Thursday, January 26, 2023 Vol. 132, No. 18

STORY

BY KADEN PORTER

PHOTO BY SERENA BETTIS

FORT COLLINS FOCUS

TOP STORIES TOP STORIES

NEWS: RAH Food Pantry celebrates refrigerator and milk donation PAGE 3

LIFE: Foundry worker Freda Whaley falls into early retirement PAGE 5

CANNABIS: What does it take to get a med card in Colorado? PAGE 8

OPINION: LTTE: What is ASCSU really doing to help CSU students? PAGE 14

SPORTS: Isaiah Stevens breaks CSU’s 30-year career assist record PAGE 17

ARTS: Indigenous artist brings his artistic philosophy to campus PAGE 20

PHOTO: Polar Bear Plunge returns to Horsetooth Reservoir PAGE 10

FOCO EVENTS FOCO EVENTS THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN

Fort Collins Winter Farmers Market at The Shops at Foothills 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Jan. 28

Karaoke Club at The Lyric 7 p.m. Jan. 31

Slamogadro at Avogadro’s Number 7 p.m. Jan. 29

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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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 Director news@collegian.com

Allie Seibel | News Director news@collegian.com

Ivy Secrest | L&C Director life@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

Rosa Jimenez adds homemade guava jam to a batch of pastelitos at Babalu’s Cuban Cuisine Jan. 24. “We wanted to open a Mexican restaurant,” Jimenez said. “There’s way too many in Fort Collins, so what I decided to do is to go through all of the restaurants that we have in town and see if there was anything that was being offered as far as traditional Cuban, and there wasn’t.”

PHOTO BY MICHAEL MARQUARDT THE COLLEGIAN

RAH Food Pantry celebrates refrigerator and milk donation

By Piper Russell @piperrussell10

Colorado State University held a ribbon-cutting event Jan. 23 at the Rams Against Hunger Food Pantry located in the General Services Building.

e event was a celebration of Dairy MAX’s donation of a new commercial-grade refrigerator and Morning Fresh Dairy’s donation of 200 gallons of milk to the RAH Food Pantry.

Michael Buttram, basic needs program manager at CSU, said Dairy MAX donated the refrigerator about a year ago, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic, they weren’t able to commemorate the donation until

the ribbon-cutting event, which also gave people the opportunity to learn about Dairy MAX and dairy farming.

e refrigerator was donated as part of Dairy MAX’s cooler program, in which they donate 64-gallon coolers to selected pantries. Feeding America food banks can submit applications for coolers. e program also specifies the coolers must only be used for dairy and that the food bank is responsible for providing a dairy supply to pantries, which can be sourced from U.S. Department of Agriculture programs, donations, purchases, etc.

As a nonprofit dairy council, Dairy MAX represents more than 900 dairy farms across eight states in an effort to “support

dairy farming and drive impact for every dairy farmer,” according to their website. e organization works to be an advocate and educator of dairy, said Michelle Van Pelt, business development manager at Dairy MAX.

“During COVID, it became apparent to us that we needed to step up what we were doing in the community to make access possible,” Van Pelt said. “So we realized that refrigeration was a big barrier for a lot of pantries to be able to offer dairy to their clients.”

Morning Fresh Dairy, a fifthgeneration family dairy farm, delivers to homes and businesses throughout Northern Colorado. Morning Fresh Dairy also does family-friendly dairy tours and

runs the Howling Cow Cafe located on their farm.

“When you actually see the impacts locally and (on) your neighbors and your communities, it’s just that much more meaningful, especially when it’s like one-friend-removed is probably someone you’re helping,” said Amber Graves, continuous improvement director for Morning Fresh Dairy.

Partnerships with organizations like Dairy MAX support the pantry and allow them to supply food to the students that use the food pantry, Buttram said.

“Specifically, something like dairy is incredibly valuable because it’s the nutritionally rich thing that’s sometimes hard to afford at the store,” Buttram

said. “A student with limited income and limited funding is going to have to make hard decisions around, and maybe they won’t be able to afford that specific product that they’re told they need for their nutritional needs.”

e RAH food pantry is open 3-6 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and ursday and 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday. RAH also provides various pocket pantries located throughout the CSU campus and runs the Ram Food Recovery Program and Meal Swipe Program.

“Please consider this your resource; please come in and use it,” Buttram said. “I just am overjoyed to be a part of the process.” Reach Piper Russell at news @collegian.com.

Groceries fill a basket at the Rams Against Hunger Food Pantry Jan. 26, 2022. Produce, baking goods and feminine products are some of the items available there from the Food Bank for Larimer County. PHOTO BY TRI DUONG THE COLLEGIAN

“Specifically, something like dairy is incredibly valuable because it’s the nutritionally rich thing that’s sometimes hard to afford at the store.

A student with limited income and limited funding is going to have to make hard decisions around, and maybe they won’t be able to afford that specific product that they’re told they need for their nutritional needs.”

MICHAEL BUTTRAM BASIC NEEDS PROGRAM MANAGER

Local activists march in support of reproductive justice

By Alexander Wilson @alexgrey0604

Around 50 people surrounded e Oval Jan. 22 holding signs with phrases like, “Keep your rosaries off our ovaries.”

As the people began chanting, “I will go to jail for justice,” alongside many other protest songs, the crowd caught the attention of many bystanders, who joined the march in solidarity.

Jan. 22 is known across the nation as Roe v. Wade Day. is year is the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision that protected the right to receive an abortion in the United States. However, that federal protection ended with the decision’s overturn in 2022.

“I call upon Americans to honor generations of advocates who have fought for reproductive freedom, to recognize the countless women whose lives and futures have been saved and shaped by the Roe v. Wade decision and to march forward with purpose as we work together to restore the right to choose,” President Joe Biden said in a proclamation Jan. 20.

Although Colorado ratified the right to have an abortion into law,

many states did not after Roe was overturned last year. Due to this, many people around the country protested, and continue to protest, via marches.

“We march whenever it seems appropriate to do it,” Parmenter said. “It’s difficult to protest in America because we have to worry about work, and it takes away from the gravity of the movement because not everyone is able to make it. People have to go back to work, and we have to march over and over again.”

Many of the people at the march had been protesting even before the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973.

“ is issue is really important to me,” protester Kelly Hillburn said. “I was 11 when Roe v. Wade was adjudicated. I’m the woman that got to live with those rights. Important women in my life told me how important it was. I understood the earnest(ness) in their voices, but I didn’t understand the grasp for many years later.”

Colorado is one of 21 states with laws currently protecting the right to obtain an abortion.

