Thursday, April 4, 2024 Vol. 133 No. 27

See page 3

PHOTO BY CAIT MCKINZIE

STORY BY SAM HUTTON

THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN

FORT COLLINS FOCUS

TOP STORIES TOP STORIES

NEWS: CSU announces transition to universitywide commencement format PAGE 6

L&C: ASCSU Women and Social Justice Caucus hosts book drive PAGE 8

SPORTS: Mya Lesnar’s journey to national title started with belief PAGE 9

SCIENCE: Solar eclipses kindled these 4 ancient myths worldwide PAGE 16

A&E: Hip-hop at CSU bounces back with Vision Dance Expo PAGE 19

OPINION: AI is more of a resource than something to be penalized for PAGE 20

PHOTO: Rams set records at Jack Christiansen Invitational PAGES 14-15

FOCO EVENTS FOCO EVENTS

First Friday Art Walk in Old Town Fort Collins 6-9 p.m. April 5

Borahm Lee x Soundtracks at Gregory Allicar Museum of Art

1-2 p.m. April 6

ACT Human Rights Film Festival at The Lyric 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. April 3-7

Colorado State University student Chris Harrison climbs at the CSU Student Recreation Center climbing wall April 2. The climbing wall provides free equipment checkout for all students, including shoes, harnesses, chalk bags, belay devices, lead ropes and dry ice tools. Students can also take classes in which instructors teach belay certification, introduction to climbing courses and route setting. The Rec also hosts climbing competitions throughout the school year. PHOTO BY EMMA ASKREN THE COLLEGIAN

Nick DeSalvo, Braxton Dietz win ASCSU president, VP

By Sam Hutton @sam_hut14

After three weeks of relentless campaigning, candidates in the Associated Students of Colorado State University elections gathered in the senate chambers to find out who will serve as president, vice president and speaker of the senate for the 2024-25 academic year.

At the end of the regular ASCSU senate session Wednesday, April 3, it was announced to a room of ASCSU members and interested students that Nick DeSalvo and Braxton Dietz won the presidential and vice presidential election.

Prior to announcing the president and vice president, it was announced that Hayden Taylor won the election for speaker of the senate. Additionally, the ASCSU Constitution was reratified, and the newest Forever Green T-shirt design was approved.

In victory, DeSalvo secured his second term in office, becoming the first two-term ASCSU president since 34 years ago, when Mark Haney served two terms in 1988 and 1989.

“This was a win for firstgeneration students; it was a win for students that have the federal Pell Grant; this is a win for anyone who’s

ever been questioned about who they are or where they came from,” DeSalvo said. “I’m glad to have the support of over half of the student body that voted.”

DeSalvo and Dietz won the election for president and vice president with 1,796 first-place votes, comprising 53.7% of the total. Jorja Whyte and Leticia MadrigalTapia earned 936 votes, and Claudia Paraiso and Ava Ayala secured 610. Taylor was elected speaker of the senate with 1,749 votes (61.3%).

Enock Monanti earned 1,106 votes.

“I’m feeling amazing,” Taylor said. “It means mostly patience (to me). I waited 19 months for this. I knew that I wanted to be speaker since about my second month in the senate because of the election last time, and I lost it. So it feels so good to come back.”

Contrary to ASCSU officials’ hopes, the election was decided by 11% of the student population. This election was also the first to utilize the ranked choice voting method, although the new RAMweb-based system was only employed for the presidential race.

The election results were revealed in the ASCSU senate chambers April 3, with CTV broadcasting the results to virtual viewers. In her announcement, Elections Manager Kaitlyn

Spencer praised the organization for its commitment to expanding student engagement efforts.

The DeSalvo/Dietz pairing was unlike any other, with campaigning efforts focusing heavily on the ticket’s experience, previous presidential accomplishments and intimate knowledge of ASCSU processes. DeSalvo previously served as speaker of the senate before being elected president in 2023. Dietz is a former senator and current chief of staff.

“I’m excited to get to work,” Dietz said. “Now the real work starts.”

Contrary to previous election cycles, the official campaign season has remained largely civil, save for a conflict-laden presidential debate that saw an audience member and ASCSU senator publicly reveal DeSalvo’s previous home address. The Elections Committee abstained from issuing any official campaign violations — indicative of the season’s relative calmness.

At the outset of the campaigning window, senate passed a formal resolution in which senate members formally renounced the RailJam Revival event, claiming it provided the DeSalvo ticket with an unfair campaigning advantage. Proponents of the legislation also claimed the executive branch deliberately ignored senate input during the

planning process in order to limit opposition to the event. Ayala delivered the tie-breaking vote on the resolution as speaker of the senate, allowing for its passage.

Whyte and Madrigal-Tapia, members of the current executive cabinet, have continually criticized the current administration on the matter, saying it represents a lack of government transparency and accountability.

In the race to decide Ayala’s replacement as speaker, both Taylor and Monanti ran on similar platforms and pledged like-minded initiatives if elected.

Taylor, the current Internal Affairs Committee chair, originally ran for speaker last election cycle, ultimately conceding to Ayala. His campaign centered on student engagement and transparency, echoing Monanti and the language of campaign season as a whole.

“I feel like this is a new beginning,” Taylor said. “I feel like we’ve had a bit of a lack of communication with students in the past, and that’s definitely going to be a change with me.”

Each candidate will be sworn into office later in the semester during a weekly senate session.

Reach Sam Hutton at news @collegian.com.

“This was a win for first-generation students; it was a win for students that have the federal Pell Grant; this is a win for anyone who’s ever been questioned about who they are or where they came from.”

NICK DESALVO ASCSU PRESIDENT-ELECT

Vice President-elect Braxton Dietz celebrates the announcement of his victory with Ashton Duffield and Joseph Godshall. PHOTO BY CAIT MCKINZIE THE COLLEGIAN

CAMPUS SPEAKER

CSU TPUSA hosts Riley Gaines’ Reclaim Feminism event

By Liv Sewell @liv_sewell22

Former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines came to Colorado State University’s campus to give a talk at an event entitled Reclaim Feminism.

The event was headed by The Riley Gaines Center at the Leadership Institute and the CSU chapter of Turning Point USA Wednesday, April 3.

Gaines, founder of The Riley Gaines Center, is outwardly opposed to transgender athletes in women’s sports and is actively pursuing a lawsuit against the NCAA for the presence of transgender athletes in women’s sports.

The lawsuit, citing Title IX violations, also includes many other collegiate and professional athletes. Off the back of Gaines’ lawsuit against the NCAA, Colorado Representative Richard Holtorf told parents in the crowd to pursue lawsuits of their own.

Former competititive swimmer for the University of Kentucky Riley Gaines prepares to speak for CSU’s student chapter of Turning Point USA April 3. “There was nothing we could do as female athletes,” Gaines said. “There was no questions that we could ask or concerns we could raise.”

PHOTO BY ARIA PAUL THE COLLEGIAN

you work hard, and you dedicate your life for something, and then you’re forced to compete against someone who’s biologically a man — it’s hard. It definitely needs to be more public and addressed.”

There was not much publicity generated for the event, but the turnout filled a classroom in the Glover Building.

“For Turning Point, it is giving feminism back to biological girls,” President of CSU Turning Point Ben Kolb said. “The whole point of this was giving biological girls in sports the understanding that if they’re uncomfortable with something that it’s not bad to speak out. We are listening to them as women.”

Gaines centered her speech on her personal beliefs of how Christianity intertwines with gender identity, saying the NCAA is denying reality.

her rhetoric of Christian-based gender legislation.

Holtorf represents the 63rd district in eastern Colorado and previously referred to transgender identities as a cult during Colorado house debates surrounding measures to allow transgender and nonbinary Coloradans to more easily use their preferred names.

“This is the devil’s work,” Holtorf said after Gaines’speech.“This is Satan trying to make all of us confused. … (This is) the woke, transgender — and I call it a ‘transgender cult.’ This is a cult now; this is a cultlike following in this country that is being peddled and sold just like all of the other cults.”

