Nick Jurney, Kiersten Senff, Tyler Shomaker and Katie England received the SPJ Region 9 Mark of Excellence Awards, an annual contest announced in the spring. Photo by Char Gray.

Four Colorado State University-Pueblo mass communications students placed or won in an annual Society of Professional Journalists competition.

Nick Jurney, Kiersten Senff, Tyler Shomaker and Katie England received the SPJ Region 9 Mark of Excellence Awards, an annual contest announced in the spring.

The Region 9 conference for the SPJ includes Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.

“If students place first in the region, then they move on to nationals,” said Leticia Steffen, adviser for the CSU-Pueblo Today. “Our students competed with about 10,000 other students in this contest.”

Nick Jurney placed first in the region in sports writing, so his story will travel to the national competition. Winners for that competition will be announced later this year. Jurney’s winning story, “Former Illini embracing a new beginning in Pueblo,” is about Darius Millines, a former Division I Illinois football player, who made some positive changes in his life.

“I love to share people’s stories and this one showed how this player turned his life around,” Jurney said. “Darius’s story is a unique story that I feel pretty good about, and I think people feel good about reading.”

“I credit part of my win to CSU-Pueblo’s Mass Communications Department, and this is a testimonial to just how good they are,” said Jurney. Jurney currently works for the Mountain Mail in Salida, Colo.

Tyler Shomaker placed second in photo illustration for works published in the CSU-Pueblo Today spring 2013 magazine, which featured the special “Violence in America” supplement created by students in Richard Joyce’s Reporting Public Affairs class.

“I was reporting in my public affairs class, and one side of the magazine took every angle of violence in America. I was the photo editor and chose the illustrations that went with the individual stories,” Shomaker said.

“I give a lot of credit to my family for instilling a hard working ethic into me,” he said.

Shomaker said he would like to continue pursuing photojournalism. Shomaker, a mass communications major and automotive industry management minor, is a technical service engineer in the automotive industry and will be transferred to Detroit.

“I hope to make a photo documentary on the economic recovery of Detroit with the GM bailout,” Shomaker said.

Katie England placed third in general news writing for her series of investigative budget stories. This series occurred while England was a student in Joyce’s News Reporting class.

“My beat was the financial office and I really wanted to clarify some issues. There seemed to be a lot of confusion within the subject that needed clarification,” England said.

“What I liked most about my professors in the Mass Communications Department was how they give you opportunities to cover stories that you want, but they still give constructive criticism,” said England. “They made me a better writer and a better person.”

Currently England, who will graduate in May, is looking for a job in the field of journalism. Kiersten Senff’s second-place feature story was a profile on Tundra, the CSU-Pueblo mascot. Senff was unavailable for comment.

Steffen said she hopes to enter more work in additional categories in next year’s contest. She feels that this contest is a great opportunity for students to display exemplary work.

“If the judges don’t think a category of writing is up to par, then they don’t award places,” she said.

Tia Norfleet has faced many trials including sex and race barriers, but doesn’t want that to define her.
Photo courtesy of http://northdallasgazette.com/

Tia Norfleet spoke at Colorado State University-Pueblo about the long road to becoming the first black female NASCAR racer.

Norfleet has faced many trials including sex and race barriers, but doesn’t want that to define her.

“I want to be known as a racer, not the first black female NASCAR driver. I don’t want that to be my stamp. I want to be known as someone who competed with Jeff Gordon and Danica Patrick,” Norfleet said.

“I’d like to earn whatever is given to me,” she said.

As a kid, Norfleet attended the races with her father, Bobby Norfleet, who was also a professional racecar driver. That’s where her love for racing began.

“He rebuilt a Barbie Corvette and changed out the little motor with two car batteries. My dad got together with the other drivers with kids, and he arranged for us to race after they raced,” Norfleet said.

He also gave her advice she will always remember.

“My dad always told me the first person to break a barrier is always the worst. They get it the worst. So I’ll have to take the blows. Because he also said that I open the door for others. So I feel like I can’t give up for their sake,” Norfleet said.

