A Publication by the Students of the FRCC-Larimer Campus

V OLUME 9, I SSUE 2 APRIL — MAY 2009

S LOW A HEAD
BY M AGGIE H ULL ,
R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER

As several students as well as

faculty members at FRCC could
recollect, the intersection of
Harmony Road and Shields Street
is typically congested and has
delays on a daily basis. The road
project is located on the north-
west side of the Front Range
campus. Scott McKelvey, the
director of Facility Services, has
been the “go-to” guy on campus
concerning this project. “The real
meat of the construction has been
pretty good,” stated McKelvey.
The widening of Harmony
Road will take place from Mason
Street all the way to Seneca
Street. There are four lanes on the
rest of Harmony Road, so this is
the final stage of the Harmony
Road widening project. There
will not be any night construction Rangeview photo editor and photography student Michelle Motherway titled this 2008 shot of wild
during this project. The hours of horses in Wyoming, “Ghost Rider Face in the Snow Dust.” It’s part of her wild horse photo
operation will be Monday
collection she’s working on. See more freelance offerings by the Rangeview Photo Team on page 16.
through Friday between the hours
of 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. There is a
possibility for construction to occur on Saturdays if the construc-
tion crews have problems with weather throughout the week. I F I C OULD T URN B ACK T IME ...
Although the development may be potentially inconvenient
to students, the contractors have estimated that the expansion BY T RAVIS C HATFIELD , R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER
will be completely finished by the end of August. FRCC has not
received any complaints concerning the construction project thus How could this have happened? A mangled, first-generation
far, only broad questions about it. Toyota 4Runner rests on a trailer in front of Blanca Peak in early
As of March 12, the project had only begun four days prior. March, the remains of a 1980s masterpiece of engineering and
McKelvey said that there were “no real setbacks so far.” machinery destroyed by three college students who decided that
Both parking lot exits on FRCC‟s campus will not be closed drinking, abusing illegal substances, and driving were a good
during any point in the construction, which is beneficial for all mixture. Many of us have heard the stories, but seeing the
who commute to the campus. Having both exits open throughout damage first-hand threw into sharp perspective what driving
the construction, students should not notice any major traffic under the influence can do. Onlookers gaze in wonder as they try
delays. to take in the scale of destruction and horror that soon followed
Supervisor of the Department of Public Safety on campus, after the SUV was found. The three boys died from their injuries,
Gordon Goldsmith, believes that “[the construction] is not going becoming another statistic in the pages of history.
to affect us as much as it will the neighborhoods.”
(Continued on page 4)
(Continued on page 4)
 2

M EET OUR E DITORIAL T EAM

Faculty Advisor &

Managing Editor………...… Kate Tarasenko
Editorial Team…….…...….Travis Chatfield
……………………………………Katie Groy
…………………………………..Maggie Hull
…………………………….Chelsea Moreland
……………………………………....Aly Pax
……………………………….Brianna Savino
………………………………...John Seaberry
………………………………...Tamara Smith
Photo Editor.………….Michelle Motherway
Photo Team……………….…Miranda Baker
………………………….Michelle Motherway
……………………………..James Neuhalfen
……………………………....Whitney Weber
Layout…….. ..….……...……Kate Tarasenko
Left to right: Chelsea Moreland, Tamara Smith, John Seaberry, Katie Groy, Travis Publications Board….... .…….Karl Dukstein
Chatfield, Aly Pax and Brianna Savino. Not pictured: Maggie Hull ………………………….David Murphy, SGA
………………………………..….Blair Oliver
Photo by Michelle Motherway ………………………………...Rachel Rambo
………………………………...…..Erin Smith
……………………………….Kate Tarasenko

MISSION STATEMENT:
The Rangeview provides a voice for FRCC’s Larimer campus. We strive to give FREELANCE SUBMISSIONS
our readers accurate and balanced coverage on a variety of news and events in an POLICY:
effort to keep our campus well-informed about its college community. We We welcome feedback, letters to the
approach our responsibilities with the goal of maintaining the highest journalistic editor, original articles and op-ed
standards to the best of our abilities. pieces (as well as story ideas and
tips) from all members of the FRCC
Larimer Campus community.
M EET OUR P HOTO T EAM 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:
Rangeview@FrontRange.edu
All submissions are subject to final
approval by the Editorial Team and
Publications Board, and may be edited
for length, clarity, and potentially libel-
ous content.

Please direct your

Left to right: Miranda Baker, James Neuhalfen, Whitney Weber and Michelle Motherway calendar event inquiries to
Erin.Smith@FrontRange.edu.
Photo (above right) by Joey Pratt
ALL CONTENT © 2009 RANGEVIEW
 3

H OME ON THE R ANGE

ALSO
IN THIS ISSUE:
Scholars’ Square
EMT Program……….…...5
Psych Dept……....……….6
How We Serve
Teacher to Teacher..….…..7
Habitat for Humanity…….8
Campus Wellness
SAVA Center Play….……9
Ropes Course…....……...10
Excerpted from an April 10 memo by Dr. Nancy McCallin, president of the Colorado Community College System:
[T]he Joint Budget Committee of the General Assembly initially cut higher education by $153 million, of
which the community colleges would have had a $30 million cut. On April 1, the committee cut an
additional $300 million from higher education, which resulted in another $61 million cut to community
colleges, [which then totaled] $91 million in cuts for us for next year’s budget. This represents a 63 percent
cut to the community colleges’ budgets.
[On April 9], the Colorado Senate passed a bill that would allow the state to acquire $500 million from the
reserves of Pinnacol Assurance, the entity that is required to provide workers’ compensation insurance to
businesses if those businesses so choose and do not want or cannot get insurance from any other
provider. The Senate then proposed to use $300 million of the $500 million to restore higher education
funding. Thus, community colleges would go back to the $30 million cut initially proposed. Even though
the higher education budget was restored for $300 million of the $453 million cut, we remain concerned
because this funding is one-time funding and will not help in future years. We will be in the same situation
one year from now of trying to find $300 million to support higher education because of the one-time
nature of the funding. In addition, there are threats of lawsuits regarding this money. Thus, we are unsure
if and when these funds would come to the state to restore higher education funding and we know that the
funds will not continue to be available in fiscal year 2010-2011.
The budget bill was then preliminarily passed in the Senate with this proposal in it. The bill [faced] its final
vote in the Senate on [April 13] and [will] then be sent to the State House of Representatives for
consideration. The bill must pass both the Senate and the House and then be signed by Governor Ritter
to become law.

Front Range Faces G ET TING TO K NOW Y OU

AFO…….…..…...………11
BY D AVID M URPHY
Club Hub S PECIAL TO THE R ANGEVIEW
Motorcycle Club.....…….12
F EATURED S TUDENT : T RAVIS N YQUIST
Music Club………...........13
Writing Club…................14 When was the last time you read a comic book?
When I was a kid, maybe? Dude, I really don‟t know.
Medium Cool Are you going to see “Watchmen”?
Danger! Live Writers!….15 I‟ve already seen it and it was awesome.
Rangeview Photo Team...16 If you were a superhero, would you use your powers
for good or evil?
Be Our Guest I would use them for my well-being only.

Gillis......…………….…..17 What is your favorite TV show?