Kolb commented on how political affiliations should not impede difficult conversations.

“The school board and these departments of education, including higher education, are drinking a lot of this woke KoolAid,” Holtorf said. “Now, here’s where you really get serious. Has anybody heard of civil litigation? If you infringe upon my rights, I have the right to sue you, simply.”

CSU students as well as many student-athletes.

Gaines’ status as a former collegiate swimmer led to many members of the CSU swim team attending the talk.

The crowd comprised a mixed bag of Fort Collins residents and

“I think reclaiming feminism is sticking up for women,” CSU swimmer Lexie Trietley said. “Everything they talked about —

“We are denying, of course, biblical truth but objective truth,” Gaines said. “The most basic of truths at that: man and woman. The sheer essence of humanity. … You’re only here from man and woman, and we’re being asked to deny that.”

After her speech, Gaines welcomed Holtorf to continue

“To the CSU community, I really hope that it sheds some light on the idea that we can all disagree — we can have conversation — but still get along and do that in a civil manner,” Kolb said. “At least, that’s what I’m here for. I’m all about bridging the gap. I’m all about that conversation between the political sides because we as people are so much bigger than politics.”

Reach Liv Sewell at news @collegian.com.

CSU announces transition to universitywide commencement format

By Laila Shekarchian @csucollegian

Colorado State University has announced plans to transition to a brand-new commencement format beginning in 2025. The university announced that it will begin hosting one universitywide commencement ceremony in Canvas Stadium each year.

Commencement acts as a way for graduating students to gather and celebrate their graduation together as a class. Whether students are graduating soon or recently graduated, the event can be a way for a class to come together one more time before they start a new chapter.

“CSU’s move away from collegebased commencements and toward an annual universitywide commencement aligns CSU with other major four-year colleges, and having one commencement ceremony allows students to have a shared experience with their fellow Rams and establishes an exciting new tradition at CSU,” said Kelly Liggett, CSU’s managing director of strategic planning and lead project manager for commencement 2025.

The decision was made to enhance the graduation experience for students, staff and their families. The university aims to foster a more inclusive and memorable experience with this change.

“Hosting commencement that welcomes the entire

“I think CSU’s new plan for the commencement ceremony is exciting because it allows students to come together and celebrate each other’s different accomplishments within different fields. It allows people to build better connections and celebrate each other.”

JUDE CHIKH ALI CSU STUDENT

campus to celebrate our graduates is such an exciting opportunity to go all out for our grads,” Liggett said. “A fullcampus commencement will give graduates a grand entrance, welcome an inspirational speaker, bring together staff to volunteer and celebrate our students and create excitement and energy across the campus for graduation.”

CSU students who will be graduating with the new format are looking forward to the changes, as they will get a chance to better connect with their peers.

“I think CSU’s new plan for the commencement ceremony is exciting because it allows students to come together and celebrate each other’s different accomplishments within different fields,” student Jude Chikh Ali said. “It allows people to build better connections and celebrate each other.”

Although the new commencement format will not be implemented until spring 2025, it has been in the making for many years.

“The conversation of moving to a universitywide commencement has been happening for years, especially since CSU opened Canvas Stadium and had a location on campus which would allow CSU graduates and their guests to celebrate this life milestone all together,” Liggett said.

As part of the new plans, different colleges will no longer host their own individual ceremonies. However, departments will have the ability to host their own events to recognize students and their accomplishments in a more personalized manner.

“The university is committed to working with departments to honor their students in meaningful events that complement the universitywide commencement,” Liggett said. “All students will have their names read and the opportunity to be individually recognized. Departments and colleges may also offer personalized components to fit the needs of and personality of their own students.”

Students have also expressed their excitement to celebrate with their friends and families at another ceremony outside of their individual colleges and departments.

“I think the new plans for commencement ceremonies are great, especially since most of my friends aren’t in my same college,” student Mia Turnbull said. “I think it will impact me and most of the people I know positively.”

There will be no changes to the 2024 commencement ceremonies in the spring or fall — though those graduating in the fall will have the opportunity to switch to the spring 2025 commencement — so the university is using this year’s ceremonies to gather feedback and evaluate what details need to be added to the new commencement plans.

CSU encourages students and staff to provide their personal feedback on the new commencement plans through ASCSU.

“CSU is committed to elevating commencement at CSU and welcomes thoughts and ideas from the entire campus throughout this process,” Liggett said. “ASCSU has expressed their support for this shift. We are actively working with ASCSU to represent the student viewpoint. We encourage students to provide input directly to their ASCSU representatives.”

Students and staff can submit questions and comments on the spring 2025 commencement webpage. Updates and further details will be available there as well.

Reach Laila Shekarchian at news @collegian.com.

LOCAL CAFE

Starry Night in Old Town serves coffee with rich history

By Gwendolynn Riddoch @csucollegian

“What is done in love is done well,” Vincent Van Gogh said. This is the quote written on the wall of the Starry Night Espresso Cafe in Old Town Fort Collins.

The Starry Night Espresso Cafe opened in 1992. Its current owners, sister and brother Chelsi and Justin Wells, said it is one of the longest standing coffee shops in the Fort Collins area. The duo has been running the coffee shop for eight years as of April 1.

The Van Gogh concept began long before the Wells got their hands on the place, but each set of owners has put their own unique spin on it.

“It’s fun to play a part of the legacy,” Chelsi Wells said. “It’s been a long journey — Starry Night’s existence — and we get to be a little piece of its legacy.”

As the third set of owners of the establishment, the Wells have started roasting and sourcing their own coffee.

“We brought in our own coffee,” Justin Wells said. “We are the first owners to start importing our own beans, and

we have different partners in all different parts of the world that we have gone and spent time with personally. It’s our touch on the painting. It’s our brush stroke on ‘(The) Starry Night.’”

The Wells look to honor and represent well the sources they import from.

“We tell anybody who is hired here to leave it better than you found it,” Justin Wells said. “That’s kind of our

GLOBAL GOVERNMENT

motto here because there are so many hands that have the coffee before we do that their livelihood relies on us doing something awesome with it.”

Chelsi and Justin Wells both come from backgrounds working with and teaching people with disabilities, and they have carried that into the cafe.

“It’s been a big heartbeat behind what we do,” Chelsi Wells said. “We bring some of our friends with

disabilities in and provide some employment education and job experience. We are partnered with the state’s Division (of) Vocational Rehabilitation to help our friends transition into the world and find jobs. We say all ships rise, so when we rise, everyone rises.”

Despite Starry Night going through three sets of owners, they have still maintained regulars who have been coming in since 1992.

“I feel like we got lucky when we got to buy into this place because I don’t think we realized how long lasting it was going to be,” Justin Wells said. “We have people who have been coming here since ‘92. We have people who come in all the time and say, ‘I was a barista here in the ‘90s,’ and you would be shocked by the amount of people that say, ‘I got engaged here,’ or, ‘We had our first date here,’ or, ‘We have been married for 10-15 years, and it started here.’ It’s bonkers the amount of people that have a story surrounding this place.”

Mia Boudreau is a barista who has been working at Starry Night for almost a year.

“Just getting to make people smile while I make their drink

or, like, making the kids smile and talking to them about their favorite things makes me so excited,” Boudreau said.

Boudreau is originally from Durango, Colorado.

“I’m from a super small town, so coming here feels like more of a city,” Boudreau said. “I really like that sense of community.”

The aspect of relationships and happy customers is highly valued at the Starry Night Espresso Cafe.

Barista Emma Mendelssohn is a new Starry Night hire as of about a month and a half ago.

“Oh, my God, I absolutely love it here,” Mendelssohn said.

Mendelssohn opens every Monday and enjoys peoplewatching while she works.

“It’s always fun to see Old Town pick up and kind of just see everyone wake up,” Mendelssohn said. “I love the environment of a coffee shop. Everyone comes in here to do different stuff like school, hang out, work, study, dates — you really see it all.”

Reach Gwendolynn Riddoch at life@collegian.com.

