Will they make good CSU students go bad? Cobra Starship coming to campus | Page 1B
Page 1B
Acting out
CSU performer gets his big break playing football
THE RO CKY MOUNTAIN
Fort Collins, Colorado
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
COLLEGIAN
Volume 121 | No. 12
www.collegian.com
THE STUDENT VOICE OF COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1891
President Obama to visit CSU campus By Matt Miller The Rocky Mountain Collegian Reports say President Barack Obama is visiting Colorado State University Tuesday. Although he could not confirm 100 percent, John Kefalas, D-Fort Collins, said it was his understanding that Obama would be coming next week. “I think he would choose Colorado and Larimer County because this area is ground zero for his election,” Kefalas said. “I think it’s critical that CSU stu-
dents support him as well.” Democratic sources close to the Denver Post confirmed that the president is to have a rally on campus sometime after 7 p.m. on Aug. 28. According to CSU political science professor John Straayer, a visit from Obama to Colorado is a logical choice since it is a swing state in the coming election, and Larimer County in particular is an important area to visit. “If you’re going to come to Colorado why not come to Larimer County?” Straayer said. “It’s one of a handful of
COMPLETED CONSTRUCTION
pivotal counties. And while you’re here why not come to the intellectual center of the county.” Straayer said that talking points for a visit from Obama would likely focus on the importance of higher education, with CSU being a logical venue. “One of the things that’s occurred of course in recent years is there’s been a shrinkage in public support of higher education, but at the same time everyone agrees that higher education is critical to the future of the country,” he said. Obama spoke at CSU in 2008 as a
presidential candidate, and according to Straayer, the campus gave him an “extraordinary reception.” The College Republicans at CSU were unable to be reached for comment. Content Managing Editor Matt Miller can be reached at news@collegian.com.
For more | Page 6 Find out what else the CSU campus has in stored for it this election season.
NEARLY COMPLETE
CONTINUING PROJECTS
the
Strip club
President Obama is visiting our campus Tuesday, and that’s pretty cool, but we’re in danger of forgetting an important fact: some real-deal politicians are from our great state. So let’s take a minute to remember some notable politicians who call(ed) “the higher state” their home.
Politicians born in Colorado Gerald Ford
Though born in Nebraska, Ford owned a vacation home in Beaver Creek for nearly a quarter century until his death in 2006. The current owner attempted to sell the property in 2011 for $10 million, but was never sold.
Construction State University Reviewing the 19 building projects around campus By Kate Simmons The Rocky Mountain Collegian CSU students return each semester to a campus that continues to be renovated, revitalized and added on to. “CSU is always looking at ways to improve and upgrade the educational experience for students,” said Cass Beitler, project manager and assistant director, in an email to the Collegian. The Morgan Library and Parmelee Hall renovations and additions were completed over the summer. The Lory Student Center Theater and Harthshorn parking lot were two other construction projects completed before the fall term began. Work on Moby Arena continues and construction planners are aware of the challenges presented while working on a building that is still fully functioning. “It was a very challenging project because we need to continue construction and continue events in the same space,” said Mike Rush, university architect and building official. “Revitalization to Moby Arena is going to have a great visual impact and relieve a lot of functional challenges in the building. It was a very challenging project so there’s something to be said for getting through that.” Work on the north concourse is expected to be completed by the volleyball team’s home opener
Friday while the south side should be done by the start of the conference basketball season. Durrell’s expansion project started August 20, 2012 and will be completed in May of 2013. The building will have a “greatly improved dining facility with six dining venues on the second floor and improved student gathering space for study, relaxation, activities and meetings at Durrell lower level with improved access to the building,” Beitler said. A 600-bed housing facility will also be extended in the Durrell Center. “The new and revitalized facilities readily accommodate student enrollment growth,” Shelly Carrol said. “A number of projects revitalize existing buildings. Many of the subject buildings were originally constructed in the 1960’s.” Rush echoed Carrol’s concerns. “The majority of buildings on campus were developed during the 60s and many of them need attention electrically, mechanically and aesthetically,” he said. Additions to the Braiden and Parmelee residence halls were done by adding a fourth floor to an already existing building, Rush said. By adapting an existing building and improving it by adding energy efficiency to the exterior wall brings the 40 to 60 year old dormitories up to date. It is also See construction on Page 6A
The full list Completed construction projects:
Parmelee Hall, addition and renovation Morgan Library, addition and renovation Lory Student Center Theater, revitalization Corbett Hall, exterior revitalization and roof replacement Braiden Hall, lounge Moby Arena, additions on the north side and concourse renovation Harthshorn parking lot, replacement Alder and Spruce Hall, renovations
John Kerry
Sen. Kerry was born Dec. 11, 1943 at Fitzsimons Army Hospital in Aurora, Colo. Soon after, though, he and his family abandoned the state and moved back to their original home of Massachusetts. Kerry then lost the state to George W. Bush in the 2004 election.
