Thursday, February 8, 2024, Vol 133. No. 20

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Community unites, calls for ceasefire in Gaza at city council meeting Story by Aubree Miller Photo by Avery Coates Page 6

Vol. 133, No. 20

Thursday, February 8, 2024

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Thursday, February 8, 2024

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FORT COLLINS FOCUS

THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN

TOP STORIES

FOCO EVENTS

NEWS: CSU faculty faces relocation across campus due to Clark construction PAGE 6

Fat Friday at The Lyric

L&C: RLP collaboration delivers CSU’s 3rd Rams on Ice PAGE 8

Lunar New Year Celebration at Funkwerks

SPORTS: Lexie Trietley breaks records 1 stroke at a time PAGE 10 SCIENCE: MRNA vaccines race us toward future of health care PAGE 16 OPINION: Job applicants deserve more respect from employers PAGE 19 A&E: Vitamin String Quartet captivates diverse audience PAGE 20

7 p.m. Feb. 9

1-5 p.m. Feb. 10

Toasty Fingers: Felted Mittens at Blue Moose Art Gallery 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 11

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.

PHOTO: Old Town ice carving PAGES 14-15

“BURNT”

BY KAILEY SEVERSON

CHARCOAL, OIL PASTELS, TEA, CONTE CRAYON, CHALK, BALLPOINT PEN, NEWSPAPER 23 X 17 INCHES “This piece symbolizes my house burning down in the Marshall Fire in December of 2021. It focuses on two matchboxes, the left picturing the house that burned down and the right picturing the house that was built in its place.

The matches symbolize before being lit on fire and after they’re blown out, similarly to how the houses represent before the fire and after. There are also many burn holes and marks representing what was lost.

Even after the matches are lit, they are still there, just different — the same way my family is still here, but my house isn’t.”

Calling all student artists: Submit your artwork to The Collegian for a chance to be featured in a print edition! Email design@collegian.com for more information and the submission form.

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

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CORRECTIONS

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Thursday, February 8, 2024

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YEAR OF DEMOCRACY

Jane Fonda advocates for climate-1st activism, encourages voters

By Ivy Secrest @ivysecrest

Highlighted in Colorado State University’s thematic Year of Democracy, Jane Fonda used her time onstage to address key issues of patriarchy and climate change with CSU students in her conversation with university President Amy Parsons Friday, Feb 2.

“We were founded on the revolutionary idea of democratizing education,” Parsons said, introducing Fonda to the crowd. “We take our responsibility very seriously here, bringing in different perspectives in our thematic Year of Democracy and making sure that we are having engaged dialogues in productive ways and producing the next generation of leaders right here at CSU.” Known for her activism, acting career and sense of humor, Fonda has dedicated the recent years to climate change and environmental activism.

“We’re the first generation — all of us, us old folks and you young folks — we’re the first to experience the real effects of the climate crisis,” Fonda said. “And we’re the last to be able to do something about it. So your involvement, your votes, whoever we vote for when you go to the polls — have climate in your heart.”

Fonda discussed how democracy is at the heart of the climate crisis, telling those in attendance that all issues of social justice, such as sexism and racism, are tied to the climate crisis. Garnering laughs from the crowd at several points, Fonda drew connections between her life in activism and the issues the world currently faces.

“We need to make oil companies persona non grata,” Fonda said. “Don’t sleep with anybody involved. Back in the ‘60s during the Vietnam War, we used to say, ‘Girls say no to the boys who go.’ It was the wrong strategy, actually, because it wasn’t the boys’ fault. … You can sleep with the oil workers. It’s not their fault.

Don’t sleep with the executives.”

Oil companies and the fossil fuel industry don’t care about people, and communities are suffering because of their actions, Fonda said, referencing her time spent in Commerce City, Colorado, earlier that week.

“We need to show up for people,” Fonda said. “You know what these kinds of places, what Commerce City, is called by the oil companies? It’s called a sacrifice zone.”

Fonda’s description of sacrifice zones illustrated one of her main points: Fossil fuels are killing people, and the industry knows and doesn’t care.

Fonda’s love of nature, along with inspiration from young people like Greta Thunberg, has led her to dedicate her life to the climate crisis. Even in her battle with cancer, she continued to draw attention to the environment.

“This isn’t a partisan issue,” Fonda said. “This is a ‘Will we survive?’ issue, and you all can have a big impact. What got me to decide to commit my life to fighting against the climate crisis was people your age.”

Fonda encouraged students to vote with climate in mind, even posing a question to the student body about why there isn’t a higher “It matters — we turnout for ASCSU elections and why there aren’t more women in all have to be like student government. psychiatrists when we Fonda also reminded students that change can happen at any go to the polls. Is this point in your life. Fonda told person going to be so students about how much she had worried about coming changed her mind over the years, including on issues she is now across as a manly man known for supporting. Fonda said that he’s not going she was not born an activist; she became one as she was exposed to to do the human and the world. sustainable thing that “What I really like to do is listen,” Fonda said. “There’s needs to happen?” listening, and there’s listening with your heart. So if you JANE FONDA understand why people behave ACTOR AND ACTIVIST the way they do and then you find a few ways to talk differently, … you can talk to them (and see) where they’re coming from.”

Fonda encouraged students to lean on each other and learn from each other, citing her friendships with women as a big part of why she is who she is.

“Men’s friendships are sitting side by side, looking out,” Fonda said. “Usually cars or sports or women. Women’s friendships are face-to-face, eye-to-eye, and even if you haven’t seen each other for five years, you drill right down to soul level.”

Fonda said women also know how to ask for help. Not being able to ask for help is a patriarchal idea, and ultimately, it hurts us, Fonda said. She pointed to former President Lyndon B. Johnson as an example of this loss of connection between person and heart.

“How many people died in Vietnam because he needed to keep his family man image?”

Fonda said. “It matters — we all have to be like psychiatrists when we go to the polls. Is this person going to be so worried about coming across as a manly man that he’s not going to do the human and sustainable thing that needs to happen?”

Though Fonda touched on several serious issues, she maintained a sense of humor, having to break several times as the audience laughed at her well-placed PHOTO COURTESY OF COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY jokes. Pulling people in with humor, she shared important perspectives it is for the youth to be involved. And she County Commissioner John Kefalas on climate, feminism and activism purposefully highlighted a handful of times said. “Especially the students of why it’s with the CSU community.

“I think it’s just really incredible that involvement in student government, and so important to be involved, why it’s important to vote as the default mechanism and find she was willing to take the time to talk I really appreciated hearing that from her.”

Fonda inspired many attendees of the appropriate ways to engage in and try to to students about her long history of advocacy,” ASCSU President Nick DeSalvo event, encouraging many to do what they help address the climate crisis, which is upon us.” said. “And, you know, she started this work could where they could.

Reach Ivy Secrest at news “I think she did an amazing job of when she was younger, too, and so she understands very deeply how important inspiring all the people there,” Larimer @collegian.com.

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STUDENT GOVERNMENT

ASCSU reflects, looks to future in State of the Association Address

By Sam Hutton @sam_hut14

The Associated Students of Colorado State University hosted their State of the Association event for the first time in the organization’s decadeslong history Jan. 31, beginning what organizers hope is a new tradition for CSU’s student government.

The event, modeled after the State of the Union and the State of the State addresses, provided ASCSU officials an opportunity to reflect on the accomplishments of the current administration, report on the work of their respective boards and branches and look toward future projects and initiatives.

With several prominent members of the CSU community in attendance, including President Amy Parsons, ASCSU members said they believe the event will allow the organization to continue bolstering its presence on campus as well as extend outreach opportunities beyond the university.

Director of Governmental Affairs Michael Stella was the first of the featured speakers, using his time to update attendees on the ongoing mission of the Legislative Strategy Advisory Board, which has been primarily focused on lobbying efforts in the Colorado state Capitol.

In cooperation with Rep. Andrew Boesenecker and Sen. Janice Marchman, the LSAB has succeeded in introducing HB241018 to the Colorado General Assembly, which, if passed, will exempt college textbooks from sales and use taxes.

Stella said he hopes the passage of the legislation will help alleviate the financial burden placed on CSU students, especially with proposed tuition increases continuing as a looming threat.

“If you’re ever in doubt about what this organization can accomplish, I encourage you to think deeply about the textbook bill,” Stella said. “If the college textbook sales tax bill passes the state legislature and is signed into law by Governor ( Jared) Polis, that might be one of the best investments this organization has ever made.”

ASCSU is hosting its annual Day at the Capitol event Feb. 8, allowing members of the ASCSU and CSU community

President Nick DeSalvo talks about ASCSU’s ability to make active changes at the Annual State of the Association Address Jan. 31. “Individually, we can make ripples, but together, we’re a force that makes waves,” DeSalvo said. “We have a duty to make those waves as one organization, ASCSU. So keep charging forward, and as always, show the world what it means to be a Ram.” PHOTO BY CAIT MCKINZIE THE COLLEGIAN

to publicly voice their support for HB24-1018 during an active legislative session.

Director of Finance Ashton Duffield followed, addressing the senate on the work of the Board for Student Organization Funding, which is responsible for the oversight of over $125,000 in funds generated from student fees.

Duffield detailed the board’s recent partnership with RamRide, reflected on previous campus events funded through BSOF and previewed upcoming programs, including several Black History Month initiatives.

Vice President Alex Silverhart was next to address the atcapacity chambers, summarizing the work of the Student Fee Review Board and previewing multiple new initiatives organized in conjunction with the ASCSU Office of Health.