“ is is a show of solidarity with our fellow women and people with uteruses,” said Sophia Parmenter, an organizer of the Fort Collins march.

People from all kinds of backgrounds were seen marching from e Oval to Old Town Square.

“I started protesting in 1962,” protester Vicki Pesce said. “ e ability to make decisions about our bodies (is) slowly being taken away. We have rights in Colorado today, but what about tomorrow?”

In 2022 Colorado passed the Reproductive Health Equity Act, which protects the right of

any pregnant person to get an abortion or keep the fetus without any government interference. It also declares that a fetus or embryo has no independent rights, allowing people to make choices free of punishment.

Many protesters around the country have been younger Americans, with data showing participation in informal political

activities among young adults has increased.

Maya Piecard, a 17-yearold march participant, has been protesting since 2022 following the fall of Roe v. Wade.

“I’m hoping to bring change and any sort of justice,” Piecard said. Reach Alexander Wilson at news @collegian.com.

“I started protesting in 1962. The ability to make decisions about our bodies (is) slowly being taken away. We have rights in Colorado today, but what about tomorrow?”

VICKI PESCE PROTESTER

A group of Fort Collins locals begin a march down The Oval at Colorado State University Jan. 22. The march was in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade, which was overturned in June 2022. Protesters gathered to support women’s rights.

PHOTO BY SERENA BETTIS THE COLLEGIAN

Maya and her grandmother Vicki Pesce pose with their signs at The Oval before a locally organized women’s march Jan. 22. Sunday marked the 50th anniversary of the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Roe v. Wade, which was overturned in June 2022. “This is a very important issue for all women,” Pesce said. PHOTO BY SERENA BETTIS THE COLLEGIAN

Foundry worker Freda Whaley falls into early retirement

By Samy Gentle @samy_gentle_

Freda Whaley had been working at Colorado State University since 1989. Most recently, she worked for Housing and Dining Services at e Foundry dining center. at was until Sept. 5, 2022, when she — quite literally — stumbled into early retirement.

Whaley was looking forward to eventual retirement. However, she chose to retire early due to university treatment following an injury suffered on the job.

According to a CSU Police Department case report, a group of students forcefully removed two bollards in the area outside e Foundry Sept. 3, 2022.

Two days later, Whaley tripped and fell on a metal stud that had been exposed. is caused Whaley to seek treatment, but she was told it was not a workers’ compensation situation.

During her time at e Foundry, Whaley was appreciated by staff and students alike. She has been a recipient of the Everyday Hero Award from the university and appeared in articles and multiple

@BarstoolCSU

Instagram posts.

“Freda was an especially beloved member of the Housing and Dining team, and students and staff miss her,” a university spokesperson said. “She had a gift for creating relationships with students, whom she often greeted by name when she saw them in a dining hall.”

Whaley did not feel this same support from CSU after her injury.

“ e university did little or nothing for me,” Whaley said. “Nobody’s doing anything. No one. Even my supervisor didn’t even fill out my paperwork for me. He didn’t call me for 20 days. When he called me, he said, ‘Oh, you’re out of time.’”

According to the university, e Collegian’s information is different from their accounts, but they cannot go into details due to privacy concerns.

“I had a gaping hole in my knee,” Whaley said. “It took probably about eight weeks to heal, and it’s still scarred.”

Whaley said she then went to the CSU Workers’ Compensation team to attempt to receive an MRI for her injury, where she was then told multiple times that her case was not a workers’ compensation situation.

is treatment of her injury by the university was when Whaley opted for early retirement following a long history of poor treatment of employees.

Whaley experienced and witnessed sexual harassment, prejudice and lack of compassion from authority figures during her time at CSU.

“ is is what I know about the university: ey do not protect women, they do not protect people of color, they are racist and they also violate federal labor laws,” she said.

According to the university, the institution does not discriminate based on any identity in its programs, admissions or employment.

“CSU is unaware of specifics that underlie Ms. Whaley’s claim, and to our knowledge, she has not filed a complaint of discrimination with the university,” a university spokesperson said. “If she believes that the university has acted in a discriminatory manner, CSU has policies and procedures designed to address such claims and requests that she notify CSU’s Office of Equal Opportunity regarding the specifics of her claim so that the university may review and address it.”

In regard to labor laws, Whaley said she felt Occupational Safety and

Health Administration standards had been violated during the summer when the university shut off the water for maintenance in e Foundry, reducing potable water access for staff However, OSHA does not apply to the university as it is a state institution.

“ e university occasionally suspends water service to buildings while it makes repairs to water lines,” a university spokesperson said. “Water must be shut off when water lines are being repaired. ese interruptions are planned, and building occupants are notified about the outages.”

Whaley said she faced other difficulties over the winter as well.

Whaley said on a particularly snowy day during 2020, she could not come into work due to her route being snowed in. She said a letter from CSU Human Resources confirmed that the day was considered a “snow day,” and essential employees would still be paid even if they could not show up to work.

Whaley’s supervisor attempted to pressure her to come to work despite unsafe road conditions. Her supervisor said she would not get paid if she didn’t come in and she would instead have to use a sick day, Whaley said.

Whaley also claimed workers were not getting to take breaks during the work day.

“I was speaking to both Steve Kelley, the chef, and to my supervisor, David, and I said something about breaks,” Whaley said. “And Steve said to me, ‘Freda, not everybody gets a break.’”

According to the university, the guidelines that were in place during Whaley’s employment treated breaks as encouraged rather than mandated.

“Dining Services tracks when employees do not receive a typical meal break so that they are paid for the extra time they worked in the rare case that a break was not possible,” a university spokesperson said.

Whaley said since her retirement, she is in a better place and is enjoying a happier relationship with her family as she is no longer dealing with the stresses of work. However, she does miss a certain aspect of her old job from before her injury.

“I miss the students,” Whaley said. “I love the students, but because of what happened, I had to leave.”

Reach Samy Gentle at life @collegian.com.

Patricia Vigil gives Alfreda “Freda” Whaley, a residential dining employee, the Multicultural Staff and Faculty Network Award in the Lory Student Center Grand Ballroom May 9, 2019. Celebrate! Colorado State Awards focused on recognizing a wide variety of CSU faculty, staff and students for their service and many accomplishments. COLLEGIAN FILE PHOTO

CAMPUS CRAWLERS

110 years of insects: The metamorphosis of the CSU bug club

By Ivy Secrest @ivysecrest

For most of us, bugs can be reduced to a fear of spiders and a hope that termites don’t take down our homes. For students in the Colorado State University Entomology Club, bugs are much more than that.

