You are on page 1of 20

A Publication by the Students of the FRCC-Larimer Campus

V OLUME 10, I SSUE 1 A UGUST — N OVEMBER 2009

H IT TING A N EW “P EAK ”
BY J ENNIFER H ILGENDORF ,
R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER

―It‘s awesome, I love it,‖ said student Ashley Owen, 20,


about the newly renovated Longs Peak Student Center. Owen
crinkled her nose in response to what she thought of the old
student center. ―It is more welcoming now,‖ she said. Owen
spends a couple of hours between classes on Mondays and
Wednesdays at the student center, which underwent a significant
revamp over the summer break.
First built in 1998, the Longs Peak Student Center had
remained mostly the same since its completion, with its aqua-
marine, purple and gray décor. This is exactly what led to director
Left to right: Mohammed Alghadeer, Mohammad Alnassar,
of Student Life Erin Fink-Smith‘s cause to remodel the student
Mohamed Own, and an unidentified student stand by one of the
hub. ―It was time for a facelift. The old student center felt cold many tables displaying information about Arabic culture at the
and stark,‖ said Fink-Smith. Those ―cold‖ colors have been re- Arabic Awareness Dinner held on campus on Friday, Sept. 25.
placed with warm, earthy tones.
Photo by James Neuhalfen
Talk began in 2005, after an upgrade to the now Study
and Art Lounge. Fink-Smith met with the Student Center
Advisory Board, consisting of students, faculty and staff. She G OING G REEN AT FRCC
spoke with the 2007-2008 Student Government Association about
funding the $750,000 project with student fees. Both the 2007- BY E RIN R EAD , R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER
2008 and 2008-2009 student bodies were assessed by the
advisory board. They surveyed the students throughout the school
A term often heard is ―sustainable living,‖ but do you
year, asking them what they would like to see in a new student
truly understand what it means? The Rocky Mountain Sustain-
center. After final approval from Interim President Michael
able Living Fair was held on Sept. 19 and 20 in Fort Collins.
Kupcho, Vice President Dr. James C. Butzek, and dean of
Sustainable living is as simple as recycling every week, or as
Student Services Kris Binard, construction began on Memorial
complex as converting your whole home to run off of solar
Day.
energy. There were many booths set up across the open farming
―FRCC is in need of more space. Enrollment is
field located on Lemay Avenue and Vine Drive that represented
currently up by 20 percent,‖ said Fink-Smith. An increase in
various forms of sustainable living. This was a community event,
students means not only an increase in people, but is also a boost
and all the booths were run by volunteers and employees of the
in student fees, allowing for such a project to be undertaken.
various businesses, local farms and schools represented at the
While the project didn‘t involve any expansion, it did,
fair, including FRCC. The Front Range booth was powered by
however, ―make better use of the space we did have,‖ according
faculty and staff volunteers who were busy talking about the
to Facilities director and design team member Scott McKelvey.
changes to come, starting with the Sustainable Living Committee.
With better organization and relocation of storage space, the
The woman responsible for these volunteers was Patricia
project allowed for an additional office that was not there before.
Spears-Taff, who is the recruitment specialist at Front Range.
(continued on page 4)
(continued on page 5)
2

M EET OUR E DITORIAL T EAM

Faculty Advisor &


Managing Editor………...… Kate Tarasenko

Editorial Team…….…...………..Jeff Collins


………………………………….Ally Hayduk
…………………………..Jennifer Hilgendorf
………………………….Alexander LaBracke
…………………………….Roger Maldonado
……………………………………..Erin Read

Photo Editor.……………...James Neuhalfen

Photo Team………………….Linda Baldwin


……………………………..James Neuhalfen

Layout…….. ..….……...……Kate Tarasenko


Left to right: Erin Read, Roger Maldonado, Jennifer Hilgendorf, Alexander LaBracke
and Ally Hayduk. Not pictured: Jeff Collins Publications Board….... .…….Karl Dukstein
………………………………..….Blair Oliver
………………………………...Rachel Rambo
Photo by James Neuhalfen ……………………………Erin Fink-Smith
……………………………….Kate Tarasenko

MISSION STATEMENT:
The Rangeview provides a voice for FRCC’s Larimer campus. We strive to give FREELANCE SUBMISSIONS
our readers accurate and balanced coverage on a variety of news and events in an POLICY:
effort to keep our campus well-informed about its college community. We We welcome feedback, letters to the
approach our responsibilities with the goal of maintaining the highest journalistic editor, original articles and op-ed
standards to the best of our abilities. pieces (as well as story ideas and
tips) from all members of the FRCC
Larimer Campus community.
M EET OUR P HOTO T EAM Please do not exceed 600 words.
The Rangeview also accepts photos
and artwork in jpg format.
All submissions must be emailed
directly from your FRCC account as
a Word.doc or jpg attachment, and
must be accompanied by full name
and local phone number, to:
Rangeview@FrontRange.edu
All submissions are subject to final
approval by the Editorial Team and
Publications Board, and may be edited
for length, clarity, and potentially libel-
ous content.

Please direct your


calendar event inquiries to
Erin.Smith@FrontRange.edu.

ALL CONTENT © 2009 RANGEVIEW


Linda Baldwin and James Neuhalfen Photo by Renee Hibbitt
3

F REE R ANGE V IEWS


S TUDENT E DITORIAL F ROM THE I NDIANA D AILY S TUDENT (IDS NEWS . COM )

I T' S ABOUT TIME .

ALSO WE SAY T HE S TUDENT A ID AND F ISCAL R ESPONSIBILITY A CT


IN THIS ISSUE: IS LONG OVERDUE .

Sept. 20, 2009 — The House of Representatives passed legislation on Sept. 17 that would
Scholars’ Square
take private lenders out of the student loan industry altogether and save U.S. taxpayers close to
Beverly Byer......…….…...6 $90 billion during 10 years, money which would then be used to increase Pell grant allocations
Mary Swanson......……….7 and pay for community college reforms.
The bill now moves to the Senate, where its legislative success is less certain than it was in
the House.
How We Serve Currently, when a student takes out a loan from the federal government, they have to go not
Sheryl Harrell……..….…..8 to the federal government (that would make sense!), but to private lending institutions.
These institutions are given the money to lend to the student plus substantial subsidies to
Campus Wellness encourage them to participate in the program and a federal guarantee on the loan – which makes
providing these risk free-loans an absolute jackpot for banks and other lending institutions that
Blood Drive………..…….9 do nothing to deserve it.
Brain Lab………..….…..10 What this bill proposes, however, is to take the banks out of the equation altogether.
Instead of having the federal government give money to lending institutions, plus extra
money on top of that for these banks to then lend to students, this legislation proposes the
Front Range Faces
revolutionary idea of having the government provide the loans directly, cutting out the
Samuel Owen..……..…...11 unnecessary middleman and all of the extra payouts that go along with it.
James Wood……..….…..12 One would think that the bill‘s safe passage through Congress would be a no-brainer, given
the enormous inefficiencies inherent in the current student loan system, but, unfortunately it
seems the health care debate that has infused Congress recently is seeping into and poisoning the
Club Hub rhetoric surrounding this completely unrelated bill.
Brandon Devlin: SfS…...13 Cries of ―government takeover‖ have crept in from the health care debacle, but these should
be ignored.
After all, the government already owns most of the debt that would be taken out of the
Medium Cool hands of these banks – many of whom have received bailouts – so, calling this a government
Music Recitals……….….15 takeover is quite disingenuous.
This bill decreases government bureaucracy, increases efficiency, wastes fewer taxpayer
Jason Downing/SLF….....16
dollars, and stops payouts to financial institutions for doing absolutely nothing but shifting their
Laura Resau…………….17 losses onto taxpayers.
What‘s not to love? Copyright © 2009 Indiana Daily Student
Be Our Guest
Susan Marshall..…….…..18 A&L Chair Blair Oliver gets his blood
screened at FRCC’s recent Health
Student Life ……….20 Fair. Photo by James Neuhalfen