Silverhart has also campaigned for the supply of pregnancy tests on

campus and continues to help organize projects such as the ASCSU blood drive, furthering his commitment to the health of the CSU student body.

“Within this past year, ASCSU has been able to collect 108 units of blood, saving 324 lives; distributed over 3,000 free pregnancy tests; and offered mental health tabling to combat the current depression epidemic our country is facing in a post-COVID era,” Silverhart said.

Silverhart hopes the work of SFRB and the ongoing efforts of the Office of Health will continue improving the college experience for all members of the CSU community.

Chief of Staff Braxton Dietz followed Silverhart, celebrating the current state of the ASCSU executive cabinet and remarking on several new programs sponsored by the executive branch.

“I’ve gotten to experience this team’s unprecedented

accomplishments, passion-driven motivations and incredible initiatives,” Dietz said. “These are our future leaders, innovators and change-makers, and I couldn’t be more excited for our tomorrow.”

In addition to several student diversity and inclusion campaigns, Dietz also detailed the continued efforts to expand the scope of ASCSU beyond the CSU sphere, ideally allowing for additional student input in the Fort Collins and Colorado communities.

Chief Justice Alayna Truxal was next on the list of speakers, summarizing the largely confidential work of the ASCSU supreme court and offering her view on the future of ASCSU as a whole. Truxal said she believes the current ASCSU administration is a healthy one, stressing the importance of inter-branch cooperation and communication.

Truxal also mentioned several projects sponsored by members of the judicial branch, including

a roommate revival program and diversity initiatives.

Speaker of the Senate Ava Ayala then addressed the crowd, reflecting on the accomplishments of the 53rd senate and pledging her continued commitment to representing the student body.

Ayala primarily highlighted the work of the senate, noting the passage of several pieces of legislation, outreach programs and caucus initiatives, expressing her confidence in the future of the administration moving forward.

Within her role as speaker, Ayala said she believes she provides a refreshing perspective by expressing her commitment to ensuring the organization remains approachable and accessible for all.

“There’s so many people with so many passions in this space, and I appreciate every single one of them,” Ayala said.

As the ultimate speaker, President Nick DeSalvo addressed the senate chambers in a 10-minute speech focused on the future of the association and the importance of participation in the democratic process.

“These walls aren’t going to spell out a blueprint for how to make democracy work,” DeSalvo said.

“That responsibility is on us.”

DeSalvo also took time to stress the immense impact ASCSU can and should have on the lives of students as well as reaffirm the administration’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in the political process.

“Our team’s diversity has given us a variety of perspectives and approaches for any given issue, and as a leader, it’s imperative to surround yourself with people who see the world differently than you,” DeSalvo said. “Colorado State University serves students from everywhere, and that breadth of representation must be reflected in student government.”

To close the event, DeSalvo spoke directly to ASCSU members, encouraging them to consider the legacy they intend to leave behind.

“Your time in this organization is not about achieving a specific status either within or outside of ASCSU,” DeSalvo said. “It should be about doing good work for students.”

Reach Sam Hutton at news @collegian.com.

Thursday, February 8, 2024

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ACADEMIC ADJUSTMENTS

CSU faculty faces relocation across campus due to Clark construction

By McKenna Van Voris @mckenna_vv

Known for hosting 99% of students in at least one class throughout their Colorado State University career along with its notoriously historic design and structure, the Andrew G. Clark Building is currently in the process of a revitalization project.

Many issues prompted Clark’s remodel, but one stands out the most to history department Chair Robert Gudmestad: the safety risk of hazardous materials within the structure.

“There is asbestos all around us, but it’s contained within the walls,” Gudmestad said. “You’ve got to make sure that the asbestos doesn’t get out into the air, and so technically, we’re not even supposed to drill into the walls.”

Michael Seman, an assistant professor of arts management for the College of Liberal Arts, talked about his experience with the building’s temperature fluctuations.

“My office also completely lacks any sort of climate control,” Seman said. “One national event I was invited to speak at over Zoom found me delivering a talk as the temperature in my office soared to 88 degrees.”

Faculty who work in Clark said the quality of the building is so poor that

History department Chair Robert Gudmestad sits in his current office in the B wing of the Andrew G. Clark Building Jan. 30. Gudmestad discussed the upcoming relocation of his department due to the Clark renovation. PHOTO BY HANNAH PARCELLS THE COLLEGIAN

directing newcomers to the building is often discouraged.

“I’ve heard that when prospective students come to visit CSU, the tour guides don’t take them on a tour of Clark,” Gudmestad said.

Built in 1968, Clark is due for a much-needed update, but the revitalization project requires the displacement of many CSU faculty and graduate students.

Departments such as anthropology and geography have already undergone their move from Clark to another building on campus. A majority of the departments was moved to the General Services Building. While relocating a department requires a lot of work, anthropology and geography department Chair Michelle Glantz said being ahead of the game is key.

“I felt strongly that we needed to be proactive about the move rather than reactive,” Glantz said.

Gudmestad said faculty within the history department will be moving to modular trailers, where they will remain for the next three

years. This means that due to limited space, individual faculty members will temporarily lose their personal spaces within the department.

“It’s going to be two faculty to an office,” Gudmestad said. “That could be good and bad. One of the concerns is sometimes we have to have private conversations with students.”

While the majority of the history department will be moved southwest of Clark, it remains unknown where the department’s graduate students will be relocated.

As a result, one of Gudmestad’s main concerns is what communication between faculty and graduate students will look like if the department is split up.

“We need to communicate with our graduate students, so obviously if they’re separated from us, we’ll still be able to communicate with them, but it’ll make things more difficult,” Gudmestad said.

Glantz shared similar concerns regarding faculty connection and communication within her department, but she has come up with a solution.

“We have these bi-monthly ‘chat and chomps’ where the department orders pizza or donuts,” Glantz said.

“It’s just a very informal way for faculty to reconnect if they’re in an office that isn’t in GSB.” Despite the many challenges faced when relocating, CSU faculty had good things to say about those in charge of the revitalization plan.

“We’ve been meeting about its design, bringing faculty issues as well as student issues to the architects, and they’ve been amazing,” Glantz said. “I have no complaints about the process. It’s been great.”

The Clark revitalization project is set to be completed in three to four years. With the new building, there is promise of better teaching spaces and, overall, a more welcoming, enjoyable place to learn.

“This is going to be a place that you’re going to want to show off to new students because it’s a place where they’re going to want to come and learn,” Gudmestad said. “I mean, that’s the ultimate goal.”

Reach McKenna Van Voris at news@collegian.com.

COVER STORY

Community unites, calls for ceasefire in Gaza at city council meeting

A member of the Fort Collins community speaks about a ceasefire resolution at a Fort Collins City Council meeting Feb. 6.

PHOTO BY AVERY COATES THE COLLEGIAN

By Aubree Miller @csucollegian

With an unprecedented turnout of around 100 people, the Fort Collins City Council meeting Feb. 6 had an outpouring of community support surrounding a possible city resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza.

The Gaza Strip has been under attack since Hamas militants stormed into Israel, taking hostages Oct. 7, 2023. United Nations humanitarians reported Jan. 23 that more than 25,000 civilians have died in Gaza since the war began.

Residents came to comment about the Israel-Hamas war, sharing personal anecdotes, calling upon local and federal government to take action and silently showing support. Clapping is not allowed in the chamber, according to the rules of procedure for Fort Collins City Council meetings.

Fort Collins Mennonite Fellowship Pastor Steve Ramer was one of the over 60 people who signed up to speak.

“I encourage you to vote ‘yes’ on the resolution for a ceasefire,” Ramer said. “I am part of a religious tradition that is nearly 500 years old and has preached the futility of

violence. To us, any form of violence is a sin. This is a moral issue. And so I am here to speak on the morality of the violence going on in Gaza.”

Ramer explained he had originally signed up to speak about the Mennonite Fellowship and homelessness outreach; instead, he used his time to support the ceasefire resolution. Several other individuals who spoke did the same thing.

Many residents echoed that this is a local Fort Collins issue, with many speaking about how Woodward, a local company, has allegedly supplied Israel with weapons used against Palestine.

Furthermore, some said it would be hypocritical for the council to not vote on this, as the council convened on various national and international issues in the past, such as support of a ceasefire in Ukraine, abortion rights, the Patriot Act, ending apartheid in South Africa and Medicare for All. Some residents spoke on behalf of those who couldn’t attend, such as Mika Lin, who is both an American and a Palestinian citizen. Lin spoke for a former resident of Fort Collins who currently in the West Bank.

She read a letter, prepared for the meeting, that aimed to explain what life is like in the West Bank.

“We live in an apartheid state,” Lin read. “We have separate identification papers that tell us where we are allowed to go.

We cannot visit our holy sites in Jerusalem without special permission. Our cars have different colored license plates that show what roads we can drive on.”

The letter also discussed the current quality of life and accessibility of resources for Palestinians in the West Bank.

“Israel controls all of the goods that come in and out of the area,” Lin read. “Water, electricity, medicine and all other basic necessities.”

The session continued with Hannah Spring, who spoke about rising reports of antisemitism and Islamophobia worldwide as well as the ceasefire resolution.

“What are you doing to prioritize ( Jewish and Muslim) safety?” Spring said. “Ask yourself that. Turn inward.

Think about it, please. And I’d also like to ask you: What if at the end of this life, the final question is, ‘Did you turn toward the suffering of the world, or did you turn away from it?’”

Fort Collins Mayor Jeni Arndt and other city council members offered their thoughts after the nearly two-hourlong public comment concluded.