“24.”
Seaberry...........................18
What are you studying?
Volckening.......................19 Aerospace technology, and I am going to join the Navy
as an officer.
Student Life ……….20
The Rangeview If you could teach any class on any subject, what
is funded by Student Life would it be?
FALL 2009 using student fees, and by the Public speaking or humor or magic.
Register for JOU-106, Department of Arts & Letters. Mustard or mayonnaise?
the Fundamentals of Reporting for The Rangeview Do I have to pick?
Reporting, is provided by the journalism
and write for students of JOU-106, Do you have any questions for me?
Are you made of electromagnetic energy?
The Rangeview! the Fundamentals
3 transfer of Reporting. What is playing in your iPod right now?
credit hours! Photography is provided by “Her Voice Resides Inside My Head” by Bullet for
the students of FRCC-LC. My Valentine. ®
 4

(ROAD PROJECT continued from page 1) (DUIs continued from page 1)

Safety is a common concern while the construction is John Mandley, with the help of the Center for Transportation
taking place. Goldsmith cautions those commuting to FRCC Safety, is responsible for bringing the Toyota to Front Range.
that, “The main thing is to slow down and follow the speed Mandley, psychology instructor and department head, perceives
limit. Don‟t talk on your cell phone or text while driving, and a DUI offense as “100 percent preventable,” which is why he
be very cautious of pedestrians.” decided that Collegiate Health Week was a good platform to
While McKelvey is glad to answer any questions of those promote awareness. “DUIs are a health risk,” says Mandley.
on campus, he urges everyone to visit the City of Fort Collins' “What a great way to expand this idea of health and health
Web site at: www.fcgov.com/westharmony/faq.php. This Web promotion to include things like DUIs.”
site contains useful information for anyone who may be Pat Wenzel, a 27-year-old student at Front Range, received a
apprehensive about the construction, and wonder how it will DUI in July 2008. Wenzel had a blood alcohol level of 0.12. “It
affect their daily commute. There is also a place on the Web was more of a convenience to drive my truck home,” Wenzel
site where individuals have the opportunity to sign up for explains. “I wasn‟t sure how much I had to drink.” Like many
current updates concerning the Harmony Road expansion college students, Wenzel is not the only person at Front Range to
project. Once someone enters their e-mail address into the get a DUI.
designated area they will receive these updates via e-mail as However, Mandley offers some psychological perspective as
they arise. to why we drink and drive.
According to “The real, more technical answer is, when we drink alcohol,
this Web site, the one of the processes that is impaired is our decision-making
main reason the process. So, even if someone starts out with good intent, like they
City of Fort Collins have a plan [for getting home], those decision-making abilities
has decided to become impaired,” he explains. “„Oh, it‟s only four blocks away,‟
reconstruct this or „I‟m OK to drive,‟ and on and on, because those decision-
part of the road is making abilities become impacted.”
because the inter- Mandley offers real solutions to this ever-increasing problem
section of Harmony by bringing the wrecked cars to Front Range. “We could stand in
and Shields has one front of a group of students and talk until we‟re blue in the face,
of the highest but it‟s much more impactful to let the vehicle tell the story,”
accident rates Mandley explains. “And I think it worked.”
throughout the DUImap.org is an independent DUI-monitoring organization
entire city. that keeps track of DUIs in the United States. Statistics for 2008
Although the are not yet out. However, in the city of Fort Collins alone, there
development may have been four fatal DUI-related accidents between 2006 and
be inconvenient for 2007.
the time being, According to the National Traffic Safety Administration, the
when it is finished, annual cost of alcohol-related accidents is more than $51 billion.
there will be addi- And according to the Centers for Disease Control, across the
tional turn lanes country, 36 people die each day due to drunk drivers, a statistic
which Harmony did that goes relatively unnoticed as many prepare for Spring Break
not have. adventures, and St. Patrick‟s Day celebrations, which accurately
The Harmony Road Project includes
McKelvey also describes the “catastrophic results” that Mandley refers to.
said, “We didn‟t underground work to electrical and At the Longs Peak Student Center Information Desk, there
have a sidewalk or water lines. Photo by James Neuhalfen are business cards listing several alternatives to driving under the
a bike lane influence on your way home. The business cards, provided by
before,” and after the construction, there will be both. The con- Responsible Alcohol Retailers and in partnership with Team Fort
struction will be beneficial for drivers because it will widen Collins, are available in large quantity and list companies from
Harmony Road in the hopes of alleviating traffic problems. “Ram Ride” to a “Limo Ride Home.” While the Limo Ride
McKelvey says that the official alternate routes while the Home is free, your car stays where it is, as opposed to “No DUI
construction is taking place are Trilby and Horsetooth, Ft. Collins,” which will take you and your car home for a fee of
“depending on what direction you are coming from,” and Taft $25, with a $5 discount for students. Plenty of alternatives are
Hill Road. Neighborhoods are not to be used as alternate provided for students, as well as handy tips for drinking responsi-
routes. McKelvey cautions, “[The police] are really enforcing bly, on the flip side of the card.
people not to go through neighborhoods…They are beefing up While Wenzel, and many others like him,
the patrol in the neighborhoods.” So, if one is considering cannot turn back time to reverse their mistakes,
using the local neighborhood for a fast getaway, stay away many other students can benefit from the les-
from this because the chances of receiving a ticket have risen sons learned by them and pick up the helpful
drastically since the construction has begun. cards at the LPSC Information Desk. ®
“Don‟t come over here if you don‟t need to, and allow
yourself enough time for the commute,” McKelvey warns. ®
 5
S CHOLARS ’ S QUARE
EMT S : E VEN M ORE T OUGH
BY K ATIE G ROY , R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER
With our own future ahead of us, sometimes we forget
about the changes being made to our Front Range campus. The
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Program is looking at
making some changes to meet new national standards.
Mike Daugherty, 57, is the department chair of Allied
Health. He has been a full-time faculty member for Emergency
Medical Services (EMS) since 1996. He received his
bachelor‟s degree in zoology, and after graduation, he worked
as a carpenter. It wasn‟t until 1986 when he started working for
Larimer County Search and Rescue Team that he realized,
“This is it…You could do this.” This pushed him to pursue a
career as an EMT. He first got his certificate as an EMT and
later received his certificate as a paramedic. With these
certifications, he worked as an EMT-paramedic for Ambulance
Services at the Estes Park Medical Center and at Poudre Valley
Hospital.
FRCC’s Training Ambulance is parked outside the west exit of
Blanca Peak and is used for the college’s EMT Program.
Photo by Michelle Motherway
Daugherty said, “This is the most satisfying, most reward-
ing job I‟ve ever had, and some students are going to find it the
same way.”
A graduate of the program is Zack Belcher, 23. He said,
“About two-and-a-half years ago, I witnessed a major accident
at a major intersection and I realized there was nothing I could
do to help. I‟ve always wanted to help out in a situation like
that…and so I looked into the fact that Front Range offered just
that.” He received his certificate as an EMT Basic in
December of 2007. He said, “Absolutely, I would become a
paramedic, primarily because of the great inspiration that I got
from my instructors at Front Range.” While going to school at
FRCC, students also have to do a certain number of clinical
hours on the ambulance, at a firehouse, and at the Poudre
Valley Hospital ER. Belcher said, “That‟s where I really
discovered I wanted to make a career out of this. Going
„code 3‟ to a trauma scene is an adrenaline rush for anyone.
All your schooling starts to rush back and you go over your
scene size-up.”
An EMT Basic can receive their certificate in one
semester. Candidates will usually have to work a year in the
field before going to school as a paramedic, which usually
takes two years by itself. A paramedic‟s job is to provide
advanced life support, such as cardiac monitoring and
advanced airway procedures, while being able to administer
80 or more medications, whereas an EMT Basic can only
administer about seven. This is because paramedics have to
take more courses on the side effects of the drugs, how they
are going to interact with one‟s medical history and other
medications, and they need to know the different routes of
intervention for each medication. When EMTs and paramed-
ics arrive on scene, they assess the patient, treat the patient,
and transport them to a hospital. At Front Range, students can
receive an EMT Basic certificate, a pre-paramedic certificate,
or a paramedic certificate. They can receive just a certificate
or, in addition, they can receive their Associate of Applied
Science degree.
There are a lot of reasons people take the classes, any-
thing from law enforcement, outdoor occupations, experience
for the nursing program or medical school, a firefighter, to
even just obtaining the general knowledge. Daugherty said,
“Your clinical experience could change your life.”
The first step to becoming an EMT Basic is completing
the coursework to get certified at FRCC. Some of the classes
required to get your certification as an EMT Basic are first aid
and CPR, along with a series of medical lectures. Next, you
need to register nationally as an EMT Basic, which means
passing a practical and written exam. Finally, you have to
apply for Colorado certification, which requires a background
check. “This field is very competitive, but especially for the
better-paying jobs… the demand is increasing all the time,”
said Daugherty.
EMTs and paramedics held about 201,000 jobs in 2006
and the field is expected to grow by 19 percent till 2016. The
average annual salary for an EMT Basic is $25,000, but if you
take more courses to become an EMT-paramedic, the average
salary increases to $42,000.
While the program has been around for a while, they are
looking at making some changes in the near future. In August,
the EMT Program will be offering classes in Loveland. The
national scope of practice for EMS is changing, too. The
EMT “intermediates” are going to be able to do less, but they
will receive an advanced EMT rating, and paramedics are
going to be able to give more medications.
Daugherty said, “The things they will be able to do will
be changing in the next couple years…but it‟s hard to tell
what‟s going to happen.”
“I see nothing but good things for their future…The
people who were the lab instructors and the program itself is
well-structured at Front Range,” said Belcher. ®
 6

