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    A Publication by the Students of the FRCC-Larimer Campus

    VOLUME 7, ISSUE 1 MARCHAPRIL 2008

    FRIENDSIN HAR-MONEY:

    RAISING DOLLARSFOR SCHOLARS

    BY MOLLYMCCARTHY, RANGEVIEWREPORTER

    Friends in Harmony, an annual fundraising event atFront Range Community College, is celebrating its tenthanniversary at the Longs Peak Student Center on Friday,April 18 at six in the evening.

    Originally begun to establish a scholarship for the hospi-tality department, Friends in Harmony has grown to become

    the only scholarship fundraiser exclusively for students atthe Larimer campus. According to their invitations, thisculinary extravaganza and wine tasting event is a true

    collaborative effort featuring desserts and appetizers from sev-eral different restaurants from around the community, as wellas from FRCCs hospitality food preparation, along with food

    prepared by high school culinary arts students. Entertainment isprovided by music students, and the decorations are donated bythe Continuing Educations advanced floral design class.

    A silent auction held in conjunction with the event is an-other opportunity for the FRCC community to get involvedwith Friends in Harmony. Each year, different academic de-partments assemble and donate themed gift baskets to the silentauction. These baskets, along with other donated auction items,typically bring in an additional $5,000 to $10,000 for scholar-ships.

    Last year, 10 students applied for scholarships and all 10were awarded $500 for the fall of 2007. Andrew Elliott, age20, is in his second year at Front Range and was one of thoserecipients. Elliott says, This scholarship helped me out quite

    a bit. College only gets more expensive down the road and soevery little bit helps.

    Elliott plans to be a greeter at the Friends in Harmonyfundraiser this year, allowing him the opportunity to meet andthank those people who are responsible for the scholarship hereceived last fall. He also plans on applying for another schol-arship this year for fall of 2008. Elliot, who is studying

    graphic art, says, You have no idea how much it helped me!Elliot hopes to graduate and then transfer to a four-year uni-versity to further his studies in film.

    Karen Michiels, the program assistant in the Office of theVice President, and the chair of the Friends in Harmony Or-ganization Committee, understands where the students arecoming from. She says, I was a student here myself and so I

    know what a big difference it can make. Michiels, who re-

    ceived her associate of applied science legal secretarial de-gree at Front Range, Larimer campus, has been the chair ofthe committee for six years and continues to dedicate hertime to this annual event. The work of organizing the

    (Continued on page 4)

    TREE WARRIORS

    WEED OUT

    INVASIVE SPECIES

    BY MAX HAGHIGHI,

    RANGEVIEWREPORTER

    As you drive around Fort Collins, doyou ever pay much attention to thestreets names? The names are often of

    the people who have inspired us, have

    led us, or have influenced some periodof Americas history. Then, as you ap-

    proach the now mushrooming suburbiamany streets are named after the animals we have pushed out fromtheir natural habitats, or trees we have cut down to make room foshiny blacktop snaking through new neighborhoods. And, ofcourse, wanting to be environmentally correct, some residents mahave hoisted the green flag of environmental solidarity on theirfront porches, and are trying to reduce their carbon footprint.Somehow when we question Mother Earths wisdom, we will get

    backhanded.Enlightened by the lesson, Tree Warriors at Front Range

    (Continued on page

    The first day of classes was greeted by a frosty full moonset over thefoothills.

    Campus Webcam photo courtesy of Supervisor Gordon Goldsmith

    of the Department of Public Safety

    Targeted: the Russian olive

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    MEET OUR EDITORIAL TEAM

    EDITORIAL TEAM (left to right): Jenn Killmer, Marie Abe and Tawny Dennis.Photo by Kate Tarasenko

    MEETOUR PHOTO TEAM

    MISSION STATEMENT:

    The Rangeview provides a voice for FRCCs Larimer campus. We strive to give our read-ers accurate and balanced coverage on a variety of news and events in an effort to keep ourcampus well-informed about its college community. We approach our responsibilities withthe goal of maintaining the highest journalistic standards to the best of our abilities.

    Faculty Advisor &

    Managing Editor... Kate Tarasenko

    Editorial Team.......Marie Abe

    .Tawny Dennis

    ...Jenn Killmer

    Photo Team.. . .Lindsey Fisher

    ...Max Haghighi

    ....Molly McCarthy

    Layout.. ......Kate Tarasenko

    Assistant Layout TeamAshley Bailey

    .Kate Elisha

    .Jill Prenger

    Advisory Board.... ...Karl Dukstein

    ...Kathy Mendt

    ......Erin Smith

    ......Rob Suglia

    . ....Kate Tarasenko

    SUBMISSIONS POLICY:

    We welcome feedback, letters to theeditor, articles and op-ed pieces (aswell as story ideas and tips) from allmembers of the FRCC community.

    Please do not exceed 600 words.The Rangeview also accepts photosand artwork in j-peg format (min..

    1,200 pixels on the long side).

    All submissions must be emaileddirectly from your FRCC account asa Word.doc or j-peg attachment, andmust be accompanied by full name

    and local phone number, to:

    [email protected]

    All submissions are subject to finalapproval by the Editing Team/AdvisoryBoard, and may be edited for length,

    clarity, and potentially libelous content.

    Please submit yourcalendar items and events to

    [email protected].

    ALL CONTENT 2008 RANGEVIEWPHOTO TEAM (left to right): Max Haghighi, Lindsey Fisher and Molly McCarthy.Photo by Kate Tarasenko

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    ALSO

    IN THIS ISSUE:

    Serving the Students

    Study Abroad.5

    Continuing Ed6

    Scholars Square

    Sociology...7

    History...8

    Math...9

    VET Program...11

    Geology12

    Club Hub

    Campus Crusade..13

    Campus Wellness

    The Good Life..14

    Medium Cool

    Women of WWII.16

    Write On!.........................17

    NWHP..18

    Itty Bits

    AFO.12VITA...15Campus Award Noms.19Career Connect.. .19

    Be Our GuestWriting Forum...20

    FROM OUR READERS

    Honors Institute Features Guest

    Speaker

    The Honors Institutes guest

    speaker this semester is Dr.Thomas Eaton. Dr. Eaton willlecture on Education: Present

    and Future in the Harmony Li-

    brarys Community Room on

    March 28 from 9 to 10 a.m. Allinstructors are encouraged to

    bring their classes to the lecture.

    Dr. Rosemarie Russo

    Dean of Instruction

    My Word Features Local Authors

    This semesters My Word reading series kicked off on

    February 6 with threeyoung-adult fiction writers, includ-ing Lauren Myracle, author of New York Times bestsellersTTYL and TTFN as well as Eleven and Rhymes with

    Witches. Todd Mitchell, author of The Traitor King,and Laura Resau, author of What the Moon Saw and

    Red Glass, also read from their latest works.

    The series continues on Wednesday, April 9 featuring CaraMcDonald, writer and deputy editor at 5280 magazine,

    along with Laura Pritchett, author of Hells Bottom,

    Colorado, winner of the PEN USA Award and a

    Milkweed National Fiction Prize. Pritchett is also co-editor and contributor to Home Land: Ranching and a

    West That Works.

    All My Word readings are held in the Community Room

    in the Harmony Library from 7 to 8 p.m. For more

    information, call 204-8281.Shawna Jackson

    English Faculty

    Some Flu Facts and Tips from Public Safety:

    200,000 people are hospitalized in the United States each

    year with the flu.

    The best time to get a flu shot is during October andNovember, but you can get it later and it can still benefityou.

    It is easy to transmit the virus. You can become infectedjust by touching a door knob that has the virus on it, andthen touching your mouth, nose or eyes.

    Some ways to prevent the flu virus are:

    Get a flu shot or use a nasal spray (FluMist is one

    popular brand).

    Open restroom doors using a paper towel and thenproperly dispose of it.

    Disinfect your work area (desk, keyboard, phone, door

    handles, etc.), especially if you have frequent visitors.

    Distance yourself from people who exhibit flu symp-

    toms.

    Please be courteous of others and cover your mouthwhen you cough or sneeze.

    Wash your hands!

    Gracie EganDepartment of Public Safety

    The Rangeview

    is funded by Student Life,

    using student fees, and by the

    Department of Arts & Letters.

    Content for The Rangeview

    is provided by the

    journalism students ofJOU-106,

    the Fundamentals of Reporting.

    FALL 2008

    Register for JOU-106,

    the Fundamentals of

    Reporting, and write for

    The Rangeview!

    (3 transfer credit hours)

    Also offered as an

    Honors Institute class.

    Journalism is literature

    in a hurry.

    Matthew Arnold

    As a former advisor to The

    Rangeview, I can say withouthesitation (but with a little bit ofenvy!) that Kate Tarasenko andher Journalism 106 students havetaken the publication to a whole

    new level. The paper has quicklybecome a major source of infor-mation and insight into campusculture.

