https://caspercollege.cvlcollections.org/files/original/9568dcc16fcf634df5942ccc4980b70b.pdf d60aa60cc07cabd0c7d2e3ed4848f7b1 PDF Text Text November 1, 2019 Casper College’s Student Voice Since 1945 Find us online! Scarier than Midterms! Distance growth & transfer a focus for UW Bryanna Schiller For the Chinook In the World Physical Science Building, the janitorial staff decorates their doors with some spooky decorations. Riley Box Chinook Staff Writer Many have waited weeks or even months for this time to come. It is a time many people of all ages adore. Spooky season! Yes, that’s right! Halloween is finally at our doorstep. For many people, Halloween is a time of tradition, family, friends, and fun. It reminds people of home and the many exciting things they did as a kid and maybe even continue today. College students likely can’t make the trek home during Halloween, so it is important to know the different Halloween activities right here on campus and in the city of Casper. Though the college does not do as much for Halloween as it once did, it is important and fun to look back at past traditions. Chris Stier, Student Activities Coordinator talked about the history of celebrating Halloween on campus and what the school is doing now. “In the previous years…I know they did a Halloween dance and different events like that” Stier pointed out. Stier explained that for Halloween, the college as a whole does not have many events but there is still plenty to do. Different clubs and organizations put on their own events so there are still multiple options. “One club likes to do a photo scavenger hunt. I do have some escape room vouchers…I think it’s more of them [students] just picking which event,” said Stier. With the different clubs and friend groups putting on their own special events, it allows students to pick and choose which events interest them most. It gives students leeway and many options to explore with the people they are close to. It can be very difficult for students who are away from home to celebrate Halloween as it can be a family tradition. It is important that they feel more at home and welcome during this time. On this point, Stier said, “I think it’s helpful for some of the students to have something to do on Halloween, especially the newer students that maybe don’t know what’s going on in Casper or on campus” Not only on Campus but Casper in general has many things to do for Halloween, including: multiple haunted houses throughout the city, Trick-or-Treating, and going to concerts at local restaurants. Students have many options and the options vary so each person can go to something they want to. If the students feel like enjoying a more relaxed Halloween holiday, there is always the option to stay in and watch scary movies. Most schools on campus have different traditions and activities they do to get the students involved and excited about the season and festivities. One building that has been very active in the Halloween festivities is the Physical Science Building. Jared Bowden, Chair of Physics, Engineering, and Computer Science recalled some of the fun activities they do for this time of year. “We have done a…Life in the universe pumpkin carving lab, we have done a pumpkin carving get together, we have had different spooky decorations up around Physical Science.” Bowden said. Along with the different activities Physical Science does on campus, Bowden pointed out that it is important for the students to feel more connected to the college in a more relaxing way than classes. Examples like this is why the college thrives through the Halloween season. Every building and school have fun activities, events, and decorations to excite the students and keep them engaged. Bowden added that he loves to do his Halloween activities with his family too. He enjoys dressing up as a family, going Trick-or-Treating, and carving pumpkins. Casper and Casper College offer a wide variety of activities for Halloween and events for students. It helps the students feel more at home and more we lcome by their school. Different clubs and organizations put on events and there is plenty to do, so put on a mask, get dressed up, and hang out with your family and friends. It's spooky season. The University of Wyoming hopes to expedite the transfer process from Wyoming community colleges and broaden its online presence with several newly implemented initiatives. The goals of the initiatives are to expand the relationship between the university and the state’s community colleges to benefit traditional and non-traditional students alike. Graduate Wyoming, an initiative put into effect this year, hopes to enhance ease of transfer from a Wyoming community college to the University of Wyoming, according to Dr. Kate Miller in a message sent to stakeholders of the University of Wyoming on Oct. 10 of this year. The explanatory email was in reference to a presentation delivered at the University of Wyoming Articulation Conference on Oct. 4. The initiative aims to improve the transfer process of students with an associate’s degree from one of Wyoming’s community colleges who wish to transfer to the University of Wyoming. By providing tools such as transfer planning guides, reverse transfer processes, peer mentoring, and a state-wide transfer advising group in addition to the “2+2 plans” already set in place, the University of Wyoming aims to aid adults, traditional, and non-traditional students on their educational paths. 2+2 plans are articulation agreements between the University of Wyoming and Wyoming community colleges so that students who complete an associate degree at a community college in two years can transfer to the University of Wyoming and complete a bachelor’s degree within the same major in two years. Dr. Brent Pickett, Dean of the University of Wyoming Casper, felt that easing the transfer process from Wyoming community colleges to the University of Wyoming would better serve Wyoming students. “In the end, it doesn’t seem like people are really wellserved if students are taking a lot of extra credits and just lengthening their time to attaining their educational goals,” said Dr. Pickett. “That creates retention problems, student debt issues. We’re trying to figure out how to make that more efficient, and the university has really constructively engaged with that over the last two or three years.” Along with Graduate Wyoming, the University of Wyoming holds an objective to expand the number of online or distance courses available to students at Wyoming’s community colleges. At the end of the spring semester in 2019, the University of Wyoming asked for the state’s community colleges to send in their proposals to develop or convert degree programs that could be available via distance education. These online education courses remain crucial to the state’s education with nearly 1,910 students enrolled in distance education classes at the University of Wyoming, according to the Fall Enrollment Management Report from the university in 2018. “Our mission as Wyoming’s four-year, research, and landgrant university, as well as the educational attainment goals of the state call on us to expand our efforts to serve Wyoming’s place-bound students, adult learners, and others whose life circumstances do not allow them to come to study on campus in Laramie or Casper,” said Dr. Miller. “It is important that we continue to develop and launch online degree programs that meet students where they are regardless of their geographic location or stage of life, help those students to advance personally and professionally, and contribute to the state’s needs for a citizenry and workforce prepared to meet the demands of Wyoming’s future.” In order to achieve this goal, the university invested in several tools and programs that provide services, such as continuous online tutoring, assessing online course quality BOCES Benefits: Combining credits with experience Jayla Johnson Chinook Staff Introduced in 1991, the Board of Cooperative Educational Services, otherwise known as BOCES, changed the goals of high school students of Natrona County School District who eagerly await college experience and look for educational benefits in the Casper community. The nationally known program gathers funds by receiving taxes from county residents to provide three capabilities for education seeking communities. The three programs BOCES offers include: ACE, innovative grants, and stipends. ACE, Accelerated College Education, is what most people take advantage of and what most people know about; this program pays for high school students’ college tuition and books. Innovative grants offer the college and the school district donations for educational programs. These grants, given out by BOCES, could either consist of special initiatives looking for additional funding or for startup organizations looking for funds to jump start a program. Finally, stipends grant NCSD and Casper College faculty to work on or finish their graduate degrees. Jeana Lam-Pickett, the Casper College BOCES Program Specialist, said, “It’s just a great benefit to have over the years thousands and thousands of students [use BOCES]. So, thank you to the taxpayers of Natrona County and our board of directors.” BOCES courses come in two adjustable forms: dual or concurrent enrollment. Dual courses, accredited at both the high school and college, happen through the college either online or on campus. On the other hand, concurrent courses, after approved to earn college credit, take place at the high school campus. It’s most common today for a BOCES student to take dual credit courses due to few concurrent classes offered. “I think we are very fortunate in Natrona County that we have this program. We run ours differently than the other locations in