“There’s nothing legally stopping us from taking such a stand, and I personally hope that we do,” Councilmember Kelly Ohlson said.

“I have no fear, nor am I reluctant to consider and pass a resolution calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, and I will proudly vote ‘yes’ for such a resolution.”

Residents also pointed out that there was no one who spoke against a ceasefire resolution. The support on the issue was unanimous among the over 60 people who spoke.

“I want to give a sincere thank you to all of you who came out, either virtually or in person,” Arndt said. “I really appreciate the respect that you have for the chamber and for each other.”

Shehab Elhaddad, president of the Islamic Center of Fort Collins, shared his thoughts on the community turnout after the session.

“I wasn’t expecting the city council to be full and (for) overflow to happen,” Elhaddad said. “I’m just proud of the community and the people coming together for one issue, which is just saving innocent lives. That’s the thing I think every person said today: saving innocent lives.”

Reach Aubree Miller at news @collegian.com.

Thursday, February 8, 2024

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CULTURAL IDENTITY

Nabil Echchaibi explores Muslim (In)Visibility in CSU Year of Democracy

By Laila Shekarchian @csucollegian

As part of CSU’s Year of Democracy, Nabil Echchaibi, an associate professor at the University of Colorado Boulder and director of the Center of Media, Religion and Culture, visited CSU for a discussion titled Auditions in Muslim (In)Visibility Jan. 31.

“In my view, much of the core of democracy — as a notion and as a practice — is to bring various voices and visibilities to the public sphere,” said Carolin Aronis, cochair of the research committee responsible for planning the event. “It is also about reclaiming and re-insisting a place for voices who are usually left behind or are locked in a certain misperception.

In that regard, Echchaibi’s talk offered the CSU’s year theme a perfect topic.”

Echchaibi’s talk focused on the themes of his current book project, “Unmosquing Islam: Media and Muslim Fugitivity,” aiming to tackle stereotypes surrounding Muslims and Arabs in the media and how they are perceived by the Western world, particularly in the post-9/11 era.

“This book is about Muslims who leap out of this imagery by refusing forms of subjection imposed on them by the repressive vocabularies and logics of Western modernity,” Echchaibi said.

Echchaibi’s book gives insight on what it’s like to be a Muslim or Arab in the West based on his personal experiences and observations and how those experiences motivate his writing.

“I am more than the words others have projected onto me,” Echchaibi said. “Writing about and for Muslim fugitivity is a culmination of a state of mind that is steeped in the afterlives of 9/11, a set of conditions regimented by suspicion, surveillance and transparency.”

“Muslims and Arabs are creative. They are resourceful. They create things that are interesting not just to themselves but also to others to learn about, and I want people to just open up a little bit and stop thinking about Muslims only in relation to a kind of looming question about security about terrorism. I think that that’s the only way for people to feel like these folks are here as Americans.”

NABIL ECHCHAIBI UNIVERISTY OF COLORADO BOULDER ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR

In addition to his experiences, Echchaibi discussed his concerns

with the stereotypes perpetuated after events such as 9/11, former President Donald Trump’s Muslim travel ban and, more recently, the Israel-Hamas war.

“The war in Gaza has really reawakened a lot of these terrible stereotypes about Muslims and Arabs in general and has, in a way, reopened that can of worms about terrorism,” Echchaibi said. “I believe we are unfortunately in a similar place as the one we were in right after 9/11.”

However, Echchaibi’s point was not to dwell on the negative impacts these events have on Muslims but to highlight those who continue their art despite stereotypes.

“I’m not interested only in Muslims and Arabs who respond to some sort of imminent danger or imminent victimization in their representation,” Echchaibi said. “I’m interested in Muslims who go about living their lives, go about producing things, creating things.”

This fits into Echchaibi’s idea of “muslimness” outside of the identification of faith and culture but as part of a diverse group of people who share the same dehumanizing experiences as well as a desire to see beyond that and create.

Nabil Echchaibi speaks at Colorado State University in a talk titled Auditions in Muslim (In)Visibility Jan. 31. The focus of the talk was Echchaibi’s book, “Unmosquing Islam: Media and Muslim Fugitivity.”

PHOTO BY JULIA PERCY THE COLLEGIAN

“To speak of the vastness of muslimness with a lowercase M is to declutter the noise that surrounds Islam and Muslims, to refuse the poor sights and sounds that govern the publicity of this faith and its followers and to haunt the mad archives and labels Muslims experience as objects of an interminable pathology,” Echchaibi said.

Echchaibi said his goal is to write in a way that helps his audience understand that there is more to Muslims and Arabs than what they see in the West and welcome the idea of Muslims as creative people who bring value to the media industry.

“Muslims and Arabs are creative,” Echchaibi said. “They are resourceful. They create things that are interesting not just to themselves but also to others to learn about, and I want people to just open up a little bit and stop thinking about Muslims only in relation to a kind of looming question about security

about terrorism. I think that that’s the only way for people to feel like these folks are here as Americans.”

During the discussion, Echchaibi created a space for people to understand different perspectives and see Muslims as more than what they typically see in the West.

“I felt that it was really important to not only hear from someone who’s a Muslim-identifying individual but also just be able to listen to these different perspectives,” CSU student Ella Smith said. “In this world, I feel like it’s so polarized and so us versus them.”

Students appreciated Echchaibi’s point of view; moreover, they appreciated CSU’s commitment to creating spaces for people to have discussions like this one.

“I thought it was an amazing talk, and I’m really grateful that we get to go to a university that allows speakers like this to come and talk about their experiences,” Smith said.

Reach Laila Shekarchian at life @collegian.com.

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STUDENT ACTIVITIES

RLP collaboration delivers CSU’s 3rd Rams on Ice

By McKenna Van Voris @mckenna_vv

The sounds of music and laughter wafted through the afternoon air on The Plaza as students donning ice skates glided, twirled and posed for pictures with their smiling peers outside of the Lory Student Center.

Brought to Colorado State University by All Year Sports Galaxy for the third year, the temporary ice skating rink was on campus from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31.

Free skate rentals, swag and s’mores meant the event was open to anyone interested in participating.

All Year Sports Galaxy, a company that provides synthetic ice rinks and temporary roller rinks, has sponsored events at CSU before, such as a roller rink in The Plaza last March.

The material used by All Year Sports Galaxy at Rams on Ice is a fine plastic that mimics real ice. Consisting of custom-designed polymers, the plastic allows skate blades to glide smoothly atop the surface. Due to its nontoxic, recyclable components, this synthetic ice is an environmentally friendly material.

While this was not the first time Rams on Ice has taken place at CSU, it was the first year that Rams Against Hunger was one of the main organizations associated with it.

This partnership was an effort to bring in more donations for the organization and, consequentl y, the community.

“They collect for Rams Against Hunger in the fall, but you don’t really hear about them collecting donations in the winter as much, so we wanted to incorporate them as well,” Hiatt said.

Not only was the event designed as a way to collect more goods for Rams Against Hunger, but it also fostered the goal of creating an

Colorado State University students ice skate at the Rams on Ice event held by Residential Leadership Programs Jan. 31.

PHOTO BY LAUREN MASCARDO THE COLLEGIAN

Organized by CSU’s Residential Leadership Programs, the Rams on Ice event is a cooperation between the National Residence Hall Honorary, Residence Hall Association and Community Council branches of the RLP. More specifically, RLP Director of Residential Events and

Development Fayth Hiatt played a large part in the coordination and logistics behind the scenes of the event.

“Fayth runs the show, and myself and the rest of the cabinet play supporting roles based on whatever she needs help with,” President of the RHA Lizzie Fryhover said.

exciting environment for students to relax and strengthen their connections with their fellow Rams.

“We hope to foster a sense of shared community and provide a great way for the students to support each other and the CSU community,” said Amanda Dermer, coordinator of student engagement for Housing & Dining Services.

One of the additional benefits of Rams on Ice is that because it is an ongoing event throughout the day, students can come or go whenever they please.

“Students may spend as much or as little time as they’d like at the event in its convenient location on The LSC Plaza, and we of course encourage students to participate in activities with friends,” Dermer said.

While there are not many other big RLP events coming up, Rams on Ice is an event that RLP strives to establish as an annual pop-up.

“This is like the big (event) that we try to do,” Hiatt said. “We’re trying to incorporate (it) every year from now on because it is such a popular event.”

Reach McKenna Van Voris at life @collegian.com.

CELEBRATING HERITAGE

B/AACC inspires with Black History Month Kick-Off

By Kloe Brill @csucollegian

Black History Month has begun and already helped foster community and embrace a spectrum of identities on Colorado State University’s campus.

The Black/African American Cultural Center kicked off Black History Month Feb. 1 in the Lory Student Center Theatre.

The event, themed “Black Destiny Month: Redesigning Our Future,” featured a panel discussion with Ray Black, tenured associate professor of ethnic studies; Nikoli Attai, assistant professor of ethnic studies; Patrice Palmer, assistant dean of social and cultural inclusion in the College of Business; and Isabella Simpson, CSU student and member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. The panelists discussed the experiences of being Black in a predominantly white community, sharing empowering messages aimed at fostering community spirit at CSU. Attai encouraged students to seek fellowship with their peers, attend B/AACC events on campus and find opportunities to address challenges as a collective.

“You have community,” Attai said. “You have folks around who you can fight with.”

Black highlighted the importance of not succumbing to Black stereotypes and emphasized that graduating is a powerful form of protest.

“You are here because somebody in your past survived,” Black said. “Why do Black people have to be one thing? You can be Black and be you.”

Simpson echoed Black’s thoughts by discussing the need to respect the range of Blackness.