SPRING 2010: The Rangeview


Register for JOU-106, is funded by Student Life
using student fees, and by the
the Fundamentals of
Department of Arts & Letters.
Reporting, Reporting for The Rangeview
and write for is provided by the
The Rangeview! journalism students of JOU-106,
3 transfer the Fundamentals of Reporting.
credit hours! Photography is provided by
students of FRCC-LC.
4

(LPSC continued from page 1)

The new study bar, stretching


the length of the north window, is
another feature that capitalizes on the
use of the space. ―It provides seating
for 30 that wasn‘t there before,‖ said
Fink-Smith. The replacement of the
longer tables with smaller tables with
seating for four also increases the util-
ity of the space. ―There is exactly the
same number of chairs, but more
people are able to use them now,‖ said
Fink-Smith.
In addition to more places to
rest your rump, the new student center
boasts three new computers at the
southeast entrance, electrical plug-ins The Longs Peak Student Center underwent a $750,000 renovation over the summer, paid for
for laptops and other devices, a stone- using student fees. Green features were incorporated into its re-design and construction.
face fireplace, and acoustical panels Photo by Linda Baldwin
along the ceilings. Whiteboards were
new Wellness Zone just north of the Information Desk. ―It will
replaced with small LCD screens outside of each of the
report information about health and wellness, including H1N1
conference rooms that display information about the events
and stress management, because the wellness of our students is
scheduled for each of the conference rooms.
really important to us,‖ said Fink-Smith.
The Fitness Center received an upgrade, as well. The
The design team wanted this project to be ecological.
carpeting was replaced with durable Mondo™ flooring.
For instance, the carpet that was removed was sent back to the
―Carpet really isn‘t the best surface for the sweaty environ-
manufacturer to be recycled. Additional green initiatives include
ment of the Fitness Center,‖ said Fink-Smith. There is also a
the use of energy-efficient lighting and the incorporation of
durable materials, like terrazzo flooring throughout the main
space of the hall. McKelvey pointed out that ―the bathroom
stalls are made of recycled milk cartons.‖ And the chairs were
car seatbelts in their previous lives.
Fink-Smith is particularly pleased with the new multi-
purpose room. Though its main advantage is giving breast-
feeding mothers a private space to pump, it can serve more
purposes than just that one. ―We are a pioneer of this idea,‖ she
said. The room can be reserved on a first-come, first-served
basis for 30 minutes at a time. The room has not yet reached its
completion, but Fink-Smith hopes to have it ready for use by
late October.
―It was a lofty goal,‖ said McKelvey of the 12-week
timeline, ―and it‘s not actually complete.‖ Final touches need to
be made throughout the student center. The finished student
center will be unveiled at the grand re-opening, scheduled for
Piano instructor Jeannine Green (left) offers some one-on-one
tips to student Cynthia Wilson in her Group Piano class. Oct. 15. There will be food served throughout the day, with a
ceremony set to start at 4:30 p.m.
Read our story on FRCC’s upcoming music recitals on page 15. As for Owen, ―The student center has everything the
Photo by James Neuhalfen students should need.‖ ®
5

(SLF continued from page 1) sustainable living, or what it really means. Castaneda is worried
about the future of this planet. ―It won‘t be here forever, and if
A recruitment specialist is primarily responsible for taking care you want something to last, like anything else, you need to treat it
of the human resources issues related to the college. The 27- right,‖ he said. Castaneda was not aware of the Rocky Mountain
year-old Spears-Taff was raised in Alabama, but moved to Colo- Sustainable Living Fair but he said he plans to ―mark it on my
rado to work on an internship as an undergrad. After her intern- calendar for next year.‖ He plans to learn a little more about
ship, she continued to pursue her academic career in Alabama, sustainable living on his own time, and find out how he can
but moved back to Colorado permanently in August 2008. She practice it beyond recycling.
finds sustainable living ―truly is important… There are so many If you would like to learn more about how to practice
resources for affordable green living in this community; it‘s so sustainable living, or become active in the Fort Collins sustain-
easy to do.‖ able movement, visit the Rocky Mountain Sustainable Living
And if you wish to practice sustainable living, Fort Fair‘s Web site at www.sustainablelivingassociation.org.
Collins has many resources you can use. Whether you utilize the You can also join the Sustainable Living Committee at
bus to get to school or work every day, or just do something FRCC. The first meeting for the committee was held on Friday,
Oct. 2. The meeting‘s agenda included what
sustainable living is, and how to incorporate it at
the Front Range campus.
The presidents of the Sustainable Living
Committee are Jamie Hahn, who is the program
director for the Architectural Engineering Pro-
gram and the Construction Technology Program,
and Leslie Kulbeck, who is the administrative
assistant for the Integrated Technology Depart-
ment. For more information on the committee,
contact Kulbeck at
leslie.kulbeck@frontrange.edu. ®
An unidentified cyclist gets his grub on at
FRCC’s booth at the Sustainable Living Fair.
Read more about it on page 14.
Photo by James Neuhalfen

once a year, like volunteer for one of the green programs pre-
(BLOOD DRIVE continued from page 9)
sented at the fair, such actions can be considered sustainable.
facilities. The next blood drive is at CSU on Wednesday, Oct.
―There is so much progressive thinking in Fort Collins.
14, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The effects on the planet are visible. The facts are obvious,‖ said
Bolchen commented, ―We need to get rid of the
Spears-Taff. She was satisfied with the turnout of the fair this
notion that someone else will [give] instead. There are a lot of
year. ―It was only my second fair, but it was my favorite,‖ she
fallacies to donating blood, like, you might catch something,
said, adding that, to live sustainably, all you have to do is ―be
or, ‗I got the flu shot so I can‘t give,‘ or, ‗I recently had a heart
aware of how you can contribute. Do a little bit at a time.‖
attack.‘ Everything is sterile and latex-free,‖ Bolchen said.
She continued, ―The community at large knows Front
If you know of a business or organization that would
Range has green programs.‖ But not all students at Front Range
like to host a blood drive, contact the Garth Englund Blood
Community College seem to know what green living is, or how
Center. Patients need volunteer donors, and so does the Garth
to practice it.
Englund Blood Center. If anybody would like to donate blood
Jim Castaneda, who is studying social sciences at Front
or plasma, they may also go directly to the Garth Englund
Range, doesn‘t really know what it means to be sustainable.
Blood Donor Center located at 1025 Pennock Pl., Suite 104, in
Castaneda, who is 43 and originally from Washington state and
Fort Collins, or call 495-8965. If Loveland is more convenient,
the Southern California area, does recycle. He said, jokingly, ―I
donors may go to Medical Center of the Rockies located at
own a lawn, and it puts carbon dioxide in the air.‖ But, beyond
2500 Rocky Mountain Ave., or call 624-1510. ®
that, he said that he does not really know how to practice
6