She spoke briefly about defending her license when a rumor went around about her not having a qualified license.

“I received my license in 2010. You have to take a test, pass the test and then the NASCAR committee decides if you get your license. Then you pay a fee. I certainly didn’t bribe anyone. NASCAR must have thought I earned it,” Norfleet said.

She went on to explain how one goes about driving in the big sprint races. Each racer must complete a division and then progress to the next one prior to entering the big races.

“It starts with late model cars which is the entry level. After competing in that series, there’s the K&N, the truck, nationwide and the sprint. I’m currently in the truck series. I intend to compete this season.”

The NASCAR season has one of the longest seasons in the sport starting in February and continuing through November, but she doesn’t have to compete in every single race.

Norfleet’s struggle includes getting sponsorships. The athlete recently completed a contract with Verizon.

“It takes about $5 million to compete in the truck series, so sponsorship is important. Once you sign a contract, then you basically agree to do what they say. I appeared in a few commercials, appeared at different events and got to compete,” Norfleet said.

Norfleet has been featured in the Celebrate Your Story campaign through Verizon, and received an Essence Award for her efforts on the track.

At 27, she shares her past experiences with others and inspires them to continue to try until they succeed.

Norfleet also travels around the country to inspire American youth. She has had the opportunity to speak at such events as the Rainbow Coalition, founded by Jesse Jackson, the Stop Violence Initiative in Chicago, the International Arts Conference, Safe America, and Boys and Girls Clubs in Atlanta and Seattle.

“What’s interesting is when I felt like giving up, God would send somebody or I would get a letter or an email from a person who I inspired, and they really inspired me,” Norfleet said.

Norfleet gave God a lot of credit for where she’s at now.

“Without a doubt, that grace of God helped me through,” Norfleet said. “My mother is a minister, and my father is a retired NASCAR driver. So it’s God and church first, and then cars.”

“At the end of the day, I have a right to be successful at what I’m passionate about,” Norfleet said.

After the talk, Norfleet posed for pictures and answered questions.

“I really liked that she answered questions,” said Jordan Marsh, CSU-Pueblo student. Marsh, a staff member of the campus Diversity and Inclusion organization presented Norfleet with an appreciation gift in closing.

The third annual Purple Pump Extravaganza drew Colorado State University-Pueblo students into the Occhiato University Center Ballroom last Thursday for a celebration to pamper and celebrate women.

Many clubs and businesses came together during Women’s History Month to provide services for women in a festive environment.

“Women’s history month is a cool month for what women have done in our history, so we need a day dedicated to women,” said Jennifer DeLuna, director of Diversity and Inclusion, which hosted the event.

Every woman that entered the ballroom received a flowered lei, a goody bag and free services from the participating booths.

Many volunteered to run booths at the event to profile their organizations and businesses.

Alpha Kappa Alpha, a sorority established by African-American college-educated women, was one organization present at the event.

“Our focus is to help better our community—to all. We hope to encourage women to continue their higher education pursuits,” said Tantania Holloway, a member of AKA.

“We hope to be a service to all mankind,” said Antoinette Samuels, another member of AKA.

Health screenings and fitness activities were free to the public and giveaways like a free day at the health club or yoga stretches handouts and heart health suggestions were distributed.

Caricatures, bracelets, haircuts, manicures and pedicures were provided to participants. Music and food rounded out the event from 2-8 p.m.

Jordan Marsh, staff member of the Diversity and Inclusion organization as well as a CSU-Pueblo student, worked on the organizational aspect of the event.

“We called people and told them about the event that is dedicated to Women’s History Month, and invited them to participate. Those who came are those who agreed to help support us,” Marsh said. “But the Diversity Resource Center does really awesome stuff all year, and we invite people to come to events more often.”

Many groups were on hand, including the Biology Club, which invited participants to create DNA strands out of candy, and the Prevet Club, which sold doggie items.

In addition, the Alcohol and Other Drugs office, for the prevention of substance abuse, had a table, and Naima Mutiudin volunteered at the booth for her social work class.