“Blackness comes from a spectrum — it’s not one thing,” Simpson said. “We can’t oppress our own people. We have to be welcoming.”

Palmer shared insights on the collective struggle.

“It is a structure we are fighting, not a person,” Palmer said.

Palmer also discussed the multifaceted nature of identity, stating that being Black on campus is a gift.

“To be able to code-switch is a gift,” Palmer said. “You can’t separate my queerness from my Blackness.”

The kickoff marked the beginning of a series of events throughout the month. A call to action urged attendees to explore their Black culture and history, emphasizing the

importance of education for those not of Black descent.

Kam McMillion, a junior studying criminology and a B/ AACC employee, stressed the strength of unity within the Black community.

“I think the togetherness of Black people as a whole is something that sticks out and is very strong,” McMillion said.

Real Talk discussions, held every Tuesday this month, will play a vital role in fostering community among the Black community at CSU. “I think that people come in sharing their opinions and know they can share in a sacred and safe space that we don’t necessarily always have, especially on this campus,” McMillion said.

To continue engaging with Black History Month, CSU offers a range of events:

• Real Talk, held at 4 p.m. on Tuesdays throughout the month, covering the topics Luxury and Image Feb. 6, Dating Feb. 13, Intersections: Gender & Race Feb. 20 and Reparations Feb. 27 in the B/AACC office

E.M.E performs his song “Drago” at the Black History Month Kick-Off hosted by Colorado State University’s Black/African American Cultural Center Feb. 1.

PHOTO BY JULIA PERCY THE COLLEGIAN

• Feb. 6: Surprise Movie Showing at 6 p.m. in the B/AACC office • Feb. 8: Black Faculty/Staff Mixer from 3:30-5 p.m. in the Mary Ontiveros House

• Feb. 15-16: Category Is...

Ballroom! dance class 4-6 p.m. in the LSC Theatre, open to all • Feb. 21: Black Faculty/Staff and Student Luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Longs Peak Room in the LSC • Feb. 22: Hair/Fashion Show from 5:30-8:30 p.m. in the LSC Theatre

• Feb. 27: “The Cost of Inheritance” movie showing from 6-8 p.m. in the Behavioral Sciences Building • Feb. 29: Black History Month Themed Dinner from 5-6 p.m. at Braiden Dining Reach Kloe @collegian.com.

Brill

at

life

Thursday, February 8, 2024

@CSUCollegian

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CREATING REALITY

Finishing strong: Patrick Cartier chases dreams at CSU

By Damon Cook @dwcook2001

While Patrick Cartier is only listed at 6-foot-8-inch, it’s certainly hard to tell just by watching him play.

Cartier definitely isn’t the tallest and often faces a size mismatch down low; however, the Colorado State forward plays larger than his height.

The de facto five for the Rams has been a tremendous part of CSU men’s basketball in their recordbreaking season.

“He’s got a tremendous IQ,” coach Niko Medved said. “He’s incredibly smart, intuitive, and he’s tough. He’s a competitor, he’s tough, he’s strong. … He knows who he is, and he knows who he’s not. He’d be the first to tell you he’s undersized and not the most athletic. He knows that. That allows him to buy into: He’s smarter, he understands angles and he’s got a tremendous amount of toughness.”

“Blue-collar work ethic”: That’s the way Medved described how hard Cartier works to be the player he has become.

While Cartier acknowledged how hard he has worked over his career, it is certainly easier when a

positive culture has been set by the entire team.

“I think that’s something that I have, but I think that’s something that this whole team has as well,” Cartier said. “We have a great culture of just guys being in the gym all the time, working on things — whether that’s in the weight room or on the court or, in my case, conditioning and stuff like that.”

When Cartier is on the court, he’s never too high or too down He’s always locked into the game and competing at a high level.

The leadership and composure he shows on the court have seamlessly translated off the court as well.

“He’s a great dude, a great leader; he’s always in a good mood — even when he’s not in a good mood, he doesn’t show it to us,” guard Josiah Strong said. “He’s one of those guys that whenever you’re around him, you know he’s genuine, which goes a long way. And what you see on the court as a player is who he is as a person He’s just a great guy all around.”

Cartier flashed glimpses of excellence immediately last season after transferring in from Hillsdale College.

It wasn’t until the Rams’ game against Northern Colorado Dec.

3, 2022, that Cartier truly showed the CSU faithful his potential by dropping 23 points in just 22 minutes on 10-of-15 shooting, including being 3-of-4 from beyond the arc.

“Last year he came in, and you could tell it was a little bit of a jump at first,” Strong said. “He blended in right away with what we do.

Obviously, I was new too, so we were both kind of learning at the same time, but this year, you can definitely see that he stepped up into more of a leadership role. He’s way more comfortable with everything. He’s been through the (conference). He’s respected more.”

He’s certainly earned that respect, especially this season, when he is averaging 11.9 points on incredible efficiency.

Now Cartier has the opportunity and will likely be one of the leading players on an NCAA tournament team. While there is still a lot of basketball to be played, what’s the point if you’re not chasing your dreams?

“Obviously, as a kid, you grow up filling out the brackets and watching Cinderella runs and doing that whole thing,” Cartier said. “And to be able to be a part

Live Better in Fort Collins at

of that would obviously be a blessing. I think it’s cool to have that perspective. Coach said the other day, ‘We’re in position to be in position.’ So you’ve got to stay in the moment and just take it one practice, one game at a time. Again, cliche, but very true.”

Being in that position certainly means a lot.

But to do so in front of the people who cheer Cartier on must mean that much more. After all, they’re kind of the entire reason he came to CSU. “I’m big about obviously all that other stuff like the new locker room and being in Fort Collins — all that stuff is really cool,” Cartier said. “It’s kind of just added plusses to me, but I’m about people. My old school, Hillsdale College, is kind of in the middle of nowhere. It’s 10,000 people in the city; it’s tiny, but we had great people, a great culture, and that’s what is important to me. So I was looking for that and all that other stuff that comes with Fort Collins and communities.”

Patrick Cartier gives a handshake to a young fan after the Colorado State University men’s basketball game against Boise State University Feb. 6.

CSU won 75-62. PHOTO BY AVA PUGLISI THE COLLEGIAN

FOCO LIVING Amenities

THROUGHOUT ALL OUR PROPERTIES

• 6 Hot tubs

• 7 Grills

• 2 Entertainment lounges

• 2 Swimming pools

• 3 Fitness centers

• 3 Dog runs

The CSU community has gotten behind Cartier and this team in immense fashion this season.

They have created some special atmospheres, which Cartier will certainly remember well beyond his departure from CSU. “Obviously, I’m a little biased, but (Moby) is definitely my favorite arena in the Mountain West,” Cartier said. “And it’s a special place, especially with all the fans and the student turnout. It’s been pretty unreal. It’s very special.”

Reach Damon Cook at sports@collegian.com.

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Thursday, February 8, 2024

Collegian.com

CHASING VAN DYKEN

Lexie Trietley breaks records 1 stroke at a time

By Damon Cook @dwcook2001

What does it mean to be a legend?

In her two years and counting for Colorado State swim and dive, records seem to fall at Lexie Trietley’s feet. In just her first year, Trietley solidified her name in the CSU record book as third in both the 50 freestyle with a time of 22.76 seconds and the 100 freestyle with a time of 49.79 seconds.

But those significant successes do not dampen her fire. Trietley’s lofty goals extend toward the No. 1 spots in both events, held by former Ram and six-time Olympic gold medalist Amy Van Dyken.

The two are easily compared.

Trietley herself broke the Moby

Pool record for 50 free, previously held by Van Dyken, during a meet against Denver in October 2023.

Trietley swam a 23.21 time, which beat the 23.32 set in 1994 before Trietley was even born, leading to a call from Van Dyken herself. “(Breaking that record) means two things,” coach Christopher Woodard said. “Amy Van Dyken was hella fast, and she set some standards that are still really hard to break. So (it) is a really big move forward for Lexie (athletically).

And I think it’s (also) a big move in her confidence for her to know, ‘If I can swim like that (at Moby Pool), what happens when I’m suited?

Rested? Out of altitude?’”

The ascension to No. 1 depends on Trietley overcoming No. 2 Kristina Friedrichs. The former sprinter set No. 2 records in the

50 and 100 free as a senior in the 2021-22 season.

CSU senior and freestyle captain Anika Johnson, who swam with Friedrichs, thinks second place in CSU’s record books for Trietley is accessible.

“I think she definitely has the potential to (break Friedrich’s record),” Johnson said. “Lexie is right there. She kind of filled those sprinting shoes in a sense when Kristina left.”

But CSU stardom is not the only thing Trietley plans to push toward. This year, the NCAA championship meet, which will take place in Athens, Georgia, has a strict set of qualifications well within Trietley’s reach.

There are two groups: A and B. Swimmers with an A time or faster automatically qualify. B

cuts have a slower time, but they still have the chance to make the highly competitive championships.

Trietley is shooting for the 22.67 B cut time in the 50 free, just 0.03 seconds slower than Friedrich’s record.

“I think what (the team) likes is her racer mentality,” Woodard said. “She doesn’t let much shake her before a race or behind the block.

She kind of approaches it with the attitude that ‘I’m out here to do my best. It doesn’t really matter what everybody else does.’”

CHRISTOPHER WOODARD WOMEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING COACH

“She’s absolutely got a legitimate shot at B provisional times,” Woodard said. “Whether she’s able to get into the (NCAA) meet (will) be tough for sure. We’re still working on her transitions and underwaters, … but when it comes to open water, she can pretty much take about anybody.”

