Rangeview Spring 2009 First Issue

A Publication by the Students of the FRCC-Larimer Campus V OLUME 9, I SSUE 1

C HANGE BY

J AN . — M ARCH 2009

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T RAVIS C HATFIELD , R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER

Front Range Community College is currently in the process of selecting a new president. The interim president, Michael Kupcho, took up the post in July of 2008, when Karen Reinertson retired. Kupcho, who was brought out of retirement and who was previously the vice president of finance at the Westminster campus, said there was “no delay as of yet in the selection process.” The goal of having named a new president for the college has been set for some time in mid-May. “Before then, you would have the final three to four candidates come through the different campuses, and meet with different groups on campus,” said Kupcho. “There would also be a public forum where the candidates would have a chance to answer questions,” he added. When asked about the candidates who were applying, or how many candidates there would be, the director of the committee to elect the president offered no comment. No one on the committee would offer opinions or comments on the upcoming decision. Kupcho, however, will not be applying for the job and will be returning to retirement when a new president is hired. Kupcho stated that Andrew Dorsey, the vice president at the Westminster campus, or James Butzek, vice president at the Larimer campus, may apply. Kupcho commented on President Obama‟s stimulus package‟s call for tripling the amount of undergraduate programs in science by saying, “I am meeting with two oil and gas companies over the next two weeks regarding energy-type training.” However, as far as Front Range is concerned, “You‟re going to see some benefit there,” said Kupcho, referring to the stimulus package. Kupcho, who worked in the oil and gas industry before he worked at Front Range, knows the importance of community colleges and going back to school. “I can say this, having gone back to school, the community college fits really well with what I‟ve done,” he said. Amendment 50, which passed last fall, allowing casinos to increase gambling in order to create more funds for community colleges, means that Front Range should see direct benefit from those funds sometime after July 2011. “The intent for that money (Continued on page 4)

The Colombian Dance Troupe performs at the Longs Peak Student Center to help celebrate FRCC’s third annual International Fair on Wednesday, Feb. 25. Photo by Whitney Weber

D IVERSITY U NIVERSITY : T HE I NTERNATIONAL F AIR BY

P AT K ERNAN , R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER

With four continents and 22 countries represented, Front Range Community College‟s third annual International Fair was poised to be well represented and well received. With more than 1,000 students and faculty attending the two previous fairs, English as a Second Language (ESL) instructor Andrea Heyman has her hands full. Heyman has been in charge of putting on the International Fair for the past two years and headed up the operations again this year. Along with Heyman, several others helped to make the International Fair a success, including Erin Smith of Student Life, Diana Ragin of Admissions & Records (who also works with international students), and Margie Wagner of the Learning Opportunity Center. The International Fair provides foreign-born students the venue to showcase their culture and heritage, while Front Range students get to learn about these diverse and fascinating ways of life. “It is really a win-win situation!” said Heyman, with much fervor and enthusiasm. An ESL instructor at Front Range for the (Continued on page 4)

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Faculty Advisor & Managing Editor………...… Kate Tarasenko Editorial Team…….…...….Travis Chatfield ……………………………………Katie Groy …………………………………..Maggie Hull ……………………………………Pat Kernan ………………………………Ingrid Lehmann ……………………………………....Aly Pax ……………………………….Brianna Savino ………………………………...John Seaberry ………………………………...Tamara Smith Photo Editor.………….Michelle Motherway Photo Team…………...Michelle Motherway ……………………………..James Neuhalfen ……………………………....Whitney Weber Layout…….. ..….……...……Kate Tarasenko

JOU-106 students, left to right (rear): Eric Bustillos, Travis Chatfield, Chelsea Moreland, Ingrid Lehmann, Katie Groy, Pat Kernan, (foreground, left to right) Aly Pax, Tamara Smith, John Seaberry, Maggie Hull and Brianna Savino Photo by Michelle Motherway

Publications Board….... .…….Karl Dukstein ………………………….David Murphy, SGA ………………………………..….Blair Oliver ………………………………...Rachel Rambo ………………………………...…..Erin Smith ……………………………….Kate Tarasenko

MISSION STATEMENT: The Rangeview provides a voice for FRCC’s Larimer campus. We strive to give our readers accurate and balanced coverage on a variety of news and events in an effort to keep our campus well-informed about its college community. We approach our responsibilities with the goal of maintaining the highest journalistic standards to the best of our abilities.

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FREELANCE SUBMISSIONS POLICY: We welcome feedback, letters to the editor, original articles and op-ed pieces (as well as story ideas and tips) from all members of the FRCC Larimer Campus community. Please do not exceed 600 words. The Rangeview also accepts photos and artwork in jpg format. All submissions must be emailed directly from your FRCC account as a Word.doc or jpg attachment, and must be accompanied by full name and local phone number, to:

[email protected] All submissions are subject to final approval by the Editorial Team and Publications Board, and may be edited for length, clarity, and potentially libelous content.

left to right: James Neuhalfen, Whitney Weber and Michelle Motherway Photo by Joey Pratt

Please direct your calendar event inquiries to [email protected]. ALL CONTENT © 2009 RANGEVIEW

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Scholars’ Square Annaliese Bonacquista…...5 BT Huntley……....……….6

How We Serve Will Chambers..………….8 Snowshoeing…………….9

Campus Wellness Kelli Naibauer......………10 Meditation...…………….11 Mark Sobeck..…………..12

Front Range Faces Peter Beal…..…...………13 Elham Musa…………….14 Lance Scoggins..………..15 Carol Reyes……………..15

Medium Cool Student Art Show....…….16 Paintbox Project.. ...........17 Jazz Vocal Group……….18

Be Our Guest Canadian Geese......………4 GSA…..............................19

FALL 2009 Register for JOU-106, the Fundamentals of Reporting, and write for

The Rangeview! 3 transfer credit hours! Also offered as an Honors Institute class!

Student ridership on Transfort in 2008 topped 600,000. In 2009, as gas prices fluctuate, on-campus parking becomes more limited and expensive, and environmental awareness continues to rise, it is hoped that improved services, such as the addition of Route 19, will prompt even more people to consider giving Transfort a try. New bus schedules which include Route 19 will be available on March 9. Updated route maps will also be posted to the Transfort Web site at www.fcgov.com/transfort. For additional information, please call 221-6620. Holly Reynerson Transfort Marketing City of Fort Collins

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Featured Student: Jason Jimenez, Accounting major What was the last movie you saw in a theater? “Tropic Thunder.” What did you like about it? It was a funny movie that actually turned out to be funny.

Jason Jimenez Photo by Michelle Motherway

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

Starting on Monday, March 9, Fort Collins’ bus system, Transfort, will introduce Route 19, a new, directservice link between FRCC and CSU, which will travel on Shields Street. Route 19 will run every 60 minutes, Monday through Friday, year „round. When Poudre School District is in session, operations will increase to every 30 minutes during peak morning and evening times.

What was the last book you read? I read “The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay.” It was very good. What is your favorite class that you’ve taken at here? Accounting 2. The teacher was very good. Mustard or mayonnaise? Why? Mustard, because you can put it on everything. Do you have any wacky superstitions? No, I don‟t think so.