    Blair E. Oliver, Ph.D.

    Chair of Arts and Letters

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    Chef Sheila Beckley (center) is surrounded by students Travis Thompson, Jim Atchison,Jasmine Thompson and Kate Lambert, students of FRCCs high school Culinary Arts-ChefProgram. They prepared desserts for last years Friends in Harmony event.

    Photo courtesy of John Feeley

    Friends in Harmony benefit is nearly a year-round effort. Mi-chiels and her team start meeting and planning for the eventmid-summer for the following spring fundraiser.

    Its a lot of work, but Ive learned a lot, says Michiels,

    who coordinates all aspects of the event, including the invita-tions, the participating restaurants, the food, and the silent auc-tion donations.

    She also contributes to a quilt that is constructed by the staffof the Larimer campus, donated to Friends in Harmony, andthen raffled off, with proceeds going to the scholarship pro-gram. The quilt is an annual project among all classified staffmembers, faculty and administrators who contribute to the pro-ject either by making their own squares or by donating moneyfor quilting fabric and supplies. This year, the king-size quilt isan orphan quilt, in which all squares are unique, with no cen-

    tral, common theme. Anyone can buy a ticket from the Infor-mation Desk in Mount Antero, at the FRCC Bookstore, or fromany classified staff member on campus. Tickets cost $5 for one,or five tickets for $20, with all proceeds benefitting Friends inHarmony.

    Friends in Harmony welcomes all community members,Front Range faculty, staff and students who wish to attend theevent to help increase scholarship opportunities for students atLarimer campus.

    Over 1,500 invitations will be sent to community members,and flyers will be posted on campus to promote the event. Forcommunity members, the price to attend Friends in Harmony isa suggested donation of $40 per person or $75 per couple. ForFront Range students, faculty and staff, the suggested donationis $20 per person. Although wine is served at Friends in Har-mony, students of all ages are encouraged to attend because,There will be plenty to eat, says Michiels.

    (FRIENDS IN HARMONYcontinued from page 1)

    (TREE WARRIORS continued frompage 1)

    Community College have theirboots on the ground and are combat-ing global warming. They are boundand determined that two tree nameswill never adorn the street signs inany Colorado neighborhood: Rus-sian olive and tamarisk. Ironically,

    these two exotic species were intro-duced to Colorado by misguidedcitizens in the hopes of providing awind break.

    According to Travis Rollins,Larimer Countys invasive species

    coordinator, tamarisk has now beenplaced on the A list of the Invasive Species Act. The Colorado

    Noxious Weed Act (C.R.S. 35-5.5) states: There is a need toensure that all the lands of the state of Colorado...are protected

    [and] that certain undesirable plants constitute a present threat

    [and] reduce the environmental value of the lands... To address

    this issue, the Exotic Species Elimination Project (ESEP), was

    introduced at FRCC and is, in part, funded by the Larimer CountyDepartment of Natural Resources.The program and the academic course was the brainchild of

    biology instructor Jim Choun. Each semester, Choun, with enthu-siastic backing from fellow biology instructor John Leetham andFRCC students, diverge across many sites in Larimer County.Choun and Leetham, who have each been at FRCC for over adecade, are the drill sergeants for the Tree Warriors. As if well -rehearsed, they both radiate when they talk about the ESEPprogram.

    In their native ranges, plant and animal populations are kept

    in check by natural controls. When a species is accidentally orintentionally introduced into a new location that does not includethese natural controls, the consequences can sometimes be devas-

    tating, announced Choun.Leetham chimed in. Perhaps nowhere are we failing ecosys-

    tems more readily evident and acute than the western UnitedStates. In Colorado there is always the danger of drought and

    these two specific species sap all the available water for survival,thus denying the native cottonwood, willow and aspen.

    Choun added, I am certainly amazed at students, [and] not

    just at FRCC, that afford the natural little or no worth, as if some-how we have lost sight of the web of life and our place within

    We should all be aware and engaged in the environmental prob-lems that at least impact our immediate community.

    (Continued on next page)

    All students who meet the eligi-bility requirements for the Friendsin Harmony scholarship are wel-come to apply, and students areable to find out more informationthrough the Front Range homepageby clicking on the Foundation

    link. Scholarship applications aredue by March 14.

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    ...the Russian olive and

    tamarisk are such waterhoarders...its really im-

    portant to help our riverssustain as much water in

    them as possible

    Vicki Rockwell, who is studying for her RN accreditation, isone of many students who have participated in the ESEP.

    I started with the project last semester and continue doing so

    because I really enjoy the work, the people, and the cause. Okay,I will admit that romping through the woods is so much fun. Its

    like being in the worlds largest playground Not only is it a

    lot of fun to be out in the field working, but it's having fun

    while making a difference in our environment.Rockwell went on, I know I'll be making a difference in our

    ecological environment down the road by eliminating these in-vasive trees and letting our native trees thrive once again

    Both types of trees we work to eradicate tend to take up massquantities of land and, in doing so, kill off our more peaceful

    natives, the willow and the cottonwood It also makes me

    happy to know I'll be helping to conserve water, since the Rus-sian olive and thetamarisk are suchwater hoarders. Ibelieve its really

    important to help

    our rivers sustain asmuch water in themas possible, forwhat is a river with-out water? A soulwithout a spirit?

    Speaking with areflective demeanoroften associatedwith a concerned mother, she urged more students to pick up thecause.

    Since I live in a state and larger fulcrumthe planet, whichis in a water crisisand love our trees and rivers, this projectmeans a lot to me. It really doesn't take a whole lot of time andeffort to help our environment. When a person is doing some-

    (TREE WARRIORS continued from page 4)

    thing really enjoyable, time is irrelevant. One just needs to findhis [or] her niche and go for it, Rockwell said.

    In early March, Choun and Leetham and the Tree Warriors

    will be heading out to the next theater of combat against theseinvaders. They are in the process of mapping out the latest in-

    fested areas and filling the proper grant application with LarimerCounty. They will most likely be heading out to the various sitesin early March, weather permitting.

    Rockwell, with a reflective look, nodded her head, stating hersolemn duty and added: This planet is our only home and it's

    wonderfully beautiful, but weas in all of usneed to gettogether and start taking better care of our home. A little effortwould go along way with a lot of people The idea of wilderness

    needs no defense, it only needs defenders.

    Tree Warriors Genevieve Forster, John Leetham,Vicki Rockwell and Jim Choun

    Photo by Max Haghighi

    SERVINGTHE STUDENTS

    THINK GLOBALLY: STUDY ABROAD

    BY JENN KILLMER, RANGEVIEWREPORTER

    How would you like to climb to the top of a mountain, or gosnorkeling with penguins? How would you like to do both in

    the same day?Barb Patterson, a forestry and wildlife instructor at FRCC-

    Larimer did just that when traveling to the Galapagos Islandswith FRCCs Study Abroad Program. Its like being in

    heaven. Its unbelievable, says Patterson.For those students who want to expand on the typical col-

    lege experience and partake in adventures such as the ones Pat-terson describes, one only need look to the Study Abroad Pro-gram at Front Range.

    The Study Abroad Program began in 1998 and its first ex-cursions were in the summers of 1999 and 2000. After the 2000sections, the president of FRCC mandated a break to createmore policies and to make the trips more effective and safe for

    the students and teachers traveling abroad. The program resumedin 2004 and has offered sections every summer. It is still a youngprogram but is growing rapidly, sometimes offering trips over thebreaks during the school year.

    The program is officially affiliated with International StudiesAbroad. Through ISA, students can apply for scholarships if theyneed help with costs. If a student is receiving financial aid, it mayapply to help with the costs of the trip.

    Pam Ranallo is the foreign language coordinator and a Spanishinstructor at FRCC-Boulder. She has been the Study Abroad coor-dinator since 2006. Prior to becoming the coordinator, she experi-enced studying abroad as a student. Her student travels took her toplaces such as Mexico and Spain. Ranallo says that she loved it,

    and that when she became an instructor, it made her want to take

    students places.According to Ranallo, the program has many goals. The main

    one is to offer academically challenging and safe faculty-led pro-

    grams. Study Abroad is currently researching other providers and

    (Continued on next page)

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    SERVINGTHE STUDENTS

    coffee from Costa Rica.Patterson is heading the Peru trip. She has been working

    with the program for several years, and has traveled to placessuch as Belize, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Hawaii. Her sectionis studying tropical ecology. According to Patterson, It is

    better to experience the resources in other countries than toread about themIt gives the students global perspective of

    natural resources.Although Patterson teaches the tropic ecology program,

    she believes that studying abroad is aninvaluable experience for any studentin any area of study, and that they willgain a perspective that you cant

    have as a tourist.When she had asked her students

    about the trips that they had been on,most told her that it had been a life-changing experience.