After 110 years at CSU, the club has grown in size and purpose, moving from an academic club restricted by the social standards of 1912 to an open and welcoming environment aiming to build community and educate.

Club President Claire Walther has made it a goal to make the club a more inclusive place and really bring people together through the power of entomology.

“Looking at our club history is both really fun but also really just looking at pictures of 10 old white men around a table,” Walther said. “So there’s definitely a part of the history that wasn’t that inclusive, but it’s the same for most scientific fields. I think it’s just really easily visible in the (CSU) Entomology Club because it’s been around for so long.”

at has significantly changed in the past 25-30 years, Walther said. Now students from all academic backgrounds and interests find space to interact with the club and learn about bugs.

its founder, Clarence Gillette, the club stood the test of time despite its uncommon subject matter.

“Gillette” was removed from the official club title in an effort to be more inclusive and have more than one person’s legacy, Walther said.

What started as a group fairly exclusive to entomologists is now a place for all students to express their passion for bugs. As the scientific community continues to look for global solutions to issues of hunger and climate, the world of entomology has become more and more important, leading many environmentally driven students to seek out the club.

in serious lectures but is also explored in fun and interactive ways. e club hosts events to educate in innovative ways, like entomophagy, which is the practice of eating bugs.

“Last year we did a taco night that was such a big hit,” Walther said. “We had edible insects as our protein source, and that’s just kind of one of the ways that we bring this like fun, inclusive environment into those bigger global issues. Before we all ate our tacos, we did this little talk about how much higher in protein insects are but (also) how they can live on our food waste and they don’t require as much water.”

“

Being the oldest club on campus, the CSU Entomology Club has been building roots in the community for a long time. Previously named the Gillette Entomology Club after

“A lot of world issues today that really kind of connect with insects ... may get people interested because they may not think of insects playing a big role in our ecosystem or in our society in general,” said Rachel Haldorson, club vice president. “Especially with issues such as global climate change, we are having to think outside of the box in terms of solutions. Some of these solutions can come from smaller organisms such as insects.”

is passion isn’t just discussed

ey’ve also (hosted) Earth Day events (in) collaboration with other clubs to strengthen the community of environmentalists on campus,” Walther said.

“It gives you like a really good feeling to find such a tightly knit group of people who are so passionate about our planet, our future and the conservation of these really, really important groups,” said Josh Schutt, the club’s financial officer.

Reach Ivy Secrest at life @collegian.com.

“A lot of world issues today that really kind of connect with insects ... may get people interested because they may not think of insects playing a big role in our ecosystem or in our society in general.”

RACHEL HALDORSON ENTOMOLOGY CLUB VICE PRESIDENT

BECAUSE I GOT HIGH

Parking lot paranoia and giant chicken heads

candy selection. I somehow got separated from my roommates and ended up almost purchasing a fake dead body. ere was also a giant chicken head that I thought I was hallucinating, and I stared at it for a long time.

I’m a dinosaur

be a running joke in our family, but my sister now knows the context, so the magic is gone.

Parking lot paranoia

By Guest Author @csucollegian

Editor’s Note: “Because I Got High” content consists of community story submissions and does not represent the views of e Collegian or its editorial board. e Collegian does

not promote underage or excessive substance use or impairment for the purpose of creating a submission.

Giant chicken heads and dead bodies

Last October, my three roommates and I made plans to go to Spirit Halloween, and

I completely forgot about our excursion. At the point of entry, I was already baked out of my mind. Now, entering a Spirit Halloween stoned is an interesting experience to say the least. All of the extravagant costumes, wigs, decorations — and of course, the absolute best part is the

One summer, I took an edible before going on a drive with my parents through a mountain pass. My parents knew I had taken the edible, but we kept it from my then9-year-old sister. So we’re driving in a topless Jeep, music playing, me definitely conspicuously high, and I look up to watch the mountains towering over me as we drive. I’ve always felt my most comfortable in nature, but I must’ve been feeling some different type of way this day because I proceeded to let out an audible “roar” from the backseat of a dead silent car before saying, “I’m a dinosaur!” My parents knew right away what was up, but we couldn’t tell my sister, so we came up with some excuse just mediocre enough to be almost believable. For my birthday nine months later, my sister gifted me the best dinosaur-covered blanket I’ve ever seen in my life. is continues to

A few weeks ago, I spent a Saturday catching up on some errands. I started my laundry and packed some clothes to take to Plato’s Closet. I then came across a pack of edibles I got from a friend and popped 50 milligrams. About an hour had gone by, and I was headed to Plato’s when out of nowhere, I felt like I had taken about 20 dabs. I was so confused at why I was feeling blasted when I finally remembered what I had consumed prior. I started to panic and pulled over into a random parking lot. I then realized I was in a law office parking lot, and that’s when the real anxiety set in. I sent an SOS to my best friends and was shortly picked up. I rode the high by eating fried chicken and watching “Mamma Mia!”, which paired perfectly with my vibe. 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

What does it take to get a med card in Colorado?

By Bella Eckburg @yaycolor

e legal age to recreationally use cannabis products is 21 years old in Colorado, the same age that marks one’s ability to purchase alcohol; however, medical cannabis access has different rules.

To get a medical marijuana registry card in Colorado, which allows you to enter the medical side of any dispensary to pick up your prescription, you need to first establish your Colorado residency and prove you are a good candidate for benefitting from cannabis with your healthcare provider.

If your medical conditions meet the criteria and your physician believes you are a good fit, you can begin the application process together. ere are a variety of conditions

ey must also get parent or guardian consent and verify the parent or guardian is also a resident of Colorado. Finally, they must fill out a minor patient consent form.

Anyone between 18-20 who did not apply for a med card before they were 18 and is applying for the first time on or after Jan. 1, 2022, will also need two provider certifications from separate medical practices, unless the applicant is homebound, in which case the providers can be from the same practice.

Once you’ve gathered your documents, you can submit an application online at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. ere is a $29.50 application fee, or a patient can submit their tax records for a fee waiver. en you wait for approval. Med card holders can cultivate

three are not mature and, therefore, nonproducing. If you’re in a house with two or more individuals over 21, you cannot have more than 12 plants in the house.

For example, if all three roommates over 21 have six plants each, one will have to get rid of their six to abide by state regulations. is rule also applies to med card holders, who are also allowed six plants and cannot have more than 12, except under certain circumstances that allow up to 24.

