https://caspercollege.cvlcollections.org/files/original/55a9d839a06570bd4b1ba48ce48c360a.pdf e50d3aa1865e330217ce8127b2b25a89 PDF Text Text May 1, 2021 Casper College’s Student Voice Since 1945 Find us online! Bakic chosen to speak at graduation Rachelle Trujillo Chinook Writer Photo courtesy of Marjia Bakic Marija Bakic was selected to speak at Casper College's 2021 graduation ceremony. Bakic is a member of CC's Women's Basketball Team. She is from Montenegro, and her speech will be the first speech she's ever presented in the English language. Many graduating sophomores this year anticipated decisions about graduation, wondering if COVID-19 would rob them of a face-to-face graduation, much like the class of 2020 that made due with a virtual ceremony. Luckily, with vaccines out and case numbers dropping, a physical graduation ceremony is happening once again. CC allows students the chance to apply to speak on the big day, and this year’s student speaker couldn’t be any more deserving. Marija Bakic is an exchange student from Montenegro who was recruited to Casper by a UW basketball coach after seeing her play for the European Nationals. With the UW roster full, the coach set her up with Coach Gunnare and the CC basketball team. In her two years here, she said she loved playing basketball and spending time with her teammates. Additionally, Bakic furthered a passion for political science and international relations, which is not surprising given she has lived and traveled to most of Europe and North America. She fluently speaks Serbian, Italian, French, Spanish, and English. “I’ve always wanted to balance political science and basketball but never had the chance,” Bakic said. “Casper College has given me the opportunity to.” According to Bakic, CC is nothing short of amazing. The scholarships, school and community opportunities, work study positions, and staff are all incredible, she said. She accredits much of her success to the instructors and coaches she’s worked with over the last two years. Not only did Bakic mention how CC provided a great school and environment, but she also said the college helped her grow and develop as a person. As a student athlete, Bakic and her team missed a few days of school every other week and sometimes every week. In a degree as intense as Bakic’s, she said she learned to prioritize. “CC has made me appreciate the liberties I have and taught me how to decide what the best choices for me to make will be,” she said. “It’s taught me how to stay organized.” Many Americans can lose sight of the abundance of opportunities available in the states, Marija emphasized, but for many from across the globe who move here like Bakic, blessings are so much easier to see. With this larger perspective, Bakic said she is always motivated to work towards your goals. “I’m a big believer that hard work gets you whatever you want. That’s going to be one of the biggest points in my speech,” she said. In the coming fall, Bakic will continue playing basketball for Arkansas Tech. She plans to get her bachelor's degree in political science before pursuing a masters in international studies at Arkansas Tech. One day, Bakic said she’d like to work as an ambassador and do political work like her grandfather. “I’m really excited,” she said in closing. “My family is going to be here. They’re very important to me. And hopefully, my grandpa is really proud of where I’m at too.” New visual arts building coming soon Bryce Hindman Chinook Writer Demolition on Casper College’s Goodstein Visual Arts building began as of April 2021 to make way for the new visual arts building, slated to be finished in July of 2022. While some may feel sad to see the current art building go, hopes are high for the new building. When walking the art building halls excitement fills the air, along with a decent amount of dust from the ongoing demolition. Most teachers and students are looking forward to the new building. The Goodstein Visual Arts building holds a significant amount of history on campus. Built in 1976 and 1977, the structure stood for 44 years and served as the home of countless programs, classes, and art of all kinds. The building also housed machinery for various artistic projects. A building with a unique purpose called for a unique design and it’s clear upon entering the structure that the Goodstein Visual Arts building was not typical, as the architects designed the structure as a circle with a gallery in the middle connecting the two sides. The instructor’s offices lined the inner circle while expansive classrooms lined the outside. Mike Olsen, a CC graduate and now a full-time professor at the college since 2005, spent significant amounts of time in the former building, and he spoke of the building's charm. “Because I know this building so well it’s become like an old friend,” said Olsen. “It's like a really good pair of shoes, so I'm totally comfortable here. I even know what noises it makes late at night. I’ll miss the donut (the circle). One of my favorite things to do to decompress is to just walk laps.” While the former building provided a unique design and a nostalgic feel, the new construction will fix several issues. The former building proved too small to comfortably accommodate all of the current and especially future classes. Another factor is the age and the outdated design. Nobody in 1977 could have predicted the impact technology and computers would have in the future, so the — See Visual Arts, Page 4 Bryce Hindman/Chinook Demolition of the Goodstein Visual Arts Center began last month. The new building is scheduled to reach completion in July of 2022. 