Just as she did her first year, Trietley plans to break those records at the Mountain West Women’s Swimming and Diving Championship, which starts Feb. 21 in Houston.

COLLEGIAN FILE PHOTO

But as fast as Trietley intends to be, she never forgets the team around her. And with teammates like Maya White and Lucy Matheson, multiple swimmers could make the B cut for the NCAA championship. “(For conference), I’m excited to place better as a team this year because I think we are going to do better than seventh place,” Trietley said. “I’m most excited with what I can individually do to help the team overall.”

In the water and on land, Trietley is focusing inward with her sights set on personal record times that give the team points as well as just events.

With competitors like San Diego State and Nevada, teams that also contain swimmers who make the B cut, the Mountain West Championships will not be easy for CSU. But Trietley’s fire will not be dimmed.

“I think what (the team) likes is her racer mentality,” Woodard said.

“She doesn’t let much shake her before a race or behind the block.

She kind of approaches it with the attitude that ‘I’m out here to do my best. It doesn’t really matter what everybody else does.’”

The next meet for swim and dive is the Denver First Chance Invitational, their second meet against DU this season. This time, DU has the home advantage over the Rams.

Going into the season’s end, Trietley has many goals, and they reflect how the swim team wishes to finish the season.

“The standards are always there to be broken,” Woodard said. “They’re giving us a target. So Lexie has a target in mind, and I think she’s absolutely capable of taking the second spot.”

Reach Damon Cook at sports @collegian.com

Thursday, February 8, 2024

@CSUCollegian

CONFERENCE PLAY

Here’s how top 6 teams in MW men’s basketball have fared so far

By Damon Cook @dwcook2001

The Mountain West has become one of the top three conferences across NCAA men’s basketball. The Mountain West is one of five conferences that have at least four teams ranked in the top 35 NCAA NET rankings, the others being teams in the Big 12, Big Ten, Atlantic Coast Conference and Southeastern Conference — all of which are part of the Power Five.

Plain and simply put: The Mountain West has been an absolute blood fest just over halfway through conference play.

“With the additions of Clifford and Joel Scott, the Rams are going to be well in the running for the MW championship.”

1. New Mexico (194, 7-3 MW)

The Pit is real, and the Lobos are one of the hottest teams in the Mountain West. First-year player J.T. Toppin has been a force in the paint, and UNM might have the best backcourt in the entire conference.

Jamal Mashburn Jr. and Jaelen House are both averaging 15.5 points per game, and Donovan Dent is averaging 15.7 on 52% shooting.

The biggest fear for the Lobos is the free-throw line with the team only shooting 69%. At the beginning of the season, they weren’t looked at as a top-tier team, but the perspective on them has completely changed.

They very well could be the outright favorites to win the MW. Best win: No. 16 Utah State Worst loss: Boise State

2. Utah State (19-4, 7-3 MW)

Utah State has recently been leading the conference.

As of the most recent The Associated Press Top 25 Poll, the Aggies are the highestranked MW team, slotting in at No. 22.

Coach Danny Sprinkle not only brought over two players who are now two of the top players in the conference

from Montana State, but he has the rest of the team absolutely rolling.

Led by junior wing Great Osobor and fifth-year guard Darius Brown II, USU is looking like they could be one of the favorites to land in the MW Championship again.

Osobor has been a beast in the paint and is one of the most dominant players in the conference so far. Brown currently sits fifth in the nation in the assist-to-turnover ratio.

Osobor has been a serious problem on the block, averaging 18.7 points and 9.2 rebounds in his first season at Utah State. His one weakness is his outside game, but that doesn’t matter when he’s been dismantling opposing bigs like he has this season.

Best win: No. 13 CSU Worst loss: Bradley

3. San Diego State (18-5, 7-3 MW)

SDSU has been the cream of the crop when it comes to MW play.

Last season, led by Jaedon LeDee, Lamont Butler and Nathan Mensah, the Aztecs made a Cinderella run all the way to the National Championship — the first time a MW team has done so.

LeDee and Butler returned for the 2023-24 season, and SDSU is still very much in a position to repeat as MW champions.

LeDee is not only one of the best defenders in the MW, but he also leads the league in scoring, averaging 20.0 points per game.

SDSU will likely slot in as the favorites come March, but the MW is their conference until someone knocks them off of the throne.

Best win: No. 13 Gonzaga Worst loss: Grand Canyon

4. Boise State (167, 7-3 MW)

After losing Marcus Shaver Jr., it didn’t feel like the Broncos were going to be back into the top echelon of the MW, but they seem to live at the top of the conference every year.

While the Broncos don’t feel like they have a player in the tiers of Jaedon LeDee, Osobor or Isaiah Stevens,

they have a lot of players who contribute.

Tyson Degenhart leads the Broncos in scoring, averaging 16.1 points per game, but the three players behind him also average double-digits.

While Boise State hasn’t been ranked, they consistently receive votes in the AP poll.

Best win: No. 19 New Mexico Worst loss: Butler

5. Colorado State (18-5, 6-4 MW)

The Rams burst onto the scene jumping as high as No. 13 in the AP poll. Led by Stevens and one of the best transfers in the league, Nique Clifford, the Rams have more or less locked themselves into a tournament spot.

While they’ve had their struggles in Mountain West play following the horrific loss against Wyoming, they seem to have gotten back into their groove.

Stevens is playing at an AllAmerican level, averaging 16.6 points and seven assists.

Stevens currently sits first in the entire nation in total assists and is the facilitator on the team with the secondbest assist-to-turnover ratio in the MW. With the additions of Clifford and Joel Scott, the Rams are going to be well in the running for the MW championship.

Best win: No. 8 Creighton Worst loss: Wyoming

6. Nevada (18-5, 5-4 MW)

The Wolf Pack rounds out the top six in the MW. Jarod Lucas and Kenan Blackshear complete the elite back court Nevada has put together.

While Nevada has had its fair share of bad losses, they also have some impressive wins. If Lucas and Blackshear get hot, it becomes nearly impossible to beat them — something the Rams have witnessed firsthand.

Best win: TCU Worst loss: Drake Reach Damon Cook at sports @collegian.com.

Patrick Cartier gains possesion of the ball for Colorado State University after the opening tipoff at the basketball game against Boise State University Feb. 6. CSU won 75-62.

PHOTO BY AVA PUGLISI THE COLLEGIAN

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Thursday, February 8, 2024

Ice carver Thomas Barlow uses a chainsaw to smooth the curved edges of his igloo in Old Town Fort Collins Feb. 2. Barlow has been carving ice since he was 18 years old.

PHOTO BY SAMANTHA NORDSTROM THE COLLEGIAN

OLD TOWN ICE CARVING

Ice carver Thomas Barlow uses a chainsaw to carve penguins out of a thick block of ice to be on display next to an igloo in Old Town Fort Collins Feb. 2.

PHOTO BY SAMANTHA NORDSTROM THE COLLEGIAN

Thursday, February 8, 2024

Thomas Barlow’s ice carving of an igloo sits freshly finished in Old Town Fort Collins Feb. 2. When Barlow utilizes a sketch, his sculpture always comes out nearly identical, ice supplier James Vanegas said.

PHOTO BY SAMANTHA NORDSTROM THE COLLEGIAN

Locals watch in awe as ice carver Thomas Barlow creates an igloo with penguins, large snowflakes and other winter designs in Old Town Fort Collins Feb. 2.

PHOTO BY SAMANTHA NORDSTROM THE COLLEGIAN

@CSUCollegian

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Thursday, February 8, 2024

Collegian.com

MEDICINE INNOVATIONS

MRNA vaccines race us toward future of health care “You can make (mRNA) vaccines against anything. You can make proteins against anything.”

JEFFREY WILUSZ CSU PROFESSOR OF RNA BIOLOGY AND VIROLOGY

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY TAYLOR MACMAHON THE COLLEGIAN

By Hana Pavelko @csucollegian

Medicine is a continually evolving subject. As new discoveries are made, medicine must change to provide people with the most updated and effective care. Although messenger RNA — or mRNA — vaccine technology was being worked on before the pandemic, it did not become truly prevalent until COVID-19 came into the picture.

MRNA technology has been progressing since the 1970s.

MRNA was discovered in the early 1960s. But it was not until the COVID-19 pandemic that mRNA vaccines were truly able to be showcased as safe and effective. “(MRNA) is a very versatile platform,” said Jeffrey Wilusz, a professor at CSU and editor of the Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews RNA journal.

The central dogma of molecular biology states that the pathway of genetic information goes from DNA to RNA to proteins and only in this pattern. There are many different types of RNA found within the cell, but mRNA

is the one that contains the blueprint for proteins. Proteins then go on to do almost everything in the human body, from providing energy to maintaining body tissue.

“Messenger RNA is RNA that is made from DNA … that is destined to encode proteins,” Wilusz said.

MRNA does not enter the nucleus, where DNA is stored, but rather leaves the nucleus to go into the cytoplasm of the cell. “(MRNA) goes out of the nucleus, … it goes out into the cytoplasm where ribosomes assemble, … it starts translation and you get the protein,” Wilusz said. “RNA is cool.”

There are now discussions of mRNA vaccines potentially protecting against diseases other than COVID-19.

“You can make (mRNA) vaccines against anything,” Wilusz said. “You can make proteins against anything.”

Talks of an mRNA flu shot are becoming more popular.

Moderna, one of the companies that produced an mRNA vaccine for COVID-19, reported positive results regarding immunity and an mRNA flu shot. Pfizer, another company that produced an mRNA vaccine for COVID-19, is already conducting clinical trials for an mRNA flu vaccine.