Keynote speaker Julia Ioffe visits CSU to discuss democracy

By Aubree Miller @csucollegian

An audience of eager listeners awaited the arrival of acclaimed journalist Julia Ioffe to hear her discuss democracy and journalism.

Democracy is Colorado State University’s theme for the 2023-24 school year, and this is reflected in numerous places across campus. One is the fifth annual International Symposium that kicked off April 2. Ioffe is a Russian-born American journalist who made her second visit to CSU April 2 to discuss the current state of democracy throughout the world.

Ioffe spoke to a crowd during a keynote event in the Lory Student Center Ballroom D, and Lucas Brady Woods mediated the event and asked questions. Ioffe’s work has been published in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Politico and more.

The first topic discussed was an assessment of global democracy right now.

“It’s hard not to look at what’s happening,” Ioffe said. “Democracy is very passe, including both the left and the right.”

Ioffe reflected on her upbringing in both America and

Russia and how it has impacted her work and her perception of democracy in different places.

“Democracy is not a natural state. It is a state that requires constant work. ... It requires a high level of media literacy among its population to be able to sort out fact from fiction. It requires, in America, voting very, very frequently.”

JULIA IOFFE RUSSIAN AMERICAN JOURNALIST

“(There were Russian) independent journalists and democracy activists, people who were putting our lives and our freedom on the line every single

day for a concept they had never experienced,” Ioffe said.

Ioffe listed questions many Russian journalists ask when they look at the United States.

“‘Who do we look to if you guys can’t even do it right?’” Ioffe said. “’Why are we fighting so hard for this if you guys can’t maintain this gift that you have?’”

Another topic discussed was the reason democracy is backpedaling and, in some areas, failing.

“Democracy is not a natural state,” Ioffe said. “It is a state that requires constant work. ... It requires a high level of media literacy among its population to be able to sort out fact from fiction. It requires, in America, voting very, very frequently.”

Ioffe’s keynote wasn’t the only event; there were numerous other presentations throughout the entire symposium, including those given by professors in political science and communication studies. The symposium spanned two days from April 2-3.

CSU has made a push to bring democracy-minded voices to campus, fitting with the thematic Year of Democracy.

Ioffe’s previous visit to CSU was in late November 2017, when she utilized her Soviet history knowledge, which she studied at Princeton University. During the

visit, she discussed the United States’ relationship with Russia and its impact on the 2016 election. With another election year coming up, this second visit is also timely. Ioffe also touched on how democracy is seen by the right and left sides of the political spectrum and how it is discussed, as well as how the United States is seen as “the world’s policeman” and what would happen if America were not in that position.

“China would love to be the world’s policeman; Russia would love to be the world’s policeman,”

Ioffe said. “They’ve been very open about that fact. They don’t even pay lip service to the idea of human rights, democracy, to individual freedoms. ... I think Americans, understandably, are very critical of their country. ... We should hold our country to a very, very, very high standard and always (push) to be better, better, better, better, and we have a long way to go. But when you go abroad — I mean, there’s a reason that people want to immigrate to the U.S.” Reach Aubree Miller at life@collegian.com.

A sign hangs off the side of a building, marking Starry Night Espresso Cafe, located on South College Avenue March 27. Starry Night sells espresso drinks and baked goods in downtown Fort Collins.

PHOTO BY SAMANTHA NORDSTROM THE COLLEGIAN

Special guest Julia Ioffe speaks during the 2024 Colorado State University International Symposium in the Lory Student Center April 2.

PHOTO BY AVA PUGLISI THE COLLEGIAN

ASCSU Women and Social Justice Caucus hosts book drive

By Katie Fisher @csucollegian

In a back corner of the Associated Students of Colorado State University’s main office sits a darkstained bookshelf. Sets of social justice books sit long-untouched and covered in dust litter its shelves — the echo of a forgotten campaign until recent efforts to bring the library back to life.

ASCSU’s Women and Social Justice Caucus announced March 19 they would begin a Women’s History Month Book Drive with the mission of collecting books to create a social justice library.

The drive, hosted in association with ASCSU and the Survivor Advocacy and Feminist Education Center, was inspired by a longer look at an underutilized corner of the ASCSU office.

“We have a social justice library here in ASCSU that has rarely, if ever, been used,” said Lauren Davis, SAFE Center senator. “It was pretty outdated (and) didn’t really have a lot of books.”

To restore the library, the Women and Social Justice Caucus launched a book drive with a clear mission in mind.

“The goal is to bring in more books, more resources for CSU students and beyond,” said Olivia Friske, Women

and Social Justice Caucus chair. “To make (ASCSU) more constructive, diverse (and) inclusive for the goals of social justice.”

Social justice, in the simplest terms, can be defined as the equitable and fair treatment of all people in society regardless of their social status or identity aspects. Libraries themselves also play a critical role in social justice.

“Libraries intrinsically have a social justice mission, which is to break down barriers to information,” said Jimena Bretón, CSU Libraries interim head of student success. “Information is power. Right information, knowledge, is power. So by nature, libraries empower communities to be informed.”

This intrinsic value can also be carried through into ASCSU’s library and the founding missions of CSU itself, which have influenced the types of books the caucus is hoping to receive.

“Diversity, equity (and) inclusion is one of the founding principles of CSU,” Davis said. “Any book that encourages people to look further into DEI and to do their own work with that and just talk about equality (is a candidate for donation).”

Friske recounted the already overwhelming community response they have received.

“We have had a lot of people reach out with books even if they are not in the social justice field,” Friske said.

Some of the notable unique volumes include books about the role of gender in the engineering industry and another on gender equality and tax code. The book drive is also searching for banned books, especially due to heightened censorship in recent years.

“We are accepting banned books because with current legislation going in the United States and with the rise of censorship, we want to make sure we have a safe haven for books that might be seen as controversial,” Friske said.

Books currently under censorship campaigns can also offer needed representation of marginalized and underrepresented communities. Davis said she hopes the library will help make ASCSU a welcoming environment to the diverse student body.

“Books are being banned just to kind of take away representation from people, and so the ability for us to have those here in a space where they’re not being regulated and where people can see the representation (makes it a safe space),” Davis said.

Libraries also allow people to explore viewpoints and angles they might have not previously been aware of or understood, whether that is in their local community, nationally or within themselves.

“Libraries and books provide you with the ability to have conversations with authors that perhaps you cannot have with (yourself) or with the people in your community,” Bretón said.

The Women and Social Justice Caucus hopes this conversational value and individual learning will occur at their own library.

“I’m hoping that people can come into ASCSU and feel comfortable to look at the books,” Friske said. “Read them. Check them out.”

Davis also said she hopes readers take away more lifelong lessons from the books they will encounter.

“(I hope) people check out books and that they’re able to read them and find something that they connect with that they can take further into life,” Davis said.

Books will be collected through April 22. Boxes for donation are located in ASCSU’s main office, the SAFE Center and the Asian Pacific American Cultural Center.

Reach Katie Fisher at life @collegian.com.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY TRIN BONNER THE COLLEGIAN

Mya Lesnar’s journey to national title started with belief

By Adam Gross @agrose_22

Six years ago, Mya Lesnar didn’t believe she could throw shot put at the collegiate level. Now, she’s an NCAA champion.

On March 9, Lesnar threw 18.53 meters in Boston, making her the first woman to win an indoor track and field championship at Colorado State. Winning was the easiest part. Committing her life to a sport she didn’t know she’d be successful at was the most difficult thing of all.

“She’s the kind of person that has got the right mentality behind it. She’s got great genetics, great athleticism and great skills. She’s got everything that she needs to make it happen. Now, her journey just needs to start.”

MAGGIE EWEN THREE-TIME NCAA TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPION

“A lot of people told me, ‘Hey, if you stick to this, there’s something here,’” Lesnar said. “But you don’t really believe it until you until you do it — and you’re like, ‘Wow.’”

Lesnar’s first year at CSU didn’t go as well as she’d anticipated. Adjusting to a new campus after two years of the COVID-19 pandemic and little competition gave Lesnar many obstacles to overcome.