S CHOLARS ’ S QUARE

said the ―most meaningful words‖ to Byer that have helped


I T K INDLY S TOPPED FOR M E ... her shape her future. She still remembers the words: ―If you
have the passion, be persistent, and your place will find you.‖
BY R OGER M ALDONADO , She said that they still impact her to this day.
R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER Every fall semester, Byer goes into the Psychology
of Death and Dying course with the same mentality. She says,
Death is everywhere. It is all over the media, in movies ―The greatest accomplishment that I could achieve at the end
and music. It is in the news everyday. It is even at Front of the semester is to have enriched the lives of my students
Range… but not in the way that you may think. Every fall somehow, for whatever different reasons they may be, beyond
semester, there is one psychology course that is different from just credits or grades.‖ She understands that some people
the rest. It is the Psychology of Death and Dying course. It is have other motives, or just may not like the class, but her aim
offered only once a year, and it always fills up. There is also remains the same because of the great number of students who
only one faculty member who teaches it. Her name is Beverly have taken the class.
Byer, and when in the Psychology Department in Challenger ―The course isn‘t only for the students,‖ states Byer.
Point, she can sometimes be found behind the door with all of ―I take the class every semester with my students.‖ She does
the sticky notes attached to it. every assignment, every ―reflection,‖ and even takes tests
Before the fall semester of 2002, the Psychology of with her class, although, she says, ―You never get to see
Death and Dying was going to be taken out of the Front Range them.‖
course catalogue because there was no one to teach it. Byer She puts a lot of emphasis on making sure every
took the initiative and volunteered to teach the class. ―It started student feels comfortable inside and outside of her classroom.
off as just an important class that had to be taught, but it became By keeping her opinions a secret, students can focus on speak-
so much more than that,‖ Byer says. ing their minds and telling their own stories without having to
Originally from Orange County, California, Byer feel the instructor‘s opinion forced on them. ―I share my
started her college education at California State University at stories all the time, but you don‘t see any political posters on
Long Beach. She moved to Colorado and later went on to my wall,‖ she jokes.
receive her Bachelor of Science in psychology at Colorado State This course isn‘t the only way Byer is involved in
University, and her Master of Arts in school psychology at the death and dying. The main reason that the course is taught
University of Colorado at Boulder. She is the Developmental only once a year is because, during fall, it coincides with the
Psychology lead at FRCC and has been teaching here for 10 Mexican holiday known as El Dia de Los Muertos, or Day of
years. While at Cal State, Byer met the professor whom she the Dead. Each year, Byer and Jimena Peña, who is a mem-
says was the most influential person in her life. Elaine Hagland, ber of the Bilingual and Multicultural Adult Services, host a
a developmental psychology professor at Cal State, special event in the Harmony Library. This public event is a
Beverly Byer (at right) listens to a student’s response in her collaboration between the Death and Dying class and the
Psychology of Death and Dying class. community. On this day, students, along with Byer, create
Photo by James Neuhalfen memorials to honor people they know who have died. It‘s an
event occurring on Oct. 29, from 1 to 4 p.m., and Oct. 30,
from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Longs Peak Student Center, and
she encourages any Front Range student to be a part of it.
Byer chooses to teach only one class of Death and
Dying one semester of the year. She says, ―It‘s so much more
than a class….[T]he bonding and growth that I experience
with the class [is what] gives me the real passion for the
course.‖ She says, ―I love that my job combines two things
that I strongly believe in: teaching psychology, and being
able to help and impact people.‖ ®
7

S CHOLARS ’ S QUARE

it would be. ―The staff is friendly and very supportive,‖


claimed Swanson.
T HE F UTURE OF H ISTORY
The idea of actually being able to talk to the instruc-
BY A LLY H AYDUK , R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER tor after or during class is something Swanson really likes
about the smaller campus atmosphere. After being at CSU for
five years, Swanson realized how much she likes a smaller
Mary Swanson knew that after receiving her under- school. She also appreciates that it has newer facilities for
graduate degree and master‘s degree at Colorado State students and staff. ―It is more personal, with a smaller staff-to-
University, there was no question that she loved Fort Collins student ratio, giving it more of a one-on-one experience,‖
and wanted to pursue a career in the area. Teaching history in stated Swanson.
the Fort Collins area is an ideal job for Swanson, a U.S. While Swanson is not a full-time instructor at Front
History instructor at Front Range Community College. Range and isn‘t employed elsewhere, she has plenty of other
―History is my passion,‖ she acknowledged. goals and activities that keep her occupied. She is now working
A newlywed as of June, Swanson was born in to get her Ph.D., which takes up a large amount of her time.
Minneapolis, Minn., 23 years ago and raised in the She hopes to have that completed as soon as possible, which
Minneapolis area. When she was 14, her family moved out could be anywhere between five and seven years. However,
West to Colorado. She attended Liberty High School in Swanson insists that she and her husband probably work too
Colorado Springs where she took AP history courses and much, but when they get a break, they enjoy ―different… inter-
found that she was very interested in the subject. Excelling in esting‖ food and relaxing dinners. She also enjoys running,
school was never an issue for Swanson, and she graduated playing ―Wii Guitar Hero,‖ reading, and her new-found interest
from Liberty in 2004. She then went to CSU and found out in yoga. ―I am pretty impressed; I can almost touch my toes!‖
that she was able to complete her undergraduate degree in
beamed Swanson. ®
three years, as opposed to the average student‘s four. This is
what she considers to be one of her greatest academic
achievements. After graduating, she went straight into get-
ting her master‘s degree two years later in history.
This is Swanson‘s first year as an instructor at Front
Range. With it comes challenges, as she is the first to admit,
but it also comes with great rewards. As a U.S. History I and
II instructor, she teaches three sections of these courses, and
with preparation time of roughly four hours for each lecture,
they become very time-consuming. While Swanson only
teaches U.S. History, she is qualified to teach other areas of
history, such as Western civilization, African history, and
world history. However, Front Range didn‘t need instructors
for those courses this year. The areas of history she is most
interested in are the ones that she finds herself knowing the
most about, such as environmental studies, which she is
continuously researching, and European women‘s history.
When applying for teaching jobs after getting her
master‘s degree, Swanson knew the first place she wanted to
go and teach was Front Range. After filling out a very
involved application and waiting a few months for it to be
U.S. History instructor Mary Swanson leads a discussion
reviewed, she finally found out she had gotten the job.
during class.
Teaching at Front Range has been everything she had hoped
Photo by Linda Baldwin
8