There are several different types of flu shots available to the public.

However, an mRNA flu shot could potentially provide a better immune response and better protection against the virus.

There are even talks of a potential mRNA vaccine for

February 16 - 23, 2024 HOLOCAUST.COLOSTATE.EDU

tuberculosis. An mRNA vaccine for tuberculosis has the potential to provide better protection than the current tuberculosis vaccine, the BCG vaccine. While the technology might not be there yet, there is potential.

“BCG — it’s a good vaccine for the initial years, but … the prevention is better in kids until around 12 years of age,” said Dr. Marcela Henao-Tamayo, a Monfort professor in the department of microbiology, immunology and pathology at CSU. “At this point, … I’m not sure an mRNA vaccine would work better for tuberculosis, but I think the mRNA technology is also improving a lot.”

Reach Hana Pavelko at science @collegian.com.

Thursday, February 8, 2024

@CSUCollegian

17

SUSTAINABILITY

CSU proposes climate solutions, empowers future leaders

By Lizzy Rylance @csucollegian

Climate change is a pressing concern for many students, and universities are taking steps to meet this demand. New initiatives and research at Colorado State University aim to position the school as a leading institution for climate action in the United States.

New opportunities for climate education

Students want to take climate action, and CSU is listening. The new CSU Climate Initiative is “a university-wide collaboration to address climate change,” according to its website. One of the initiative’s goals is to create more educational opportunities for students to become climate leaders.

“Students have told us really clearly that they want to focus on solutions,” CSU Climate Initiative Director Courtney Schultz said.

A first step toward this goal is the development of a new undergraduate certificate that will “empower students to be leaders in this area and also allow them to stand out in the job search,” Schultz said.

The proposed undergraduate certificate in climate change and society will be offered starting fall 2024, pending approval, and will be available to students of all declared majors, Schultz said.

The certificate will consist of four courses that students can take for a total of 12 credits. These courses will span across different disciplines, including atmospheric sciences, earth systems science and ecology and sociopolitical aspects of climate change.

The certificate will also include solutions-oriented courses that take on the real-world challenges posed by climate change, such as addressing climate change impacts through business and energy solutions.

Eventually, Schultz said the goal is to offer multiple certificates that could potentially add up to a minor, although this has yet to be formally proposed. Exactly what this looks like will depend on student feedback, and the Climate Initiative is actively seeking undergraduate voices to provide input on these projects.

Students can email climate_ initiative@colostate.edu to give feedback, offer ideas or express

interest in being part of future student-focused listening sessions.

Uniting climate-focused researchers

In addition to providing education opportunities for students, the Climate Initiative aims to unite CSU researchers “working on all aspects of climate change,” according to their website. Schultz said the Climate Initiative plans to organize discussion groups, informal talks and networking sessions for researchers and students to come together and get to know each other.

“It’s amazing how many people at CSU work on different aspects of climate change and are really incredible at it,” Schultz said.

“CSU has an incredible ability to do interdisciplinary research and education on climate change and be a major leader in this area. ” This effort includes a faculty training workshop called Climate Across the Curriculum, Schultz said. Faculty members can choose to take this workshop to gain a better understanding of the social and biophysical science of climate change and learn how to incorporate it into any course as a lesson.

This training workshop was successfully implemented at the University of Colorado Boulder two years ago. The CSU Climate Across the Curriculum is financially supported by CU Boulder alum Scott King, the executive director of Mission Zero, a Colorado-based company focused on helping homeowners reduce carbon emissions.

“Our climate crisis is not just an environmental issue; it is an all-encompassing challenge that intersects with economics, social justice and technology,” King said.

“By weaving climate science into the fabric of CSU’s diverse curricula, we are equipping our future leaders with the comprehensive understanding they need to devise effective solutions.”

CSU research contributes to climate solutions

As a land-grant institution, CSU has a strong connection to applied research. Many research groups on campus focus on climate solutions with the goal of informing policy decisions.

One such research group is led by Keith Paustian, a CSU distinguished

professor in the department of soil and crop sciences. Paustian and his team recently contributed to a climate report called Roads to Removal, which paves the way for carbon dioxide removal in the United States.

The report provides a comprehensive overview of ways to remove CO2 from the atmosphere.

This is an important step in achieving net-zero carbon emissions in the United States.

Paustian studies how improved agricultural practices can aid in carbon removal. Methods like regenerative agriculture and planting native vegetation can increase carbon storage in the soil, which keeps it from being released into the atmosphere, Paustian said.

“You’re not only taking carbon out of the atmosphere; you’re putting it into organic matter in the soil,” Paustian said. “That also enriches the soil. It makes it more fertile. It makes it more productive and makes it healthier, and you get a lot of other environmental benefits.”

Reach Lizzy Rylance at science @collegian.com.

“CSU has an incredible ability to do interdisciplinary research and education on climate change and be a major leader in this area.”

COURTNEY SCHULTZ CSU CLIMATE INITIATIVE DIRECTOR

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Thursday, February 8, 2024

Collegian.com

SERIOUSLY

CSU Snowriders think they’re better than you

By Emma Souza @_emmasouza

“Breathing mountain air heals all. It’s the truth. Look at us: Some of our chairlift cuties were in therapy before joining Snowriders, and now they spend their weekends rocketing down hills just to feel something!”

Editor’s Note: This is a satire piece from The Collegian’s opinion section. Real names and the events surrounding them may be used in fictitious/semifictitious ways. Those who do not read the editor’s notes are subject to being offended.

To those who don’t know us — or worse, to those who don’t love us — what do you mean you don’t ski?

Although the prime time for winter activities is nearing its close, especially considering how warm it’s been recently, we at Snowriders thought now would be the perfect time to recruit new members for next season.

As the largest recreational club at Colorado State University — in both members and egos — it is our job at Snowriders to provide a welcoming community for CSU mountain mamas. If you partake in winter activities, come join us on the slopes! If not, hold on to your snow pants: You can still be a sassy snowflake! We need a bus driver.

Here at Snowriders, we recognize that being able to ski or

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY MADELYN HENDRICKS THE COLLEGIAN

snowboard is a luxury not all can afford — lift ticket prices are no joke on the wallets. With this being said, if you’re one of our lucky bunnies, we ask that you wear gear worth at least double the price of the Epic Pass. Bums aren’t allowed to tarnish our brand.

Of course, it’s not that we think Snowriders is the best club at CSU — every hobby is perfect for someone. And if being a live laugh lift-lover isn’t perfect for you, we love

your confidence in trying something else! It takes a lot of guts to admit when you’re wrong.

Recently, however, misinformation has plagued the name of our giggling goggle gals, and we just can’t have that. Snowriders would like to address a few controversies that have been pissing on our snow.

Last November, some bitch from the Outdoor Club started a rumor that we let our black diamond babies ski with syphilis. This is not true. We

at Snowriders stand against sexually transmitted diseases of all kinds.

Also, that grandma who was so unfortunately killed on Copper Mountain a couple weeks ago hit our snowboarder first. Please donate to our GoFundMe for bail, and help our helmeted hottie return home!

These incidents may have put a bad taste in your mouth, but Snowriders promises that joining our club will kiss that look right off your face. There’s a reason we don’t take any ugly members.

Breathing mountain air heals all.

It’s the truth. Look at us: Some of our chairlift cuties were in therapy before joining Snowriders, and now they spend their weekends rocketing down hills just to feel something!

Some say we’re running away from our problems, but we prefer the term “adrenaline junkies.”

So the next time you’re feeling stuck in a rut, come be stuck with us instead. And again, even if you’re not a slope sister, we’re still in need of a bus driver. Volunteer basis.

With everlasting, superficial love, Snowriders Reach Emma Souza at letters@collegian.com.

COLLEGIAN COLUMNIST

It’s OK if you’ve given up on your New Year’s resolutions

By Hana Pavelko @hanasolo13

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

Historians estimate that New Year’s resolutions have been a tradition for thousands of years.

What started as promises to the gods worshiped by the ancient

Babylonians has transformed into a tradition of self-improvement.

Since the beginning of January, gyms have been at capacity, people have been watching guided meditation videos on YouTube and self-care journals have been sold out at Targets nationwide. That might be a bit of an exaggeration, but this is what it feels like leaving the house at the beginning of the new year.

However, by February, people have usually forgotten about the resolutions they made at the start

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY TRIN BONNER THE COLLEGIAN

of the year. Journals are abandoned, people stop making time for the gym and learning to manage stress goes completely out the window when classes and work start again.

Maybe this is a little disappointing to hear, but honestly, it’s OK if you’ve already given up on your resolutions.

A survey conducted by Forbes found that the typical New Year’s resolution lasts 3.74 months before people give up on it. People forget about their resolutions around March and make no further progress for the rest of the year. Then Jan. 1 rolls around again, and the endless cycle continues.

In order to have a goal that is actually sustainable for the entire year, your goal needs to

include specifics. If your goal is to get in shape by going to the gym, that’s a good starting point, but what does it mean? It could mean that you want to run a marathon by the end of the year, or it could mean that you want to be able to do a pushup.

Our goals are often ambiguous and leave us with no actual goal — just the idea of a goal.

So give up on those nonspecific resolutions, and flesh out a real goal.

Because if you don’t have a clear idea of the endgame of your goal, you will lose motivation quickly. Think about where you want to be in December.

Maybe you really do want to be able to run that marathon, or maybe you just want to be able to run a mile.

Get specific with what you really want to be able to do.