    Patterson advises students,Emerge yourself in study and what interests youYou willget as much out of it as you put into it.

    Ranallo agrees that studying abroad is an important part ofa students education. It is important for any student in any

    subject matter to be successful in the world we live in today

    They will learn things about themselves and their beliefs thatwill make them a better global citizen.

    There is still time to register for summer programs. Formore information, contact Pam Ranallo [email protected] or call 303-678-3823. You canalso check out the Study Abroad Web page for information onpast trips and upcoming ones by visiting FRCCs homepage

    and clicking on the Academics and Study Abroad links.

    (STUDY ABROAD continued from previous page)

    affiliations so that they will be able to offer the most success

    to students from providers who we trust, says Ranallo. The

    program also seeks to gain more faculty so that it can offermore locations and areas of study to FRCC students.The Mexico trips are the longest-running sections, and stu-

    dents have traveled there every summer since 2004, while theother programs have changed fromyear to year. However, beginning inMay 2009 there will be an Ireland tripoffered every year.

    There are several trips and areas ofstudy that are being offered this sum-mer: China for business, Peru fortropical ecology, Mexico for Spanishlanguage studies, Germany for litera-ture, and Sante Fe for art. The costs ofthe trips vary, but generally range from approximately $2,700to $3,500. The trips are relatively short, ranging from nine daysto an entire month.

    Every program has different deadlines for when payment isdue, but all of the programs require the students to attend twomandatory orientations that discuss safety, academic expecta-tions and personal responsibilities. The students also have tosign a liability waiver, and need to apply for a passport on theirown time for sections that are offered outside the United States.

    At this time, students need to provide their own funding,though certain programs do offer fundraising.

    The Peru section will have a fundraiser beginning thesecond week of March. The tropical ecology students here at

    FRCC-Larimer will be selling organic, shade-grown, fair trade

    When youre traveling, you are

    what you are right there and then.

    William Least Heat Moon, Blue Highways

    THE NON-TRADITIONAL

    CLASSROOM: CONTINUING ED

    BY TAWNYDENNIS, RANGEVIEWREPORTER

    On a warm, sunny, Saturday afternoon, Lynn Vosler can bediscovered up on one of the numerous bike trails in Windsor or

    Fort Collins, withher husband, Scott.With both her son

    and daughtergrown and livingon their own,Vosler and her hus-band are getting toenjoy the outdoors.However, on Mon-days, Vosler can befound in her office

    brainstorming new ideas for the Continuing Education Programat Front Range Community College.

    When she started out at the University of Wyoming, shepursued and received her bachelors degree in print journalism.

    Shortly after graduating, she began working at Taco Johns

    corporate office in Wyoming, where she worked in the publicrelations and advertising department. After getting married toMr. Vosler, they moved to Julesburg, Colo., where he taughtelementary school. During that time, she was a stay-at-homemom with her son, Austin, and daughter, Kylie. While living inJulesburg, Vosler got a job at Northeastern Junior College in

    Sterling, Colo., working for the community education depart-ment setting classes in the Julesburg area. She worked atNortheastern Junior College until she got a job at WesternNebraska Community College as the director of communityeducation and business training where she worked for 12 yearsprior to coming to Front Range.

    Vosler began working for FRCC in August of 2007 as thedirector of the Institute for Community and Professional Devel-opment. Her main job is to oversee all of the classes in the

    Continuing Ed Program and to provide cus-tomized training for businesses and organi-zations.

    (Continued on next page)

    Lynn Vosler oversees FRCCsContinuing Ed Program.

    Photo by Lindsey Fisher

    mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]
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    (CONTINUING ED continued from previous page)

    The Continuing Ed Program is different from the typical cam-pus environment because an entire class can be as short as fourhours long. The cost is considerably less than a three-credit classthat lasts an entire semester. For example, anyone in the commu-nity is eligible to take the class titled, Fly Cheap, Stay Cheap,

    Travel Cheap. This class does not follow the usual classroom

    style. There are two sessions available for this course that takeplace on March 11, from 6 to 8 p.m. and on April 10, from 6 to 8p.m. as well. This class only focuses on how to travel in grand

    style on a limited budget.Other classes, like Voice Acting, can be a great way for

    someone to improve their skills so that eventually he or she canbecome a professional voiceover artist. Vosler believes that,This class can serve as a great stepping stone for people trying

    to pursue an acting career. Teachers for this course will travel

    from New York to FRCC to teach it and, at the same time, recruit

    students who they feel have the talent to be a voiceover actor oractress.

    Vosler has numerous goals for Continuing Ed as a whole. Be-cause it is an enterprise account and does not receive state fund-

    ing like regular classes on a college campus, the main goal is to

    earn at least enough money to break even at the end of the se-mester. In order for that to happen, Continuing Ed needs to growand try to reduce the drop rate of classes from 30 percent.

    Vosler would also like to see Continuing Ed marketed more

    heavily throughout the community. She would like to start ad-vertising in the local papers and try to appeal more to the college-aged student. However, the program as a whole is not solelygeared towards the college community, but the business commu-nity, as well. But she also believes that, Several of the classes

    offered would actually benefit those people who have been outof college for several years. She says that, Web Success for

    Small Businesses is one such class. This class would help small

    business owners keep up with the competition by teaching themto create a Website and maintain it.

    Vosler graduated from Wyoming with a degree in print jour-nalism; however, she decided to pursue a career in public rela-tions. Her job is to maintain the Continuing Education Programat Front Range and find new classes to offer to the community.With classes like Fly Fishing for Beginners and

    Conscientious Eating in a Busy World, these classes have a

    wide appeal to the community, and a creative twist to a class-room environment. For more information, visit FRCCs home-

    page and click on Continuing Education.

    SERVINGTHE STUDENTS

    THE BIG PICTURE:

    SOCIOLOGYAT FRCC

    BY LINDSEYFISHER, RANGEVIEWREPORTER

    Full of cheer to be at school, Dr. Mary Croissant, 60,chats with fellow staff members and students as she ar-rives for another busy day on the Front Range campus.With her arms filled of the copies of Nickel and Dimed

    for her classes, Dr. Croissant is fast to greet familiar facesand offer a helping hand to a fellow student and friend.Dr. Croissant enjoys being at Front Range and starting offher days in the presence of others who share her brightoutlook. I really like being here, and I think most people

    know that, she stated.Dr. Croissant was born in central Michigan and said,

    We were sort of like the Beaver Cleaver family, but with

    a lot of neuroses. Dr. Croissant earned her doctorate in

    sociology and teaches in the sociology department. It

    was love at first sight, she said. She teaches Sociology of

    Deviance, Intro to Sociology, Sociology of Gender, andEthnic Studies.

    Dr. Croissant has many goals and plans for the sociol-ogy department and her classes for the near future. Not only is sheplanning to bring back the cross-dressers (who come to campusevery semester to give a presentation), she also plans to bring Hal

    Mansfield to discuss cults and hate groups, as well as OpenStage Theater. Shes also incorporating the book Nickel and

    (Continued on next page)

    SCHOLARS SQUARE

    Dr. Mary Croissant participates in a demonstration in her Physics 101class that she takeswith student Brian Collins (left), led by instructorWilson Winner.

    Photo by Lindsey Fisher

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    (SOCIOLOGYcontinued from previous page)

    Dimed, which is being studied in many other classes, in her

    courses. There are also some new classes being planned thatinclude Sociology of Religion and Sociology of Technology,

    as well as Environmental Sociology.Dr. Croissant brings experience and, hopefully, a

    sense of humor, to FRCC. Her classes are not all taught

    from a book.She also includes many topics and discussions that arenot required. When asked about this, she said, I try, as

    much as I can get away with it, to teach what excites thestudents in the class. I try to figure out what their deal is,and then fit the theoretical material into what their pas-sions are.

    Along with teaching at Front Range, Dr. Croissant isalso involved in many committees and has taken manycourses as a student here on campus. You may have no-

    ticed her in your history, astronomy, or even physicsclass. Shes always eager to learn and among the first to

    ask questions. Not only does she take classes, but she alsodedicates some of her time to many campus committees in-cluding the Gay-Straight Alliance and an online learning com-mittee.

    After her day at Front Range, Dr. Croissant spends time athome with her family, playing the piano, weaving, or cooking,although she claims she is a failure at balancing her busy life.She is very passionate about her kids, her friends, and teach-ing. Her wheelchair-bound son, his many nurses, her daughterand fiance, and the many other people who find temporaryresidence or just a home-cooked meal at the Croissant house,

    are major parts of Dr. Croissants life. When asked what shewanted to do that she hadnt had the chance to, she responded,

    I want to do what Rosemarie Russo did and bungee-jump outof a parachute, and I want to learn to juggle. She also wants

    to perfect her skills in fly fishing.If its not fun, dont do it. Wait until its fun if possible,

    advises Dr. Croissant. Her theory is that learning is much eas-ier when you are having fun. She said, Try everything. For

    students looking to focus on sociology, she suggested, Take

    as many different classes as you can. Just do the fruit basket,do the delicatessen. It all comes together in the end

    sociology is the big picture. It can lead to careers in social

    work, teaching, data management, and working for many dif-ferent companies, especially if combined with strengths inanother subject. A bachelors degree at the minimum is best,

    however. Dr. Croissant believes that sociology helps an indi-vidual get a broader view on society as a whole.

