https://caspercollege.cvlcollections.org/files/original/2134d04238fba181a8a8b5fb1b792b21.pdf 6ef7431f24c889af3291c083ad55d8bf PDF Text Text October 1, 2020 Casper College’s Student Voice Since 1945 Find us online! Fun with furry friends Kelsey Herman/Chinook Dog owners and their canine companions gathered outside the Union Building for Second Annual Casper College Dog Trek on Sept. 12. Both soccer programs official at CC Toni Kerr Chinook Writer Photos courtesy of Cory Garvin Ben McArthur (left) is the head coach of the men's soccer team at Casper College. Ammon Bennett (right) is the head coach of the women's soccer team. Both are wokring to get the new programs up ready and on the field this spring. Perhaps the newest thing to happen to Casper College this school year was welcoming a new soccer program. CC now has both men’s and women’s competitive soccer teams that will begin competing in the spring semester. “We knew that when Casper College was starting a soccer program, we were going to have the resources and the support needed from the administration to be successful,” says Ben McArthur, head coach for the men’s soccer team at Casper College. The head coach for the women’s soccer team is Ammon Bennett who comes from a long background of soccer with over 20 years of collegiate coaching experience. Prior to his role at CC, Bennett coached at Utah State University. “I’ve coached men’s and women’s. This is only the second season in all of those years that I’m only coaching one team,” stated Bennett. “When I came up to Casper for my interview I drove around the town, saw the size (of Casper), and everything. I just thought this was a really good fit where we (the team) could have some good success.” Sydney Hiatt, a defensive freshman from Heber City, Utah said she’s been playing soccer for as long as she can remember. “I wasn’t even a student here when I came and toured, and it (the campus) already felt like a place you’d feel at home,” said Hiatt. She then added, “We’ve got a pretty big team and I just want to get to know everybody and grow the family atmosphere.” The head coach for the men’s soccer team in Ben McArthur. Coach McArthur is preparing for his ninth season as a college coach after previously coaching in Iowa. “We don’t want to have any growing years. We want to compete right away -- win as many games as possible,” said McArthur. “We also want to have good student athletes, we want good grades, we want guys that do community service. We want to make sure student athletes here feel like they’re being developed.” McArthur discussed that the goals for the fall mainly revolve around development and knowing which guys will go where. “My goal for the season is to win a championship,” says Joel Opoku, a defensive freshman from Ontario, Canada. The teams will be participating in soccer scrimmages locally on October 3rd, starting at 9 a.m. Both scrimmages will take place at the North Casper Soccer Complex. Fans can also watch online on the CC Athletics Youtube channel, according to the Casper College website. Nelson leads Paralegal Studies Program Rhonda Arlene Chinook Writer According to Amanda Nelson’s husband, she thrives in chaos. As the mother of four with a husband whose job has him on the road more than he is home, and as Program Director for the Casper College Paralegal Program, thriving in chaos is a good thing. The Paralegal Studies Program at CC prepares paralegals for these and many other challenges facing legal professionals today. With only two schools in Wyoming offering paralegal studies, online studies have become an important focus in order to reach the many rural towns across the state. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the online learning transition accelerated, which benefits CC’s program. Online access to paralegal studies allows smaller law offices to hire trained, competent, and knowledgeable staff. Nelson, who first became a paralegal in 2005, looks to the future of the legal system and hopes to have a positive impact on changes that she believes are necessary. She specifically would like to see quality legal services accessible to all in need. “In the past, paralegals weren’t utilized well in local law offices and were treated more as legal secretaries. The new generation of legal professionals are seeing the value and the importance of skilled paralegals within their teams, so it’s an exciting time to be entering this profession,” said Nelson. Skilled paralegals are in demand nationwide. Paralegal graduates can work in any area of the law, including criminal, corporate, oil and gas, immigration, employment, bankruptcy, and many more. Through the Casper College Paralegal Studies program, graduates develop the knowledge and skills to help change the legal system. CC offers two options for students inter- ested in paralegal studies: an Associate of Arts – Paralegal, and a Post Baccalaureate Certificate. Each program develops a knowledge base of legal proceedings, and includes trial preparation, draft