However, it is important to remember your plants need to be in a locked and enclosed space, away from the windows, so they are not visible. If someone under 21 is in your home, they cannot have access to the plants and should be “reasonably restricted” from their access, according to the

Recreational cannabis experiences are a fun topic, but medical cannabis truly has a positive impact on the health of individuals with prescriptions. If someone is sick from chemotherapy or the side effects of a medication they take, cannabis can help renew their appetite and ease their stomach. Although medical cannabis comes with its own set of side effects, as any cannabis product does, they often pale in comparison to the chronic pain and discomfort patients have. If you’re experiencing any of the qualifying medical conditions and you’re trying to find a solution, it is worth meeting with your doctor to see if it would be right for you. Reach Bella Eckburg at cannabis@collegian.com.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY SOPHIA SIROKMAN THE COLLEGIAN

“Recreational cannabis experiences are a fun topic, but medical cannabis truly has a positive impact on the health of individuals with prescriptions. If someone is sick from chemotherapy or the side effects of a medication they take, cannabis can help renew their appetite and ease their stomach.”

GANJA GRUB

Quick, savory munchie menu for any stoner

By Karsyn Lane @karsynlane1

Every stoner has been there once. It’s the end of a hard day, you’ve just smoked the last puff of the bowl and a heavy couch lock is setting in. A deep tummy grumble emerges as the smoke cloud fades and red eyes settle in. Here are four go-to stoner snacks if you’re seeking the ultimate crispy munchies.

When you think of munchies, your taste buds swing across a savory scale of salty, spicy and sweet with everything mixed in between. Whether you’re looking in the pantry or fridge, dig your arms deep into the snack bag and try these honorable-mention munchies.

Munchies Flamin’ Hot Flavored Snack Mix

In a perfect world, you find this family-size bag located right in between the Cheetos and pretzels. e deep red Munchies

Flamin’ Hot Flavored Snack Mix is the perfect munchie for a stoner looking for the most. It’s a snack that’s got it all. e mix includes Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, Baja Picante Sun Chips, Rold Gold Pretzels and Salsa Verde Doritos. It’s a perfect salty and spicy mix coated by the fingerlicking Flamin’ Hot Cheetos dust.

Doritos, Tostitos, Cheetos, Fritos, all the -itos

Nothing beats the original take-over chips for nostalgia and satisfaction. It’s best expressed by the original stoner mom Kitty Forman — “I’m going to get Fritos, Tostitos, Doritos, all the -itos” — in the new sitcom “ at ‘90s Show.” All the -itos bring a never-ending bag of finger dust, ultimate crunch and mouthwatering magic for your stoner tastebuds. While there is no such thing as a bad time or place to indulge in the crunchy chips, they do tend to taste way better after you’ve been elevated with Mary Jane.

Ice Cream

Ben and Jerry’s must be a part of the rotation because you need to try their stoner flavor, Half Baked. Half Baked, the iconic stoner-sounding flavor — and cult favorite stoner movie — combines chocolate and vanilla ice cream with fudge brownies and bits of chocolate chip cookie dough. bottom line, whether you are high or not, is everybody loves to end the night in a deep kush couch coma with a tub of ice cream, mindlessly in the clouds.

Nerds Candy Gummy Clusters

Now, if you aren’t the type to crave spicy or salty and are looking for something a little more sour and sweet, the Nerds Candy Gummy Clusters are a must. ey deliver a puckering sweet-and-sour gummy with a crunchy, chewy outside all in one mini bite. It’s as if our childhood favorite Nerds Rope rolled itself into little balls for stoned adults to indulge in.

Regardless, today’s diverse array of snack alternatives might satisfy any appetite, but the choice is entirely yours. To better reduce the cotton mouth, I propose a great cool drink complemented by our chip

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GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY CHLOE LELINE THE COLLEGIAN

Polar Bear Plunge returns to Horsetooth Reservoir

PHOTOS BY REUEL INDURKAR

4. Participants of the Polar Bear Plunge at Horsetooth Reservoir run into the freezing waters Jan. 21. The proceeds from participants of the annual Polar Bear Plunge benefitted the Larimer County Dive Rescue Team.

5. A Polar Bear Plunge participant experiences the effects of jumping into Horsetooth Reservoir’s freezing waters Jan. 21. Because the reservoir was covered in a sheet of ice, the Larimer County Dive Rescue Team had to cut out a section of ice to create a pool for participants to run into.

FRAME BY FRAME

1. Members of the Larimer County Dive Rescue Team practice various emergency maneuvers at Horsetooth Reservoir during the Polar Bear Plunge Jan. 21. Officers from the LCDRT oversaw the safety of the runners during the event.

2. Participants of the Polar Bear Plunge walk up the boat launch wrapped in towels after running into the cold waters of Horsetooth Reservoir Jan. 21. Horsetooth Reservoir’s water temperature was 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

3. Ginger Whale bandmates Matt Mahern and Jason Downing, a sociology professor at Colorado State University, perform music and comedy bits as Polar Bear Plunge participants socialize and wait to run into the frigid waters of Horsetooth Reservoir Jan. 21.

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IMPORTED WINES

What is ASCSU really doing to help CSU students?

By Guest Author @csucollegian

Editor’s Note: All opinion section content reflects the views of the individual author only and does not represent a stance taken by e Collegian or its editorial board. Letters to the Editor reflect the view of a member of the campus community and are submitted to the publication for approval.

I, the author, have made the choice to write this article anonymously for a number of reasons. However, the main reason is because of fear of retaliation.

I have seen and know many students who have come forward about the problems within the Associated Students of Colorado State University, and those students have been retaliated against: anywhere from harassment through texting and social media to lies being spread about them and damaging their reputation. I, as a student, should not be afraid to ask questions about these issues, yet I am.

Many of the students of Colorado State University have heard of ASCSU. We walked by the Lory Student Center and have seen the ASCSU letters on the window facing e Plaza.

In the spring, we walk through e Plaza and see tables of students running for the student body president and vice president seats and the speaker of the senate seat. We have heard in our classes that we need to vote on RamWeb for these individuals we know nothing about.

We question what ASCSU is and how they have helped the student body. But what do we know about them and what they do? Why is there so much negativity associated with their name?

According to its website, “ e Associated Students of Colorado State University is the student voice on campus! e elected representatives of ASCSU advocate for CSU students on campus and at the local, state and national levels of the government.”

Okay? But how are they showing this? e 52nd Senate had its first meeting in September, and while it started strong, that strength slowly faded, and the Senate became divided.

e first example was on Sept. 28, 2022, during the first Student Fee Review Board ratification. Stephen Laffey took a step forward threateningly while questioned about their past actions, and nobody did anything. e only person that reacted was Vice President Elijah

Sandoval, who put their hand on this individual’s shoulder to prevent them from moving closer.