“We are giving T-shirts to those who pledge to be safe drivers. Some places will give free non-alcoholic beverages to those who wear their shirts to the establishments. Come down to our office in the basement of OUC,” Mutiudin said. DeLuna said that, though there is an International Men’s Day, men such as presidents are already celebrated on our calendar.

“I think it’s nice to have time to celebrate accomplishments of women who contributed to our history, too,” DeLuna said.

Photo from http://harveymackay.com/

Colorado State University-Pueblo campus takes part in activities for National Women’s History Month, as it is recognized each March.

The Diversity and Inclusion group, led by director Jennifer DeLuna and her staff, present the following activities.

Events going featured for the rest of the month include:

March 19: Empowering Women speaker: Dena Rodriguez, executive director of the Pueblo Rape Crisis Services, will speak about her career in the  Occhiato University Center Room 031 at noon.

March 20: Tia Norfleet, a race car driver will speak on March 20 in the  Library and Academic Resources Center room 109 at 6:00 p. m.

Women’s History Month

National Women’s History Month dates back to 1987, when the National Women’s History Project lobbied Congress to designate the month to women’s history.

The project said that the president is authorized to make a proclamation each year for NWHM in March. Also, the President recognizes and “calls upon Americans to observe” March 8 as International Women’s Day.

The NWHP addresses many issues for the purpose of advancing rights of women. The overall statement begins with: “Whereas American women of every race, class, and ethnic background have made historic contributions to the growth and strength of our nation in countless recorded and unrecorded ways.”

The next seven paragraphs each focus on issues that women face to overcome. For example, women played a critical and mostly unrecognized role in historical development. Economic, social and cultural strides were made through women’s movements. The bill addresses volunteerism, philanthropy, class, suffrage, arts and race as essential parts of the bill. It may be viewed in its entirety at the National Women’s History Project site.

This movement began at the turn of the century, when women marched in New York City demanding “better pay, shorter hours, and voting rights” according to International Women’s Day 2014 website. It took a while for all the countries to get the same day. In 1910, Clara Zetkin, leader for Social Democratic Party in Germany, declared that the same day be recognized for International Women’s Day. At a convention, 100 women and 17 countries were represented at the first gathering.

The next year, 1911, 140 Jewish and Italian women lost their lives in a fire in New York during the month of March because of bad working conditions. The Bread and Roses campaign resulted from this struggle.

“The slogan pairing bread and roses, appealing for both fair wages and dignified conditions, found resonance as transcending “the sometimes tedious struggles for marginal economic advances” in the “light of labor struggles as based on striving for dignity and respect,” as Robert J.S. Ross wrote in 2013.

James Oppenheim wrote the poem, “Bread and Roses” that appeared in a magazine in March to honor those who had fallen.

As years pass, evolution of women’s rights and contributions gain strength with events that happen throughout the nation and the world, allowing women to be recognized for their achievements.

She showed the CSU-Pueblo audience her medals, and even let the audience pass them around. Photo courtesy of http://static.boxrec.com/

“I can be a girl and still box,” said Chantel Cordova, a female boxer from Pueblo West, while speaking to an audience at the Occhiato University Center on Wednesday.

Cordova appeared in a dress with a ruffled collar to discuss her history with boxing.

“Since I was nine, I worked hard. It was hard work to accomplish my goals. I’m 27 now, and have a 5 year old, I work full time, and I train at night,” Cordova said.

She told the audience a few stories about her expectations as an athlete in a male-dominated sport.

“My dad didn’t want girls to fight. He said they were too little and too pretty,” Cordova said. “But there was a little Indian girl in Ignacio and I fought her and won. I remember when I hit her, her pony tail spun around every time.”

Her mother did not tell her father about the fight until after she won.

Cordova tried other sports in her young athletic career. But she met an obstacle when she was a sophomore and her softball coach told her, “There is boxing, and there are sports.”

“He made my decision for me,” Cordova said. “I boxed.”

She stayed busy from 2005-06, winning back-to-back National Championships. Cordova also qualified for the USA female boxing team and took second in the Pan Am Games in Argentina in 2005.

She showed the CSU-Pueblo audience her medals, and even let the audience pass them around.