S CHOLARS ’ S QUARE

A NALYZE T HIS : interest in psychology after she realized the majority of

what she was reading in her textbooks had to do with
P SYCHOLOGY AT FRCC psychology. “[I figured,] why not? It was all in the books,”
she stated. Though she got her degree from a major univer-
BY B RIANNA S AVINO , R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER sity, Wriedt found herself putting her knowledge to use at
FRCC due to a few inspirational instructors she came across
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the while studying at a community college. “My best education
employment of psychologists is expected to grow 15 percent came from professors at Nassau Community College. They
from now until 2016. With such a bright outlook, FRCC weren‟t just involved in teaching; they were involved in the
student Felicia Compton may have little trouble putting her community.” Along with being an instructor on campus,
degree in psychology to use. The 19-year-old, dark-haired Wriedt previously served as the advisor to the Psychology
sophomore recently changed her major from music education Club here at FRCC.
to psychology when she enrolled in the 60 and 60 Credit Though the process of becoming a psychologist isn‟t a
Program at FRCC. “I was thinking about psychology at CSU. . long one, it can be a hard one. Wriedt had some words of
.I haven‟t declared it yet, but all my classes are set up and my advice to any up-and-coming psychology majors looking to
credits are transferred,” stated Compton, while calmly sipping get into the field. “You may need a higher degree, applica-
on a tea at Starbucks. After declaring her major, Compton ble to any field,” said Wriedt. Though the road may be a
hopes to join the working bumpy one, Wriedt made
class of psychologists. it clear that psychology
There are many is a field worth going for,
different career paths in and students should go
psychology for Compton for it no matter what.
to choose from, such as Though she knows
counseling, case manage- the difficulty of the field,
ment, or teaching. But Compton is still pushing
Compton, who suffers for a degree that she will
from epilepsy, saw her hopefully earn at CSU.
illness as a chance to “I‟ll graduate a semester
further her knowledge of late so, hopefully, the
the sickness. She hopes to fall of 2012,” she stated.
look into the cause of the After she gets her de-
disease through the eyes gree, Compton hopes to
of a psychologist and how further her curiosity in
it affects the brain, but the psychology field. “I
that is not all she hopes to FRCC student Felicia Compton is enrolled in the 60 and 60 Credit like the social science
do with her degree. “I still Program while preparing to transfer to CSU as a psychology major. aspect, the theories, how
don‟t know . . . maybe Photo by James Neuhalfen you can do more your-
something with children, self. Helping people is
or battered women. I wouldn‟t mind doing counseling for that, probably what I‟d stray towards, but the brain part is inter-
but it‟s still open at this point,” she said. esting, too,” she said.
While enrolled in the 60 and 60 Credit Program, where Wriedt shares some of Compton‟s common interests
students begin 60 of their credits at a community college and stating, “[I like] how it‟s open-minded, the fun things about
finish the last 60 at a university, Compton hopes to obtain her it, like the paranormal. I also like helping people and the
degree in psychology at CSU, where she previously attended social side.”
and first found a passion for psychology. With the need for those who hold psychology degrees
While at FRCC, Compton may need to take a class from in the future, Compton should be able to put her degree to
instructor Dawn Wriedt, who teaches Psychology 101 and 102, use by helping others or however she chooses to use her
along with running her own private practice, AB Counseling in knowledge.
Fort Collins. The blonde-haired, New York native received her ®
master‟s in psychology from A Delphi in Garden City, N.Y.,
with a specialty in behavioral techniques. Regarding her
decision about her major, Wriedt stated, “It left more doors
open rather than closed . . . Anything in the psychoanalytic
field would have left more doors closed.” Wriedt, who
struggled between law and medicine while at school, found an
 7