The Rangeview is funded by Student Life using student fees, and by the Department of Arts & Letters. Reporting for The Rangeview is provided by the journalism students of JOU-106, the Fundamentals of Reporting. Photography is provided by the students of FRCC-LC.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why? I would be invisible because sometimes I just like to mind my own business. What is the most exotic place you have visited? Daytona Beach. Did you go to the Daytona 500? Yes, I did. What is in your iPod right now? Everything from hip-hop to rock; mostly popular songs. ®

4 (FRCC PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH continued from page 1) 4 (INTERNATIONAL FAIR continued from page 1) is for instructional purposes,” says Kupcho, “and to create new programs. It was very past 12 years, Heyman works with students from different important that the amendcountries every day, saying, “They‟re all kind of in the same ment wasn‟t specific boat. They deal with homesickness, culture shock, and possibly about where we had to limited English skills.” The International Fair can be a “voice” spend the money.” for the foreign-born students of Front Range and, according to Amendment 50 funds Heyman, that voice is getting louder. will not affect the Boulder The first fair had 18 countries represented. The year campus‟s lease agreeafter that, it dropped down to 15 countries. This year, however, ment, however, which is Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela, Mexico, Cuba, the Dominican set to expire on July 31, Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Puerto Rico, Russia, Poland, 2010. This issue is just The Netherlands, Spain, Turkey, Nepal, India, China, Japan, another in a slew of others Thailand, Ghana, Jordan and Lebanon will all be in attendance. that the new president will Each country will have a vendor table with food, music, clothing have to contend with and other representations of their culture on display. The highwhen he or she takes lighted events of the day include a slideshow and soundtrack office this May. about Poland, a Colombian dance and music performance, then The Student Government a Mexican Aztec dance troupe for the finale. Association President Alberta Adiku, a Front Range student from the West FRCC Interim President Michael Hana Shatila had this to African country of Ghana, is one of the International Fair‟s Kupcho says he will return to say about the upcoming participants. Adiku has been in Colorado now for eight months, retirement following the selection changes: “I‟d like to see… She and her husband and their youngest son came to Colorado of the new college president. continuous success [that] when her husband got a job here. She is currently enrolled in Photo courtesy of Jay Demore our college has had, and the GED program at Front Range. Adiku plans on serving making sure we are peanut butter soup at the fair, as well as displaying many pieces always excelling.” Shatila has been SGA president since August of clothing customary to Ghana. “I would like to give a taste of 2008. Ghana,” said Adiku. Front Range Community College will have to wait until The International Fair has been evolving and improving May for its new president. However, students at the Larimer from year to year. “The first year we had open flames; wasn‟t campus can get involved with the SGA right now. There are the best of ideas,” was Heyman‟s recollection of previous fairs. spots open now. For more information, contact the SGA in the The International Fair promises to be a worldly taste Student Life office in the Longs Peak Student Center. ® with a Front Range flavor. All the vendors are either students or faculty at Front Range. All the vendors at the International Fair do it voluntarily, as well. They can be reimbursed up to $50 for E UR UEST supplies, but many go above the reimbursement cap to put on the best display that they can to highlight their home country. Many instructors at Front Range take their classes to the International Fair, and incorporate whatever their course of T HE G OOSE IS L OOSE study is with the fair. Another member of the International Fair committee is BY J ON M AYER , G UEST C OLUMNIST Student Activities Coordinator Rachel Rambo, who, in her first year with the International Fair, is bringing a lot of energy and There is a menace stalking the campus of Front Range excitement. Rambo is passionate about the International Fair. Community College, a frightening, and unpredictable creature, capable of bringing a jet airliner down into the Hudson River. The “We get the opportunity to spotlight international students here at Front Range for the entire student body to learn about and malice, however, does not end there. I have witnessed numerous enjoy.” ® unprovoked attacks on students while on the FRCC campus. I have seen them choose one person in a group of many, then charge Michigan, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Virginia and New at this innocent person with the ferocity of a feathered blitzkrieg. I York have the highest numbers of resident Canada geese. The have even seen these creatures using crosswalks, no doubt a testabook “Urban Wildlife Management” argues that “the major ment to their intelligence. They do all this while under the profactor that influenced the distribution of geese was the migratory tection of the federal government. Some consider them a menace, patterns that include the Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, and while others consider them a thing of beauty, and reason enough to Pacific flyways. However, resident Canada geese do not live in Fort Collins. What I‟m referring to is, of course, the Canamigrate and, in fact, probably recruit additional non-migrants dian goose. among migrating flocks by acting as living decoys.” The Until about 50 years ago, Canadian geese were on the methods of determining the number of Canada geese within verge of extinction due to over-hunting, damaging of wetland each state vary depending on the census techniques used by habitats, and the harvesting of their eggs. However, conservation different agencies collecting the data. Moreover, the numbers efforts and the lack of natural predators have brought their collected are at best an estimate, since the geese do not line up numbers into the millions. (Continued on next page) Colorado is not the only state that the geese call home.

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for a head count. I must admit that I enjoy hearing their honking, and am a bit hypnotized by the pleasant way they walk around and hunt for insects. However, there has been a movement recently to try to control the local population of Canada geese. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a permit to the Colorado Division of Wildlife to control the activity of the geese. Before you get too frightened about the welfare of our feathered friends, activities outlined in the permit strictly prohibit harm to the birds. Along with attempts to control populations, FRCC has created an Urban Wildlife Education Project, which is designed to conserve, through research and education, the Canadian geese population at FRCC. Students are monitoring geese on campus, and keeping record of the number, species and movements of the geese. Two nest sites from last year that are in close contact with students have been fenced off, and two other sites are flagged with orange flags to encourage the geese to find a more suitable habitat. The GIS students will map the location and movements, and the wildlife students will record the success of the “hazing.” Hopefully, these efforts will help us to find a way to better co-exist with our feathered friends. ®

Barb Patterson’s urban wildlife students (background) huddle together for safety against flocks of Canadian geese that have taken over the campus, stalking and attacking unsuspecting passersby. (But, seriously…) Student Jon Mayer writes that, despite threats to their habitat, the resurgence of Canadian geese over the past 50 years has prompted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to initiate state programs which will track the birds’ nesting habits and migratory patterns. Photo by Michelle Motherway

S CHOLARS ’ S QUARE A NNALIESE B ONACQUISTA : H ISTORY N ERD BY

A LY P AX , R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER

A new young teacher sits on the table, legs crossed, in front of a Western Civilization class of about 30 students. Annaliese Bonacquista starts the class with a joke. She has a certain style, “comfy and professional,” is how she puts it. She has on jeans and a black shirt. As she sits on the table, one can see her black and white fuzzy socks. She gets comfortable in the two- hour, 45-minute class. A smile spreads across her face as she jokes with her Western Civ class. Laughter echoes throughout the room. The lights are turned off and there is a picture of a caveman on the SMART Board. She asks the students how they would describe a caveman. The answer, “Geico,” comes from all angles of the room. None of Bonacquista‟s students raises their hands, and instead they yell out the answer. Bonacquista is a 27-year-old history instructor at Front Range. When in the classroom, she prefers “noise and chaos.” She explains this is why she would rather her students not raise

their hands. She believes her students learn more with opinions, discussions and questions, so she wants them to speak up instead of waiting for her to call on them. Bonacquista considers her students to be her equals, so instead of just talking at them, she has them bounce ideas off of each other. “I navigate where to go,” she says, “instead of running the whole class.” She also adds alternative materials to everyday classes such as clips of a song or pictures. She says this is so the students have different ways to learn. Bonacquista‟s parents were both teachers, so she has learned different types of teaching, and they had an impact on her choice to teach. Her family would go on trips that were more educational. Bonacquista says, “We wouldn‟t go on trips to Hawaii… We would just drive out in the middle of no where in the Colorado mountains.” She was “always on the end of thinking [history] was important.” As she attended college at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Bonacquista felt “the little mountain town” was a “la-la-land” with a “fun mixture of people.” She said that after having the popular history teacher at Fort Lewis, history came back to her. “I thought it was really, really cool to read a textbook and to understand the little details,” Bonacquista explains. (Continued on next page)

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S CHOLARS6 ’ S QUARE (BONACQUISTA continued from previous page) She graduated from Fort Lewis in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in U.S. history and a minor in sociology. After school, Bonacquista slowly figured out that she wanted to be a history instructor. “I would just talk about random history…and I thought it was so cool…. I would always try to fit into a conversation with some pointless information about history.” She realized she enjoyed talking about it and wanted to do something that she was really excited about. After finishing her undergraduate degree, Bonacquista followed the family tradition of getting a teaching degree and went to the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. Bonacquista graduated from UNC in 2008 with a teaching degree and a master‟s in U.S history. She currently lives in Greeley and commutes to Front Range a few days a week. When asked if she enjoyed living in Greeley, she responds, “Greeley helped me grow [but] I am very excited about Fort Collins. It fits my niche.” Bonacquista is planning on moving to Fort Collins as soon as possible. She enjoys the social scene of Fort Collins. Being younger, however, can have an effect in the classroom. Bonacquista feels she can sometimes relate to her students because she is closer to their age, although, she says, “It‟s almost sometimes a curse because I am not older and not always viewed as an instructor.” When Bonacquista is not at Front Range, she teaches at Aims Community College. She says, “Two part -times equal a full-time.” During the time she is not teaching, she is working on writing a history book. “I like

factual detail,” she explains. She wants to write textbooks. Working as a part-time instructor at two different schools, Bonacquista enjoys talking to students about U.S History and Western Civilization. Western Civ is a “huge, huge exciting part of history…The older the better,” she explains. Bonacquista has found her niche in Fort Collins. She enjoys talking about the past every day at Front Range and Aims Community Colleges. History may seem like a class a student may put off till their last semester. Bonacquista adds with excitement, “Take my class and become history nerds.”