H OW W E S ERVE

For the program‘s future, Harrell is optimistic. She


says, ―I always see [the program] expanding.‖ Harrell says, ―I
S INGLE , B UT N OT A LONE
would love to see the permanence of the Personal Excellence
BY J ENNIFER H ILGENDORF , Project.‖ Harrell wrote the grant that funded this leadership
R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER development program a few years ago. This project awarded
scholarships to those who exhibited leadership skills after
Sheryl Harrell isn‘t the most obvious choice to direct devoting 40 hours to community service. Today, the funds for
the Single-Parent Program here at Front Range Community the Single-Parent Program focus on students who will leave
College. She is not a single parent. In fact, she isn‘t a parent at FRCC and enter directly into the workforce, such as those
all. Harrell says, ―I am motivated by the values of sharing and seeking technical degrees and certificates. She would like to
supporting others, and giving back because of what I have been see it include students who will transfer to pursue degrees of
given.‖ higher education at other institutions.
Harrell, 60, relates to the single-parent students ―I would also like the internship I supervise to
because she went back to pursue her degree as an adult learner. become a paid position,‖ she says. Like
At the age of 35, she enrolled in Ever- so many other barriers in education, all of
green State College in Olympia, Wash., this is limited due to funding.
where she received her Bachelor of Arts Harrell says she was inspired to
degree. She went on to earn a Master of pursue this field of service while under
Applied Behavioral Science from City the leadership of her now-friend,
University Leadership Institute of Seattle Christine Wagner, while working at
in 1990. Her background as an academic Evergreen State College. ―Christine was a
advisor and manager of the First-Year single-parent with a presence and a heart
Experience Program at Evergreen State for giving,‖ remarks Harrell.
College, and her work with non-profit Harrell is also inspired by the
organizations in the state of Washington, students she works with. She says, ―The
led her to her current position as the single-parent population are truly my
director of the Single-Parent Program heroes. They work so hard to change their
here at FRCC, Larimer campus, which life conditions for themselves and their
she has held since May 2002. children.‖ She recounts the story of one
As the director of the program, such student, a mother of three boys, one
she holds multiple roles. She is an of whom was mentally disabled. She
academic, career, personal, and family wanted more for herself and her boys. She
counselor to her students. Harrell noted Director of the Single-Parent Program, graduated from FRCC with a 4.0 GPA,
that her degree is in the discipline of life Sheryl Harrell transferred to CSU, and received a
coaching, not to be confused with a Photo by Linda Baldwin master‘s degree in speech pathology, and
therapist. She is in charge of managing now teaches at the University of Arkansas. She accomplished
the budget of the program, and distribution of childcare funds, all of this in the seven years Harrell has worked at FRCC,
as well as coordinating educational and social events for the while coping with a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.
participants of the program. She also supervises an intern from Harrell‘s message to other single parents hoping to
CSU, in addition to other basic administrative tasks. To boot, change their circumstances is one of encouragement and hope.
Harrell makes sure that she is constantly connected with the Harrell says, ―I understand the single-parents‘ resistance to
community and the resources it offers to her students, such as ask for help. It can often be seen as a sign of weakness. I see it
the Zonta Scholarship Raffle Drawing to benefit participants of as a sign of courage.‖ Harrell would like single parents to
the Single-Parent Program. know that, ―There are people here who will walk with you,
not for you, to help you build a better future for yourself.‖
Just ask. ®
9

C AMPUS W ELLNESS

The process of donating blood is easy, according to


T HERE W ILL B E B LOOD the Garth Englund brochure. First, donors must complete a
form at Front Range. Next, donors enter the mobile bus
BY J EFF C OLLINS , R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER where they are escorted to an interview booth. After a short
interview, donors may sit in the donation chair for five to 15
minutes while their blood is drawn. After the donation,
The Garth Englund Blood Center rolled into the Front refreshments will be offered—usually juice and cookies.
Range Community College parking lot on Sept. 29. The bus, After that, donors have the satisfaction of knowing they may
provided by Poudre Valley Health Systems, is about 37 feet in have saved a life.
length. It may look like an average RV, but this one saves lives. There are some restrictions on who can donate
The Garth Englund Blood Center was named after a pathologist blood. People on antibiotics for an infection cannot give
who was honored by being named as one of its founders in until it is clear for at least 72 hours. People with piercings
1997, shortly after his death. He saw a need for a blood center and tattoos have restrictions. People who travel to the ruins
for Larimer County. The blood donated to the center stays in in Cancun, Mexico are deferred for one year because of the
the Front Range area. At press time, the event through the chance of malaria. Other than those restrictions, people can
Garth Englund Blood Center was donate every eight weeks. Each time a
expecting 30 to 40 donors. donation is taken, it is tested for hepatitis,
The reason there is a HIV, syphilis, and other diseases in depth.
need for blood drives is because If anything is found, a phone call or a
―a lot of people don‘t have the certified letter is sent to the donor.
time or the want to come across Sitting at the sign-up table at 10:20
town to a stationary center, so, in a.m. was a lady named Nancy Schirmer.
order for us to keep our blood Schirmer, 53, who has been volunteering
supply up, we take our bus to with the blood center for ―years and years
them. That is why we bought it and years,‖ is not only donating her time,
five years ago,‖ said Daniel but also her blood. She is a nursing
Bolchen, who is a clinical labora- student at Front Range, and is the Student
tory technician. Bolchen has Nurses Association president. She gradu-
been working at the Garth ates in December. Schirmer has donated
Englund Blood Center for 17 ―millions‖ of times. A former school
years. He is also a team leader at nurse at Cache La Poudre Elementary
the Donor Center. He explained School, Schirmer knows first-hand the
that one of the reasons that the
Garth Englund Blood Center
FRCC nursing student Marla Pruitt knows how importance behind these blood drives.
valuable her blood donation is. Poudre Valley Her good friend lost a daughter to
picked FRCC is the number of
Health Systems drove a mobile donation van to leukemia, which required a lot of blood
potential donors. ―There are FRCC’s parking lot on Sept. 29 and held a work. Schirmer‘s aunt died from a blood-
1,000 to 2,000 people wandering blood drive benefitting the Garth Englund related disease. Her mother has a strong
around at any given time. The Blood Center. belief in ―helping mankind,‖ Schirmer
facility is willing to let us be Photo by James Neuhalfen
said. ―My mother has been donating
there,‖ Bolchen replied. blood [for] as long as I can remember. She‘s 87. Just this
―One of the reasons why we try to tap into the younger weekend at church, she coordinated a blood drive.‖
generation is to get them started, so that in the future, they will Schirmer gives her credit for why she is there. It is just a
come to see us on a regular basis,‖ Bolchen stated. ―Right now, ―very generous thing to do. We can all do it.‖
we are losing the World War II veterans to age, and we need the The mobile blood drive is always on the go. They
younger generation to step up and fill that void,‖ said Bolchen. can also be found at CSU, churches, high schools, and other
(continued on page 5)
10

C AMPUS W ELLNESS

This year, Mandley, along with Beverly Byer, the


M AY I P ICK Y OUR B RAIN ? Developmental Psychology lead, and Lucinda Baker, an
instructor currently getting her Ph.D. in neuroscience at
BY R OGER M ALDONADO ,
Colorado State University, have a new plan. The lab is going
R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER
to be held over four days, and now it is open to all students of
French philosopher Rene Descartes once said, ―I Front Range currently enrolled in at least one psychology
think; therefore, I am,‖ to describe his own existence. He course. The labs have already filled beyond capacity, but there
theorized that the mental activity going on in his brain was is always an opportunity for psychology students to do the
proof enough that he existed. But Descartes never looked at brain labs next semester. Two of the days are dedicated to the
a real-life human brain. He also sheep brain dissections, and the
never dissected a sheep brain, other two are focused exclu-
either. Thanks to the Brain Lab sively on the human brain demo.
hosted at FRCC, students have Each of these labs is at least an
an opportunity to go a step hour long so that there is enough
beyond theory and look deep time for the students to get the
into the brains of humans and full experience.
sheep, literally. One of these labs was
One year ago, John scheduled on Monday, Sept. 28.
Mandley, the lead instructor of The students all filed into
the Psychology 101 and 102 Challenger Point 228 just to be
classes at Front Range, greeted by a smell reminiscent
volunteered to do a cow‘s eye of rubber gloves and raw lamb
dissection and a sheep brain Missing anything? chops. Diffusing in the room
dissection that was being hosted Photo by James Neuhalfen was the smell of 14 refrigerated
at his son‘s middle school. This sheep brains. The students were
event sparked Mandley to ask the question, ―If this can be paired up and given a scalpel, scissors, and a blunt probe for
done at a middle school, why not at Front Range?‖ dissection purposes, followed by the rigid and lumpy sheep
His first line of business was to acquire lab space. brain.
While speaking with the anatomy and physiology instructors The students handled the cold, gray, hand-sized brains
about lab space, Mandley came across the ―Bucket of in many different ways. Some picked the brains up with
Brains.‖ The physiology instructors keep a completely intact gloved hands trying to pull thin, resistant layers apart,
human brain, along with sliced parts of human brains, well- some used scissors to attempt to cut through layers of tough
preserved to present them to physiology students. With the membrane, and some just sliced merrily through the brain it-
anatomy and physiology instructors ―being kind enough‖ to self, and some got brain juice excreted somewhere on their
lend their ―Bucket of Brains‖ and lab space for the event, and faces.
the Bio Corporation, located in Alexandria, Minn., supplying Dayna Newby, a Colorado State University student
a means of purchasing $9 sheep brains, came the inception of taking classes at Front Range, joked around, saying, ―My
the first-ever Brain Lab at Front Range. favorite part was the smell.‖ She admitted later, ―My favorite
The first Brain Lab was last fall and was open only part was doing the cross-sections of the brain.‖
to Mandley‘s psychology students. The lab was held on one With an in-lab lab report, students demonstrated what
day of each semester, and the roster filled up within two they learned from the lab and turned it in to their instructors in
or three days. It was 90 minutes long, and half of the their psychology classes.
students did the human brain demo while the other half With every lab having so many students, Mandley
participated in the sheep brain dissection. After the first 45 asked, ―Since there is an obvious interest in lab from students,
minutes, they switched roles. ―It just wasn‘t enough time,‖ how can we keep meeting their interest?‖
Mandley says. (continued on page 14)
11