Wyoming... I find that the way Natrona County [offers the BOCES program] is unique in the way that we pay for tuition and books,” Lam-Pickett said. The biggest goal of this program, Lam-Pickett noted, is to invite high school students to take one or multiple college classes to see if they enjoy the college experience; likewise, these students will hopefully realize they can handle college and continue on the path of higher education. Lam-Pickett also mentioned that the program pays for the class and the books so high school students can just try out the college life and see how it goes for that individual. For some high schoolers, BOCES empowers them to take more than one free class and even get them started on a degree. “It’s a great way to get college credits for free. A lot of students, could have - just by doing what BOCES pays for if you start early enough - by the time they graduate from high school, easily, their first semester of college done or even your first year of college. So that could get you through college faster, which makes it cheaper,” LamPickett said. According to Casey Schell, a Kelly Walsh High School counselor, most students who utilize the program carry college bound characteristics and look to further their education through college courses. These high school students typically have a sturdy plan to continue their education and specific goals in mind for their future. Juniors and seniors who have almost, if not already, completed all of their high school requirements are a common theme among students affiliated with BOCES. “It’s really the gamut because we have so many different types of students. There are those looking to take core classes, and maybe those are college bound students. Then we also have students who are more interested in the technical side of things, the tech ed side, so they could be taking auto mechanics, welding classes and things — See BOCES, Page 7 — See UW, Page 8 THE WEEKS AHEAD This week Very Cold! Next Week Welcome to Winter The week after Closer to Thanksgiving!!!! �Page 2 November 1, 2019 CHINOOK Chinook Stance Divine's Intervention: Fall is a beautiful time of year and I especially enjoy the color contrast between the green lawns on campus and the turning leaves. It also reminds me that inclement weather lies ahead and first and foremost on my mind is to make sure we all remain safe when it comes. Our first storm of the season came and went without as much as leaving a skiff of snow behind. The storm’s outcome wasn’t nearly the promised 4-8 inches we had been preparing for days in advance of its arrival. However, with each --- Habits --- Rise & Grind with Morryah More often than not, habits are ingrained in us through repeated behaviors. Habits can be helpful, like brushing your teeth or washing your hands, and they can also be harmful, like scrolling Facebook to wind down at night or stress eating when you’re overwhelmed. These behaviors are often repeated that they become subconscious. Have you ever been so busy, with so many deadlines or assignments due that you find yourself eating a pint of ice cream and not knowing why? Your coping mechanism was to stress eat, not organize and conquer. Basically, you procrastinated and ate 500 calories. I am totally guilty of this. Habits are, in nature, subconscious decisions that we make. These automatic decisions have a lot of power. It can mean waking up on time-- and being on time for the rest of your day--or hitting the snooze and rushing around like a chicken with its head cut off. Habits help us do hundreds of things in our lives without much thought. It’s like a clever trick our brain uses to help us be more efficient, but too often, we create unhealthy habits that really put us off track. Then, let’s add our instant gratification culture, and we are seriously in danger of digging ourselves into a hole. In terms of bad habits, the food industry does a great job of exploiting our instant gratification and mindless eating habits. Fast food and processed foods are a huge contributor to weight gain, lethargy, and mindless eating. These foods are easily accessible, made from many, many ingredients and preservatives, and the foods create a craving loop. It’s easy to eat these foods because they are available everywhere and let’s be honest, they are delicious—but they are so unhealthy. er spap w e Casper e k N College’s noo w Onlin i h C Student No Voice Since 1945 It’s a habit to reach for these foods before we opt to make a meal from scratch for several reasons. One, because of instant gratification, and two, it’s a habit. Nearly all of us grew up with access to fast food and processed food. We also grew up in a world of easy and constant stimulation-which is creating its own set of legitimate issue-- but I digress. Small actions are how habits are created. Changing an existing habit is easiest by replacing it with a new one. If you have a habit of coming home, grabbing some munchies, and sitting on the couch under the guise of selfcare, I hate to break it to you, but that is the opposite of self-care. That’s self-sabotaging behavior that hurts you. Self-care does not hurt you. Replacing the habit of eating and lounging with a habit of going for a walk or weight training for 30 minutes boosts your morale as well as helps with mental clarity. That is self-care. Our era is filled with so many vices, coping mechanisms, and bad habitual behavior that we must seek out challenging things. Overcoming a challenge helps with mental and emotional health, and it boosts your confidence. You literally have the power to make change in your own life by doing things that are just a little harder than you’re used to. These little challenges build up to make a substantial difference, just like little bad habits build up to make a substantial pitfall. My advice would be to seek out hard, but manageable things. Make a habit of cooking meals or meal prepping. Make a habit of not surfing the internet on your phone in bed. Make a habit of moving your body for 30 minutes a day, drinking more water, meditating, calling your grandma, or not eating those last three bites of dessert. These things aren’t impossible, they are just a little harder than you’re used to. Moving toward these healthy changes, not simply becoming a fitness God should be the goal. It is all about practice not perfection and making positive changes now that will impact your future. It’s like those sayings, you don’t want to look back at now and wonder why it took you so long to start. “ passing storm including the last two occurring over weekends, we monitor and assess its potential to impact students and staff at the college and are prepared to take action if necessary. Occasionally over the years, we have had to close campus and did so this past spring when a recordbreaking 13.6 inches of snow closed down much of Casper and the surrounding region. This was the second snowiest day recorded for March dating back to around 1940.We will continue to monitor and assess the changing weather conditions and hope that you will too, especially if you plan on traveling outside Casper. If it appears that inclement weather will have a significant impact on campus, we’ll send a message using CCAlert so now is a good time to log into your CCAlert account and make sure your communication preferences are correct. Visit caspercollege.edu/ccalert.I hope you enjoy what is shaping up to be a beautiful fall on campus and take advantage of the many activities and events occurring. Now is a good time to log into your CCAlert account and make sure your com- munication preferences are correct. Visit caspercollege.edu/ccalert.I hope you enjoy what is shaping up to be a beautiful fall on campus and take advantage of the many activities and events occurring. High School is No Musical Everyone keeps asking: What’s it like being a high school volleyball manager? My answer: exhilarating. Just last week I was asked what my best volleyball accomplishment was and I answered, “I once carried 7 volleyballs at one time.” The crowd was in shock. They had never witnessed such greatness before. But, I do more than carry seven balls at one time. At practice, I write down what the coaches tell me and I write it down skillfully. When they say write down three points, I write down the best three points. They say write down her name, I write down her name in utter perfection. When they say don’t — Darren divine, Ph.D., Casper College President The Manager Life write on the board, I don’t write on the board the best. I always do the best when asked to do something. Likewise, when the coaches tell me to pick up some volleyballs, I pick up seven at one time. When it comes to game day, my skills are unleashed. I show up to the game 15 minutes before the coach tells me to, just to show my dedication. While the players are wasting time in class, I am overachieving and, yes you guessed it, carrying seven balls at one time. When it’s game time, I grab my pen and paper and begin the grind. During the game it is my responsibility to record, with the absolute best of my ability and nothing less, the end of each volley. Our player spikes the ball, I write it down flawlessly. Our player blocks another girl, I write it down with superbness. The only thing I don’t write down is when someone carries seven balls at one time, but that’s only because no one can do it except for me. And besides, if I’m carrying seven balls at one time I don’t have a free hand to pick up my pen and paper. On the Kelly Walsh volleyball team, there are a total of three managers. I, obviously, have the top spot. My title being manager #1. I call manager #2, “assistant to the manager” and manager #3, “oh yeah there’s another one.” They will earn better titles when they pick up seven balls at one time. The role of manager