pleadings, a base foundation for civil procedures, courts, and evidence handling. Internships are strongly encouraged and available to all students. A legal advisory committee oversees the paralegal studies program and assists with job placement after the completion of the program. CC paralegal studies graduates are encouraged to take the Certified Paralegal Exam. This exam is offered through the Casper College Testing Center and is nationally recognized. Students in the program learn from Nelson and her fifteen years of experience working in the field. Nelson witnessed many changes to the legal system during that time, the most dramatic of which is the effect of social media on the outcome of court cases. “When I first started in 2005, social media wasn’t a huge component. Now, when you have a divorce or custody battle, all posted items are admissible in court,” said Nelson. “I don’t think many people realize that. It blows my mind as to what some people decide to post or comment on while in an emotional state. Once posted, it’s admissible in court; it’s not an invasion of privacy. And it has impacted judge’s decisions and opinions, and has changed the face of trials in the courtroom.” Nelson also advises that social media postings are not only used in the courtroom, but also in job interviews. She knows of attorneys who hand paralegal interviewees a laptop and request they log into their social media sites on the spot for review, prior to extending a job offer. Such practice means paralegals entering the profession today not only need to know the ins — See Nelson Page 3 Photos courtesy of Amanda Nelson Amanda Nelson poses for a photo. Nelson recently received a prestigious national award. Read more about the paralegal studies instructor's accomplishments on page 3. �Page 2 October 1, 2020 CHINOOK Chinook Stance Divine's Intervention: --- Meet the staff --Maddie Strayer Watch what happens “ Toni Kerr Talks with Toni Welcome Back! Although Casper College has a beautiful campus, it does not come fully alive until it is full of students. I hope the beginning of the semester has gone well for everyone and that you are settling in nicely. Our staff worked tirelessly all summer to be able and ready to welcome everyone back. Of course, this year is a little different. The current COVID pandemic has meant some changes to our daily routines. Gone are the large gatherings and communal spaces, and in their place are face coverings, hand sanitizer, and social On the record with Rhonda Rachelle Trujillo College campus. Please do not be surprised if you are not wearing your face covering, when one of our staff members politely asks you to put one on. I truly hope your college experience has gotten off to a strong and satisfying beginning. Please understand that our staff stands ready to assist you in achieving your dreams. Thus, if you need assistance of any sort, please do not hesitate to reach out! Darren stands ready to assist you in achieving your dreams. Thus, if you need assistance of any sort, please do not hesitate to reach out! Darren "Although not the circumstances everyone would prefer, if the choices are these few precautions versus having to complete everything remote, then I think most people are willing to put up with the temporary changes." — Darren divine, Ph.D., Casper College President Managing external voices Rachelle Trujillo Rhonda Arlene distancing. Although not the circumstances everyone would prefer, if the choices are these few precautions versus having to complete everything remote, then I think most people are willing to put up with the temporary changes. While I am happy to report that the face covering rule is being followed in classrooms, I am disappointed to hear reports of students not wearing masks in common areas and other indoor spaces. I must remind everyone that the current operating rule is that face coverings must be worn in all indoor public areas on the Casper Rachelle's Reflections College is a time of self discovery -- a period in which some of the most important decisions and interactions of our lives take place. Even the most confident and certain of us find ourselves at one point or another questioning the path we’re on or the people we’re with, so we rely on the insight of others. Many of us are being directed and counseled by professors, parents, friends, and partners, and when those opinions contradict or oppose our own, it can lead us to further question ourselves. Simply put, the advice of others can often fog our own lenses, even if we know what it is we want out of our lives. I feel many of us Gen Zers grew up being told that we can and should do anything we want to do. We’re instructed to decide what it is that we can contribute to the world and go after it. But now that we’re grown up, those same voices are telling us to pick the career that pays the most, marry well, and make a name of yourself. Suddenly, it seems like what we should go after has more to do with society’s expectations of