Lesnar decided to hit the weight room — hard. Her muscles grew and her confidence with them. By the start of her junior year, she reached the numbers professional throwers aim for.

“And that was a turning point — confidence in the weight room and confidence at practice,” Lesnar said. “Just knowing, ‘Hey, you know what? I can do

this.’ And so I go out my first meet this year and PR.”

Lesnar set her shot put personal record at 18.50 meters in December 2023 at the Mines Alumni Classic. Two months later, she threw 19.10 meters and claimed a Mountain West championship title. Two weeks after that, she made history in Boston.

Lesnar’s early podium success in the 2018 Minnesota State High School League State Track and Field Championships didn’t matter to her. She didn’t believe she could be great. Instead, Lesnar said she was convinced she would play college volleyball. Her plans fell through when her attempts at getting offers came up short.

“I was waiting for some calls or schools to reach out, and I got nothing,” Lesnar said. “I was a middle hitter in high school. I was tall for the position. But girls won’t even look at you if you’re under 6 foot.”

Fortunately, three-time NCAA track and field champion Maggie Ewen came into Lesnar’s life.

Ewen, currently ranked fourth in the world for shot put, was a 2013 Minnesota state champion for shot put and discus and a thrower at Arizona State. She began training with Lesnar her sophomore year in private sessions under Ewen’s father. At the time, Lesnar didn’t realize she would follow a path strikingly similar to Ewen’s. Ewen’s leadership made throwing a heavy ball go from something Lesnar was just good at to something she fell in love with.

“I definitely expected that she was going to do impressive things,” Ewen said. “She’s the kind of person that has got the right mentality behind it. She’s got great genetics, great athleticism and great skills. She’s got everything that she needs to make it happen. Now, her journey just needs to start.”

Training with Ewen sparked a new belief in Lesnar’s mind. She told herself she was going to throw shot put at the professional level.

Even today, Lesnar said she credits her reason for throwing to the days of training with Ewen.

“It wasn’t until I met Maggie that I was like, ‘This is cool,’” Lesnar said. “She’s like a superhero to me. She’s strong and confident, and I want to be like that. … I want to throw with her one day. I want to be as good as she is and be one of the top girls in the world.”

In her junior year, Lesnar claimed the 2019 MSHSL State Track and Field Championships in shot put. From that victory, her journey started. She knew she had what it took to compete at the next level.

As a transfer from Arizona State, Lesnar said she thought she would be a Sun Devil her entire college career. One coaching change later, her plans changed as well. However, she still had options to explore once she decided to transfer. Even before Lesnar’s commitment to ASU, CSU’s Brian Bedard was the first coach to give her an offer.

“I got back in the transfer portal, and (Bedard) reached out,” Lesnar said. “That’s definitely a scenario where I’m like, ‘Listen, you never know who you’re going to be friends with.’”

The strong relationship between Lesnar and Bedard immediately flourished and provided her with the building blocks to be a successful thrower. Lesnar grew from

questioning her abilities in her first year as a Ram to possessing an unwavering belief in herself to excel. Bedard watched firsthand as Lesnar made the necessary changes that ultimately led her to the national title.

“It’s been a work in progress,” Bedard said. “Last year, she struggled with getting too stressed out in competition. She just really improved her ability to stay relaxed, control her excitement level (and) not get distracted in competition. So that’s a testament to her and the work she’s put in to improve in those areas. … She’s become a more mature competitor.”

Ewen was the first to say Lesnar’s journey just needed to start. If Lesnar hadn’t made the decision six years ago to pursue a throwing career, she would never have stood atop the podium in Boston. With two more years of college eligibility, there is far more Lesnar can accomplish even before a professional career.

After Lesnar’s winning mark, the person who once didn’t think they’d throw at the collegiate level now proudly claims the title of national champion.

“A lot can happen when you believe in yourself,” Lesnar said.

Reach Adam Gross at sports @collegian.com.

CSU volleyball kicks off preseason in paradise

By Will Engle @willengle44

When Kate Yoshimoto arrived at Colorado State in 2021, coach Emily Kohan promised the libero the team would make the journey to play in her home state of Hawaii.

For years, the logistics never quite worked out. Seasons passed without Yoshimoto being able to play in front of her loved ones.

However, just before the team left for winter break in December 2023, good news came: With the help of donors and fundraising, the CSU volleyball team would travel to Hawaii over spring break to begin their spring preseason training.

“I found out probably right before I went home for winter break,” Yoshimoto said. “I was just so ecstatic because my family hasn’t been able to see me play since probably before COVID.”

For the libero, returning home meant being able to play in front of those who have supported her since childhood.

Not only did Yoshimoto get to play in front of her family for the first time in years, but she also got to play in a venue she grew up watching the Hawaii volleyball team play in — a venue where she grew to love volleyball.

RAMS ON THE ROCKS

“I’ve grown up watching the (Hawaii Rainbow Wahine women’s volleyball team) play in the Stan Sheriff (Center),” Yoshimoto said. “It was such a surreal experience to be able to play in there myself.”

Yoshimoto, along with other Hawaiian players Kekua Richards and Jazen DeBina, was given the opportunity to share her culture and homeland with the team.

That opportunity was immensely impactful to the team, allowing them to combine working on their craft and a team bonding vacation.

“I think it was one of the most incredible team bonding trips that I’ve ever been on,” Kohan said. “It was really cool to have the three

Hawaiians and their families immerse us in their culture.”

While the spring preseason certainly involves hard work to prepare for the fall, an even larger part of the preseason revolves around team bonding.

Graduate student and middle blocker Naeemah Weathers emphasized the importance of their trip to Hawaii in allowing the squad to grow closer.

“Being able to have the experience of melding, like, a vacation mode and a volleyball mode was something that was super cool because we’ve never done that before,” Weathers said. “We got to do things like snorkeling, ... (and) a lot of people on the team might not know that,

like, I can’t swim, and they all got to learn that.”

Swimming abilities aside, Weathers and her team used these activities to grow closer as a unit prior to their preseason matchup against Hawaii.

For Richards, one of these activities held a special nostalgic importance: The team had the opportunity to hold a kids’ volleyball clinic at her alma mater, Seabury Hall.

Richards said she was grateful for the opportunity to return home and share new aspects of her life with her teammates.

“It was super awesome and amazing to be able to bring my team to fully experience where I’m from and my culture because it’s very different from the mainland,” Richards said.

For three new members of the green and gold — Aine Doty, Brielle Warren and Jordyn Tynsky — this preseason in paradise was their first time suiting up in a game for the Rams.

Kohan said that while not all of the incoming Rams were able to come, the three who did were able to integrate with the team’s culture in a comfortable environment.

“Compared to last year’s roster, we’re going to have seven new people right now on the 2024 roster,” Kohan said. “Three of them were with us for this spring training trip, (which) kind of gradually assimilates the new people into our

program. It was fun to see them fit in and begin the team bonding part of that before four more newbies join us in the summer.”

In addition to seeing some fresh faces on the court, the team’s game against Hawaii was Kohan’s first time coaching the Rams under the NCAA’s new rule change to allow double contacts and two liberos per set.

How will Kohan use this new rule change? Even she isn’t quite sure yet. The coach said she’s grateful for these spring games, as they’re giving her the chance to experiment with something new.

“I think the two-libero rule is the one rule that is incredibly impactful that we’re not quite sure how to use it with our current team,” Kohan said. “But we are using spring to experiment with how you use that and what best serves our team with that. It’s a big rule change.”

The CSU volleyball team will play four more preseason games this spring. The Rams will face off against Wyoming and Colorado twice April 6 at Northern Colorado and April 20 at CU.

“I think Hawaii started us off on a good foot,” Yoshimoto said. “I think we’re just going to go up from here and be able to learn what we need to do to be ready for the fall season.”

Reach Will Engle at sports @collegian.com.

CSU climbing wall creates culture of acceptance

By Emma Askren @emma_askren

In a sport known for its unforgiving nature, there is a spot left for acceptance within the climbing community.

At Colorado State, a significant portion of the student body participates in climbing of some form, whether that’s at the Student

Recreation Center, at Horsetooth Reservoir or even internationally.