was calling my name, so I answered. I finally found my true purpose in life: becoming a vital component of a volleyball team by being the volleyball team manager for a small Wyoming high school team, or as I call it vBAVCOAVTBBTVTMFASWHST. That is what I put on my resume, right next to my greatest accomplishment of carrying seven volleyballs at one time. Some practices I slack off a little, only carrying five balls, but that’s only because the day before I wrote down points too perfectly that my arms and hands needed a day off. But you best believe I am back to carrying seven balls at one time the next day. All in all, the position of volleyball manager is no easy operation. There’s no light work, there’s no days off, and there’s definitely no nonsense. It comes easy to me because of the fact that it’s my destiny, and I was placed on this earth to fill this position. How have I not won awards, you ask? For the sole reason that they do not exist. If they did, however, I’d have over 70, the number of balls I can carry at one time times 10. That’s just how good of a manager I am. CLOSING STATEMENT: In all seriousness, I do enjoy being the volleyball team manager and am lucky to be a part of the team. This column is exaggerated for comedic purposes and I do have a life, I promise. The NBA season at a glance With the NBA preseason finally complete he trades have been completed and the new contracts have been signed here is your basketball season predictions. The eastern conference this year will result in a showdown between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Philadelphia 76ers for the top seed. The 76ers host the Celtics on the 23rd of October-- expect a breakout game from Tobias Harris, this will be the season that he assumes the star role for the team and lives up to his contract. And with Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid, and Al Horford they could win the conference this year. That top spot won’t come without a fight with the Bucks, who host the Rockets on October 24th. It should be a tight game between the two -- expect Russel Westbrook to have a game high in stats. He now has a stronger team behind him in James Harden and P.J. Tucker to name a few. The game should end in a win for Giannis and the Bucks He should be starting the season with a triple double in the books. Other playoff teams include the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers, Toronto Raptors, Brooklyn Nets, and the Orlando Magic. Don’t sleep on the Celtics though. They have a strong team with Kemba Walker, Gordan Hayward, Jason Tatum, and the new addition in Tacko Fall who has high expectations and will live up to them. The first five team standings should look like this. #1 76ers, #2 Bucks, #3 Celtics, #4 Rockets, #5 Nets. With the Warriors not being the team everyone feared anymore, we will see the teams that were lower in team standings rise up. With that being said, the Denver Nuggets will have a great season this year. They will be a top five team. After coming off of a playoff run last year, expect them to be one of the top three teams in the western conference. With a defensive identity last year, expect them to get at a good pace offensively. With Nikola Jokic leading Denver offensively last year, it should be more equal this year. Murray, Millsap, and You've got Ishmael Barton will get going offensively, and we should see a more well-rounded Nuggets team this year. However, the number one team this year will be the Clippers. Even with Paul George injured, the Clippers still have hope. They still have Kawhi Leonard, Patrick Patterson and Lou Williams. They will lead the Clippers while George is out. When George returns, we won’t see the offensive threat that he is right out of the — See NBA, Page 3 T-Bucks can be purchased in $25 increments and work just like cash Use T-Bucks at any campus dining location Watch for several fun events at Tobin Dining Hall this November @caspercollegedining �November 1, 2019 Casper College Housing What’s the situation? Students play catch in residence hall common area. Riley Box Chinook Writer New Student Life and Residence Hall Director Corey Peacock is often found sitting at his desk mulling over numbers, goals, and ideas for the residence halls in the coming future. In his role, Peacock helps kids get acquainted to their new city and college by making them feel more at home. One of the many responsibilities he now faces with his new position is getting students to make the choice to stay in the residence halls. Because Casper College is a community college, dorm numbers are lower compared to larger and more visited universities. People may even say it is a problem that the occupancy is not completely filled. “As of Oct. 1st, our occupancy in the residence hall was 79.4 percent. Hovering right around 80 percent” said Peacock. Though he says there’s room to grow, those numbers are right around where they were last year and seem to be on an upward growth. Casper College has one residence hall and three apartment complexes on campus. It is very hard to fill those to capacity based on the type of college Casper College is, but it is not impossible. With some vacant rooms, there is always space to grow the number of on campus residents, and Casper College is very close to reaching its goal. Unfortunately, it is hard to gauge our housing department to other colleges nationally because of the immensely different backgrounds and housing situations each university and college faces. Peacock explained “It really depends on school specific situations…I think we have the right number of beds and I am excited for next year to get our numbers hopefully into the 90 [percent’s].” Peacock added that just because the numbers are good, doesn’t mean he is satisfied. “From my perspective, being an overachiever, I would like to see that number in the 90’s.” Peacock said. Though the number is ultimately where the college wants it, we always want more. We are sitting in a good spot and only see improvement in the future. Peacock claimed that he has many reasons Photo Courtesy of Student Life Office. as to why he wants beds filled on campus. Not only is it good for business with the college, but it provides educational opportunities for the students living on campus that living off campus just cannot provide. Peacock states “I would want all of our beds to be filled.” Peacock said he believes strongly about the quality of living on campus and it boils down to three things: convenience, support, and success. Convenience is a large part of why Peacock wants kids to live on campus. During cold and snowy days, driving across town or even starting your car is not as much of a concern when living on campus. On top of that, the college is implementing classes within the residence halls for residence hall students only which will help students succeed and further their knowledge. Support is the next biggest part. Peacock exclaims that his staff as well as all of the residence hall teachers and employees can help guide students by providing emotional and educational support. All this leads to the last thing, success. “We see that they [students] are more satisfied with their college experience” Peacock states of students that live on campus. Because students are living in an environment with resources, other students, and support, it is more likely students will succeed in the environment instead of worrying if they can live somewhere the next month, eat, or even pay for utilities. The college does not only want the residence hall numbers to grow for business purposes, but it is clear that living on campus has true benefits to the students. But are the numbers scary? Is it too low for the college? No, the college is happy with the numbers currently and they only seem to be improving. Casper College residence halls are not filled to capacity. They are not even in the 90th percentile. But it is growing and growing fast. Under the helm of the new, dedicated housing director, they seem to be moving up faster and faster. According to Peacock, Casper College is in a good spot and will continue to grow. The residence hall staff is not looking at the empty rooms, but which future leaders will occupy them. NBA.................................. continued from page 2 gate, but he will contribute. As the season continues, we will see George start to warm up and the Clippers continuously winning. The Clippers host the Lakers on October 22nd. This game will be a statement from the Clippers, letting the Lakers know that they are the top competitors in the conference. We should see a high amount of points from Leonard and Williams with the Clippers scoring at least 12 more points than the Lakers. The Lakers this year will be at least #5 this year. Yes, they have Anthony Davis, but that doesn’t mean that Davis and Lebron will immediately play well with each other. They won’t be at their final form till the end of the season where they will come out of nowhere and beat teams that they should lose to. Other playoff bound teams include the Utah Jazz, Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors, and the Dallas Mavericks. Page 3 CHINOOK Both the eastern and western conference finals will host the most exciting games to date. The eastern finals will host a matchup between the 76ers and Bucks With the 76ers winning and headed to the Finals. The western should host the Nuggets and the Clippers. The Clippers will end up winning and the finals matchup will be between the 76er and Clippers with the clippers winning the championship and Kawhi dubbed as finals MVP. Stay tuned for more! The Director's Seat: Children of Eden Ishamel Bujosa-Perin Chinook Staff What do you think of when you hear the term director? Is it the stereotypical guy in a beret and