Thursday, March 6, 2025 Vol. 134 No. 23

THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN

FOCO EVENTS TOP STORIES

NEWS: CSU faculty express frustration with admin following uncertainty generated by federal directives PAGE 3

LIFE: CSU community gathers for annual Ramadan iftar to celebrate faith, unity PAGE 7

SPORTS: Snowriders promotes snow sports involvement as CSU’s largest club PAGE 8

SCIENCE: $1.5 million grant funds CSU antibiotic wound foam research PAGE 14

ARTS:‘The Body Construct’ exhibit explores identity, physical form PAGE 16

OPINION: Thorn: Low sex drive is completely normal PAGE 17

MEDIA: Border War marks final home game for departing seniors PAGES 10-11

Guest Artist Concert: Rawlins Piano Trio at University Center for the Arts Organ Recital Hall 7:30-9:30 p.m. March 7

Riverside Resilience: Plunge into Spring at Poudre Canyon 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 8

Moms Unhinged at The Comedy Fort 7:30-9:30 p.m. March 9

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.

Arts Management Instructor David Pyle and volunteers Maci Leon and Alexandra Clark participate in painting a mural on the first floor of the Andrew G. Clark C Building on Colorado State University’s campus Feb. 27. Commissioned by the College of Liberal Arts, the painting of the mural was led by graduate student Lara Van Vuuren and supervised by Pyle. PHOTO BY ALI MASHBURN THE COLLEGIAN

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 3,000-circulation student-run newspaper intended as a public forum and is printed on paper made of 30% postconsumer waste. It publishes every Thursday during the regular fall and spring semesters. TheCollegian 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.

Allie Seibel | Editor in Chief editor@collegian.com

Hannah Parcells | Managing Editor managingeditor@collegian.com

Claire Vogl | Executive Editor copy@collegian.com

Will Engle | Copy Chief copy@collegian.com

Nathan Carmody | Print Director design@collegian.com

Trin Bonner | Illustration Editor design@collegian.com

Aubree Miller | News Editor news@collegian.com

EDITORIAL STAFF

Sam Hutton | News Editor news@collegian.com

Christian Arndt | L&C Editor life@collegian.com

Katie Fisher | Science Editor science@collegian.com

Ruby Secrest | A&E Editor entertainment@collegian.com

Michael Hovey | Sports Editor sports@collegian.com

Sophie Webb | Sports Editor sports@collegian.com

Dominique Lopez | Opinion Editor letters@collegian.com

Garrett Mogel | Photo Director photo@collegian.com

Cait Mckinzie | Photo Director photo@collegian.com

Gigi Young | Digital & Social Director social@collegian.com

Isabella Trinchero | Social Media Coordinator social@collegian.com

CSU faculty express frustration with admin following uncertainty generated by federal directives

Colorado State University Professor Mary Van Buren, representing the anthropology and geography department, asks CSU administration questions during a Faculty Council meeting in the Physiology Building Feb. 25. “I don’t think my question was answered, despite Dr. Orsi’s follow up,” Van Buren said. “Faculty, staff and students should be included in the decision-making process from the start, not as an afterthought. The failure to include the chair of Faculty Council in the IMT chart and the lack of awareness of Dr. Chermack’s work with the Scenario Planning Institute at CSU reflects our lack of inclusion in the process.”

PHOTO BY CAIT MCKINZIE THE COLLEGIAN

By Hannah Parcells & Sam Hutton @csucollegian

In the days following the U.S. Department of Education’s release of a Dear Colleague letter outlining the executive branch’s interpretation of the Civil Rights Act as it pertains to federal higher education funding stipulations, frustration among Colorado State University students, faculty and administration alike has grown.

The letter prohibits higher education institutions from “using race in decisions pertaining to admissions, hiring, promotion, compensation, financial aid, scholarships, prizes, administrative support, discipline, housing, graduation ceremonies and all other aspects of student, academic and campus life.”

A 14-day period beginning with the release of the letter Friday, Feb. 14, was provided for institutions to make changes to ensure compliance. An educational institution’s failure to comply with the requirements outlined in the letter could mean the loss of federal funding. CSU receives more than $436 million in federal funding each year.

The Dear Colleague letter was released following an executive order that, among other things, instructed federal departments and agencies to encourage outside parties, including institutions of higher education, to end DEI programming and policies. The initial executive order called into question research funding and resulted in a message from Vice President for Research Cassandra Moseley with guidance for those working on federally funded projects.

The “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity” executive order was later

subject to a temporary restraining order, therefore extending the original 14-day compliance period outlined in the ED letter, granting CSU and other universities more time to plan and adjust.

Following the release of the letter, university administration released a statement Feb. 18 acknowledging the ED letter and outlining adjustments that would be made to job duties, policies and websites to “reflect the institution’s compliance with federal guidelines.”

Uncertainty falls over campus; students, faculty call for transparency

Citing a lack of transparency from university officials and concerns about the future of the Cultural Resource Centers, students organized campuswide demonstrations and peaceful protests in the Administration Building and the Associated Students of CSU Senate Chambers, calling for increased communication and interaction between administrators and affected students.

Students participating in the demonstrations said the released statements left more questions than answers, only exacerbating existing feelings of uncertainty across campus.

“Total fear and frustration,” third-year student Jessica Gray said in response to the federal directives. “Accommodations get me through minute to minute. The thought of them being gone freaks me out, not to mention the total loss of community. It’s a disgrace.”

Additional statements from CSU President Amy Parsons and CSU System Chancellor Tony Frank followed, with leadership concluding that no immediate changes would befall university practices until further clarification. The hold on the executive order is currently under appeal, thus further delaying

“Definitely a common narrative was about how unamusing the tone and the email from the chancellor had been,” said Antonio Pedros-Gascon, a professor in the department of languages, literatures and cultures. “Considering that that person has been president of this institution, it adds an extravagant insult to the situation.”

Geography and anthropology

Professor Mary Van Buren stressed the importance of shared governance in response to information regarding an Incident Management Team that the administration is in the process of organizing.

“I feel like not only do we not have any information, but that this is a time of crisis during which normal semidemocratic processes can be voided, and that concerns me,” Van Buren said.

Members of admin outline current plans, acknowledge communication errors

Administration members first provided updates from their respective offices on their evolving response to the ED’s new directives, beginning with Office of the President Chief of Staff Matt Tillman’s presentation on the university’s implementation of an IMT.

the implementation of new federal funding eligibility requirements.

In a special session of the CSU Faculty Council Tuesday, Feb. 25, faculty were given the opportunity to voice their concerns directly to administration staff. From the outset of the meeting, it was made clear that faculty members remain as uncertain as students, with access to quality, timely information from and communication with university leadership serving as a core point of discussion.

Faculty Council Vice Chair Joseph DiVerdi addressed the frustration faculty members have expressed regarding the administration’s response to the current situation.

“One of the contexts that I’m thinking about as we open this up here is trying to identify that ... the enemies of the institution are not present in the institution,” DiVerdi said.

Faculty Council leadership shared information regarding their personal communications with members of the administration and stressed that while they understand the frustration, it’s important to consider that university leadership is navigating the situation at hand as issues arise.

“The thing that I keep telling folks is none of us have ever been here before,” Board of Governors Faculty Representative Jennifer Martin said. “This is totally new for every single one of us in the room, as well as our leaders, and then having a level of compassion, understanding that we’re all in this together, and this is foreign territory (is important).”

Faculty members in attendance discussed shared concerns in an open conversation during the half hour prior to the arrival of administration members. Some in attendance expressed frustration with the content included in leadership communications prior to the meeting, with a focus on the message sent by Frank to CSU faculty Friday, Feb. 21.

might not even be aware, but there is a scenario planning institute at CSU, which I lead,” School of Education Professor Thomas Chermack said. “I’ve never been asked to do anything for this university. So if you want to talk about scenarios, I’m here and I’m ready.” Chermack claimed that although he remains a top national expert in scenario planning and directs the CSU Scenario Planning Institute, he was not consulted in the months before the Trump administration took office.

Tillman responded by taking down Chermack’s email address and pledging outreach and increased communication with campus experts.

Continuing to address concerns over faculty communication, Henley outlined the release of a new university website dedicated to maintaining all-campus communications. Several updates directing students and faculty to legal resources and up-todate federal guidance have already been made, though faculty members remained unsatisfied.

Drawing on the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s command structure, CSU previously implemented an IMT during the COVID-19 pandemic, wherein the situation was similarly fluid, Tillman said.

It was quickly pointed out that the displayed chart of incident command did not include communication and decision-making with faculty members, to which numerous attendees objected.

Van Buren argued the IMT contradicts CSU’s values of shared governance as detailed in the above statements and in the university’s Principles of Community, as it excludes faculty from crucial conversations.

“Faculty, as well as students, feel like it has been anything but a transparent process, that we are not included in this conversation,” Van Buren said. “I get the motivation to hunker down and do what you can most efficiently do as quickly as you can, but I don’t think that this crisis should engender a disregard for the democratic processes that are being touted at this university so often.”

Van Buren further pressed the administration on what is being done to include faculty in decision-making processes rather than simply providing updates as they come.

Tillman and Vice President for Inclusive Excellence Kauline Cipriani made repeated references to scenario planning efforts undertaken by administration in the months leading to the Dear Colleague letter, contradicting the group’s repeated use of the phrase, “building the plane as we fly it” throughout the meeting.

Faculty members called attention to the administration’s failure to include experts within the faculty in any conversations ahead of or since the ED’s new directives were issued, with many expressing irritation.