® Instructor Annaliese Bonacquista eases into her U.S. History class with a joke. Photo by James Neuhalfen

L IFETIME L EARNER : BT H UNTLEY BY

K ATIE G ROY , R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER

Sometimes we forget that historians, who tell the life stories of others, have their own stories to share. Walking into BT Huntley‟s office, she greets you with her soft-spoken voice and, looking around, one instantly gets a sense of her cultural and political interests. With a poster of President Obama, photos of women from around the world, and a Mexican blanket displaying the Aztec calendar, one also gets a sense of where she has been. Huntley, 51, is an instructor and the department chair of Social and Behavioral Sciences, and has been through her own trials and tribulations to end up in the leadership position that she‟s in today. Huntley‟s parents didn‟t save money for her to go to school, but she knew that she never wanted to be dependent on someone else. She said the only advice her parents gave her was, “Learn to type in case you don‟t get married.” In high school, she became the senior editor of the school newspaper. After graduating, she earned her degree in journalism from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. One of her inspirations to pursue her education was “The Women‟s Room” by Marilyn French. After graduating, she got a job as a journalist and became the editor of the Aspen Daily News. Later, she received her master‟s degree from New York University in Latin American and Caribbean Studies. While living in New York, she married and had her first daughter, now 22. Later, she moved back to Colorado when she was pregnant with her second daughter, now 18. Her youngest was born with a heart ailment called Wolf-Parkinson-White Syndrome. Her heart rate would reach up to 250 beats per minutes. This was a hard period in Huntley‟s life, not only dealing with her ailing daughter, but because she was also unable to work on her dissertation for her Ph.D. After her daughter‟s surgery at the age of 3, Huntley started working five part-time jobs, most of which were at Front Range. These included teaching parttime, working as a faculty advisor, working in the Testing Center and as a faculty mentor. In 1999, she started working as a fulltime faculty member. Working full-time at FRCC was what she had worked toward since graduating, and after receiving that (Continued on next page)

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S CHOLARS7’ S QUARE (HUNTLEY continued from previous page)

has continued to improve throughout the 1990s to the present. Women make up about 36 percent of the national assembly position, she successfully climbed the ranks. She was faculty now, which puts Cuba seventh in the world.” for only one year before she earned the position as chair. Outside the classroom, some of Huntley‟s major Working as an instructor and department chair is a contributions have taken place abroad, with her doing most “cerebral occupation,” so of her work with in her spare time, she likes refugee camps in to travel. Traveling has Central America. One given her a way to leverage of her major contribuher education in multicultions was helping the tural feminism. She Mothers of the considers herself a Disappeared. These “lifetime learner.” Her are women in travel is related to her work Argentina who join in as a historian, but she pays peaceful marches to for it out-of-pocket and re-unite with their uses her vacation time. abducted sons and Huntley said her favorite daughters. This took places that she has traveled place during the to are the Galapagos “Dirty War” from Islands, Egypt and Cuba. 1976-1983 under She became Jorge Rafael Videla‟s interested in Cuba because military dictatorship. women are very prominent Huntley helped these in leadership positions and mothers write to U.S. History instructor BT Huntley has traveled the world as part of her the people there are politicians so they research and political activism. Photo by Whitney Weber would become aware willing to talk openly about the problems facing all of the situation. Cubans. “Cuba… became trade partners with the U.S.S.R. and Of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act that President received a great deal of oil and other credits from them until Obama signed into law on Jan. 29, Huntley said, “I believe the early 1990s, when the dissolution of the U.S.S.R. that anything we can do to address that issue in our culture is occurred,” said Huntley. “With the loss of that foreign aid, critical, and we‟ve changed culture in the past through legislaCuba had to engage in a nationwide discussion about how to tion.” Huntley is teaching Colorado history this semester, and survive and adjust their economy. They held discussions at a she believes, “We have fabulous women in our history.” She grassroots level throughout the country, which led to a more tries to incorporate women and race issues into her classes. sustainable economic plan, including the revitalization of urban “They learn about George Washington, but I also want to gardens and more sustainable agricultural practices, such as incorporate the average person and their story.” Her main using animals to plow, rather than fuel-consuming tractors, message is, “Being a feminist doesn‟t mean that you hate and so on.” Huntley continued, “Cuba has one of the higher men. It simply means the equality of men and women.” ® rates of women in government or elected positions. The rate (SCOGGINS continued from page 15) Scoggins household. Scoggins went on to say that besides the money aspect, his family does “support the fact that I want to get a degree.” With attending school and working two jobs, Scoggins found it hard to add in a vigorous social life. While in high school, Scoggins had the freedom to “party and stay up late,” but now, with the added tasks of work and school, Scoggins said that he saw his old ways “fly out the window.” When class was over and work was completed, he maybe had time to hang out with his roommates or attend the occasional get-together, but nothing like he was used to only a few years ago. “[I‟m] constantly working or going to class. . . I have class early and studying at night,” he said. Though Scoggins is receiving an education that many are not fortunate enough to even dream

about, in social aspects, he said that he “kind of feels like I‟m missing out.” But with the constant avalanche of bills and payments, he is quickly back to feeling overwhelmed instead of reminiscing of easier times. “It can be overwhelming if I don‟t work enough at one of my jobs,” he said, “or take a day off of work to study. I feel more nervous about making bills.” With the unvarying certainty that bills will continue to pile up, and the added pressure of going to college, Scoggins still finds ways to look on the bright side. “Even though the odds are stacked against me, I‟ve pushed through the hard times and still look forward to graduating and doing something that I love.” ® "No work is insignificant. All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence." — Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

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H OW W8E S ERVE N O S UCH T HING BY

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F REE L UNCH

P AT K ERNAN , R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER

Ya Hungry at Front Range Community College is buzzing with students coming and going from class, and right in the thick of the action stands 19-year-old Will Chambers. On an average day, 50 to 60 students and faculty members come through Ya Hungry, but on a busy day, that number can easily eclipse 100, according to Chambers. He works 16 hours a week at Ya Hungry and is taking 13 credits this semester. He has not declared a major and is currently working on his general education classes. His classes include Astronomy, Environmental Economics, English Composition I and Western Civilization. Was he working and going to school to utilize the work-study program? “No. There are employees doing work study at Ya Hungry, but I chose not to, because I plan on transferring to Colorado State University and I would rather have just classes on my transcript.” When asked what he perceived the benefits to be of working and attending school on the same campus, Chambers emphasized the convenience of having work and school at the same location, as well as the relatively low amount of gas money needed to make only one trip. He then added, “Plus, I get to meet a few more people than most students on campus, so that‟s pretty cool.” When asked about the work atmosphere at Ya Hungry, the large grin on his face made it evident that Chambers enjoys where he works, and he commented on the fun and open atmosphere at work. He stays busy and claims they‟re never short of work, which makes the shifts seem faster, “and I just really enjoy working with the people that I do, which always makes a job more fun.” According to Chambers, Pam Daniels, dining director at Ya Hungry, does a wonderful job fitting students‟ work schedules and school schedules together, all while maintaining

the day-to-day happenings. “Pam‟s awesome. She does a little of everything, but mostly she just keeps thing running ship-shape!”