us and less of what we truly want. It’s hard to know what we’re supposed to do, and I don’t think we’re supposed to know yet. I think the opinions of most people must be taken with a grain of salt while simultaneously giving ourselves the permission to not know what it is exactly that we have to offer the world. We don’t know where we’re going or who we’ll become, so we have to trust ourselves to make the decisions that seem the most likely to take us closer to our goals, even if those decisions don’t produce the outcome we had expected or hoped for. This is a time to make mistakes. Make them of your own accord, and no one else’s. Nobody understands your goals and intentions better than yourself. Likewise, nobody can get you there except for you. Ask for help when you need it, but give yourself permission to follow your instinct and learn from the process. In the end, the only voice that matters is your own. Back to school barbecue! Rachelle's Reflections Kelsey Herman Kickin' it with Kels Rebekah Sechrist is also on staff this fall! Kelsey Herman/Chinook Students, faculty, and staff gathered for a back to school barbecue outside the union building on Aug. 28. �October 1, 2020 Page 3 CHINOOK NELSON.......................................................................................... continued from page 1 and outs of the legal system, but they also need to be savvy in social media as well, or at least know the potential consequences of online posting habits. Nelson also spoke of another change brought on by COVID-19. The pandemic not only impacted the education system, but also the legal system. Courts are now offering online hearings, which keeps costs down and helps with the challenge of travel for witnesses. Winters in Wyoming are unpredictable at best, with roads becoming impassable in the blink of an eye, potentially leaving court proceedings at a stand-still. “If your witness can’t make it to court because a road is closed, what do you do?” Nelson questioned. The travel delays can often disrupt court proceedings and can potentially impact the outcome. The flexibility of online hearings alleviates the travel burden and lessens the overall cost of court cases. No matter the changes in the paralegal field and in the paralegal studies program at CC, Nelson tackles the chaos. With a master’s degree in distance learning and an advanced certified paralegal designation, Nelson is fit to train and leadparalegals for an exciting career path. The National Association of Legal Assistants recently awarded Amanda Nelson the 2020 CP Champion Award. Nelson said this is the first award of its kind, and the national award is only given to one recipient. She explained that the CP Champion Award is awarded to 'champions' of those promoting and encouraging the profession, education and certification of paralegals. Photo courtesy of Amanda Nelson Amanda Nelson shared her favorite family photo. Pictured here are Nelson's husband Eric, her sons Lucas, Nicholas, and Oliver, and her daughter, Norah. Olson's “unraveling” Julia Nielsen Chinook Contributor The Goodstein Art Gallery fall kickoff introduced Amber Battista Olson as the first featured artist of the season on Sept. 10th in Wheeler Hall in the Casper College music building. Olson planned her artist talk for last spring, but a traumatic car accident caused her to postpone. She mentioned in her talk that her accident was a catalyst for her artistic choices and their meaning. The piece Olson featured is titled “unraveling,” and was located in the Visual Arts Building for viewing earlier this year. Valerie Innella, the Goodstein Art Gallery director and also an art history professor at CC, introduced Olson to the stage in September. Olson’s “unraveling” is comprised of different materials and artistic forms that each have their own individual meaning regarding Olson’s life experiences, artistic influences, and her accident. The car accident occurred in 2018. Olson experienced a bad head injury.During her healing process, Olson found herself constantly fatigued with no energy, a feeling she said proved extremely difficult for her. However, Olson shared that her brush with mortality allowed her to convey her healing process and concepts of vulnerability/safety through her art. “I tend to gravitate towards a more austere, simple form. I like to incorporate the feeling of gesture and movement with my pottery. I don’t shy away from imperfections or things that are not perfect,” said Olson. “The austerity of my work is broken by the human touch. I am interested in the soft marks made by the human hand. I focus on process and expression, integrating gesture and movement. I am inspired by forms in nature, and the female body – perfect and imperfect all at once.” Unraveling consists of seven individually knitted nets hanging from the ceiling at different heights that each hold a vessel with an ocean-blue glaze. Underneath the nets, broken glass lies chaotically on top of a mound of salt and gauze. Olson said