“I heard scenario planning called out three times in this discussion, and you

“I think this is a perfect example of what appears to me — I’d love to be corrected — but appears to me to be a failure to involve the faculty and to be transparent with faculty,” Professor of history Jared Orsi said. “If you take anything from today, it’s that tomorrow, all of you need to figure out how to reach out to faculty because there is expertise out there, as (Chermack) mentioned, and there are thousands of us around the campus. So I really would love to get an answer to the question: What has been done? Not an explanation for why it hasn’t been done yet, but what has been done?”

Members of administration acknowledged their lack of communication in the days immediately following the issuance of the executive order, detailing efforts to loop staff and faculty in via email while also pledging additional in-person interactions.

To conclude the meeting, faculty looked for assurance from the administration that the university’s research and studentfocused priorities be granted equal consideration for the long-term financial viability of the institution.

Communication studies Professor Karrin Vasby Anderson asked at what point the university is prepared to mark a “red line” against incoming federal directives to uphold the university’s educational and research commitments.

“Do we have a ‘red line’ that would reassure students and faculty right now?” Anderson said. “If it is crossed, might you consider working with the other public university administrations in the state and really responding from a position of strength?”

Parsons responded by declining to theorize potential future legal avenues but pledged to continue exploring alternative solutions to the issue.

“I don’t know how to answer the ‘red line’ question, and I don’t want to act like I’m the CSU General Counsel and answer that from a legal standpoint,” Parsons said. “We are coordinating with the other higher education institutions in the state, and I’ll honor what everybody’s doing here.”

Reach Hannah Parcells and Sam Hutton at news@collegian.com.

WORLD OUTREACH

Global Careers Panel introduces students to international work opportunities

By Chloe Waskey @csucollegian

On Tuesday, a panel of five international professionals met with students at the Global Careers Panel to share insight on building successful careers abroad. Each panelist brought experience from diverse fields, offering perspectives on working overseas.

The panelists were asked a variety of questions regarding the importance of learning foreign languages, how they suggest students pursue international careers and the relevance of international careers in the current political landscape.

Blake DeLong, an assistant professor of Spanish at Colorado State University, spent his career working in translation and interpretation mainly for children’s hospitals. He has a bachelor’s in Spanish, French and German, two master’s degrees in French and Spanish, a master’s in translation and interpretation and a Ph.D. in Latin American literature.

To DeLong, learning foreign languages was essential to his career development.

“I would put it to you that no matter where you are in life, you will always be happy that you speak in the language — that you learn a different language,” DeLong said. “It is going to be a

SWEET RIDE

superpower no matter what arena you decide to pursue.”

Daniel Chilson, an international sales specialist, said knowledge of language is incredibly important from a business perspective.

“First and foremost, being a really good communicator, regardless of the language, is just really fundamental,”

Chilson said. “If you’re looking at careers or jobs internationally, if you’re looking at a career regardless, just mastering good communication skills is just really, really vital.”

When asked how students should pursue work overseas, many panelists suggested that students should seek experiences that diversify their skill sets and make them more desirable to employers.

“The more that you’re out there in different environments and different experiences, you know, the more life experience that you can kind of bring to your personal skill set and create those differentiators that set you apart in the job market,” said Sebastian Africano, executive director of the nonprofit Trees, Water & People.

Lindsay Singh, a Peace Corps strategic recruiter at CSU, said the first step to career success is fostering curiosity and being unafraid to take risks.

“You do only live one life, so why not do all the things that you want to do?”

Singh said. “Why not try, at least try, (to) at least put yourself out there? Why not make a choice to try, and if it fails, guess what: You learned that.”

Singh spoke on the future of international careers in the current political landscape, given many U.S. programs focused in international outreach have recently been paused or shut down.

“Change is inevitable,” Singh said. “Sometimes the change itself can be overwhelming and overly challenging if that person chooses to focus on that instead of the incredible opportunities that going overseas offers.”

Jordan Sowell, special programs manager for International Programs at CSU, said students should advocate for their passions.

“Use your voice in ways ... where you can advocate for things that you are passionate about because we don’t know what’s going to happen,” Sowell said.

Sowell said pursuing a career in the international sector means committing to a process of constant growth and learning.

“There’s so much to learn, even when you feel like you’re pretty proficient,” Sowell said. “There’s, like, something else that you’re reaching for. I’ve never stopped.”

Students then asked the panelists how they should prepare for changes

in the job market amid the rise of artificial intelligence being used in professional environments.

DeLong said he anticipates AI will change some aspects of many jobs, but because international work is usually driven by interpersonal communication, the future of most careers is not at risk.

“Personal connection is something that just cannot — at this point — cannot be replaced,” DeLong said. “It’s about leveraging those technologies in an ethical way, a meaningful way.”

The panelists also gave specific advice on how to choose which overseas career to pursue.

“My recommendation would be to maybe segment your search, pick an industry and maybe even break

down that industry according to your own areas of interest or your skill set,” Chilson said.

After the panel, Singh said she spoke to students who found the event had motivated them to pursue their international career goals.

“What was exciting to me is to hear that they were inspired by the panel to kind of follow those international dreams,” Singh said. “Every student who I spoke with had a different story, and every student is unique, and yet every student with those unique backgrounds and stories were able to come together in a common interest.”

Reach Chloe Waskey at news @collegian.com.

CSU Courtesy Shuttle drives students around campus

By Angelina Hamlin @csucollegian

With the help of the Associated Students of Colorado State University, the Student Disability Center and Parking & Transportation Services, Colorado State University is working to help students with disabilities get around campus with an updated shuttle service: the Disability Courtesy Shuttle. The concept of having shuttles to assist students with permanent and temporary physical disabilities isn’t new, but the program has been improved. A shuttle

to the University Center for the Arts is a recent addition.

“The initial program that started 15 or so years ago came from student advocacy and was primarily supported by student fees,” said Joe Tiner, the assistant director for access and accommodations within the CSU Student Disability Center. The transportation vehicle was originally a van, but that got shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The current shuttle program was born during fall 2022 when Braxton Dietz, ASCSU’s vice president, was serving in the senate.

“I was watching (my friends) crutch from their dorms in Corbett all the way to Clark,” Dietz said. “At this point I was

in the senate, and so I said, ‘Well, you know, this is ridiculous.’”

Other similarly sized universities had shuttles to help students with physical disabilities get around campus.

The UCA shuttle is new, and it’s not just for students with disabilities. Many students can benefit from not having to walk or bike what can sometimes be more than a mile, depending on what part of campus they are coming from.

“You think about the amount of time that it takes to lug a tuba from the UCA — that’s like 30 minutes,” Dietz said. “That’s 30 minutes that folks could be spending engaging in extracurricular activities, finding new friends and communities on campus (and) engaging in new hobbies,” Dietz said.

The original program was operated by Off-Campus Life, similar to RamRide. Because the shuttles were not actually taking students off campus, it became a collaboration between the SDC and Parking & Transportation Services instead.

Student fees cover the cost of the program; each student pays $3.25 a year to fund the shuttles, Dietz said.

Another big update the shuttles have seen is the creation of an app that helps students access both kinds of shuttles. Students can now download the CSU Courtesy Shuttle app to request a ride from either the disability shuttle or the UCA shuttle.

“It works pretty similar to Uber,” Dietz said about the app. Students pick the locations they would like to be picked up and dropped off at and can indicate any accommodations they need when booking.

Prior to the updates, accessing the shuttles required contacting the SDC and emailing coordinators. The app has streamlined the process. So now, in order to access the disability shuttles, a student must fill out an application with the SDC, but the app can then be used to book rides. The UCA shuttle does not require an application.

“(We are) encouraging students to know that these are resources,” Tiner said of the SDC’s role in the program.

“If a student is actively accessing the resources, then they know it’s there,” said Sandy Venturato, who

works in Fleet Services with CSU’s Parking and Transportation Services.

Venturato said most students who use the disability shuttles have temporary disabilities, such as broken legs. She also reminded students to be mindful of the disability shuttles when walking on campus, as they often go where other vehicles don’t. Also, she would like students to be courteous to drivers, as they are there for a reason.

“Keep an eye out for a van when you don’t expect it,” Venturato said.

“Parking oversees the operations, … and the Student Disability Center works to verify that students who have a physical disability are able to access the shuttle,” Tiner said.

Dietz stressed that the shuttle service should be easy to use, no matter why a student needs access to it.

“CSU has a commitment to serving all types of students and meeting them in whatever need that they have, and this shuttle mirrors that need and furthers that need on CSU’s campus.” Reach Angelina Hamlin at news @collegian.com.

“CSU has a commitment to serving all types of students and meeting them in whatever need that they have, and this shuttle mirrors that need and furthers that need on CSU’s campus.”

Colorado State University students sit and listen to a panel discussion with professionals and CSU faculty about international careers in the Lory Student Center Feb. 25.

PHOTO BY SOFIA RAIKOW THE COLLEGIAN

A disability courtesy shuttle drives near the Behavioral Sciences Building at Colorado State University Feb. 27. These vehicles are a part of a new accessibility initiative organized by the Associated Students of CSU.

PHOTO BY ABIGAIL BURNS

PRESERVING MONEY

Financial literacy matters for all college students

By Gigi Young @csucollegian

Let’s face it: College is a time when we’re all trying to juggle classes, enjoy our social lives and, for the first time, manage our own money. It’s exciting but also a little overwhelming. Suddenly, we’re responsible for rent, groceries, tuition payments and maybe even income from a part-time job or internship.

With so much going on, it’s easy for financial responsibility to take a back seat, but learning how to manage your money now can save you from a ton of stress in the future. That’s where financial literacy comes in.