Student Will Chambers serves up customers at Ya Hungry. Photo by Whitney Weber Chambers has one older brother who is a graduate of Fort Lewis College, where his father is also an alumnus. His mother attended St. Mary‟s Catholic University in Indiana, and his older sister is currently a junior at CSU in the veterinary program. Chambers lives with his sister and her two friends for now, but plans on getting his own place with some friends next semester. He explained how when he was a little kid, his parents set up bonds for him that would mature when he was getting ready to go to college, emphasizing the vital role education plays in his life. Chambers, like many 19-year-olds, is just feeling his way through this new journey that are college, working, and responsibility on the whole. He is finding out what works well and what doesn‟t, like most students at Front Range, only his days include a bit more campus life than the rest of us. ®

TOO BEAUTIFUL TO EAT: Fruit is meticulously carved into intricate flowers by artisans at the International Fair, organized by ESL instructor Andrea Heyman (at right). See story on page 1. Photo above by James Neuhalfen ~~ Photo at right by Michelle Motherway

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H OW W9 E S ERVE W ALKING BY

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W INTER W ONDERLAND

A LY P AX , R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER

Living in Colorado, many Front Range students know to rent snowshoes at Estes Park Mountain, which was on the the Rocky Mountains pretty well. Other than snowboarding and way. Campbell did research and found that it was only $5 to skiing, there is plenty to do while playing in the snow. Snowrent. shoeing, for example, has become a part of FRCC. Signs in the “This trip [was] a good intro and good for all levels… Longs Peak Student Center advertise the “Snowshoeing something to enjoy for everybody,” Miller explained. He grew Adventure.” Front Range students have the chance to explore up with activity so Campbell asked him to be the leader or guide their abilities in the snow with a different type of activity. of the group once they got to the trail. Michelle Campbell, a CSU intern working in the FRCC They started at the trailhead at Bear Lake, and decided Fitness Center, has planned this event for all Front Range where to go from there. Miller lead the pack as Campbell and students and faculty. Campbell, 22, works as the assistant to the other participants followed behind. Campbell explained, Fitness Center Coordinator while moving her arms in a Elaine Milligan, who asked running motion, that, “We… Campbell to set up winter just [trucked] along behind events as part of her intern [Miller].” project. The upbeat Camp“[It‟s just] one foot in front bell explained, smiling, that of the other,” Miller said, she wanted to do “activities showing his leadership as the that students would want to guide. go to.” The snowshoeing This was Miller‟s first time event, for example, is someon an event with the Front thing she, as a student, has Range Fitness Center. He always wanted to try, and believes this is going to be now she gets the chance to. “a great way to meet new The snowshoeing people….what a lot of commuevent on Feb. 21 was a trip to nity colleges are geared Colorado‟s Rocky Mountain towards.” Following the National Park. “I think, in experience, Miller was thrilled the past, it was a way to get to lead the pack of snowshoers Evan Miller and FRCC students pause while on a snowshoeing students active,” Campbell through Rocky Mountain explained. excursion at Bear Lake. Photo by Michelle Motherway National Park. These events Front Range student are a way to “encourage FRCC Evan Miller, 22, is another employee at the Fitness Center and students to do things,” Miller explained. He said the Fitness believes it to be “a different form of exercise other than Center needs more attention from the students. “We are there resistance and weights.” Miller, with a laid-back personality, to serve the students and will adapt to what the students want.” explained that it is a great way to see the “panorama views of Miller explained that if the students get involved in these elevation.” This is a way to help the students at FRCC not only activities, they can plan them around to what they want. If they to get involved with their peers, but also a way for them to get like snowshoeing and want to keep doing it, they will plan more involved in the Fitness Center. snowshoeing events. Students and faculty interested in the upcoming events Campbell stated, “The day was a complete success.” should go to the Fitness Center located in the Longs Peak They ended up with nine people snowshoeing around Bear Student Center to sign up. When signing up, participants are Lake. They also walked around Emerald Lake. Campbell was asked to sign a waiver of liability in case of injury. Campbell thrilled with the day. “The trip was amazing,” she explained. explained it would be difficult to bring friends who aren‟t a part After the hard day of snowshoeing, they went to dinner at The of FRCC because of the whole “legality and waiver thing.” Rock Inn Mountain Tavern. Campbell explained, “[They] all Campbell and Miller met the snowshoeing participants stopped for some dinner and laughs.” at 9 a.m. in the Longs Peak Student Center on Saturday, Feb. 21. The participants got to see Colorado in a different Once they met those who live in Fort Collins, they headed off to perspective by traveling on foot. Even when Colorado is Loveland to meet the people who live there. covered in snow, hikers still get a chance to do what they love. Miller explained, “There are two pick-up places,” so It is a new experience for people who enjoy being in the snow, they can accommodate everyone. and they got a guide to help them follow the trail. Campbell assured the drivers that they “will reimburse It was a learning experience, Campbell said. “Take a for gas.” Saturday and do something you have never done before and you Once they gathered everyone up in the cars, they set off finally get to do it… [It was] fun.” ®

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C AMPUS 10 W ELLNESS and several other states, DAs are not required to be certified to practice dental assisting so they can be hired with no experience and taught on the job. Naibauer injects that this is very BY T AMARA S MITH , R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER difficult and she could never learn on the job because there are just too many things to learn without going through a course. Clean white teeth, free toothbrushes, happy smiles, Since dentists rely on assistants to be their second set of hands, and friendly attitudes—this is the family environment that stole they usually look for someone dependable, flexible with their Kelli Naibauer‟s heart as a child. “I loved it. I had such a great schedule, and genuinely friendly. experience,” she explains. For Naibauer, a 37-year-old partIn the future, this field of work is supposed to increase time dental assistant instructor at FRCC, her childhood 29 percent till 2016, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor experience at the dentist‟s office is one of the reasons she Statistics, and the likelihood of obtaining a job should be decided to become a dental assistant. “Just the field fascinated excellent. Even Naibauer believes, “They will always be in me. Working in people‟s mouths…I just liked it.” demand, if you want to know the truth.” Naibauer decided to become a dental assistant instead This remains true because many dental assistants use of a hygienist because there is less repetition to the job. Being the program as a stepping stone to advance, so jobs left behind an assistant requires you to perform many different functions are filled easily. Dental so it doesn‟t get boring. assistants have many options Some of these tasks for advancement, such as include: assisting the going back to school to dentist in procedures; become a dental hygienist, crowning; bridging; becoming an instructor, extractions; taking casts being an office manager, sellof teeth; obtaining a ing dental products, or taking patient‟s dental records; the Expanded Functions making patients comfortDental Auxiliary (EFDA) able while in the dental Program, which requires one chair; and preparing them to perform more responsibilifor treatment. When asked ties but pays more per hour. how she felt touching After running into people‟s mouths all day, her past DA instructor at a Naibauer responded, convention, Naibauer learned “Doesn‟t bother me at all. about an opening for a DA It‟s almost a fascination.” instructor at Front Range and The program was asked to fill it, which she only takes 12 months to decided to do. Although not a become certified if teacher, she was asked to attending school full-time. instruct the class on the basis It prepares students that she had completed the through classroom, Dental Assistant Instructor Kelli Naibauer is a walking advertisement course and was a practicing laboratory, and preDA in the community, which clinical instruction. “I like for good dental hygiene. enables her to instruct her Photo by Michelle Motherway students in all aspects of the the program as a whole,” says Naibauer, who job to prepare them for completed the course in 1992. reality. This new job allowed her to hold onto her passion and Naibauer insists that, in the beginning, transferring also spend more time with her two kids, a son, 10, and a instruments, taking impressions, and radiology are the most daughter, 13. difficult, but being required to wear scrubs to work makes the Patients become like family when you are so used to difference because, “You don‟t have to think about what to routinely seeing them, and Naibauer says this is what she wear.” While on the job, dental assistants are required to wear misses most about dental assisting. scrubs, masks, and gloves for safety, to protect themselves and Her students, in some sense, repatients from contagious diseases. place her patients as she makes Starting out in Fort Collins, dental assistants (or DAs) differences in their lives. “It makes make about $10 to $12 an hour, depending on experience. it worthwhile when students come However, the middle 50 percent of people working in the field back and are happy,” she remarks. in 2006 made anywhere between $11.94 to $17.44 an hour, so “To finish and succeed makes it the wage range is different, especially according to where you live and how much DAs are in demand in the area. In Colorado worthwhile.” ®

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I NGRID L EHMANN , R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER

Stress is known to cause serious health issues such as insomnia, hypertension, high cholesterol and even cancer. Luckily, Front Range Community College students have free access to an outlet for all of that stress: meditation. The meditation seminar is open to all Front Range students in the Longs Peak Student Center‟s small conference room every Thursday from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. The class is led by Michelle Campbell. She helps to guide students through the many different elements of meditation to help them attain a less stressful outlook and more peaceful lifestyles. Campbell uses techniques such as guided imagery, deep breathing, and sitting meditation. In guided imagery, students are taught to calm their minds and consciously make an effort to move toward a more relaxed state of being. Deep breathing is a technique in which students can use breathing in order to calm their bodies and minds. Deep breathing is helpful to many practitioners because it is a technique that can be used at any time and place. Campbell has found that it is especially useful for her to use throughout her day. She says, “For instance, when I am on my way to an interview and I feel myself getting wound up, deep breathing helps me to relax and achieve a better state of mind.” Samantha Noble is an example of what has become the norm: the highly stressed college student. She recently lost her job and, because of this, finances are a continuous concern for her. She says she is constantly in a high level of stress. Knowing the negative effects of stress, Noble has looked for outlets to relieve it. What she found were things like yoga and exercise classes, which can run at least $10 a class. In today‟s economy, some find that hard to justify. Noble says, “I would like to start being proactive about my health, but feel guilty about spending the money.” That‟s when Noble heard about the free meditation classes offered on campus. Having experienced meditation through yoga previously, she could attest to the benefits and the positive feelings that she experienced. “I found it incredibly relaxing,” she says, and she left in a much better state of mind. Noble says that it is not only the pressures of school and work that cause her worry. “Every time I turn on the news, there is something horrible that has happened, and with the state

of the economy, everything just begins to weigh me down tremendously.” This is were Campbell and her meditation class comes in. Campbell became interested in meditation through her experience with running. Having run cross-country in high school and as a runner still, she understands the importance of a relaxed state of mind. She says that when she is in the middle of a run and is able to clear her mind instead of having her mind racing as well, her runs go much smoother. She began to seek that calm state of mind outside of her runs. Following a run, she would sit down and try deep breathing to calm her mind. Campbell calls it “just being as you are.” She has a history of anxiety and she finds this technique extremely effective. Campbell sees the tremendous stress that today‟s students are under and that it is important to find a way to relieve it. Stress can literally eat away at your body. When the body responds to stress, it releases chemicals that are supposed to help people respond quicker, also known as fight or flight. The human body has evolved to respond to stress as if preparing for a battle. The American Institute of Stress lays out a couple of these responses: heart rate and blood pressure rise; blood sugar rises to provide more fuel for the body; and clots occur more quickly to prevent blood loss in case of injury. These response tactics were developed in the days of the caveman, when stress involved running from a saber-tooth tiger. Unfortunately, in today‟s world, these responses are often detrimental. When the body is constantly in this state, the chemicals meant to protect one‟s body can turn deadly. “Students are under a lot of stress. Finals and midterms are toxic times,” Campbell says. Noble is planning on attending the Thursday meditation classes from now on. “I have some free time on Thursdays so I will do this instead of getting my second coffee,” she says. She believes that stress brings out the very worst in the people around her. She says that the only times that she and her boyfriend fight is when they are feeling stressed. “Nowadays, stress is floating around everywhere and people need to look for a healthy outlet.” Meditation is not as hard as it may sound to some people. It is merely the practice of controlling your mind, and mind over body. So do not stress, and remember, until next Thursday, just breathe. ®

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C AMPUS 12W ELLNESS N URSING BY

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T RAVIS C HATFIELD , R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER

Mark Sobeck is a 31-year-old nurse at the Estes Park Medical Center. A December 2008 graduate of the Front Range Nursing Program, Sobeck has “always been interested in medicine.” “It took a long time, but I would recommend it,” says Sobeck. “You have to be dedicated and your family has to respect your dedication.” Family support is a necessity to success with the program. “You need family support,” says Sobeck. Hard days are not uncommon in the medical field. As a nurse, Sobeck has seen his fair share of “difficult patients.” Not unlike difficult patrons a bar maid might see at a night club, Sobeck says this is why you need comfort from those FRCC Nursing Program graduate Mark around you at the Sobeck checks the vitals of a patient at the end of a hard day. Estes Park Medical Center. Sobeck recalls his first day at the Photo by Michelle Motherway Estes Park Medical Center as a mixture of “excitement and terror.” Before working there as a nurse, Sobeck worked there for three years as a clerk. However, as a nurse, he said, “I‟m responsible for this person, you know? The average first job is not going to be extremely lifealtering, like a busboy, but nursing is different,” says Sobeck. Drive is important; you need to “dedicate your time to work the really tough days.” Sobeck goes on to point out that organization is equally important, emphasizing, “If you‟re in disarray, how do you help?” Tasks such as getting medication and listening to the doctor‟s instructions at the same time are critical, and they need to be prioritized. Thinking outside the box is also crucial to success in this field. Sobeck gives a scenario: “If a patient is sleeping and there is a grimace on his face and he has trouble breathing, there could be a million different things it could be. But,” says Sobeck, “you take the worst one first.” Staring down the problems and overcoming obstacles are vital to the patient‟s success and success as a nurse in the field. As anyone might in the field of medicine, Sobeck has

been in the room when a life was saved, or lost. “It‟s nothing like TV,” he says. “Organized chaos is really what it‟s like. You get tunnel vision.” But Sobeck explains that you can‟t get caught up in the moment. You need to remain focused on the doctor. “If you‟re not doing that, the patient might suffer.” Sobeck explains that doctors and nurses have to evaluate the situation. “If the patient is not doing well, then you have to ask the question: „Are you able to bring that person back?‟ You have to determine that while doing CPR,” says Sobeck. If you aren‟t able to bring them back, it‟s “emotionally draining, not only comforting their family and friends, but it is hard for you [as a person] as well.” It‟s crucial to have a “good support system, and friends who can empathize with you. Those people in that room with you” are another crucial base of support, explains Sobeck. He agrees that it‟s a good idea to make friends where you work so that if you have a hard day, you can talk with them about it. And, if not, “There are always counselors there.” But, Sobeck points out, “There are some days you have an easy patient load. And you say to yourself, „This isn‟t what I signed up for.‟” So it‟s days like that Sobeck says that you need to find your niche in the hospital. He had a friend who wanted to be a chemotherapy nurse, so she went and became one. “You‟re not stuck in one position,” explains Sobeck. Getting bored at a hospital isn‟t something many of us would think is possible, but nurses doing the same procedures day in and day out would likely disagree. That‟s why nurses switch niches or fields every few years. “This field is not limited,” says Sobeck. For most nurses, they can switch between fields easily.

FRCC Nursing Program graduate Mark Sobeck recalls his first day at the Estes Park Medical Center as a mixture of “excitement and terror.” Sobeck also says that, “Doctors will show you what‟s going on with certain things,” like how to comprehend a patient‟s telemetry or something that you may not have seen before. And if you want to observe a procedure you‟ve never done before, a fair amount of doctors will understand your enthusiasm and let you observe. Observation, attention to detail, drive, and organization are critical to success as a nurse. But, Sobeck explains, “When you‟re out there, don‟t be afraid to ask questions. It‟s better to ask than not at all.” The Nursing Program isn‟t for the timid. Sobeck is a survivor of the program because of hard work, dedication, and support from his family and friends. ®

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F RONT R ANGE F ACES 13 B OULDERING B EAL BY