megaphone? If so, David Burke the director of last month’s Children of Eden play. Is the exact opposite. In fact, this is what directing means to him: “coordinating all elements that gives the audience a unified effect.” Burk also mentioned that being on set is like “herding cats.” When directing a production, Burk looks for a story that holds the audience’s attention, characters that can be cared about, and an end outcome that leaves doubt with the audience until the final scene. He also seeks opportunity for all students and encourages everyone to get involved in theater. “Theater is a like a good football game with a competitive underdog, I want the audience to not know how the show will end,” Burk explained. Burk said he ended up in the director’s seat when Casper College gave him the opportunity to teach. He enjoys teaching so much that he turns down opportunities to utilize his master’s degree in acting. Burke said he prefers directing and enjoy the teaching opportunities that it offers. Not only does he enjoy directing, but he enjoys coordinating all elements. Besides the main act there is a lot of singing and dancing throughout the show. According to Burke, “The production is about imposing restrictions on kids and finding a way to connect through letting go of restrictions.” If you couldn’t attend the play, this is the story you missed out on. The Children of Eden is based off of the first nine chapters of Genesis in the Bible. The main focus of the play is on parenting and family dynamics. Burke walked the Chinook through the sequence of the play. Act 1 began with the story of Adam and Eve. The play focused on how Eve disregarded the instructions and ate the forbidden fruit. Then enter Cain and Abel and the betrayal that leaves the death of Cain at Abeles hands. The final act started with the famous Noah and The Ark story and how Abel seeks redemption for his actions. The Children of Eden production of also includes Yohan and how he was snuck onto the ark. Burke and his crew spend many hours on productions at Casper College. Be sure to attend the next show. WHAT’S UP November 2019 Casper College Events Calendar DAY/DATE TIME Fri Nov 1 Sat Nov 2 Mon Nov 4 Tues Nov 5 Wed Nov 6 Thur Nov 7 Sat Nov 9 Mon Nov 11 Tue Nov 12 Wen Nov 13 Thur Nov 14 Fri Nov 15 Sat Nov 16 Sun Nov 17 Mon Nov 18 Tue Nov 19 Wen Nov 20 Thur Nov 21 Fri Nov 22 Sat Nov 23 Sun Nov 24 Mon Nov 25 Tues Nov 26 Wen Nov 27 Thur Nov 28 Fri Nov 29 Sat Nov 30 EVENTS 9:00 AM 1:30 PM 4:00 PM 10:30 AM 7:00 PM 8:00 AM 9:00 AM 9:00 AM 6:00 PM 7:00 PM 8:00 AM 9:00 AM 9:00 AM 6:30 PM 6:30 PM 6:30 PM 9:00 AM 2:00 PM 5:00 PM 5:30 PM 7:00 PM 9:00 AM 9:00 AM 12:00 PM 3:00 PM 3:00 PM 4:00 PM 7:30 PM 8:00 AM 2:00 PM 9:00 AM 9:00 AM 9:00 AM 6:00 PM 7:00 PM 8:00 AM 8:00 AM 9:00 AM 9:00 AM 6:30 PM 8:00 PM 1:30 PM 1:30 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 5:30 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 AM 5:30 PM 8:00 AM 1:00 PM 8:00 AM 6:00 PM 7:00 PM 8::00 AM 4:00 PM 6:30 PM 6:30 PM 7:00 PM 8:30 PM 8:00 AM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 8:00 AM 6:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:30 PM 7:00 PM 8:00 AM 10:30 AM 8:00 AM 9:00 AM 6:30 PM 6:30 PM 5:30 PM 5:30 PM 5:30 PM 3:00 PM LOCATION US Commission on Civil Rights Mtg SH 217 Home Basketball Tournament TB GYM Basketball Home Opener Tailgate TB LOBBY, TB PARKING LOT Saturday Club TM 108 Home Basketball Tournament TB GYM LSO Joint Minerals Committee GW Big Horn Canyon Artists in Residence VA 104 The Viewfinder’s Journey -Kathleen Wille MU 101 MNF/Pool Night UU 301 Intramural Volleybal LH GYM LSO Joint Minerals Committee GW 225 Big Horn Canyon Artists in Residence VA 104 The Viewfinder’s Journey -Kathleen Wille MU 101 Werner Wildlife Writer’s Workshop WM WY-ECPLC UU 421 CM Meetings 2019/2020 UU 415 Big Horn Canyon Artists in Residence VA 104 Writning Center Anniversary Reception SH 215 NSLS UU 322 Studednt Senate UU 410 Intramural 3V3 Basketball LH Gym Big Horn Canyon Artists in Residence VA 104 The Viewfinder’s Journey -Kathleen Will MU 101 LDSSA Club UU 410 FAFSA Night GW 210 Speaker on Russia PS 103 Art Show: Sagebrush Sea Opens WM Bob Bowman Concert MU 105, MU 100 Prometric WY Nurse Aide Exam LH Gym Home Basketball Game TB GYM Veterans Appreciation Week Roll Call UU LAWN, UU PATIO AREA, UU FIRE PIT Big Horn Canyon Artists in Residence VA 104 The Viewfinder’s Journey -Kathleen Wille MU 101 MNF/Pool Night UU 301 Intramural Volleyball LH GYm LSO Capital Financing GW 225 WOGISA Leadership Training BU 218 Big Horn Canyon Artists in Residence VA 104 The Viewfinder’s Journey -Kathleen Wille MU 101 CM Meetings 2019/2020 UU 415 Intramural Volleyball LH GYM Private Lines Insurance Training UU100 Water Development & Select Water UU 322 Casper Mountian Ski Patrol Meeting PS 109 Intramural 3v3 Basketball LH GYM Home Basketball Tournament TB GYM Veterans Appreciation Week Speaker MU 105, MU 100 Water Development & Select Water UU 322 Home Basketball Tournament TB GYM Casper Open Volleyball Tournament LH GYM Home Basketball Tournament TB Casper Open Volleyball Tournamen LH GYM MNF/Pool Night UU 301 Intramural Volleyball LH GYM Casper Ag Expo WA 106, WA 107, WA 108, WA 101-LOBBY Alumni Christmas Tree Decorating GW 301 D.E.A.F. MU 105, MU 100 WY-ECPLC UU 421 CC Board Meeting GW 312 Intramural Volleyball LH GYM Casper Ag Expo WA106,WA107,WA108, WA 101-LOBB Intramural 3v3 Basketball LH GYM Jazz Night MU 105, MU 100 Casper Ag Expo WA 106, WA 107, WA 108, WA 101-LOBBY Thundering Through Barriers UU 301 Werner Wildlife Study Series “Painting Nature” WM CC Percussion Group Concert MU 105, MU 100 Large Ensembles Concert MU 105, MU 100 Wyoming Futsal League Games UU 301 International Survivors LH GYM Wyoming Futsal League Games LH GYM Big Horn Canyon Artists in Residence VA104 The Viewfinder’s Journey -Kathleen Wille MU 101 CM Meetings 2019/2020 UU 415 Student Senate UU 410 Home Basketball Tournament TB GYM Home Basketball Tournament TB GYM Home Basketball Tournament TB GYM Important Academic Dates November 1 Information November 22 Advising and Regis- Advising day November 7 Institutional tration Event November 2 withdrawal deadline November 27-29 Annual Instructors Clinic November 8 Fall Visit Day Check-In Thanksgiving Holiday November 4 Student Work November 14 UW Transfer Fair Casper College Student Senate Club Funding Requirements To qualify for funding you must: -Attend at least one club meeting per month -Complete one Student Activity per semester (these must be completed with Chris Stier) -Complete one Community Service Event per semester IMPORTANT: Club Meeting Dates: Meetings are on the First and Third Wednesday of the Month in the Student Senate Room (UU 412) at 5:30. Only One Per Month is Mandatory. September 4th October 2nd and 16th November 6th and 20th December 4th Those who attended the September meeting are not required to go to the December Meeting but those who did not make the September meeting need to go to the December one. Check the T.V’s for upcoming Student Senate events including Thundering Through Barriers, Elections, etc. Use the Student Senate Moodle Page!! Vote, help your club, voice concerns, voice ideas, etc.! Clubs, do you have documents to fill out? All are on the Moodle. Contact us at student.senate@caspercollege.edu �Page 4 November 1, 2019 CHINOOK Walk for Freedom NSLS 2nd annual food drive Morryah McCurdy Chinook Staff Photo Courtesy of Maddie Reed The A21 Walk for Freedom took place October 19 in Casper, organized by Casper College student, Toni Kerr, pictured above. A21's walk raised $1,236 in Casper. Join our staff this spring! Interview & write Take photos & Design Learn sales & Advertising The Chinook is a one credit class, titled Independent Publications. Contact our faculty advisor Bri Brasher for more information brianne.brasher@caspercollege,edu Roughly one in five people in Casper are food insecure and Casper College’s National Society of Leadership and Success is approaching community food insecurity by partnering with local food project, Wyoming Food for Thought throughout the month of November. NSLS is in its second year working to bring awareness about local food insecurity to the CC campus. “I think it is important to be spreading awareness, especially on campus, because young adults can make a difference. It can be a hard pill to swallow, especially for students who don’t have exposure to these sorts of hardships, but it’s a real issue,” said Rebecca Schuler, vice president of the NSLS. The NSLS brings light to low-income struggles through sensitivity. “The point of a canned food drive isn’t to judge because we all need help. I know first-hand what it’s like to depend on food donations. It can feel depressing, at least that’s how I felt when I was younger but that view only hurt me. If you need help, you need help,” said Schuler. Food insecurity impacts Natrona County heavily. Children and elderly folks are the most effected demographic. Last year, the NSLS partnered with the Campus Kitchen at CC, now the Food Recovery Network, to bring meal kits to various low-income apartment complexes in the city of Casper. By bringing attention to the underserved populations and consistently hosting food drives, students are noticing and taking part. “Last year a few classmates and I helped repackage bulk items and deliver food to some complexes in town. It was really rewarding to see relief for the people, even just talking to them for a moment,” said Keri Downes, Casper College student. The meal boxes supplied all the ingredients and a recipe card for the residents. An anonymous donor donated ground meat for each kit, so there was a full protein for 125 meal kits. Last year’s food donation supplied over 350 people with a meal. NSLS efforts from the food drive aligned with local food pantries