Financial literacy is just a fancy way of saying you know how to handle your money. It means understanding key concepts like budgeting, saving, investing and using credit responsibly. Being financially literate isn’t about becoming an expert investor overnight; it’s about building the skills and confidence to make smart decisions about money. Think of it as a toolset that helps you navigate life’s financial ups and downs, and college is the perfect time to start building that toolset. We’re already making financial decisions every day, whether we realize it or not.

Many of us are dealing with student loans, which can be confusing and stressful without a solid understanding of how they work. Knowing the difference between subsidized and unsubsidized loans, understanding interest rates and planning for repayment can make a huge difference down the road.

On top of that, daily expenses, like food, transportation and entertainment, can quickly add up if you’re not careful. Without a budget, it’s easy to overspend and end up scrambling to make ends meet. Financial literacy helps you avoid that by teaching you how to stay on top of your expenses and plan ahead. It’s also important to prioritize needs over wants. That doesn’t mean you have to cut

out all fun spending, but it does mean being mindful of where your money is going.

When you make purchases, try to find ways to save, like using student discounts or buying secondhand textbooks. And if you can, start saving — even if it’s just a little bit. The earlier you start, the more time your money has to grow, thanks to the power of compound interest. But saving isn’t the only way to grow your wealth; investing is just as important. By putting your money into stocks, bonds or other investment vehicles, you have the potential to earn higher returns over time than if you were to use a traditional savings account. Investing early can help you build wealth for the long-term, whether it’s for retirement, a big purchase or other financial goals.

Lastly, don’t forget about credit. If you have a credit card, make sure you’re using it responsibly by paying off the balance in full and on time each month. Avoid racking up debt on impulse buys, and monitor your credit report regularly to catch any errors or signs of fraud. Building good credit now can open up a lot of opportunities in the future.

Investment basics:

Understanding the fundamentals

Stocks, bonds, exchangetraded funds, mutual funds and index funds are all different types of investments, each with unique characteristics and levels of risk and return. Stocks represent ownership in a company. When you buy a stock, you purchase a small part of that company, making you a shareholder. If the company performs well, the stock’s value may increase, allowing you to sell it for a profit. Some companies also pay dividends, which are portions of their profits distributed to shareholders. This is similar to an end-ofyear bonus — if the company performs well, you may be compensated. However, if the company struggles or the

market declines, the stock’s value can decrease, leading to potential losses.

While stocks generally offer higher returns over time, they come with a greater risk of price fluctuations. Bonds, on the other hand, are like loans you give to companies or governments. In exchange for your money, they promise to pay it back with interest after a certain period. Bonds are generally considered safer than stocks because of their fixed payments, but they offer lower returns.

ETFs are collections of different stocks, bonds or other investments, which are grouped together in a single fund that you can buy all at once. This allows you to diversify your investments without needing to pick individual stocks, such as Disney, Apple or Tesla. Mutual funds are similar to ETFs but are actively managed by professionals who decide what investments to buy and sell within the fund.

Index funds, a type of mutual fund or ETF, track specific market indexes. For example, an S&P 500 ETF tracks the performance of the 500 largest U.S. companies. ETFs offer investors diversification, which reduces the risk of holding a single asset, and they typically have lower fees compared to mutual funds. However, they still carry market risk, as their value changes with the performance of the underlying assets.

Each type of investment serves different financial goals and risk tolerances. Stocks provide potential for high growth but come with volatility. Bonds offer stability and regular income but have lower returns. ETFs and mutual funds provide diversification and are ideal for investors seeking a balance between risk and return.

Next steps?

Open a simple, no-fee brokerage account; it’s like having a bank account, but it allows you to purchase securities, such as stocks and bonds. Popular platforms include Robinhood, Fidelity Investments and Charles Schwab, all of which offer user-friendly apps to help you get started. Learning how to manage your money in college might not sound as exciting as planning your next spring break, but it’s one of the most valuable skills you can develop. Financial literacy gives you the confidence and knowledge to handle life’s financial challenges and sets you up for success after graduation. And honestly, who doesn’t want that?

Reach Gigi Young at life@collegian.com.

SWEET TREATS

Girl Scout Cookie flavors ranked from worst to best

By Audrey Weishaar @csucollegian

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

The time everyone waits for has arrived. Better than birthdays, better than Christmas, better than Halloween: It’s Girl Scout Cookie season.

Before patiently waiting for the doorbell to ring or the booth in front of King Soopers to pop up, one must research what cookie is the best.

From worst to best, here are the Girl Scout Cookies for 2025.

9. Lemon-Ups

In 2020, Girl Scouts released Lemon-Ups, a shortbread cookie with lemon icing on the bottom and motivational phrases on top. They replaced the far superior Savannah Smiles in 2020, which were lemon-flavored shortbread wedges coated in powered sugar. Lemon-Ups are a bland cookie with icing that isn’t nearly flavorful enough.

8. S’mores

The S’mores cookie is exactly what it sounds like: a sandwich cookie that tastes like graham crackers with chocolate and marshmallow filling. It’s a fine cookie, but it is incredibly sweet.

7. Do-si-dos

Do-si-dos, like the S’mores, are a sandwich oatmeal cookie with a peanut butter filling. They are a tasty peanut butter cookie, but the combination of the dry cookie with the peanut butter filling makes it taste like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with too much peanut butter. The texture of this cookie is enough to be placed at No. 7 on this list.

6. Trefoils

Trefoils are your classic shortbread cookie. It isn’t particularly special, but it’s exactly what one might want in a shortbread cookie. It is sweet, buttery and goes really well with a hot drink. There’s not much to say about this cookie.

5. Toffee-tastic

Toffee-tastics are another shortbread cookie. These ones are bumped up because of the small pieces of toffee in the cookie. They are also a bit drier and more crumbly than the Trefoils, which creates more of a melt-in-your-mouth sort of texture. The shortbread cookies are tasty but nothing special, which is why they find themselves in the middle of the list.

4. Adventurefuls

Adventurefuls are the newest cookie to be released, coming out in 2022. They are a rich chocolate cookie with a caramel flavored crème center and a chocolate drizzle. If you are a chocolate fan, these are the cookies for you. They are very sweet and rich — exactly what a chocolate and caramel cookie should be.

3. Samoas

Here is when the list may become a bit controversial. Samoas are a shortbread cookie topped with shredded coconut and chocolate. Don’t get it twisted, Samoas are great. That’s

why they are No. 3. However, the texture of the shredded coconut knocks it down to third place, as the coconut is just thin enough to work itself between teeth.

2. Tagalongs

Tagalongs, a chocolate-coated shortbread cookie with peanut butter in the center, is ranked at No. 2 because of it’s similarity to Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. These cookies are toptier. Everything works so well together to make a tasty cookie with a delightful texture.

1.

Thin Mints

And now for No. 1: The best cookie one can buy at a cookie booth this year are Thin Mints. The mint chocolaty shortbread coated in even more chocolate is great. It never gets old. Frozen Thin Mints are even better, though most mint things are. To put them anywhere other than No. 1 would be a disservice to them and a lie to you. Truthfully, there are not any bad Girl Scout Cookies — except for Lemon-Ups — so this list was far more difficult than expected. Enjoy this cookie season; it will only be around for a little while longer. Reach Audrey Weishaar at life@collegian.com.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY MADELYN HENDRICKS THE COLLEGIAN

Girl Scouts of Colorado presents fan-favorite Samoas cookies Feb. 25. Girl Scouts is an organization open to young girls across America that teaches leadership and community involvement.

PHOTO BY KATELYNN ORTEGA THE COLLEGIAN

RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY

CSU community gathers for annual Ramadan iftar to celebrate faith, unity

By Laila Shekarchian @csucollegian

On March 3, the Colorado State University community gathered in the Lory Student Center Grand Ballroom to celebrate the start of the holy Islamic month of Ramadan during the annual Ramadan Iftar Celebration, hosted by CSU’s Muslim Student Association. The event, which has become a cherished tradition for many students and staff, featured a cultural expo, a keynote speaker, a Q&A session and a dinner for those observing Ramadan to break their fasts.

The month of Ramadan, observed by Muslims worldwide, is a time of fasting, prayer, community and reflection. During this holy month, Muslims refrain from eating or drinking from sunrise to sunset.

MSA President Zeyad Gad said the event aims to build a welcoming environment for Muslims on CSU’s

campus by recreating the special atmosphere Ramadan celebrations and traditions bring.

“Personally, one of the things I’ve missed most about home is the special atmosphere of Ramadan, the warmth of family gatherings and the sense of togetherness that can’t be fully recreated elsewhere, and I’m sure it’s the same case for most Muslims here,” Gad said. “By hosting this event, we are trying to bring back a small part of that experience to CSU. ... I want this event to be an opportunity for people to connect, build relationships and feel a stronger sense of belonging within the CSU community.”

For many Muslim students at CSU, the annual iftar is a way for them to reconnect with their faith and share traditions with others.

Jude Chikh Ali, a Muslim student at CSU, emphasized how the event helps students build connections with people from different backgrounds who share the same religious beliefs, leading to new friendships and meaningful conversations.

“I chose to come because I love the sense of community that comes with gathering with people with different cultures and different backgrounds but the same religion and same faith,” Chikh Ali said. “I just love the connection that this brings.”

Beyond connecting Muslim students, the iftar also aimed to educate non-Muslims about Ramadan and spread awareness. MSA invited students and faculty of all backgrounds to attend, encouraging them to experience Ramadan traditions and learn about Islam.

“(It) really means a lot to us, as it’s a great opportunity to bring the community together and to show nonMuslims how we celebrate Ramadan,” Gad said. “It’s fascinating how many Muslims and non-Muslims come together to celebrate this month.”