J OHN S EABERRY , R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER

Art historian Peter Beal is what you might call a true Renaissance man. Beal, 44, an art history and humanities instructor at FRCC‟s Larimer campus, is also a writer, artist, father, Ph.D. candidate at CU-Boulder, and an outstanding athlete. Beal‟s well-groomed appearance—replete with smart glasses, wispy bangs and button-down shirt—conceals the sturdy, sinewy torso of a lifelong rock climber. When he is not teaching, writing or spending time with his wife Caolin and 2-year-old daughter Sophia, Beal climbs and authors two blogs dedicated to bouldering. “Climbing has always been a part of my life,” said Beal, who began climbing coastal cliffs and boulders near his house in southern Maine at age 10. He earned a B.A. from Bowdoin College in 1987 and a master‟s from the University of Colorado in 1998, all the while pursuing rock-climbing with feverish enthusiasm. In fact, the climbing scene along the Front Range was part of the reason Beal chose Colorado for graduate school. “This was probably the best way of combining these two aspects of having a somewhat normal life,” he said, “and also having a lot of rock nearby and a critical mass of other climbers… really good climbers.” Beal‟s concentration switched from traditional sport climbing to bouldering when his daughter was born. “It‟s something I can do solo,” he noted, “because my wife and I are constantly swapping off child care.” Bouldering is a style of rock-climbing that focuses on individual movements or short sequences of moves and emphasizes strength, power and dynamics. Boulder routes, commonly referred to as “problems,” are found to exist on large boulders, low cliffs, or man-made artificial boulders. “It offers the most direct and creative way of interacting with the rock,” said Beal. “You create the experience as you go along.” Bouldering is normally limited to short climbs, and falls typically do not result in serious injury, so it is usually done without a rope or belay. Beal noted, “You don‟t have a bunch of things you have to keep in order or manipulate to be safe.” He added, “Focusing narrowly and tightly on a small problem—that aspect of creativity and directness—has always been a really strong draw for me.” Beal will spend anywhere from half an hour to a full month on a problem, if he ever completes it at all. “In recent years, I‟ve been focusing on areas in Boulder Canyon or Flagstaff Mountain, on finding new problems and focusing on some of the formations there that move past the previous consensus,” Beal said. “I‟m finding high-quality problems in a decent order of difficulty in an area that has been climbed on since the 1950s.” Beal created and maintains two blogs that chronicle his climbing experiences. The Boulder Canyon Bouldering blog (bouldercanyonbouldering.blogspot.com) is a guide to routes and problems near Boulder which includes descriptions, difficulty levels and links to external video and photos. Beal dedicates his other blog, Mountains and Water

Art History instructor Peter Beal works a “problem” on Monday, Feb. 23 at Rotary Park along Horsetooth Reservoir. Photo by Whitney Weber (mountainsandwater.blogspot.com), to his personal progress in bouldering. He uses it to record the problems he is working on or has just completed, with vivid descriptions of his feats, often accompanied by video. Beal started blogging around the same time he began concentrating on bouldering. “The climbing media, as it stood at the time, was very limited. Its focus was on marketing the sport or marketing personalities within the sport,” Beal observed. “I figured it would be more interesting for me to do something with a blog and comment on ideas, trends, events… whatever.” He regards Internet technology as a boon for the climbing community. “The information networks that were out there prior to the Internet were very primitive and very closed,” said Beal. “You would have to know a guide book author or be in a certain social scene. You don‟t have to do that anymore.” The title of Beal‟s Mountains and Water blog reflects his interconnected view of art and the natural world, as it is a description of a particular style of landscape painting. “It talks about the ingredients for a certain kind of landscape in Chinese art,” Beal explained, “a landscape [that] is essentially (Continued on page 19)

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F RONT R ANGE F ACES 14 H OME A WAY F ROM H OME BY

C HELSEA M ORELAND , R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER

War is one of the last things on most Front Range students‟ minds. For one student, war is a reality back in her home country. Civil war erupted in the southern region of Sudan in Northern Africa in 1993. By 2001, over 150 aerial bombings had ravaged the region and killed hundreds of civilians. Elham Musa (pronounced eel’-hahm) lost her brother in one of these aerial bombings. Musa, 39, immigrated to the United States seven years ago, following her husband to Fort Collins. “It was very, very hard,” she says. Musa spotted her husband-to-be during her college years in Sudan, when they caught the sight of each other in a library. Soon after, he immigrated to the United States to continue his education and begin a career. For nearly three years, Musa and her future husband communicated by sending letters back and forth. They then decided to marry and her husband returned to Sudan to wed her. Shortly after, Musa gave birth to twin boys. After nearly two years, Musa and her two 14-month-old boys packed up what they could carry and left for the United States.

Musa graduated from college in Sudan and taught English to high school students for three years, and for six months in a college setting, before she immigrated. “[It was] very, very hard…We never got separated.” Musa explains that she had never even been to another part of her country. “I even refused to go to another city for school.” For Musa, leaving Sudan was a very difficult transition. “But,” she says, “I had to do it for my kids. They should be with their father.” Starting over in a new and strange place was a challenge. Musa knew nothing of the United States, saying, “I have to listen, and I have to be part of this culture even if I disagree.” Her first language is Arabic. She studied and spoke English in high school and throughout college. “I always got an „A,‟” she says. “What you study is different from how you talk now. [I was] taught more formal English,” Musa explains. “I was okay. When you have a desire for something, you learn.” A friend of Musa‟s husband suggested to him Fort Collins as a great place to go to school and get a job. Musa expressed the desire to further her education and her husband recommended Front Range Community College to start. Front Range offers a program for international students to help them with English as a second language (ESL). Although Musa and her family live in Fort Collins, they maintain connections with their heritage, religious beliefs, and family. Musa maintains Sudanese dress. She wears a headdress or “higab,” and a “tobe,” which is a piece of cloth that wraps around the body. The Musa family attends mosque every Friday. They are homebodies. They may go out to a Chinese restaurant once a month, but they mostly prefer a home-cooked meal. They have a lot of family time, watching the Arabic channel, movies, and “Oprah.”

War is one of the last things on most Front Range students’ minds. For one student, war is a reality back in her home country. Sudanese student Elham Musa hopes to one day return to her native country, despite its ongoing civil war. Photo by James Neuhalfen Musa grew up in a large family, including her mother and father, plus eight younger siblings. She grew up around her mother, learning the responsibilities of women as heads of the household. Musa took care of her eight siblings during her senior year in high school while her parents were away in different cities. Her responsibilities were to cook, clean, and discipline her brothers and sisters. “It was a lot of responsibility,” she says. “[It was] hard, but I did it. I am proud of that.” All eight of her siblings eventually attended college. Six have graduated, and the youngest will start college in the fall.

“How do I like it here? Still missing home,” Musa says. She calls her family back home regularly. Musa has two twin boys, now age 8, and two twin girls who are 6. Musa plans to return to Sudan with her husband after her kids have grown and moved out of the house. “I don‟t know if I can persuade them, especially the kids.” She says her boys want to stay in the United States. Musa admits, “Life here is easier… but I‟d rather be with my family.” Musa writes short stories and poetry. She is finishing her general education classes in hopes of transferring to Colorado State University by the fall of 2009. She is planning on working towards a degree in English literature, after which she hopes to move back and reunite with the family that she left behind in Sudan. “I am too attached to my family,” she says. ®

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F RONT R ANGE F ACES 15 S QUEEZING S COGGINS BY

B RIANNA S AVINO , R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER

One semester at Front Range Community college could run a student upwards of $3,869. Though that price is considerably less than the $4,424 paid at Colorado State University, it still burns a hole in one‟s wallet. Add to that tuition, fees, rent, utility bills, gas and grocery money, and you have the reality for one FRCC student. Third-year Front Range student Lance Scoggins has been paying for his schooling since his parents could no longer do so almost two years ago. “I paid for three semesters. Before that, my parents paid.” Along with paying for school, Scoggins works “two-and-a-half” jobs to help pay for the other bills he has every month. Since he started at Front Range, Scoggins has always had more than one job, ranging from working at King Soopers to a part-time gig at Elitch Gardens during the summer. Though those jobs have since passed, Scoggins helps ease the load of his bills by working at the Budweiser Events Center doing prep work, and teaching the Longmont High School drumline. The “half” job pertains to

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M AGGIE H ULL , R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER

Carol Reyes, a student at Front Range Community College, is an exchange student from Colombia. It would not be astonishing if an individual did not believe that she was an exchange student from another country because she speaks perfect English. Unlike some college students, she does not have the luxury to fly home when she gets homesick or when it is a loved one‟s birthday. She says, “Not having a way to turn to anyone, and my parents being continents away, was nervewracking.” Reyes has been in Colorado for a mere three years, and had only visited Colorado for two months before she decided to further her education here in the United States. Prior to attending Front Range, Reyes attended Colorado State University. It was Reyes‟ father‟s idea for her to continue her education in the United States. A friend made the suggestion for her to consider a university in Colorado. Several students believe that they must go through a demanding application process. However, Reyes lucked out because she had previously obtained a green card; she only had to go through the normal online application process. The higher education enrollment for foreign exchange students in the United States as of the 2004-2005 academic year was over 565,000 international students. Reyes flew from Saudi Arabia to Frankfurt, Germany, which was a six-and-a-half-hour flight. After arriving in Germany, she endured a seven-hour layover. When finally continuing her journey to the United States, the flight was between 10 and 11 hours to Denver.