“I feel like the climbing culture is unique in the sense that you can see it, kind of, all around the world,” senior Henry Butchart said. “Whenever I travel, I bring my climbing shoes, and I’ve climbed in lots of different places and gyms, and they all kind of have the same culture of being

very welcoming and supportive of each other.”

The community within the Rec Center is something clearly held to a high standard by both employees and students. At the climbing wall, there are plenty of opportunities for students who may have never been climbing before to get involved in the sport.

“(There are) some people that might feel a little bit intimidated by the climbing wall space and having lots of people around,” Climbing Wall Manager Ben Stapp said. “We have programs that are outside of our normal working hours for people of different backgrounds.”

Nearly every night, there are classes to teach students how to get belay certified, special lessons for female-identifying students and even events that partner with the Student Diversity Programs and Services offices.

“We have our She Climbs Series, which encompasses a whole bunch of different classes for femaleidentifying climbers,” Stapp said. “We also have Out at the Wall, which is a part of a Rec-wide

thing that we do to encourage LGBTQIA+ (people) to come in and enjoy the space and find people in their community that they can climb with.”

Accessibility is clearly high on the list of priorities for staff at the Rec. Most activities and classes at the climbing wall for students are either free or have low costs to participate, and this opens the door to climbing for a lot of people who would otherwise not have that opportunity.

“I only got into climbing about a year ago, and I only exclusively come to the Rec to climb,” senior Austria Pfanner said. “The low cost definitely helped (get me in to climbing). I didn’t come to CSU having ever climbed before, but I came last year and figured out that we did have this resource, and that was a huge part of it.”

The climbing wall at the Rec Center is one of the most popular places to work out on campus, racking in 20-plus students at once during the rush hour. The smaller space creates opportunities for climbers to forge close friendships as well.

Going into the climbing wall area, climbers can be seen cheering each other on as they attempt the variety of routes available. A tiered system is in place to grade the climbs in bouldering and top rope, both of which are set at the Rec Center.

At the Rec Center, managing staff understand that the majority of climbers are new to the sport, so the climbs available typically range in the lower half of the grading scale.

On the bouldering wall, climbs range from a V0 to a V9; the highest grade of bouldering is V17, but there are only four climbs in that category.

With free gear checkout, a variety of climbs and a welcoming community at the Rec Center, it’s no surprise the wall is as popular with students as it is. When a student walks into the Rec Center, the climbing wall is the first thing they see, and when they leave, it’s the last.

From the gyms to the crags, the climbing community at CSU has cultivated a welcoming and friendly environment for all students.

Reach Emma Askren at sports @collegian.com.

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RAMS SET RECORDS AT JACK CHRISTIANSEN INVITATIONAL

First-year Rae Hicok takes a breath and gets ready to throw at the Jack Christiansen Invitational March 30. She placed 11th with a mark of 11.47 meters.

Redshirt freshman Kajsa Borrman gets ready to throw. She finished seventh in women’s shot put with a mark of 12.31 meters.

Redshirt freshman Kyle Bigley competes in men’s shotput. He placed first with a mark of 18.13 meters.

Sophomore Tyler Colwell competes in the men’s 100-meter dash. He placed second in this event with a time of 10.42 seconds.

Quinn McConnell takes the lead in the women’s 1,500-meter run. She finished first with a time of four minutes, 28.21 seconds.

Sophomore Maria Kimpson launches over the cross bar. She placed first in women’s pole vault with a mark of 3.85 meters.

Sophomore Quentin Rivera competes in the men’s 110-meter hurdles. He finished eighth overall in this event with a time of 15.92 seconds.

Colwell gets ready on the men’s 100-meter dash blocks.

Graduate student Mariano Kis throws discus. He placed first with a mark of 53.81 meters.

CELESTIAL PHENOMENA

Solar eclipses kindled these 4 ancient myths worldwide

By Lizzy Rylance @csucollegian

Dragons devouring the sun, wrathful sky gods and hungry squirrels have one thing in common: They are all legends that have been used to explain solar eclipses, one of nature’s most spectacular events.

This captivating phenomenon is somewhat of a cosmic coincidence: The sun happens to be 400 times bigger than the moon and also 400 times farther away. On rare occasions, they align perfectly from a given viewpoint on Earth so that only the ghostly wisps of the sun’s corona are visible from behind the pitch-black circle of the moon.

Before science explained the astronomical processes that cause solar eclipses, many cultures throughout history came up with their own explanations for these awe-inspiring celestial events.

On April 8, a total solar eclipse will cross over the eastern United States. Read on to learn about four mythical interpretations of solar eclipses around the world.

1. China

In ancient times, solar eclipses were often considered exceptionally ominous and frightening events. The Earth falls into dusk, the sun

disappears in the middle of the day and animals behave oddly; for early record-keepers, this certainly would have been a noteworthy event.

One of the earliest records of a solar eclipse dates back over to 3,000 years ago in Anyang, China. Scribes recorded important events on bone fragments called oracle bones. One from around 1300 B.C. translates to “three flames ate the sun.”

People may have believed that the black circle of the moon was a dragon moving across the sky to eat the sun. An undated book of ancient Chinese literature advises observing the dragons by looking at the reflection of the sun in a pot of water. This technique enabled them to watch the eclipse unfold without eye damage, similar to the use of solar eclipse glasses today.

2. Australia

In the oral traditions of many Aboriginal Australian cultures, the sun is presented as a female figure and the moon as a male figure. For the Euahlayi people of southeast Australia, the knowledge of eclipses was passed down as an ancient love story in which the sun falls in love with the moon and chases him across the sky.

In some tellings of this story, the sun’s love is unrequited, and she angrily threatens to plunge the

world into darkness, causing an eclipse. In other versions, it is a tale of forbidden love, and the eclipse represents a brief moment in which the sun and moon can join together in secret.

3. Greece

In ancient Greece, mythic gods were believed to govern the world and communicate with people by sending omens. Natural events were often attributed to the gods’ whims, and solar eclipses were interpreted as frightening signs of divine displeasure.

The Greek poet Archilochus wrote of a total solar eclipse that occurred in 647 B.C. and attributed it to the wrath of the sky god Zeus. A translation of his writing says, “Zeus, the father of the Olympians, has concealed the light of the blazing sun and made night out of noonday, and ... fear has come upon mankind.”

The word eclipse even has its roots in the

Greek word ekleipsis, meaning disappearance or abandonment.

4. North America

Choctaw mythology tells the story of a mischievous black squirrel, Fvni Lusa, who tried to eat the sun.

According to the story, Fvni Lusa was hungry one day and began to nibble at the sun, causing an eclipse. This caught the attention of the Choctaw people, who responded by loudly clanging pots and pans together and throwing sticks at the sky to scare Fvni Lusa away.

This story has been passed down through generations of oral tradition and is still a part of Choctaw culture today. The Choctaw Cultural Center in Durant, Oklahoma, will celebrate the 2024 solar eclipse by retelling the story and conducting educational activities for visitors. Participants will even receive noisemakers to use during the eclipse as a nod to the tale of Fvni Lusa.

Reach Lizzy Rylance at science@collegian.com.

What is a highly sensitive person?

By Caden Proulx @csucollegian

You have probably been called sensitive at some point in your life — intended as an insult instead of a compliment. Being sensitive is not a negative trait, though, and a personality type called “highly sensitive person” looks at what being sensitive means in a new light.

HSP was coined by psychologist

Elaine Aron and her husband, Arthur Aron, in the ‘90s. It became an official term in 1997 when she and Arthur Aron found that sensory processing disorder appeared to be not just a defining trait of highly sensitive people but a different concept altogether.

SPD, also called sensory processing sensitivity, is considered a symptom of autism spectrum disorder; it is also common in people with obsessive-compulsive disorder and attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder and can be found in those without any diagnoses at all.

“High sensitivity is not a disorder or mental health condition but rather a trait that makes up about 20% of the population,” said Katarina Ament, a licensed psychologist.

HSPs are pretty common, but the trait is not well known by both highly sensitive people and mental health providers.