To enhance the learning experience, the event featured a keynote speech by Sheikh Majed Mahmoud, a renowned Islamic scholar known for his engaging lectures and discussions. The lecture focused on

the significance of Ramadan, fasting and information about Islam in general. The speech aimed to address common misconceptions about Islam and Ramadan.

“He is a unique speaker due to his engineering background and his passion for religion,” Gad said.

“We felt that this speaker would be a perfect fit here on campus to battle stereotypes and Islamophobia spreading. Our hope is that this speaker would shed some light on what our culture and religion is and the true meaning behind Islam, Ramadan and Muslims. Sheikh Majed Mahmoud is well known for his engaging talks and storytelling.”

During the Q&A session that followed Majed Mahmoud’s speech, audience members were encouraged to ask questions about Islam and learn more about parts of the religion that are often misrepresented. One attendee also took the Shahada and converted to Islam during the session.

For attendees like Hana Gatlawi, the event was an important step toward

creating a deeper sense of understanding between different communities at CSU.

“When we know each other, that would make us better work together, and also, that will avoid a lot of miscommunication, misconceptions, stereotyping — all of these things,” Gatlawi said. “It will give us a chance to express who we are and how we are trying to build a community, trying to help each other, Muslims and non-Muslims.”

For MSA, this event is more than just an annual tradition; it serves as an important aspect of community building and creates important connections among people of all backgrounds.

“I have attended the Ramadan iftar events at CSU over the past couple of years, and I’m always amazed by how Muslims and non-Muslims come together to celebrate this special month in such a positive and welcoming environment,” Gad said. Reach Laila Shekarchian at life @collegian.com.

The Lory Student Center’s Grand Ballroom is packed full of families and friends eating dinner together at circular dinner tables adorned with white tablecloths at the Ramadan Iftar Dinner Celebration at Colorado State University March 3.

PHOTO BY SOFIA RAIKOW THE COLLEGIAN

Snowriders promotes snow sports involvement as CSU’s largest club

By Mason Ford @mason_ford2891

Colorado State University’s Snowriders is the ideal social club for novice or hardcore skiers and snowboarders.

No matter how long a student has been on campus, they have likely seen something to do with the Snowriders. Whether it was a tailgate before a big football game, an event at the Lory Student Center or even someone sporting merch, this club has made its way all over CSU. With over 1,000 members, Snowriders is the largest club on campus.

Since 1974, Snowriders has welcomed members of all skill levels to join the club and have a memorable time out on the mountains.

“The Snowriders is, like, the social ski and snowboard club at CSU,” Snowriders President Ella Peters said. “We’re kind of open to all different abilities, whether you’re, like, learning how to ski or if you’re good at skiing.”

During ski season, Snowriders holds several events to encourage members to hit the slopes and enjoy food with fellow Rams. Ski trips typically range anywhere from daylong excursions to weekend outings.

Once ski season concludes, the club is still very active and holds year-round events for its members. The club members frequently make appearances at football and basketball games with tailgates and spirit days. They also host movie screenings, activities

like capture the flag, parties and much more to keep riders engaged throughout the year.

“If you’re even that, like, outdoorsy person or just interested in a cool, fun event, that’s kind of what we run,” Sponsorship Coordinator Sydney Anderson said.

“We really brought a lot of different people together to create a fun event for everyone at CSU. (They could attend) even if they don’t ski or snowboard or even have no interest, but they just want to see something cool happen on campus.”

SYDNEY

ANDERSON SPONSORSHIP COORDINATOR

To become a member of Snowriders, students should visit the Lory Student Center’s Student Organization Resource Center during office hours in room 141, or fill out the form on the club’s website and pay a fee. The club collects $35 to $40 for new members and $30 to $35 for returning members.

Once a member of the club, riders are given a T-shirt and access to Snowriders events, on and off the mountain, as well as the club’s sponsor discounts, which are listed on its website. The only extra fees that may

apply are for lodging on overnight trips.

“To become a snowrider, it’s super simple,” Vice President Addison Johnson said.

“You don’t have to have any experience to be a snowrider. You know, the emphasis is that it’s a social ski and snowboard club. So while you have to ski and snowboard, you don’t got to be good at it.”

Recently, Snowriders hosted its premier event on campus: RailJam. During this exciting event, the club partnered with the Associated Students of CSU to set up a slope in front of the LSC and host a ski and snowboarding competition.

This year’s event was quite successful. The competition and surrounding booths created a thrilling atmosphere. Events like RailJam reflect the heart of the club, and members can only expect more to come as the club grows.

“We really brought a lot of different people together to create a fun event for everyone at CSU,” Anderson said. “(They could attend) even if they don’t ski or snowboard or even have no interest, but they just want to see something cool happen on campus.”

Snowriders welcomes members of all skill levels, making it easy to get on the mountain and have a good time. Membership requires minimal effort and comes with several of benefits for skiers and snowboarders, new and returning.

Reach Mason Ford at  sports@collegian.com.

Kenny Schlosser jumps onto the rail while skiing on telemark skis — a ski with free heels on the binding — during RailJam, which was held on the Lory Student Center West Lawn Feb. 13.

PHOTO BY AVA PUGLISI THE COLLEGIAN

4 women’s basketball players to depart CSU following 2024-25 season

— 10 points and 12 rebounds — against Northern Colorado.

By Sophie Webb @sophgwebb

For Joseana Vaz, Sanna Ström, Emma Ronsiek and Hannah Simental, the Border War game was not just their final home game of the season but also their final home game ever with Colorado State women’s basketball. The players were celebrated and recognized for their effort, but the work continues as the Mountain West tournament quickly approaches.

Joseana Vaz (10)

After being raised in Praia, Cape Verde, and finding a love for basketball, Vaz was first introduced to the competitive international scene in 2016. During her global ventures, Vaz was a member of the club Barreiro team in Portugal. At just 18 years old, she competed in the 2018 FIBA U18 Women’s African Championships. Starting in 2020, the 6-foot forward

began playing basketball for Casper College, reining in her skills as a guard right off the bat. In a season high, Vaz scored 19 points against Western Nebraska Community College, but the best was yet to come.

Vaz was the only player to start in all 33 games her sophomore year, all while leading the team with an average of 12.5 points per game.

Against Central Wyoming College, she achieved her career high in points in a game with 23.

In that same season, Vaz was named to the All Region IX North Team and NJCAA All-Region after leading the Thunderbirds to a 5X Region IX North Championship, a Region IX Championship and an appearance in the NJCAA National Tournament.

After a decorated year, Vaz was in high demand and transferred to CSU.

Yet the switch from NJCAA to NCAA did not slow her down. Instead, it fueled Vaz as she achieved her first double-double

As a redshirt senior, Vaz has seen action in 23 of 30 games thus far in the season.

Sanna Ström (20)

Ström has had a remarkable career in basketball, but her achievements span much further than the walls of Moby Arena.

Before coming to the United States, Ström most notably competed in the women’s U6 Division B, with her team claiming first place in the European Championships. With three different teams, she went on to win first, second and third at the Nordic Championships.

Similar to what fans were able to watch from her in Moby, Ström was a force to be reckoned with. Her time on the Swedish Championships All-Stars Team and European Girls Basketball League All-Stars squad sharpened her as a player, preparing Ström for her time at Kansas.

In her first season with KU, Ström only achieved 14 points throughout her nine games, but there was a dramatic shift going into the next year.

Ström was one of three players to participate in all 36 of KU’s games and, in one game against Southeast Missouri State, scored a season high of 13 points.

But there was something missing, and after two years at KU, Ström changed her trajectory, transferring to CSU.

Although she was not in the lead for points during the 2023-24 season, Ström remained strong in other areas, scoring the second-most assists — 52 — and thirdmost for rebounds.

Coming from Europe, Ström was not only used to but ready for a fast-paced rhythm within the game. She came into her final collegiate season with fire and energy, but almost halfway through the season, Ström was injured, cutting her final season with CSU short.

Although her injury came at an inopportune time, Ström fought valiantly throughout her time in the game and was a key player for the Rams’ success.

Emma Ronsiek (21)

Where Ronsiek goes, success follows.

Two times throughout high school, she was picked for the Argus Leader First Five — given to the top five players in all of South Dakota — and was a four-time all-state selection.

Schools caught wind, and Ronsiek was quickly recruited to Creighton, one of the best schools in the Big East, which is currently ranked No. 2 in the conference.

The BE conference not only hosts several strong schools but players as well. Ronsiek faced players such as Lucy Olsen and Paige Bueckers, but she never backed down.

In her final season with the Bluejays, Ronsiek ranked No. 8 in scoring and

“It’s good and it’s bad. It’s sad (when) closing the chapter. But I’ve been doing this for so long, probably feels good to feel like I accomplished so much. Five years is a long time.”

was named to the All-Big East First Team for the second time in her career.

Her tenacity fighting in the big leagues helped present her as a notable player on the Rams’ roster. When mentioning CSU women’s basketball, Ronsiek’s name usually follows, as she has the most decorated stat sheet out of anyone on the team.

She has scored a total of 540 points throughout the season, comprised of 67 3-pointers and 186 field goals.

Behind Allyson Fertig and Mia Jacobs, Ronsiek holds the place of being one of the best players in the MW.

“I think I’ve had a pretty solid college career,” Ronsiek said. “It’s been super fun. I’ve made really great memories (and met) really great people. I want to hang my hat on just having a good college career and just making the most friends.”

In CSU’s first game against New Mexico, Ronsiek put on one of her best performances of the season, scoring a season high of 29 points, 14 free throws and 11 rebounds.