Two senators who felt threatened and unsafe by this movement left the chambers. e voting still happened without those two senators present, and the SFRB members were ratified.

On Nov. 16, 2022, SFRB members were re-ratified, however, without Stephen Laffey.

While it seems that ASCSU, at least from the outside, is a voice for the students and says to have the best interest of the students, that is not the case. e actions that took place on Sept. 28, 2022, were just the beginning of this space that once welcomed everyone’s voice turning into a space that is now a hostile environment. is hostile environment continued to develop because a few senators acted on their self-interests and bias rather than working in the student body’s interest.

For example, e Collegian posted an article on Oct. 27, 2022, that used a picture from the 51st Senate. is did not sit well with some current members.

for the Office of International Programs, Rithik Correa, went as far as to post a comment on the article threatening, “Maybe it’s time to rethink the contract,” referring to the contract between Rocky Mountain Student Media Corporation and ASCSU.

Senators do not have a part in negotiating this contract; only the student body president and the secretary of state can renegotiate. is comment caused backlash from ASCSU, with some agreeing with the statement, saying that RMSMC does not do everything they are contracted to do and others saying RMSMC is also students, working and learning. It is not OK to make threats like this.

Correa, who made the initial comment, has been the center of most of the backlash within ASCSU; this brings us to the final example of how ASCSU is not all it claims to be.

On Nov. 30, 2022, a bill was presented on the floor to turn the Diversity and Inclusion Caucus into a committee.

is change would allow bills, resolutions

and legislation to be sent to this committee to ensure that diversity, equity and inclusion are upheld throughout all of ASCSU.

Some Senate members and members of the Executive Branch voiced support for this bill, saying that this is a step forward in showing the student body that ASCSU is more than just performative; they would be taking action as well. e Student Diversity Programs and Services senators voiced how important this is to those whose voices are always silenced in this space.

However, Shamsher Sodhi, senator for the College of Natural Sciences, argued that “giving more power to marginalized communities” would not be a good idea regarding DEI and would be a waste of student funds for the caucus to become a committee.

Many senators were visibly upset and hurt, having to

While this bill did get the majority vote, because it would be changing the bylaws, it would need a two-thirds majority vote, per the ASCSU Senate Bylaws, which it did not have. is was pointed out after the votes were counted and the results were announced.

Many senators were very hurt, angry and disappointed with this. Some say Correa, who pointed out the two-thirds rule, said it proudly. Students can see how ASCSU claims to be a voice for all students. However, when the time comes to put those words into action, it does not happen.

Many students feel they cannot be in that space because they do not want to subject themselves to the hostility and toxicity that come with that space.

ASCSU, if you claim to support, represent and hear all

students, then why do you have members that act in their selfinterest? Rather than working in the interest of the student body of Colorado State University?

Every Senate session is available for the public to see. Students and community members can come to these sessions and sit in the gallery; they can join online through Zoom or watch the live stream on YouTube. During gallery input, anyone can share their thoughts about ASCSU, the school, issues they see around campus and anything else.

Anonymous CSU Student

Send letters to letters@collegian. com. When submitting letters, please abide by the guidelines listed at collegian.com.

“Students can see how ASCSU claims to be a voice for all students. However, when the time comes to put those words into action, it does not happen.”

FoCo, extend snow shoveling fines or focus on bus stops

By Callum Burke @burkec062

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

Snow is an integral part of the Colorado winter lifestyle, and Fort Collins is no exception.

On average, Fort Collins receives around 48 inches of snowfall annually, and with that come a lot of fun prospects involving the powdery fluff blinding you from your kitchen window.

Upon a substantial snowfall around the Colorado State University campus, locals are sure to unwind with a cup of hot cocoa in hand, nestled under a warm blanket without a care in the world as snow accumulates. Who knows, you may even catch a glimpse of some daredevils skiing behind a truck on the streets.

Snow days are a great surprise, too. Receiving that rare announcement email at the crack of dawn every single time — a CSU staple — who doesn’t love a snow day?

Every snowfall,CSU neighborhood residents have to trek into the cold and are expected to shovel their driveways and sidewalks through the harshest

of elements — even those unlucky folks with corner houses doing double the work. ose poor troopers have it rough.

Now, although shoveling your sidewalk is the courteous and neighborly thing to do, it is a task that requires much time for preparation — time that the city does not give you.

Shoveling, as most know, is an art form involving a lot of applied skills. Technique, strategy, mental preparation, getting dressed and sometimes in-depth music playlist selection are just a few examples. Nevertheless, this beautiful process can involve hours, even days, of building up enough courage to get after it.

e City of Fort Collins states that sidewalks must be cleared within 24 hours of accumulation, or snow removal contractors will come and do the job at the homeowner’s expense.

Luckily, each house in Fort Collins receives one warning per season, which is a small win. But residents near the University of Colorado Boulder are relieved of fines altogether, proving it is possible to figure out without a steep payment from students.

In fact, the Fort Collins city fee is $53 plus whatever the contractors charge every time a sidewalk is not shoveled within 24 hours. ese

charges can add up to as high as $100 on average.

It is certainly not a bad circumstance that snow removal crews are so responsive and active throughout the neighborhoods when it snows, but when the bus stops remain snowcovered after students already did their part, it becomes disheartening.

Sure, snow builds up on curbs from busy streets being plowed, but that means snow crews should be more focused on that aspect of the job.

It is a grim sight to behold when you begin a walk to the bus stop on dry, shoveled sidewalks in the neighborhoods and suddenly meet endless mounds of ice and snow standing between you and your ride to class.

No one should walk to the bus stop expecting to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Fort Collins needs to focus on snow removal at bus stops or at the very least lay off the poor students with their neighborhood sidewalk shoveling gig. ere is no problem charging students who constantly refuse to shovel their property, but allow more than 24 hours before barging in and doing it for them. e students will get it done.

Reach Callum Burke at letters @collegian.com.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY TRIN BONNER THE COLLEGIAN

University marches for MLK Day, ignores #NotProudToBe demands

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 e Collegian or its editorial board.

A week ago, more than 1,500 people gathered and marched to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Colorado State University students, Fort Collins community members and other activists symbolically marched on a route that acknowledged Black families who settled in Fort Collins in the early 1900s. e day culminated in a set of speeches at the Lory Student Center from local politicians and community leaders. Only around 250 people stuck around for the speeches following the march.

Do you know what would be better than a performative celebration of MLK Day? Actually honoring the demands of Black student activists and addressing racism on campus.