    Dr. Croissant has been at FRCC for about 17 years now,seven of which have been full-time. When asked about herexperience here, she shared, This place is small enough that

    you can assemble people in groups in ways that last for

    years and years and yearsIve been here a long time, and

    the way people twist and nest and gnarl up, like roots in a tree,is really cool here. You can really build a community here.

    In her many years at FRCC, she has seen a lot of mutualsupport among students and staff. She has found that the

    A MOMENTIN TIME:

    HISTORYAT FRCC

    BY JENN KILLMER, RANGEVIEWREPORTER

    When one thinks of an historian, one usually pictures an oldman with spectacles, smoking a pipe, sitting next to a mountain

    of books. One may also think of a professor standing at a podiumdroning on about the discovery of America. Amy Young defiesthis image. She is a young historian who is energetic and pas-sionate about the history that she teaches. In teaching her classes,she avoids lecturing just to hear her own voice but, instead, en-courages participation through conversation and debate, whichmakes the history come to life.

    Young, 40, is a history instructor at Front Range and teachesU.S. History I, U.S. History II and Contemporary U.S. History.She is an Arizona State graduate, earning degrees in interdiscipli-nary humanities and modern European history. She continued hereducation and earned her masters in American studies from

    Florida State University, writing her thesis on Women Activistsin Student Nonviolent Committees. She began teaching in 1995and has taught at seven different institutions.

    Young began teaching at FRCC in January 2005. She startedwith only one class and liked it, saying, The [administration]

    gives a lot of freedom to their teachers. The history program at

    FRCC has approximately 900 students per semester with 30 dif-ferent sections. U.S. History is one of the largest sections. Thehistory department as a whole is focusing on poverty in Americathis semester. The book, Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting

    by in America by Barbara Ehrenreich, will be the focal point for

    this section.

    (Continued on next page)

    SCHOLARS SQUARE

    Larimer campus is a supportive and caring campus for the peoplewho spend a lot of time here. Ill stay here as long as I can, Dr.

    Croissant said with a big smile on her face. Just celebrate this

    school. Thats what I want you to do.

    I try, as much as I can get away with

    it, to teach what excites students inthe class.

    Dr. Mary Croissant

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    (HISTORYcontinued from previous page)

    Its a very relevant book for people to read right now, says

    Young, because it clearly identifies the flight of American work-

    ers and how their wages do not keep up with American costs.

    The book relates to thecurrent American economyas well. According toYoung, the current inflationin the economy has caused adecrease in consumer spend-ing because middle- andlower-class families haveless spending power, whichmay ultimately cause a re-cession. If the economygoes into recession, thistime will be different than

    any other one in the pastbecause the American econ-omy is much more global-ized. According to Young,America is more closely

    connected with Asia andEurope than ever beforebecause their economies aremore integrated.

    Young grew up in Min-neapolis. She knew byfourth grade that she wantedto work in social sciences,

    saying that she alwaysloved it. Her favorite histo-

    rian, Howard Zinn, is a manwho is not only a responsi-

    ble and thorough historian, but is also very committed to socialjustice. Zinn is also a playwright and a social activist. He has

    written many books, and is best known for the book, A Peo-

    ples History of the United States.

    During her junior year of college, Young studied inWales. The experience was amazing and intense. The edu-

    cation system in Wales differed greatly from the college sys-

    tem in the United States. The class sizes were much smaller,the largest being 15 students, and there were notextbooks. The students take five classes theirfirst year, and then take exams that last three tofour hours at the end of the year. During thethird year, the students have to take exams on allof the classes they had been taken in the firstthree years. This type of system made you be

    prepared, says Young.

    Young has traveled to many places outsidethe United States. She spent an extensive amountof time in Morocco when she was 21 years old.She also visited Russia just after the Cold War,

    which she says was a transforming experience.She has also been to Ireland.Young plans to earn a Ph.D. and secure a full

    -time teaching position. She may also publishresearch she has done. She has thought aboutwriting a book someday, but has put that on thebackburner for the time being.

    When asking what advice Young would giveto her students, she quoted Shakespeare, To

    thine own self be true. In her own words, she

    tells students to figure out who you are, what

    you believe in, and then act on it.

    SCHOLARS SQUARE

    History instructor Amy Young discusses her

    encounter with the Little Rock 9 with her class.Photo by Molly McCarthy

    News is the first rough draft

    of history.Ben Bradlee

    BYTHE NUMBERS:

    FRCCS MATH DEPARTMENT

    BY MAX HAGHIGHI, RANGEVIEWREPORTER

    Redcloud Peak is one of Front Range Community Collegesoriginal structures, which has not seen any remodeling, remaininga relic of the past. With its unabashed simplicity, it tries to com-pete with all the other buildings on the cramped landscape of thecampus, much as math competes with a host of other intriguingsubjects. There are no distinctive characteristics to set apart thiscavernous building, as if it could very well belong to a paternity ofmonks practicing, Lets say math.

    With its lackluster faade, the structure competes with moresexier buildings, just as math does with other more seductive

    courses in ones education. As one makes ones way through the

    block constructed maze of corridors, one cant help but hum the

    theme for The Addams Family, hoping Uncle Fester is not

    around the corner. After all, how often do you hear the phrase:Math is fun around the campus compared to, say, My art

    appreciation class rocks!

    As one gathers strength to peek around the next turn in thepurgatory of Redcloud Peak, one enters the spacious office of

    Nancy Casten, chairperson for the math department at FRCC.Just as with the oldest known sciencemaththe office isorganized and with a purpose. One cant help but notice the

    conspicuously placed Nurse Nancy book, a gift from her

    former students, and the crematory urn of The Troubled Stu-

    dents.The math department at FRCC is comprised of 30 instruc-

    tors, with the ratio skewed toward female instructors. Castenhas been a full-time mathematics instructor at FRCC since1992 and its chair since the fall of 2003. Awarded the prestig-

    ious title of Master Teacher, Casten has, according to her

    (Continued on next page)

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    SCHOLARS SQUARE

    (MATHcontinued from previous page)

    homepage, taught the full spectrum of courses from re-algebrathrough calculus, including statistics and math for clinical cal-

    culations. She received her masters degree in mathematicsfrom Colorado State University.

    Math was not my first major; teaching was. I came to real-

    ize that the way I could impact the world most effectively wasthrough teaching, the mother and grandmother announced

    with authority. Gettingmore comfortable, shecontinued, Instructing

    individuals and encour-aging them to pursue orfulfill their dreams hasbeen such an integralpart of my life that I

    rarely sit down and for-malize the reasons be-hind my passion. This isa great exercise for me toreflect upon what andwhy I do what I do.

    Glancing at her coffeeas if to detect some cos-mic patterns, she wenton, I came to maturity

    in a society that still usedthe old adage, Those

    who can, do, and thosewho cant, teach. I vowed never to become a

    teacher. However, as my own education in the fields of obser-vation increased, I came to the awareness that the educator heldthe power and responsibility of providing the seeds and thefertilizer for ideas to come to fruition.

    When pressed as to why many students find math so chal-lenging, Casten displayed a baffled look as if she was hearing aphrase in a foreign language. Mathematics is the study of pat-

    tern recognition and common sense. All students must come tothis realization in their own way and at their own pace. Diver-sity in my classroom is recognized as the wide variety of abili-ties of individuals to internalize the concepts and to utilize theirformer experiences in mathematics.

    The question of why she feels math is important drew a

    more scornful look and response: Mathematics is extremelypowerful in building the foundations of not only the sciences,but the life skills, logic, and critical thinking needed for suc-cess. This success is as unique to each person as their finger-prints. What some may call a failure is anothers huge suc-

    cess.

    The math department is short-staffed and Casten is con-stantly juggling to fill the positions. From the alarm clock

    that hopefully wakes you up in the morning to the ignition ofthe car and, oh, yes, that ever-important text message shepaused for a moment as if to correct herself for sounding stand-offish, everything has a mathematical equation espousing it.

    Yet, sadly, according to Casten, in todays social climate,

    young students, particularly young girls, are encouraged not toempower themselves with the knowledge of mathematics. She

    sat back in her chair and, with a reflective nod, continued. It

    is becoming acceptable norm for an extremely astute individualto be admonished by their peers if they posses the nerdiness ofmathematics aptitude. Surveying her surroundings as if to

    confirm her solemn conviction, Casten went on. It is liberat-

    ing once you have emanci-pated yourself from this pica-yune [idea]. Knowledge is theprocess of piling upfacts. Wisdom lies in theirsimplification."