H OW W E S ERVE

T EACHERS H ELPING T EACHERS Larimer campus administration strongly supports the

Teachers Helping Teachers Program and is aware of the
benefits that it serves to the instructors and their students.
BY C HELSEA M ORELAND ,
Harry Martin has been an instructor in the C.I.S.
R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER Department for 13 years now. He has been involved in the
Mentoring Program for three years, “when they need me,”
Student achievement and engagement of the students by he says. Martin was selected Master Teacher of the Year in
instructors are highly valued at Front Range. There is a 2006. The Program has given him “the opportunity to meet
program that encourages the best of the instructors in order tonew teachers, and observe them.” Teachers Helping Teach-
attain the highest success for the students. The Teachers Help-ers is a strong networking tool. Getting the part-time faculty
ing Teachers Program, “referred to as the Mentoring Program,” more involved within their professional environment “gives
comments Program Coordinator Carmen Raines, is available to the teacher or mentor the opportunity to go outside their
any part-time instructor on every Front Range campus. The own area,” comments Martin.
program is designed to build on the teaching skills of This semester, Martin is working with his partner who
instructors in order to give a better, more fulfilling educational
is an instructor in the Art Department. “Improving the
experience to the students, and to the instructors as well. relationship between teacher and student, how to elicit more
Raines is a part-time instructor of humanities and theater.
student response, and what they are trying to do” is what
The coordinator of each program is responsible for serving at they are focusing on, Martin says. He and his partner “look
least a two-year term; Raines has been involved in the program at everything, at the whole person, teachers as teachers.”
for three years now. Her responsibilities include pairing Every aspect of an instructor is evaluated by each partner,
together applicants, presenting the program at the in-service for
and feedback goes back and forth.
instructors at the beginning of each semester, distributing The Mentoring Program is “a great and valuable
flyers, and also collecting teacher registration forms. program that should go on forever and ever,” Martin ex-
It‟s open to all part-time instructors. Every semester, the
claims. The future of the Mentoring Program is unknown;
number of participants is capped at 20, and there are always there is news of budget cuts that may come into play in the
more applicants than there are spots, according to Raines. Her next year or so.
pairing process involves looking at the instructors‟ classes, “Adjuncts are like the invisible workforce,” Raines
their discipline, and how long they have been teaching. Often- explains. “It is like working for a faceless corporation.” She
times, there are new instructors getting involved in the says the adjuncts at Front Range are teaching because they
program, and Raines tries to assign them to the veteran instruc-
love it. If it were more for money, Raines says, “We would
tors on campus. If more than 20 applicants are interested in the
work at Wal-Mart, if that‟s what we were interested in.”
program, Raines will go by a first-come, first-served basis and,
frequently, full-time instructors donate their free time to help
®
out, as well. “It is not tutoring
new faculty,” says Raines. “[It is] Teachers Helping Teachers Program Coordinator Carmen Raines introduces her humanities
faculty honing their own skills.” class to Greek mythology. Photo by Whitney Weber
Instructors who participate in
the Mentoring Program are inter-
ested in enhancing their teaching
skills, and exploring new teaching
tools that they can incorporate in
the classroom. Each set of appli-
cants attends each other‟s classes,
giving and receiving advice on how
to get more of a response from stu-
dents and to better motivate them
to do well in their course. The par-
ticipants are “trying to be better for
their students‟ success, and engag-
ing their students,” says Raines. It
is a paid opportunity at $15 per
hour for a maximum of 10 hours.
The program serves as a tool
to help make part-time faculty “feel
like the campus is interested in
their professional development,”
Raines says. She states that the
 8
H OW W E S ERVE
I F I H AD A H AMMER ...
BY J OHN S EABERRY , R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER
As power saws whirl and hammers find their mark on a
brisk spring morning, housewrap and roofing material begin to
envelop the wooden framework of a new home in east Fort
Collins. On Saturday, May 2, members of FRCC‟s Phi Theta
Kappa and the Interior Design Club will join in this concert of
construction, volunteering their time to Habitat for Humanity, a
nonprofit organization dedicated to providing decent, afford-
able homes for those in need.
“For a 1,200-square-foot home, it takes approximately 800
volunteers to work on that home—nearly 6,000 hours,”
explained Cathie Waugh, the local development director for
Habitat for Humanity. “Right now, we have three builds and
we just finished one.” Over the past 16 years, Habitat has built
43 homes in Fort Collins—which typically takes four months
to build in the summer, and up to five-and-a-half in the
winter—almost entirely by volunteers.
An on-staff construction manager oversees the building of
the homes, but nearly everybody else on the job site is a volun-
teer. “We have key crew leaders who are volunteers—mostly
retired builders, contractors, electricians and plumbers—who
lend their expertise to our Habitat project. They‟re used to
working with large groups of people. They‟re good teachers
and they have experience, lots of patience and flexibility,”
Waugh said. “The more [often] you come as a volunteer, the
stronger your skills are—and eventually, you can be a crew
leader.”
The local chapter keeps only 16 people on staff full-time—
eight in administration and eight at the Habitat Home Supply
Store on South Taft Hill Road. The store, stocked with donated
home and building supplies, is the largest revenue generator for
the local Habitat chapter and covers the vast majority of its
administrative costs. “We are one of the few nonprofits who
can say, „When you donate $100 to us, $99.50 goes to our build
sites. Only 50 cents will go to administration.‟”
Waugh described what is required of volunteers. “They
need willing hearts and hands. They don‟t need any skills.” For
those required to fulfill court-ordered community service, it
Photos by Miranda Baker
may be comforting to know that 65 percent of the local
Habitat‟s volunteer force is compulsory.
Waugh expressed how the organization views court-
ordered volunteers. “When you come to our store or a job site
to volunteer, you are a volunteer. Yes, we‟ll sign your paper-
work, but that doesn‟t matter to us. What matters to us is that
you chose Habitat to do your community service work.”
“We have a strong reputation for equalizing everyone‟s
volunteerism,” said Waugh. “A lot of our community-service
volunteers—when they‟re done with their service hours—come
back as a regular volunteer, just because it‟s such a great
experience, especially when they get to work alongside the
Habitat family.” Beneficiary families work off “sweat-equity”
on the homes at the job site and at the Habitat Home Supply
Store every Saturday.
On Saturday, May 2, Phi Theta Kappa and the Interior
Design Club will work on the Greene family home at 2833
William Neal Pkwy. in the Rigden Farm subdivision near
Drake and Timberline roads. The clubs had planned a similar
Habitat volunteer day earlier in the semester, but were turned
away the morning of the build due to adverse weather.
“It‟s hard to get that many people organized for the same
day, but we try,” said Bonnie Lindsay, 24, PTK president and
Interior Design Club member.
May 2 is a “Blitz Build” for the Greene family home, an
event for which Habitat enlists the help of several volunteer
groups on a single day to complete the greater part of the
home‟s construction. FRCC students interested in joining them
should sign up online, and then arrive at 8:00 a.m. for sign-in
and safety orientation. Lunch break is from noon to 12:30 p.m.,
then building resumes until 5:00 p.m. Volunteers are encour-
aged to bring weather-appropriate clothing, sunscreen, closed-
toe shoes and a digital camera. Habitat provides all the tools.
Lunch, water and snacks are provided by PresBuild, a coalition
of 10 local Presbyterian churches that is sponsoring the build.
“Each club has their own initiatives and agendas,” Lindsay
noted, “but if we can all work together on something, it‟s just
that much more that you can get done.” Lindsay sees this as an
opportunity for all students to join them in learning new skills,
representing FRCC, and making a difference in their commu-
nity. “I think it‟s a good idea to bring positive things to light
and get involved in your community whenever you can.” ®
 9

C AMPUS W ELLNESS

“U NTIL S OMEONE W AKES U P ” their own stories. The cast and crew of the play have all been
affected by sexual assault in some way, and they all work
towards raising awareness.
BY K ATIE G ROY , R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER
Michael Bowser, 25, is an actor in the play and started
working with SAVA eight years ago. He was employed there
The unfortunate reality is that it is highly likely that we all for about two-and-a-half years. Bowser also works with the
know someone affected by sexual assault. In Colorado, one in Northern Colorado AIDS Project. He has performed in the
four women and one in 17 men have experienced a completed theater since he was 8 years old, and he first got involved with
or attempted sexual assault, and 97 percent of teens are SAVA after receiving a phone call from the director to audi-
assaulted by a friend, date or partner. This information comes tion. Bowser said, “I knew noth-
from SAVA, the Sexual ing before I got involved, but
Assault Victim Advocate once you work with the people
Center, a private nonprofit and hear the statistics, it has an
organization dedicated impact on you. Getting the
exclusively to survivors in message out there has kept me in
Larimer County. One of it for so long. It helps raise
the ways SAVA is trying to awareness and gives people the
increase awareness and ability to start the conversation
communication is through because people don‟t talk about
the play “Until Someone it a lot.”
Wakes Up,” which was One of the main topics the play
performed twice on Tues- deals with is gender-role sociali-
day, April 7 at the Longs zation and the importance of
Peak Student Center. communication. Gender-role
Courtney Ellison, 27, socialization, according to
is the director of the play. Wikipedia.org, is “the set of
She has been volunteering perceived behavioral norms
with SAVA for nine years associated particularly with
and has been employed by males or females, in a given
them for a year-and-a-half. social group or system.” Bowser
Ellison got involved with said, “Sex can be easy to do, but
the play in high school. She hard to talk about.” Another
said, “The play gave me a The SAVA Center presented “Until Someone Wakes Up” at issue the play deals with is
way to use my art for good. FRCC on April 7 to help raise awareness about sexual assault. victim-blaming messages. In a
It educates and starts the
discussions that make sur- Photo by Whitney Weber robbery, a victim isn‟t told,
“Well, you have a welcome sign
vivors know it‟s okay to and people over. Why wouldn‟t
talk about.” The play deals with sexual violence, healthy they feel welcome to come in?… [Sexual assault] is the only
communication, gender-role socialization, and healing. crime that does that,” said Bowser.
Although these are serious topics, they are approached SAVA is dedicated to survivors of sexual assault and their
with “sensitivity, realism and humor.” Ellison‟s main job is to needs. The organization is a member of the Rape, Abuse and
“make sure that the play is presentable and make sure the Incest National Network (RAINN), the National Victim Center
actors are okay to perform because it is such an emotional in Washington, D.C., the Colorado Organization of Victim
topic.” The play is an ensemble piece with 25 scenes that can Assistance (COVA), and several other organizations. They
be tailored to fit any audience, whether it‟s for a junior high, or have been assisting victims and survivors, and their families
for the college students they performed for at FRCC. and friends, since 1976. SAVA provides services such as
The original script was conceived by professor Carolyn specially-trained victim advocates who are on call 24 hours a
Lezy in 1992 at Macalester College in Minnesota, and it has day, therapy programs, outreach education and volunteer
been updated to deal with newer issues such as drug-facilitated opportunities.
sexual assault. Lezy and 21 of her students conducted The play helps break down stereotypes and helps teach
interviews and co-wrote the script. They interviewed people people to be aware of themselves. Ellison said she was “excited
affected by sexual assault, whether they were family, friends, to go to Front Range. I think it‟s going to be a receptive
or a person directly affected. The updated script was written by audience.”
people at SAVA through a writing workshop. They conducted SAVA helps survivors by providing someone to talk to
new interviews and collected scene material from people they and giving them options. For their 24-hour rape crisis hotline,
met through SAVA. Even some cast members contributed
call 472-4200 or 1-800-656-HOPE. ®
 10