33 years come to a close Savannah Peterson Chinook Writer Photo courtesy of Anna Aarstad Todd Jones teaches his farm and ranch buissness class at Casper College he is retiring after 33 years when the spring semester concludes. Some people dread retirement. Others look forward for the new opportunities stepping back from work can bring. For Todd Jones, retirement will not slow him down. After 33 years teaching at Casper College, Jones’ time as an instructor is come to an end, but his next chapter is just beginning. Jones’ experience in the business industry set his credentials as a teacher. Jones educational followed a different path than most professors. He spent a few years at Montana State University while on a wrestling scholarship. Then he decided school was not for him, so he began working full time. However, school drew him back in, and he attended CC for two years. Next, Jones traveled to Oklahoma State University to earn his bachelors in Animal Science and discovered his passion for business. “I had to take a farm and ranch management advanced class my senior year, and I really, really liked that class,” said Jones. His professor connected him with a graduate degree position at New Mexico State University where he received his Masters degree. Then Jones set off for the real world. Over the years, Jones trusted his passion for teaching and business to lead his career. In 1988 Jones began teaching as an adjust instructor at CC. His adjunct role eventually led him to a full-time position teaching business classes. While he was busy teaching, he also used his business skills to create two startup companies. In the classroom, Jones taught way more than what the text book required. Jones goes out of his way to teach his students how to act like good people. For, Agriculture Business student, Anna Aarstad, Jones made a large impact on her education. “He really tries his best to apply everything in his class to each person, and he tries to make it very personal,” she said. Aarstad said it’s the time the students spend talking with Jones after class that helped formed a relationship between Jones and his students. “Every day at the end of class we typically stick around for an extra couple minutes and just visit with him,” Aarstad said. According to Anthony Barns, one of Jones’ current students, these conversations consist of funny jokes, life advice, and of course, snacks. As much as the students enjoy Jones as a professor, Jones said he enjoys watching the students grow. “The difference between you coming in the doors as a Freshman… that year of growth is pretty amazing,” Jones said. “And then you look at where they have gone past that, it has been pretty rewarding.” After teaching for so many years, Jones saw many students come through the college so it comes to no surprise that he has created a reputation. “I think the biggest thing is he teaches because he wants to change people’s lives in a positive way. He doesn’t just teach because he enjoys the subject or he doesn’t just teach because he gets a paycheck he teaches because he wants to be a part of other people’s lives,” said Barns. “I think that’s probably what makes him the most effective and why he’s probably my favorite teacher.” Jones invests in his student’s lives outside the classroom whether it is the rodeo team drinking coffee in front of his office before class or the livestock judging team reviewing its last contest, Jones’s door is always open. His kindness continues to impact many students at CC. “He gets to know everybody and what their goals are for the future, so he tries to tie in what he’s teaching into specific goals,” said Aarstad. Jones’ years of knowledge can be attributed to his faith. Aarstad said, “He’s not afraid to let his faith impact how he teaches class… He doesn’t preach and he doesn’t expect anybody in the class to believe what he believes, but you can tell his faith is what has guided him through teaching for so long.” Principles of faith guide Jones in all of his life’s endeavors. “The main thing in my life has been my faith... that could be the main advice,” Jones said when offering advice to his students. As Jones’ time in education comes to an end, he looks forward to the adventure’s retirement will bring. First of all, he plans on digging more into the Old Testament of the bible. Outside of that, he looks forward to spending more time with his wife, purse business interests and guiding people through the outdoors. �Page 2 May 1, 2021 CHINOOK Divine's Intervention: Chinook Stance “ Carpe Diem: Adventure Awaits Bryce Hindman Breakthroughts with Bryce You're a college student. A Casper College student to be more exact. As diverse as we all are, ultimately, the majority of CC students share one thing in common. We are here with the intention of learning and growing as individuals and bettering ourselves in order to better our futures. Basically we