she chose the knitted fiber so that it would cradle her vessels with strength but also to offer a softness. She had to disentangle the threads of her knitted fabric to create them, an unraveling in and of itself. The bowls in this grouping represent strength and family, which Olson explained held her up during her healing pro- cess. She chose the ocean blue glaze to represent healing and a sense of calm, as well as self-expression. The broken glass represents the accident and “the beautiful inevitability of change,” said Olson. The salt and the gauze are also representative of healing and the countless Epsom salt baths Olson said she endured. “Amber’s piece conveys the healing process with a contrast of soft and hard elements with the crocheted fish nets hanging from the ceiling, which hold her delicate pottery from breaking and joining the mound of broken glass and corrosive salt on the floor, which represent her wounds,” said Innella. Olson’s artistic aesthetics developed after taking scuba diving classes as a young teenager with her father. Scuba diving introduced her to shades of calming ocean water blues, sea creatures, and an affinity for all that Mother Nature offers. Amber attended college at Tulane University in New Orleans, La. as a studio art and painting major. During this time, Olson said she surprised herself by falling in love with ceramics and pottery grouping techniques that resulted in her changing her major to ceramics. She began using a tranquil color palette, inspired by the colors of the ocean. Witnessing the birth of her nephew inspired Olson to study the female form and the gestation process, as well as asymmetrical/organic forms. She emphasized that she relates her artistic journey and healing to a gestation process. “I allowed my ideas, so many of them, to gestate in my heart and mind before bringing them into the concrete world,” wrote Olson in an artist statement. Her inspirations for “unraveling” included a series of artists. Lucie Rie inspired Olson because her vessels weren’t symmetrical and had an organic rim shape that looked like Julia Nielsen/Chinook Contributor they were connected to human Amber Battista Olson's work titled, "Unraveling," was hands. featured in the Visual Arts Building. “Clay has a memory, it will capture a memory of human touch if you want it to,” said love for tranquil color palettes. tuous shapes that mimicked African ritual objects moved the female form, as well as Olson. Gwyn Hanssen Pigott her because they included earthy, magnetic, and velvet inspired Olson because she natural materials consisting of textures…” said Olson. Olson’s main goal of provided intriguing meth- bone, wood, and leather, which ods of pottery grouping and provided an overlap of artis- “unraveling” involves telling a tranquil color palette. Eva tic craft and nature. Rebecca a story of healing through Hesse, inspired because her Hutchinson inspired Olson to human touch and connection post minimalist work incorpo- learn how to knit so she could in the most natural and beautirated unconventional materials incorporate twine and other ful ways possible. The piece is an accumulation of Olson’s such as latex and plastic, which natural fibers into her art. Another influence of hers artistic style and inspirations were man-made but presented as natural and translucent, said was Magdalene Odundo, a combined with her life expeOlson. Ancient Song Dynasty studio potter whose pottery riences and healing process pottery also stimulated her presented “beautiful, volup- from the accident. CC alum makes metal moves Rebekah Sechrist Chinook Writer As the fall season opens and closes, former Casper College student Betsy Bower closed her exhibition "Dreams" at The Nicolaysen Art Museum and opened a showcase at ART 321 in Casper. Upon walking into the main gallery at the The Nic, visitors entered a space with lights turned low and the mood cast upon a space doppled with metal sculptures and illuminated by color-shifting lighting elements. The wall near the entrance featured vinyl lettering with the artist’s name and show title, Dreams. Beneath the title sat a small table with sticky notes and pencil. Notes with other visitor’s dreams written on them were on the wall below the vinyl lettering inviting visitors to add to the collaborative dream wall. In the center of the room stood a metal framework tetrahedron. From the top center of the tetrahedron pyramid, light showers slowly shifted color onto a small pillow seat. Next to the seat sat a small MP3 player and earbuds. The tetrahedron was meant for one person to sit on the pillow under the light and enjoy the music, which created a completely immersive experience for the user to sit and enjoy. Sculptures throughout the gallery glowed as the color of the lights changed Rebekah Sechrist/Chinook from blue, to green, from gold to orange, Betsy Bower's exhibition, titled "Dreams," featured and from red to purple. A large metal crow scultpures like the crow pictured above. The crow's with