C AMPUS W ELLNESS

2009 ropes course trip, “It will be more fun in that I know
T YING O NE O N AT CSU: what we‟re going to be doing, and more challenging because
R OPES C HALLENGE C OURSE I will try new things. Doing a ropes course is like rock-
climbing. I think the more you go, the further you go… the
BY K ATIE G ROY , R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER
more you trust your team and yourself.”
Purdum, 22, is working towards his associate degree in
science. He found out about the trip last time through Student
Teamwork is something that‟s useful in our lives, whether
Life, which he works for during the day at the Information
it‟s as part of a sports team or in a professional atmosphere.
Desk. When he went in the fall of 2007, it was a trip designed
A new and creative way to develop these skills is with the
for team-building. Purdum said, “You have to communicate
Colorado State University Challenge Course. FRCC‟s Student
well and be able to work with other people.” Some of the
Life will be hosting
skills he learned from the trip were
this activity on April
effective communication, problem-
18 from 9:00 a.m. to
solving, and encouraging others.
1:00 p.m. Student
Although it was challenging, it is a
Glen Purdum, who
constructive activity that also promotes
did the ropes course
having a good time. He said, “I would
in the fall of 2007,
definitely go back. It was fun. The
said, “I would highly
climbing wall was really great.”
recommend going
The course is “three or four feet off the
and checking it out…
ground.” Purdum said, “I‟m scared of
It‟s worth three hours
heights, but I like the adrenaline boost
of your time.”
you get.”
According to the
The ropes course is designed to
Wilderdom.com Web
test participants both mentally and
site, a ropes course
physically. Purdum said, “The mental
challenge is like
part was definitely more difficult.” One
“artificial moun-
of the activities he did was trying to
tains.” It provides a
find his way around the ground course
unique mix of high
Fitness Center Coordinator Elaine Milligan is working with blindfolded. He first tried it alone, and
and low elements that
CSU so that FRCC students can use their customized Ropes then he did it as part of a team.
are designed to
Challenge Course, which promotes teamwork and trust. Purdum said, “It was easier to get
challenge individuals
through it as a team.”
and groups physi- Photo by James Neuhalfen The people at the CSU Challenge
cally, mentally and
Course work closely with their partici-
emotionally. The challenge course program is designed to
pants to alter the course based on their group size and goals.
encourage collaboration, teamwork, mutual support and
There are many different stations at the ropes course and they
personal goal-setting. There are six different ways the CSU
customize the experience. “It depends how many people and
Challenge Course team can customize the experience for a
how many groups are going. When we went over, they looked
group, targeting leadership, adventure and challenge, commu-
at the size of our group and said we could do this, this and this
nity-building, team development, climbing skills and training.
activity,” Milligan said. The CSU Challenge Course has
Elaine Milligan, 52, is the Fitness Center coordinator at
designed it so they have activities that anyone can do. They
Front Range. She set up the event and has participated in the
try to work with people on this planning aspect so that it can
ropes challenge in the past. She got the idea to do the ropes
be adapted for people with physical challenges. Milligan said,
course as an FRCC activity from the course she did in the fall
“Anyone can do it. Physical fitness isn‟t a deterrent. Anyone
of 2007 for the employees at Student Life. Before trying the
can do the ground activities.” Even people in moderate shape
course, she heard about the team-building aspect and that it was
should be able to participate in most of the course activities.
a fun activity, so she became curious to try it herself. Some of
“You don‟t necessarily get an opportunity to get to know
the activities they did included a rock-climbing wall, crossing a
each other on campus,” Milligan said. “It‟s a great opportu-
rope bridge as a team, and maneuvering the ground course
nity to bond and get a bunch of students together.” Front
blindfolded.
Range is also picking up part of the cost, so students will be
Milligan thought the ropes course was the hardest
paying half, which makes it only $11. If you‟ve ever consid-
mentally, saying, “Personally, I hate heights.” One activity that
ered doing a ropes course, here is the opportunity. Milligan
she didn‟t participate in was “Leap of Faith.” This is an activity
said, “I think it would be a fun way for students to get
where you jump off a wooden pole to leap for a hanging swing,
something you see in acrobatics. Although she didn‟t partici- together…It‟s an opportunity to do something different.” ®
pate in every activity last time, Milligan said of the Spring
 11

F RONT R ANGE F ACES

A LL F OR O NE : T HE AFO that their voices really do get heard.

A supportive adjunct member, Carmen Raines, is an
instructor in humanities and theater on campus. Raines is also the
BY C HELSEA M ORELAND ,
coordinator for the Teachers Helping Teachers Program. Raines
R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER attends most of the AFO meetings. “[AFO] makes me feel like I
am connected with people with similar concerns,” she comments.
The Adjunct Faculty Organization (AFO) is a national “[The] organization is to support the adjuncts, not the adjuncts
organization, and also a part of Front Range Community supporting the organization.”
College. Adjunct faculty make up about 65 percent of all Raines wishes for a few more changes in the treatment and
instructors and are part-time. Higher education employment of value of the adjunct faculty members. “Years ago,” she says, “20
adjuncts started in the 1960s. percent of faculty members were adjunct, primarily retired or
Although adjuncts outnumber full-time instructors by a looking for extra income. I would like to make a living at my
wide margin, they are not eligible for benefits
and they are not tenured. The 2009 spring
semester has 90 full-time faculty on staff
compared to 457 part-time instructors.
Approximately 350 of the 457 part-time
faculty are considered adjunct instructors.
Julia Weingardt is the new president of the
AFO. “I like taking challenges,” she says. She
began her first term last fall. Weingardt is an
adjunct instructor and teaches public speaking
and interpersonal communications. She teaches
four classes and says, “I consider that full-time.”
She says, “Not in college, though. It is
[considered] part-time.” The regulated number of
credit hours that an adjunct member is able to
teach, or „caps,‟ are maxed out between nine and
10 credits.
The Mod 3 trailer, which is located outside
of the west exit of Blanca Peak, has been desig-
nated in the last year as the AFO meeting place.
Adjunct faculty use Mod 3 as a place to study, AFO President Julia Weingardt poses outside Mod 3, the trailer designated as
grade papers, and converse with other adjuncts. the official office space for FRCC’s 350 adjunct instructors.
The organization holds meetings on Photo by Michelle Motherway
Mondays, once a month, and any adjunct is
invited to attend. At the meetings, they discuss profession.” Raines feels that the adjunct members are “losing
issues and brainstorm solutions to problems and concerns that ground,” as she puts it. She continues to explain that, “Keeping
are brought to the organization„s attention. The mission of the everyone at part-time is the corporate way to keep costs down.”
organization is to “serve the interests of the adjunct faculty Raines has no desire to become a full-time instructor here,
members,” comments Weingardt. “We branch out to find out saying, “Personally, I would like to see the caps discontinued.
what‟s going on.” One issue that is at the top of the AFO‟s They are not a state law.”
agenda this year is “an effective means of communication,” “If it is to be, it‟s up to me” is the attitude that Weingardt
explains Weingardt, such as “opening up Blackboard brings to the table when advocating for the cohesion of the
discussions and addressing issues [without] being at the actual adjunct faculty. She personally sees a disconnection with some of
meeting.” the adjuncts. “They go in and out of the day, unnoticed and just
The AFO has written out clear goals that they would like floating.” Weingardt goes on to say, “I felt like I wasn‟t really a
to work on and achieve. “[During] the second meeting, [it was] part of this [institution] before getting involved.” This has all
really important to create a mission statement, goals, and changed for her. “My experience has been altered [by] being
objectives,” explains Weingardt. “We have a vision.” involved, because I feel like I am part of something bigger.”
Weingardt explains that often adjuncts feel disconnected Weingardt sees big changes coming and many goals such as
and disposable to their institutions because they are on and off better communication between adjunct faculty, and more of a
campus so frequently. The AFO holds an “Adjuncts connection to the college. She hopes that solutions to those issues
Appreciation” event once every fall semester, and currently are will materialize in the next couple of years. “Positive change in
working on organizing a spring potluck. The AFO is dedicated the AFO equals positive change in FRCC under one umbrella,
to making the adjunct faculty of the campus feel valuable and
including the student,” Weingardt says. ®
 12

