A house once ablaze is rebuilt in fashion by six teams ready to usher in a new age.

In a move of historic significance, Colorado State University announced its decision — along with Boise State University, San Diego State University and California State University, Fresno — to move to the Pac-12 conference.

The Collegian was able to talk to CSU President Amy Parsons and Director of Athletics John Weber about what the move will mean and what it will do for the future of CSU.

Both Parsons and Weber mentioned that the timing of the move was a quick process but one that gave the university enough time to vet the possibilities. And eventually, the decision was made — a decision filled with endless possibilities and a vision for a brighter future, one achievable by locking arms with Oregon State University and Washington State University.

“It’s a tremendous opportunity to raise the visibility of Colorado State and really take control of our future as we look forward to the next version of what CSU will become,” Weber said.

Parsons very specifically gave Weber and his team a lot of credit for being ready to get the move done — a move that won’t only be a boost for CSU Athletics but one for CSU academia as well. As a Carnegie Research 1 institution, CSU is at the forefront of many areas of research. The move to the Pac-12 will bring CSU’s reach to a wider audience.

With the instability that has been the college athletics landscape, CSU started preparing itself should something arise. And while the move to the Pac-12 was fairly abrupt, the foundation had already been built.

“We knew that we needed to position ourselves to be ready for opportunities,” Parsons said. “So when the opportunity arose, it felt like it came fast, but really we’ve been working and preparing ourselves for a long time.”

Parsons said that in joining the Pac-12, CSU will be an equal-share member of the conference. Because of that, CSU will help direct the future of the conference. This includes the potential additions of more teams, media rights deals and how to use the Pac-12 Network in new ways.

Weber said there would be no cap to the number of teams that could join the Pac-12. When looking at future additions to the conference, the Pac-12 will focus on how each new school might complement the current six.

“It’s really making sure that we’re doing what makes the most sense to build a very competitive conference across the board: academically, researchwise and athletically,” Weber said.

In terms of media rights deals, Weber said that was top of the order for the conference. For CSU, No. 1 is filling out the membership to get into the conference and then right into finding those future media deals.

Any new deal is expected to bring a significant increase in the revenue CSU sees from its current media rights deal. Weber didn’t mention any specifics, but it can be presumed this will help out in terms of recruitment, future facility upgrades and a multitude of other areas.

“There’s a lot of different factors that go into that, but we have a lot of work to do between now and settling what that media rights deal looks like,” Weber said. “And part of that is filling up the conference and making sure that we add members that can help from that perspective as well.”

Across all sports, there are currently 14 members of the Mountain West with only four of them making that transition into a new conference.

Each of those four schools brought something to the table that the other 10 could not. Parsons said one of the big things that CSU brings is its academic notoriety along with being strong athletic peers.

“We really stand out in that, as well as our great facilities, our tremendous college town in Fort Collins and the fact that we’re in a great media market in Colorado,” Parsons said. “We’re a place where people want to travel to; we’re a place people want to be.”

One thing that CSU won’t leave behind is their impassioned rivalries — or at least the Border War for sure.

Weber said he hadn’t yet had the chance to speak to Nathan Pine, the athletic director for the United States Air Force Academy, about continuing their rivalry, but he did speak with the University of Wyoming‘s Director of Athletics Tom Burman, and both sides expressed “a very deep desire to keep the Border War alive.”

Reach Damon Cook at sports@collegian.com or on Twitter @dwcook2001.

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On July 24, hundreds of University of Utah faculty and staff signed a letter that was submitted to the university’s administrators. The letter condemned the abrupt closure of several campus resource centers in June, just days before H.B. 261 took effect on July 1.

“We are writing to express our strong opposition to the closure of these vital student centers,” the letter read. “We have several concerns regarding the safety and well-being of underrepresented students, alongside our deep upset over the lack of consultation with us and the surrounding community about these changes.”

Faculty Frustration

The closures, which affected the LGBT Resource Center, Black Cultural Center and Women’s Resource Center, have drawn criticism for their timing and execution. Lisa Aspinwall, professor of psychology and co-author of the letter, shared her concerns about the U’s decision.

“The lack of consultation and the appearance of lack of planning and no plan for continuity of services absolutely troubles me deeply,” Aspinwall said. “The stakes couldn’t be higher.”

Kendall Gerdes, an associate professor of writing and rhetoric studies and president of the university’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors talked about the essential role these centers played in student support.

“Academic success depends on having the emotional, social and material support to stay in school,” Gerdes said. “The university did not have to close these centers.”

Gerdes also argued the closures contradicted earlier alleged claims from university administrators that the centers would remain open despite the passing of H.B. 261. 

“They utterly failed to communicate with the campus community about their decisions,” Gerdes said. “Telegraphing earlier this year that the centers would be fine and then abruptly deciding to shutter the centers in June.”