Unfortunately, Cordova turned professional because the Olympics did not offer women’s boxing. Two years later, she regretted it because 2012 became the first Olympic games to feature female boxing.

Cordova continually spoke about the rough social issues that she had to conquer but did so in a positive manner.

“I had to fight like a man, but I don’t get paid like man,” Cordova said.

As a result, she works as a dental assistant. Some day she hopes to return to school, but now she juggles three jobs. But she did what it took to achieve her dreams, and she encouraged her audience to work toward dreams while multi-tasking.

After the birth of her child, Cordova told herself she hoped to be No. 1 in the world. But fate wouldn’t have it so easy for her. When she returned to the ring she lost. Cordova remembers her return fight.

“I should have beat her up!” she joked, “Really.”

She lost again when she went to Mexico for a title fight. She reminisced about her weigh-in with a huge crowd in the middle of Mexico City.

“That was the biggest weigh-in and press at any of my events,” Cordova said, “And I lost again.”

Cordova went on to lose three consecutive fights. Then, she made a decision for the next match. She told herself and her family that if she didn’t win that fight, she would quit. She watched all the Rocky movies before her match and went out to win. She did just that.

“It’s all about believing in yourself. I won,” Cordova said. “Now, I get to rematch Holly Dunaway, the tough girl I lost to. She’s ranked No. 1 in the world. How many chances to you get to redo something like that in your life?”

But Cordova has a fight before that. She meets her next opponent March 21 at the Pueblo Convention Center. She already has another fight booked afterward on May 10 in California for a title. She hopes to win a world championship before retiring.

She told one more story about winning a Golden Gloves title.

“A lot has changed since I started. Whether women weren’t as good as men or as ugly as men, I don’t know. It’s hard to live under successful boxers like my dad and brother. The sibling is in the shadow and they have to prove they are good. I won the Golden Gloves for outstanding female fighter. I feel good as an individual,” Cordova said. She passed around her belt to the audience, too.

Cordova took audience questions after the speech, and answered questions about her fights.

“My fights are six, eight and 10 rounds. Each round is two minutes,” Cordova said.

“My music has to be PG,” she said, referring to her entrance to the ring.

She wants it kid friendly. “Boxing has shown me the world; I’ve been to 42 states and four countries.”

Cordova stayed after her presentation to pose for pictures and sign autographs. She encouraged her audience to go the fight on March 21 at the Pueblo Convention Center.

Jennifer DeLuna was hired in January for the new position of director of diversity and inclusion at Colorado State University-Pueblo.

Her position is a result of a split of the old position of director of diversity and inclusion with equal employment opportunity/affirmative action and Title IX. Roosevelt Wilson will continue with the EEO and Title IX duties, and his office has moved to the third floor of the Administration Building.

“I’m in charge of seven student staff members, and I create the programming and workshops that addresses social justice, race and diversity of this program,” DeLuna said.

DeLuna came from a position at the University of Illinois, a Division I school that supported six cultural centers and 1,300 diversity staff members.

“We had a black house, La Casa, Native American, Asian Pacific, women’s and lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender resource centers,” DeLuna said.

The houses often worked in collaborative programs and student affairs.

After being hired, DeLuna began planning activities for the months ahead. March is Women’s National History Month.

To highlight Native American inclusion, a pow-wow will be held in the fall.

“It’s appropriate and I think it’s the mission of the educational institution to highlight culture and campus community,” DeLuna said.

Because May is Asian Pacific month, DeLuna may plan an event for the end of April.

“I understand that there is a large number of Hawaiians at this campus. We want to showcase them,” she said.

DeLuna is also planning a spiritual fair toward the end of March, a sexual-assault-awareness event and a Pacific Islander Hula workshop in the near future. She collaborates and entrusts duties to her staff in order to make each event successful.

All these events will be advertised in various ways around campus

Tony Mendez, on whose book the movie “Argo” was based, was the distinguished speaker on Feb. 26 at Colorado State University-Pueblo. Photo courtesy of http://www.biography.com/

Tony Mendez, on whose book the movie “Argo” was based, was the distinguished speaker on Feb. 26 at Colorado State University-Pueblo.

Tony and Jonna Mendez, former CIA technical operations officers, drew approximately 450 guests to the Occhiato University Center Ballroom with their talk about the real-life mission and how it differed from the movie.

The movie is based in 1979, when the Iranians overran the American embassy in Iran and took hostages. Six Americans escaped and fled to New Zealand, British and Canadian embassy houses, where they spent 86 days in the Canadian Embassy prior to rescue. The rescue came when Tony Mendez snuck out the hostages disguised as a movie crew, with some help from Hollywood.

The movie “Argo” was created upon the publication of the mission and the retirement of the operatives. CSU-Pueblo showed the film, “Argo” in anticipation of Tony Mendez’s talk.

“The reason that the operation was released is because Tony was named and honored as one of the top 50 officers ever to be employed in the CIA. He was recognized for his creativity specifically with disguises. He was a fabulous intelligence officer, and he could negotiate in politics,” said Jonna Mendez, Tony Mendez’s wife. She did most of the commentary.

During his award ceremony for retirement, the CIA approved one “story” or mission that they would publicize, and “Argo” was that mission, though Tony Mendez declined to speak to acclaimed journalist Tom Brokaw.

The duo summarized the mission coupled with clips of the film. They would distinguish scenes that were fictitious and real.

“Everyone thought they needed more credit,” Jonna Mendez said. “It was Tony who did it. But at the time, Tony had no idea how to rescue them.”

“Desperation is the mother of invention,” Tony Mendez said.

Tony Mendez needed a way in, but ruled out teachers, gas explorers and journalists. When he realized that a movie scout crew could number six, he immediately contacted Hollywood.

The problem was convincing the political groups, such as the CIA, that decided the missions, but Tony Mendez managed to convince them. His team executed the mission and was successful in safely returning the Americans.

Tony and Jonna Mendez gave the true story of the fictitious plane chase in the movie.

“They boarded the plane and looked out the windows. They were terrified, but there was no chase,” Jonna Mendez said.

The night ended with an explanation of one part of the story that wasn’t in the movie: the return of the Americans to freedom.

“When they landed in Zürich, one kissed the tarmac. There was a van with three departments of security people waiting for them. No hello, no thank you, no goodbye, so we went to lunch. And that’s the life of a CIA agent,” Jonna Mendez said.

Tony Mendez earned the Intelligence Star for Valor for this rescue, and upon retirement earned several additional awards including the CIA’s Intelligence Medal of Merit, two Certificates of Distinction and the Trailblazer Medallion.

A book signing at the student center followed the talk.

Tony Mendez’s written works include “Argo,” “Master of Disguise” and “Spy Dust.”

Writing these books takes a lot of review from the CIA.

“We pitch ideas and if we are allowed the CIA starts a file to review. We have to submit it five to six times and working with time lines and contracts becomes a little tough at times,” Jonna Mendez said.

The couple still worries about threats today from people who have learned their identities through this process.

“We forward any ominous messages to the appropriate authorities,” Tony Mendez said.

Many students enjoyed the presentation and the unique perspective it came from.

“I loved it because it was interesting to hear the other side you don’t see in the movie,” said Alexis King, who worked as a post-grad assistant to student organizations, and used to be a leader in Student Engagement and Leadership. “I really found it interesting to hear the wife’s side because obviously you don’t see it in the movie.”

“I liked the evening turnout,” said Vanessa Gallegos. “I especially liked that they cracked jokes and told interesting tales. I liked the wife’s side.”

Jennifer DeLuna was recently hired as the director of diversity and inclusion at Colorado State University-Pueblo.

The director of diversity and inclusion has many jobs, including overseeing seven student-staff, creating programming and holding workshops on social justice, race and diversity.

As one of the activities DeLuna is planning, the university will hold a powow in the fall.

“It’s appropriate and I think it’s the mission of the educational institution to highlight culture and campus community,” DeLuna said.

DeLuna came from a position at the University of Illinois, a Division 1 school that supported six cultural centers and 1,300 staff.

“We had a Black House, La Casa, Native American, Asian Pacific, women’s and Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgender resource centers,” DeLuna said.

“Our plans are to celebrate women’s month, during the month of March,” said DeLuna. “And because May is Asian-Pacific month we may have an event at the end of April. I understand that there is a large number of Hawaiians at this campus. We want to showcase them.”

DeLuna said a spiritual fair will be held in the last part of March. A sexual-assault-awareness event and the Pacific Islander Hula workshops are also upcoming.

So if students missed the Native American Dancers at Lake Pueblo, or at the Sangre De Cristo Arts Center last weekend, they may have to either wait for the powwow in Pueblo until fall semester or they can go to Denver for a huge powwow held the third weekend in March.

The Northern Wing Dancers who were featured at both Pueblo events will participate in Denver.

“There will be over 1,000 dancers,” said Raul Figueroa part Assiniboine, part Sioux. He served eight years in the military and said one of the Native American customs was to join the army because this followed the warrior traditions.

Figueroa and other male dancers danced the eagle dance at Lake Pueblo. He spoke of the meaning.

“In the first creation, an eagle flew down to the Black Hills and turned into a man. So, man gave up flight as a representation of everlasting power to the Lakota.”

Figueroa dances with his children in his performances, too.

“My kids started when they were 2-year-olds. We’d go to powows and they would fall asleep to the beat of the drums. It’s similar to the heartbeat like they hear in the womb and that keeps them strong,” Figueroa said.

The “Through With Chew” week is underway, and is focused on making students more aware of what tobacco use can do to a person’s body.

Displays of what tobacco products can do to a person were shown on Monday at the Occhiato University Center.

Quatisha Franklin, a member of the TEPP board, had information, handouts and other items for students to stop and take a look at in the Library and Academic Resources Center on Tuesday.

“Our focus is to raise campus awareness of alcohol and drugs,” Franklin said. “I also run the ‘Even Zombies Know’ campaign.”

Franklin and her volunteers travel from classroom to classroom and ask to be allowed to do a five minute presentation to answer questions about alcohol and drugs.

“I haven’t made it all the way around campus, but I’m headed there,” Franklin said.

Her office, Alcohol and Other Drugs, is open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Room 004B in the basement of the OUC.

Franklin said she welcomes questions, and can be reached at 549-2121.

“Sometimes we can’t please everyone with every event,” said Patty Witkowsky, director of Student Activities. “We have a large, diverse group with their own hopes for student activities on campus.”
File photo

Students at Colorado State University-Pueblo are not pleased with every single event that is held on campus, but the Office of Student Activities is working to offer the best activities they can within the budget.

“Sometimes we can’t please everyone with every event,” said Patty Witkowsky,  director of Student Engagement and Leadership. “We have a large, diverse group with their own hopes for student activities on campus.”

Witkowski has an advisory board meeting each week with a diverse group of students who make decisions a year in advance for the venues on campus. She still has positions available for students to sit on the board.

“We look at YouTube clips, and catalogs of vendors. We take emails, student suggestions, and take surveys.” Witkowsky said. “Take a survey, win a gift card.”

The objectives of the organization are to provide students with opportunities that include connecting with campus, providing a sense of belonging and getting to know other students to widen their peer group.

One of the pitfalls for the organization is that budget limitations will not allow it to book a group that would play in a place like the Pepsi Center.

“We can’t afford them without charging the students $100 for tickets, and we wouldn’t want to do that,” Witkowsky said.

Witkowsky just proposed to the governing board for funding that money could be rolled over bi-annually so that the activities organization could have a larger pool of funds to draw a more popular performer.

“We really want to bring acts that would be what students want,” Witkowsky said.

In the past, CSU-Pueblo has hosted comedians, concerts, magic shows and speakers. The activities group announces these venues through social communications like Facebook, OrgSync, campus email, posters and fliers.

“As soon as we get an act booked, we get it up on those sites so that students are aware of them. We do welcome suggestions that are presented in an appropriate and professional manner,” Witkowsky said.