C LUB H UB

by the State of Colorado to wear helmets, but O‟Donnell says

G ET Y OUR M OTOR R UNNING that when he is on the freeway, he wears his because of the
W ITH THE W OLF R IDERS high speed.
Newlin even recommends the bike courses offered at Front
BY T AMARA S MITH , R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER Range because “everyone should learn better. Experience is
good.”
FRCC offers motorcycle classes for beginners and riders
with experience alike. Exact times, course information, and
One might not expect a 50-year-old, clean-cut woman
instructor listings can be found in the Summer 2009 Course
from the South to be a biker, but Vikki Newlin, a full-time IT
Catalogue.
student at Front Range, defies the stereotypical biker look.
The Wolf Riders have had one riding session thus far
Newlin, who started school to pursue her paralegal ambitions,
where they opted to ride to Masonville and around Carter Lake
changed her major when the future job outlook for paralegals
because of the colorful scenery. Rides take about an hour or
started looking bleak. To open more doors for herself in
two, depending on where the group decides to go. O‟Donnell‟s
today‟s ever advancing technical world, she changed her major
2003, 100th Anniversary Springer Softail Harley is one of the
to IT, and has since been working part-time in the IT center at
many unique bikes members of the club ride. “You learn from
Front Range. Newlin rides her new blue and black metallic
each other, real-life situations, motorcycles, having a problem
Honda Shadow motorcycle to school when the weather is coop-
in a class—we can help each other out. There are all kinds of
erative. She enjoys the perks of riding, which include “saving
learning opportunities,” says O‟Donnell.
[money] on gas—it‟s economically the best thing—and the
The club is just getting started, so if you would like to join,
convenience of parking.” Newlin expresses her excitement
voice an opinion, or come to a meeting to see what it‟s all
about being a member of the “Wolf Riders,” the new motor-
about, contact O‟Donnell via e-mail at B24NC@juno.com.
cycling club at Front Range, by telling others who are parking
Ideas are just starting to be thrown around for what the future
their bikes at the school about the club and asking them to
of the club holds concerning activities and club funding.
come ride. “Anyone that owns a bike [should] join our club,
Newlin adds that she would love to do some raffles or a
come ride and have fun with the Wolves.”
bike wash to raise money for the club so they can do more
Club President Brian O‟Donnell started the motorcycle
activities. “Poker runs” are on both team members‟ minds for
club by posting on the ‟net discussion board on Blackboard and
the future.
getting interest from fellow students who wanted to join. The
“To have a whole pack leaving Front Range—that would
club currently has eight members, made up of two women and
be cool,”
six men, who get together to discuss future plans, and then go
laughs
ride.
O‟Donnell
When asked if the club helped Newlin make new friends
about his
at Front Range, she replies, “I didn‟t know Brian [before]. I
aspirations
discovered a lot of people in the club I knew and I didn‟t know
for a big
they were riders.”
club. “If you
“During summer and last fall, it was so nice,” says
like the free-
O‟Donnell, who admits that the fact that he “wouldn‟t be the
dom of rid-
only motorcyclist that goes to Front Range” prompted him to
ing, join our
“push it and see what happens” with his club idea. O‟Donnell,
club,” says
wearing his black leather vest covered in motorcycling patches,
O‟Donnell.
and a skullcap with orange flames, says that he has been riding
News
since 1972 and enjoys it because it‟s a great way to relieve
concerning
stress and experience a sense of freedom; he is even planning
the club will
his first road trip in 2010 to a family reunion in Idaho.
be posted in
What‟s a good piece of advice from a long-time rider for
the Stall
rules of the road? “Look out for drivers…nine out of 10 times,
Street
they don‟t see you,” advises Newlin.
A few safety stipulations apply to Journal. ®
those who wish to ride with the club.
First, all motorcyclists must have their Faculty advisor to the Wolf Riders,
motorcycle license, which can be Vicki Peek, poses next to Club
obtained through a program at FRCC. President Brian O’Donnell and his
Secondly, they must provide proof of
100th Anniversary Edition Springer
current insurance for their vehicle.
Riders who are 18+ are not required
Softail Harley.
Photo by Michelle Motherway
 13

C LUB H UB

T UNE IN FOR THE N EW M USIC C LUB Also on guitar is faculty advisor Ryan Campbell, 31, who
teaches a variety of writing classes at FRCC and has a lifelong
musical background. Campbell views the Music Club as “a
BY J OHN S EABERRY , R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER great way to balance the difficulties of college with the
gratification, the release, the catharsis we can have by playing
music.”
Music-minded students and faculty are uniting to form a new “There can be a therapeutic aspect—a way to take the
club on campus this semester. Spearheaded by students Chris stress out of the academic part of being here at college—a
Rocha and Zenaida Herrera, and advised by adjunct instructor way to kind of loosen up. A lot of people are really nervous
Ryan Campbell, the Music Club promises music appreciation, about breaking that ice and putting themselves out there.”
dialogue, edification and indoctrination into music culture. That However, Campbell sees the club as being able to do more
being said, the primary goal of this club is best summed up in than let students blow off steam. “From the academic side and
Rocha‟s one-word personal mission statement: “Jam.” from the college side, we‟re going to try to be progressive in
Rocha, 22, utilizing the organization for on-campus functions and
envisions the creating networks in the community,” he said. “We‟re a
Music Club as community college and we really try to connect what‟s going
a place where on in Fort Collins to what we‟re doing at the school.”
students can The club plans to meet as often as two to three times a
commune and month in the East Conference Room at the Longs Peak
share their Student Center. “If the students have some time, I want them
mutual inter- to really be able to get into it. I really want to get it estab-
est. “I like lished so that once I get out of here, the foundation is laid for
music and I‟m anyone else that wants to join the club.” Rocha continued,
sure there are a “I‟m surprised there hasn‟t been a club like this already, but
lot of other I‟m glad it‟s a new thing for people.”
people who The Music Club will work closely with Student Life to
like music, too, either perform as a group or arrange performances at various
so I thought school functions, but the club will undoubtedly change a little
I‟d see if any- every term. Campbell predicts that, as members are added and
one else wants leadership changes, the organization is one “that people will
to get in on the keep reinventing each semester.”
action and Student Life Club Coordinator Brandon Devlin, 26, who
make some has guided Rocha through the club recognition process,
music with described what is required of the new Music Club. “They can
me.” Rocha get together and just play—just jam, and that‟s cool, as long
continued, as they‟re meeting. The whole point of it is to fulfill that
“Some people mission statement of enriching lives through learning, and this
come to school is giving another avenue to do so.” Devlin said of the clubs on
and they‟re campus, “There‟s so much opportunity for students to have
shy. They fun and be social, and also get academic with it.”
don‟t want to The Music Club will hold an introductory meet-and-greet
talk to anyone. open to everyone from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. on Monday, April
Well, everyone 27 in the Small Conference Room of the Longs Peak Student
loves music, Center, where club founders will discuss, among other topics,
so they can the fulfillment of the final requirements for official club
come and meet status.
new people.” Rocha expects a diverse group of musicians and music
Rocha is enthusiasts to be on hand, as his philosophy on music is one
Music Club Co-founder Chris Rocha has plans to working on an
pursue a sound engineering degree. that seems to be shared by
A.A. from everyone involved in the
Photo by James Neuhalfen FRCC and Music Club. “I believe that
plans to trans- music brings all kinds of
fer out of state people together and it sets a
to pursue a sound engineering degree and work as a music good vibe, and it‟s always
producer. He has played drums for nine years and has recently there for anyone who wants
started playing guitar.
it.” ®
 14