Yet no statistic is able to describe Ronsiek on the court. She lights a fire under the team, bringing a competitive edge — something that is needed in the upcoming MW tournament.

Hannah Simental (32)

Coach Ryun Williams knew at the beginning of the season that for the team to be successful, a player had to step up and attack the 3. The team’s prayers were answered when the transfer portal granted none other than Simental.

From a young age, Simental was surrounded by basketball, as it coursed through the veins of her family. After both her dad and siblings made a name for themselves within the sport, Simental continued the family legacy at UNC, where she spent the next four years.

In just her sophomore year, she was already a team leader in terms of scoring, steals and shooting percentage. But after helping lead her team to the Women’s National Invitation Tournament and being named to the All-Big Sky second team, Simental knew there was more out there for her.

Then the transfer to CSU was made.

“I knew if I could, I’d like to stay close to home,” Simental said. “But I did want to move up a little bit and have a different

role on a team. So CSU was kind of the perfect fit.”

Williams fulfilled that request, shifting her position from shooting guard to point guard. But Simental quickly adapted, making her a muchneeded versatile player, succeeding wherever she was needed on the court.

Behind Ronsiek, Simental dominates the team in practically every category. She has scored 295 points thus far in the season, 165 coming from 3-pointers, from which she shoots 39.9%.

From the beginning of the season, Simental has achieved remarkable strides, making her one of the most coachable players on the team. The following days are her opportunity to showcase everything she has learned from the sport as her college career comes to an end.

“It’s good and it’s bad,” Simental said. “It’s sad (when) closing the chapter. But I’ve been doing this for so long, probably feels good to feel like I accomplished so much. Five years is a long time.”

Reach Sophie Webb at sports @collegian.com.

Colorado State University guard Sanna Ström dribbles the ball down the court at the women’s basketball game against San Diego State University Feb. 3.

PHOTO BY LAUREN MASCARDO THE COLLEGIAN

Emma Ronsiek (21) shoots a free throw after being fouled Feb. 1. CSU played against the United States Air Force Academy and lost 75-71.

PHOTO BY KATELYNN ORTEGA THE COLLEGIAN

Hannah Simental (32) shoots the ball during a game against the University of Wyoming March 1. CSU lost to UW 55-68

PHOTO BY JULIA PERCY THE COLLEGIAN

HANNAH SIMENTAL GUARD

3 1 2

Border War marks final home game for departing seniors

Photos by Julia Percy

1. Hannah Ronsiek (30) shoots the ball in a game against the University of Wyoming March 1. Colorado State University women’s basketball lost to Wyoming 55-68.

2. Guard Brooke Carlson (2) dribbles through two UW defenders March 1. CSU honored four departing seniors prior to the game.

3. Emma Ronsiek (21) shoots a layup in attempt to draw a foul March 1. She finished with 17 points and shot 4-for-4 from the free-throw line.

4. Marta Leimane (14) dribbles the ball past a Wyoming player March 1. Saturday’s game was CSU’s final home game of the season.

5. Hannah Simental (32) protects her dribble from a UW defender March 1. Simental was the only player on both teams to play all 40 minutes of the game.

6. Carlson gathers the ball and prepares to shoot a layup March 1. This was Carlson’s final home game of her first season with the Rams.

7. Kloe Froebe (1) attempts to get a rebound between two UW players March 1. Froebe finished with three rebounds, tied for second-most on the team.

Then schedule a day and time to get your photo taken. Schedule your senior portrait on one of the following days: February 1-2, 5, 7-10, 12, 14-17, 21-24, 26, 28 GET YOUR SENIOR PHOTO TAKEN AND INCLUDED IN THE

1. 2.

Scan the QR code or go to LaurenStudios.com and use the school passcode "CSURams2025" to create an account without a Client ID number.

Guess what Rams! After a 23-year break, Rocky Mountain Student Media is bringing back an o cial yearbook to celebrate all of our CSU seniors. We have partnered with Lauren Studios to publish the new CSU Grad Book!

HYDRO KNOWLEDGE

Sustainable water interdisciplinary minor redefines water education for students

By Mckenna Van Voris @csucollegian

Colorado State University’s sustainable water interdisciplinary minor, SWIM, is composed of 23 enrolled students and 43 alumni. This niche program allows students flexibility in their courses while studying different approaches to water topics.

“It’s really that unique blend, that interdisciplinary nature, taking aspects from different thought processes and different subject areas and combining them together to give people a good,

wide sense of the subject matter of water,” said Ryan Deming, a minor adviser for CSU’s school of global environmental sustainability.

Karen Schlatter, interim director of the Colorado Water Center, said SWIM was created as a way to accommodate students who wished to take a wide variety of water courses. The minor provides something for students to show that reflects their hard work and interests relating to various water topics.

“I could go out and take a bunch of different courses that I thought were interesting that were related to water, but if there’s nothing associated with that, then it’s not as beneficial to the student,”

Schlatter said. “It was important for the Water Center to make that an official minor program.”

SWIM is composed of a variety of students in different majors from across CSU’s campus. Deming said minors like this — in which students are exposed to an array of people from different backgrounds — can provide a leg up in the development of careerrelated skills.

“The ability to work with people from a different discipline, the learning from someone who’s got a different thought process than you, that sort of experience of working across disciplines are all highly, highly valuable going outside of college,” Deming said.

Branch DeMersseman, a senior civil engineering student minoring in SWIM, has experienced this firsthand.

“I’ve done internships, and they have said that when they were reviewing applications, seeing that I had to take the

sustainability,” Lamm said. “It helps me go beyond just engineering. It helps me really see the ecological side (and) the restorative side, and it really helps me actually be a true environmental engineer.”

“Particularly now in the world that we live in, especially in the Western U.S. but all across the world, we are experiencing increasing water scarcity (and) increasing demands on water with growing populations and different uses. Water is always going to be relevant.”

KAREN SHLATTER COLORADO WATER CENTER INTERIM DIRECTOR

Deming also touched on the importance of studying subjects that emphasize one’s personality, not just experience in fields that are relevant to their major. He explained that many employers are looking for a candidate who showcases their other interests, in addition to a sleek resume.

“A lot of times, interviews are more about getting to know you as a person than it is talking specifically about your qualifications,” Deming said. “And so having that sort of interesting part to

extra step to get more involved in water as a focus has helped them choose me over other applicants,” DeMersseman said. “It’s helped me achieve a more specialized job in my field.”

Robert Lamm, a fourth-year environmental engineering student, said SWIM provided him with a new lens to look through not only in regard to his major but also life in general.

SWIM does more than just help individuals diversify their academic skill set; it also helps students grasp waterrelated situations occurring in the world around us.

“Knowing the context around water in Colorado has been very helpful and very eye-opening for me,” DeMersseman said. “Just having that baseline, I feel, has been very useful in helping me to interpret the news.”

Due to the prominence of water within Colorado’s landscape, understanding water studies in relation to real-life events can be helpful to all residents of Colorado.

“Particularly now in the world that we live in, especially in the Western U.S. but all across the world, we are experiencing increasing water scarcity (and) increasing demands on water with growing populations and different uses,” Schlatter said. “Water is always going to be relevant.”

Reach Mckenna Van Voris at  science@collegian.com.

MEDICAL EFFERVESCENCE

$1.5 million grant funds CSU antibiotic wound foam research

Other concerns with current antibiotic delivery methods include biofilm formation, a process in which bacterial pathogens colonize in host niches created by delivery agents.

experiment’s timeline has been projected further into the coming years.

“Now we have about three years of funding, and the goal is hopefully, in a year from now, we have enough data to indicate, ‘Hey, ... this really does have some real hard science legs to stand on to keep it moving forward,’” McGilvray said. “The ultimate goal is commercialization, to have a product that we can sell to the military, get into hospitals, you know, get to the patients.”

expressed by the people directly affected by a problem,” Stoner said.

The compound also has potential usages in the veterinary field. The next move of testing will include a clinical trial to measure the effects on canine traumatic injuries. The similar biological makeup of humans and dogs will allow for more thorough evidence on the effectiveness of the delivery method.

By Katie Fisher @csucollegian

In the heat of combat, every second counts to treat soldiers injured on the battlefield. A $1.5 million U.S. Department of Defense grant awarded to investigators at Colorado State University’s Translational Medicine Institute will fuel the development of a medical foam to meet this critical need.

Kirk McGilvray is an associate professor of mechanical engineering and associate director of the Orthopaedic Bioengineering Research Laboratory, where the development project is being housed. The investigative team also brings together collaborators, including veterinarians Lynn Pezzanite and Steven Dow of CSU’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital and Nicholas Alfonso, an assistant professor of orthopedics at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

Inspiration for the foam’s development was born over conversation discussing the current protocol for antibiotic treatment.

“(We were) sort of brainstorming ideas to come up with a better way to deliver the antibiotics to the tissues in the wound, which are often very disrupted and revitalized,” Dow said. “We were just talking about, could you deliver it as a gel or a liquid? What would be the advantages? The drawbacks? And then we kind of stumbled on, well, what if you could put the drugs in a foam?”

“Right now, the clinical protocol is (doctors) give (patients) systemic injections of antibiotics, and then they’re very scared of what’s called biofilm formation on (the) hardware,” McGilvray said. “So if you put a plate in to stabilize a broken leg, if bacteria starts to colonize on that, it’s very, very difficult to get off.”

Similarly, the battleground status quo requires injured soldiers to receive antibiotic administration through powder-form substances, such as vancomycin. While the method is effective, several factors that may affect a patient’s treatment are uncontrollable.