    Casten then seemed toruminate on an equation exer-cise. If I were to leave a

    legacy to this world, it wouldbe that I have assisted at leastone student in finding adream and shining in the light

    of living.

    Nancy Casten, lead faculty ofFRCCs Math Department

    Photo by Max Haghighi

    CLASSIC GEOMETRY:

    THE PIG STUMPER

    DRAWTWOSQUARES TO GIVEEACHPIG

    HI SOWNPEN .

    SOLUTIONON PAGE 18 . COURTESYOF ABOUT .COM

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    SCHOLARS SQUARE

    ALL CREATURES GREATAND SMALL:

    FRCCS VET TECH PROGRAM

    BY TAWNYDENNIS, RANGEVIEWREPORTER

    For those students who want to cuddle with animals and playwith them, being a veterinary technician is not the ideal job. Itrequires strong stomachs and olfactory senses, along with a lovefor animals and the willingness to make life-or-death decisions.

    Dr. Elizabeth Bauer is the director of the Veterinary Technol-ogy (VET) Program at Front Range and is in charge of all of thevet-tech students. Dr. Bauer received a bachelors degree in engi-neering from Colorado College. Dr. Bauer said that she hadalways wanted to be a veterinarian and in 1997 she received her

    Ph.D. from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Colorado StateUniversity. She came to Front Range Community College afterworking in private practices for seven years in the Fort Collins and

    Loveland areas.The VET Program at Front Range is smaller than the one of-fered at CSU, but FRCCs curriculum can help those students who

    want to work with people as well as animals. The requirements toget accepted into the program are simple: college-level medicalterminology, college-level biology, and college-level English. Theprogram consists of two years and three semesters on campus, andone semester at the CSU Vet School. When students work there,they learn all of the skills that a veterinary technician needs toknow in order to work in a private practice or veterinary hospital.This 11-week program is designed to give students hands-on ex-perience with animals and people while being observed by certi-fied veterinary technicians.

    Along with the classes and hands-on training at CSU, each vet-tech student is required to complete a 135-hour internship after hisor her second semester is complete. For students who are acceptedinto the program in the fall of any given year, their internshipwould occur over the summer, while students who are accepted inthe spring are required to intern over winter break.

    Jennifer Wells is in her last semester in the VET Program atFront Range. She is preparing for her 11-week study at the CSUVet Hospital. Before coming to Fort Collins and Front Range,Wells received her bachelors degree in biology with a minor in

    chemistry from the University of Missouri-Rolla. After graduating,she got a job in a veterinary clinic as a receptionist and eventuallymoved to the back of the clinic, assisting the veterinarians. She fellin love with that position and decided to become a Certified Vet-

    erinary Technician.She loves the idea of assisting a veterinarian. It is the interac-

    tion with the animals that I love, she said, adding, I want to be

    the one making sure [the animals] are comfortable, calm, andhopeful. Wells also believes that the veterinary technician is re-

    sponsible for taking care of the pets owners, as well. You know

    how much they love their four-legged family member, and theyare always so grateful when they know their pet is in caring andcapable hands.

    In general, a veterinary technician is required to assist a veteri-narian with several different tasks, such as X-rays, teeth cleaning,receptionist duties, updating records, assisting with surgeries, cal-

    culating drugs, putting drugs into bottles for clients, and manyother responsibilities.

    Along with being a student in the veterinary technologyprogram at Front Range, Wells finds time to lead the StudentsVeterinary Technology Association. The SVTA is a club that is

    open to anyone; however, most of the members are in the VETProgram, since it encourages the students to develop their skillsoutside the classroom. The SVTA plans events throughout theyear, but the biggest event is the vaccination clinic that occursevery semester. This semester, it will take place on March 29.

    Veterinary technicians are more than mere assistants. Theyare the ones who help keep the animals calm and, in some in-stances, the owners, too. Some owners need the reassurancethat their family member is going to be okay. They have nu-

    merous responsibilities that could determine the fate of an ani-mal.

    Dr. Bauer knows that it is her job to prepare each of herstudents to deal with the everyday tasks, as well as tasks that

    are not common or fun but necessary for the animals survival.She prepares her students in such a way that when they gradu-ate from the program, they are ready and able to take on a posi-tion in a clinic or vet hospital.

    While there are many perks to being a veterinary technician,Wells believes that perhaps the biggest perk is knowing that theanimals and owners will come to see her because they trust

    you.

    For more information on the vaccination clinic onMarch 29, contact Dr. Bauer at 204-8166 or email her at

    [email protected].

    Vet Tech Program students Jennifer Wells and Chris Cruz clipMini the Chihuahuas toenails during a Vet Tech lab in February.

    Photo by Lindsey Fisher

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    SCHOLARS SQUARE

    BETWEENA ROCK AND A

    HARD PLACE: GEOLOGYAT FRCC

    BY GABE MORRISSEY, SPECIALTO THE RANGEVIEW

    To some, the prospect of an event that takes millions of yearsto come to fruition impacting their everydaylives may seem ludicrous. FRCC geologyinstructor Joel Johnston is keenly aware ofthe environmental and social impacts theseprocesses can have, however, as hes wit-

    nessed them firsthand throughout his life andcareer.

    Johnston attests to always having had an

    avid interest in rock climbing and mountain-eering, as well as in glaciers and how they

    were formed.He hails from Indiana, and has lived in

    Colorado since entering the geology programat CSU. Johnston admits he may have pur-sued geology for the wrong reasons at first,

    thinking it would lead to a career where he could spend most ofhis time outdoors while earning his degree. He witnessed howprocesses like climate change were influencing geologic proc-esses while doing work in the field. This led him to further re-search global warming and the way its impacting the world

    around us.I saw things like glacial melt firsthand and I wanted to know

    how and why it was happening, Johnston explained. Theres

    really no debate as to whether climate change is really happeningor not. The energy companies will be the first to admit that, he

    says.Following his time in school, Johnston began working in the

    energy industry for various companies such as Shell and Exxon.His career allowed him to travel everywhere from Alaska toEgypt, often assisting in oil and gas extraction operations. Al-though some of his time under the employ of these companieswas helping them clean up after oil spills and other potential en-vironmental disasters, Johnston says he doesnt think energy

    companies bear the primary responsibility in helping curb globalwarming.

    The biggest factor in global climate change is our consumer-driven economy. As long as people want SUVs, companies willkeep making them. Accordingly, he doesnt think anything will

    change with regard to global climate change until consumers de-cide to alter their lifestyles.

    Johnston is keenly aware of the many alternative energysources available to us, having worked with energy companiesfor so many years. However, he doesnt believe its feasible to

    abandon traditional energy sources. The idea that well ever be

    able to get all of our energy from wind or solar power isnt true,

    he contends. Nuclear power is probably the cheapest, easiest

    way to generate energy aside from coal, but every time you bringit up, people think of Chernobyl. He admits that the requisite

    safety issues with nuclear power plants are a legitimate con-

    cern, especially regarding seepage into the surrounding water

    supply.When asked about the current plan to develop a uranium

    mine near the town of Nunn, Johnston is quick to look at the

    issue from a purely scientific perspective. Both of the sidesare manipulating facts to make it look like science is on theirside, he says. Hes quick to point out that uranium mines

    have operated in other parts of the United Stateswithout becoming major safety hazards, and its

    important to make sure the company in charge ofthe mine is operating responsibly.

    Johnston points out that there already parts ofColorado home to some of the most polluted water

    in the U.S. due to irresponsible gold and silver

    mining operations set up in the late 1800s by earlyimmigrants to the territory. Molybdenum miningoperations set up throughout the state later on were

    sometimes run using unsafe practices, as well. Suchpast disasters may help fuel opposition to the Nunnmine today, plus the added red flag of radiation

    that often influence discussions on nuclear power.Many issues that have an undeniable impact on

    the everyday lives of billions of humans are directly tied togeology. Johnston enjoys conveying the subject in such amanner that makes those connections, which are necessary in

    todays world.

    MOD MONDAY

    The next monthly Adjunct FacultyOrganization meeting will be held onMonday, March 31 in Blanca Peak Mod-3,the new Adjunct Annex, from 11 to noon.

    Stacey Hogan, director of Advising andAssessment, will be the guest speaker.

    The last AFO meeting of the semester istentatively scheduled for Monday, April 21and will feature guest speaker Gabriel Brown,who will discuss computer safety and identitytheft.