C LUB H UB

W RITERS ON THE S TORM around ideas of getting their works published locally and
putting together a pamphlet of their ideas for the campus to
BY B RIANNA S AVINO , R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER view. They also talked about the possibility of recruiting
seniors at local high schools who are interested in writing and
“Students come first. Come be a part of a club where we plan on attending Front Range.
won‟t restrict you in any way.” This statement echoed off the Though the group is labeled a creative writing group, that
walls during the first meeting for the Writers on the Storm does not put a limit on the ideas that its members produce.
Creative Writing Club. Though April 1 was the group‟s first “[I am] atrocious at poetry. I like to write traditional short
meeting, members clearly stated what they expected from the stories,” said Martin.
group and what they hoped to accomplish. Though the options are open for writing ideas, Dembicki
For freshman Junior Martin, his main goal was to finish made it clear that they are not there to grade the members‟
something he never had the time to do. “I‟ve always done work. “We‟re not directed towards academics, not like the
writing, but I can never get to finish it. So my goal for this group Writing Center. Publishing is our goal. We‟re not editors.”
is to actually finish something.” With many ideas being thrown around, Dembicki tried to
Group president, red-haired, 25-year-old Lucas Dembicki, think of ways to get the group inspired, and drew from his
listened intently as members of the group put in their ideas for own experiences. “Me and my friends used to pick out six
what they expect to achieve while in attendance. Dembicki has words, take those words and write our own stories. It was fun
been interested in creative writing since he was a child, and seeing where the stories went and ended up,” he stated.
hopes to share his passion with the rest of the group. “My child- With the group just beginning, the main focus for it is
hood was spent in books. [It was] an escape for me which turned getting the word out and gaining more members. With that in
into a passion. I want to give something to students who share mind, the group decided on creating a pamphlet full of their
that passion and who want to share their work and get feedback, stories and writings, along with information about the group,
sort of like a fellowship,” he said, while spinning back and forth to be distributed to students around campus.
in a chair. Dembicki, who is currently a freshman at FRCC, “We need to put an emphasis on writing and publishing to
heard about the group get more members. My goal is to see the group with about 50
from Clubs Coordinator members before
Brandon Devlin and school ends,” said
immediately became Dembicki.
interested. “I eventually The majority of the
want to transfer to club‟s members
Columbia University have writing some-
and teach writing, and where in their
possibly get published. major, but not
This group will help me necessarily.
get there.” “I am majoring in
Although it is late in computer informa-
the semester, Dembicki tion systems; I‟m a
still found time to gather tech guy! I‟ll
members for a group who probably end up
share the same interests. writing about robots
“The group hadn‟t been or something,” said
an idea until a quarter of Writers on the Storm, FRCC’s new creative writing club, share the common Martin, with a smile
the way through the goal of becoming published writers. Full-time English instructor Will Foster on his face.
semester,” he said. (second from right) is the club’s faculty advisor. Dembicki hopes
The dark-haired to get the word out
Martin already had a Photo by Whitney Weber to the students
plethora of ideas waiting around campus. The
for the club. “We should have something to show, like this is last meeting for the group was Wednesday, April 8 at the
what we do, a focused, concentrated thing of writing.” Longs Peak Student Center and was open to all students.
Along with Martin‟s ideas, the group also mentioned the Dembicki made it clear that everyone‟s voice is
possibility of publishing their work, something Dembicki has important. “All students and ideas in this club are welcome.
never experienced. The club is here for students to have a voice and get feedback.
“I never really tried getting published; I was too busy It is run by students, for students—no limitations.” ®
discovering who I was. But I do hope to get published through
this group or outside of it,” said Dembicki. The group tossed
 15

M EDIUM C OOL

D ANGER ! L IVE W RITERS ! It wasn't [until] high school that I really got into writing
and put real effort into it, so it's been about five or six years
since… I've considered myself a writer,” Weingardt explains.
BY A LY P AX , R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER
This is her first time sharing with a large group of people.
“I've never really read anything in front of a group like this,
Danger! There are live writers on the Front Range campus! but I‟m excited for the new experience.” she explains.
Writing may be looked at as a form of expression. It‟s a way for Weingardt just finished work-shopping her nonfiction
writers to get their stories down on paper. The instructor of the personal essay for the class called “Life on the Dirt.”
Creative Nonfiction Writing class, Sue RingdeRosset, 43, says, This is RingdeRosset‟s first time putting together the
“It‟s a form of art.” At FRCC, there are many writing classes event, although she has attended them in the past. They were
ranging from composition to creative nonfiction. put together by Dr. Blair Oliver, the chair of the Arts and
The creative nonfiction class is a small class, with only five Letters Department. The pieces presented were fiction.
students. The class is a workshop class. Students present two Oliver started the event about 10 years ago “to celebrate
long pieces to the class, then the class looks them over, and student achievement.”
helps the author rework their pieces. They are required to write “They are really fun to go to,” RingdeRosset says. She
a personal essay and a literary journalism essay. The class has says that reading out loud is “a way to build community.”
an emphasis on science and nature. RingdeRosset has asked the She believes this to be good practice for the students in the
students to follow the genre, and write about a topic in science Creative Nonfiction Writing class. “It is important that our
and nature that interests them. Nonfiction writing means the private art is shared,”
subject is true and has she explains.
really happened. It is a “The class is diverse
way for writers to tell and full of different
their own stories. styles of writing,”
At the end of the RingdeRosset says.
semester, these five The event will let the
students get the chance students express them-
to read a piece they selves as they do in
worked on in class their writing. Like
aloud. RingdeRosset is RingdeRosset says,
heading an event called “it‟s a form of art for
“Danger! Live Writers!” these students.” It‟s
She hopes all the not something that is
students will participate displayed but instead
in the event, which will something that needs to
be held on April 30 in be shared or read.
the Harmony Library RingdeRosset explains,
Community Room from “Everyone in class is
5 to 7 p.m. It will reading their best works
“feature the best science from the class.” The
and nature writing,” other students will give
RingdeRosset says. The the writer “suggestions
students will have 20 [on] what piece [they]
minutes each to share a would like to hear out
part of their writing. loud.”
The event is free and As the students end
open to all of Front their semester, they get
Range and the general to share their “private
public. art.” Writing can be
Kaylene Weingardt, “such a solitary act, but
20, one of the students in when we speak our
the class, says she is Courtesy of www.writenowisgood.typepad.com
words out loud, we
excited about the event. engage our
“I am excited to get criticism and feedback, but I wish I had
more freedom as to what pieces of my writing I [get] to share.” community,” RingdeRosset explains. ®
Weingardt has “been writing for as long as I can remember….
 16

M EDIUM C OOL

Another in Rangeview Photo Editor Michelle

Motherway’s wild horse photo series (at
left) is titled “Wyo Wild #1.” She captured
this image in Wyoming earlier this year.

Two of the four

Rangeview Photo
Teamers James
Neuhalfen and
Whitney Weber
Photo by Michelle
Motherway

One of Whitney
Weber’s photos (at
right) is from her series
titled “On the Road.”

Full-time student James Neuhalfen

owns Sapwood Productions
(sapwoodproductions@gmail.com),
specializing in commercial, outdoor
and adventure sports, and group
photography. This summer, he’ll
focus on mountain biking and down-
hill racing. (See his photo at left).
 17

B E O UR G UEST

H EALTH F AIR IS A H IT pressure readings caught my eye.

