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For seniors, graduation conjures memories and emotions, reminding them of when they first set foot on their college campus.

Upon commencement, students gain an opportunity to build a future and forge a new identity. A college degree offers distinction, but it does not make one better, only different. It opens doors and leads to so many opportunities.

As seniors at Colorado State University-Pueblo prepare for graduation, there are many aspects of college to be reminded of.

Katherine Smith has attended CSU-Pueblo for the past two years and will be graduating with a bachelor’s of science in exercise science health promotion and recreation with an emphasis in health promotion and wellness

“With a week till graduation I am nervous, scared, happy, excited and above all ready to be done with my undergrad,” she said.

After graduation Smith will finish up remaining credit hours with an internship in Nepal, working with an organization to implement health education classes and a medical clinic into the community.  After completion of her internship, she hopes to find a job in the field of international health and disease prevention and work in underdeveloped nations.

Shelby Aebischer will graduate with a degree in mass communications with an emphasis in integrated communications. She will be interning with Campus Crusade for Christ for a year upon graduating.

“One of the most memorable times for me during college was probably the end of sophomore year into junior year. I received a $1,500 a semester scholarship with the mass communications department for improved grades,” Aebischer recalled.

Mike Marino will also be graduating with a bachelor’s of science in mass communications with an emphasis in integrated communications.

He has made an effort to give future students important advice.

“Take every opportunity you can and don’t be lazy. Don’t be the normal college kid who is on campus all the time. Go out and try to find people who are doing what you want to do and build a relationship with them. Relationships are so important because you never know what doors might open up,” he said.

Taylor Bachicha, an exercise health promotion major, looks forward to Saturday’s commencement ceremony and the journey she will face as a graduate.

“I am excited and nervous all at the same time. I have worked hard for this day and for my undergraduate so therefore it is exciting to be done. Looking for a job and moving on into the next chapter of my life is what makes me nervous. I am a planner and in this part of my life no matter how much I try to plan my next step there’s still a lot of unknown details,” Bachicha said.

The college experience at CSU-Pueblo has offered many fond memories to its anticipating graduates.

“There are so many memories from this school it’s hard to pick one, but I guess I’d have to go with the National Championship Game in KC, it was such an awesome accomplishment by the football team and I was glad I was able to be there to cheer them on,” Smith said.

Claudia Ricklefs looks forward to walking across the stage and receiving her diploma as a mass communications graduate. She wanted to leave behind some advice for the underclassmen and future students of CSU-Pueblo.

“Just enjoy the time in college. It goes by way too quickly,” she said.

The commencement ceremony for the class of 2015 will be held at the Southwest Motors Event Center at the Colorado State Fair Grounds at 10 a.m. on May 2.

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The El Pomar Foundation of Colorado offers students the opportunity to partake in an internship program, which provides a rewarding summer experience for continuing undergraduate students. Colorado State University-Pueblo is fortunate to have several students from the university chosen for the internship experience this summer.

According to the foundation website, interns receive an introduction to the nonprofit sector and an opportunity to develop professional interests and skills. They work with and are mentored by leaders in philanthropy. They serve an important role by providing administrative support for the foundation’s offices.

Taylor Voss, a junior studying business management at CSU-Pueblo, has been a scholar in the El Pomar Student Leadership Experience Program for the last year and a half.

“Through that program, I saw the tremendous impact El Pomar has on this entire state, and that’s the type of organization I want to be involved in and learn from,” Voss said.

The application process includes submitting a cover letter, resume, college transcripts and two letters of recommendation. More than 50 people from across the state applied for the internship, but after the first round, only 20 people were selected for interviews, and only six students were selected as interns.

Alex Moore, a junior in the mass communications department and one of the selected students, expressed her excitement heading into the internship this summer.

“This internship will help us, as interns, gain nonprofit experience, leadership skills, and endless networking opportunities for the future. I am looking forward to the experience and working with such an amazing staff. Being able to receive this internship has been a dream of mine since high school,” Moore said.

The foundation’s website also said that interns receive assignments based upon the foundation’s needs and, to the extent possible, the interns’ interests. A weekly professional development series provides insight and practice in the professional atmosphere.

The interns from CSU-Pueblo have many strengths that they will be able to offer the El Pomar Foundation, and they anticipate growth as a result of the experience.

Timothy Zercher plans on graduating in May 2016 with an MBA in Marketing and Advertising and has expressed his expectations from the internship.

“I think my strengths are really in organized leadership, and group development. I think the area that I can most develop is effective and inspirational communication. I think that my organizational skills, my work ethic and my passion for learning and developing myself are really the skills that make me a fit for El Pomar,” Zercher said.

“What I’m really excited about is the opportunity to challenge myself in their professional development training and better myself through their leadership growth and development aspects,” Voss said. “It will also increase my knowledge of the issues around the state of Colorado and get me involved in conversations about solutions for those issues in the future.”

Past groups of interns have received training in investment, grant-making, public speaking and career planning. Individual roles and learning experiences are important but interns also receive significant interaction within the class. They have the opportunity to learn concepts through hands-on practice and receive support and guidance to develop professionally.

Voss, Moore, and Zercher have all established themselves at CSU-Pueblo as they are involved in many aspects of the campus community, and they plan on taking their practical experience with them as they start their journey as interns.

Voss is in the President’s Leadership Program, the Honors Program, HSB Dean’s Advisory Council, HSB senator for the Associated Student Government, Healy fellow at the Healy Center, past president of the Rotaract Club of Pueblo, and an intramural sports supervisor.

“All of those experiences have surrounded me with absolutely incredible people that I learned everything I could from and gave me the opportunity to challenge myself in different ways and gain confidence from my experiences,” Voss explained.

Moore has also been involved in the President’s Leadership Program for the past two years, volunteering and doing service projects.

“I believe that is what helped me to be considered for the internship. Service learning and service engagement are very important at the El Pomar Foundation. I have also volunteered for numerous organizations around Pueblo since high school, and I feel that all of that has prepared me for the internship,” Moore said.

Zercher was the 2014 President of the Associated Students’ Government at CSU-Pueblo. He has committed himself to many organizations on campus as the founding member of EnActUs, the Rotaract Club of Pueblo, and the CSU-Pueblo Marketing Club, among others.

“I personally think the most beneficial organization I have worked in as far as helping me to be prepared for El Pomar, is ASG. As president, this last year had probably the most impact because it really taught me how to manage my time and be more organized,” Zercher said.

The interns from CSU-Pueblo are well-prepared to take on the responsibility of an internship with the El Pomar Foundation and are excited to see what the future holds.

Jim Wiley | Photo by Daniel Potter

Associated Students’ Government presidential candidate Jim Wiley and his party Students United are looking for votes in the upcoming student election, which is set to take place April 6 and 7.

Wiley and his administration hope to place a special emphasis on improving CSU-Pueblo’s technology infrastructure and campus dining services.

The initial stages of Wiley’s campaign were a struggle for Students United as they worked at getting everybody on the same page.

“Of course, getting everyone together and on the same page takes a little bit of time. Different things come up in different people’s schedules. For example, this past week two of my candidates had a good friend pass away, so they both had to travel and were unable to be here as a part of the planning process,” Wiley said.

“As soon as they got back, I had to catch them up and get them up to speed on the different things that were happening on campus. It’s a little bit of a struggle to get everybody on the same page but once that’s taken place it’s really easy to work together,” he said.

Wiley said all members of Students United are now ready to promote themselves. Everyone knows what to say, which platforms the party supports and all of the goals they intend to work on throughout the next year.

“Now that we’re a couple steps into the campaign things are really starting to smooth out. It’s an exciting journey, but it’s definitely a learning process,” Wiley said.

Wiley said that because of his background in information technology, he is passionate about the different technology infrastructure on campus. He has become more aware of the issues through his role as IT director last year and in his Hasan School of Business position.

“I was very involved in the IT committee here in ASG. I definitely am set on addressing those issues and getting more funding for that. Actually, we have had quite a bit of success in some of the efforts that ASG has put forward as well as in some of the other departments on campus that are also working on funding for the infrastructure,” Wiley said.

“We have already been able to pull in $1.86 million of state funding, so we are just waiting for that check to be signed and sent to us and we’ll be able to start implementing those upgrades,” he said.

Wiley said CSU-Pueblo is on track to get two new mobile data centers.

“That will really help with the speed of the internet connection and the access into the different services here on campus through the computers,” he said.

In addition, the Students United candidates hope to see a number of wireless upgrades taking place because of the new funds. The campus is well behind other universities in terms of technology resources.

Just last year, campus upgraded to Windows 7, which is a six-year old operating system.

“We still have quite a bit more to do before we’ll be able to roll out Windows 8 and Windows 9 is around the corner. Even Windows 8 is obsolete at this point,” Wiley said.

“We’re definitely going to work to continue pushing that as well as an issue with auxiliary services and housing services. The only thing holding us back is creativity. If we can come up with a creative way to go about solving problems then we’ll be able to accomplish everything we’ll want to and I fully intend to do that,” he said.

Outside of technology, Wiley wants to support student-athletes with better nutrition on campus.

“My true belief is that our Chartwell’s dining services do as best as they are capable, and they are not very capable of doing much,” Wiley said. “Through my experience as an RA in the dorms here on campus, I was eating here in the cafeteria and the food was not nutritious. I felt sick after eating a meal and I would often not finish a meal because of that.”

The Students United candidates want to focus on adjusting the food and providing better nutrition for the students, the staff and especially the athletes.