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    Photo by Denise Marshall

    CLUB HUB

    COMEAS YOU ARE:

    CAMPUS CRUSADE

    BY MOLLYMCCARTHY, RANGEVIEWREPORTER

    Many people may have never even heard of it and only a fewcan call themselves members, yet it is one of the largest clubs inthe world. Campus Crusade for Christ has had a presence here atFront Range Community College since the fall of 2002 whenDavid Platt, 54, started the group with the help of the ColoradoState University chapter of the organization. Dr. Platt startedCampus Crusade for Christ because he was motivated to help theFront Range community understand what Christianity is allabout.

    My ultimate goal is to get college students to reach out to

    each other, says Dr. Platt.

    Campus Crusade, which was started in 1951 by Bill and Von-ette Bright at UCLA, provides opportunities for students to sharetheir faith with their peers and take a deeper look at what it meansto be a Christian. Here at Front Range, Campus Crusade is look-ing not to confront, but to educateand provide a comfortable placefor other students to learn aboutChristianity. This internationalclub is non-denominational with abroad focus on Christ.

    We feel that its not important

    to God what church you attend,

    states Dr. Platt.

    Dr. Platt, who is better knownas a math professor here at FrontRange, currently teaches Surveyof Algebra, Math for Liberal Arts,College Algebra and Calculus I,while also acting as faculty advi-sor to Campus Crusade. Dr. Plattcame to Fort Collins from MesaCommunity College in Mesa,Ariz. where he taught math andcomputer science for 10 years. Hebegan teaching at Front Range inthe fall of 2000 and started Cam-

    pus Crusade here in 2002. He firstbecame aware of Campus Cru-sade in the 1980s when he firstjoined a group as a college stu-dent. He was stunned by all theopportunities it had to offer, such as summer mission trips, con-ferences, alternative spring breaks, Bible studies, and fellowshipwith other Christians his age.

    Dr. Platt understands that his role as the club advisor createsopportunities for conversations with students from his classes andto recruit more students to join Campus Crusade. One thing I

    emphasize is that I stick to what I say, and I believe that comes

    from having a strong faith, he says.

    True to his word, Dr. Platt has been an advisor for CampusCrusade for six years now, even when it had as few as onemember. He remains hopeful that Campus Crusade will con-

    tinue to bring students together. One of the challenges he facesis that each semester brings new students to campus which re-quires an ongoing effort to inform students about Campus Cru-sade to attract them to the club. Also, since Front Range is acommuter campus, it is hard for students to commit to comingto meetings once a week with all of their different schedules.

    However, the lack of a large membership doesnt seem to

    hold the club down. Dr. Platts group perseveres with support

    from Colorado State Universitys Campus Crusade, which do-

    nates books and survival kits that are given to incoming

    freshman each fall.Dr. Platt says Our goal isnt to raise money like other clubs

    but, rather, to reach out and build relationships.

    Campus Crusade promotes relationships among students byusing their $300 student fee stipend for free pizza at club meet-ings, and for events like guest speakers, Bible Jeopardy, and

    even by offering scholarships for students interested in attend-ing Campus Crusade conferences.

    Prayer Walks are another waythat this club reaches out to theFront Range community. Open toanyone who wishes to participate,Prayer Walks are a way for stu-dents, staff and faculty to cometogether to pray for those who at-tend, teach, volunteer, or provideservices to Front Range in any

    way.Current member Ashley Co-

    Rona says, Fellowship is one of

    the most important things aboutCampus Crusade for Christ, even ifit is small. I want to come andconnect to others while ultimatelybecoming closer to Christ.

    One of the main goals for thissemester is to make this club morewell known and recruit new faces.A new venture for Campus Cru-sade this year is the anonymous

    prayer line. This project is a wayfor the club to offer prayers for anyFront Range community member.Those interested would simplywrite and send prayer requests to

    [email protected] and every Tuesday afternoon at 2:15,Campus Crusade will pray for the weekly requests.

    Over the six years of Campus Crusades existence, Dr. Platt

    has never lost faith and says seeing God work in the lives of

    students is still the most rewarding part of advising.

    So, whether it is one member or 100 members, Campus

    Crusade offers the same message: Come as you are.

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    CAMPUS WELLNESS

    THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED:

    THE GOOD LIFE LECTURES

    BY MARIEABE, RANGEVIEWREPORTER

    Generally, in every walk of life, individuals are drawn to thetrailing scent of happiness. For busy students and staff, theres

    scarcely time for matching socks and brushed hair, let alone con-templation of the good life. To help, the Wellness Committee

    launched a three-series presentation on Living the Good Life.Shoulder bag in tow, leaving the Sean Connery impersonationsand word-play for the classroom, Randy McCrain, 47, Englishinstructor, divulged how his interest in cogitation and philosophycompelled him to attend the first presentation.

    Although familiar with the content, McCrain said, with a grin,I got a new perspective on something old. He, along with 44

    othershalf of them non-studentsillustrated the diverse audi-ence at the opening presentation on Jan. 31. When asked what heenjoyed most, McCrain, running a hand through his wiry, gingerbeard, referred to the metaphor presented of a man driving ahorse-drawn chariotwhere the intellect was represented by thedriver, the tight reins, willpower, and an unrestrained horse asdesire. He continued to explain that, If reason, and the will, and

    the [desires] are working [harmoniously] together, [it] makes forgood health the complete person. Comparatively, if the horse

    is given freedom[letting] the passions run wild, overall health

    could be negatively impacted.

    The previous year, the Wellness Commit-tee, a group of faculty, staff, and one stu-dent, had the objective of promoting healthand wellness on campus, focusing on physi-

    cal health. This year, theyve expanded theiragenda to include mental wellness via dis-cussions on The Good Life.

    Kicking off with the presentation,Acting in Your Own Best Interests, Eric

    Salahub, 40, lead philosophy faculty, intro-duced the Greek idea of eudaimonia. This

    concept not only defines happiness, but howto flourish in our day-to-day lives, and notjust living, [but] living well, emphasized

    Salahub.He also spotlighted ethics, which he

    characterized as the philosophy of defining

    what the good life is, and telling people howto achieve [it]. The point of the presenta-tion was to [skim] the surfaceof different

    ideas, to get people thinking and askingquestions, he said, and also to encourage

    others to attend the following two presenta-tions, which delved deeper.

    Though Salahubs style of delivery was

    not overtly serious, he insists that the sub-ject matter was, by asking, What could be more important

    than figuring out how to live the good life? To discern what

    you want to achieve, what kind of potential you have, and how[to] make it happen. Salahub also pointed out that its easy to

    have an ideal, such as friends, family, and education. How-

    ever, most individuals spend much of their time not really

    attending to those things that [they] say [they] believe in.

    Whether America is playing doctor with McDreamy, or work-ing overtime to purchase an iPhone, its no secret these whole-

    some ideals often take the backseat.Leading us closer to happiness, Tim Beecher, 34, academic

    advisor and counselor at FRCC, promoted the notion ofLiving Simply in the subsequent presentation, where the only

    attendees were women who presented an interest in relievingtheir pack-rat status. Dr. Beecher established his point througha graph modeling the economy of Japan, which illustrated nocorrelation between the increase of luxury goods and peoples

    overall happiness, once their basic needs were met.

    He also added that if the world consumed as many resourcesas the average American, wed need four more planets to facili-

    tate this extravagance. Dr. Beecher then contended that mate-rial objects can steal from you, using the example of bicycle

    lights he contemplated buying, which needed cleaning, fre-quent battery changes, and separate purchases for the front andback lights. Here, I thought these were going to save my life,

    he joked, but instead he was forced to deal with the fine printbecause we tend to only think about the convenience of [an]

    item.

    (Continued on next page)

    The bike racks are filling up again outside Blanca Peak as the temperatures creep up.

    Photo by Lindsey Fisher

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    CAMPUS WELLNESS

    Even if the process of downsizing is painful, Dr. Beecher ex-pressed that it can be a freeing experience, like the old saying,

    Less is more. In this case, its more quality time for family and

    hobbies. Thus, the simple life entails less: less clutter, less worry,less upkeep, and less reliance on material objects. Ever notice thata day can be ruined by a broken-down car, or a disorganizedspace? To live simply, Dr. Beecher suggested drawing the line,questioning your want list, getting support from your peers, and

    just giving it the old college try. Your way is the only way, he

    insisted and, most importantly, a voluntary choice.There are no fixed definitions for living the good life, yet, It

    probably makes sense to be thoughtful of what you want and worktoward it, said Salahub. These presentations arent about

    indoctrinating people, he added.In the end, McCrain stressed that, These kinds of presentations

    really.make colleges and universities worthwhile[because]

    its about giving a complete balancededucation. Its also anenvironment where students and instructors can mingle, and havediscussions outside of classand, as a result, build the FrontRange community.

    Although there are only three presentations on The Good

    Life, this semester, look for more topics in the future. Also, dont

    miss the last presentation, Shakespeare or a Six Pack on March

    11 at noon in the West Conference Room inside the Longs PeakStudent Center. Salahub will discuss the choices we make, andwhether drinking that six-pack is as rewarding as the drama of

    Shakespeare.