outstretched wings appeared about feathers changed from gold to red. ready to take flight as its feathers changed from gold to red. The shadows cast by the sculptures further transformed the space and allowed for an experience rather than a viewing. When interviewed, the artist elaborated on her show. “My biggest goal with that show was to get people who aren’t into art into art,” Bower shared of her work. She believes Dreams achieved this goal through lighting, interactive elements, and the transformation of the space. She said of her show that “It was unexpected. It was metal. It was different. It turned off the lights. It gave different perspectives of what art could be.” Dreams closed at the beginning of September, so Bower began her collaborative showcase and artists talk at Casper’s Artist’s Guild, ART 321 on Sept. 12th. This event showcases a handful of Bower’s metal sculptures, which were also featured in Dreams. Along with other artists RUGIE, Connie Morgan, James Bardgett, and Pnut, Bower spoke about being a Wyoming artist and her take on the documentary “Make Art Wyoming.” The documentary is about Wyoming artists , specifically regarding how these aspiring talents manage making a living creating art and how much of an impact artists can have on art culture in small town Casper, Wyo. Speaking of working in Casper, Betsy said that being a part of a small artist community like Casper is rewarding and provides balance. “I want balance in my life. I am learning to find balance and the joy in the little things,” said Bower. She went on to laugh jokingly equating Casper to those little things. Bower started working with metal at age 11 in her father’s metal shop. When asked about her beginning, a dreamy look entered her eyes as she reminisced. “I remember going in [to the shop] and smelling the metallic dust,” said Bower. Her father’s shop was called Bower’s Welding and Ornamental Iron. Although she was inspired by her father, she said “I wanted to do something more artistic and natural. I wanted to show a new way of seeing things.” When asked why 3D, Bower said “I think in 3D. Flat surfaces make me want to know what’s on the other side of it. 3D Makes something feel more real.” As a working professional artist, one of her biggest inspirations was her friend and fellow artist the late Shawn Rivett. She said of her friend that “He could sniff out talent and pull it out of [people]. She went on to say “He evoked that from me and that helped me get to a new level in my art.” Art to her is therapy. She said “Art to me today is transmuting my feelings, pain, suffering, into something beautiful. Art is about putting feelings and emotions into solid form to inspire inspiration.” Bower is a master of metalworks. She left her mark on Casper with iconic works like the Mustang Metal sculpture at NC built entirely of musical instruments and the sculpture of a steel elk skull that stands in the entryway of the Casper Elks Lodge. Click here to see a timelapse of Bower creating the iconic elk skull. https://youtu.be/mUrrnqJQSTQ �October 1, 2020 CHINOOK A hidden gem at Casper College Lauren Tyson Chinook Contributor Among the many organizations and clubs at Casper College, the GeoScience Club stands out to Beth Wisely, club sponsor and earth science instructor, because the club allows members of all ages to get out of their daily routine and join a variety of unique experiences through field trips, events, and other outdoor adventures. The GeoScience club, formally known as the Geology Club, doesn’t revolve around classes at CC, so it doesn’t matter if members have any degree or background in geology. Wisely explained that the club is a unique and special way for students, faculty, and community members with shared passions and common interests to gather and do social things regardless of skill level. With the abundance of undiscovered artifacts, members have a chance to find their own treasures of hidden gems and fossils. “What I’ve found in geology is that it really draws a collective group of people from all walks of life because everybody can relate to the Earth. Everybody’s picked up a pretty rock and everybody’s gone on a cool hike. It is something that everybody can relate to across ages, gender, race, money. It is something that everyone has in common,” Wisely said. Wyoming is known for having a rich geological and paleontological heritage making the state one of the top places to study. At CC, the GeoScience club takes advantage of the many geological formations available right in Wyomingites’ backyard. Members can study formations dating back to the Pre-Cambrian era all the way to present day without leaving the cowboy state. The club's weekend field trips allow people to collect fossils and gems, snowshoe, hike, and go caving. The club also gives members the opportunity to explore the geoscience fields and learn through hands-on activities. Zachary Tenney, current club treasurer and longtime member, shared his most memorable experience