and the many programs to help combat food insecurity, but it will never be enough. This year, the NSLS is partnering with Wyoming Food for Thought, a local food project that began over six years ago. The Wyoming Food for Thought Project is different from the pantries in Morryah McCurdy/Chinook The photo above features one of Food for Thought's free gardens, maintained by volunteers. town. First, it’s not a pantry, it’s a longterm project, and second, its intention is to break the stigma surrounding food insecurity. The hub, located in North Casper, is growing into a staple for families in Natrona County. Every week, volunteers come to pack weekend bags that are offered to students in the district. “We have the best volunteers. I am always touched by how many people want to make the Food for Thought vision happen. Last year was a big year for the Weekend Food Bag program. We gave 253,510 bags to students,” said Jamie Purcell, executive director of Wyoming Food for Thought. Wyoming Food for Thought also hosts community gardens throughout Casper. The idea is to foster an interest and educate youth on growing sustainable gardening. Purcell is especially passionate about the fresh food saying, “Gardening is how we help people get healthy food. With non-perishables as our staples, to be able to give fresh vegetables helps in every health aspect, especially young kids and elderly. We offer rentable plots, a hightunnel for year-round production, and eventually we hope to assure year-round production on a larger scale.” Wyoming Food for Thought’s website also states that the project paired with Centsible Nutrition in order to bring nutritionally well-rounded weekend bags to the kids. “The goal is to make these bags as healthy as we can, because kids need nutrients for normal growth and development, a strong immune system, energy, optimal brain function and a healthy body weight,” stated the website. The NSLS chose to volunteer for Wyoming Food for Thought this winter season because of student’s longer winter break. “This year we are trying to make a bigger impact by not putting limitations on the types of food collected. Instead of making a meal box, we are helping an established food bank with items they are in need of for the food bags,” said Schuler. The NSLS placed collection boxes around campus, and the group is in need of non-perishable, kid-friendly foods for the weekend food bags. Wyoming Food for Thought packs weekend bags every Wednesday, at 900 Saint John St. “Acting like food insecurity isn’t our problem, that it isn’t a human rights issue and keeping our heads in the sand will only make food insecurity worse, said Schuler. “I would strongly encourage students and faculty to support the National Society of Leadership and Success by donating what you can,” conveyed Schuler. Student or Instructor Turn your online struggles into answers by calling us. Students: Instructors: We make sure you are able to access online learning resources needed to learn in your classes. We will also help you learn to utilize the digital tools available to you for all your classwork. We can help make online course development easier for you as well as assist in making knowledge acquisition more efficient, effective, and appealing for your students through the best teaching practices and use of technologies. Top five examples of items we can help with: 1. How to use Moodle — including how to submit assignments, participate in forums, etc. 2. Use Google Suite — Google Docs, Drive, GMail, etc. 3. Accessing Office 365 . 4. Online tutoring — How and where to get extra help as you need it. 5. Moodle technical issues — except password changes, we don’t do that. Don’t wait! Get your questions answered now. An example of items we can help with: • Technologies that support learning objectives and classroom productivity like GoogleSuite, ProctorU, Zoom, Yuja, and other various Moodle activities and resources. • Providing a sounding board for ways to improve courses. • Sharing examples of instructional strategies used in other courses and programs. • Providing help in developing teaching strategies Plus a lot for online classes. more! • Providing a student perspective. Contact us. Teresa Pat Mike Donnie For help or more information stop by Liesinger Hall, room 132 or contact us at 307-268-3882, dlc@caspercollege.edu, and av@caspercollege.edu. Dave Camille �November 1, 2019 Ridin' to Victory Jayla Johnson Chinook Staff The Casper College Rodeo team earned numerous awards and national titles in past years and continued on similar track with success this season. Collegiate rodeo season has recently come to a close and the Casper College Thunderbirds lead many events. This season the thunderbirds placed first or second at every weekend the team competed in and plan on continuing to maintain these positions in future competition. The CC’s men’s and women’s rodeo teams both finished second in the Central Rocky Mountain region this fall. “I guarantee [CC] is going to be up there be for CNFR (College National Finals Rodeo) this year, because the top two schools go into the CNFR,” said Megan Frank, an agriculture communications major at CC and member of the University of Wyoming rodeo team. Frank also said, the Cowboys from UW and the Thunderbirds teeter back and forth for first place in the regional standings. While several misunderstandings surround rodeo, Frank defended the sport. “Our animals are really looked after. They are honestly spoiled, more spoiled than a house cat would be. They are definitely not abused or mistreated and that’s definitely something people don’t understand about rodeo,” Frank said. To get a better understanding of the rodeo sport, the Chinook asked Kellan Johnson, a psychology major at CC, what rodeo is in a nutshell. He said, “It’s the cowboy way of life. What you would read about in a book, and they say cowboys. It’s extremely hard to explain, but if you just think of the definition of a cowboy, that’s what a rodeo would be.” The average person cannot jump into rodeo and automatically show skill. Johnson said, a lot of steps and variables can go wrong very quickly if not done correctly. With these events, it’s incredibly difficult to know what will happen due to the many minds functioning in that moment: the horse, the steer/goat/bull, and the competitor. Johnson explained that mentality plays a huge role in rodeo and it’s something that takes years and years of practice before you take a serious step in the sport. “In football you can practice, you can do reps, but in rodeo if you’re practicing wrong or if you don’t have the right horse it gets hard. It’s not something you can just jump into,” Johnson said. Rodeo consists of many events, making it a very complex and intricate sport. These events include, saddle bronc, team roping, barrel racing, goat tying, breakaway roping, calf roping, steer wrestling, and bull riding. Every event has its differences, Frank said, but roping events consist of similar tactics and evaluation. Frank provided a run-down of her event, the breakaway roping: “Roping is a timed event. There are penalties, either a five second penalty or a ‘no time’. If the competitors run through the barrier, it’s a five second penalty. If they miss a [single] leg, it’s a five second penalty,” explained Frank. Page 5 CHINOOK It may seem like a simple concept to rope a calf, but as Frank described, roping is not easy. Unlike the three roping events, the bucking horse and bull riding events base scoring on both the animal and the rider. Two to three judges decide whether or not the rider or the animal did well enough for a good score, but, as Frank said, a rider cannot receive a good score if his animal did poorly. As for team roping, a team of two make up this event: a header and a heeler. If the heeler only ropes one leg, it’s a five second penalty, and if either the header or the heeler miss the steer completely it’s a “no time.” The barrel racing event has scoring based on time, with a five second penalty for knocking over a barrel. The goat tying and calf roping event does not have any penalties except for if the calf or goat gets untied it’s a “no time”. Each individual competitor receives a certain amount of points based on how well they do in their event, and in the end all individual points add together for that school and create a cumulative score. However, not all competitors contribute their points, for each competition the coach picks a “points team” to represent their school and event. This “points team” usually consists of competitors with a successful past in their event and a consistency of earning high points for the team. At the end of the day, the points from the points team create a representative number for the school’s team. Whichever team has the most points at the end of the day, wins the weekend. Frank said, “They pick a Carson Johnson ropes as the heeler for Casper College. points team [for each competition]. So the coach has to guess who is going to do good, basically. So you can have a team member go out and win the barrels but she wasn’t on the points team, so the team doesn’t get her points… but, then she’d probably get put on the points team the next weekend.” Rodeo practices allow the individual competitor to work on a specific subject of improvement. Unlike other sports, which makes the players learn a play, rodeo is an individualized sport. The way to success in competitions with your horse: make it all muscle memory, Frank said, for you and your horse. Practices for each event require hours of repetition, so it comes to fundamentally learning the sport and it comes natural to you and your horse. Preparation for events and practices comes with a little extra work for the rodeo competitors. “Working out is key. Just like any sport, you