F RONT R ANGE F ACES

C OMING F ULL C YCLE Perhaps you will see Owen commuting his 10 miles a
day from his apartment in Old Town to Lee's Cyclery. Other
BY A LEXANDER L A B RACKE , than his daily commute, he tries to get out and do a ―mountain
R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER ride‖ at least once a week. He explained the ―love/hate rela-
tionship‖ the locals have with Maxwell Trail. The trail is
loved because of its proximity to town, but hated because it is
As one ascends the stairwell to the single-bedroom crowded with bikers of all skill levels.
apartment above a pub in Old Town, it can be noticed that the When remembering his old stomping grounds, Owen
entire railing of the second floor is occupied by bikes and bike compared the trails of the East Coast with those surrounding
locks. ―Only six of them are mine,‖ said FRCC student Samuel his new home on the Front Range. ―The big difference is wet
Owen. and dry.‖ He explained that riding condi-
Owen is a 23-year-old tions back East are commonly wet and
bicycle mechanic for the Fort Collins muddy. ―You have to look out for wet
-owned and operated Lee's Cyclery. rocks and roots,‖ he explained, because
Originally from Kentville, Nova ―both can be means for an ugly, muddy
Scotia, he is pursuing a business crash.‖
degree to further his ―entrepreneurial These days, riding the Rockies, Owen
skills within the cycling industry.‖ observes that, rather than wet and slip-
When not at school or the shop, he pery, conditions are dry and sharp. The
can frequently be found near Horse- jagged rocks and ledges of the local trails
tooth Reservoir at the Maxwell Trail, tend to produce ―pinch flats,‖ a common
one of his favorite local rides. problem that occurs when the tube of the
When asked about his early tire is punctured between the rim and the
cycling career, Owen looked back to sharp edge of a rock.
11 years ago when he first got into Recalling his notable crashes, Owen
cross-country biking. He described smiled, sighed and, while sitting back and
his first ―real‖ bike: his red Giant crossing his legs, said, ―Ha! Well, where
Rincon, with ―big fat tires and bull- do I start, eh?” He began a story about
horn handlebars,‖ Owen said, waving the summer of 2001 when he was at-
his arms passionately. tempting to hop over a concrete structure
Before leaving Canada, and drop off a ledge. His back tire got
Owen was an instructor at a mountain FRCC business student and bike enthusiast caught and he was tossed over his handle-
biking school in Quebec for three Samuel Owen repairs bikes at Lee’s Cyclery. bars, landing directly on his head. This
seasons. There, he spent his summers resulted in two fractured vertebrae and a
Photo by James Neuhalfen
leading pre-teens on cross-country trip to the emergency room.
rides and taught them fundamentals His most recent and intense crash took place in February
along the way. Being the only instructor on these rides, he had of 2007. Riding home from class one night, Owen was ―T-
no choice but to repair problematic bikes. Knowing that they boned by a drunk driver in a Ford F-250 half-ton pickup truck
―had to get back [to the school],‖ his trailside mechanical skills going 45 mph.‖ Having been relocated 90 feet from the spot
were developed. It was then that Owen discovered his knack of contact, he suffered five broken bones, including a few
for fixing bikes by problem-solving. ribs, a bone in his right ankle, and, most painfully, his pelvis.
In 2002, he moved with his family to Loveland and He also punctured a lung and severed a tendon.
began his first shop job at Pelton Cycles. Eventually, when he
started taking classes at Front Range, he began working for (continued on page 14)
Lee's Cyclery where he's been for the last three seasons.
12

F RONT R ANGE F ACES

W OOD W ORKS friends. They worked in a research lab together on the campus
of Colorado State. ―My research with Pam was mostly on
BY E RIN R EAD , R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER domestic violence, and also some on historical trauma
experienced by Native Americans.‖
After moving to Colorado, not only had Wood
It is 10:45 on a Tuesday morning, and there are received a master‘s degree, but he also got married. He soon
several people out and about on this warm day, scurrying to began teaching at CSU, and working on his Ph.D. which, he
class, near the apartment of James Wood, an instructor in says, is ―tough but educational.‖
human sexuality at Front Range Community College. There Now Wood works at Front Range Community
seems to be an abundance of families living in the complex, College and says he enjoys it very much. He enjoys teaching,
which appears different from typical university housing, as he says, because he finds it rewarding informing people and
children are out playing as their parents fondly look on. staying current and cutting-edge on subjects in psychology.
Wood, who is 30 years old, has been on the road of ―Teaching pays my bills. That‘s definitely a reward.
education for some time. Not only is he currently an instructor, But you don‘t just do it because you have to, to live. People
but he is also a student in the would do it even if they didn‘t get
Ph.D. program at Colorado paid,‖ he says. Wood likes the fact
State University. that, at Front Range, he has smaller
Woods was born in class sizes, which is perfect for the
the academic community of discussions he likes to hold in class.
Cambridge Mass., where He finds it more rewarding when the
Harvard University and the students can voice their opinions
Massachusetts Institute of with him and share experiences in a
Technology are located. He more intimate class setting.
spent his childhood years In addition to working on his
mainly in Cambridge, but Ph.D., Wood works as a youth coor-
eventually moved to Dorches- dinator at the Village Apartments,
ter, Mass., with his parents. where he resides, for children from 7
―When I lived in Cambridge, to 11 years. ―It is the same idea as a
I was just a baby, so I don't Human Sexuality instructor James Wood
Boys and Girls Club, just on the
really remember it,‖ he says. Photo courtesy of James Wood property of the apartments,‖ Wood
―I lived in Medford for most says. He enjoys this position because
of my childhood and Dorchester for most of my adolescence.‖ not only does it pay for his rent, but it also gives him deeper
When he began his college career, Wood decided that insight to the different elements of social psychology. He also
going to the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, Mass., does grounds-keeping occasionally. He says he enjoys that job
was the best choice for him. Amherst is about 100 miles from because ―it keeps me humble.‖
Boston, but ―Amherst was very different from these places.‖ It Wood was inspired to become a teacher of human
has ―a lot of natural areas, and people were more friendly, all sexuality, a branch of psychology which explores the sexual
of which I really enjoyed.‖ mind and reactions of a person, because of a professor he had
He wasn‘t use to living in a place so small, but he as an undergrad, and how many social issues tie in so well. He
finished his undergraduate schooling there and moved to Colo- enjoys how it focuses on the ―human experience.‖ As far as
rado in 2002 to attend Colorado State University for a graduate future career goals are concerned, he aspires to become a
program. He pursued his master‘s in applied social psychology. tenured professor. He also wants to teach abroad. Being
It was at Colorado State that Wood met his mentor, Pamela familiar with Chinese culture, he says he would love to teach
Jumper-Thurman. He related to her because they both come
in China someday. ®
from a Native American background, and they quickly became
13