I mean, let’s be blunt here: is was not a march in honor of racial justice, nor was it in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In fact, the march outright opposed many of the beliefs that King actually held.

CSU organized the march in coordination with both Fort Collins Police Services and the CSU Police Department despite King’s distrust and criticism of the police. e march was sponsored by corporations such as Target, the Fort Collins Downtown Business Association and SummitStone Health Partners in spite of King’s anti-capitalist beliefs.

e march was not a gathering of community members yearning to seek racial justice. Rather, it was a publicity stunt meant to give better optics to a university with a history of racism and a city whose population is only 1.5% Black.

e already performative nature of the event was only underscored by CSU’s longstanding refusal to acknowledge the demands of #NotProudToBe — a group of student activists who organized in 2019 to confront racism in both CSU’s student body and administration.

#NPTB quickly made itself a force on campus, organizing hundreds of students to silently protest former university President Joyce McConnell’s first-ever Fall Address. During the protest, McConnell directly addressed the group by unveiling the Race, Bias

and Equity Initiative and leading the crowd through a two-minute standing ovation.

In the months following the address, it became clear how little the university actually cared about racial justice. Since its inception, the Race, Bias and Equity Initiative has not done much other than launch a “Pronoun Statement” website and delete its Twitter account.

Months after the launch of the initiative and the subsequent inaction, #NPTB sent a list of seven demands to the university administration amid an uptick in bias-related incidents and nationwide racial justice protests that quickly made their way to Fort Collins.

As far as demands for institutional change go, #NPTB’s list was pretty tame. In short, the group wanted the university to create a standard for addressing racial bias on campus, enforce punishment for offenders and training for staff and increase diversity initiatives in student housing.

It’s been three years since the group released the demands. Despite McConnell’s resignation as university president, the school’s administration has still not addressed the majority of #NPTB’s seven demands.

e Race, Bias and Equity Initiative launched a “Student Activism” page to show all the ways they were supposedly addressing #NPTB’s demands, and to call it underwhelming would be a severe understatement.

If you scroll through and read about the work the university is doing, you’ll see that aside from implementing a new bias reporting system and an optional module about race for students to take, not much — if any — concrete action has actually been taken.

e website says a number of “task forces” and “advisory committees” have been created, but given the page hasn’t been updated since November 2021, how much work do you think is actually getting done?

Racism is deeply embedded in CSU’s community, as it is in our country, and it won’t be easy to change that. But at the end of the day, students deserve an administration that will act to address their needs. If the past few years have been any indicator, CSU’s beliefs on racial bias and justice have been nothing but performative.

Reach Dylan Tusinski at letters @collegian.com.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY CHARLIE COHEN THE COLLEGIAN

Isaiah Stevens breaks CSU’s 30-year career assist record

By Braidon Nourse @braidonnourse

It was a goal from day one for Isaiah Stevens to break Colorado State University’s all-time career assist record of 530. at mark was set and held for nearly 30 years by Ryan Yoder, who played for the Rams from 1990-94, but Stevens surpassed it against the University of Wyoming Jan. 21.

e 530-assist mark was an ambitious target for the first-year point guard coming out of Allen, Texas, as in the past 30 years, nobody has come within 100 assists of Yoder’s historic number. But Stevens is as competitive as they come.

Rams head coach Niko Medved took Stevens to lunch in the fall of his first year at CSU to discuss what he had in mind for the young point guard. From the jump, Medved wanted Stevens to be CSU’s longterm starting point guard, a role that he gladly took and flourished in over the last 3 1/2 seasons on the way to becoming the Rams’ ultimate team-first player. With his spot on the team established, Stevens took it upon himself to work toward beating the assist record.

“You never really know how the scoring translates, and defense takes a little bit of adjustment at the college level from high school,” Stevens said. “But I always felt like passing was an ability that I could translate right away to the college level.”

And translate to the college level, he did. During his freshman season, Stevens averaged 4.5 assists per game, fifth among all first-years in the country, and amassed 144 total assists along the way. It was a pretty substantial chunk of the record, but there was still a long way to go.

“I really believed he had a chance to be a special player, and to see that play out over the course of time has been really cool,” Medved said. “It’s not just about being a great player, but it’s also the longevity, the durability, the playing at a high level, and he’s really been able to do that.”

e prospect of finally achieving the longtime goal became a little more real for Stevens after the conclusion of last year’s historic season in which the Rams qualified for the March Madness tournament as a program-record No. 6-seed. By the end of the season, he’d tallied

443 assists over his career. He hasn’t yet had a full season with fewer than 140 assists, so it was just a matter of time to get the 88 he needed this year to break the record.

a staple duo for the Rams. Tonje has been on the receiving end of Stevens’ assists as much as any other teammate he’s played with in his career. Stevens has unique depth as a basketball player, but Tonje is most of all a fan of “the way he reads the game.”

“Everything opens up, and (Stevens) makes my job a whole lot easier,” Tonje said.

When Yoder broke the record, he thought to himself that it could stand for a long time. After all, the difference between Yoder’s 530 and Eddie Hughes’ previous record of 397 was extraordinary.

Stevens tied the record on a smooth pocket pass to a cutting Patrick Cartier early on against Wyoming, then broke it not long after with a swing pass to longtime teammate John Tonje, who solidified the assist with a long three from the right wing. ough the play was inconsequential at the early stage of the game, it was only fitting that Tonje would hit the record-breaking basket.

Tonje and Stevens came to CSU together in 2019 and have become

“I thought to myself, ‘If somebody ever starts for four years, that’s going to be a tough one not to have broken,’” Yoder said. “ en here comes Isaiah doing exactly that, but he’s deserved it, too. He’s a better point guard than I ever was. He’s worked hard, and I’m proud of him.”

e two have gotten to know each other over the past couple of years, bonding and gaining respect for each other over their love for passing the rock. ough Yoder is every bit as competitive as Stevens, there’s no love lost for the history that was made.

“I recognize that he’s a tremendous player,” Yoder said. “He’s done it for four years, obviously. Consistency is a part of what I think determines greatness, not just having one good game or one good year, and he’s been able to do it for four years.”

“Because he’s such a phenomenal player, and because he’s a solid guy, man of character, man of faith, worked hard, … I wouldn’t want anybody else other than Isaiah to have it,” Yoder said.

Stevens has had success on just about every court he’s walked on over his tenure in high school and college. He won the Class 6A state title in Texas as a junior in high school and more recently was a major piece on the way to CSU’s program-best 25-6 record in the 2021-22 season. But alone at the top of Stevens’ list of favorite accomplishments is the assist record. “ is is probably number one,” Stevens said. “ e assist record has been on my mind since I stepped into Fort Collins as an 18-year-old kid.”

