comes your way. This new mindset is opening a door of manifestation, so be sure to journal your desires.

CANCER (JUNE 21 - JULY 22)

You may come across people who doubt your passions, but what they don’t understand is you are a dreamer with your own work ethic. Like the moon, you flow in phases and intuitively know when you feel most productive. Keep being your kind self, and surround yourself with support.

LEO (JULY 23 - AUG. 22)

You are skilled at maintaining long, meaningful friendships. This week may put stress on those relationships, but you will most likely be the one to get people together to celebrate the upcoming holidays.

VIRGO (AUG. 23 - SEPT. 22)

You have been thinking about the new year recently and the resolutions you want to make. Don’t put too much pressure on

yourself because you worked very hard these last couple weeks. Take small steps, and you will be proud of the end result.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23 - OCT. 22)

Your dreams have been very realistic lately. Pay attention to them, as they may foreshadow an important event coming soon. Your New Year’s blessing will be plentiful outside adventures.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23 - NOV. 21)

You’ve been doing an excellent job taking care of your health. Eating well has been giving you more energy. This Sagittarius season is bringing out your athletic side.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22DEC. 21) You will receive more clarity with a certain situation that’s been confusing you. In the meantime, you are keeping

yourself busy learning new things about the world. You’re quite the philosopher, and people always enjoy what you have to say.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 - JAN. 19) It’s easy for you to get stuck in work mode. With the holidays here, make sure to do things that can make you feel peaceful. Give your family a call to check up on them.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 - FEB. 18) You’ve been exploring new ways to change up your style. You have a unique one already, but it’s always fun to play around when you have so many fun sweaters lying around for the cold weather.

PISCES (FEB. 19 - MARCH 20)

You are meeting new people and have been the life of the party at all holiday events. Have fun being in your extroverted era.

“My results are: Fuck off.”

“In what way is your dad not a twink?”

and your submissions

“Dude, these Nut Thins smell like The Home Depot.”

“Craigslist ruined democracy in America.”