In addition to being nonspecific, most resolutions are unsustainable.

We create big ambitions, especially

when we start thinking “new year, new me.” However, starting too fast can cause you to lose steam by the time February rolls around. If you resolve to read one book per week when you typically only read one per year, it is easy to get burnt out early into the year.

So start with little goals. Start them tomorrow. I mean, who said we have to wait for a new year to work on self-improvement? We should be working on improving ourselves the entire year instead of trying to lump it all together in January. It does not need to be “a new year and a new me”; it could be “a new day and a slightly new me.”

It’s OK if you’ve already given up on your New Year’s resolutions. You can always reevaluate and try again.

Reach Hana Pavelko at letters@collegian.com.

“In addition to being nonspecific, most resolutions are unsustainable. We create big ambitions, especially when we start thinking ‘new year, new me.’”

Thursday, February 8, 2024

@CSUCollegian

COLLEGIAN COLUMNIST

Job applicants deserve more respect from employers GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION

BY TRIN BONNER THE COLLEGIAN

By Adah McMillan @mcadahmillan

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 assume employers hold themselves to some sort of standard, but it’s certainly nowhere near the standard to which they hold job applicants.

When you apply for a job, you take a chance. You put yourself out there. You invest time and effort in your application. You open yourself up to disappointment.

And more often than not — unless you’re far more capable and job worthy than I am — disappointment is all you get. Of course, rejection is always a letdown, but I particularly take issue with the speed and civility with which employers deliver rejection.

The problem is that the speed is slow and the civility is bare.

I have a great example from my own life. I’m not going to name-drop the large media and entertainment company that most recently spurned me because I’m still grieving about how they apparently hated my heartfelt cover letter. It would bring me too much pain to type the letters N-B-C-U-N-I-V-E-R-S-A-L. This unspecified corporation published an internship opportunity with an early October 2023 deadline. I read the detailed description, polished my resume and wrote the most scrumptious cover letter ever conceived by the human mind. I noted the application submission deadline, which specified not only a date but a time, and turned in my materials

“The main problem is that corporate culture has trained us to accept low-quality treatment, as there’s not really any way to retaliate against a company that won’t hire you.” before that precise, unambiguous, explicitly stated moment.

In response, the unmentioned company sent an email reading, “Our team carefully reviews each application to identify the best matches for our roles. Due to volume of applicants, this process could take up to six weeks. ” Six weeks sounds fine and dandy to me. Considering the grand size of the mystery business and the desirability of the internship, I was among surely hundreds or even thousands of applicants. It makes sense that it would take some time to get through so many candidates.

Take some time it did. But six weeks? How foolish of me to think that was true.

It was 15 weeks. Nearly three times what the unspoken institution promised.

By that time, I assumed I had been thrown aside as one discards wilted lettuce, and for all intents and purposes, I was.

Job applicants deserve more.

Like I said before, applying for a job requires an investment of time, resources and emotion with no guaranteed payoff. That is partially

the nature of the process, but employers can and should do more to show respect and consideration for applicants.

If potential employees have to adhere to a deadline, employers should as well. An employer should give applicants a specific day by which they will send out hiring decisions. To me, “when Mars retrogrades” is better than the wishywashy “within six weeks.” How can employers be entrusted with their employees’ livelihoods if they can’t keep to their own schedule?

It’s understandable that employers cannot perfectly predict how long it will take to review every application. They might expect a hundred and receive a thousand. I have a simple solution: The moment the application deadline has passed, count how many applications were submitted, and if you got more than anticipated, send an email to the applicants with a new response time estimate. Communication is key.

This timeliness issue is just one way employers disrespect applicants; I’ve experienced illprepared interviewers and shady compensation information as well.

The main problem is that corporate culture has trained us to accept low-quality treatment, as there’s not really any way to retaliate against a company that won’t hire you. Potential employees are supposed to just be grateful to be considered at all.

Perhaps one day, corporate employers will gain some sense of courtesy, hopefully before I rise to the highest ranks of the unidentified establishment and reform it from within.

Reach Adah McMillan at letters@collegian.com.

COMIC ILLUSTRATION BY TRIN BONNER @GAUCHE.GALAXY

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Collegian.com

NARRATIVES

FoCo Book Fest panel discusses immigrant stories in US West

By Gwendolynn Riddoch @csucollegian

Colorado is a part of the West and has a rich history, many pieces of which have been forgotten.

Three writers and the Fort Collins community added to the growing change of Western perspectives at the Infinite West panel at 7 p.m.

Feb. 3 as part of the Fort Collins Book Fest. Though the attendance at this event was smaller than it has been in past years due to the weather, the audience was captivated by the panel’s stories and conversations.

Nina McConigley spoke on the panel and is the author of “Cowboys and East Indians,” which is the winner of the 2014 Pen Open Book Award, and a play adaptation of the book will be performed at the end of the month at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.

McConigley was born in Singapore and came to the United States at 14 months old.

McConigley was a professor at the University of Wyoming for 13 years and, as of last year, is an assistant professor at Colorado State University teaching creative writing, fiction workshops and a short fiction class.

McConigley said it is important to find a reflection of yourself in the place you live.

“Growing up in Wyoming was really idyllic in a lot of ways, but I never saw a reflection of myself, like, anywhere where I went; I didn’t see anyone that looked like me,” McConigley said. “I think writers are already natural outsiders and observers, but I think for me, the book was like a really good way to make sense of what it was like growing up.”

Teow Lim Goh was another speaker on the panel and is the author of “Western Journeys,” which is a collection of stories and essays about her immigration to the U.S. from Singapore at the age of 19.

“Your whole life goes into a work,” Goh said.

Goh’s writing process is all about finding narratives that have not been spoken about.

“All of my work is based heavily on research,” Goh said. “It usually starts with a question or an image that comes up over and over again or a story I can’t get off my mind. When something appears enough, I begin to pursue it. I spend a lot of time thinking about it first.”

This book took her 15 years to write and sold well within the Fort Collins community.

“What I have noticed about the book fest is that it is a great way to bring people together to talk not only about our books but the stories around our books,” Goh said.

Her next book will be about the Rock Springs massacre in Wyoming.

Goh said above all, she finds putting characters who are both good and bad in her stories makes for better and more realistic writing.

“One of the most important things to me is to portray both the white miners who were the perpetrators as well as the Union Pacific officers who made the decisions that shaped the economic landscapes — to portray them as human beings who made flawed decisions,” Goh said.

Julie Carr is an author and poet whose “poems and essays have appeared in journals such as The Nation, Boston Review, APR, New American Writing, Denver Quarterly, Volt, A Public Space, 1913, The Baffler and elsewhere.”

She is currently a professor at the University of Colorado Boulder teaching an English class about poetry in the 18th century. Carr was

Authors Teow Lim Goh of “Western Journeys” and Nina McConigley of “Cowboys and East Indians” joke around before the Infinite West panel at the Fort Collins Book Fest, moderated by Arvin Ramgoolam Feb. 3.

PHOTO BY JULIA PERCY THE COLLEGIAN

meant to be the third panelist for Infinite West but could not attend due to weather.

Arvin Ramgoolam, a writer and co-owner of Townie Books and Rumors Coffee and Tea House, moderated the panel.

Ramgoolam is based in Crested Butte, Colorado, and was recommended for the book fest by another author at the Mountain Words Festival.

“So here I am, cross-pollinating through various festivals in Colorado,” Ramgoolam said.“I love book festivals; it’s a part of my DNA. I have always loved listening to authors, talking to authors and listening to readings.”

Ramgoolam’s latest works are based on presenting marginalized voices in the American West and people who are underrepresented in the stories.

“Both of them (Goh and McConigley) write in that vein, and so that’s how this panel came to be formed,” Ramgoolam said.

Katie Auman was the event coordinator and is currently the communications and development director at the Poudre River Public Library District. She has been a part of the book fest every year since its birth.

“Really, for us, it’s about showcasing storytelling (and) local and regional artists and certainly celebrating reading and libraries,” Auman said. “This year’s theme, One Community, Many Stories, really exemplifies what we are trying to do. We are trying to showcase the variety of stories that make up the greater Fort Collins community.”

Reach Gwendolynn Riddoch at entertainment@collegian.com.

EXPERIMENTAL MUSIC

Vitamin String Quartet captivates diverse audience

By Kloe Brill @csucollegian

A crowd clapping and singing along to Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” is not what most would expect at a string quartet performance. Vitamin String Quartet’s electrifying show at The Lincoln Center shattered expectations, transforming the evening into a multi-genre concert experience.

Vitamin String Quartet, a globally recognized string ensemble, performed at The Lincoln Center

in partnership with Colorado State University the evening of Feb. 6.

Renowned for their unique renditions of popular music across various genres and decades, the quartet’s performance showcased covers ranging from Lil Nas X’s hits to classics like A-ha’s “Take On Me” and Prince’s “Purple Rain.” Their repertoire even included a string adaptation of the score from “Howl’s Moving Castle,” demonstrating their versatility and broad appeal.

The quartet’s diverse audience, spanning from children to older attendees, reflected the universal charm of their music. Intermission

Vitamin String Quartet performs “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen at The Lincoln Center in Fort Collins Feb. 6.

PHOTO BY SAMANTHA NORDSTROM THE COLLEGIAN

buzzed with enthusiasm as audience members of different generations shared their appreciation for both familiar and newly discovered songs.

Notably, the VSQ vinyl record featuring covers of Taylor Swift’s songs was popular, with many attendees leaving with autographed copies in hand.