“HSPs seeing providers less familiar with the trait may be misdiagnosed with anxiety, ADHD or an autism spectrum disorder,” Ament said.

This might lead you to wonder, “Am I an HSP?”

“A good way to summarize what it means to be a highly sensitive person is the acronym DOES, which stands for Depth of processing, Overstimulation, Emotional reactivity/empathy and Sensing the subtle,” Ament said.

Ament described these experiences as spending a lot of time reflecting on feelings and experiences. This higher level of awareness and depth of processing makes HSPs more prone to overstimulation. Emotional reactivity might show up as stronger reactions to experiences, such as tearing up over a sunset or having greater empathy for others. Lastly, HSPs may notice subtle details that those around them do not, and they may be more sensitive to certain scents, tastes and sounds.

“Identifying with these traits can also be part of another mental health condition,” said Allison McQuaid, a licensed professional counselor. “They aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive.”

When working with HSP clients, she attributed their experiences to being neurodivergent. Neurodiversity is a wide spectrum that often correlates to how a person processes and responds to stimuli.

This is seen especially with HSPs, in which the intersection of mental health conditions is an important and often missed part of seeking out help.

“When I have helped clients determine if they are also an HSP in addition to having ADHD or anxiety, it has brought so much clarity and validation to the way they have experienced the world,” McQuaid said.

Being an HSP can be an isolating experience, with some noticing differences from others as early as childhood.

“In addition to giving them language and letting them know that they are not alone, I think it’s important to help HSPs find their supports who understand them,” McQuaid said. “I empower my clients to set boundaries with those who do not support them and process the grief and/or loss that may occur as a result of being misunderstood and accepting that they are worthy of love and support.”

Being able to put a name to these experiences and emotions is incredibly validating for clients, whether they may have multiple mental health conditions or just simply are a highly sensitive person. Identifying as an HSP allows many individuals to experience the world in a more rich and in-depth way than most, and that should be something to celebrate, not be ashamed of.

“We need to think of sensitivity not as someone who is weak or overly emotional but as someone who is thoughtful (and) in tune with their emotions and cares deeply for others and the world around them,” Ament said.

For those left with curiosity about themselves or a loved one after

reading this, McQuaid has a few suggestions to find out more: First, it can be very beneficial for HSPs to seek out therapy — McQuaid suggested one that specializes in neurodiversity. There are also many books on HSPs from mental health professionals, including Elaine Aron’s books. McQuaid also recommends finding an HSP group or community to build a positive support network.

“Learning about yourself is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself,” McQuaid said. “(Give) yourself permission to learn how your brain works and what best supports that instead of trying to fit a mold that you think you should be in.”

Reach Caden Proulx at science @collegian.com.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY TRIN BONNER THE COLLEGIAN

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY TRIN BONNER THE COLLEGIAN

‘Big Fish’ premiere tells lively, heartfelt story

By Aubree Miller @csucollegian

Movie, book and theater fans alike will likely enjoy Fort Collins’ latest musical performance: “Big Fish - Small Cast Edition.”

It was premiered by OpenStage Theatre & Company Saturday, March 23 at The Lincoln Center. OpenStage is Fort Collins’ oldest theater company.

The novel “Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions,” written by Daniel Wallace in 1998, was taken to the screen by the mind of Tim Burton in 2003, and in 2013, Andrew Lippa and John August debuted the musical. It tells the beautiful story of a father, Edward Bloom, and his son, Will Bloom. Throughout Will’s childhood, Edward told him many fantastical and whimsical stories, but now the adult Will is looking for the truth. It is a story woven by stories and the wonder and pain that can come from that.

Noah Racey, head of musical theater at Colorado State

University, directed this performance. He was named associate artistic director of OpenStage in 2022.

Racey discussed the show’s themes and its meaning and importance.

“It’s a show about imagination and reality and what every parent hopes to offer their children,” Racey said.

He also talked about how familial relationships play out in the show.

“(It is) the idealism that (a) parent wants to give these fantastic ideas and wonderful inspiration to the child and the idealism of children who want what they think they can pin down as the truth,” Racey said.

Scott Hurst plays Edward beautifully, bringing to life the magic of a man who — without spoiling the show — has truly seen it all.

Hurst discussed his journey with his character and what it means to the show overall.

“For me, the show is about a dreamer and storyteller that cannot find a true connection with his son,” Hurst said. “The lack of understanding and common ground with a father figure is

something that stands out with my personal life experience.”

Hurst elaborated on those personal feelings.

“I drew on experiences I had with my own father growing up,

who passed away two years ago,” Hurst said. “I knew when I was cast as Edward Bloom, I felt the need to infuse a lot of my own father’s mannerisms and sensibility into the character.”

While Edward brings life and magic into the show, so does his wife, Sandra Bloom, played incredibly by Brikaih Floré.

Floré discussed her character’s journey and some of her favorite moments during the show.

“I wasn’t expecting to fall in love with this show in the many ways I have,” Floré said. “I think I needed Sandra. ... In the end, I ended up with a complex character who is fiery, passionate, kind, loving and stubborn. She is a mother, a wife, a woman, a dreamer; Sandra is the heart of this show, and ultimately, without her, it would be difficult to fall in love with Edward Bloom. She helps us fall in love with him through her eyes.”

Emotionally powerful songs like “This River Between Us” and “Daffodils” help bring to life the grief and struggle that follows the performances while also showcasing incredible acting and musical skill.

“Big Fish” will run at The Lincoln Center until April 20.

Reach Aubree Miller at  entertainment@collegian.com.

Brikaih Floré and Scott Hurst, playing Sandra Bloom and Edward Bloom, respectively, in the musical “Big Fish - Small Cast Edition,” perform during a dress rehearsal at The Lincoln Center in Fort Collins March 22.

PHOTO BY SAMANTHA NORDSTROM THE COLLEGIAN

Hip-hop at CSU bounces back with Vision Dance Expo Colorado Blues Society keeps the blues alive

By Liv Sewell @liv_sewell22

Hip-hop is a way of life.

Created in the 1970s, hiphop started as an underground dance movement that permeated mainstream pop culture. It has come a long way from its start in the Bronx, New York; however, its roots are still intact, most prominently through dance battles.

Dance battles started soon after Clive Campbell, often referred to by his stage name, DJ Kool Herc, began his gig as a hip-hop disc jockey, and they were used to blow off steam as much as they were to showcase a dancer’s skill.

“The origin of battles was a way to prevent gang violence,” Colorado State University Hip-Hop Dance Club officer Donovan del Rosario said. “Back in the early days of breakdancing, crews used to be gangs. So it was a way for people to settle beef without any violence.”

Though battles are still important, camaraderie is the only thing seen between dancers, wishing each other luck before every turn.

The all-style approach taken at Vision Dance Expo left the floor open to every kind of hip-hop. Dancers could use locking, popping, breaking, waacking, house and much more, making it difficult to assess the material presented.

“For me, I judge on musicality and understanding how the movement fits with the music,”said Kevin O’Keefe, aka KO, battle judge for the event. “If you’re going to battle, it’s a learning lesson because you’ll lose more than you win. … And I think students need to know that battles should be about growth.”

Losing more than winning seems like an unattractive prospect, but for dancers all around Colorado who participated in Vision Dance Expo, it was an opportunity to improve.

The crowd of dancers included CSU students, dance crews from Fort Collins and beyond, dancers who had never participated in a battle before and young kids who were all invested in the performances in front of them.

“I think (this event) brings groups together more, especially Hip-Hop Club and KDCSU. This past semester, we’ve been working together a lot.”

ELLE ROBINSON KDCSU CO-PRESIDENT

“We push for anyone, no matter how much dance experience they have, to come and observe,” CSU Hip-Hop Dance Club Vice President Matt Bishop said. “See what it’s like. See what the hip-hop dance world is like. Even if you’re not participating, we encourage you to come watch.”

It starts with just showing up. Whether you have 20 years or two months of experience, battles are a place that accepts all who wish to dance.