“You know, powder, as you imagine, if you throw it on something, it can clump,” McGilvray said. “You don’t get even distribution, like, there’s problems with that. It’s not repeatable. So we said, ‘Hey, what about a volume-filling foam in which you can control the coverage, the release (and) kinetics?’”

Initial testing allowed the team to gather proof of conceptual data. These experiments allowed for a deeper understanding of the physical and molecular properties required to adequately deliver antibiotics in their target physical form.

“We ran some bench-top experiments,” McGilvray said. “We can generate the foam. We can understand the foam stability. We can produce it, and it doesn’t denature the therapeutics we’re delivering. It can give us a homogeneous volume-filling-type product.”

The foam is composed of various chemical compounds specifically engineered to deliver antibiotics that are already present on the market.

“Our narrative is that it’s a biopolymer that has a long clinical record of biocompatibility and safety and other application spaces, and we are functionalizing that slightly different, and we’re using therapeutics that are on the market,” McGilvray said.

The foam, once injected into the wound, will be designed to remain in its original physical form until definitive care can be delivered to a patient.

Kirk McGilvray, student Pyke and graduate students Stoner and Linn apply a biopolymer foam to a mock wound at the CSU Orthopaedic Bioengineering Research Laboratory Feb. 28. The team was awarded a grant by the U.S. DoD to research and develop the foam for use in wound treatment, healing and recovery. “What’s unique about vital foam is that it’s a topical delivery solution that allows us to fill the volume of the wound,” McGilvray said. “That (also) allows for a homogeneous distribution of the therapeutics.”

“What happens is the foam breaks down as the bubbles pop (and) it coats and absorbs into the wound,” McGilvray said. “So it’s designed to stay in the wound, but it doesn’t become hard. It stays soft. … It coats the wound, delivering the topical or the therapeutic into there. And if needed — you know, you’re still not at the hospital — you can apply the foam again.”

This benchmark data was later submitted to the DOD and utilized to secure the most recent grant. With the new funding source, the

While the military’s market interest is evident, McGilvray’s team will also work to identify other customer potentials in the private sector in the coming year.

“Obviously, the funding from the military indicates that they would be interested in the technology, which is a good size market,” McGilvray said. “But we’d also want to know, ‘Hey, is it better to get it in the hospital? Should this be in rural ambulances? Like, where can we get in the market the fastest and have the most impact?’ And then once you get into the market and kind of crack that door, it’s much easier to go with to add to your catalog of technologies that you can get out into the public space.”

Mechanical engineering graduate student Amelia Stoner has assisted the project’s research through her time at the OBRL alongside Ph.D. candidate Jacqueline Linn. She attributed her involvement to the growth of new product development skills.

“Through my time on this project, I have learned a lot about product development logistics and the importance of developing a technology that will address specific needs

“Dogs get a lot of the same types of infections that we do as people, and ... they get treated with a lot of the same antibiotics,” Dow said. “That’s one of the reasons we think doing the studies of dogs is so important — because it will be so similar to what we would expect in a human.”

McGilvray noted the collaborative effort required to develop such a product as a driving force behind his passion.

“I’m so passionate about this project because I get to work with really smart people,”McGilvray said. “As we think about some of these medical problems, they’re so complicated. I don’t believe you can solve them by yourself. You can’t live in a silo and attempt to come up with solutions for things that are so important.”

As development continues through the grant funding, McGilvray said his efforts are driven by the widespread application potential the product holds.

“We’re developing something that has the potential to help a lot of people get back to living high quality lives, and that’s what we want,” McGilvray said. “Because clinicians, they only have so many tools in their toolbox, and we just want to give them something else.”

Reach Katie Fisher at science @collegian.com.

Jacqueline Linn, Amelia Stoner and Olivia Pyke pose for a photo with petri dishes containing a biopolymer at the Colorado State University Orthopaedic Bioengineering Research Laboratory Feb. 28. The team was awarded a grant by the U.S. Department of Defense to research and develop the foam for use in wound treatment, healing and recovery.

PHOTO BY GARRETT MOGEL THE COLLEGIAN

Professor

PHOTO BY GARRETT MOGEL THE COLLEGIAN

CREATIVE CO-OP

Trimble Court Artisans continues to thrive, strengthen Old Town

By Janaya Stafford @csucollegian

Trimble Court Artisans, a local Fort Collins art co-op gallery, has thrived for many decades and proven its longing to survive for many more years with the community it has nurtured.

Established in 1971 as a cooperative shop located in Old Town Square, Trimble Court Artisans comprises around 60 artists who all work together to keep the shop running. Every artist is local to Northern Colorado, making it unique to the region.

The shop is filled with a wide variety of art, giving those who walk in much to look at and explore.

“The sunshine hits that stained glass, and you are mesmerized, and it’s almost like this magnetic force is pulling you through the store, leading you from one little special event to another,” said Diane Findley, president of the co-op board. “I feel that way when I go in, and I’ve been going in the store since 1971.”

The process of becoming a member includes being juried in through the board. Members are then required to work a set number of hours in the store and pay a membership fee and are given their own design space to set up their artwork.

“We have a president, a vice president, secretary (and) treasurer; we have someone who is in charge of our advertising, and they’re all board members,” said Jill Popplewell, the current manager of Trimble Court. “So it’s not just me running this show. I have a whole team of board members that help keep everything running smoothly.”

Regardless of how long an artist has been a member, they are all treated the same and welcomed with open arms.

“Everyone is happy to see each other, happy to celebrate life’s changes and ready to step up when a fellow artist is in a time of need,” said Erin Joy Parrot, a member of Trimble Court Artisans. “I haven’t been a member for very long, especially comparatively, but I have been loved on so hard by the Trimble Court family.”

The members of Trimble Court all work closely, sharing the same desire to make the business successful. They have fostered their own family within the shop and continue to support each other.

“Being part of an artist community is always something I’ve strived for,” said Carol Baum, a member of Trimble Court Artisans. “It’s always helpful to, you know, just have the friendship and the camaraderie and the kind of energy that is shared among artists.”

The shop serves as an outlet for artists to sell their work while being surrounded by tons of variation in art. Even with such

OPEN COMMUNICATION

a large number of artists, they uplift each other and share joy in watching each other succeed.

“All of our co-op members, they’re part business owners; they want the coop and the shop to succeed,” Popplewell said. “So we’re kind of all marching in the same direction, and our big thing is just supporting the community (and) supporting each other at Trimble Court. So if one of us sells something really big — a big painting, a big piece of pottery — we’re all excited about it.”

This positive energy follows them outside of the shop and into their own homes, leaving traces of each other’s creativity.

“For our members, one of the treats is that we have a member discount, and we make a lot of sales to each other,” Findley said. “I come home and ... open the cupboard, and it’s like all my friends are represented there — the mugs and just all the artwork.”

While a strong community has been formed among the artists, this positivity is likely to rub off on anyone who steps foot into the shop.

Many families with children visit, and Findley said the kids are occasionally asked if they would like to use markers and crayons to decorate shopping bags.

These local Colorado artists bring something to the shop that is unlike any

other. It makes the co-op a place that many remember and revisit when they have the chance.

“We have a lot of locals that are always shopping with us,” Popplewell said. “If they need to get a housewarming gift, or if they’re going to be traveling somewhere else, they know they can come to Trimble Court to get something made in Colorado — something special, something unique, something not mass produced.”

This shop contains different kinds of art and gives each creator a place to showcase their work. From pottery, jewelry and paintings to the niche artwork some

artists have to offer, there is something for every shopper.

“My hope is that (it) inspires people to do their creative part of just seeing kind of outside the box,” Baum said in reference to the clocks she creates out of mostly recycled material. “You know, don’t judge everything by what it was initially intended to do. And I also hope it inspires not only the creativity in other people but also just reusing things.”

Read the full version of this article at Collegian.com.

Reach Janaya Stafford at entertainment @collegian.com.

Fort Collins Public Media offers resources to independent creators

By Katie Fisher @csucollegian

Armed with technical operating training, camera equipment and a passion for storytelling, a local nonprofit is working to empower current and future local journalists, regardless of age, background or previous experience.

Housed in the Center for Creativity, which is located within the walls of Fort Collins’ Historic Carnegie Library, Fort Collins Public Media has been serving Larimer County and the greater Northern Colorado region for over 20 years. The station was born from the simple

desire to uphold our nation’s most principal rights of expression.

“We began as a grassroots organization back in 2004,” said Jorie Kramer, president of the board of directors. “A bunch of citizens knew the importance of public access television, to freedom of speech and encouraging local artists and local creators, and they came together and formed FC Public Media.”

Public, Education and Governmental Access Channels, as defined by Section 611 of the Federal Communications Commission’s Communications Act of 1934, requires that major cable companies set aside channels for public, educational and governmental purposes. In Fort Collins, FC Public Media makes up the “public” branch of the requirement.

Kramer explained that the organization’s independent nature without corporate ownership makes it unique compared to other media outlets.

“Because we don’t answer to corporate sponsors, we don’t have a billionaire oligarch telling us what we can and cannot say,” Kramer said. “And I think that’s really important, that we answer to the public. And so I may not agree with you. I may not like what you’re saying. But you can definitely come in, produce a show and put it on.”

The organization’s main goal centers on connecting local creators with training, gear and support to produce visual, audio and digital media projects of their own. Members have access to a dynamic workspace equipped with cutting-edge media technologies.

“We don’t just say, ‘Oh, put your videos up on our website or on our channels,’” Kramer said. “We also say, ‘We’ll train you how to make videos; we’ll train you how to do a podcast; we’ll train you how to edit it.’ So we train creators on every aspect of it, from basic camera operation to final editing.”