with the club. “The caving trip was so much fun! That was something I never gotten to try out before because you need the equipment and you need to know somebody to do it. The club is one way you can get into caving or try other different experiences,” Tenney said. Another member, Alex Henry, an active club member since 2016, said she believes the GeoScience club is a way for different science majors -- from environmental, Earth science, geology, and paleontology -- to share their love of the field with others. She said she sees the club as an opportunity to try new things while having other experts and specialists there to help guide and teach members. From Henry’s very first trip, every experience with the GeoScience club provided something special. Even as a new student on campus, Henry said members welcomed her with open arms, and senior members eagerly shared information and their knowledge of the topics to help guide her. Henry said that her most memorable moment while in the club occurred in 2017. “With this club you can meet a lot of cool people, like when the eclipse happened, Harrison ‘Jack’ Schmitt, the only geologist to walk on the Photo courtesy of Dillon Osborne Members of the GeoScience Club are featured on a field trip. Pictured here (from left to right): Colter Reed, Terra Hess, Mike Carter, Alex Henry, and Clay Lorass. moon came. Students and members got to meet him,” Henry shared. “It was a really cool experience. It was truly worthwhile. It's not every day you get to say that you met a man that walked on the moon.” As the club sponsor, Wisely stressed the importance of the GeoScience Club and the impact the club can achieve when members of shared passions and interests come together. “There is still research to be done in geology and paleontology. There are schools who need teachers and museums that are still collecting and prepping fossils. It is important that we get good people so that our fossils don’t end up in Dubai and Egypt. Museums in the United States are selling their collections overseas and we will never see those again... so popularizing ‘the dig’ can be a good thing,” Wisely said. The GeoScience Club’s rebranding won them the New Club of the Year award for 2019-2020 from the Casper College Student Senate along with recognition in the School of Science Newsletter. Shortly after the announcement, the pandemic brought all club meetings and efforts to a halt. But the GeoScience Club is getting back on track and planning its first meeting soon. Future members interested in joining the club can contact Beth Wisely, any geology instructor, or visit the Tate Museum at Casper College for more details. Club information is also posted on the Casper College website and on their Instagram page@caspercollegegs. The GeoScience Club invites students, faculty, and members of the community to join and discover some of the many hidden gems, fossils, and unique experiences the club offers at CC. The 2020 T-Bird Trek! Toni Kerr/Chinook Debra Swedberg, a mathematics instructor at Casper College, finishes her 10k race at the 2020 T-Bird Trek on Sept. 13. Ryan Hieb handed Swedberg her medal at the finish line. Hieb is a member the alumni board. According to Ann Dalton, the Associate Director of Development with CC's foundation, 298 runners completed a trek. Course options included a 5k, 10k, downhill half marathan, and a half marathon. Runners also had the option to run virtually. https://www.caspercollege.edu/chinook/ Join our the Chinook staff this fall! Take Independent Publications for a minimum of one credit. Interview Write Take photos Design Sell advertising Contact faculty advisor Bri Weigel (Brasher) brianne.brasher@caspercollege.edu �October 1, 2020 Page 5 CHINOOK Public relations during pandemic Maddey Strayer Chinook Writer Empty hallways. Quiet classrooms. Covered faces. Uncertainty. These are the sights someone would face when entering the Casper College campus late last spring. Now, students are back on campus, still with covered faces and some uncertainty. Since the beginning of the global COVID-19 pandemic, things have been different. Everyone learned to handle their lives in new and strange ways. Students and staff alike changed and adjusted their schedules and priorities to take into account the new ‘now.’ Staying informed is key dur- ing these unprecedented times, which is the job of CC’s Public Relations Department. Most PR professionals are planners. They’re nimble, flexible, and quick to take action when needed, sometimes weeks or months in advance. However, with the unpredictable strike of COVID-19, advanced planning has not been an option for the college’s PR department. Christopher Lorenzen, CC’s PR Director, gave helpful insight towards how the department handled the rising issue of the pandemic thus far. As a department, PR carries quite a lot of responsibility when it comes to keeping students well informed about campus changes, but the department’s responsibilities do not end there. “There is a diverse set of talents among the professionals in the department. You'll find we're involved in a lot of different areas around campus from livestreaming athletic events, to marketing the next play (theater production) -from managing social media, to setting communication standards for email, text, and other forms of communication,” said Lorenzen. Not only does PR help keep students well informed about their daily lives on campus, but the department also handles entertainment at the college, such as sporting events and Intramural sports adapt Rachelle Trujillo Chinook Writer If there’s anything we are all learning this year, it’s how to adapt to “new normals.” Across campus, activities, classes, and student life looks different than we’ve ever seen before. Many of these changes seem negative at first glance, but much of the time it’s not as bad as it seems; sometimes there’s even a silver lining or two. Nearly every group and individual on campus has experienced this in one way or another, and the world of intramural sports is no exception. So what is intramural sports? Essentially, it’s a laid back and fun community for students (and professors) to participate in competition based activities. In the past, intramural options included pool leagues, basketball, flag football, and volleyball. Annelise Clark, a student participant and employee describes intramurals as a “great way to hang out both with friends or meet new people, in addition to it being a fun and engaging way to exercise.” Intramural sports is the place to be for anyone that loves to meet new people and engage in competition but often finds themselves with a tight schedule. Among all that is changing this year, that much is not. Though it may look different, student activities coordinator Chris Stier is determined to make the most of the situation and provide the same quality events, just in a different way. Health is everyone’s top priority right now, especially for college and school officials. Precautions are being taken everywhere, even within the world of intramural sports. “We are working closely with the health department and following the high school athletic association guidelines to ensure the safety of all participants. We will be instituting temperature checks, enforcing clear guidelines, and other productions on campus. But, since the recent development of COVID-19, PR changed and adapted in several different ways to accommodate the new academic year. With PR already active with digital technologies, the department is no stranger to online adaptation. Where the issues lie for the department come with capturing videos of the campus to compile into an experience for those who cannot travel directly to campus to experience it themselves. Lorenzen mentioned that PR works with 360 degree video technology to help accommodate the need for video. Another challenge the department faces involves the one requirement many endure as of late -- masks. Masks make general communication more difficult, both in general conversation, as well as in photography. People rely on facial expressions to correctly communicate emotion. “We try to portray life as it actually occurs on campus and having people in masks is perfectly acceptable. To convey that sense of emotion is difficult with masks and having people standing six feet apart,” said Lorenzen. “So we're using images of just a single person rather than groups to bring out the warmth and welcoming spirit of the college.” According to Lorenzen, not much has changed for the department itself, aside from a steep decline in requests for copy paper by staff members during this digital shift. Despite the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic, CC works to keep students informed. The president of CC, Dr. Divine, sends updates often to keep all students as informed as possible amidst the pandemic. His email updates are what offer the latest information about which direction the campus is headed. Overall, even though the outbreak of COVID-19 caused much unsureness and chaos across campus, the PR department is working to keep things running smoothly and maintain strong communication. checking for any symptoms. Obviously our staff and student’s health is our biggest priority” Stier said regarding pandemic precautions. The virus is also changing the way participants will be involved and what they will have the option of doing. While cornhole is not an entirely new event this year, the league aspect is, and the coronavirus certainly helped to move the idea forward as organizers began brainstorming how to move activities to an outdoor and distanced environment. Similarly, it was not so much a new concept to add virtual activities and video games, but there never seemed to be a time so appropriate to begin implementing these new events. Volleyball, basketball, and perhaps a re-installment of soccer are all activities that will be returning to the intramurals world again this year. However, team numbers will be reduced -- volleyball this