In that same vein, many other groups performed,

including the Hip-Hop Dance Club, K-Pop Dance at CSU and Fort Collins Foco Flava.

“I think (this event) brings groups together more, especially Hip-Hop Club and KDCSU,” said Elle Robinson, KDCSU co-president. “This past semester, we’ve been working together a lot. I’m not going to lie — people don’t take K-pop covers very seriously, so we’re very new to it.”

The Fort Collins dance scene was underground for many years, blossoming in the 2000s, and the community took another hit because of the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the Vision Dance Expo taking a two-year break.

After the two-year break, officers of the CSU Hip-Hop Dance Club took the initiative to revitalize the event.

“Hip-hop was never supposed to be here that long,” O’Keefe said. “It was a survival thing in New York (City) and everywhere else. … Being part of the Fort Collins scene in the ‘90s, there weren’t organized breaking crews or companies. Back then, everyone was just living to go dance with their friends and socialize.”

And that spirit of living to dance isn’t lost on those who participated in the event.

“Part of the Hip-Hop Dance Club, in our mission statement, talks about community,” Bishop said. “That’s ultimately what the club is about, and this event is about community. To see all these performers here is really special, and (so is) the power that dance has to bring all these people together.”

Reach Liv Sewell at entertainment@collegian.com.

By Tyler Weatherwax @twwax7272

The blues is a genre of music that has impacted and inspired people for decades. People have always had the blues as a feeling, but the genre as a whole is in a fragile state. What will people do when they have the blues but no way to express or hear it in music?

The Colorado Blues Society is a nonprofit organization that aims to preserve and empower the blues locally. Their emphasis is on young musicians who are helping preserve the future of the blues. CBS Vice President Mark Schleiger — who is soon to become the president — and Treasurer Joe Menke sat down to share the work they do and the importance of blues.

“We exist to foster blues music as an art form,” Schleiger said. “So it’s kind of part of our charter to continue, especially with the young people, getting them involved in blues and helping them understand the blues. ... One of our foundation principles is to keep the younger people coming into the blues.”

CBS helps with events that provide a place for young blues musicians to perform their music with others all over the state of Colorado.

“In Greeley, we do the same thing at the Greeley Blues Jam and then one in Colorado Springs,” Schleiger said. “Blues on the Mesa was in the Mesa, and then there’s one at Edgewater. ... So those are kind of areas where we do an outreach where we kind of work with the promoters and help get acts there.”

In the state of Colorado, there is the Grand County Blues Society and the Mile High Blues Society. All of the societies are affiliates of The Blues Foundation, which is located in Memphis, Tennessee. The blues societies work with The Blues Foundation to help local musicians make it to the national competition in Memphis.

where they will compete with blues musicians from all over the world.”

However, the Colorado Blues Society has seen struggles with their organization due to a lack of volunteers and a general loss of interest in the blues in youth.

“More than anything, I think, you get a sense of family. You’re all bound by a common interest. And we’re all there to promote the blues and protect and to make sure that it grows and stays strong.”

MARK SCHLEIGER COLORADO BLUES SOCIETY VICE PRESIDENT

“One of the main events that we do is an International Blues Challenge,” Menke said. “We hold a local competition. ... And what we’re trying to do is we’re trying to pick a band, solo/ duo act and typically the youth group that we’ll send to the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, typically to the end of January,

“The people who have a real heart to help keep it moving get tired,” Schleiger said. “It’s hard to get volunteers (who) want to be on the board (and) are actively contributing. You know, everybody wants to say, ‘Great, I’m part of the society,’ but they don’t want to do the work.”

The new generation of blues musicians is facing a bigger challenge in today’s world. The struggle of creating a career out of the blues is something younger musicians face, and it may cause them to try other forms of music as a result.

“It might have been easier for John Lee Hooker or somebody ... to make a living at it back in the day because they didn’t need a whole lot,” Schleiger said. “But now to actually have a career out of it, it takes a lot of money.”

Some may ask why there needs to be a blues society in communities. If people aren’t volunteering or helping, then who will have interest in the future? What does a blues society do for your community?

“More than anything, I think, you get a sense of family,” Schleiger said. “You’re all bound by a common interest. And we’re all there to promote the blues and protect and to make sure that it grows and stays strong.”

Reach Tyler Weatherwax at  entertainment@collegian.com.

Members of Colorado State University’s Hip-Hop Dance Club perform during Vision Dance Expo March 30. The event included multiple workshops and performances as well as the battles. PHOTO BY DARYN WHITMOYER THE COLLEGIAN

Colorado Blues Society Vice President Mark Schleiger and Treasurer Joe Menke stand in front of Maxline Brewing, one of their favorite places meet in Fort Collins April 2.

PHOTO BY TYLER WEATHERWAX THE COLLEGIAN

Campus is better when it’s warm outside

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.

As February and March have come and gone and snow storms have started to fade to the back of our minds — until we get news of a freak snowstorm in May — students look forward to their favorite activities

they have been unable to experience for months. People are wearing shorts and tank tops, students are lying on picnic blankets in The Oval to study or read, students are playing each other in Spikeball tournaments and volleyball games are happening by the Colorado State University Student Recreation Center.

Spring and summer are finally upon our doorstep, and students at CSU are basking in every moment. After so many chilly months full of wind, rain, snow and freezing temperatures, the

sun is making an appearance and lighting CSU’s campus up.

While some students may be fans of the cooler temperatures and accessorizing with their favorite hats and scarves, you cannot deny that CSU’s campus is so much better when it is warmer.

During the colder months, campus is barren. Students do not stay outside for long; they stay cooped up in Morgan Library or the Lory Student Center, enjoying a hot beverage at their coffee shop of choice. Even the trees are barren, lacking their usual foliage in the winter months. Walking through campus on your way to your next class is lonely when it is cold.

BY TRIN BONNER THE COLLEGIAN

However, once the temperatures start to climb, everything becomes so much better. Students can be found outside as they study or talk to their friends, the trees start to bloom again and you can clearly see that people start to smile more. Thanks to the warmer weather, CSU’s campus is becoming its lively self once again.

Motivation among students increases when it starts to get warmer as well. Campus is filled with a newfound energy because of the warmer weather, and students can find motivation in finishing their work so they can play a game of Spikeball with their friends on the Intramural Fields or find a group of friends to study with on The Oval.

“Without the warmer weather, campus would be sullen and barren once again. People would still be cooped up in the buildings as they try to keep warm and attempt to come up with reasons to get up when their bed is so warm and outside is so cold.”

Everyone’s mood improves by basking in the warmth of the sun after months of staying inside.

Sunshine is a simple remedy for a tedious day of classes. Thanks to warm weather making an appearance, there are more smiles walking through campus, more laughter as people take time between classes to catch up with friends and there is a general feeling of joy on campus — all thanks to warm weather making an appearance.

Without the warmer weather, campus would be sullen and barren once again. People would still be cooped up in the buildings as they try to keep warm and attempt to come up with reasons to get up when their bed is so warm and outside is so cold.

The arrival of warmer weather makes every experience on campus better. From walking to your next class to being able to spend time with friends outside, take advantage of the warm weather, and appreciate just how much it does for CSU’s campus.

Reach Hana Pavelko at  letters@collegian.com.

AI is more of a resource than something to be penalized for COLLEGIAN

By Dominique Lopez @caffeinateddee6

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.

“When it comes to utilizing AI as a resource for students, it is extremely beneficial to many people because it can help students with understanding complicated concepts in an easier way and with the use of editing their work if necessary.”

As a journalism major at Colorado State University, the closing and renovations being done in the Andrew G. Clark Building have really helped me to explore the campus a bit more; I mean, there is a need for me to walk farther than five steps to get from one classroom to another. Therefore, as I continue to walk around campus, I notice more posters for different people and programs.

While I was walking around the Gifford Building specifically, I saw a poster created for the design and merchandising department that was attributed to be created and designed with the use of ChatGPT. However, in all of my walking around campus, I have never seen a department specifically attribute their designs or work to artificial intelligence.