Having made appearances in Netflix’s “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story” in addition to “Bridgerton,” Vitamin String Quartet also shared their rendition of “If I Ain’t Got You,” a featured song from “Queen Charlotte.”

After the performance, the quartet greeted audience members and autographed their new vinyl.

Reflecting on their musical journey, quartet violinist Rachel Grace shared advice for aspiring musicians.

“Go your own way,” Grace said. “Listen to yourself, and do what you love. If you want to go classical, go classical. If you want to incorporate some pop in there, do it. If you hear someone sing something beautiful and you want to play that, do it. The sky is the limit.”

The quartet’s engagement extended beyond the stage, as they conducted a master class at the University Center for the Arts to collaborate with students and share their expertise. Grace said despite initial nerves, the students found joy in the experience, highlighting the quartet’s ability to inspire aspiring musicians.

CSU student Ryleigh Becker and her mother, Amy Becker, witnessed the quartet live.

“We listen to their music on my Spotify,” Ryleigh Becker said. “It’s cool to hear it in person.”

Lauryn Simon is a senior who studies business management at CSU. As an employee at The Lincoln Center, she was able to experience the performance.

“I listen to a lot of different orchestras, and I think that they have definitely revolutionized the way people think about orchestra because they do more current songs,” Simon said. “It’s not just old symphony music and classical music like that sort of thing, but it’s geared more towards pop and younger audiences.”

Cellist Derek Stein, who has been playing the cello since he was

4 years old, encouraged aspiring string students to pursue their creativity as well.

“Practice as much as you can,” Stein said. “Find something in music that you are passionate about, and go for it. If someone tells you you’re not supposed to do that or that’s not the right music to play, do what you want to do, and don’t let anyone try to steer you in a direction you don’t want to go.”

Vitamin String Quartet’s performance at The Lincoln Center was not only a concert but a celebration of musical innovation and creativity. Through their eclectic repertoire, the quartet continues to redefine the boundaries of string music, leaving a mark on audiences of all ages.

“Once we are able to strip away whatever (the audience’s) anxiety is about seeing four string players on stage not playing classical music, once we are able to get that wall down, they always come alive,” Stein said.

Reach Kloe Brill at entertainment @collegian.com.

Thursday, February 8, 2024

@CSUCollegian

21

WINTER WORKS

Ice carvings bring magic to Old Town

By Gwendolynn Riddoch @csucollegian

Old Town Fort Collins lit up with twinkling lights as people of all ages huddled around to see the wonder and whimsy of Thomas Barlow’s ice sculpture carvings.

Thomas Barlow has been carving ice for about 26 years — more than half of his life.

Barlow carved his two sculptures Feb. 2-3 with a chainsaw and no fear. One sculpture was an igloo accompanied by penguins, and the second showcased a winter landscape.

“Ice carving is a kitchen, culinary trait,” Barlow said. “It’s a lot like decorative work like cakes, chocolates, fruits and vegetables.”

Barlow is confident working with a variety of materials. He uses food, wood, sand and ice as his main mediums.

Barlow uses the term “arresting the ice” to describe his carvings.

“I think I stole it from somebody,” Barlow said. “There was a block

of time where I was in Europe.

We were holding something not against its will, but we are holding something fleeting.”

Jala Curtis is the business marketing and communications program supervisor of Downtown Fort Collins.

She took pictures and time-lapses for social media posts about the event.

“It’s a very cool, unique, wintery form of art, and we really like showcasing different mediums of art in our downtown environment,” Curtis said. “We love showcasing things that people from all ages can enjoy and come down to see something that is actually happening in a live demonstration.”

Curtis was thrilled that this was kicking off the first Friday of the Downtown Art Walk.

“This is year No. 2 of the ice carving, and we are hoping to make it a tradition,” Curtis said.

Families were pushed up against each other to see what all the fuss was about.

“I love seeing all the little kids get all jumpy and excited,” Curtis said.

James Vanegas worked with the owner of Struckman Sculpture Ice, Ted Struckman, to help move and clear space for the ice.

“We make a whole night of it,” Vengas said. “We take our wives or girlfriends out and grab a drink after.”

Vanegas was hauling the blocks of ice and shoveling the work for Barlow as well as bringing him water and making sure Barlow had everything he needed.

“It’s a serious workout,” Vengas said.

Peggy and Denis Chilton are members of the community who learned about the event through Facebook.

“We clicked ‘we’re interested,’ and so did some of our friends, and we were like, ‘Let’s do it!’” Peggy Chilton said.

They came down to see it and stayed for the whole thing.

“We didn’t plan it, but we even got dinner down here,” Denis Chilton said. Peggy Chilton was so excited, she had to move up to the rope to grab a glimpse of the carving.

“How fun is this?” Peggy said. “I had to sneak up close to see what was going on.”

Mike Sportiello, another intrigued Fort Collins local, came out to see the carving and was especially impressed by the lab-cut ice carvings.

“I like the ice spikes,” Sportiello said. “They look like a crown.”

Sportiello used to teach at the University of Colorado Boulder but moved up to Fort Collins for a more community-based environment.

“These people are just friendlier than they are in Boulder,” Sportiello said.

Lisa Sipres is a local landscape photographer who also learned about this event through the Facebook page.

“I went to the carving in Loveland, and thought I would come here and check this one out as well,” Sipres said.

Sipres did laps throughout the event, looking for the perfect shot.

Reach Gwendolynn Riddoch at entertainment@collegian.com.

“We love showcasing things that people from all ages can enjoy and come down to see something that is actually happening in a live demonstration.”

JALA CURTIS DOWNTON FORT COLLINS BUSINESS MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM SUPERVISER

Ice carver Thomas Barlow uses a chainsaw to cut through thick ice and smooth the edges of his igloo in Old Town Fort Collins Feb. 2.

PHOTO BY SAMANTHA NORDSTROM THE COLLEGIAN

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Collegian.com

To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the numbers 1 to 9.

Sudoku

2 5 9 1

3 8 2 9 5 6 5 6 7 2 6 2 1 6 5 8 4

5 3 7

Last edition’s sudoku solution Copyright ©2024 PuzzleJunction.com Last edition’s crossword solution

Solution 2 1 8 9 7 5 4 3 6

5 6 4 2 1 3 9 7 8

9 7 3 8 4 6 2 1 5

6 4 9 3 8 7 1 5 2

3 8 1 5 2 4 6 9 7

7 2 5 6 9 1 8 4 3

8 9 7 4 5 2 3 6 1

1 3 2 7 6 9 5 8 4

4 5 6 1 3 8 7 2 9

WEEKLY HOROSCOPE

By Abby Flores

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (02/08/24) ARIES (MARCH 21 - APRIL 19) Tarot card: Page of Acorns Tap into your dynamic energy, and you will go far, Aries. You have a bright aura around you, and people can see how in tune you are with your goals and business. Don’t let others cloud your happiness.

TAURUS (APRIL 20 - MAY 20) Tarot card: The Magician You are connected to the earth and are starting to realize that you want to take steps toward taking better care of yourself. Bask in nature or go on a hike, and you will understand how important this is for your heart.

GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUNE 20) Tarot card: Love Well, would you look at that, Gemini: Love is in the cards for you, but something tells me you don’t want to take action toward

it at this time. Know that it is OK to take care of yourself and enjoy the present moment. Your soul probably needs it at this time.

CANCER (JUNE 21 - JULY 22) Tarot card: Ace of Acorns You are a creative force in the world and have been looking to collaborate on more projects with others. Rest assured — you will manifest this dream because something exciting will be revealed to you this week.

LEO (JULY 23 - AUG. 22) Tarot card: Two of Shells When you honor yourself with respect, others will respond in kind. Keep working toward yourself and love with compassion. Be your authentic self, and good energy will flow back to you.

VIRGO (AUG. 23 - SEPT. 22) Tarot card: The Emperor Trust your own judgment and follow your heart, Virgo. You are close to achieving goals you wrote down years ago, and you’re on a good path so far. Be proud of yourself.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23 - OCT. 22) Tarot card: Two of Crystals Life is all about balance. This card represents you well because you’re getting good at balancing work and fun. You deserve to treat yourself and go out. Don’t get too stuck at work right now.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23 - NOV. 21) Tarot card: Five of Crystals Luck and protection are on your

side, Scorpio. You have a true gift of manifestation, and you can manifest anything in your reality. You may be getting more in tune with crystals or tarot.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22 - DEC. 21) Tarot card: Seven of Shells You are moving toward a direction of light, and your inner child is guiding you to heal by creating art. Your goals are coming true at this time, and you are having a spiritual awakening.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 - JAN. 19) Tarot card: Seven of Acorns You must remember that setbacks and challenges make us stronger. If you feel you’ve been having trouble leading a team or keeping a team together, find time to bond with them.

Doing fun things together will push more creative projects out.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 - FEB. 18) Tarot card: The Traveller All you need to do is believe in yourself, and everything else will unlock on its own. You hold the key to great success and innovation. Continue to let things flow, and your highest self will thank you for it.

PISCES (FEB. 19 - MARCH 20) Tarot card: Knight of Acorns You are in the process of bettering your mental health, and it’s making you glow this week. People have been noticing your progress and how clean your aura is. Keep up the good work, Pisces.

Thursday, February 8, 2024

@CSUCollegian

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OVERHEARD AROUND CAMPUS

“It feels illegal to see people from home on campus.

Like, you’re not in this episode.”

“I keep getting derailed, not railed, and that’s the problem.”

“Milk is like my nicotine patch to keep me from drinking Coke.”

“If you didn’t think the eclipse was political, you’ve never known a flat-earther.”

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!

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