have to Photo Courtesy of Marcy Cunningham. be in the gym, you have to eat right, and then you have to have your horses in shape and they have to be healthy as well. So it’s kind of twice the amount the basketball players have to do because we have to do it for ourselves and our horses,” Frank said. According to Johnson, the most rewarding aspect about taking part in the CC rodeo team is how much the town likes and supports the rodeo team. Unlike the UW, CC does not have a football team or a division one basketball team, but the Casper community supports the rodeo team just as much as a division one team because of how successful the nationally ranked team is. Johnson, when asked how CC works to support the rodeo team, answered with the most supportive aspect: the teachers. Johnson said, “They do extremely well because, it’s not like a basketball or football game where we load on a bus for a day. We load up our trucks and trailers and drive for thirteen hours... The teachers do really well of understanding and working with [the rodeo team], so to help people succeed here the teachers have to be a big part of it, and they do an outstanding job.” Success for these cowboys and cowgirls is also credited to their families and childhood. Frank said, the rodeo team has grown up doing what they love: rodeo. Rodeo culture ultimately comes down to families, cowboy life runs in their blood, Frank said. For Casper College, the rodeo team is lucky to have an NFR, National Finals Rodeo, champion, Jhett Johnson, as their coach. He pushes his team to work their best and hardest, which leads to the many achievements for his team. Kellan Johnson, Jhett Johnson’s son, said, “It takes a good coach to see what you’re struggling in, without the com — See Rodeo, Page 8 Music making careers at Casper College Riley Box Chinook Staff Photo Courtesy of Riley Box. Dr. Joshua Mietz conducts to College Concert Band during one of the rehearsals. As students drive onto campus, the first building they usually pass is one many may never enter, the music building. The music building houses the music program and part of the fine arts portion of Casper College. Music is a big part of Casper College, offering multiple degrees in music performance and music education. Jennifer CowellDePaolo, Director of the Casper College Orchestra and head of the music department sat down with the Chinook to talk about the department. “Our enrollment is definitely on an upward trend.” Said Cowell-DePaolo. Though there are not many music majors compared to other schools, the students in the program are dedicated and the numbers continue to grow each year according to CowellDePaolo. “Students get a lot of oneon-one time with instructors,” Cowell-DePaolo said. She elaborated, stating that there are many full-time and adjunct faculty helping students and giving private lessons. With this type of environment and having teachers of multiple instruments help at the college level, Cowell-DePaolo said it allows the college and the department succeed so much more. Because of the specificity and hard work, it takes being a music student, enrollment varies each year. Dr. Joshua Mietz, Director of the concert band, jazz band, Kinser jazz festival, and woodwinds states that “there is a growth happening” with the number of students enrolled and participating in the college ensembles. Not only does the music program see music majors, but more than half of the students that walk through the doors and participate in the ensembles are not music majors. “If you look at concert band, we are about half nonmusic majors,” said Mietz. For many people, music is not going to be their career but is a strong hobby, Casper College helps kids use music to go through school and allow them to participate in some- thing they are passionate about. “It [playing an instrument] is not something you just stop doing because you graduated high school” Mietz exclaims. There are people young and old, going all the way from high schoolers to people in their 70’s in the different Casper College ensembles. Casper College allows people to keep playing and gives them an outlet when most people do not have an outlet as they get older. Along with the dedicated students and staff, one of the biggest things that helped the music program is the new music building. The music program was originally stationed across the street at Aley Hall but was moved in the last ten years to its current home. “It’s [the music building’s] been a real game changer” Cowell-DePaolo stated. Not only does it have better environments for musicians to practice, but it doesn’t have the sound issues Aley has. The crown jewel of the music building is the Wheeler Concert hall. According to Cowell-DePaolo , “It’s been a real game changer for Casper College.” With Wheeler Concert hall, it provides an extremely high-quality venue for music performances. On top of that, Wheeler Concert hall provides and hosts events for multiple clubs and organizations at Casper College and in the surrounding community. Through and through, the music department of Casper College is important. The instructors are dedicated to teaching young musicians and scholars instruments and music theory, the students are dedicating themselves to multiple lessons and ensembles a week, and the building is there to provide the educational tools needed to succeed. Music is extremely important on campus, and programs will continue to grow with more reach out from the department itself. This program welcomes all walks of life to campus and any instrument. To some, its just another building, another department, another major, but to others, it is a livelihood, passion, and support system. Casper College Testing Center Fall 2019 Hours August 19 - December 13 Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm BU 120 307-268-3850 Steps for YOU -Make an appointment to test at www.caspercollege.edu/testing-center -Bring your Student I.D. Thursday: 8:00 am - 7:00 pm -Ace Your Test! Friday: 8:00 am - 7:00 pm -Post on your fridge ****Closed Every Wednesday 3:00 - 4:00 pm & Thanksgiving: November 27th - 29th All testing must be completed by end time �Page 6 CHINOOK November 1, 2019 THE CASPER COLLEGE DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE AND DANCE PRESENTS THE 2019-2020 SEASON CHILDREN OF EDEN Directed by Richard Burk October 9-11, 16-19, 2019, 7:30 p.m. Matinée: October 20, 2019, 2 p.m. Rating: Suitable for ages 5 and up MARAT/SADE The Persecution and Assassination of Jean-Paul Marat as Performed by the Inmates of the Asylum at Charenton, Under the Direction of the Marquis de Sade Directed by William Conte December 3-7, 2019, 7:30 p.m. Matinée: December 7, 2019, 2 p.m. Rating: Suitable for ages 14 and up THE YELLOW WALLPAPER Directed by Aaron Wood February 20-22, 27-29, 2020, 7:30 p.m. Matinée: February 23 and 29, 2020, 2 p.m. Rating: Suitable for ages 10 and up NOISES OFF Directed by Richard Burk April 23-25, 29-30, May 1-2, 2020, 7:30 p.m. Matinée: April 26, 2020, 2 p.m. Rating: Suitable for ages 8 and up Tickets: 307-268-2500, 800-442-2963, ext. 2500, or caspercollegearts.cc Casper College is an equal opportunity institution and as such, does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, religion, age, veteran status, political affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law in admission or access to or treatment or employment in its educational programs or activities. Direct inquiries or complaints to Linda Toohey, associate vice president for student services at 125 College Dr, Casper, WY 82601, 307-268-2667, or linda.toohey@caspercollege.edu, or the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, 1244 Speer Blvd, Ste 310, Denver, CO 80204-3582; 303-844-5695 or TDD 303-844-3417. �November 1, 2019 Page 7 CHINOOK BOCES..................... continued from page 1 Photo Courtesy of Jayla Johnson Corin Carruth goes to class in Casper College's Wold Physical Science Center this fall. Student Status Chinook talked to one of Casper College’s BOCES students, Corin Carruth who attends Kelly Walsh High School in Casper, Wyo. and plans on using her coursework from CC to jump start her University of Wyoming education. Carruth is a three sport, all-state athlete, and she committed to the University of Wyoming’s volleyball team last April. She said taking courses through BOCES will contribute to her future as a Cowboy by making it easy to transfer credits to UW and getting some first-year courses out of the way. Carruth heard about BOCES through a friend who took courses through Casper College the year before and enjoyed the experience. Her math teacher had also encouraged her to take a BOCES math course because her intended elementary education major doesn’t require the next high school class. Carruth is taking a math class through the BOCES program this semester and drives to CC’s campus four days a week. At first, entering college territory made Carruth nervous but she found no issues after the first day. Now, Carruth succeeds in her college class and enjoys her time there. “The first day I was really nervous, but after the first day I was like, ‘Oh, this is going to be good’,” said Carruth. When asked how her course compares to high school classes she mentioned she finds college classes much easier because the work seems simpler and it’s easier to turn in the work due to class flexibility. According to Carruth, “I like how adjustable the program is and how both the high school and the BOCES counselors work the courses around the students' schedules.” Carruth sat down with the BOCES counselor, Jeana LamPickett and worked out the best time for her to take a class to ensure no future conflicts. Sure enough, Carruth has found no issues with her class and high school schedule. Carruth has nearly 30 students in her college