private lessons he offers to his drumline students a few times a week, which could earn him about “$20 dollars a lesson.” Though the events center mainly helps pay for bills and schooling costs, Scoggins hopes that his work with the drumline will somehow help him with his major at Front Range. “Teaching the DL is probably the only job I have that‟s conducive,” he stated. “I‟m looking into sound design or teaching.” Even with two paychecks coming in from two separate jobs, Scoggins still struggles to make ends meet from time to time. Scoggins then joined the 38 percent of students at Front Range who have financial aid. In order to receive additional funds, Scoggins applied for a loan through Wells Fargo, though doing so was far from simple. Scoggins laughed and said, “Between qualifying for the right loan and finding a reasonable amount for my parents to agree on . . . $7,500 was the max amount for my parents.” Though he managed to get a slight hold on his financial woes, Scoggins still feels overwhelmed due to another cause: he is the first of his family to attend college. “None of my brothers has gone to college; they‟ve either stopped at high school or dropped out.” With neither parent holding a college degree, education isn‟t entirely valued in the (Continued on page 7) Reyes was naturally intimidated, as many might be, but she found that everyone was quite welcoming and very understanding, even her freshmen-year college roommate. “I‟m used to not exactly fitting in due to the many times that I‟ve moved,” stated Reyes. Although she has moved several times throughout her life, she still had to go through “an adjustment period where I felt especially out of place.” Coming from a graduating class with only 13 students made her feel anxious, especially attending such a big school compared to what she had been accustomed to. Colombian student Being in a completely Carol Reyes different environment was somePhoto by what easier for Reyes. She says, James Neuhalfen “I‟m one of those random thirdculture kids.” She has been on the move since the age of 4 and has lived in five different places since then, “so the term „home‟ for me is subjective.” Reyes left behind her mother, father and little brother. Her mother teaches and her father commutes to Saudi Arabia as a chemical engineer working for the oil and cement industry. Reyes must settle for communication with her family through means of online messages, e-mail and webcam. Reyes is majoring in political science and hopes to one day work for an embassy abroad. She says, “I can never stay in one place for too long.” ®

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M EDIUM 16 C OOL assignments so the process would be somewhat less frantic and the students would have a say in what they wanted others to see. “I liked the photo,” comments Dokter. “To really do it BY T AMARA S MITH , R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER well is a real challenge.” Taking Photo 1 and Photoshop at the same time, Dokter admits she couldn‟t have mastered a third How do you know if you are any good at creating art? class the same semester. Art classes are difficult and Kathryn Dokter, a part-time student at Front Range Community considerably demanding, and there‟s a lot of skill and learning College, should know. After having her artwork in the school‟s taking place. Having a good teacher in a class you really want Student Visual and Media Arts Show, she was asked if the to learn and excel in is key to getting a good education. Dokter school could buy her piece. Dokter submitted “Ghost Rider” a says Dukstein is “very helpful” in class and is more than willblack-and-white silver gel motion shot of a bicycle that she ing to help anyone, especially if they take created during her Photo 1 class. the class seriously. This is not the first time a piece Nowadays, since Dokter‟s three has been purchased by the school children (Alyssa, 19, Justin, 16, and from a student. Many have been Jonathon, 14) are all getting to the point bought to preserve articulate and where they can take care of themselves, meaningful art and are hung she has been blessed with free time to around the campus to show continue pursuing her passion in photogstudents‟ creativity. raphy. “I pushed myself to do many In March, FRCC will be getting things as a result of taking classes at ready for another Student Visual FRCC,” says Dokter, who proves her and Media Arts Show. Karl-Heinz point by explaining a photo book she is Dukstein, the lead faculty of going to self-publish in the near future. Visual and Media Arts at Front “Ghost Rider” by photography student Kathryn The idea was conceived through a project Range, along with other instrucin her Photo 2 class and is going to be a tors, will be selecting pieces from Dokter was recently purchased by FRCC. Courtesy of the artist book containing “ghost ads” that she talented individuals in their classphotographed of the sides of old buildrooms to submit to show at the exhibition. The show will be held in the Study Art Lounge at the ings. She also does some commercial work photographing weddings, taking senior portraits, and the like. Right now, Longs Peak Student Center, just as it has been for the last four Dokter is enrolled at FRCC in an Independent Study that years. All Front Range students are encouraged to check it out. Dukstein supervises so she can further her love of learning Graphic design, digital photography, and various types of art and experiencing photography. will all be showcased. Dukstein, who has worked at FRCC for This year‟s Student Visual and Media Arts Show is almost 10 years, explained that because they would like a lot of expected, as always, to be a very interesting artistic showcase. variety at the show art-wise and student-wise, they will probably Come by to show support of fellow FRCC students, check out choose artwork from this semester and last semester. However, what the art classes are doing, and see if maybe an art class is since the gallery is somewhat small, not every student‟s work will be shown. for you. ® Anyone in these art classes may have their work chosen to Aztec dancers in full costume perform at the Longs Peak be in the show, no matter how little or how much experience one Student Center during the International Fair (story on page 1). possesses, because it is not a matter of experience—it‟s a matter Photo by James Neuhalfen of learning and creating something beautiful. “The opportunity to see students grow” is why Dukstein enjoys teaching so much. It‟s that “wow” factor of discovering something new and supremely enjoying it at the same time that makes it all worth it for him. Dokter admits that she was “totally surprised” when Dukstein asked her if the school could buy “Ghost Rider” from her, and added that the school has a budget for buying about four or five student pieces every year. “I think it‟s great! Someone thinks it‟s good enough to be displayed. It‟s rewarding,” comments Dokter on how she feels about her personal work being publicly exposed for anyone‟s leisure viewing. “I do it because I have a passion to do it.” Her piece being purchased is “just a bonus.” How is artwork chosen to be showcased at the exhibition? Essentially, the instructor will choose, but Dokter says she and her classmates were instructed to compile a couple of their best

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M EDIUM 17 C OOL shape and getting a life of its own. People are starting to get into their characters.” Beutler says of his classmates, “They‟re all really enthusiastic. Everybody comes from a slightly different BY J OHN S EABERRY , R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER background, so everyone brings something a little bit different to it.” Beutler is excited about the idea of showing educators a When class begins, it becomes immediately apparent that new model for teaching reading skills through storytelling and theater instructor John Hill‟s enthusiasm for his new project theater, and getting the children to “associate [reading skills] had already spread across his students like ripples on a pond. with using their imaginations.” As Hill flits between cast members during the blocking session Hill describes the Paintbox Project as a collection of of the story of “The Country Mouse and the City Mouse,” stu- “Fractured Fairy Tales,” but also hopes the Paintbox Project will dents call out ideas that flow around the room, communal and inspire teachers to look at teaching in a less traditional way. “If a unreserved. In turn, Hill takes every inspiration from his pupils teacher wanted to create this kind of storytelling in their own and uses it to teach a little more about theater production. This classroom, they could have kids write stories,” Hill said. “They troupe is rehearsing the Paintbox Theater Project, a half-hour, could illustrate it them themselves. They could do plays for each three-act play produced by students enrolled in Theater Produc- other‟s classes.” tion, THE-132. Highly interactive and improvisational by dePrior to each performance, the students of THE-132 sign, the Paintbox Prosend a classroom study guide to the ject is an adaptation of schools containing background informathree classic Aesop tion on Aesop and his fables, the theater fables, modeled into a and how it works, and other relevant language-learning protodetails. Hill, 50, and Paintbox playwright type for children grades Tom McCabe have been collaborators K-4. Hill and his stusince they met almost 20 years ago when dents plan to perform at Hill worked as the resident designer at libraries and local Mount Holyoke College. The Paintbox schools this spring. Project was developed as a children‟s out“Theater 132 is an reach program for the New Century initiative we started this Theater, a professional theater company year,” Hill said. “In the in Arlington, Mass. “He takes liberties in a past, we had a reader‟s fun way,” Hill remarked of McCabe. “He theater in the spring, makes traditional fairy tales accessible to but… we wanted to try a contemporary audience.” something new.” Hill has For FRCC students interested in the Theater instructor John Hill (center) puts on a frightening theater, Beutler says that Front Range is a charged his band of rehearsal of “Fable of Lion and Mouse” with students Ian great place to start. “It‟s very laid back. seven students with the task of producing an It‟s not at all intimidating. They want Beutler and Alisa Shargorodsky. educational community Photo by Michelle Motherway everyone to come out and they will outreach program from explore what you can do.” the ground up. “The concept was three actors, a trunk full of Hill agrees. “We‟re a very accessible group here on campus.” costumes and props, a simple background and PowerPoint,” Each summer, Hill teaches a summer stock internship class that Hill explained. “The production is just the vehicle,” he continproduces more of McCabe‟s original work. The playwright has ued. “The goal is to associate language in a fun way without penned a series of five plays based on the work of L. Frank them realizing they‟re learning stuff.” Baum, author of the “Oz” books. The class started last summer FRCC student and Paintbox player Ian Beutler, 38, sees the with a notably McCabe-styled production of “The Wizard of Paintbox Project as vital to the community. “I like the idea of Oz,” free and loose with myriad opportunities for improvisation. more art and theater into schools,” Beutler said. “The way The play ran for one week on the Oval outside the Longs Peak schools are going, we could potentially raise a couple of genStudent Center. erations of kids who have no exposure to the arts whatsoever.” This summer, Hill will continue the series with “Journey A thespian since the age of 10, Beutler is completing an Back to Oz,” which is based largely on Baum‟s book, “The Associate of Arts degree at FRCC with aspirations of going Marvelous Land of Oz.” There will posted notices for a general into elementary education. The Paintbox Project has been an interest meeting for the summer show in late March or early enlightening experience for him. “I‟ve never done any April. Auditions are held in late April. Rehearsals start at the children‟s theater, and I never really thought of it as educabeginning of the summer semester, and the show runs the week tional. I always thought of it as sort of an entertainment after July 4. proposition,” Beutler observed. “I want to integrate it as a part “Last year, in seven performances, we had 2,800 people here. of what I continue to do, whether that be education or doing We averaged over 600 people per performance,” Hill noted. shows in the theater.” “Just be courageous and come on out.” ® Beutler says the class has been exciting so far. “It‟s taking