want a good life. Who doesn’t want a good life? With that in mind, it’s no secret we can often get swept up in the stress of assignments, grades, deadlines, and college as a whole, not to mention the potential stresses of life outside of school. When faced with what seems like endless work, it can be easy to forget we’re human. Yes you heard that right. What I mean by that is that it’s easy to take for granted our experience day by day when we’re in autopilot mode rushing from one assignment to the next. This is exactly why it’s important to get away from life occasionally and reset. There is an entire world out there to explore and experience, people to meet, and new things to try. It would be a crime towards yourself to not at least try to get out and experience life to its fullest. As I said before, it’s easy to forget we’re a human living a life. We have the privilege of being the most complex intelligent life that we know of, living on the only floating rock in the entire universe known to support life. Thousands of years of human history led up to exactly this moment -- where you are now. The chances of you specifically, genetic makeup and all, existing at this very moment are almost zero. Yet here you are. Not only do you get to exist, but you also get all the modern amenities from indoor plumbing to the internet. The point is we’ve been given a gift of life, and it should not be wasted. Work and school are important and it can make us better people, but ultimately we need to value our well-being and mental health before we can even function well enough to succeed in work and school. This summer I’m traveling the country delivering doordash and exploring in order to better myself. Next fall I’m attending college in New York City. I am only saying this because I want anyone reading this to know it’s okay to take the leap of faith and that you are capable of doing it. I’m not special – members of my family aren't college grads or wealthy. I worked hard to get here and it’s going to pay off. You can too. This is where adventure plays a role. You don’t have to go far like my example. You don’t have to do anything crazy. Go on a walk in a park or a bike ride in an unfamiliar place. Try the new thing on the menu, or better yet, go to the new restaurant you’ve never been to. Sign up for that summer course you’ve wanted to try. Use those vacation days and do that trip you’ve been thinking about. Casper College is less than an hour away from mountains, rivers, lakes, and multiple state parks. Take advantage of the world around you and the life you have. As summer approaches, I encourage you to take a look around you and breath. Live one day at a time and experience each moment. Go on adventures big and small. Take some risks. Try new things. Live life fully and unfiltered. This will only broaden your horizons and motivate you to make more progress with your goals. College is meant to be a place where people are educated and inspired, but sometimes we all need adventure to keep us going. It is no secret to those who know me that graduation is my absolute favorite day of the year. I love everything about the day including rehearsal in the morning, the Graduation is a rite of passage in one’s life, and it is my great honor to play even a small role in the celebration marking that achievement. — Darren Divine, Ph.D., Casper College President anticipation that builds as we line everyone up in the tunnel, walking out to cheering family and friends, announcing the names, and the final exit of the graduates. But, undoubtably, my favorite moment is looking into the eyes of graduates as they cross the stage to shake hands (non- COVID years) and receive their diploma cover. The looks of pride, accomplishment, and oftentimes nervousnesses is something I never get tired of witnessing. Graduation is a rite of passage in one’s life, and it is my great honor to play even a small role in the celebration marking that achievement. Commencement, and all The uprooting of holistic medicine Before the conception of Western medicine, holistic medicine was the status quo for thousands of years within many ancient civilizations. Several cultures still practice this form of medicine despite Western medicine dominating in developed areas of the world. During the turn of the 20th century, homeopathy and natural medicine became almost obsolete due to several factors. John D. Rockefeller, America’s first billionaire and known monopolist and robber baron, was one of the main culprits. He made it his mission to uproot holistic medicine by delegitimizing it. His strategy of “problem-reaction-solution” alongside the Flexner report successfully closed a multitude of holistic medical schools across The United States. John D. Rockefeller’s plan was to reshape the medical industry through pat- ented pharmaceuticals and a new medical system. At the time, Rockefeller controlled almost all the country’s oil refineries through his oil company, Standard Oil. Around the same time, scientists had discovered petrochemicals from said oils, which are obtained from petroleum through a refining process. They determined that these chemicals could be used to produce pharmaceutical drugs. Rockefeller’s desire to monopolize the oil, chemical, and medical industries would change the Western world forever. The Flexner report functioned as a gatekeeper. It enacted legislation on state and federal levels to create strict regulations and licensing promoting drug medicine within medical schools while stifling natural remedies. Medical institutions that did not comply with these regulations were inevitably shut down. Bryce Hindman/Chinook Casper College is celebrating its 75th year this academic term. The college's public relations and adminstrative teams highlight the milestone with banners and flags like the one shown to the right. Make sure to use your T-Bucks and Flex Dollars before the end of the semester They will not be there in the fall! If you love good food, people, and great opportunities, look for job openings at Casper College Dining in the fall. Have a great summer! CASPER COLLEGE DINING the associated gatherings truly is a time of celebration. Thus I hope each of you reading this article who have met the requirements necessary to graduate this year will sign up to participate in our commencement ceremony, and celebrate your achievement with your family, friends, and all of us here at the College. Julia Nielsen Just Julia �May 1, 2021 CHINOOK t H e wor ld n ee ds mor e cow boys. Start in Casper. Stay in Casper. Courses, degrees and programs offered right here! LOCATION: 435 Union / University Building on the Casper College Campus CALL: (307) 268-2713 VISIT: http://www.uwyo.edu/uwcasper/ Page 3 �Page 4 CHINOOK Visual Arts............................................ building is not well suited for such advancements. The cost of keeping up with safety codes and health regulations provides yet another challenge. The final factor came in the way of Casper College’s long range master plan. According to caspercollege.edu, “In 2006, Casper College adopted a comprehensive master plan to help provide a focused vision on the opportunities facing Casper College over the next 25 years.” Casper College president Dr. Divine shared his thoughts on the new visual arts building in a 2016 Casper Star-Tribune article. “It’s sorely needed for the college. I think it would be a huge asset.” The new building will address each one of the issues mentioned above and lead the arts at CC into the future. The original idea was to simply add onto the art building, but it was decided that it would be more cost efficient to create a whole new space for art on campus. The new building is slated to almost double in size at an impressive 31,825 sq. ft., equipped with all the equipment needed for each class. Olsen praised the work of the architects MOA and HGA for working closely with faculty and staff in order to meet the specific needs of each class. “All of the faculty have had tons of input in the planning. I sat on the committee that chose the architects, and then we sat for a semester and a half once a month with the architects and designers, working as a team designing the new building, which May 1, 2021 continued from page 1 all started happening in 2016," Olsen explained. According to a recent announcement shared by the college, the building will feature metal, wood, and jewelry making labs; art galleries; a foundry and pottery kilns; MAC lab; print, drawing, and photo labs; classrooms; conference rooms; offices; and a state-of-the-art climatic controlled art storage facility. The $12.5 million dollar project is jointly funded through the State of Wyoming and CC in partnership with the the college'se foundation, and there will be more fundraising in the future. According to Olsen, the new building is needed. He said “The new space will be state of the art and modern. The current building is so old that it's literally falling apart and some things have just stopped working.” The new visual arts building will be state of the art and allow CC to grow into the future with developing technology and a growing list of opportunities. Forensics Team wins big at National Tournament National Tournament Results The Casper College Forensics team recently competed virtually at the 2021 Phi Rho Phi National Forensics Tournament with both individual and team awards. Individually, sophomore Braxton Allen-Sambrano, Casper, was a gold medalist in impromptu speaking. Markie Whitney, a freshman from Newcastle, won gold in international public debate. Shelby Davis, a freshman from Newcastle, took silver in impromptu speaking, while sophomore Alex Walters, Rapid City, South Dakota, won silver in informative speaking. Three team members, Stephanie Barella, a sophomore from Casper, freshman Emma Kellick, Casper, and Walters, were each awarded silver in international public debate. Four team members received bronze during the tournament. Davis won in international public debate, Kaelan Rodriguez, a sophomore from Casper, won in speech to entertain, and sophomore Izzy Garcia, Cheyenne, and Walters won in impromptu speaking. Walters also has the distinction of receiving fifth place in individual sweepstakes, making her the fifth-best competitor in the country. Overall, the team took a gold medal in the debate sweepstakes and a silver medal in the individual events sweepstakes and the overall sweepstakes. Photo courtesy of the Forensics Team This year's Forensics Team at CC includes(from left to right): Alex Walters, Izzy Garcia, Braxton Sambrano, Lydia Roterdam, Markie Whitney, Kaelan Rodriguez, Shelby Davis, Violet Wright, and Emma Kellick Elisa Ayungua Chinook Writer The Casper College Forensics Team showed off at the 2021 Phi Rho Pi National Forensics Tournament this year. While the pandemic forced the tournament to a virtual platform, CC competitors made the most of the chance to compete on the national stage. Winner of a bronze medal in speech to entertain this year, Kalean Rodriguez, a sophomore at Casper College, spoke about her debate experience. She said she’s participated in forensics since high school and has been on the Casper College Forensics team for three years. “I am one of the co-captains, and I am also one of two third years. I kind of see that as a leadership role. You kind of get to guide new students onto the team and help expand their knowledge with what they already know,” said Rodriguez. Rodriguez sees the program as family and truly feels supported by her fellow teammates. She also felt cared for by the coaches, as they made sure to always provide a positive environment with a focus on taking care of themselves as well as each other. “(The coaches are) making sure that we all are not only competing, but having fun with it, and also sharing messages that really mean something to us,” Rodriguez said. Though she enjoys forensics, the competition can be tough. Rodriquez shared how she prepares. She said, “Just making sure, first of all, that you are putting in enough work. You are giving your best to your performance or to your speech. Also looking at your performances and making sure you are improving yourself.” Even so, Rodriguez thought the hardest part about being a member of the Forensics Team came in saying goodbye. “Unfortunately I won’t be able to join for another year, even if I was, I think that it is my time to move on,” said Rodriguez. “I think one of the things that is stressed in speech and debate is that they’re preparing you to continue sharing your message and all the skills you have learned.” Rodriguez is planning to attend the University of Wyoming next semester but she plans on coming back to Oral Presentaion and Communication Center Conquer your fear of public speaking Po li sh yo u r c C re ate p ommu n ic at io n s k il ls To book your appointment online or in-office Bri Weigel brainne.brasher@caspercollege.edu call 307.268.2375 r a l p re s o f e s s io n e n t a io n s Learn organizational skills visit the Forensics Team at Casper. “It’s not necessarily that it (forensics) will ever leave me -- it affected me so deeply. I will carry it on forever. But as far as my days competing, I think I unfortunately closed my chapter on that,” Rodriquez shared. Nonetheless, the team is going to have more members next year. Doug Hall, director of forensics, competed in collegiate forensics himself and has been involved with it for about 17 years. He has been at Casper College for eight of those years. “The program has really grown -- it's been really successful, but it’s also grown. We’ve had two of the largest teams in our program's his- Courtesy of an article published by the Casper College public relations department, written by Lisa Icenogle in 2021 tory. Next year’s team is going to be among the largest and most talented as well with the recruits we have coming in.” Hall is hoping for even more growth in the future. He is also very appreciative of the support from CC in seeing the value in forensics and what it does for the students. “It’s not easy. There are a lot of programs around the country that are losing their funding and support because money is tight,” said Hall. Hall recognizes that such challenges are not unique to this program, and there are other programs sharing that burden as well. According to Hall, goals for the team were a bit fluid this year because it was unsure what the season would look like. “We didn't know if we were going to be able to travel in the spring or if the national tournament was going to be face-to-face or if it was going to be virtual, and ultimately it ended up being virtual but we didn’t know that in the fall. We didn’t know what the year was going to look like,” said Hall The team set goals in regards to doing well at tournaments, getting their events up, and feeling good about the messages they shared. “All the students had three events at the national tournament, and I think they all felt pretty good about the messages they were sharing, pretty good about where they were competitively by the time we got to the national tournament, and so I think we had a pretty good year.” 