So as I stared at this poster, I began to wonder what departments actually condone the use of AI within the work completed by students. As a journalism student, many of my professors do not condone the use of AI and mention that I will even be penalized for it. However, the poster made me wonder if the policies are different in other departments.

The use of AI faces constant discourse as though it is something that will take over the entirety of the universe. It is like robots are going to take over the world. However, the reality is that AI — more often than not — is being used as a tool to support people and only learns as humans program information into it.

In the English department, it may be something people are split on. But is that the same with all departments, like the design and merchandising department? In relation to the CSU Student Conduct Code, there is an understanding that it is plagiarism and cheating if the work is not cited or attributed to AI. However, this is the only real outlined policy by CSU for AI use, so really, it is all connected to what the departments and, more specifically, the professors think is the best way for AI to be used.

When it comes to utilizing AI as a resource for students, it is extremely beneficial to many people because it can help students with understanding complicated concepts in an easier

way and with the use of editing their work if necessary. However, that isn’t always what everyone uses it for.

The assumption is that many students are using it just to support their own needs and writing. But there is a small number of students who actually use AI as though it is their own

and tarnish the reputation of it for all students.

The reality is that AI is actually an extremely beneficial tool that could be used, but very specific students challenge the uses of it. Therefore, they contribute to the way departments choose to enforce rules that apply to AI.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION

COLUMNIST

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY CADEN PROULX THE COLLEGIAN

Biden’s temporary port in Gaza is nowhere near enough

By Caden Proulx @csucollegian

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

Prominent news outlets such as The New York Times and CBS have hailed President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address as “raucous” and “defiant.” Particularly, the media

have been highlighting a specific announcement from the Biden administration to build a temporary emergency port off the Gaza coast to deliver humanitarian aid.

While it’s a great step forward that the United States is finally providing humanitarian aid to people living in the Gaza Strip, which has been facing the deaths of children due to starvation, it’s not enough.

The Biden administration has sent billions of dollars to Israel to

directly support the military while simultaneously giving almost no aid to Gaza and vetoing a ceasefire resolution repeatedly in the United Nations. The only reason Biden is deciding to do this now is not that he’s secretly a compassionate man with a big heart but that he is deeply unpopular right now with young voters, and he was just shown that in the primary election.

Biden won his 2020 campaign because of states like Michigan, where the uncommitted delegates movement first took off. In 2016, Hillary Clinton was unable to secure crucial swing states like Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Arizona, which Biden was able to pick up in 2020 by the skin of his teeth. He is realizing he needs to step back from such a supportive position with Israel before November, or he

will lose a lot of the youth vote — not to mention many other groups of voters — enough to swing an election.

You’re probably thinking, “Caden, he is a president in the middle of an election season; of course he is going to do what he needs to win,” but this falls short of accurately demonstrating Generation Z’s exhaustion with Biden. It’s not only the Israel-Hamas war; it’s also climate change, Biden’s age and a largely absent vice president who has not been helping with this disconnect.

This aid plan, quite frankly, is a half-assed solution to placate the Democratic Party and is not going to work on Gen Z. Furthermore, thousands of innocent civilians continue to be brutally murdered or starved to death.

Plain and simple, the U.S. and Biden are responsible for the current disaster he claims to have so much sympathy for.

The point is Biden needs to — and morally should — take a stronger stance against Israel if he wants to beat Donald Trump in November, and we need to stop praising him for this port and call it what it really is.

This isn’t a pro-Israel or proPalestine argument anymore. It hasn’t

been for a while; it’s an emergency that needs to be stopped with the same amount of condemnation the U.S. has been serving Russia and the same amount of aid it has been giving Ukraine.

When I speak to my friends or classmates, Biden is largely described as evil, and why should he not be?

Repeatedly and single-handedly, the United States has stopped peace from happening for both Israelis and Palestinians, whether it’s through our military shipments to Israel or vetoing ceasefire resolutions and downplaying the genocide on the world stage.

So no, Mr. President, I am not super thrilled that when given numerous chances to help the people of Gaza, you instead decided to cash in politically with a temporary solution you know damn well won’t end the suffering anytime soon. All that Biden’s State of the Union gave us was confirmation that Biden will continue to do whatever the fuck he wants because we, once again, have the two shittiest options for president on planet Earth.

Reach Caden Proulx at letters @collegian.com.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY CADEN PROULX THE COLLEGIAN

Sudoku

WEEKLY HOROSCOPE

By Abby Flores

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (04/04/24)

ARIES (MARCH 21 - APRIL 19)

Tarot card: The Magician

With the new moon in your sign April 8, you may feel pulled to transform your ideas into reality. Aries embodies action, empowering you with the willpower to be both productive and creative this week.

TAURUS (APRIL 20 - MAY 20)

Tarot card: Temperance

Challenges present opportunities for growth.

If you’ve encountered any difficulties in recent weeks, expect for the universe to offer you a period of renewal in the next coming days. Patience will be essential, and you’ll soon find your worries fading away.

GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUNE 20)

Tarot card: The Moon

Even in the cloak of darkness, your path will be illuminated. Remember this, Gemini, as you navigate recent life shifts. Though it may seem dim, focus on the positives in your life right

Last edition’s sudoku solution

Last edition’s crossword solution

now. Train your mindset, and things will surely get better.

CANCER (JUNE 21 - JULY 22)

Tarot card: Five of Shells

If you’ve been thinking about making big changes in your life, this week is the week to do so. Aries energy will get you out of bed, and you’ll find yourself being heavily productive because of it. Be proud of yourself, Cancer.

LEO (JULY 23 - AUG. 22)

Tarot card: Ten of Crystals

You are getting blessings in your career right now, Leo. Say yes to the opportunities coming toward you. The universe rewards authenticity and passion, so let your heart shine through in everything you do.

VIRGO (AUG. 23 - SEPT. 22)

Tarot card: Four of Shells

This week, you’ve been delving deep into your creative pursuits, Virgo, and you’re eager to push yourself to new heights. However, remember to not get too lost in your flow, as your friends and family have been eager to spend time with you. Strike a balance between your passions, and nurture your relationships for a fulfilling week ahead.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23 - OCT. 22)

Tarot card: Six of Acorns

You hold the power to your destiny, Libra. If you are going through a spiritual awakening, it’s for a reason. The universe is a mystery, and the more you attune yourself to the signs around you, the greater sense of peace you’ll find.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23 - NOV. 21)

Tarot card: Page of Crystals

You’ve been working hard and

have created new goals for yourself to accomplish. Giving yourself love is important, and it’s going to get easier to do that every day. Trust and believe, Scorpio.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22 - DEC. 21)

Tarot card: Queen of Crystals

It’s crucial to prioritize your well-being and stability at this time, Sagittarius. You’ve likely made the decision to let go of certain habits or addictions that were holding you back. Stay committed to your path, and surround yourself with people who rejuvenate your soul.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 - JAN. 19)

Tarot card: The Hanged Man

Though you’re known for offering honest advice, Capricorn, it’s time to prioritize self-care. Don’t forget your own needs while helping others. You’ve got this, and success awaits.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 - FEB. 18)

Tarot card: The Star

You must trust that all is possible and all can be rejuvenated, Aquarius. If you’ve been having difficulties in your relationships, take a step back, and analyze them from an observer’s standpoint. Sometimes a fresh perspective can illuminate new solutions.

PISCES (FEB. 19 - MARCH 20)

Tarot card: King of Acorns

You are a free spirit, Pisces, and a fire has been burning within you to do spontaneous things. You will succeed and achieve the things you’ve always wanted. Understand that your dreams are within reach.

OVERHEARD AROUND CAMPUS

“I can’t believe you’re shaking ass on Good Friday.”

“This would be so much simpler if one of us took some medication and the other one just shut up.”

“Fortune has been a bitch up until now.”

“Being homophobic and playing women’s sports is like being afraid of clowns and going to the circus.”

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!

NOPE DOPE

Falling down the stairs

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Job rejection

The class you want to register for being full

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Rice-A-Roni

Crochet projects

Caitlin Clark

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‘N Cheddar