“Hopefully, somebody else is able to come through and look up to not only myself but Ryan as well,” Stevens said.

Reach Braidon Nourse at sports @collegian.com.

“I wouldn’t want anybody else other than Isaiah to have it.”

RYAN YODER

1990-94 CSU MEN’S BASKETBALL GUARD

Colorado State University guard Isaiah Stevens waits for a play call from the bench Jan. 21. Despite Stevens’ record-breaking performance, the Rams lost 58-57 to the University of Wyoming to fall to 10-11 on the season.

PHOTO BY GREGORY JAMES THE COLLEGIAN

Fight Like a Ram: Extending courage beyond the court

By Kaden Porter @kqporter5

After spending half of 2022 fighting cancer, the Kappa Kappa Gamma house director was able to celebrate finishing treatment in front of her sorority during the Jan. 21 Colorado State University women’s basketball game.

For the fourth consecutive year, CSU partnered with UCHealth to put on a “Fight Like a Ram” game in both men’s and women’s basketball to honor cancer patients. During the women’s game Jan. 21 against the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Marilyn Votaw was honored as one of this year’s cancer warriors.

“We see so much at the cancer center. … ere are really hard times,” said Kathleen Michie, UCHealth’s oncology services program manager. “So to see our patients in a different light, in an experience that they can enjoy with their loved ones and create memories, it’s huge.”

At the game, Kappa Kappa Gamma showed up in force, making their numbers known with cheers whenever Votaw was mentioned.

“She’s been through so much, and this is just a small thing that we could do for her,” said Anna Griffin, a member of the sorority. “We just wanted to support her

and show her that she’s loved and that Kappa loves her.”

Votaw, who intentionally described her cancer diagnosis as a “season” due to its time-bound connotation, first became concerned with swelling in her lymph nodes in June 2022. She went to UCHealth the following month after noticing it had grown larger and was promptly referred to an ear, nose and throat specialist to do further tests.

Despite her concern, Votaw was surprised when the specialist informed her of his worry that she could possibly have HPV cancer.

“I walked out back to my car and cried,” Votaw said. “I did not think we were going to land in cancerland this quickly. It was shocking.”

After waiting nearly a month for an appointment, Votaw had a biopsy that confirmed the doctor’s suspicion: She had a form of HPV cancer known as stage 1 p16-positive carcinoma.

“My initial reaction to the diagnosis (was that) I am in control of my body,” Votaw said. “(Cancer) is not welcome here, get out. Every fiber of my being was like, ‘Nope.’”

At first, Votaw, a self-described highly independent and competent person, was hesitant to ask for help. Never married and without children, Votaw found others close to her who showed her how important it was for her to have support and not have to take on that battle alone.

“ e people part of it — that’s where I think I may have learned the most,” Votaw said. “Making yourself vulnerable that way is really hard, especially for someone like me. I’ve been shocked by how everyone has just kind of stepped up, and they’re all working together.”

sorority — helped her take on some of her daily tasks.

On Oct. 21, 2022, Votaw had surgery to remove her right tonsil and all of the lymph nodes on her right side. She then underwent radiation treatment at UCHealth in Fort Collins until she completed treatment Jan. 10.

“I think one of the harder emotional pieces is that I don’t know what my new normal is going to be,” Votaw said. “I have this massive scar; I don’t have lymph nodes; I don’t know how many of my taste buds will come back. I’ve been changed, and I don’t really know where that’s going to land.”

Despite having to adjust to her new normal, she’s also somewhat grateful.

“I’m fortunate that I don’t have one of those cancers that is really tough to deal with,” Votaw said. “ at doesn’t mean that it won’t come back or I won’t get cancer from the treatment that I’ve had, but I sort of went into this with a pretty hopeful scenario.”

who take the time to make these sorts of partnerships possible.

“ at (the team is) willing to do it — student-athletes, my gosh, they’re busy,” Votaw said. “ is is a tough game, and here they are doing this on top of everything else. It just kind of blows my mind.”

e game and interactions with the group were immensely meaningful to the athletes as well. Each athlete wore a cancer warrior’s name on their jersey instead of their own for the game; Votaw’s name was worn by senior guard Meghan Boyd.

“ e game of basketball means so much more just to see a smile on her face, just because I was able to wear her jersey; it means a lot,” junior guard Cailyn Crocker said during the postgame press conference, referring to her cancer warrior, Anita Miller. “We came up short today, but we definitely gained a lot in just meeting our cancer warriors.”

Votaw received love and support from her friends and family across the country and world while her local “tribe” — made up of a variety of people, including her church, her friends and the Kappa Kappa Gamma

“At stage one, head and neck HPV cancer is pretty curable,” she added. “At two years, if there’s not a recurrence, I have a low, single-digit chance of recurrence, and at five years, I’m cured.”

Now entering the recovery season of her cancer diagnosis, Votaw hopes her case can help bring awareness to HPV cancers and the importance of HPV vaccines and self-screening, and she is grateful for the student-athletes

Ultimately, Votaw credits her support system with aiding her through her season and changing her perspective on life.

“My cancer season has been hard,” Votaw said. “But I don’t feel devastated by it, and that’s really been from all of the support, care and love from people stepping up that’s made that possible.”

Reach Kaden Porter at sports @collegian.com.

“My cancer season has been hard. ... But I don’t feel devastated by it, and that’s really been from all of the support, care and love from people stepping up that’s made that possible.”

MARILYN VOTAW KAPPA KAPPA GAMMA HOUSE DIRECTOR AND CANCER WARRIOR

The Colorado State University women’s basketball team holds up “I fight for a cure” signs for the annual Fight Like a Ram game at Moby Arena Jan. 21. The Rams wore the names of local cancer patients on their jerseys in recognition of the cause.

PHOTO BY SERENA BETTIS THE COLLEGIAN

PHOTOS BY SERENA BETTIS

1. Representatives of UCHealth and the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority wave to fans alongside Colorado State University cheerleaders at the women’s basketball game Jan. 21. Inspired by Marilyn Votaw, the Kappa Kappa Gamma house director who went through cancer treatment in 2022, the sorority donated $2,795 to the UCHealth Northern Colorado Foundation. Votaw and Claire Crease, the Kappa Kappa Gamma philathropy director, presented the check before CSU’s annual Fight Like a Ram game, which honors local cancer patients.

2. Members of the Colorado State University Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority cheer on their house director, Marilyn Votaw, as she is honored during halftime at a women’s basketball game Jan. 21. During the annual Fight Like a Ram game, the Rams wore the names of local cancer patients, including Votaw, on their jerseys.