year will now be 4 v 4 -- and moved outdoors whenever possible. Sign-ups have already begun, and activities were meant to begin the week of September 7th, yet the major snowstorm forced the start up to be postponed. A new date is to be determined and will be announced soon. This year is full of growth and challenges. Our new lives seem filled with unfamiliar hardships and foregin situations. Both participants and employees can agree that this is a period of adaptation and creativity. “It’s exciting to have these new opportunities -- to be able to be outside and try things a bit differently,” Clark noted. “It’s comforting to know that all student groups and people across the entire world are facing these challenges.” As we adapt to and overcome these new challenges, we are reminded that none of us are Photos courtesy of Cory Garvin alone, and that we’re all learning and growing CC students pictured above enjoyed many intramural sports last year. Staff are together. Hopefully for the better. working hard to creatively provide similar experiences safely amidst COVID-19. �Page 6 CHINOOK October 1, 2020 Strong bond propels forensics Kelsey Herman Chinook Writer Looking at quite a different competition-style this year, the 2020-2021 Casper College Forensics Team feels great about the strength and bond the team shares. The ten member team competes in a many of events, ranging from platform events to parliamentary debate. In a normal year, the team travels and competes in the four to five tournaments per semester in the Rocky Mountain region. Due to COVID-19, the new norm for members of speech and debate is virtual tournaments. Though virtual tournaments than in person competitions, the new style allows the team to participate in many more tournaments with a variety of new opponents from around the nation. With the new platform, the team gets the chance to travel virtually to new places. Some destinations for the fall include Washington D.C, Idaho, and New York. “Right now, we are competing virtually, and we anticipate continuing the virtual season into the spring,” said Forensics Head Coach Doug Hall. However, the team is hopeful for in-person competitions and the chance the travel to Washington D.C. for the national competition this spring. The global pandemic affected the competition aspect of speech and debate but allowed for growth within the team. The team’s special bond and ability to face new challenges give this year’s team a big advantage. “This team is going to be really good at overcoming adversity because they have to,” said Hall. New faces and some familiar faces fill the team. Some three-year members, which has not happened before, add to the uniqueness of this year’s team. Hall said the team bonded in ways past teams have not been able to and quicker than expected. Hall said, “That can only be good news for the rest of the year.” This bond will allow for more comfortable and productive rehearsing because the team trusts one another. By building an accepting community within the team, members can achieve their goals and more. A couple of weeks prior to the start of school, the team went on a retreat to Allen H. Stewart Lions Camp, located on Casper Mountain, which allowed the members a chance to bond as a team, and furthermore as a family. Kaelan Rodriguez, team captain and three-year competitor, said, “It really set the scene for the rest of the year and allowed new members to learn events for the rest of the season.” Just like many other clubs and organizations on campus, COVID19 challenged the Forensics team. As they are still optimistic about the future, the coaches and members are trying to make the most of the circumstances. Hall said, “It has caused us to grow closer as a team, as we are all fighting to survive this wacky year and season together.” The team will be a force to be reckoned with this season with strong talent across board. Photo courtesy of Doug Hall The CC Forensics Team posed for a group photo at the team's fall retreat. Team members include (from left to right): Braxton Sambrano, Alex Walters, Violet Wright, Stephanie Barella, Lydia Roterdam, Emma Kellick, Shelby Davis, Markie Whitney, Izzy Garcia, and Kaelan Rodriguez Kane steals the show Kelsey Herman/Chinook Kane, an English Mastiff, participated in the 2020 Casper College Dog Trek. The pup is quite the personality -- he even has his own business card with a photo and all. The card reads in part: I was born September 29, 2017 in Washington State. My two favorite things in life are eating and sleeping. Kane brings a lot of smiles to a lot of people's faces. I also have one of the longest tongues you have ever seen! � 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 2020-10 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. 2020-10 Description An account of the resource This is a copy of the online Chinook Newspaper from October 2020. 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_2020-10 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF