9 minute read
L&C: What to expect: This year’s Shabbat 200 preview
RELIGION
What to expect: This year’s Shabbat 200 preview
By Alexander Wilson
@alexgrey0604
The Colorado State University Lory Student Center will host the annual Shabbat 200 Dinner in the Grand Ballroom at 7 p.m. Nov. 11.
Shabbat is celebrated on Saturday, the seventh day of the week. This day is observed by singing songs, studying the Torah and sharing meals with friends and family. Shabbat begins at sunset Friday and lasts until after dark Saturday. In the Torah — the Five Books of Moses — this is the day of rest for the Jewish people.
The annual event is celebrating its 15th year of hosting hundreds of students, faculty and staff, alongside this year’s guests of honor: Rick Miranda, the interim president of CSU, and Kauline Cipriani, the vice president for inclusive excellence.
The event will focus on educating allies and creating relationships throughout different cultures. To ensure those who don’t celebrate Shabbat are comfortable, the event organizers have created booklets for people to follow along with the hymns and learn more about the importance of the day.
CSU reported 26 incidents of religious bias during the 2021-22 school year, according to their hate and bias incidents report. “The State of Antisemitism in America 2021” showed one in four Jewish Americans has experienced some form of antisemitism that year.
Chaia Geltser, president of CSU’s Chabad Jewish Student Organization, spoke about the importance of educating others during this time in history.
“Being able to create these connections among Jewish students — but also having our allies and our friends coming to support, learn and be a helping hand — is super meaningful and super impactful,” Geltser said.
“It really facilitates a strong connection with all people on campus,” Geltser said. “It’s just really fun to see new faces and people bonding over the familial background, upbringing or religion and just really interest of culture.”
In accordance with Jewish tradition, the LSC kitchen was made kosher, and food was prepared under the supervision of Gorelik Nov. 9.
Traditional Jewish cuisine will be served at the dinner. Some foods to expect are challah, fresh greens, chicken, rice and a dessert. There will also be hymns sung throughout the event focusing on peace, family and community, notably including “Shalom Aleichem,” which translates to
“peace be upon you.” To create an inclusive space for the 200 expected patrons to come together and celebrate, the dinner is sponsored by Associated
Students of CSU, the
Residence Hall Association, the Lory Student Center and the Coca-
Cola Campus of Character
Beverage Grant
Program to ensure it will be free for students, staff, faculty and alumni of CSU, the University of Northern Colorado and Front Range Community College.
“It’s really fun to bring together our really small Jewish minority on campus as well as our non-Jewish students, faculty and staff,” Geltser said. “It’s really fun to create a strong community and build these relationships and connections.”
Inclusivity and education are the focus at the largest Shabbat dinner in Northern Colorado. Attendees should RSVP for the event online.
Reach Alexander Wilson at life@ collegian.com.
CHAIA GELTSER
CHABAD JEWISH STUDENT ORGANIZATION PRESIDENT
TRAILBLAZERS
Riding a popular wave: Surf Rat Glass
Bryan Ratcliffe begins a new piece in the Big Z Glass studio Nov. 1. “I really enjoy making glass, so honestly, to be able to do what I like as a job and be able to support myself has been a huge goal,” Ratcliffe said. PHOTO BY JULIA HANSELMAN THE COLLEGIAN
By Lindsay Barker
@lindsaybarkerj
Since The Collegian’s last article featuring local glassblowers, Bryan Ratcliffe of Surf Rat Glass has blown up.
The Fort Collins-based artist shifted his focus from creating smaller pendants with the theme of a “road trip” to making cannabis-themed drinkware. He makes glasses that look like large bangers and bowls among other drinkware creations.
“Small things like (pendants) required a posture that was bad for my back, so I knew I had to make a shift, so I shifted to working on a lathe,” Ratcliffe said. “When I was in middle school, I got my first potter’s wheel. A lathe is similar to that but with glass. It has to hold both ends, so making that transition to the lathe felt like home to me.”
Ratcliffe produces carefully crafted Instagram reels and TikToks that showcase his drinkware in a creative and engaging way. How did he think of this unique idea?
“I was listening to my audience as well as developing things at the time, and it kind of organically evolved,” Ratcliffe said. “I made a few videos and released the product, and it did really well.”
Ratcliffe currently has more than 80,000 Instagram followers and more than 134,000 TikTok followers with several of his videos reaching more than 1 million views and some even reaching 5 million views.
“You take something that has a connection with the viewer, and you put your twist on it, so you already have that instant connection with the viewer or consumer,” Ratcliffe said. “What I did that really helps set me apart is I went 100% in on learning how to produce and make the videos.”
Ratcliffe makes his videos with an iPhone 13 Pro and posts them on Instagram and TikTok several times a week. His videos are so wellcrafted that the Corning Museum of Glass featured his work in its yearly new glass review.
The Corning Museum of Glass is “the world’s largest space dedicated to the display of contemporary art and design in glass,” according to its website. The video the museum references shows Ratcliffe lighting a marshmallow on fire while making hot chocolate in one of his banger mugs, and a still shot of the video is featured in the museum’s magazine.
“The Corning Museum of Glass picks 100 substantial works in glass that they think were some of the best things produced over the year, so it was really cool to be in that magazine,” Ratcliffe said.
Ratcliffe’s use of social media and the crossover between Instagram and TikTok helped boost his reach substantially. Instagram and TikTok both have strict guidelines surrounding the promotion of cannabis products, so Ratcliffe had to find a way to work around them.
“I made sure to have food and use (cannabis-themed drinkware) with food each time so it was without a doubt a mug,” Ratcliffe said. “That’s a big struggle for a lot of glassworkers, but it’s (TikTok’s) platform, so you just have to play by the rules.”
Ratcliffe’s following has grown substantially over the last year, and his social media accounts continue to grow each day. By thoroughly understanding his audience and the market, Ratcliffe has created a successful and unique glassware business.
“I feel like as a maker, as long as I invest myself into it heavily, I have the possibility to put out some really good videos and stand behind my products,” Ratcliffe said.
Reach Lindsay Barker at cannabis@ collegian.com.
BRYAN RATCLIFFE
SURF RAT GLASSBLOWER
Bryan Ratcliffe works on a mushroom-inspired piece in his garage Nov. 1. The idea partially stemmed from recent political events involving the legalization of psilocybin mushrooms. PHOTO BY JULIA HANSELMAN THE COLLEGIAN
STRAIN REVIEW
Wake-n-bake with Lemon Jeffrey wax
Photo illustration of Lemon Jeffrey, a sativa-dominant cannabis that tested at 62.79% THC. PHOTO BY TRI DUONG THE COLLEGIAN
By Miles Buchan
@buchanmiles this is to rip a quick dab from a pen or rig rather than taking the time to smoke a whole bowl or joint.
With this in mind, I figured I would try to find an enjoyable wax with an affordable price. The wax I found is a sativa strain called Lemon Jeffrey from my routine store, Verts Neighborhood Dispensary. This strain of concentrate is just one of many made by Verts brand Chronic Creations.
As a regular at Verts, I can attest to the fact that they consistently have Chronic Creations extract products available for very reasonable prices. This particular strain is available for just $12 per gram, and other strains by this company are regularly available for less than $20. In my experience, the average gram of wax can range from $15-$25, which makes Lemon Jeffrey’s price point something to appreciate.
When the budtender opened the container for me to check out, I was surprised to see the wax had a nice honey-like coloration to it as well as the classic butter consistency. Something I have noticed when buying cheaper waxes is they tend to be darker in color, dryer in consistency and less potent.
Once I got home and opened up the container again, I got a waft of freshness and citrus. It surprised me to find that even though the wax smelled of lemon, once I dropped it into my quarts banger, it tasted more like Jeffrey. The flavor was kind of a musty taste with a hint of citrus, differing quite a bit from the smell profile.
The potency of this particular wax is on the slightly lower side, with the THC level at 62.79%. However, when I took my first puffs, I felt the effects kick in quickly, and I realized the potency was not a concern.
In terms of effects, Lemon Jeffrey went straight to my dome, making me feel quickly elevated and giving me a lasting head high. Within minutes, the high settled in, giving me an airy feeling. Over a short period of time, I could feel the tension in my head, neck and back releasing, which was much needed.
Some strains do not conform to the expectations of their classification, whether it be sativa or indica. Lemon Jeffrey, however, felt to me like a true sativa in the sense that I did not feel groggy. I spent the majority of the high watching “Adventure Time” and cracking up, and after an hour, I was feeling active and awake.
After having smoked Lemon Jeffrey a couple of times now, I can say it is a really nice sativa that would pair nicely with most activities, whether that be Friday night festivities or Sunday morning cartoons.
Reach Miles Buchan at cannabis @collegian.com.