    (THE GOOD LIFE continued from previous page )

    Photo by Molly McCarthy

    ONEFOR YOU , 19 FOR ME. . .

    Senior citizens and low- to middle-income taxpayers canreceive free help with their tax returns at the Larimer campus. TheVolunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program is sponsoredby the Internal Revenue Service.

    FRCC accounting students and community volunteers whohave completed IRS training will help prepare and file tax returnsfor those who are eligible. Eligibility is based on annual income(approximately less than $40,000). The service is available on awalk-in basis from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays through April12 in Blanca Peak 110 (except for March 15 and 22 during SpringBreak).

    Taxpayers should bring:> proof of identification;> Social Security cards for the taxpayer/s, spouse, and dependents

    and/or a Social Security Number verification letter issued by theSocial Security Administration;> birth dates for taxpayer/s, spouse, and dependents claimed on

    the tax return;> current years tax package, if available;> wage and earning statement/s (Forms W-2, W-2G, 1099-R)

    from all employers;> interest and dividend statements from banks (Forms 1099);> a copy of last years federal and state returns, if available;

    > bank routing numbers and account numbers for direct-deposit refund; and> total amounts paid for day care, and the day care providers

    tax identification number (the providers Social Security

    Number or the providers business Employer Identification

    Number).To file taxes electronically for married people filing

    jointly, both spouses must be present to sign the requiredforms.

    Volunteers will prepare tax returns only for the forms andschedules for which they have been trained.

    For more information, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040.

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    MEDIUM COOL

    DOING HER PART:

    THE WOMENOF WWII

    BY LINDSEY FISHER, RANGEVIEW REPORTER

    EDITORS NOTE: Reporter Lindsey Fisher wrote this story in

    late February about this (March) Womens History Month event,

    and The Rangeview went to press on March 10.

    Displaying pictures in her home of far-away travels, TeresaFunke, 40, dressed in slacks and blouse, with her hair pulledback, cleans up the remaining breakfast dishes from the diningroom table. Funke is a local author who will be featured in aWomens History Month event at FRCC on March 3. Along with

    her other two books, Remember Wake and Doing My Part,

    Funkes featured book, Dancing in Combat Boots includes

    stories about World War II. Among other points she intends tomake, Funke says that the Women [of the World War II era]

    realized they could do work they [thought] they couldnt, and

    could do it well, if not better than men.

    The event, held in the Longs Peak Student Center, will includea lecture by Funke who will read from her book, as well as abreak-out session involving women of World War II and theirextraordinary stories.

    Student Life is putting on this event and Rob Suglia, 27, isheading it up. He is the student activities coordina-tor for FRCCs Larimer campus. He joined Stu-

    dent Life here after being involved with a similar

    department at the University of Buffalo where heearned his doctorate in higher education and ad-ministration.

    Dr. Suglia was inspired to put on an event forWomens History Month for the opportunity to

    hear stories from elderly women who were in-volved in the changes during World War II. In 10

    years, this chance is not going to be available any-more, he said.

    According to Funke, we are losing 1,000 WorldWar II veterans a day. We are also losing 1,000women and their stories. These women wont be

    around for many more years, and Funke finds it

    very inspiring to capture their stories beforetheyre gone. The stories in Funkes book feature

    women who were involved with the Red Cross onthe front lines, and with the men and women in-volved in prisoner-of-war and internment camps inColorado, as well as women who worked in thefactories.

    Their safety records were phenomenal because

    they were making sure that what came off the lineswas in perfect working condition because theyknew it would be protecting the men in theirlives, said Funke.

    Dancing in Combat Boots is 90 percent non-

    fiction and all the stories were taken from interviews Funkeconducted personally. When she interviewed the women,Funke said their husbands were lingering in the background,

    waiting for me to ask them about their war-time experience. Itwas hard for the men and the women to understand that I was

    there, on that day, to talk to the women. That generation ofwomen was raised to be in the background, according toFunke, so it was hard for her to get the women to understandthat their stories were important, as well. They didnt want to

    take anything away from what the men had experienced, she

    said.Funke believes that the most significant thing in womens

    history regarding World War II was the shift in thinking forboth men and women. She noted, Women realized they

    could do work that they had never thought they would be ca-pable of. Men also started to be able to accept women in

    powerful positions.To Funke, Womens History Month offers an opportunity

    to look at womens accomplishments. She says that eventhough women may see their lives as ordinary now, womenare constantly making extraordinary strides in history. Thewomen of World War II thought they were leading ordinarylives, as well, Funke expressed.

    I honor and celebrate mens stories, particularly from this

    time period, because they went through so much, and I writetheir stories. But for me, you know, Womens History Month

    is an opportunity to look at the contributions of the other halfof society that we dont hear about very often, she stated.

    (Continued on next page)

    Author Teresa Funke is busy sharing the histories of women who helped thewar effort during World War II at home and abroad. She spoke at the LongsPeak Student Center on March 3 as part of Womens History Month.

    Photo by Lindsey Fisher

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    (WOMEN OF WWII continued from previous page)

    Funke hopes her lecture will inspire people to go out andcapture the stories from this era that wont be around much

    longer if they arent shared. She also hopes to show how impor-

    tant a sense of community among the women was during WorldWar II, and to encourage women to get back to that, fearing thatthey may fail if they continue trying to plan out their entire livesall at once.

    If a woman cant have it all, all at the same time, she can

    still have it all. It may not all be at the same time, but youll get

    there, Funke said. She wants to show that sometimes you just

    have to roll with the punches, and hopes the womens stories

    will contribute to that goal.When asked about getting students involved, especially male

    students, Funke agreed with Dr. Suglia when she stated, I

    would love to see men and guys getting more involved inwomens history the way they would with any minority group

    and say, This is important, and in order to become a well-rounded student in the world, I need to understand what women

    have contributed as well.Both Dr. Suglia and Funke hope this event inspires studentsto dig deeper and educate themselves about American history.When youre in college, its a really great time to just experi-

    ence different things you normally wouldnt, said Dr. Suglia.

    He hopes to give people an a-ha moment, through thisevent.

    Look for Funkes upcoming writing workshops and other

    events on her Website, teresafunke.com.For information on upcoming FRCC events, contact Student

    Life located in the Longs Peak Student Center.

    WRITE ON!

    CELESTE LASKY SHOWS HER

    TRUE CHARACTERS

    BY MARIE ABE, RANGEVIEW REPORTER

    Well prepared for the dense storm clouds loomingabove, Dr. Celeste Lasky, a self-described senior citizen,teacher, mother, and published writer, sloughs away herSherpa coat and gloves, and settles into her seat, equipped

    with a soda and scholar-like glasses, to discuss her passionfor writing.

    On top of four published worksThe Resurrection ofa Woman, Hidden Vengeance, and a two-volume com-pilation of ghost storiesDr. Lasky divides her timeteaching a creative writing course here on campus, and afiction and autobiography class at the Senior Center in FortCollins. Though most students arent aspiring novelists, Dr.

    Lasky still advocates her creative writing class, offered online inthe fall and spring semesters, which covers the writing styles ofthe short story and the one-act play. Moreover, she asserts thatone should write, not with the idea that this is going to pay the

    bills, but because its an outlet for our emotions, for our

    ideas ...everything. Ergo, dont abandon that torturous mathclass just yet because, as Dr. Lasky warns, writing is by nomeans the most profitable career. In fact, she affirms thatbreaking into New York is just shy of impossible.

    Growing up, Dr. Lasky expresses that her family was nodifferent from any other. My mother had lost her mother when

    she was 5 years old... and she found it hard to be a mother her-self, she reflects, but then adds, We had aunts and uncles over,

    and grandmothers and grandfathers...so we stayed as a familystill.

    After promising her father, who passed away when she wasjust 14, that shed graduate from high school, Dr. Lasky eventu-

    ally earned a bachelors degree in curriculum and instruction

    from the University of Texas.She then pursued anotherbachelors degree in English,

    followed by a doctorate ineducational administrationfrom the University of Colo-rado. This was no easy feat,since she transferred to morethan four universities as a re-sult of being a military wife,all the while tending to fourchildren at home.

    Having taught high schooland college for 33 years, Dr.Lasky divulges that, whenwriting, You just need to be

    well informed, so youve got a

    lot of avenues...[to] pull ideasfrom because, otherwise,

    your world is narrow. While

    a riveting plot jam-packedwith conflict is crucial, she reveals that, as long as you make

    the reader identify with the characters, it wont matter if you

    have a crummy plot, because the players sell the book. In

    addition, its always integral to keep your audience in mind

    [and to] write with the idea that youre going to have to re-

    write. In defiance of the usual brainstorming and outlining,

    Dr. Lasky says, What helps me is to get interested...and thenstart thinking to myself, Now, what would I do in that particu-

    lar situation, and what should my main character do?