Members have access to a variety of industry-standard audio, photography and videography equipment. The physical space features a large filming studio equipped with green screens and professional lighting equipment, along with a soundproof podcasting studio. Several computers line the workspace, fully loaded with Adobe Creative Suite and other softwares that creators can learn about through the organization’s course offerings.

“We have a basic camera operating class,” Kramer said. “We have editing

classes focusing on Premiere Pro because we do offer our members access through our computers to the entire Adobe Suite.”

Membership is available on a tiered system, ranging from its lowest tier, supporter, at $32 annually to its highest tier, producer, at $128 annually.

Within the community, the organization sees itself filling a critical information gap in a city without a major broadcasting organization. Coverage to address this perceived void is viewable on FC Public Media’s On-Line Channel or on Comcast Channel 97 and Connexion Channel 22.

“We have for 20 years been providing original programming,” Kramer said. “We’ve been providing programming 24 hours a day, seven days a week for the public access station. And some of that is original programming that we, as a very small group with our volunteers, are producing here.”

One such volunteer is Betty AragonMitotes, president and founder of Mujeres De Colores. She joined FC Public Media after previously producing two documentaries covering the Hispanic community’s history in Northern Colorado.

“I want to do my own films,” Aragon-Mitotes said. “I want to be able to have my own say about content that’s in the films. So through FC Media, they’re making a path for me so that I can learn how to do the camera (and) how to run everything. I feel very confident in the interviewing process. I know what I want to ask people. I know the story I want to tell, so they’re paving the way for me to learn.”

Her upcoming documentary will cover a previously untold period of Colorado sports history.

“This has been a dream of mine, to do a film on the Hispanic and Mexican baseball players that played back in the ‘30s, the ‘40s,” Aragon-Mitotes said. “And part of the reason ... is I want to shed light and educate the community about our history. It’s really important.”

Similarly, former CSU faculty member and English secondary language instructor Patricia Babbitt joined the organization to elevate voices and meet a market gap she found underrepresented in mass media.

“I would love to offer an English through podcasting class so that the students could learn how to use the stuff here and know that they have access to it and communicate with the people that they need to, but also then maybe in their different languages and communities or whatever, have their own podcast,” Babbitt said.

Producer Alexis Hmielak became involved with FC Public Media upon discovery shortly after moving to the local area.

“I moved to Fort Collins in 2006, and six months after I moved here, I discovered that a Canadian mining company wanted to mine uranium up in Nunn, (Colorado), … and so my hair caught on fire,” Hmielak said.

Outrage turned to action as Hmielak drew on her previous experience in cable television to bring light to the prospective mining operation.

Read the full version of this article at Collegian.com.

Reach Katie Fisher at entertainment @collegian.com.

Russell Skinner and Ren Burke, two contributing artists to the Trimble Court Artisans, pose for a picture Feb. 27. “Trimble Court Artisans has been here for nearly 52 years,” Skinner said. “The co-op is soon to have 62 contributing artists, nearly all of whom are local to Fort Collins.” PHOTO BY ABIGAIL BURNS THE COLLEGIAN

FC Public Media is a community media center located in the Center for Creativity at the Historic Carnegie Library in Fort Collins Feb. 28. The organization connects creators of all skill levels and provides diverse viewing platforms for local productions. They have a studio, rentable equipment for podcast and video production and support local news and entertainment.

PHOTO BY JULIA PERCY THE COLLEGIAN

FLESH AND THOUGHT

‘The Body Construct’ exhibit explores identity, physical form

By Annamarie Burford @csucollegian

Our physical bodies are the vessels in which we experience and move through life, but how often do we take the time to consider their significance beyond getting us from point A to point B?

“The Body Construct: Between Flesh and Thought,” an exhibit at the Gregory Allicar Museum of Art, explores these questions and puts them in conversation with our identities and interactions. The displayed works, which range from sculptures to paintings from all time periods, depict a variety of individuals’ artistic representations of their own and other’s bodies.

The exhibit was curated by Colorado State University students Aspen Crawford, Madrigal Frederick-Law and Marissa Goldin. These students previously interned for the GAMA’s “Full Circle: Celebrating Colorado Women Artists” exhibit. Through this experience, they curated “The Body Construct.”

For this exhibit, the students wanted to open up the time period and geographic origins to encompass a diverse group of voices as well as share pieces from the museum’s collection that have yet to be displayed.

“You’ll see things from, like, 200 years ago, from Africa to the U.S. and across the world,” said Crawford, a senior sculpture student at CSU. “So it’s really important

to us to have some different perspectives from cultures of what the body is for them.”

The exhibit contains an array of different art forms depicting the body — even similar pieces are vastly different. Specifically, one part of the exhibit displays two masks: John Collins’ Tattoo Mask from New Zealand and Gillian Wearing’s Sleeping Mask from London. Set side by side, Collins’ use of vibrant red coloring and abstract line work contrasts the hyperrealistic soft flesh tones of Wearing’s mask, highlighting the differences between the artists’ subjective images of the face.

Another sculpture piece by artist Fang Lijun from China captures 11 male figures at various ages, displaying the progression and influence of time on the human body.

Other iconic artists, such as Salvador Dalí and Andy Warhol, have pieces displayed in the exhibit, but they don’t overshadow the other voices. Two pieces are displayed next to Warhol’s work: an unknown Japanese artist’s watercolor piece of a woman combing her hair while watching herself in a handheld mirror and an unidentified Atauro Island artist’s wooden figure of a standing man.

With works from artists from nearly every continent, the exhibit captures visions from several cultures and backgrounds, and audience members are able to examine their own relationship with their body and identity.

Walking through the exhibit, one may witness different interpretations of the self

and the body, opening up “an avenue for empathy,” as Crawford described it.

“With all of these different cultures that we’re representing, it’s kind of asking you to step outside of your physical self and place yourself in these other bodies and these other shoes,” Crawford said.

The intention of the exhibit was not to tell viewers how to feel or what to experience within their own body but rather to encourage them to embrace their personal interpretations as they arose, free from any prescribed meaning.

Frederick-Law said she had the intention of making it an interactive experience.

“(Connections can be made) between the artist or between the artwork and the audience, as interacting with each other and these depictions of body and their bodies and our bodies (is how this exhibit was designed),” Frederick-Law said.

Within the exhibit, “The Body Construct” statement was displayed, offering questions to explore while analyzing the display pieces.

“How do bodies act as both containers and thresholds for experience?” the statement for the exhibit reads. “How do they transform over time, and how does this change how we view ourselves? How might the physical limitations of our biological bodies restrict our identities? How might our identities transcend these limitations? How are our identities shaped by those around us?

The exhibit challenges viewers to recognize the body beyond its physical

Celebrate Catering

LSC Catering, Northern Colorado's largest caterer, focuses on creating tailored events that fit a wide range of budgets, with custom menus designed to meet the unique dietary needs of your guests. Whether you're planning a graduation celebration, a student organization event, or an end-of-year gathering, our team is here to help. We prioritize sustainability and accessibility in every dish, ensuring that each menu is both thoughtfully crafted and inclusive. Reach out to our catering coordinator today to start planning your event!

form and, instead, as the foundation from which our identities are created and interpreted.

“We wanted (it) to be something that the audience could take what they wanted from this exhibition,” Frederick-Law said.

Regardless of someone’s decision to explore this experience, the exhibit’s student curators encourage other students to utilize the art museum.

“It’s a really great resource for students on campus,” Frederick-Law said. “I would love to see more art students utilizing it as a space for inspiration and a space to

experiment with curation. … We have a lot of great, amazing work in collections that studio majors could utilize in their own practices.”

Crawford corroborated Frederick-Law sentiment about the art museum’s benefits.

“I’ve certainly gained a lot of inspiration from the pieces that we’ve had in the collection in my own work,” Crawford said.

Reach Annamarie Burford at entertainment@collegian.com.

Sleeping Mask by Gillian Wearing, a hyperrealistic woman’s face, and Tattoo Mask by John Collins, a deep red and intricately detailed mask, sit on display in a glass case together at “The Body Construct: Between Flesh and Thought,” an exhibition at the Gregory Allicar Museum of Art in the University Center for the Arts Feb. 27. PHOTO BY SOFIA RAIKOW THE COLLEGIAN

LACKING

Low sex drive is completely normal

By Astrid Thorn @csucollegian

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. There is no denying that sex can be exciting, fun, inviting and something to be sought after. Sex is a crucial part of life for many people across the world and a major factor in many people’s romantic relationships. One important aspect of a person’s sex life is the frequency with which they desire sexual

contact. This is an issue that requires sensitivity, as discourse surrounding it can involve a great amount of societal pressure and shame.

Sex drive, or libido, refers to a person’s desire to engage in sexual acts, partnered or alone. Libido, specifically low libido, can be an extremely sensitive and often taboo issue, especially among young people. The societal expectation tends to be that young adults all have extremely high sex drives and are always ready and willing to engage in intercourse. While this may be true for some folks, it does not apply to every person, and many people do not experience significant interest in sex.

FAMILIAL STEREOTYPES

The issue of low sex drive is shrouded in stigma, and much of this is due to social media, movies, TV shows and even peer-to-peer interactions that push the narrative that a person should always be ready to have sex and be excited to do so. Many people hold the belief that if a person does not want to have sex in a given moment, it means that they are not attracted to their partner, withholding sex or even struggling with their sexual orientation. All of these narratives are completely inaccurate and, frankly, very harmful, especially to young people who are just beginning to explore their relationships with sex.