3. CAM the Ram holds a sign recognizing cancer patients during halftime of the Colorado State University women’s basketball Fight Like a Ram game Jan. 21.

4. Marilyn Votaw and guard Meghan Boyd (55) pose in front of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority members after the Colorado State Unviersity women’s basketball game at Moby Arena Jan. 21. Boyd wore Votaw’s name on her jersey as part of the fourth annual Fight Like a Ram game.

5. The Colorado State University women’s basketball team lines up for the National Anthem at Moby Arena Jan. 21.

CREATIVES

Indigenous artist brings his artistic philosophy to campus

By Katherine Borsting @katbor2025

Art is a form of storytelling, and it is able to convey information the spoken word often cannot. It is commonly left to the viewer to decide what emotions to feel or what questions to ask. Many use art as a form of spreading messages about injustice and shedding light on forgotten history. One of these artists is Nicholas Galanin.

Jan. 24, Galanin, a Tlingit and Unangax artist, gave a talk at the Lory Student Center as a part of the Scott Artist Series hosted by Colorado State University. e event was in collaboration with the Native American Cultural Center and the department of art and art history.

e artist was also present for the unveiling of a mural he helped design

on the CSU Visual Arts Building.

Galanin uses his art as a form of expression and representation to display his roots and remind us of the injustices Indigenous tribes and peoples face. Galanin graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in jewelry design from London Guildhall University as well as a Master of Fine Arts in Indigenous visual arts from Massey University in New Zealand, according to CSU’s art and art history website.

During the artist talk, Galanin displayed a variety of pieces from his collection and elaborated on the meaning of each one.

Galanin incorporates a variety of media in order to push his viewers to feel, think and challenge the past of Indigenous culture. ese media include, but aren’t limited to: woodwork, sculpture, videography and photography.

Galinin’s work has been and can be found in a wide range of places, such as Palm Springs Art Museum in California, e Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and Hyde Park in Sydney, Australia.

As Galanin’s work has spread internationally, he recognized it can put limits on the Indigenous people for whom the art is meant. He made a note that the distance of travel is often not possible and may restrict them from viewership.

“By placing these works so far, it limits the availability of Indigenous to come see them and experience the meanings,” Galanin said.

Many who attended the artist talk felt moved by the work Galanin has created and that it was paying tribute to topics often not discussed.

Samantha O’Brien, a sophomore at CSU, attended the

event and was eager to learn more about the work displayed.

“Art grabs people’s attention, and because of that, I think it is important we see work that is both appealing to look at as well as informs the viewer about crucial topics,” O’Brien said.

Galanin ended his artist talk with a question-and-answer section, where he discussed how he enjoys using modern methods despite his art illustrating pieces of history.

“To make my woodwork, I use a chainsaw, of course; however, I feel that does not take away from what it means,” Galanin said in response to being asked if he uses traditional methods in his craft.

Galanin’s art can be found on his website galan.in or his Instagram @nicholasgalanin.

Reach Katherine Borsting at entertainment@collegian.com.

Artist Nicholas Galanin speaks about his mural in the Lory Student Center Jan. 24. Galinin was part of the Scott Artists Series created by the Colorado State University art and art history department.

PHOTO BY LUCY MORANTZ THE COLLEGIAN

“Art grabs people’s attention, and because of that, I think it is important we see work that is both appealing to look at as well as informs the viewer about crucial topics.”

SAMANTHA O’BRIEN CSU SOPHOMORE

Dear stars,

The new moon Jan. 21 has welcomed us to the age of Aquarius. Ruled by the innovative planet Uranus, you will find yourself socializing with large groups and putting extra love into creative projects. Now is the time to embrace your uniqueness and march to the beat of your own drum. If you have been feeling lost, you will receive a wake-up call when the sun creates a sextile with Jupiter Jan. 24. There is a high chance for manifestations to come true at this time.

Best wishes,

A Sagittarius Moon

WEEKLY HOROSCOPE

By Abby Flores

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (01/26/23)

ARIES (MARCH 21 - APRIL 19)

You are a great multitasker, but the recent new moon has been encouraging you to ground yourself. You need time to take a deep breath so you can reflect on your life and the relationships you want to develop. Remember that balance is key.

TAURUS (APRIL 20 - MAY 20)

You have fewer things on your to-do list this year (that is your cue for a sigh of relief). You worked hard last year, and the universe is granting you more time at home. You will thrive when it comes to cooking and making your space more beautiful. Friends will soon visit you and enjoy your company.

GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUNE 20)

Fate is on your side this week, Gemini. The universe is guiding

you toward something new to do. It could be joining a club or picking up a different hobby. Whatever it is, enjoy being in the moment because it is part of the healing process.

CANCER (JUNE 21 - JULY 22)

Being home is one of your joys, but you have been stepping out of your comfort zone lately. You will find yourself being surrounded by nature more. When you do this, you will likely have many spiritual revelations.

LEO (JULY 23 - AUG. 22)

You are the life of the party. Everyone enjoys being surrounded by your energy, but sometimes this can get draining. Listen to your emotions this week and take restful naps because you need sunshine too.

VIRGO (AUG. 23 - SEPT. 22)

You may be nervous about taking on a new career opportunity because you have been wishing for one for years. Being extroverted is sometimes difficult for you, Virgo,

but don’t let that stop you. It’s your time to shine.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23 - OCT. 22)

Your open mind and curiosity are bringing you abundance this week. You have been more motivated as a result of finding happiness within small moments in your life.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23 - NOV. 21)

You have some secret admirers, and people are looking toward your aura often. You are radiating confidence because you have truly worked on your root chakra, which is the energy that helps you stay grounded.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22 - DEC. 21)

You are magic, Sagittarius. You see life in the most beautiful way, and people admire you for it. This week will be focused on getting work done, but because the present is always a journey in your world, you are bound to connect the pieces of something you have been searching for.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 - JAN. 19)

Sometimes it feels like you are living the same routine, but that is not how it will be during the coming weeks. Prepare to be surrounded by friends and new experiences that are sure to keep you on your toes.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 - FEB. 18)

Happy birthday! You are aligned with the universe, and your gift is going to come in the form of finding your life purpose and reconnecting with someone after spending time apart. Your material abundance is destined to grow at this time.

PISCES (FEB. 19 - MARCH 20)

When it comes to work, you can often get overwhelmed because you love to daydream. Instead of forcing yourself to operate long, strenuous hours, try to schedule out a routine and find when you feel the most productive. You got this, Pisces.