course, which, she said, makes it feel like a regular high school class. She did find it unusual to have students in her class nearly 10 years older than her, but Carruth found no problem talking with her classmates and getting acquainted. Carruth has also built a strong, friendly relationship with her professor who understands her schedule with sports and other high school related activities. When asked why she didn’t take an online course, Carruth said, “If I did the class online I wouldn’t be getting the same learning, because I learn visually.” Taking BOCES courses will also make planning Carruth’s classes at UW easier to schedule by getting some general education courses out of the way. By the end of the semester Carruth will have a total of seven credits to transfer over to the University of Wyoming. Carruth said, “It’s just a wonderful opportunity for high school students, and I highly recommend taking courses through this program.” like that,” Lam-Pickett stated. BOCES students have nearly 200 college courses to choose from; however, BOCES will not provide tuition for 900 and below level courses, Physical Education courses, or music courses. BOCES allows high school juniors and seniors to take two courses each semester and one in the summer, while freshmen and sophomores only receive one BOCES class each semester including the summer. It’s considered difficult for students under the age of 16 to take BOCES dual enrollment classes because they must have an age waiver signed and instructor permission for enrollment in a class. Schell mentioned, juniors, considered the most important year of high school education, usually don’t think about earning college credits until after they take the ACT. Many high school students aware of BOCES but not enrolled in the program find the idea of college classes scary and alarming. When asked why some students don’t want to take BOCES classes Schell said, “I think it can be intimidating to think about going to college… I don’t think the courses are more difficult than [high school classes] necessarily, but I think fear is a big part of it, or doubt that they can do it or maybe they feel they have no interest in college. I think a lot of students don’t think far enough ahead.” The biggest concern Schell has about BOCES is the credit system. If by the end of the year a student falls short of the required credits, the counselors don’t know until shortly before graduation, if the student’s BOCES class counts or doesn’t count. Moreover, if a student takes a BOCES class but doesn’t pass, that credit does not count and the student does not get the credit toward graduation. Schell said of the concern, “Just the unknown if they’re going to earn their credits, and we don’t have any control over that and that’s scary.” Lam-Pickett mentioned that the issues she sees mostly deal with a student’s behavior. However, college professors and administrators deal with these misbehaviors leaving high school principals without knowledge of the occurrence. College courses require self-motivation and self discipline, which, according to Schell, many students have yet to figure out. Additionally, online courses prove difficult for some high school students because monitors aren’t present and no in-person instructors are there to help explain things or remind them to turn in work. On the other hand, on campus courses require students to show up and maturely focus on class material. For younger students, conflict may occur considering they do not have a license or car to get them to class on their own. Although BOCES accommodates students who would like to receive part of their Associate’s degree, it’s not encouraged for students to earn the degree in its entirety. It’s considered difficult to graduate high school with your associates at the same time, and the BOCES program is not set up to do this. However, it’s been done in the past. LamPickett said BOCES doesn’t encourage students to earn the whole degree but instead to “take some classes, get some credits, and get the experience.” “I talked to [a student] after she graduated from high school last spring and she got her Associate’s degree then in the summer and she said her advice would be, ‘Don’t do it’, because you miss a lot of social things at high school and you can’t do extracurricular activities,” Lam-Pickett told Chinook. Over the past six years, it’s been found more difficult to earn college credits for advancement of an Associate’s degree. In 2014-2015, the policy for dual credit courses changed causing a decrease in dual credit students. That same year, the Higher Learning Commission, altered the concurrent classes available, making concurrent student enrollment plummet. Now, Schell said he hasn’t even been given a list of the new concurrent classes and he’s unaware of most of these classes offered. In 2018, a total of 558 students enrolled in concurrent classes and 377 students in dual credit courses. Due to the dual credit policy change and the HLC removing most concurrent courses, the number of BOCES students dropped. Despite a drop in numbers, the program provides a great opportunity for college bound students, so college and high school counselors continue to reach out to students and parents. Schell said, “We try and advertise it to get more students to take BOCES classes; I think it’s great for academic progress and just life experience in general.” Kelly Walsh High School spreads the word about BOCES by hanging flyers and sitting down one-on-one with students and talk about BOCES individually. The counseling team will also make classroom visits throughout the school year to encourage and spread the word. If a student takes a class at the high school that’s also available at Casper College for free college credit, counselors will reach out to parents and inform them about the opportunity to earn college credit for free. Furthermore, the Kelly Walsh counseling team goes to the local junior high schools and talks to the incoming freshmen about BOCES and explain everything about it while also sending information sheets home with the incoming students to inform their parents about it as well. “My biggest goal is to just put that information out there so they know it’s there and that it’s their option because it’s good for some students and not good for others, so the best I can, I work with the high schools and the high school counseling department to let them know what’s going on [at Casper College] and what’s available,” Lam-Pickett stated. BOCES students find success while taking classes-for this year the pass rate for concurrent students stands at 94.94% and for dual students at 84.3%, according to statistics provided by Lam-Pickett. Most BOCES who find independence and success while taking BOCES courses continue on to continue college education, but NCSD would like more students to utilize BOCES so the program doesn’t go away. Schell stated, he’d hate to see the program go away if numbers drop too low. “I think BOCES is amazing because it gives, for a few reasons, students a snapshot of what college life is like. It gets them more independent and gives them that taste of college to see if maybe they want to take college maybe they don’t… It’s free; anytime you get things for free in this world it’s a pretty good deal.” Schell said. https://www.caspercollege.edu/chinook/ �Page 8 November 1, 2019 CHINOOK Fernelius follows passion to CC Morryah McCurdy Chinook Staff In a quaint office, Eric Fernelius sits grading papers and uploading content for his students. Fernelius is new to the digital learning platform, and there is a steep learning curve to teaching online. Steep learning curve describes many of Fernelius’s endeavors- in life and professionally. Grim circumstances paved his path and lit his fire for addictionology. Helping others overcome chemical dependence has become Fernelius’s life work. Fernelius is CC’s new Addiction Studies Instructor, but he is not new to being at the podium. He’s coming prepared with 25 years of thorough experience. “25 years ago, I embarked on my own recovery journey- it was a necessity, I was killing myself- but the reward has been worth all the pain,” Eric said, looking back on his early sobriety. 25-years-ago, a mentor of sorts saw the pain Fernelius was carrying and offered a hand. Carol Ekstrom, then director of New Horizons, a counseling center, led Fernelius on his most daunting exploration - an exploration of himself. “Everything was eye-opening in the recovery process,” Fernelius remembered. “I discovered I had to be honest with myself and others. I came to understand that the world didn’t revolve around me, and that I need to be a part of the world.” Fernelius continued recalling his own experience, as he embarked on a hard journey back to himself. “In early sobriety, remembering your way back to yourself can be the hardest part. Taking a hard look at yourself and your part in your suffering hurts. Looking at all the people hurt along the way, taking responsibility, and learning how to cope with emotions becomes the most necessary foundation for long term sobriety,” said Fernelius. Once Fernelius had a sturdy foundation in recovery, he knew he needed to find a job that would challenge him and take him out of his comfort zone. Fernelius applied for a job at Central Wyoming Counseling Center to work in administration, but he had no experience. “I made a jump [to apply]. I was coming from a music background, working at the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps. I decided the worst thing they could say was ‘no’ but I also knew this could be my opportunity to turn my liabilities into assets, Fernelius said. “I told the interviewer ‘no, I don’t have experience, but I can learn.’ I left that interview with this overwhelming feeling that I had gotten the job and I did.” Through working with residents and therapists at CWCC Fernelius sought to work in the same field that dealt in severe persistent mental illness and addiction. The job was different from anything of Fernelius’s past work and more challenging at that, but it led him to his next movepursuing his master’s degree at UW/ CC. Fernelius’s first round in college as a young adult was less than spectacular. He struggled through his personal demons. He never finished his first attempt, but he caught fire coming back clean and ready. Graduating with his master’s degree in social work, Fernelius began to practice in Casper, first privately. In private practice, Fernelius found a passion transitioning inmates into civilian life. After five years, Fernelius moved to his next position, with the Natrona County Drug Court program. Drug Courts are programs across the nation that help rehabilitate first time and repeat offenders with a focus on drug and alcohol treatment, according to Fernelius. Again, there could not have been a better position for Fernelius given his background and personal experience. In this position, teamwork and continuing education kept Fernelius on his feet. Everyday brought a new set of challenges to overcome, but Fernelius persevered. He eventually became the Natrona County Drug Court supervisor, overseeing the program, staff, and clients but something was missing for Fernelius. “I always knew I wanted to teach. Honestly, I thought I may have looked into teaching next year, but the opportunity arose. Diane QuealyBerg was retiring from her position as the addictions instructor and came to me and told me to apply. Again, in the interview process it was a feeling I got- I knew I was going to get this position and live out a life-long dream of mine,” said Fernelius. CC is fortunate in its recruitment of knowledgeable staff for its social and behavioral sciences departments. Each instructor comes with immense experience that polished them to teach and inspire students. Fernelius may be new among the staff, but he is not lacking. Although his life work became grounded in his passion for recovery and teaching, Fernelius has a first love: music. Fernelius’s initial journey in education started in music. Many years before pursuing his master’s, New Exhibit at the Tate Morryah McCurdy/Chinook New Casper College faculty member Eric Fernelius sits at his desk, as he learns to navigate teaching in the digital environment. Fernelius attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. Even to this day, music remains an important part of his life, and he still has a knack for picking up musical arrangements without seeing the sheet music. He even arranges his own pieces when he feels inspired. One of the most impressive aspects of Fernelius, aside from his candor, is his humility. Sitting at his desk, he maintains that his life isn’t that special, but most would argue the opposite. Throughout his story, a common thread holds the pieces together: determination. His story is not unlike many of our own, and how he turned his circumstances into opportunity is inspiring. His evolution into the person at the podium today was hard fought through years of experience and accumulated knowledge. He sees the potential in his students and their calling to help others. He sees the similarities in their stories and serves as an example of the possibilities when you work hard for your ‘why.’ Fernelius’s life is a carefully collected mass of steep learning curves that have afforded him the wisdom necessary to instill knowledge and ‘why’s’ into his students. He reminds us, “As you are trying to figure out your ‘why’ stay true to yourself.” UW........................ continued from page 1 and the outcomes of student development, and creating a system to proctor online exams reliably. The tuition revenue generated from online enrollments has been split between the university and the community colleges, the majority of which will now go to the colleges and their departments. This allows the colleges to hire and train online instructors and teaching assistants, as well as funding the ability of colleges to develop new online courses and programs. Falon Cole, an online student with UW Casper and a Casper resident who is working on obtaining her bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership, believed that online education would benefit Wyoming residents across the state. “I think it would be good for the state to have more people be educated, especially since Ishamel Bujosa-Perin Chinook Staff On October 24th, the Tate Geological Museum revealed a new exhibit. They revealed is the skull of a Torosaurus. The torosaurus is the cousin of the triceratops and is said to be 65 million years old! The only way to tell them apart is the holes that the torosaurus has in its frill. The torosaurus is in fact native to Wyoming and was found in Natrona County by Kent Sundall on a geology field trip. He found the left half of the skull eroding from a hillside. The first bone was found back in 2010 and the last in August 2013. Shortly after it’s finding Andrew Forke a scientist from California who studied the fossils and the difference between the torosaurus and its cousin the triceratops. J.P. Civigalli attended the trip. He said, “After 7 days we had a plaster jacket full of bones." After the bones were found they went through a mandatory process called sandblasting. Liane Herring, a retired music teacher who volunteers fossil prep and expert sandblaster told me “I spent just under 2000 hours on the bones for the new exhibit.” I also asked her how she got interested into fossils and she replied: “After taking a paleontology class through the OLLI program I was brought into the lab and learned the tools. From then on I knew I wanted to volunteer here.” Herring also mentioned that her favorite part about volunteering “I enjoy digging a mess of bone and creating a specimen, I also like the people I volunteer with.” Be on the lookout, as the Tate is hoping to bring a full triceratops exhibit in the near future. Also, if any students are interested in paleontology and would like to learn or volunteer, contact the museum. they have a lot of agricultural degrees that would probably help our economy and to be able to have educated people in those fields,” Cole commented. “Also getting into other interests and stuff outside of oilfield work in order to bring in more revenue for Wyoming outside of that business.” As for the overall future of the University of Wyoming - Casper, Dr. Pickett is optimistic. He emphasized several moves to create new degree programs and predicted growth in enrollment at the University of Wyoming - Casper in the coming years. “I’m not in a position to announce anything yet, but we have some really productive discussions going about some good opportunities for us,” said Pickett. “We’re moving.” RODEO................ continued from page 5 petitor realizing it, and pushing you to work on it and then it takes a good coach to tell you ‘hey you’re good enough don’t worry about it. Just keep working on what you’re doing.’” At the end of the season, both the men’s and women’s team finished second just behind the UW cowboys. As far as individual standings go, CC finishes with K’s Thompson in second for the all-around, first in the saddle bronc riding, and fourth in bull riding, Kellan and Carson Johnson in first for team roping, Braeden Pirrung in second for header team roping, Tanner McInerney in second for heeler team roping, Bryan Lemmon in third for heeler team roping, Jenna Hoffman and Makenna Balkenbush tied for fourth in the barrel racing, and Kaelie Oliver tied for sixth in the breakaway roping. According to Johnson, the team would love to go to the CNFR and win the nation as a team. This goal next year is to reach number one; more- over, having the ability to win nationals in the team’s hometown, around familiar faces, is an experience Casper College rodeo would appreciate and have incredible pride in achieving. Nonetheless, the team finished well this season. “The kids that rodeo, those are the people that go on in life and they do things. They go out and they work. I want readers to know that we appreciate their support because a lot of these kids will go on in life and be very successful people,” Johnson said. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Chinook Student Newspaper Online Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/</a> Date Created Date of creation of the resource. 2019-2026 Type The nature or genre of the resource Text; image Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Casper College Chinook Student Staff Language A language of the resource ENG Is Part Of A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included. Chinook Student Newspaper, CCA 08.i.2023.01 WyCaC US. Casper College Archives and Special Collections. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context CCA 08.iii.2023.01_Chinook_Digital Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Online Chinook Newspaper 2019-11 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/</a> Date Created Date of creation of the resource. 2019-11 Description An account of the resource This is a copy of the online Chinook Newspaper from November 2019 Type The nature or genre of the resource Text; image Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Casper College Chinook Student Staff Language A language of the resource ENG Is Part Of A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included. Chinook Student Newspaper, CCA 08.i.2023.01 WyCaC US. Casper College Archives and Special Collections. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context CCA_08.i.2023.01_2019-11 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF