An analysis done by Howard Bunsis, professor of accounting at Eastern Michigan University, reveals Colorado State University-Pueblo may be facing less financial hardship than previously thought.

In the report sent to faculty on Dec. 23, Bunsis looked at financial statements from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and at CSU-Pueblo’s Statement of Revenues, Expenses and Changes in Net Position worksheet. His general conclusion was that “the loss of staff is not necessary.”

More specifically, Bunsis found that the documents report a decline in tuition revenue from 2012 to 2013, which has been stated by CSU System officials. However, revenues remained the same.

He said the 2013-2014 operating budget has increased nearly 4.5 percent. In a phone interview he commented, “If it’s so bad, why are total revenues increasing?”

CSU System Director of Public Relations Kyle Henley has said they haven’t seen the results at all, and President Lesley Di Mare is not on campus until Friday and was unable to confirm the CSU System did not receive the report.

Bunsis stated that even though tuition revenue took an estimated drop from $30.3 million to $28.8 million, the total growth of total revenue could cover the difference.

“The actual $5 million deficit is due to an increase in expenses,” Bunsis wrote in a Dec. 22 email to Jonathan Rees, CSU-Pueblo history professor and American Association of University Professors Colorado Conference co-president. “My big problem is with institutional support, which increased from $2.859 million to $3.293 million from 2012 to 2013. Why is upper level admin going up so much?  And how can they ask faculty to be laid off given these increases in admin costs?”

Also alarming, Bunsis said, was a non-operating expense, which was nearly $3.2 million for 2014 but only $25,000 in 2013.

“Without this $3 million item, the total difference between revenues and expenses is only $2 million,” Bunsis said. “It’s a major red flag.”

Lowering inflated administration costs would significantly alleviate financial problems, he added. “The big picture here is that the loss of staff is not necessary.”

The CSU-Pueblo chapter of the AAUP asked Bunsis to do the report because he is also the chair of collective bargaining with the organization, which highly discourages layoffs at universities.

Several staff and faculty members at Colorado State University-Pueblo gathered on Dec. 17 to protest against looming budget cuts that would eliminate close to 50 jobs.

A main concern from many of the staff and faculty was that they have had little to no say in the decisions concerning the budget. In a span of three days, deans were expected to evaluate their colleges and submit recommendations to the president on which positions to cut.

In a statement released by the CSU-Pueblo American Association of University Professors chapter, professors said there was “minimal faculty input” and not enough time to examine other possibilities of balancing the budget.

The college deans, however, say they have done everything possible to communicate with faculty considering the short notice that they themselves were given.

The college deans first learned of the $3.3 million deficit and required cuts on Dec. 11 at the University Leadership Team meeting. At this meeting, recommendations for potential reduction in staffing were requested from all units across campus.

After learning of the budget cuts, Roy Sonnema, dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, said he met with department chairs and administrative assistants later the same day to explain about the deficit and possible elimination of positions.

“I later heard reports that some chairs had a difficult time reaching all their department faculty because it was exam week. I am guessing faculty members have heard the news at different times depending on their individual circumstances,” Sonnema said.

Carol Loats, professor of history and CSU-Pueblo AAUP chapter president, confirmed that Sonnema met with department chairs, but it was very last minute and would not have happened if people hadn’t been around. Because final exams were underway, Loats said the meeting happened by chance.

She added there hasn’t been any communication from Sonnema since the president’s announcement.

Bruce Raymond, dean of the Hasan School of Business, held a meeting two days after learning of the budget cuts. The entire HSB faculty was invited to the meeting to provide input on the required budget reduction, but only about one third of the faculty showed up at the meeting.

Raymond then forwarded the consensus from that meeting on to the university provost and the president on Dec. 16.

Rick Kreminski, dean of the College of Science and Math, said he also met with the department chairs, and expected them to communicate with the faculty.

“There were some things that were public knowledge that we could share, but any cuts have to be discussed with the chairs in private,” Kreminski said. “We can’t just talk about cutting a specific position on a small campus like this. Everyone would know who was being talked about.”

Kreminski also said that the deans are trying their hardest to minimize the impact of cuts on students and staff.

“We exist here to educate students. Nothing critical to academics will be cut, though it is possible that class size might increase,” Kreminski said.

Kreminski is also looking at cutting those whom it would impact the least, such as visiting professors, many of whom have no expectations of staying another year anyway.

No final decisions on cuts have been made yet.

“How certain positions will be cut I cannot say, that is a decision the president will make.  My hope is that those reductions will be minimal, especially in the area of faculty.  But with the university facing a $3.3 million deficit for FY 2014-15, I do anticipate positions will be eliminated,” Sonnema said.

By Kara Mason

Nearly 40 Colorado State University-Pueblo faculty and staff gathered in front of the fountain to rally against proposed budget cuts, which could result in the loss of 50 university jobs.

CSU-Pueblo’s American Association of University Professors chapter organized the rally, and they said they want a say in how the budget cuts are decided.

“What may be less clear to some of you, is that job cuts are not a ‘possibility.’ They are a foregone conclusion,” said Fawn-Amber Montoya, professor of history and Chicano studies.

Earlier in the week, President Lesley Di Mare said in an email that all positions are being analyzed and suggestions for cuts by unit directors are scheduled for Dec. 18.

Many of the faculty and staff say there is no communication between deans and the departments.

“While faculty do not dismiss a need to be frugal in difficult fiscal times, we were not allowed time to discuss this situation among departments or colleges, nor were we allowed the opportunity to adequately assess the impact that immediate budgetary cuts would have on our ability to serve students and our community,” the AAUP’s statement said.

Carol Loats, president of the university’s AAUP chapter, said the deans of the colleges have a responsibility to communicate and they aren’t fulfilling it.

Staff and faculty said they want to provide more input about how the budget is balanced, because there may be other ways.

The CSU System was operating on a $200 million surplus last year. Jonathan Rees, professor of history, said it would be easy for them to bail out CSU-Pueblo, but the chancellor has already decided budget cuts are necessary.

An audience member asked, “What can we do?” Loats encouraged people to write to the administration and their state representatives.

“They (representatives) can speak with the CSU Board of Governors and the Joint Budget Committee,” Rees said.

CSU-Pueblo to celebrate the 80th homecoming anniversary. Photo courtesy of CSU-P archives

The Alumni Association will team up with the Office of Student Engagement and Leadership to host a Welcome Back Breakfast, a tailgate and an alumni dinner for students and alumni for homecoming week.

There are approximately 12,000 alumni living in Pueblo County, according to Tracy Samora, director of Alumni Relations. The support these alumni show for the university is strong, Samora said.

“We also have quite a few alumni that are season ticket holders and travel from Colorado Springs,” Samora said.

The association and Friends of Football, the alumni group that brought football back to the university and raised money for the stadium, have hosted a tailgate party on the west side of the ThunderBowl before each home football game since football returned to CSU-Pueblo six years ago.

“The Alumni/Community tailgate usually has anywhere from 200-250 attendees,” Samora said.

Students and community fans are also welcome to attend the tailgate for food and drinks, Samora said. The cost is $8 and begins at noon.

Judy Hildner is a graduate of the class of 1970 and a board member for the Alumni Association. She volunteers for several sporting events, including the alumni tailgate party.

As a mass communications and graphic communications double major, Hildner went on to become a sports writer and editor for the Pueblo Chieftain, and has become more involved in the association since her retirement last September.

“I always had to work Friday and Saturday nights. So I never got to do them (the tailgates),” Hildner said.

Through volunteering with other alumni, Hildner said she has had a lot of fun.

“We’re all committed, just to be involved. I don’t know what difference I will make but I’ve really enjoyed it,” she said.

During Hildner’s time as a student, only part of the campus was on the Belmont campus, part of it was still at its old location on the Orman campus, where Pueblo Community College is currently located. Other sports were a part of homecoming week, but Hildner believes football is best fit for the celebration.

“Football just lends itself to all of the homecoming events,” she said.

To celebrate alumnus, the association will also host an Alumni Association Reception at Angelo’s on the Riverwalk on Friday from 5-8 p.m.

“(It’s) downtown so we can invite folks be part of the community because the community is such a good partner with the university,” Samora said.

For $10, those that attend will receive food and drinks. There will also be free boat rides for alumni.

The Welcome Back Breakfast is planned for 8 a.m. the morning of the game for alumni and parents of students at CSU-Pueblo, which costs $6 to attend.

This is the second year for the breakfast, said Samora. This year, different departments will have tables at the event specifically for their alumni. The nursing program is, so far, the only department to confirm their table, but others are expected to later this week, Samora said.

The association will also offerself-guided tours of the campus to those attending the breakfast.

“We like to encourage alumni to come back and take in the campus at their leisure.  We provide campus maps and information about the art walk,” Samora said.

For many alumni who volunteer, including Hildner, the campus is the biggest noticeable change from when they graduated, but Hildner notes there has also been a change in atmosphere. It has gotten better.

Games used to be held at Dutch Clark Stadium, but since the construction of the stadium, Hildner believes has improved spirit.

“There is much more of a presence on campus for the students,” Hildner said.

The events planned by the Alumni Association and Office of Student Engagement and Leadership are as listed, the list can also be found at www.colostate-pueblo.edu:

On Friday (Oct. 4), a pep rally and bonfire will be held in the dirt lot between the Student Recreation Field and the water towers at 8 p.m. and will feature student athletes, the melodies of the CSU-Pueblo Marching Band, and performances by the cheer and dance teams. At 9 p.m., Powder Puff Football will begin on the Student Recreation Field.

Saturday (Oct. 5) begins with a Welcome Back Breakfast for Alumni and Parents in the foyer of the Occhiato University Center at a cost of $6 per person. Self-guided tours of campus also will be available. An alumni/community tailgate will begin at noon beneath the red tent near the stadium. The fifth-ranked ThunderWolf football team takes the field versus Fort Lewis at 2 p.m. in the Neta and Eddie DeRose ThunderBowl. Homecoming royalty will be recognized at half time of the game.

A complete schedule of upcoming events:

Friday, Oct. 4

Alumni Association Reception, 5-8 p.m., Angelo’s on the Riverwalk, 105 E Riverwalk, $10 per person in advance, 719-549-2858 for more information; registration forms are available at: http://alumni.colostate-pueblo.edu/homecoming/Pages/default.aspx

Men’s Soccer versus School of Mines, 7 p.m., Soccer Field

Pep Rally and Bonfire, 8 p.m., Dirt parking Lot between Student Recreation Field and the Water Towers.  Come meet the student athletes and listen to the CSU-Pueblo Marching Band.

Powder Puff Game, 9 p.m., Student Recreation Field. To register a team of seven, email aj.tuck.se@colostate-pueblo.edu

Saturday, Oct. 5

Welcome Back Alumni/Parent Breakfast, 10 a.m., Alumni Office, Occhiato University Center Foyer, self-guided tours of campus also available, $6 per person. Parents also are welcome to have breakfast in the Columbine Cafeteria with their ThunderWolf!

Alumni/Community/Student and Family Tailgate Party, Noon, pre-game tailgate hosted by Friends of Football and the CSU-Pueblo Alumni Association, $8 per person, Red Tent West of Stadium

Football Game vs. Fort Lewis, 2 p.m., Neta and Eddie DeRose ThunderBowl, Royalty presentation at half time, alumni group football tickets available on registration form.

Volleyball vs. Western New Mexico, 7 p.m., Massari Arena

Homecoming Masquerade Ball and Casino Night (students only), 8 p.m., Student Recreation Center.

Wolf Creek would transform the current drainage system on campus into a flowing stream. File photo.

The master plan for Colorado State University- Pueblo presented on May 29 revealed a new classroom building and additions to the Occhiato University Center.

Physical Plant Director Craig Cason presented the plan, which consisted of a visual representation of additions to be made on campus. Cason said it was important that the master plan be visual instead of written, like most master plans are, so it could be easily discussed.

When putting together the master plan, Cason said it was important that the hired designers keep to three core guidelines. The design had to be aligned with the mission of the university as well as enhance the campus environment and be sustainable and safe for students, faculty and visitors.

Funding currently exists for a new 45,000 square feet, three-story classroom building that would sit on the west side campus. The building would house four to six new lecture classrooms with tiered seating and four computer labs.

The commitment to placing the building on the west side of campus, near the arts and music building, came after a decision to keep the current sections of campus in place.

Cason said that the campus is divided into an academic corridor, a residence corridor and a sports corridor.

Cason and Vice President for Finance and Administration Marty Hanifin reiterated throughout the presentation keeping the campus layout consistent was important.

Approval of the classroom buildings has already been made and construction is expected to begin in early 2014 after the design is completed in the fall. Construction will take around two years.

The additions to the OUC have not been approved but a funding source has been indicated. Plans for the OUC will be presented to the board of governors in early August, according to Cason.

Construction for the additions would start in February. To alleviate inconvenience during construction, the OUC is expected to remain open. Cason said the bookstore would be removed from its current location to better transition the academic corridor and the residence corridor.

The master plan also adds a significant amount of landscaping to the campus. Cason said this was the most obvious change in the design presented. The current drainage system running through campus will be transformed into Wolf Creek, so it will not only serve a purpose but “encourage students to stay on campus,” Cason said.

Funds for Wolf Creek have been located and completion of the project is expected by next summer, “or at least phase one,” Cason said.

“(The creek) will really bring in the Colorado feel,” Hanifin said. Boulders and greenery would be added along the current drainage system to create the creek.

Criticism from the audience included the manpower and cost associated with Wolf Creek and additional landscaping.

The planners assured costs and water usage were taken into account during design. Native plants and vegetation will surround the campus to lessen water usage up to 50 percent.

Plans for a campus at full capacity were also revealed. If CSU-Pueblo is to reach an enrollment of 8,000 students, a design has been made to satisfy the needs of the school. The design indicated several new academic buildings as well as new access points, a complete road around campus and additional landscaping.

“We have to have reasons for people to want to come here,” Cason said. He added the master plan for CSU-Pueblo was ultimately to serve the purpose of an expanding campus but also to create a more inviting environment for the community.

DoSomething.org claims to be the country’s largest non-profit for young people, with over 1 million members “who kiss ass on causes they care about.” Photo Courtesy of DoSomething.org.

The non-profit DoSomething.org, in conjunction with Columbia Journalism Review, recently released the findings from their national survey on the youth opinion of gun control.

The DoSomething.org School Safety and Gun Policy Survey ran on the non-profit’s website from February 12-March 25 and aimed to “have the youth voice heard on important issues that affect young people, including gun policy and school safety.”

Among the conclusions the survey came to, young people want stricter gun control.

Fifty-eight percent of 13-18 year olds and 54 percent of 19-25 year olds said they supported stricter gun laws.

Only 9 percent of 13-18 year olds and 8 percent of 19-25 year olds believed laws should be less strict.

Even half of students who considered their school extremely safe supported stricter gun laws, the survey said.

When it came to legislation, young people followed the trend of older American’s, many surveys showing support is around 60 percent. However, those under 25 disagreed that violence in the media is fueling gun violence.

Forty-seven percent of adults believe decreasing gun violence in the media would decrease violence in reality, whereas 23 percent of teens believe less violence in television is “the answer”, the survey showed.

Teens also tended to disagree with adults on how to keep schools safer. According to the survey, students see good mental health services available at schools as the best method in preventing shootings.

Seventy-seven percent of those surveyed said better funded mental health programs at schools would be “somewhat or very effective in preventing mass school shootings,” 39 percent responded that they would be very effective.

Even so, less than half, 47 percent, of 13-18 year olds were aware of mental health services at their own school.

“Students were less enthusiastic about all prevention measures and thought that mental health services were the best option, where adults saw them as the second best option behind increasing the police presence at schools,” the survey concluded.

When it came to other measures of keeping schools safer from mass shootings, teens were generally less “enthusiastic.” Sixty-three percent of adults believe banning the sales of assault rifles would lessen mass shootings, whereas only 53 percent of students believe so.

Additionally, adults are 25 percent more likely to believe armed staff at schools would prevent shootings.

Students say that they believe their schools are safe, though. Sixty-eight percent responded that they think their school is very or extremely safe. Only 16 percent think schools in the United States are unsafe.

“This might be surprising in light of the fact that 40 percent of high school students report that a classmate has brought a weapon to their current school,” the report stated.

The report also found students consider themselves very informed on the subject of gun control.

“While many adults claim young people are apathetic and uninformed, this survey tells a different story,” the report stated before revealing that 72 percent of students felt they were somewhat or very informed on the current gun policy debate.

Only 5 percent felt they were completely uninformed.

The survey concluded students get their news from two main sources, social media, 46 percent daily, and news websites, 43 percent daily.

DoSomething.org reported that 2,592 people took the survey. 1,666 were between the ages of 13 and 18, while 926 were between 19 and 25, with all 50 states and the District of Columbia represented.

The complete study can be found here: http://www.dosomething.org/files/u/misc/gun-control.pdf

The Political Science Club at Colorado State University-Pueblo will be hosting a forum to focus on Narco-Trafficking on April 2. File photo.

The Political Science Club at Colorado State University-Pueblo will be hosting a forum to focus on Narco-Trafficking on April 2.

The event will feature a panel of speakers including Santago Guerra, visiting assistant professor of southwest studies at Colorado College, Lynn Holland, lecture at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver, and Michael Noll, former director of justice for the North American Aerospace Defense Command.

Speakers will discuss the issues surrounding and related to drug trafficking occurring along the Mexican-American border.

Each year the Political Science Club chooses a different theme for the forum.

“We chose this topic because it is a relevant concern and an interesting issue,” said Josh Luna, member of the Political Science Club.

The event is free to students and $10 to non-students. Dinner will also be provided.

Box ready for donation in the Psychology Building,  room 232. Today photo by Today photographer Tyler Shomaker.

Students in social work classes at Colorado State University-Pueblo are currently collecting food to benefit the homeless in Pueblo through March 27.

They are asking for donations in the form of both food and hygiene items. Protein bars, cans of tuna, beans, chicken and similar items are what the students specifically want to collect.

The food drive is the result of a required class project and the news of local non-profits needing more help to provide for the homeless.

Jennifer Crippen, a member of the group, said that the students had seen on the news that the Salvation Army was facing a shortfall in donations this year and so the students decided a food drive was the perfect way to fulfill their community project.

“(The Salvation Army) had to open their doors so early this year, so they needed help,” Crippen said.

She added that cold nights in Pueblo often last into the month of March and April and the homeless are still seeking shelter, which has increased the need for both food and hygiene products.

“We realized there are so many families that are homeless that really depend on the Salvation Army,” Crippen said.

Statistics gathered by the group show that 63 percent of the homeless population in Pueblo are families and nearly 1,848 children face homelessness at some point during the school year.

By organizing the food drive Crippen said she has learned so much more about the community and how much help is needed for families in the area.

Tom Hampler, secretary of the advisory board at the Salvation Army in Pueblo, said that from Thanksgiving on the community is really receptive, but they do find resources low in the spring and summer months.

The only fundraiser the Salvation Army does throughout the year is the red kettle drive, a holiday fundraiser where volunteers collect money at storefronts around town. This year the organization said the fundraiser did not raise as much money as they were anticipating.

During the winter the Salvation Army opens a warming shelter for men when nightly temperatures drop below 32 degrees. Because weather has become warmer, the service is no longer available but said individuals, as well as families, are still looking for resources.

“Our objective is to have something going on throughout the year. We’re trying to find ways to (provide more supplies to the homeless),” Hampler said.

He also notes that the economy has been a factor in the amount of resources the shelter has for the past two years.

“Our food resource has been under pressure this year because of the economy,” Hampler said.

He correlates the weak economy with the number of families in need in recent years.

“We’ve seen more families needing food and shelter, and we’re having trouble meeting those needs,” Hampler said.

The group of students are working in conjunction with the Colorado Progressive Coalition, a non-profit, that “fights, builds and wins progressive changes benefiting Colorado voices that refuse to be marginalized,” according to their website.

Items can be dropped off at the location on 304 S. Union or in the Psychology Building in room 232.

The Shamrock Brewing Company is the restaurant of the month for March. Photo courtesy of http://www.pubcrawler.com

For the month of March, the Colorado State University-Pueblo Foundation has picked the Shamrock Brewing Company to be the restaurant of the month.

15 percent of each ticket will be donated back to the foundation when a coupon is presented at the time of purchase. Marketing and Development Specialist, Lacy Desmond, for the foundation said that both the restaurant and foundation benefit from the fundraiser.

“We allowed (the restaurant) to pick any night of the week, we market their restaurant to our constituents and drive traffic for that day. In turn, the restaurant agrees to donate a portion of the proceeds back to CSU-Pueblo,” Desmond said.

The money generated from the fundraiser will support CSU-Pueblo by going to the foundation, which provides financial support to the university in the form of private gifts and grants.

Desmond said that the foundation has contacted and will be partnering with several restaurants in the community. Manhattan’s Pizza will be the featured restaurant for April, and Paul’s Great American Heroes has been secured for May, Desmond said.

The coupon is available on the CSU-Pueblo Foundation website should be presented at the time of purchase. Customers can print or show a digital copy to their server to earn CSU-Pueblo the money.

The Shamrock Brewing Company is located on 108 w. 3rd St, near the Sangre de Christo Art Center.

The story of Coy Mathis gained national attention after she was prohibited from using the girl’s bathroom at school. Photo Courtesy of abcnews.com.

Jeremy Mathis, an integrated communications student at Colorado State University-Pueblo, gained national news attention after his 6-year-old transgender daughter, Coy, was told she couldn’t use the girl’s bathroom at her school, Eagleside Elementary, in the Fountain-Fort Carson School District.

Katie Couric interviewed Coy and her parents on Feb. 26 as a part of an hour-long program about being transgender on her NBC talk show, Katie.

Kathryn Mathis, Coy’s mother, told Couric that they really noticed Coy gravitating towards girl’s toys and clothes when she was 18 months old.

Mathis said that Coy had been using the girl’s bathroom at school for about a year before the school prohibited her from doing so.

In a news release Mathis said the school told the family that Coy could either use “the boy’s room, staff restroom or a bathroom in the office that is for sick children.”

The family feels that by prohibiting Coy from using the girl’s bathroom, it is “singling her out which can lead to bullying and harassment.” They have since pulled Coy from school and are home schooling her until “the school corrects their actions.”

A complaint has been filed with the Colorado Civil Rights Division because the family feels that the Colorado Anti-discrimination Act has been violated.

The act says discrimination based on disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin or ancestry is unlawful.

In a news release Mathis said the act prohibits schools, and other public organizations, from discrimination, which includes restriction to bathrooms.

Transgenderlaw.org says, “Places of public accommodation may not deny any person participation, entry, or services based upon the person’s sexual orientation, including transgender status.”

Michael Silverman, executive director of the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund and lawyer to the Mathis family, also appeared on Katie.

He told Couric that the people of Colorado have “already spoken” on the issue and the anti-discrimination laws in Colorado make it illegal to deny Coy use of the girl’s bathroom. He added that along with Colorado, there are 16 states that protect transgender children in similar situations.

Though the parents said they did not want attention brought to Coy in school, they have allowed media coverage because the complaint made is already public record.

“We decided to go public to make sure the school was being held accountable for their actions,” Mathis said, “It is not okay to treat someone poorly because they are different.”

Coy Package from CSU-Pueblo TODAY on Vimeo.

A transgender student at CSU-Pueblo, who wishes to remain anonymous, said she feels torn about the issue.

“Part of me feels like I stand on a soapbox and preach to everybody,” she said.

On the other hand she said she feels that her goal is to be recognized as a woman and bringing attention to her by making her opinion openly heard would defeat that.

She said that society has become more understanding but there is a lot of unknown and a lot of questions.

“Any time you stray from the unknown, that’s when people don’t know what to do,” she said.

She said she can see where the district is uncertain of how to handle Coy’s situation, but she also understands the want to be accepted just like any other individual.

Her belief is that the school district would not have had a problem if they had not known about Coy’s transition.

In fact, she did part of her observation for her degree at the same elementary school Coy attended. She said while being at the school nobody ever knew she was transgender; she was treated just the same as anybody else.

“I want people to embrace me for who I am because this is who I am,” she said.

Her transition took place during the summer between her first and second year of college. She said that only a few people knew about it and if Coy had started school without anybody knowing, there would not be a reason for the district to have any kind of issue.

“Everybody judges everybody,” she said, which is why she chooses not to share her story unless somebody asks. She added that she does not expect everybody to embrace her but that it is just a part of life.

She said that as open and accepting as people claim to be, they don’t completely understand the social difficulties associated with being transgender.

“There is the fear of the unknown, but there’s also a yearning,” she said adding that a culture shift is the reason why Coy’s story has become big in the news.

Mathis said he hopes by telling their story it would change the mindset of people who do not completely understand the situation.

“If you got to know her you’d love her,” he said.