B E O UR G UEST : C LUB H UB

By themselves, they could accomplish a lot, but with


S TUDENTS FOR S USTAINABILITY their advisors Jeff Borg and Naomi Johannsen, the SfS is sure
to have a strong presence on campus as they gain momentum
BY B RANDON D EVLIN , G UEST C OLUMNIST this semester.
Driven by the abundance of opportunities to
During spring semester of 2009, the Larimer campus implement sustainable practices at home and around campus,
saw its number of active student groups almost double. At the the SfS intends to create a ―Green Council‖ that will assist
beginning of the 2008 fall semester, the campus had around 10 FRCC as it implements sustainable practices in future events.
active clubs, and by the end of the ‗08-‗09 school year, more ―We want to educate people. We want to provide fun,
than 20 clubs were active, with a few more in the works. waste-free activities for friends and family, but we also want to
Groups like the Student Nursing Association, Writers on the be involved in the community. Sustainability is all about
Storm, the Zombie Defense Council, and the Wolf Riders have getting involved with the community—volunteering. It makes
done their part, all boosting the level of student involvement on people feel good about themselves,‖ Pursel stated.
campus. Another of the newest members to the club/
Recognizing the myriad ways to get involved through
organization family, with arguably the widest-reaching
sustainability and green initiatives, the SfS is open to sugges-
purpose, is the Students for Sustainability Club (SfS).
tions and hopes that new members will bring fresh goals and
Created in the fall of ‘08, the SfS began simply as a ideas upon joining. The plan is to operate as a team, developing
class project. Working with Megan Ricks in a Sociology 101 sub-committees and working with the other clubs and organiza-
course, Donna Pursel, the club‘s current president, created a tions on campus. While SfS recognizes individual goals, there
three-page proposal outlining the hosting of a sustainability fair is still the main focus of fostering sustainability and green
on campus. The two attempted to implement their proposal on initiatives on campus and in the community, and bringing all
campus, but as winter break came and went, involvement students together, whether they are actively involved or just
fizzled and their idea didn‘t quite come to fruition. Despite beneficiaries of the SfS‘s initiatives. Sustainability is more
initial difficulties, Pursel finally found support from Rachel than just recycling and taking your own bags to the grocery
Rambo, our Student Activities coordinator. Rambo recognized store; there is a lot that can be done at home and in the commu-
the passion and flair for creativity Pursel possessed and nity, like composting and buying a share in a local farm, which
recruited her, along with Student Government Legislative saves money and helps our community, as well as our environ-
Representative Ryan Rasmussen, to participate in the 2009 ment.
Green Spring Fling steering committee. Immediately, Pursel
The SfS message of unity and progress extends further
and Rasmussen found common ground and knew they had the
than just our campus and city. Along with Phi Theta Kappa
perfect opportunity to gauge student interest in an attempt to
(the International Honor Society of FRCC and other two-year
spread their passion for sustainable practices in everyday life.
colleges), and the Office of Student Life, the SfS is working to
They then created a survey asking students what sustainability
develop national and international service trips. Recognizing
meant to them. From this grassroots initiative, they found
that, while there is a lot to do in our own backyards, we might
inspiration and a new group of students to help hoist their green
not comprehend the impact our actions and the actions of
banner.
others are having on the global environment. With goals as
―We hope to use people‘s definitions of sustainability lofty as visiting the Amazon and Africa, the SfS and its
and going green to try and come up with an idea that is of the partners also know there are places much closer that could use
students. I mean, it‘s not just us. We want anyone to get a helping hand. CSU currently supports an alternative break
involved because I feel sustainability is limitless when it comes program that allows their students to take trips using student-
to people. There is no gender or age limit,‖ said Pursel. Last raised funds to help communities in and out of state. Taking
semester, the SfS was composed of Pursel, Rasmussen, their lead, the SfS hopes to bring a message of unity, peace,
Nicholas ―Olas‖ Jones and Ben Palm. hope, and self-sustainability to a greater audience.
(continued on next page)
14

B E O UR G UEST : C LUB H UB

(SfS continued from previous page)


The most wonderful concept in
all this, I think, is the idea that, as the
SfS grows, they will create a general
sense of responsibility to our environ-
ment and our fellows, effectively creat-
ing a self-sustaining energy based on
progress and goodwill. So, in practice,
the Students for Sustainability are creat-
ing a group that will feed off of itself and
grow of its own accord—a utopian
vision, to be sure, but I think not one so
far-fetched. As Rassmussen put it, ―We
want to create opportunities for students
to get involved, bring their own
initiatives, and educate each other.‖
If you are interested in joining Fitness Center Director Elaine Milligan dishes up some food for a visitor to FRCC’s
the Students for Sustainability Club, booth at this year’s 10th Annual Rocky Mountain Sustainable Living Fair over the Sept.
contact SfS faculty advisors Naomi 19-20 weekend in Old Town. The volunteers are part of an effort to bring the concept
Johannsen at of sustainability to the Front Range campus. One way is through the Students for
Naomi.Johannsen@frontrange.edu, or Sustainability Club.
Jeff Borg at Jeff.Borg@frontrange.edu
See related story about the Sustainable Living Fair on page 1.
for information on upcoming meetings
Photo by James Neuhalfen
and events. ®
Brandon Devlin is the Club Coordinator for Student Life, and a sophomore studying English. He will be finishing his Associates of
Arts this spring and plans to begin at CSU in August 2010.

(OWEN continued from page 11) (BRAIN LAB continued from page 10)
After a week in the hospital, he remembers the terrible acci-
dent every day by the scars on his lower back that he got from He also pointed out that, ―The interest in the brain
sliding down the street, and a scar on his calf from a severed lab is just a small part of a bigger picture.‖ Mandley, along
tendon, as well as an arthritic clavicle that acts up when it is with others from the Psychology Department, are developing
going to rain, which he called ―my own barometer, eh?‖ a class for those aspiring psychology students to take. For the
To Owen, the ultimate dream come true would be to upcoming spring semester, a one-credit late-start class is
establish a cycling-themed bed-and-breakfast. He envisions it being offered. Because it is only one credit, it is inexpensive
as the perfect place for a cross-country biker to rest his/her so that it can be an option for most students. ―We were
head. Upon arrival, visitors would drop their bikes off at the thinking [of holding the class on] Fridays, in the early after-
shop for an overnight tune-up and whatever other work might noons,‖ Mandley said. As for the future, he hopes for
be necessary. Then they could either retire to their comfy ―expanding psychology by using labs, incorporating them in
rooms for the night or head to the restaurant/bar for a beer and how we teach psychology.‖
a burger. So, with the smell of fresh sheep brains lingering in
For the immediate future, however, Owen's plan is to the air and brain juice on their faces, students anxiously await
finish school, keep working in the bike shop, and, of course, their chance to take a step above animal brains and look deep
―keep on riding.‖ ® into them. ®
15

