CSU-Pueblo President Lesley Di Mare
File Photo.

TODAY reporter Sydney McIntyre had a chance to sit down with President Lesley Di Mare to discuss her role at CSU-Pueblo, growth at the university and her love for students and learning.

Interview with CSU-Pueblo President, Lesley Di Mare from CSU-Pueblo TODAY on Vimeo.

TODAY reporter Sydney McIntyre spoke with the members of the All American Rejects before their concert at Massari Arena Friday.  The band members spoke about their individual projects, their continued success as a group and why they felt fortunate to be able to play for the students of CSU-Pueblo.

The All American Rejects Interview from CSU-Pueblo TODAY on Vimeo.

Presidential and vice presidential candidates participated in a debate Thursday, discussing their plans for the university if elected. Voting was held Monday and Tuesday and results of the election will be announced shortly.

CSU-Pueblo ASG Debate from CSU-Pueblo TODAY on Vimeo.

Photo courtesy of http://chass.csupueblo.edu

CSU-Pueblo’s award winning radio station is not only an important entity on campus, but also in the Pueblo community.

Editing by Jason Prescott

Rev 89, Not Your Typical College Radio Station from CSU-Pueblo TODAY on Vimeo.

Photo by Daniel Potter

The CSU-Pueblo Bookstore hosted their 3rd Annual Valentine’s Day Kissing Contest, and after 56 minutes of standing and kissing a box of candy between their lips, a winning couple was crowned. The winners received a $100 dollar shopping spree in the bookstore.

Video by Sydney McIntyre and Jason Prescott

CSU-Pueblo Valentines Day Kissing Contest from CSU-Pueblo TODAY on Vimeo.

This weekend, there are promotions galore surrounding the men’s and women’s basketball teams as the ThunderWolves are set to open Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play at the Massari Arena.

CSU-Pueblo mascot, Tundra and Pack basketball
Photo by Dustin Cox

Hawaiian Night kicks off Friday when the Pack entertains Adams State College. The ladies will play at 5:30 p.m. and the men will follow at 7:30 p.m. Students and fans are encouraged to wear their favorite Hawaiian outfit to cheer on the ThunderWolves. Be one of the first 150 students, and you will receive red and blue leis.

Saturday, Pack Nation is asked to help “Red Out” the Fort Lewis game.  Tip-off of the women’s game is at 5:30 p.m. followed by the men’s team at 7:30 p.m. The first 150 students in attendance will receive “Red Out” shirts.

The CSU-Pueblo Athletics Department will also be hosting a toy drive Saturday, and every fan that brings a new, unused and unwrapped toy will receive free admission to the game. The donations will help benefit the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Project

Finally, a ticket stub from the CSU-Pueblo NCAA Division II football game, set to take place at the Neta and Eddie DeRose ThunderBowl at noon Saturday, will get fans a discounted ticket price of $2 for the hoops double header vs. Fort Lewis.

It’s a great weekend to support CSU-Pueblo sports.

As the director of Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action and Title IX at Colorado State University-Pueblo, Roosevelt T. Wilson has mastered the need to be prepared. He has brought years of military training and expertise to his position, where he is working to create a more inclusive and diverse environment on campus.

Wilson spent 25 years in the U.S. Air Force, about 15 years on duty assignments all over Europe. He retired as a senior master sergeant, just one promotion shy of being at the top of the enlisted corps.

Wilson’s first job in the Air Force was an aircrew life support specialist.

“When you walk on board a military aircraft, there is certain equipment in there that is designed to save your life if the engine fails, ranging from parachutes, oxygen systems, life preservers and life rafts. You name it. If it has to do with life sustainment, I probably had something to do with it,” Wilson said.

Wilson spent his first few years in the military maintaining the equipment on board various types of military aircraft such as C-130, C-5, C-141 and fighter jets.

He said the motto was, “We are the last to let you down.”

“If the engine fails on that aircraft, they have to rely on the life support systems to get them out safely. In the case of a fighter jet aircraft, the ejection seat systems and the parachute have to deploy, and of course, depending on what altitude they bail out, they must have oxygen, so I worked on and maintained all of those systems to include survival training. If they have to bail out over combat territory, they will need to know how to escape and conceal or camouflage themselves, what they can eat in various parts of the world for life sustainment,” Wilson said.

After ten years of service, Wilson applied to change his job and train in equal opportunity and affirmative action. He was accepted and spent the remainder of his Air Force career as a professional military education instructor. He trained first-time supervisors and mid-level managers how to be more effective in their roles.

In 2009, Wilson retired from the Air Force. His military travels had brought him through Colorado, and he thought it was a beautiful state with a little bit of everything for everyone. He was stationed in England before he retired, and his wife, Tina, was a silver service employee, working for the Air Force as well. She found out that a position at Peterson Air Force Base was open and that she was qualified for the job, so they moved to Colorado. Since then, she has transferred to the Air Force Academy.

Wilson is originally from South Carolina, and Tina is originally from England. Tina and their daughter, Chanel, hold dual citizenship in the United States and England.

Wilson said he is a bookworm and loves to spend time with his family when he’s not working. He loves reading leadership and management related books and said that his favorite author is John C. Maxwell, who teaches leadership from a Christian standpoint.

Wilson came to CSU-Pueblo to help train people on campus regarding EO/AA and Title IX. The equal opportunity and affirmative action director, according to the university website, carries out CSU-Pueblo’s commitment to prevent prohibited discrimination on the basis of sex, race, age, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, disability or veteran status against any of its faculty, staff, students or invited guests.

The office provides leadership and support to enhance campus diversity and an inclusive community, as well as developing, implementing and monitoring CSU-Pueblo’s affirmative action plan and non-discrimination policy and procedures. It also provides resources and training on diversity issues, sexual and racial harassment prevention, and workplace and education equality.

The office is also responsible for the oversight and investigation of complaints of harassment or discrimination prohibited under law.

“There are variations of how each institute fills those requirements. Some do much better than others, but having Title IX doesn’t mean you have more resources than other institutions, it’s how the person specialized in Title IX presents the knowledge to those in need,” Wilson said.

He does not deal with criminal investigations but works strictly with a civil rights investigation.

“Preponderance of the evidence is more likely than not, something occurred versus beyond a reasonable doubt on the criminal side,” he said. “People need to understand the civil rights construct so that they don’t feel that a crime has to be strictly dealt with criminally.”

This semester, Wilson is working with other offices on campus to implement the new “It’s On Us” campaign, which deals with sexual assault prevention and the education of students and staff on college campuses.

Wilson is originally from South Carolina, and his wife Tina is originally from England. Tina and their daughter, Chanel, hold dual citizenship in the United States and England.

The training he received in the Air Force prepared him for the work he is doing at CSU-Pueblo, but if he could choose any other line of work other than equal opportunity and affirmative action, he said he would love to be a diversity educator or teach in adult education.

Colorado State University-Pueblo’s Student Engagement and Leadership office held an event to lead campus organizations to success Nov. 11.

Starting at 5:30 p.m., approximately 90 CSU-Pueblo student leaders were treated to a meal provided by Chartwells.

Following the meal, CSU-Pueblo’s Duane Brown led a collegiate empowerment presentation. He was engaging and energetic, which was just what the students needed.

He started with an unexpected statement.

“Most student organizations don’t work because they aren’t designed to work,” he said.

After providing the students with insightful leadership skills, Brown proceeded to involve the students in an activity, which got them excited prior to a presentation about how everyone can build their organizations.

His presentation revolved around a story about a cargo ship that was traveling, and down in the control room some of the ship workers heard an strange sound from the engine.

As it turned out, the sound was engine slowing down and coming to a halt.

Because a mechanic was on the ship and had a small hammer and a bit of knowledge, he walked to a red valve and simply tapped it. Once he tapped the valve on the engine, the ship began to run more smoothly and regain its rhythm.

Brown went on to say that the captain received a $1000 invoice from the captain, with a $900.50 charge for “knowing where the valve is.”

Brown then explained how in every organization there is a red valve, and if the worker was in charge of a task that he was good at, it would have saved $1000.

“If organizations understand that leaders don’t have to be well-rounded or multi-task they will accomplish lots more,” Brown said.

When you are good at everything, you are genius at nothing. As for multi-tasking, you divide your time, energy, and talent and become less focused. Life’s too short to do the things you suck at.”

“Finding what will work for each person in each organization is the first step to becoming successful. Once that is accomplished your legacy begins,” he said.

SECOND SESSION from CSU-Pueblo TODAY on Vimeo.

Enrique Rodriguez and Alisa Proffer are crowned 2014 homecoming royalty.

It’s a wrap for the Colorado State University-Pueblo 2014 homecoming festivities which concluded with alumni and fans gathering at the Neta and Eddie DeRose ThunderBowl to enjoy the biggest football game of the season.

The fun of the pep rally, themed dress-up days and the big game set the stage for the anticipated moment of honor: the crowning of the homecoming king and queen.  It’s a huge honor to be named the king or queen of the university, but the process to run is also quite a thrill.

The first step to participate is the application.

“Once the application is submitted, many other components are put to work. The other basics are 50 percent is academics, 25 percent relies on student votes, and 35 percent is contestant involvement on campus and with the student body. And last but not least is the interview process,” said Alexis King, coordinator for the 2014 homecoming court.

During the pep rally , candidate for king Enrique Rodriguez spoke about why he was running and what it would mean to him if he won.

“Well, it’s my last year and I’m really excited, and I gotta show my pride somehow before I go. Go big or go home,” he said. “To become homecoming king, I’m starting a legacy. Hopefully my freshmen, that I am a leader for, will follow my footsteps.”

Alisa Proffer said that it took a lot of courage.

“As a nursing student, you don’t really have time for anything, and I wanted to bring some spirit back into school. It (winning) would be amazing because I feel like, if you work hard for something, anything is possible,” she said.

These two students went on to prove what it takes to leave a legacy of spirit. Alisa Proffer and Enrique Rodriguez were named the 2014 homecoming queen and king.

The crowning took place during half time of CSU-Pueblo’s football game against Chadron State.

“I feel like I’m representing that, no matter how busy you are, you can always put time into something you really want, and you can win it,” Proffer said.

“After being crowned, we are both people that nobody knows. We aren’t part of athletic programs. We can shine in our own ways,” Rodriguez said.

CSU-Pueblo President Lesley Di Mare attended the game and was excited to see the crowds of current and former students making homecoming such a success.

“I think it’s just wonderful. The fact that we have everyone coming home to Pueblo really makes it a homecoming. We love seeing our alums from everywhere and urge them to come next year,” Di Mare said.