The closures were particularly troubling for student staff members at the LGBT Resource Center. Some members learned of the decision through an Instagram post announcing its farewell event.

“That’s not how students should be treated by their university,” Gerdes said.

New Centers Make Way

The university’s response to H.B. 261 included the creation of the Center for Community and Cultural Engagement and the Center for Student Access and Resources. Yet Gerdes argued that it does not replace the specificity of the support provided by the closed centers.

“I hope that the new Center for Community and Cultural Engagement thrives and that the staff are supported with the resources they need to do their work well,” Gerdes said. “The university owes them that; it owes its students that.”

In reaction to the closures, students also quickly organized a new Student Pride Center. It operates part-time out of the Marriott Library.

“One group of students took immediate action in the wake of the LGBT center closure,” Gerdes said. “Students should make their voices heard.”

The new Student Pride Center is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Gerdes said. It operates out of room 2130N in the Marriott Library.

The U’s New Future

The letter, which remains open for signatures from faculty and staff, has now gained over 900 signees. Aspinwall and other faculty members are ultimately concerned about the long-term impact the closures will have on the university’s ability to attract and retain a diverse student and faculty body. 

“There’s a carve-out for some programs,” Aspinwall said, “but you can’t carve out campus climate changes.”

University President Taylor Randall addressed the backlash in an Academic Senate session on Aug. 26, nearly a month after the initial letter was sent to administrators.

“I understand the urgency and the need to make sure people feel a sense of belonging,” Randall said. “And I deeply appreciate the faculty and staff who are working toward that goal.”

Despite this acknowledgment, Aspinwall and others remain critical of the university’s handling of the situation. 

“The lack of planning and consultation sends a devastating message,” Aspinwall said. “Especially to students and faculty who have worked for decades to create an inclusive environment.”

In a press conference with The Daily Utah Chronicle, Randall said the U plans to ask the Utah Board of Higher Education for approval on a reorganized Black Cultural Center and LGBT Resource Center if the Center for Community and Cultural Engagement gets approved.

“Our plan is, we get this umbrella center approved, and then you will actually see, in relatively short order, a Black Cultural Center and LGBTQ Center that will come up underneath it,” Randall said.

e.hagy@dailyutahchronicle.com

@JEmersonHagy

The post Over 900 Faculty, Staff Condemn U’s Resource Center Closures first appeared on The Daily Utah Chronicle.

This fall, the Questrom School of Business didn’t just celebrate the arrival of a new group of students, but also the opening of their newly renovated Feld Center for Career and Alumni Engagement on Aug. 28.

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Weaving around a frantic mother trying to corral her younger children, I swing my Trader Joe’s grocery basket down the aisle and ogle at the bounty of snacks bursting from the shelves: Pizza Seasoned Crackers, Sweet Plantain Chips, Organic Cacio e Pepe Puffs. 

I didn’t intend to shop for such eclectic food, but face-to-face with Super Seedy Cheese Snack Bites, I’ve never wanted anything so badly in my life. I hastily grab a bag from the shelf, my mouth watering. 

By the time I reach the checkout, my basket is so heavy I am struggling to keep balance.

“How are you today?” the cashier asks. While I’m mostly focused on how to jam all the sweet potatoes I just bought into my backpack, I maintain a friendly conversation and nearly gasp in surprise when the bill is only $25.

Trader Joe’s first opened in Pasadena, California and now has hundreds of stores across the United States. Relying primarily on word-of-mouth advertising, the company has turned itself into a bonafide cultural icon. 

It offers food products seldom sold in conventional grocery stores, with more than 80% of its products exclusive to the Trader Joe’s label. There’s a podcast, a Reddit page with 335,000 members and even unofficial cookbooks. 

Convenient and affordable, Trader Joe’s is far and away my favorite place to buy groceries around the University of Minnesota. 

It’s easy to assume a store selling canned Grecian-style eggplants would be expensive, but most items I put into my basket cost less than $3. Trader Joe’s buys most of its products directly from manufacturers, eliminating the middleman and maintaining low food prices. Their stores are also relatively small, which occasionally leads to overcrowding but makes for an easier shopping experience and cuts costs even further. 

Gone are the days of wandering helplessly through my hometown Fresh Thyme looking for dried lentils. There are only a handful of aisles at the Trader Joe’s location on Washington Avenue, so I can cross off my grocery list with ease.

Yve Spengler, a third-year student at the University, said she relies on Trader Joe’s for saving money on grocery runs.

“I’ll end up getting meat at Target and then everything else at Trader Joe’s, because usually everything is cheaper there,” Spengler said.

These savings are no joke. According to a survey from Consumers’ Checkbook, prices at Trader Joe’s were 19% less on average than those at other surveyed stores like Whole Foods and Target.

Another unique aspect of Trader Joe’s is its employees. 

The employees are the kind of people who will compliment me if I wear a Lorde t-shirt or tell me how much they love the Non-Dairy Pumpkin Oat Beverage I’m about to buy. The cashiers always ask about my day, which leads to a pleasant, if not borderline flirtatious, encounter.

“It’s different from Target where it’s self-checkout, so you go in and you’re on your own and don’t really interact with anyone,” Spengler said. “Whereas at Trader Joe’s, you’re interacting with actual people. They really take the time to see you.”

Naomi Rivera, another third-year student who relies on Trader Joe’s for groceries, said an employee once called another store to ask if her favorite product, coffee-boba ice cream, was in stock.

“It made me feel valued,” Rivera said. “They went out of their way to provide me with that service.”

No matter where you live on campus, Trader Joe’s is an easy commute. The U.S. Bank light rail stop is only two blocks away, and the Route 3 bus stops right out front. 

“The 3 is a godsend,” Rivera said, as she often rides it when carrying heavy groceries or if she doesn’t feel like walking. 

The bus works its way through Como and Dinkytown, past Bruininks Hall and then goes west down Washington Avenue until it reaches Trader Joe’s. From Jones-Eddy circle, the ride takes only eight minutes. 

Target may be closer to campus, but Trader Joe’s is well worth the short hike. While stores like Fresh Thyme in Prospect Park are known for organic and natural food options, Trader Joe’s has plenty of healthy foods. 

Both Spengler and Rivera noted the abundance and quality of produce that puts the Dinkytown Target to shame. When I walked in the other night, all they had were a few bruised-up peaches, whereas Trader Joe’s never fails to showcase nature’s bounty.

“Not going out of my way to try to get good food is really helpful,” Rivera said.

The only part of Trader Joe’s that disappoints me was the company’s rejection of my request to interview a store manager. 

“I can’t offer an interview, our Crew is busy supporting our customers in their stores,” read the sloppily-worded email from their public relations department. Alas, even Trader Joe’s can’t be saved from corporate America. 

Nonetheless, whether you’re in the mood for some Savory Squash Pastry Bites or just pantry staples, Trader Joe’s is the place to go. Just do not buy all their Mini Mochi Rice Nuggets before my next grocery run.

The NHL is going to look a little different this upcoming season. Fanatics announced a new, 10-year partnership with the National Hockey League to manufacture on-ice uniforms after having produced training gear and other merchandise for years prior, taking over the role from Adidas.

The Opera Galleria was filled with splashes of vibrant colors and vivid textures that evoke emotion and tell a unique and expansive story. Through diverse forms of art, from paintings to delicate jewelry, The Beauty of Blackness Fine Art Show highlighted the work of Black and African American artists and how their rich cultural heritage is not confined to one form of art.

Running Sept. 5-8, this exhibition exclusively displayed original, one-of-a-kind artwork, giving more recognition to Black American culture.

The display pushed the barriers of how society commonly defines African American culture, breaking out of the confining box.

Louise Cutler is the founder and co-creator of the gallery and has highlighted the importance of presenting Black American artists as versatile as opposed to confining them to one genre of art. She said this show holds a purpose in emphasizing cultural awareness to develop cultural acceptance.

“There (are) different aspects of our cultural heritage that are beautiful, and being able to share that with the world (is beautiful),” Cutler said. “I feel that we’ve been robbed of the experience of being able to share our cultural heritage because there (are) so many things in society that have their own net. It’s not about staying (in that net) because Black American art is American art.”

Cutler has been working toward spotlighting Black American culture in its diverse art forms, dedicating a section for each artist and making their presence in the Fort Collins community more known. She said locals would get to interact with the artists, connecting with them and understanding important parts of their identity.

Angela Gibson is one of the artists in the show and found a creative passion in making jewelry after her deployment in Afghanistan, allowing her to express herself in a relaxing and unique way.

At the exhibit, she brought more of her minimalistic and simple jewelry, including a necklace made from larimar nuggets and a flower agate necklace with a statement pendant. She said she loves how she can develop such diverse, unique styles while also staying true to her sense of self.

“The Beauty of Blackness Show is really helping put black artists out there,” Gibson said. “And not just art as, like, paintings or drawings but art in every facet with jewelry, sculpting and just anything that you can do with your hands. … It’s important that we keep expressing and making art so that it stays part of history.”

Chavez Chavo is Cutler’s son and one of the primary contributors to the Efilaf Art Department. Observing what his mother was doing in the art industry fueled his passion and heightened his desire to express his own observations through his work. His pieces at the show utilized vibrant, expressive colors, which he attributed to urban elements that encourage interpretation among the audience.

“When I create, I want to make something that’s visually appealing,” Chavo said. “I want to make something that people can enjoy looking at.”

Many of the pieces in the exhibit were a reflection of the artists’ emotions, vulnerability and culture through unique elements like soft brush strokes, multidimensional sculptural pieces, textures and drawn black and white portraits that resemble photographs.

Cutler said she anticipates that this exhibit will only continue to grow and flourish as the fine arts show expands to bring in more artists to demonstrate how beautiful their heritage is. She said she hopes they can cultivate a thriving community in Fort Collins, attracting individuals to support local and regional artists.

“We’re here to share,” Cutler said. “We share our hearts, our feelings, and so to be able to share your cultural heritage with other people, that is beauty within itself.”

Reach Sananda Chandy at entertainment@collegian.com or on Twitter @CSUCollegian.

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Boston City Council addressed parental concerns after Boston Public School buses arrived late, or not at all, to transport students on the first day of school during its Wednesday council meeting.

Introduction 

Extracurricular activities play a pivotal role in a student’s overall development, offering scope to pursue passions, connect with peers, and build skills. 

Besides, managing these activities along with academic studies can be a challenging act. 

Thus, striking the right balance between academic responsibility and extracurricular activity is essential to ensure well-being and success. 

In this article, we will emphasize top tips for balancing your studies and activities. 

Tips To Balance Academics and Extracurricular Activities

Below-mentioned are the top tips to balance academics and extracurricular activities. 

1. Prioritize And Set Goals

It is vital that you start the academic year with clear priorities and goals. This is crucial for success in academics and extracurricular activities. 

In the first instance, it is vital to identify what matters most to you. 

This could mean excelling in certain subjects, participating in specific sports or clubs, or developing skills. Once you understand your priorities, the next step is to set clear, achievable goals. 

On the other hand, for academics, this could include:

• Targeting certain grades.
• Improving in specific areas.
• Taking on challenging projects.

However, goals for extracurriculars include earning a position in a club, enhancing one’s performance in a sport, or contributing to a community service project.

Hence, by aligning your efforts with your values and goals, you can ensure that your commitments reflect what’s truly important to you.

2. Practice Time Management

Mastering time management is essential for balancing both your academic and extracurricular commitments effectively. 

Thus, it is all about learning how to allocate your time efficiently across different activities, making sure you carve out sufficient time for studying while also engaging in extracurricular activities. 

Therefore, the key is to break down more significant assignments into smaller ones and prioritize your most important tasks into more manageable parts. Furthermore, it is also important to establish a study routine that accommodates your extracurricular schedules. 

However, this approach not only helps maintain an excellent academic record but also ensures that you can fully participate and enjoy extracurricular activities without feeling overwhelmed.

3. Learn To Say No

While it is integral to navigate different opportunities, it is equally important to examine your limits and learn to say no when necessary. 

However, you should avoid overcommitting yourself by carefully assessing every activity’s energy and time required. 

So, try and focus on quality rather than quantity when selecting extracurricular involvement. 

4. Develop Efficient Study Habits

To improve your study time and achieve better results, refining your study habits by discovering methods that align well with your learning style is important. 

Therefore, creating study guides allows you to plan, summarize, and organize information to support more accessible review and recall. If you are looking for external help in academics, there is a Chemistry tutor for JC. The experts offer a nurturing environment and help you learn your science subject easily. 

Furthermore, the surroundings in which you study also play a significant role. This might mean using noise-canceling headphones, finding a quiet corner in a library, or ensuring your study area at home is clean and inviting.

5. Develop Effective Communication Skills

The first step to enhancing your communication skills is to open a dialogue with your teachers or leaders about extracurricular activities. 

Therefore, when you try to initiate a conversation, it is crucial to discuss the nature of the challenges or conflicts you are experiencing concisely and clearly.

Thus, it is vital to approach the situation with honesty and respect. Ensure you express your commitment to your academic responsibilities and extracurricular obligations. 

Moreover, you must also show your dedication and willingness to find a solution that works for everyone involved.

Similarly, proactive communication is also vital. Here, you need not wait for the conflict to escalate or resolve on its own. Rather, you can seek out these conversations early on, which often allows for more flexibility in finding solutions.

6. Seek Support And Guidance 

When students try to balance academics and extracurricular activities, it is vital to seek support from teachers, mentors, advisors, or guidance counselors. 

Therefore, these individuals are well-trained and can offer valuable advice, insights, and resources. Thus, the tips will significantly assist in navigating the complexities of your commitments. 

Moreover, forging connections with peers undergoing similar experiences can be immensely beneficial. Hence, these interactions can provide a supportive network where strategies for success are shared, catering towards mutual growth and understanding.

Wrapping Up 

Finding the right balance between extracurricular and academic activities is an ongoing process that needs time management and self-awareness. 

So, by prioritizing your commitment, you can plan and learn to do your studies for and balance your extracurricular activities. 

So, organize your routine and create a schedule to balance your activities and studies.