For people who experience sexual attraction, consistently being physically and mentally prepared for sex can be extremely important. Experiencing attraction without the drive to engage in sexual acts is completely normal but may be incredibly frustrating and confusing and can cause significant issues with self-esteem and sexual confidence. There are countless reasons that a person may experience a decrease in their sex drive, ranging from physical difficulties to mental barriers surrounding sexuality.

One prominent cause of low libido in younger people is medication. Many prescription medications list decreased interest in sex and difficulty becoming aroused as common side effects, and

this can be incredibly challenging. One class of medications that is especially infamous for causing a decrease in libido is the SSRI class, more commonly known as antidepressants. In female-bodied individuals, low libido can also come as a result of hormonal medications, including hormonal birth control. Hormonal medications can come with a variety of sex-related side effects, ranging from a lack of physical responses to sexual stimulation — a lack of natural vaginal lubrication, for example — to little mental interest in sex. These side effects are very common and, although frustrating, are extremely normal.

Other common causes of low sex drive include drug and alcohol use, stress, mental health concerns, anxiety about sexual performance and numerous other physical and mental barriers. Additionally, libido naturally wanes with age, and many people experience a decreased interest in sex as they get older. Sexuality is heavily influenced by a person’s environment, overall physical and mental well-being and other circumstances surrounding the sexual encounter.

When discussing issues of sexual desire and the drive to engage in sex, it is imperative we acknowledge the fact that these issues are completely

unique to each and every person. Some individuals have naturally high sex drives, while others have significantly less interest in sex. Having a low sex drive does not indicate that there is anything wrong with you, and while it can be discouraging to struggle with low libido, especially as a young person, you are not alone.

Sex, by nature, is very personal and is experienced differently by every individual. It is essential that people who experience sexual attraction engage in sexual activity with partners who honor their sexual needs and desires, and this includes the frequency at which they wish to participate in sex.

Sex should always feel exciting and wanted and should only occur when every party involved is enthusiastic about it. No one should ever feel pressured to engage in sex if they do not fully desire it, and it is time to fully normalize honoring your personal sexual needs. If you want to have sex five times a day, that is wonderful. And if you need to go months or even years without sex, you are completely valid. Sex is a different journey for everyone, and it must be acknowledged as such. Reach Astrid Thorn at letters @collegian.com.

What your sibling order says about you

By Emma Souza @_emmasouza

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

I’m not a devout astrology believer nor am I an astrology disbeliever. Rather than explaining my own actions — and everyone else’s — with the positioning of the stars, I follow an astrology of my own: the position of your birth order.

There are, in my opinion, four main types of people in this world: oldest siblings, middle siblings, youngest siblings and only children. While there are many subcategories, such as genderspecific rankings — e.g., oldest sister, youngest brother — or more specific inbetweens — e.g., second-oldest sibling — I’m simplifying these categories for the sake of clarity.

I think that your birth order says more about your personality, leadership, communication, worldview and even love language than astrology ever can. It accounts for the nuanced family dynamic that you grew up in, which plays a big role in shaping who you are as an adult.

So here is my ultra-specific, incredibly niche analysis of what your birth order says about you.

Oldest sibling

As the oldest, you tend to be extremely critical of yourself, having unrealistic standards. Though you

claim to be extremely self-aware, your inner control freak is only fueled by the assumption that you know everything about everything — even yourself.

You care deeply about many people you don’t know because you’ve been taught to care deeply for your whole life. You let every pedestrian cross at the crosswalk, even when they stop to let you drive. Caffeine doesn’t settle well with you, but you’ve been reliant on it for so long that it’s basically an addiction. Your favorite color is purple, blue or red.

Middle sibling

As the middle sibling, you’re either an incredibly loud talker or you barely talk above a whisper. You often say impulsive things that you don’t actually mean. You might’ve been parented in a different way than your older sibling, in that you were expected to hold your own and be the “easy” child. You’re more pragmatic and independent than given credit for. You went through a slight shoplifting — sorry, borrowing — phase in middle school. You’re great at sharing from necessity rather than compassion. You needed braces but never got them, or you opted for Invisalign that still, to this day, never worked. Your favorite color is orange, pink or green.

Youngest sibling

As the youngest sibling, you hate working under tight deadlines because you can’t stand when your accomplishments are benchmarked. You dislike being compared to people but secretly compare yourself to others all the time. You’re either extremely

reckless or frugal with your money, but either way, you’ve been working from a young age.

You don’t celebrate many milestones or firsts because yours were never celebrated growing up. Your reactions to disputes or problems, while valid, are seen as overdramatic. You don’t floss your teeth as much as you should. You clean your room daily but never make your bed because you feel like it’s a waste of energy. Your favorite color is yellow, blue or orange.

Only child

As an only child, people have been calling you mature since a young age, which really pisses you off. You weren’t mature because you wanted to be but because you had to be. Everyone always assumes you have a great imagination, but you were bored 90% of the time.

You either grew up with cousins, grandparents or family friends who acted as honorary siblings, all of whom

you felt jealous of. Your childhood home is cluttered with past hobbies, most of which you gave up after a weeklong hyperfixation. You claim that you don’t snore, but you definitely do, and you can fall asleep in under two minutes. Your favorite color is green, red or pink. Reach Emma Souza at letters @collegian.com.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY KAYLEE MADSON THE COLLEGIAN

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY LAURYN SMITH THE COLLEGIAN

PUZZLES

Sudoku

1 2 6 4

4 5 1 5 6 7 6 5 3 1 9 65 23

WEEKLY HOROSCOPE

By Sophia Masia

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (03/06/25)

ARIES (MARCH 21 - APRIL 19)

4371 256 98 5298 763 41 6189 342 75 3 4 1 6 9 7 8 5 2 8625 417 39 9753 824 16

Your words hold power. Mercury in your sign boosts your cognition, communication and problem-solving. Say what you mean, but don’t forget to listen, too. Second guessing your reflection — literally or figuratively — and talking it out with someone who sees you clearly can ease your mind. Respond carefully, Aries.

TAURUS (APRIL 20 - MAY 20)

to speak up and advocate for yourself. Stop waiting for permission when you already know what needs to be done — just make the decision and stand by it. Writing a to-do list isn’t the same as getting it done, Cancer.

LEO (JULY 23 - AUG. 22)

Restlessness is creeping in this week. Your perspective might change on something you thought you wanted, and now is the time to declare that you need something more. Whether it’s a literal trip, a new passion or a shift in perspective, say “yes” to what excites you. Throw caution to the wind, Leo.

7 9 6 2 5 3 1 8 4 2534 189 67 1847 695 23

Your subconscious is loud this week. Allow yourself to cancel plans, call into work and spend the day in bed. If a random thought lingers, your mind is trying to tell you something. Let yourself sit in the quiet and listen. Remind yourself of how nourishing solitude can be, Taurus.

GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUNE 20)

Make sure your social battery is charged for this week. Mercury in Aries boosts your networking skills, but choose your conversations wisely. Not every opinion needs your rebuttal, and not every friend is a safe-sounding board. If someone challenges you, don’t dismiss them; there’s wisdom in discomfort. Last words are overrated anyway, Gemini.

CANCER (JUNE 21 - JULY 22)

Your career is calling, and it’s telling you to make a move. The cosmos are pushing you

it’s your sleep schedule, work boundaries or how you handle stress. If something feels unsustainable, it probably is. Don’t just think about change; act on it. Small changes lead to big results, Scorpio.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22 - DEC. 21)

Your spark is reigniting as passion fuels your creativity this week. Whether it’s art, romance or play, lean into what makes you feel alive. Self expression is a necessity. How are you expressing yourself? Say yes to joy, creativity and a little risk. Laughter is medicine, Sagittarius.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 - JAN. 19)

Something at home or in your personal life needs a real conversation. Get clear on your needs from your family, your roommates or yourself. Are you stuck in an old emotional role? Break the pattern. Say what you mean, and create a foundation that supports you, Capricorn.

VIRGO (AUG. 23 - SEPT. 22)

Honesty is your best strategy this week. Mercury in Aries nudges you toward real conversations about intimacy, trust and shared resources. Authentic connection requires you to be a little messy and a little cringy. If you’ve been avoiding a talk about money, boundaries or commitment, now’s the time. Let go of the illusion of control, Virgo.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23 - OCT. 22)

Be bold enough to take the lead in your connections this week. If a power imbalance is emerging, be honest about what you need. Being more direct in your relationships isn’t only helping you; it’s an act of love for the person you’re with. Stop tiptoeing around, and just say what needs to be said, Libra.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23 - NOV. 21)

Your daily habits need an audit. Mercury in Aries shines a light on the little things draining your energy, whether

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 - FEB. 18) Your words have power — use them wisely. Mercury in Aries makes your voice sharper, but be mindful of how you say things. Clarity is key, especially in texts or quick convos where tone gets lost, but some people are just dedicated to misunderstanding your message. Not everything needs a response, Aquarius.

PISCES (FEB. 19 - MARCH 20)

Money, self-worth and security are front and center this week. It’s time to assess what you truly value, financially and emotionally. Are you accepting less than what you deserve? Ask for that raise, set the boundary and redefine what stability looks like to you. You are worth more than you think, Pisces.

Last edition’s crossword solution

“You sound like your family would have bought a dorm building to have the name on it.”

“Those are my emotional support bastards.”

“I’ve got that dawg in me — that guard dawg.”

“I wish I was in a coming-of-age movie where I was football jock dude where I could beat up the little nerd with glasses to do my homework.”

“I had a man ask me if I listen to The Smiths because I have bangs. It was the worst experience of my life.”

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

Spilling food in the microwave

“They pick up their sex toys by 6 p.m. After that, it’s too late.” Vintage apparel

Being called a yuppie Wind Trade wars Gas