Scott Walker
Nearly complete:
Edwards Hall, expansion SRC pool, exterior wall
Continuing construction projects:
Engineering II, construction through June 2013 Moby Arena, additions and renovations, construction through May 2013 Equine Reproduction Lab, Foothills campus construction through March 2013 Addition to the Behavioral Sciences Building, construction starts in November and will last through September 2013 Durrell Dining Center, revitalization, construction starts in August and will last through May 2013 Lory Apartment, deconstruction to accommodate Academic Village North, August 2012 through October 2012 Academic Village North, January 2013 through May 2014 Lory Student Center, additions and revitalizations, construction starts December 2012 and last through August 2013 Mason Street Corridor, construction starts in October 2012 and will last through spring/summer 2013
Born in Colorado Springs, the recall-surviving Walker recently gained national renown for his “Wisconsin budget repair bill,” which substantially altered the collective bargaining process for the majority of public employees in Wisconsin.
Karl Rove
Fort Collins jobs in a troubled economy Student jobs in Fort Collins not necessarily impacted by low unemployment rate By Elisabeth Willner The Rocky Mountain Collegian With a lower unemployment rate than many cities in the nation, Fort Collins might seem like an ideal place for college graduates to look for a job. But the low rate doesn’t necessarily mean that students can find local jobs after graduation, according to CSU economics professor Martin Shields. “The unemployment rate is lower for people with an education, but the job search
is often longer for people with a college degree,” Shields said. In May, research conducted by Shields and sponsored by the Fort Collins Chamber of Commerce showed that during the course of the recession, the Larimer County unemployment rate has been lower on average than elsewhere. Currently, the national rate is about 8 percent, while Fort Collins is just above 6 percent. CSU students have indirectly contributed to the economic situation, since their presence in Fort Collins keeps
demand for goods and services high. They also support the university, which is a stable employer for many local community members, Shields said. “Unemployment rates are significantly lower in places with universities than elsewhere,” he said. CSU is the top employer in Larimer County, according to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE). Just how much the overall employment statistics in Larimer County apply to job pros-
pects for students is less clear. Shields said that competition in the current economy is intense, and that while students work for less money and bring fresh ideas, experience sometimes matters. “Right now, it’s a very competitive job market and somehow you have to distinguish yourself,” he said. Shields’ research does not break down the overall employment rate of students as compared to other workers, See Jobs on Page 7A
Resources Unemployment statistics
National average: 8.3 percent National average for workers 20 years and older: 7.7 percent Fort Collins average: 6.7 percent Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, June 2012
Job resources on campus
The Career Center Location: Lory Student Center Phone: (970) 491-5707 Website: www.career.colostate. edu Helps with resume building, interview skills and career counseling.
Career Ram Job Listings www.career.colostate.edu
This notable Republican political consultant and strategist was born in Denver and raised in Sparks, Nev. He was senior advisor and deputy chief of staff under George W. Bush, who in his 2004 victory speech referred to Rove as “The Architect” of his successful campaign—thanks Karl. The Strip Club is written by the Collegian staff and designed by Design Editor Kris Lawan