    Although Dr. Lasky isnt interested in the glitz and glam of

    fame, she recounts one of her early experiences with Holly-wood when she attempted to shop the story line of her novelsto moviemakers. The two published novels (part of a trilogy)are based in fact, recounted to her by her aunt during her di-vorce from her first husband, and which revolved around hergreat grandmother, who survived an abusive 14-year arrangedmarriage. Unfortunately, says Dr. Lasky, the brusque

    (Continued on next page)

    Photo by Molly McCarthy

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    (LASKY continued from previous page)

    producer refused to even consider her because she had no agent.This was all new to me, she says. I felt like a baby that

    had...their candy [taken] away, she jokes.

    Dr. Laskys own works were published by Write On, a publi-cation firm she co-owns with her husband, Ron Lasky. If youreresolute in pursuing professional writing, she suggests that youget your hands on Writers Market, published annually by

    Writers Digest Books, which includes a list of book publishers,

    magazines, etc., and the criteria they expect to see in submis-sions.

    Every author requires an affable yet candid critic via a writers

    group. Dr. Lasky herself has formed The Easy Writers and

    The Reluctant Writers. The first meets every second and fourth

    Saturday (except during the summer) at Barnes and Noble, from2 to 4 p.m. If shopping for a writers group, call a local bookstore

    and inquire if any meetings are held there.For now, Dr. Lasky is working on the third novel of her tril-

    ogy, a short story, and an autobiography for the family allthis, she says, in between teaching and laundry. She even en-

    counters the occasional star-struck fan. To this day, I cannot getover that people get so excited for you to sign the book for them,

    she says. But that is when an author knows theyve succeeded,

    when youve really touched the reader and drawn them into the

    story.

    ARE YOU SMARTER THANA

    FIFTH-GRADER?

    SOLUTIONTO THEP IG STUMPER PUZZLE

    ON PAGE 10 :

    FROMTHE NATIONAL

    WOMENS HISTORY PROJECT:

    At the behest of Rep. Bella Abzug (D-NY), in 1971 the U.S.

    Congress designated Aug. 26 as Womens Equality Day. Thedate was selected to commemorate the 1920 passage of the19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting women the rightto vote. This was the culmination of a massive, peaceful civilrights movement by women that had its formal beginnings in1848 at the worlds first womens rights convention in Seneca

    Falls, N.Y. The observance of Womens Equality Day not only

    commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment, but alsocalls attention to womens continuing efforts toward full equal-

    ity.In 1981, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Rep. Barbara

    Mikulski (D-MD) co-sponsored the first Joint CongressionalResolution to declare a National Womens History Week. The

    National Womens History Project petitioned Congress in 1987to expand the national celebration and designate the entiremonth of March as National Womens History Month. Since

    then, the resolution has been approved with bipartisan supportin both the House and Senate and, each year, programs andactivities in schools, workplaces and communities have be-come more extensive as information and ideas have been de-veloped and shared.

    National Womens History Month is now recognized

    throughout the world. Women from Canada, China, Germany,

    Japan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Ukraine, and diverse

    (Continued on next page)

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    Coyotes forage near the base of Longs Peak in Estes Park.

    Photo by Max Haghighi

    NO REGRETS, COYOTE. . .

    MEDIUM COOL

    (WOMEN continued from previous page)

    African nations have visited and attended events at the NationalWomens History Projects center in Santa Rosa, Calif. These

    contacts have resulted in a partnership with the WorkingWomens Institute of Japan, and the establishment of a

    womens history program and museum in Ukraine.

    For more information, visit nwhp.org.

    Women, if the soul of the nation is to be saved, I believe

    that you must become its soul.

    Coretta Scott King

    As a woman, I have no country. As a woman, I want no

    country. As a woman, my country is the world.

    Virginia Woolf

    Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living.Mother (Mary) Jones

    The most violent element in society is ignorance.

    Emma Goldman

    The first problem for all of us, men and women, is not to

    learn, but to unlearn.

    Gloria Steinem

    What you need is sustained outrage...There's far too much

    unthinking respect given to authority.Molly Ivins

    We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry,

    naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted,unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We muststart in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.

    Mother Teresa

    Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the

    overcoming of it.

    Helen Keller

    You must do the thing which you think you cannot do.

    Eleanor Roosevelt

    The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for

    curiosity.Dorothy Parker

    Truth burns up error.

    Sojourner Truth

    Cogito ergo boom.

    Susan Sontag

    I believe in equality for everyone, except reporters and

    photographers.

    Mahatma Gandhi

    March is the month for our campus award nominations. Awardswill be presented in the following categories at the FRCC faculty end-of-year, all-campus meeting on May 15. Deadline to submit a nominationis March 31 at 5 p.m.

    Nominations will be taken in the following categories: OutstandingAdministrator, Advisor, Classified Employee, Department, and the Presi-

    dents Award for Outstanding Contribution.Award nomination information sheets and nomination forms are

    available on the intranet, and printed copies of the nomination packets

    are available at the Mount Antero Information Desk.

    Career Connections: The following employers will visit theLarimer campus on Wednesday, March 12 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in theLongs Peak Student Center: Alpine Animal Hospital, Ameristar Casinoin Blackhawk, Constant Contact (new), the Federal Air Marshal Service,Fresenius Medical Care, and the U.S. Air Force. Other career servicesare available, including initial career counseling, resume and cover lettercritique, etc. Register for access to more than 400 jobs on the Front

    Range CONNECT job database.

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    LOOKFOROURNEXTISSUEDURINGTHEWEEKOF APRIL 21, 2008.

    DEADLINEFORSUBMISSIONSIS APRIL 11, 2008.

    [email protected]

    ONLINEAT:WWW.FRONTRANGE.EDU/STUDENTLIFE

    PRINTINGBYTHE IMPRESS TEAMAT OFFICEMAXIN FORT COLLINS, COLO.

    BY

    SUSANMARSHALL,

    GUESTCOLUMNIST

    Years ago, the Thomas Jefferson Center for Protection ofFree Expression in Charlottesville, Va., held a competition,inviting designs for a living monument to free expression.This is how the Charlottesvilles Community Chalkboard

    and Podium: A Monument to the First Amendment came

    into existenceas a way to communicate in public with someold-school methods, and yet beyond the structure of a class-room, beyond the formats of newspapers and magazines, andbeyond more private forms of personal or online communica-tion.

    What if we had a similar forum where we could extenddialogue outside of classrooms on our campus, as a way tohelp us all understand whats going on in different classes and

    in different mindspurely voluntary and without grades? Ifthis forum existed, would you participate?

    Plans are under way for a forum this semester as we alsocelebrate the twentieth birthday of our FRCC campus. Themission is simple: You will be encouraged to express yourselfin this public dialogue so that you can learn, and help otherslearn, about your identities and choices as communicators in aworld that will always need communication. Others on cam-pus, in our community, and even nationally may see thisunique dialogue in action and be inspired. That being said,there will be some rules and guidelines necessary for this kind

    of forum. Please read the guide-lines (below) and be on the look-out for more campus updates andsuggested themes for discussion

    across courses on our campus.

    1. The Writing on the Wall: What

    the Chalkboard Will Really Do, by

    David McNair, reminds us that, Certain categories of speech do

    not fall under the First Amendments protection. Among those are

    threats of violence, expression both intended to and likely to inciteothers to commit imminent illegal acts, and speech likely to pro-

    voke an immediate violent response from the person to whom it isdirected. The forum, and participants, will be visible to others.Abuse and misuse of the forum will invite serious penalties forindividuals and may involve a sudden shutdown of the project as a

    whole.

    2. Profanity is a concept that exists in the world. Expletives anddisturbing references can be found in conversations, literature,films, etc. Though it can be true that what one person considersdisturbing, another might not, it can also be said that reliance onfamiliar expletives and other forms of profanity runs the risk ofexpressing little, and of provoking distrust and a shutdown of dia-logue. Participants will be encouraged to try and build dialogue

    instead.

    3. Freedom of expression means that you will be able to com-

    municate your own thoughts using whatever materials are pro-vided to you for the project (for example, a setup similar to the onein Charlottesville). With these materials, you might also be able toedit, erase or respond to the expression of othersand those arechoices that will also deserve some careful thought and respecttoward other communicators. (For example, you would be ex-pected to explain your motive for erasing someone elses work.)

    In a quote attributed to Herman Melville, Freedom is only good

    as a means; it is no end in itself.

    Susan Marshall is an English composition adjunct instructor and

    Writing Center consultant at FRCC.

    SPRING WRITING FORUM

    We must not get so excited about all the cool bells and whistles on our new technology

    that we forget that, at the end of the day, its just communication, and that's what our

    founding brain trust meant by speech.Penn Jillette