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singer of the group, had never before experienced singing in a jazz group. “I was in the All-State Choir [in high school], the Honors Choir, Show Choir and Section Choir,” he said. Rangel BY B RIANNA S AVINO , R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER also attended many competitions while in those choirs. Though the group is fairly new to the campus, “How do I like my quarter notes? Fat!” This phrase is Rangel was quite impressed with how it has turned out. “It‟s entirely normal to the students who auditioned for 26-year-old only our third time meeting. I think it‟s working out pretty well Amy Nelson‟s Jazz Vocal Group on the Front Range campus. for being so new,” he commented. Along with warm-ups consisting of hitting a high F while saying Even though the meeting times were few, Nelson got the word “ma,” students soak in the sound of jazz as taught by right into rehearsal, playing piano along with the parts that she Nelson, voice and music history instructor. She‟s been assigned to the singers. She also spends quality time with each surrounded by music her whole life, since high school, and section, asking if they had questions or concerns about the recently decided to offer the group on campus after seeing that it music they were singing. Even when some students had to was seriously leave early due to schedule lacking in conflicts, Nelson kept the musical outlets. beat going, walking around “[There were] no her group, snapping along ensembles. What and often contributing her a shame! It isn‟t own voice. When asked if she fair for kids who herself is in a group, she said, were in choir in “No, not on campus, but I am high school to in Kantorei Chamber group come here and in Denver. I also am currently find nothing in the Loveland Opera.” With similar,” stated the opera in its “tech week,” Nelson. Though her schedule is extremely she had been demanding, though she still brought up on finds time to meet with her classical music, group twice a week and enjoy she found somethe sounds they produce. thing “new and Though the group is exciting” about viewed as extracurricular to jazz and decided some and a late-start class to to hold auditions Amy Nelson (at left) leads her Vocal Jazz Group in a rehearsal. Student Alex others, the students still get for anyone who Rangel (third from right) joined the group following years in student choirs. credit if they choose. Next felt her same Photo by Michelle Motherway semester, though, the group passion. will be offered as a course, Among those who auditioned was 21-year-old Alex and the auditioned group will be able to receive credit for the Rangel, who came across the jazz group from a flyer posted in a time they put in. As a new addition to the campus activities, hallway. “I have been in choir all my life, since sixth grade,” Nelson wanted to get the word out about her jazz ensemble by Rangel said. He joined the 11 other students, male and female, participating in as many events as they could. in teaming up with Nelson to create the vocal group. Rangel, who had attended previous competitions and With the group being a late-start class, Nelson had little events, was excited about the events that he would be present at time to get a group together. After finally settling on a time the with his group. “We are attending the Jazz Festival in Greeley group could meet (Tuesdays from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., and on on April 23 just to soak it in. We are also singing at Thursdays from 3:30 to 5:00), students got right to work on graduation,” he said. pieces such as “What a Day for a Daydream” and “Around Us.” Along with those outings, students will be attending Though most choirs consist of more than 15 vocalists, Nelson a vocal jazz solo night which will be held at a local bar or didn‟t want a huge choir. “[I‟d like] as little as four people. restaurant, where they get to pick out their own song to sing Small is preferred,” she stated. with a rhythm section. And after the current semester is She also arranged a few pieces of music herself with finished, the vocal group will put on their end-of-the-year some instrumentalists she met at UNC where she attended concert on campus. Even though little has been heard about the college. The energetic, pixie-haired instructor gushed about how Jazz Vocal Group, Nelson and her students hope that the she was so excited to be back in jazz. “[I had] been away from campus will soon listen for their sounds. ® jazz. . . I had gotten into opera very heavily.”

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Though jazz is the preferred style of the group, not all of its participants have sung jazz. Rangel, the curly-haired bass

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B E O UR19 G UEST If you have any questions, feel free to drop by any of our meetings, or e-mail me at [email protected], or pick up a GSA flyer at Student Life. ®

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Front Range Community College‟s Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) welcomes you back. We want you to know who we are, what we do, and why we are here. First of all, the mission for the GSA at FRCC is “to promote equality and to maintain a safe and inclusive environment on campus for everyone, regardless of their sex, gender, identity or sexual orientation.” Gay Straight Alliances haven‟t always been around. In fact, GSAs really only began to emerge in the 1990s as a way for GLBT teens and their allies and friends to connect, find support, and provide education. The FRCC-GSA hosts several events throughout the school year, and we invite you to attend. Watch the Vista monitors and look for flyers throughout the campus for more information. Our events don‟t cost anything to attend, so what do you have to lose? This year will offer guest speakers, national events and other great things to help you get involved. Also, our club has officer spots open, as well as general members. Again, it costs nothing to join, and on top of the events we host all year, we have bi-weekly meetings at coffee shops, and have pizza parties and bowling tournaments. We are set to have a ton of fun this year. Our next sponsored event will be the National Day of Silence. The Day of Silence is a student-led day of action when concerned students take some form of a vow of silence to bring attention to the name-calling, bullying and harassment—in effect, the silencing—experienced by GLBT students and their friends and allies. This year‟s Day of Silence will be held on April 17 in memory of Lawrence King. Lawrence King was a 15-year-old student from Oxnard, Calif., who was shot and killed in class on Feb. 12 by a 14-year-old classmate because of King‟s sexual orientation and gender expression. The hate crime received little media attention. The goal of the Day of Silence is to inspire change so that this tragedy and others like it don‟t continue.

First-year student and GSA President Shawn Summa, 26, is majoring in Sign Language Interpretation. He says, “I came on board with GSA last semester and haven't looked back.”

Photo by Michelle Motherway (BEAL continued from page 13) mountains and water. The landscape is formed by the interaction of these two forces. That aspect of movement and energy is important to understand when you‟re looking at nature.” In time, Beal plans to try his hand at traditional publishing, perhaps in the form of guide books. For FRCC students interested in bouldering, Beal suggests beginners start by climbing problems near their home, like he did years ago. One of the key attractions of bouldering is its relatively sparse equipment requirements. “You can pick up a decent pair of climbing shoes for anywhere from $80 to $100,” Beal said, “maybe some chalk, and if you want to be more safety-conscious, a bouldering crash pad for about $120.” As the sport increases in popularity, bouldering areas are becoming more common at indoor climbing gyms, and you can always give it a try for free at popular local hotspots like Rotary Park at Horsetooth and the 420 Boulders in Poudre Canyon. ®

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