“To go into something as say ‘I’m gonna mess all this up and start over from the ground up,’ is a terrible approach and I would hate to do that. I don’t want to do that in this case with the dining services, but I want to suggest an alternative, and I have to prove that the alternative is a better solution for the problem,” Wiley said.

Wiley said last year, CSU-Pueblo was planning to implement a sandwich shop for students.

“I thought it was a good idea and said we should go with it. A year has passed and still nothing has happened,” he said. “Unfortunately, Chartwell’s is not the most direct, aggressive and timely at accomplishing things. They don’t have to be: they have a ten-year contract. They can take their time and only emphasize their progress at the time the contract needs renewal.”

Wiley and his party hope to establish independent contracts with vendors rather than go through a middleman like Chartwell’s to communicate with Starbucks or other franchises or corporate offices that would be willing to establish a presence on campus.

Similar solutions have been implemented at Metro State University, as well as other Colorado universities, he said.

“It’s time that we have nutrition that can support our learning, our physical activities and our success,” Wiley said.

Wiley ran for office because he saw a need and noticed that there were certain aspects of this university that needed to be addressed head on.

“The typical case for ASG has been that people take the position for the potential to improve their resume to have a nice additional $200 a month,” he said.

“People say all the time that ASG gets paid to do nothing. You see that on Yik Yak or the confessions page and it hurts me to see things like that because I am very passionate about this organization, about this campus and about accomplishing things,” he said.

Wiley said he wants to change the impression that ASG members don’t accomplish anything.

“I’d like to counteract that by doing many things,” he said.

Wiley said he believes his personal experiences have helped his campaign.

“I transferred from CU-Boulder about 14 months ago. Since my time here, I have experienced living on and off campus,” he said. “I made it a point to get involved in different activities and organizations on campus. I joined the ASG and became a member of the dean’s advisor council at the HSB.”

Wiley also started CSU-Pueblo’s yoga club and is a member of the fraternity Lambda Chi Alpha.

“I experienced a lot of the different recreational facilities on campus. I also joined the accounting club and participated in some of their events, but right now ASG is my sole focus,” he said.

Wiley said that building relationships with people who have been here longer than he has and experiencing some of the same things they do has benefitted him in his campaign.

Juan Rodriguez | Photo by Daniel Potter

Juan Rodriguez is the candidate for vice president running alongside Wiley. Rodriguez was a senator before Wiley was and is still in the position.

“Juan is a standup guy and an expecting father so that makes him a man about to experience many more things than I have and than I am prepared to at this point,” Wiley said. “It gives him a perspective that will complement me as president and make our executive ticket that much stronger in moving forward.”

“Juan complements my personality in many ways so I think that we will be able to work well together throughout the next year and accomplish many things together. With the two of us in a discussion together, we are able to come in at different angles,” he said.

Wiley said he wants to emphasize that he is not running for president just to be the president.

“I want to become president to handle the roles that the resident should be responsible for, and to accomplish the things that the President is expected to accomplish that many not have been fulfilled in the past,” Wiley said.

Wiley and his party want to be a strong representative voice for the student body.

“We are not interested in pursuing ideas that to many sound cool but only benefit a few students. Yes, we will take a look at everything, but we are going to select and pursue only those issues that will benefit the majority of the student body,” Wiley said.

“If we are only focused on issues that impact 10 or 15 percent of the student body, we are doing the entire school a disservice. We would be wasting our time and the student fee money. We need to be committed to improving life on campus for the majority of students. I am 100 percent committed to that,” he said.

Photo courtesy of harveymackay.com

Throughout the month of March, CSU-Pueblo has participated in the celebration of Women’s History Month by offering various events related to women’s studies.

On March 17, history professor Judy Gaughan gave a presentation, First Ladies and Emperors’ Wives, in which she compared the women of the Roman Empire and the wives of the U.S. presidents.

Gaughan’s presentation focused on “the relationship between power and gender and also whether there is a line between private and public displays relating to gender,” she said.

The presentation covered the societal perception of genders, specifically women.

Gaughan said she found similarities between first lady Martha Washington and the wife of a Roman emperor, Livia Drusilla.

“Both women had more money than their husbands, more connections, and offered ideal examples of what women should be during their time,” Gaughan said.

Following Gaughan’s presentation, CSU-Pueblo women’s rights group I Am That Girl held an open debate over the book and film “Fifty Shades of Grey.”  Approximately 13 people participated in the discussion, including one male.

The discussion focused largely on the portrayal of BDSM culture and whether or not “Fifty Shades of Grey” advocates for sexual choices and sexual preferences and whether it permits abusive relationships.

“Lots of people think that the dominant has all of the power and uses the submissive as a play toy for his or her pleasure. In the book and movie, Christian tells Ana that she has full control due to the fact that she can say no,” said Chelsea Frick, a student who participated in the discussion.

Discussion participant Juliette Mogenson said she doesn’t think the book should be sold in the teen section of bookstores.

“Teens do not have the critical thinking skills about the situation and are impressionable. Because it’s a top-selling book and the movie makes sex seem cool and romantic, teens are getting involved in unsafe situations. The book and movie make it seem okay for women to be treated in such a way as Christian treats Ana,” Mogenson said.

Eliana Taylor said she thinks the book encourages women to make their own sexual choices.

“We don’t have a right to say whether or not these personal choices are wrong. Being submissive is different than being battered. Just because Ana was submissive in the bedroom doesn’t mean she submitted to Christian in public realms,” she said.

During the third round of the discussion, students discussed whether or not “Fifty Shades of Grey” normalizes abusive relationships.

“I fear that women will be exposed to this and think that its normal to be hit by their significant other, that they should like it. And I’m afraid that men will think to themselves that physical harm could be something new and exciting to try to liven up the bedroom,” participant Trevor Hardin said.

Taylor said she doesn’t think the movie normalizes abuse but instead puts a spotlight on BDSM culture. She also said that as the book progresses, the abuse becomes more minimal.

Makayla Miller argued that “even though Ana leaves Christian she ends up going back to him. This seems like a problem because it shows women that they can run back to the same unhealthy relationship.”

Miller went on to discuss the similarity between porn and “Fifty Shades of Grey.”

“Women who are disturbed by men watching porn are reading this book. It’s a double standard. We can’t be offended by men’s choices when we are essentially doing the same thing,” she said.

Photo courtesy of Diversity Resources Center

Numerous Women’s History Month events are scheduled on the Colorado State University-Pueblo campus in March to celebrate the accomplishments of women.

The campus events, which include refreshments, will be co-sponsored by the Diversity Resource Center, the Latino Student’s Union, CSU-Pueblo Women’s Studies Department, CSU-Pueblo Fraternity and Sorority Life, CSU-Pueblo International Students Association and SOUL.

According to the History channel, Women’s History Month in the United States grew out of a weeklong celebration of women’s contributions to culture, history and society in the school district of Sonoma, California in 1978.

Presentations were given at dozens of schools, hundreds of students participated in a “Real Woman” essay contest and a parade was held in downtown Santa Rosa.

To coincide with Women’s History Month 2011, the White House issued a 50-year progress report on the status of women in the United States. It found that younger women are now more likely than their male counterparts to hold a college degree and that the number of men and women in the labor force has nearly equalized.

A few years later, the idea had caught on within communities, school districts and organizations across the country.

In 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first presidential proclamation declaring the week of March 8 as National Women’s History Week. The U.S. Congress followed suit the next year, passing a resolution establishing a national celebration. Six years later, the National Women’s History Project successfully petitioned Congress to expand the event to the entire month of March.

International Women’s Day, a global celebration of the economic, political and social achievements of women, took place for the first time on March 8, 1911. Many countries around the world celebrate the holiday with demonstrations, educational initiatives and customs such as presenting women with gifts and flowers.

The United Nations has sponsored International Women’s Day since 1975.

The U.N. General Assembly adopted its resolution of the observance of International Women’s Day “to recognize the fact that securing peace and social progress and the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms require the active participation, equality and development of women; and to acknowledge the contribution of women to the strengthening of international peace and security.”

Each year, March is designated as National Women’s History Month to ensure that the history of American women will be recognized and celebrated in schools, workplaces and communities throughout the country.

The month’s activities began at 5 p.m. on March 2 in the DRC, which is located in OUC 031. There was a discussion of how beauty standards and perceptions have changed for women throughout the decades.

On March 9 at noon in the DRC, Dr. Dora Luz Cobian Klein, a CSU-Pueblo professor of Women’s Studies, Chicano Studies, and Spanish, will discuss the women who have made an important difference in her own life.

Participants will learn what to do and how to protect themselves in threatening situations with a self-defense class at 6 p.m. on March 10 in the Multipurpose Room of the Student Recreation Center. Comfortable clothing should be worn.

International student members of CISA will share how women are seen and portrayed in different cultures beginning at 5 p.m. on March 11 in the DRC.

Learning the importance of choosing to eat healthier is the topic of a women’s health lunch led by CSU-Pueblo alumnus Perla Ontiveros at noon on March 12 in the DRC.

The Latino Student Union organization will sponsor a “Celebrando a la Mujer” dinner and dance on March 13 from 6 p.m. to midnight in the OUC Ballroom. The event is free for CSU-Pueblo students with ID and $5 to the public. Entertainment will include a DJ and a performance by the Ballet Folklorico.

Dr. Judy Gaughan of the History Department will be presenting “First Ladies and Emperors’ Wives” on March 17 at 3:30 p.m. in the Diversity Resource Center. The talk is free, and refreshments will be provided. Dr. Gaughan’s presentation is part of the Women’s Studies program’s “Cool Women, Hot Ideas” program, which features a different faculty speaker each semester discussing research related to women’s issues.

Domestic Violence will be the topic of the Re-Thinking Diversity event at noon on March 18 in the DRC. Mass communications professor Cheryl Law will share how she survived a 20-year abusive relationship and now chooses to teach others by raising awareness of domestic violence.

The month’s activities will close with the film, Luminarias at 6 p.m. on March 31 in the DRC. Snacks will be provided. In the film, four professional women meet at an East Los Angeles restaurant called Luminarias to share secrets about their careers, love, family and sex.

For more information on any of these events, contact the DRC at 719-549-2627.

Students feel the OUC needs comfortable gathering places like this corner in the LARC.
Photo by Dustin Cox

To draw in new students and keep existing ones, universities across the country work to improve dining, housing, and recreational facilities. Colorado State University-Pueblo is no exception, adding a new educational building and a new sports field in 2015, and next on the list is a renovation of the Occhiato University Center.

Over the last 73 years, CSU-Pueblo has evolved from a junior college serving the city of Pueblo, to a comprehensive, regional university offering a variety of degree programs.

While the current OUC remains stuck in the trendiness of years passed, students Tuesday offered the architects their thoughts on the designs and renovations during a feedback discussion.

Joseph Miller, a freshman engineering student, said, “I would like to see more use of technology in this building. Being raised around decent technology, it would be nice to see more incorporation of technology throughout this building.”

“I really like the more futuristic designs in these renovation plans,” he said, “I think, right now, the building is outdated. Renovations would definitely help during tours and be more appealing to student prospects.”

The OUC’s primary purpose is to serve as the “living room” for CSU-Pueblo students, where they can have a meal, attend a club meeting, check out the campus bookstore or gather with friends.

During the discussions, one student requested more lounge areas in the OUC.

“They tried to do that a little bit, but these couches are old and not very comfortable. Whereas in the LARC, it’s more comfortable and cozy, and there’s coffee there. So I feel like if they can bring more of that aspect to the OUC, then more students would come.”

Genesis, a sophomore at CSU-Pueblo said, “I feel like this building needs to be more welcoming. I would like to see more recreational areas with pool tables and things where students can come hang out between classes and kill time. Right now, it doesn’t seem like a place where anyone would want to go and hang out. It’s just dead.”

According to some students, the library on campus is the choice hangout spot for most students, offering comfort, liveliness and a modern atmosphere.

“I currently spend a lot of time at the library hanging out, and I think if the OUC offered a more relaxed and cool atmosphere, I would spend more time here,” one student said.

Sam Hughes, a junior transfer student, said, “I don’t come to the OUC very often. There’s not a whole lot of reasons for me to come here, and the LARC is so available that I’m not eager to come here. I would like to see the OUC become more available to the students because if I were to want to come here and do something there’s not a whole lot of room.”

Improvements to the OUC will create a gathering place for students, which is a desired destination rather than a required stop.

“I’m a wrestler, so I have a lot of spare time on campus waiting for practice after classes. I go to the Rec Center sometimes, but a lot of the time I get bored and don’t know what to do. I would definitely come to the OUC more often if there was more to do,” Hughes said.

Tanner Thomas, a freshman at CSU-Pueblo, said, “I would be more inclined to come here if there was more recreational stuff to do. I voted for this idea of having pool tables and cool hangout spots. I haven’t really been too eager to go downstairs and check stuff out because I feel like its boring and plain.”

An updated OUC will provide a technological and comfortable environment that promotes the university’s ability to remain on the cutting edge. The renovations will provide flexible space so the physical environment can change to accommodate future growth and trends.

In the planned renovations, there will be an improvement to the image of the facility, making it more inviting and welcoming to the students, faculty, staff and community.

Students would also like to see more done in the cafeteria.

Sophomore Eliana Taylor said, “I like some of these designs with more open dining areas with booths that make it look like a restaurant, and not just like everyone is shoved into a table somewhere. I feel like the dining hall is really crowded right now, and you have to worry about bumping into someone’s seat.”

Others requested a more modern environment found in sports bars while some were looking for a cozy place to grab a bite to eat.

Overall, the university hopes to promote unity among students with the renovations of the OUC by “providing a welcoming environment supportive of gathering spaces for student enrichment.”

Leisure space will be expanded to promote interaction among students, faculty and staff making the OUC the “hearth stone” of the campus.

The marketing club has teamed up with Ida Rhodes Enrichment Fund to promote recreational activities among local children. Photo by Daniel Potter.

The Marketing Club at Colorado State University-Pueblo has been working to create a logo, brochure and application form for the Ida Rhodes Enrichment Fund.

The fund was created to help impoverished children develop by providing them with recreational activities outside of school.

Local business leader Burnie Zercher approached the club to help with development of certain aspects of promoting the fund.

Recreational activities that are not academic in nature, like the ones the fund is working to promote, allow students to relax and play. Occasional academic aspects of recreation activities can be pointed out, but the primary lessons learned in recreational activities are in the areas of social skills, teamwork, leadership, competition and discipline.

“The fund is intended to help kids pay for community activities that their parents might otherwise not be able to afford,” Zercher said.

These activities can include soccer, dance classes, art and T-ball, among others.

Enrichment activities expand on students’ learning in ways that differ from the methods used during the school day. They often are interactive and project-focused and enhance a student’s education in new ways. These activities are intended to be fun for the student, while they work to instruct knowledge.

“Catholic Charities counselors will administer the fund. In order for the child to be eligible, the parents must be involved in one of the many Catholic Charities programs. We hope that people will be motivated to donate to the fund once it is made public,” Zercher said. “There is a fairly large chunk of money sitting there already.”

The partnership with Zercher and the Ida Rhodes Child Enrichment Fund will benefit each party.

“I feel that this fund is important for our community, because it gives children the opportunity to learn a new skills, develop a pre-existing one and make new friends,” said Samantha Derosier, president of the marketing club.

Children involved in extracurricular activities, especially the arts have been shown in studies to preform better in school and be more likely to be involved in their community.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, school-age children between the ages of five and fourteen spend up to 80 percent of their time outside of school.

During the time they are away from school, there becomes an opportunity to help children grow and acquire important social, emotional, and physical skills and to help them develop lifelong interests.

“The Marketing Club has taken on this project because we believe in giving back to our community however we can. It is also a good opportunity for our members to work outside of the CSU-Pueblo campus and get to work on something different from what we normally get to do,” Derosier said.

The Marketing Club’s mission statement is to provide our members with real-life experience, the opportunity for professional portfolio development, in addition to other resume-building opportunities and growth in collaboration skills.

“We also have a lot of fun, and try to make our club more of a collaborative community,” Derosier said.

Image from clker.com

As the calendar turns to February, most of us think about Valentine’s Day and romance. For some people this day consists of flowers, jewelry and chocolates. For others, it’s just another day. Valentine’s Day is an odd holiday, and people either absolutely love it or despise it.

Students on the Colorado State University- Pueblo campus have various opinions on the holiday.

Sarah Zarr, a junior at CSU-Pueblo has fond memories of past Valentine’s Days.

“Valentine’s Day has always been my older sister’s favorite holiday, because she loves red and pink and hearts. When we were young, she would start planning for Valentine’s Day in January. She would throw an entire party for my immediate family. She would design different games, make beautiful cards for us, and buy us candy and little gifts that we would normally have to win or search for. We have some of the best family memories from Valentine’s Day…”

For other students, Valentine’s Day may be their least favorite holiday.

Michael Liptak, a mass communications major said, “I believe it’s a silly holiday, and I don’t really see the point of it. It’s a day people tell you to do something special for your significant other…which in my mind, diminishes it.”

Tyler Stone, a graduate student at CSU-Pueblo, agreed with Liptak.

“In my opinion, if you need a yearly calendar date to be romantic and show your significant other that you care, you probably shouldn’t be in a relationship in the first place,” he said. “They deserve that communication and attention year around.”

A lot of people in relationships look forward to the holiday when they get to spend time with their partner, but students who are single have expressed that they feel lonely on Feb. 14.

But there is something that needs to be understood about Valentine’s Day. People should realize that Valentine’s Day is about love, not necessarily about couples.

Alana Buglewitcz, a freshman on campus, said that she is irritated “that people mainly focus on the fact of Valentine’s Day being specifically for a significant other.”

“I know other people do, but I never feel the need to have a relationship on Valentine ’s Day… because I make it about loving the people around me, whether that’s friends or family,” Zarr said. “I love holidays because they bring people together and remind us to treat each other special and show that appreciation. That goes for Valentine’s Day too.”

Although Valentine’s Day has evolved into a commercialized event and labeled a “Hallmark Holiday,” there are other ways to celebrate the day in order to make it more bearable.

Whether a person is already in a relationship or free, they can work to make Feb. 14 a day of kindness or universal love. That doesn’t mean you should be taking every person to a fancy dinner, but rather you should simply spread your generosity, even toward those you’re barely acquainted with.

One way you can have fun this Valentine’s Day is to vary your celebration. This means spending less time in snobby restaurants or movie theaters, and go to places that are more relaxed. Get a group of friends or your significant other and go to an arcade or a bowling alley.

More often than not, people make Valentine’s Day stressful by concentrating on whether or not they are in a relationship, how much money they should spend, or what the best date is.

“I think (Valentine’s Day) is genuinely about love, and it’s meant to be a holiday where you can express your love to anyone, a family member, a friend, etc. People just blow it out of context,” Buglewitcz said .

There’s a lot more that people can do Feb. 14, instead sitting in front of a television with a carton of Ben & Jerry’s or sitting in front of each other pushing expensive food around on plates. Valentine’s Day should be a time where people celebrate with the important people in their lives.

“Love is a verb, and Valentine’s Day reminds us to take action for those we love, whether romantic love, family love or friendship love, by showing them appreciation. The day doesn’t have to be huge or grand or bought, it just has to show the people in your life that you care,” Zarr said.

The CSU-Pueblo Foundation provides scholarships for hundreds of students.
File photo

Financial stress is an everyday reality for college students. According to a census survey, nearly 75 percent of students work and attend school, and an average of 15 percent of those students work full time while trying to maintain an academic schedule.

The Colorado State University-Pueblo Foundation exists to provide sustainable financial support to the university and its students in the form of private gifts and grants to achieve a shared goal of excellence.

According to the 2014 Stewardship Report, the CSU-Pueblo Foundation is continually working to create partnerships and build relationships to help the university and its 4,700 students earn a college degree.

In the 2014-2015 academic year, the Foundation awarded a record number of scholarships to students at CSU-Pueblo, giving an average scholarship of $2,250 to each scholar.

Todd Kelly, CEO and president of the CSU-Pueblo Foundation said, “As the Foundation nears the midway point of our three-year, $25 million ‘On The Move’ campaign, I am very proud to report that we have raised more than $11 million. The goal of the campaign is to increase scholarship opportunities, and I am pleased to report that we were able to provide $1.8 million in scholarships to about 800 CSU-Pueblo students.”

The application for the 2015-2016 academic year has opened on Jan. 1, and the Foundation anticipates that they will award close to that same amount.

Nick Potter, director of Scholarships and Donor Relations, said, “Last year, there were 2200 students that applied, and the year before that there was a little bit more. Roughly, you can say that there are 2,400 students that apply for these scholarships. That number is both students that have completed the entire application and students that have partially completed the application. Students that have completed the entire application are about 1,600.”

The application process is designed to be easy for the students as there is only one application to fill out online that will be submitted for every scholarship available.

“Basically, students can go onto their PAWS account and click on the ‘scholarships’ link, and it takes them directly to the scholarship application. They fill out one application, and then I do the legwork and actually match them to the scholarships that they’re applicable to receive. The students have to fill out one application so it’s one and done,” Potter said.

The Foundation office will go through each student’s profile and match him or her to the scholarships that fit best. The application process saves students a great deal of time because they do not have to seek out scholarships and apply one by one.

“If there is a scholarship that says they need a female nursing student of German decent with a 3.5 GPA, I find every student in the system and match them to that scholarship… The most that anybody will ever have to fill out is probably four essays. Four essays to open you up to all of the scholarships is a pretty good trade off,” Potter said.

Depending on the scholarship, the student could potentially be asked to participate in an interview process in order to receive the it. For example, The Kane Scholarship, which is a full, four-year scholarship at CSU-Pueblo, has a two-round interview process.

The Foundation qualifies under the 501 C3 nonprofit arm of the university and strives to develop relationships with donors as they actively seek to increase the funds for the organization. There are about 800 scholarship donors, including the Kiwanis Club, the Assistants League of Pueblo, the Construction Foundation of Colorado, the E M Christmas Foundation, ENT Federal Credit Union, the Southern Colorado Press Club, US BANK, Wells Fargo and the Classified Staff Council.

“We have individual donors who may just want to give back to the university community because they attended this school. They might have put us in their trust or in their will when they t,” Potter said. “We do what’s called Legacy Giving, which allows us to get into their will and trust plans so that when they do pass away they donate some money. We work on individual contributions with annual mailings, memorial scholarship mailings, stewardship reports, ‘thank you’ letters and pictures from their students.”

Other scholarship donors include national businesses such as Pepsi and Carpet Direct. As part of Pepsi’s contract with the university, they are required to give money to the Foundation for scholarships. Carpet Direct is in its 10th year of awarding $100,000 in scholarships, which means they have donated $1 million in the past 10 years.

“The President’s Gala is our big annual event in May and exists solely to help bring in money for student scholarships. Last year we brought in a little over $80,000 through this event,” Potter said.

One of the goals of the Foundation is to maintain meaningful relationships with all of its donors. Every fall, a scholarship banquet called “Friends and Scholars” is held toward the middle of September. Scholarship recipients are required to attend based on their contracts.

“This event is important because these funds are from private individuals, and so a lot of students think that they are getting money from a state budget that just kind of falls from the sky, and what this luncheon does is connect the scholar to the donor,” Potter said.

Not only is it important for the scholars to meet their donors, who have made a contribution to their pursuit of higher education, but it is also necessary for the donors to see that they are making a difference in the lives of many students.

“I met this one student who was just phenomenal. She had basically gotten one A- her entire time here, but she never, ever got a scholarship. I awarded her two scholarships. A few months later, I talked to her and I got to know her, and she shared with me that she was actually getting ready to quit school because she wasn’t getting any financial recognition. And she was getting worried about having to pay for school, because not only was she active at school, but she also had three jobs,” Potter said.

“When you have students who work really hard, and you never show them that you can kind of ease that burden, you really need to paint that picture for the donor so they see how they can make a difference.”

The Foundation’s mission is to advance CSU-Pueblo’s mission through philanthropic efforts designed to supplement and enhance University programs, activities and educational opportunities.

The deadline for the Foundation scholarship application is March 1, and a link to the application can be found on the financial aid page at www.csupueblo.edu.

Students work out at the CSU-Pueblo Rec Center
Photo by Dustin Cox

It’s not unusual for students to experience varying degrees of stress, anxiety, and depression as they encounter both academic and non-academic stresses during their college experience. Non-academic stressors can include personal relationships, work life, and family, and because of the pressure of managing all aspects of college life, mental health issues have increased among students.

Seventy-five percent of mental disorders are diagnosed before the age of 24, according to a study done at Penn State University. For traditional college students, this means that many mental health issues will emerge before or during their time in college.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness reports that women are two times more likely than men to experience depression during their lifetime. In their survey of college students, 38 percent of students were recorded as having either depression or anxiety disorders. Eighty-two percent of students who were recorded to have these disorders were female, compared to 16 percent who were male and two percent who were transsexual.

According to the American Psychological Association, “anxiety is the top presenting concern among college students (41.6 percent), followed by depression (36.4 percent) and relationship problems (35.8 percent). Many students search for an outlet to their academic and non-academic stressors, which often leads to unhealthy choices involving alcohol and drugs.”

There is a healthy way to combat mental health issues, and many college campuses offer the resource needed to do so. At Colorado State University- Pueblo all enrolled students are given free access to the recreation center on campus.

Junior Kayla Booton said, “I think it is important to have a workout somewhere in your routine because it will help to destress in a healthy way compared to partying and drinking, which can inhibit and damage your body even more. When you work out it gives you more energy to get through the day, and you feel healthier.”

Many students at the recreation center on CSU- Pueblo’s campus exercise between one and three hours per day and said that exercise positively affects their mental health.

“I get about an hour and a half [of exercise] on most days, but if I have a lot to do, then I get about 30-45 minutes,” Booton said.

When struggling with anxiety or depression, exercise often seems like the last thing students want to do, but exercise can make a big difference in their mental health.

Brittani Trevithick, a senior at CSU-Pueblo said, “Before entering college, I hated working out. But because of all the stress and demands college places in your life, I found working out to be my outlet from it all.”

Some researchers suspect exercise alleviates chronic depression and anxiety by increasing serotonin which is the neurotransmitter in antidepressants and antianxiety medications.

“After working out, I believe it gives me a burst of energy to finish out the day and all the other things I need to accomplish. It also gives me time to just clear my mind,” Trevithick said.

“I think [exercise] does positively affect my mental health because it usually decreases my stress and I have more focus and energy for the rest of my day,” agreed DJ Aguilar, a criminology major at CSU-Pueblo.

Students who have experienced the positive effects of exercise on a daily basis have great advice and encouragement for other college students.

“My advice to other students would be to get up early and work out. It’s a relaxing way to start the day, and you feel more energized and alert throughout the day,” Aguilar said.

“My advice would be not to think of exercise as going to the gym. There are a lot of ways to get daily exercise such as taking walks, sports, dancing, and so on. I even get my studying in while I am riding the stationary bike,” said Cristi Meyer, a mass communications student.

The recreation center at CSU-Pueblo offers its students many opportunities to work out which include all types of exercise. Fitness classes consist of circuit training, high intensity interval training, kick boxing, yoga, and Zumba. The facility is also equipped with basketball courts, a rock climbing wall, a swimming pool, and cardio and weight rooms.

“I recently have become really interested in lifting, but I also still really like to do some type of cardio on occasion.” Trevithick said. “I really enjoy lifting because you get to set goals for yourself and get the satisfaction of meeting those goals. I also enjoy it because you are pushing your body to its limit.

“I would also say, no matter how busy you are, you should set aside 30 minutes and fit in some exercise. It will not only make you feel better physically, but also make you feel a lot better emotionally. You will immediately notice a difference in your stress levels and your attitude in general.”

“My favorite kind of exercise is to run on the treadmill because that is how I let off all my frustrations. I also like Zumba because you feel like you are working out but having fun at the same time,” Booton added.

The CSU-Pueblo Recreation Center is open Monday-Thursday from 6 a.m.-11 p.m., Fridays from 6 a.m.-9 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday from 2 p.m.-10 p.m.

For more information about the facility and the fitness classes, visit the recreation center website at www.csupueblo.edu/SR.