M EDIUM C OOL

T HE H ALLS ARE A LIVE WITH learning and working to improve her performing skills.
―Right now, I have the musical knowledge. Now I
THE S OUND OF M USIC
need to learn to improve my performance aspect as a
BY A LLY H AYDUK , R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER musician,‖ said Dunlap. Before she moved to Fort Collins five
years ago, she had a panic attack while playing the organ at
church. Ever since then, performing has been a challenge.
Front Range Community College offers a wide variety Dunlap has performed in three recitals, but before each of
of music instruction courses, including private instruction for them, she has to prepare mentally and physically. She prepares
voice and a wide selection of instruments. Instrument lessons herself slowly with a process for recitals by opening the
vary from mandolin to trumpet, and from trumpet to guitar. With windows to her home in Old Town and playing so people walk-
these private instruction courses come the opportunity to perform ing by can hear her. To warm up to the idea of performing even
in music recitals toward the middle and end of every semester. more, she will perform her piece or pieces for her family.
―Mid-semester and end-of-semester ―Anything we have in our everyday lives
recitals are an informal opportunity for teaches us about ourselves,‖ said Dunlap.
students taking lessons to perform for ―Everyone has a different musical
other students, faculty, family and talent at the recitals. It is like musical pot-
friends,‖ stated Jeannine Green, a pourri,‖ stated Dunlap. She described the
private lesson and course instructor at recitals to be very relaxed, and everyone is
Front Range. very sympathetic for every other person
―Participating in recitals is performing. Students do not perform for a
taking small steps to gaining confi- grade, and memorization of music is
dence as a performer,‖ beamed Green. optional. Dunlap views the recitals as a fun
The range of levels varies greatly at the way to listen to and enjoy what other stu-
recitals. The performers‘ abilities range dents have been learning and working on.
from beginner to advanced, from stu- The recitals feature all different genres
dents who have never played or sung a of music. Genres can range anywhere from
note of music in their lives to students classical guitar to operatic vocals. It is be-
who have been playing for 50 years. It tween the student and the teacher as to
doesn‘t matter if students are just look- what the students perform and work on in
ing to pick up a new hobby by taking rehearsals. Debra Throgmorton is the
lessons, or if the lessons are to aid them Music Department chair and Green gives
in the process of going to a four-year her praise in making the recitals what they
university and studying music. All Student Laura Dunlap prepares a piece for her are today, ―thriving and enjoyable.‖
students are accepted into private- upcoming recital under the watchful eye of More than 90 students are involved
instruction lessons. There are no music instructor Jeannine Green. with private instruction lessons, and Green
audition requirements for the recitals. Photo by Linda Baldwin expects that about half of them will be per-
The only requirement is that the student forming in the first recital. With so many
is in private instruction at Front Range. students involved in private instruction at Front Range, the
―When students sign up for private-lesson instruction, three lesson rooms are always full, and the lessons fill up
they are getting taught by experienced and mastered teachers,‖ quickly. ―I would recommend students sign up early for next
said Green, who has a master‘s degree in music from Colorado semester‘s lessons because they fill up fast,‖ stated Green.
State University. On Friday, Oct. 9, the first music recital of the semes-
Laura Dunlap has been a private-instruction piano ter will be held in the Mount Antero Music Room 173 at 2:30
student at Front Range for the past year. Originally from the Mid- and again at 4 pm. The event is open to the public free of
west, Dunlap has been playing piano her entire life and is now charge, and refreshments will be provided. ®
16

M EDIUM C OOL

P EACE W ILL W IN goers. Downing explained that a huge part of the success of
the fair lies in the fact that the workshops, vendors, activities
BY A LEXANDER L A B RACKE , and music are all ―united for a notion‖ and that they all work
R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER to complement each other.
Regarding the success of the fair, Downing is excited
about it and the fact that its fan base has expanded steadily
The 10th Annual Rocky Mountain Sustainable Living every year. Originally from Freeport, Ill., where there are no
Fair was held the weekend of Sept. 19 and 20 at the corner of bike lanes, Downing said that, there, ―the notion [of sustain-
Lemay Avenue and Vine Street in downtown Fort Collins. The ability] isn't ingrained in people.‖ In Fort Collins, ―the green
event was put on by the Rocky Mountain Sustainable Living economy is booming.‖ He said that, ―[Fort Collins] is the fu-
Association, whose mission is to educate people in the area to ture,‖ and that the people here are ―positive and enlightened.‖
―make healthy and sustainable choices.‖ Sponsorship for the Downing, a husband and father of two boys, incorpo-
event came from many innovators in sustainability, such as New rates sustainable living lessons in all aspects of his life.
Belgium Brewing Company, Clif Bar and Toyota, as well as the Between his classes, the band, and his family, Downing said,
City of Fort Collins. ―the line is the same.‖
Jason Downing, a sociology instructor at Front Range All five of his classes at Front Range, including one
Community College, was the main stage MC both days for the online course, involve finding solutions to social problems.
fair, and his band, Muskateer Gripweed, played a two-and-a-half Downing stressed the importance of ―getting out and doing
-hour set beginning at 7 p.m. on Saturday. Downing explained things‖ both inside and outside the classroom. Each semester,
that, although the band's songs have themes like sustainability Downing's classes collect coats and hundreds of pounds of
and peace, they are ―covert‖ so as ―not to be preachy.‖ Instead food for needy people, an active way of solving social prob-
of ―shoving [sustainability messages] down people's throats,‖ he lems while, at the same time, being sustainable. As far as his
presents sustainable ideals to his audience in indirect ways, such own children are concerned, Downing was pleased to say,
as: ―Here‘s how you can save some money.‖ ―They get it.‖ Downing's wife, Julie, an artist, painted the
The fair played host to dozens of workshops, including backdrop for the stage with all-recyclable paper and non-toxic
one in which attendees learned how to convert their diesel inks.
engines to run on strictly vegetable oil, and another explaining Fair Director Kristina Cash, artist and mother, origi-
how to capture and utilize rainwater, which is especially appli- nally from the Arkansas Valley in southern Colorado, stressed
cable to the arid climate of the Front Range. The fair also hosted the notion of ―thinking about the future with the choices we
several vendors serving up local and organic foods for fair- make now.‖
Cash explained that a crucial goal of the fair is to
spread the notion of being balanced, as far as the
energy we use goes, and to make sure we are
―not consuming more than our fair share.‖
The Colorado Carbon Fund offsets the
fair's ―carbon footprint‖ as way of promoting
energy efficiency, as well as the renewable
energy process.
(continued on next page)

Jason Downing addresses his Social and


Behavioral Sciences class. The FRCC instructor
recently performed with his band, Muskateer
Gripweed, at the Sustainable Living Fair, now
in its tenth year.
Photo by Linda Baldwin
17

M EDIUM C OOL

(continued from previous page)

To find the whole set that Muskateer Gripweed played


at the fair and live recordings of their previous shows, as well as
their latest CD, ―Peace Will Win,‖ log on to Archive.org and
search ―Jason Downing,‖ or visit JasonDowning.com. ®

“M Y W ORD !” O FF TO AN
I NSPIRATIONAL S TART WITH
L OCAL A UTHOR L AURA R ESAU
Fort Collins author Laura Resau kicked off the new
academic year‘s ―My Word!‖ visiting writers‘ series on
Sept. 20 at the LPSC in a presentation of her book, ―Inside Red
Glass: Inspiration and Reflection.‖ Dealing with the topic of
immigration, Resau‘s novel has won several international
awards, and was selected as an ―Oprah's Pick‖ and this year's
Fort Collins Reads companion book. A starred review by
Publishers‘ Weekly calls ―Red Glass‖ a ―vibrant, large-hearted
story.‖

The event coincided with Student Life‘s offering for


National Hispanic Heritage Month. Resau spoke about the
inspiration for her award-winning novel, drawing on her
experiences during two years as an English teacher and anthro-
Fort Collins author Laura Resau presented her award-winning
pologist in rural Oaxaca, Mexico, as well as her travels in novel, “Inside Red Glass,” on Sept. 20 as part of FRCC’s visiting
Central America, and her friendships with immigrants and writers’ series, “My Word!” Photo by James Neuhalfen
refugees in Arizona and Colorado. During her presentation, she
showed photos of people and places that inspired the characters and settings for her book, and told personal stories about issues
faced by immigrants, refugees, and indigenous people. This event also offered writers workshops and advice from the author.
Resau now writes full-time after nearly a decade of teaching ESL at FRCC. ®
Special thanks to Blair Oliver, John Feeley and Student Life for information used in this story.

A RTS & L ET TERS AND S TUDENT L IFE A NNOUNCE


THE 2009-2010 V ISITING W RITERS ’ S ERIES , “M Y W ORD !”
Featured authors will be offering creative writing workshops and reading their work aloud in a series of presentations
which are free and open to the public. FRCC students will also have the opportunity to submit their writing to be considered
for publication in the Front Range Review, alongside the work of emerging and established authors of regional and national
reputation, be a featured guest in the visiting writers‘ series, ―My Word!‖ on April 28, 2010, and be eligible for the Front Range
Review Award, a three-credit scholarship for in-state tuition at FRCC.
For more information, visit www.frontrange.edu/MyWord and www.frontrange.edu/FrontRangeReviewAward. ®
18

B E O UR G UEST

H ELPFUL H INTS FOR 2. You believe that punctuation is more of a musical concept,
but perhaps even more of a super-hassle than capitalization
F ALL C OMPOSITION :
when texting on your phone. Actually, you‘d prefer to just
I S Y OUR W RITING “P HONEY ”? stick with one kind of punctuation for convenience. Commas
seem to have a bit more personality, a certain wink to them
BY S USAN M ARSHALL , G UEST C OLUMNIST
that periods don‘t have, so they win your vote for popularity.

3. You love how technology can anticipate what you really


It‘s fall semester and many of you are enrolled in want to spell. It‘s like working with an academic psychic.
writing classes at FRCC. You‘re already aware (or quickly Sometimes, though, why even bother to spell a word
becoming aware) of the term ―plagiarism‖ and how it involves completely? Let your readers be the psychics. Related to this,
certain levels of phoniness that are unacceptable and can cause you love how the people around you can hear only one side of
serious penalties. For example, if you pay $7.99 for an essay on the conversation when you talk on your phone. Great writing
video games and violence and submit it as your own work… should usually be about one side of a conversation so that the
well, that‘s pretty much the ultimate form of plagiarism. If you readers get to be more active...
pay $7.99 for an essay on video games and violence and use
4. You always feel like you‘re expected to text…er, write…
only one paragraph from it in your essay because you think the
but you always wonder what you really have to say. As in:
rest of it is bull… well, that just means you‘re getting less
plagiarism for your buck. If you have your roommate ―fix‖ all ―Hey. What‘s new?‖
the grammar in your essay… well, you might find that you have ―Nothing much since two hours ago. What‘s new
even more errors than you started with—and a penalty for with you?‖
plagiarism. For the most part, concepts of plagiarism and
phoniness are pretty clear-cut, though I still wonder why Holden ―Oh, nothing. Let me know what you‘re doing later.‖
Caulfield hated ―phonies‖ and yet was willing to try and write a On the other hand, everything you say has value. Isn‘t it
descriptive essay for Stradlater…. great? If you have an audience, it must have value, right?
Perhaps an even more timely and prevalent concern in 5. Did I mention that you expect immediate and supportive
college writing courses is something known as ―phoneyness.‖ feedback on your writing, as well? Why hasn‘t she texted me
Roughly defined, the term refers to the insufferable habit of back by now? Damn! She is so slow! I bet she‘s partying with
relying on your phone for nearly all aspects of your written that guy that I like. What a b#$@&. She‘d better say some-
communication. Students, trust me: Your instructor will not thing real nice to me when she writes back.
―lol‖ if you continue to abuse your potential as writers this way.
Not sure what I mean? Okay. As a qualified writing instructor, Okay, students. This is all a bit tongue-in-cheek. But consider
let me give you five warning signs. (Please don‘t rely on this. What would have happened if Stanley Kubrick and
amateurs or Wikipedia for this information.) Arthur C. Clarke were preeminently ―phoney‖ writers for
1. You believe that the concept of capitalization has something ―2001: A Space Odyssey‖? (Caution: semi-spoilers ahead.)
to do with Karl Marx, and it is surely irrelevant to most of your RING TONE (sounding several times), using sample
writing. Exceptions might include a few proper names (the ones from Lady Gaga‘s ―Love Games‖:
that you just think look kind of silly in all lower case).
DAVE: Hello? Oh, excuse me, HAL. You just
Sometimes, you will capitalize every letter in a word when you
caught me in the can putting on my underwear. Anything
are trying to shout (but, really, MLA advises the use of italics
wrong with the future of the mission?
for this). Ultimately, you believe that capitalization is a hassle
when texting, and your true friends can still understand you, so, Later….RING TONE (sounding several times), now
what the hell? changed to a sample theme from ―The Good, The Bad, and
The Ugly‖:
(continued on next page)
19

(continued from previous page)

DAVE (fumbling with his phone): Hello? Hello? Oh, hi.


What‘s up? Nothing much….Yeah...That sounds
great….Hey, can I call ya back? Why? Well, it‘s too long a
story. Yeah…Sorry, can‘t quite hear you….Really? Did they
say that? Wow. Fascinating!

Later….

DAVE (travelling in a space pod at warp speed


through mind-bending, previously unrealized visions that
alternate between what seem to be primordial glimpses of the
Earth‘s past topography and futuristic cosmic landscapes—
and fumbling with his phone): Hello? Hello? Oh, God!!!!!!
Help me!!!!! Uh, yes…. I‘m sorry. I‘m a little, uh….
Oh!!!!!!! Oh!!!!!!!! The colors!!!!!!!!!!!! Uh, sorry….
Can you hear me? Really?! I can‘t believe it….Oh!!!!!! The
pressure!!!!!!!! I can‘t!!!!!! Look at that!!!!!!! Ah!!!!!!!!!
Oh!!!!!!! You still there? Sorry, I know the connection‘s a Susan Marshall has taught English composition and
little…. Ah!!!!!!! Hold on!!!!!!! No, sorry…. I didn‘t mean creative writing as an adjunct at FRCC (and one of these
for you to hold on. You can go if you need to. Wait!!!!!! days, she’d still like to follow through with her Writing
What do you mean I should call you back?!?!?! How many Forum Project). You can find her helping out a bit at the
minutes do you think I have???????????? ® Writing Center this semester, but, for the most part, she’ll
be reclusive while she tries to write a book about writing.
Hold all calls…

L OOK FOR OUR NEXT ISSUE IN N OVEMBER ,


AND WATCH FOR FLYERS ANNOUNCING FREELANCE DEADLINES .
R ANGEVIEW @F RONT R ANGE . EDU

P RINTING BY THE I M P RESS T EAM AT O FFICE M AX IN F ORT C OLLINS , C OLO .


20

You might also like