I stopped to see if they could get my blood pressure correct
because I know my normal blood pressure. The young girl
BY E MILY G ILLIS , G UEST C OLUMNIST
seemed nervous after I told her that if she didn‟t get it right, I
would let her know. She did an excellent job and determined
I visited the Health Fair that was sponsored by the Fitness that my blood pressure was 100/72. My normal blood pressure is
Center and held on campus on March 25. I went for extra around 110/60. After she removed the cuff from my arm, I wrote
credit for a P.E. class, and I left with a vast amount of new down the measurement and saw that I needed another require-
knowledge. I was a little overwhelmed with the number of ment. I decided to try something I have never experienced
people in the small area where the Health Fair was held. I made before and went for the Healing Touch. I was not sure what it
my way over to a few familiar faces. The SGA officers were was so I signed up for a slot and returned to work, anticipating
handing out free smoothies. my appointment with the unknown.
The smoothies, I learned, were a healthy treat with vital I was very excited as I walked back over to the Health Fair
nutrients. As I sipped my smoothie, I managed to meander and was relieved to see the room had cleared out a bit. As I lay
toward another familiar face, Vicki McLane, the yoga instruc- down on the nice woman‟s massage table, I was a bundle of
tor on campus. She was informing people of the “10 Seconds nerves. She then asked if she could touch me while she worked.
of Zen” which is a self-calming and centering technique. I In my head, I joked, „Don‟t you have to touch in a healing touch
often use the technique of counting to 10 and reassessing the session?‟ I lay there and became more relaxed by the second,
task when frustrated or stuck. This idea of “10 Seconds of Zen” almost falling asleep at one point. After about 15 minutes, she
takes that technique a bit further and makes you ask a question touched my shoulder and said it was time for me to get up, but
that helps you assess your situation. After having Vicki sign to take my time. I stood up quickly and almost fell over. This
my sheet given to us to prove we went to the fair, I saw a table wonderful woman then told me to hydrate and to take as long as
that is near and dear to my heart, the American Cancer Society. I needed in the chair to gather myself. I had a smile the size of
Having lost my father the Grand Canyon for
and both paternal grand- the next five hours. I
parents to cancer, I thought I was overwhelmingly
should see what the girl happy and relaxed. I
sitting and gazing at the really enjoyed my
people stuffed into the room session and I will
had to say. The blonde- never hesitate to
haired girl asked if I was a experience this again.
smoker and I reluctantly I was sad my require-
replied, “Yes.” She gave me ments were met and I
brochures and a “Quit It Kit” had to go back to
and told me I should really work.
quit smoking. She got me My experience at the
thinking. I am planning on
quitting soon. I just have to Health Fair has opened
get to that spot. I put the me to new thoughts
information and the kit in and experiences. The
my drawer at home so that fair has affected my
when I‟m ready, I can use life greatly. I have
the tools given to me. As the Student and Health Fair attendee Emily Gillis takes a moment from her been eating smoothies
room was packed even fuller work-study job is as receptionist and First-Step Advising Coordinator in
when I get the urge to
with people, I started to the Advising and Career Counseling Center.
withdraw from the crowd snack, getting myself
when I saw another familiar Photo by James Neuhalfen ready to quit smoking,
face. and would love to
The face I saw was that of Teresina Davie, a counselor I have a healing touch session in the future. So, next time there is
work with at the Advising and Career Counseling Center on a Health Fair in the Longs Peak Student Center, please take the
campus. To my surprise, she made me ask her a career question
time to stop in. It may have an impact on your daily living. ®
before she would sign my sheet. I asked her the current wages
for nurses in the area. She handed me a sheet of paper that was
full of Web addresses. She told me which site to look that info Sophomore Emily Gillis, 22, has attended FRCC since 2004.
up on. I did this and found that, with no experience, nurses are She’s preparing to transfer to Laramie County Community
making about $27 an hour. I said goodbye and was walking College’s Nursing School in Cheyenne.
toward the exit when the high school kids taking blood
 18

B E O UR G UEST

H OW I S TOPPED W ORRYING toward my

vision of
AND L EARNED TO P ICK A C AREER Utopia. Or
maybe I could
BY J OHN S EABERRY , S PECIAL TO THE R ANGEVIEW become a
mechanical
engineer,
I‟ve had a lot of jobs—carpenter, summer camp counselor, developing the
fast-food grill cook and snowboard instructor—just to name a energy, living
few. Not impressed? Let‟s add bartender, graphic designer, and transport
telemarketer and stage actor. Still nothing? Toss in restaurant systems for a
manager, ski resort marketing director, Web entrepreneur and new tomorrow.
touring musician, and you‟re starting to get the picture. I‟ve Having over
even been a jet-setting dealer of offshore financial assets, bank- 100 college
hopping through the Caribbean and speaking at conferences full credit hours
of millionaires. It wasn‟t until my late 20s when I moved out to going in, I
the mountains that I was able to find perspective on a world big- knew I had to
ger than my own. I began to formulate a clear, new objective— figure it out
and what I believe to be a new archetype for our times. quick.
In short, I envision a solution to the world‟s social, An observa-
economic and energy crises using innovations in renewable tion I had
energy and sustainable living on highly localized levels. By during my first
using newly refined technologies to harness the resources all semester
around us, and keeping those resources in the hands of the helped lead me
people, we can change the dynamics of how we spend our time to a conclusion. Rangeview reporter John Seaberry
and money. I believe we can build an energetic, responsible, I found that
forward-moving society—a neo-agrarian sustainable culture that while I was
Photo by Michelle Motherway
toiling to keep a decent grade in my math and
science classes, I was easily excelling in classes that
I’ve had a lot of jobs...It wasn’t until my late 20s required more writing. Struggling through algebra
when I moved out to the mountains that I was and chemistry, I realized that I might not have the
able to find perspective on a world bigger than my gifts it takes to be a great engineer, whereas I have
always considered myself a capable and clever
own...But to have a career in line with my goals, I writer. I‟ve done some successful sales writing and
knew I’d need to prepare. So, last fall, I enrolled published songwriting, and feedback from my
at Front Range and set out to raise my GPA to a instructors at Front Range began to validate my
conviction. I realized that I should play to my
respectable level, and complete my core curricu- strengths; a curriculum and career based on writing
lum credits so I could transfer to the four-year and rhetoric would challenge me in a way that would
allow me to naturally rise to the top. To that end,
college of my choice.
I‟ve enrolled at CSU this summer for a double-major
in journalism with an emphasis on news and
is in balance with nature, free from an outmoded economic and editorial, as well as English with an emphasis on writing.
social order—and embark on the next phase of our cultural I wouldn‟t say any of my previous job choices were
evolution. necessarily wrong. In fact, they were almost all great, and I
Wow, you might say, that‟s a lofty goal. Well, you‟d be leaned a lot at each of them, but I couldn‟t describe them as
right, but it is my calling—I mean, a true conviction that drives true callings. On my journey through different places, jobs and
my actions everyday. But to have a career in line with my goals, lifestyles, I‟ve found a way to pick a career that I‟m deeply
I knew I‟d need to prepare. So, last fall, I enrolled at Front passionate about. After careful self-reflection, I‟ve discovered
Range and set out to raise my GPA to a respectable level, and what is important to me and what I am good at. I‟ve been able
complete my core curriculum credits so I could transfer to the to put my skills to the test, match them to my goals, and
four-year college of my choice. „But what to do?‟ I thought. I combine it all in a focused career path. At the end of this
could be a journalist, exposing wrongs and revealing new inno- semester, I‟ll take with me an Associate of Arts degree and,
vations that will lead us into the future. I could be a legal and hopefully, the seeds of a prolific, noteworthy career. ®
political activist, heading up legislation and leading people
 19

B E O UR G UEST

FRCC student Nathanael Volckening (at left) has taken two figure drawing classes, Figure Drawing 1 and 2, under the
instruction of Jason Levasseur. The 20-year-old sophomore is busy, “for the time being, getting the pre-reqs out of the
way, and dabbling in whatever seems interesting.” He plans to pursue an MFA, and drew his untitled life study (above)
last summer.
Photo by Michelle Motherway

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