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 https://www.caspercollege.edu/chinook/ �May 1, 2021 CHINOOK Page 5 Vervo to Casper: A look into Conci's journey Kaylen Kott Chinook Contributor Italy, the fifth most visited country in the world, provides visitors many attractions, rich culture, extensive history, and coastal beaches. For Matteo Conci, Italy provided a home and a place to start his soccer career at a young age. With impactful support from his family, Conci followed his dreams. Through scholarship opportunities, Conci moved to America in the fall of 2020 to attend Casper College where he continues to excel in his soccer career. Moving from Italy to America presented many new opportunities for Conci. In Italy, students learn English at a young age, starting in elementary school, and continue to learn throughout their high school careers. Conci said having learned the English language made his experience in America easier. Conci stated that moving to America allowed him to better understand the English language and perfect his speech through conversation with those he interacted with in the first three months of arriving. Because Conci moved to America alone, he claimed that his motivation to seek out a new adventure encouraged him to eliminate any fears that came with the opportunity. “For me, it was easy to move because I was coming here to join a team,” stated Conci. “I was sure that I would already have friends who were also my teammates, so I was not afraid of being alone.” Growing up, Conci had the privilege of choosing from many different sports. Soccer Photo courtesy of Matteo Conci Conci shared a photo from his childhood playing the saxophone, another activity he loves. played a large role in his life, but he stated that his mother encouraged him to play any sport possible to consume his free time. These sports included swimming in the summer, skiing in the winter, and playing the saxophone. “I played the saxophone for 12 years,” stated Conci. “Then at 15 years old, I chose to play soccer because playing soccer on top of skiing and playing the saxophone was not easy.” Conci chose to focus on soccer because of his passion for the sport. He joined a club team that consisted of older men and women who encouraged Conci to push harder due to higher competition and the urge to become better. With playing sports and attending school, he claimed organizing one’s time came naturally in order to participate and complete tasks successfully. According to Conci, “I feel like when you are really young, you do not understand if sports are cool or not, but I feel like it is important to do something whether it is playing an instrument, participating in sports, or even dancing. It helps with organizing your time because you have to go to school, practice, and make sure you have your homework done before a game, and that has helped me grow a lot.” Conci’s mother, Silvia Magnoni, encouraged him to participate in the activities he enjoyed most. She did not care which activity he chose because she supported him in anything he decided to do to better himself. Due to the eight-hour time difference, Magnoni told of Conci’s childhood experiences via email. She stated that on Conci’s first day of elementary school, he wanted to kick any stone he found in his path, which lead to his aspiration of becoming a soccer player. He found a knack for goalkeeper, his current position at CC. According to Magnoni, “Matteo enjoyed playing soccer the most. For this sport, he has made many sacrifices and has given up many things since he was playing at a young age. He would even get mad if they let him play in any roles other than goalkeeper.” When asked about feeling supported by his family, Conci stated that although moving to a different country caused his family to feel sad, they understood he chose to do something beneficial to his career and life. Magnoni stated she felt proud of Conci because of his determination and bravery in accepting the opportunity to achieve his goals through his studies and sports. “He has become more responsible and even more determined than before,” stated Magnoni. “However, he always needs to feel valued otherwise he could become sad.” Conci claimed that once he moved to Casper, his responsibility and independence allowed him to further his career and passion through various opportunities. Although this step in his life appeared difficult to execute, Conci felt proud when making his decision. “I am really proud because I left friends, family, and everything at home,” said Conci. “Then I came to a new country overseas because I was able to grow by myself and be more independent in a new place.” Magnoni also recognized positive changes in Conci once he moved. She claimed his ability to manage independently in his choices, his ease of socializing with people, and adapting to situations did not worry her because he performed this way from a young age. With moving to an unfamiliar country to seek new opportunities, Conci’s motivation to excel and continue his education encouraged him to set goals and make plans for his future. His ultimate goal consists of obtaining a fouryear degree and playing soccer in a more competitive setting. Making his family and friends proud pushed him to perform to the best of his abilities and provided him with great satisfaction. According to Conci, “When I see myself in four years, I want to know that I accomplished great things and did everything I could to make myself and other people proud.” Photo courtesy of Cory Garvin Matteo Conci of Italy is a goalkeeper for the first men's soccer team at Casper College. Photo courtesy of Matteo Conci As shown above, Conci played competatively in Italy for many yearys before moving to the U.S. He credits sports for developing his time management skills. �Page 6 CHINOOK May 1, 2021 ‘Seeking Justice in a Diverse America’ Julia Nielsen Chinook Writer The 29th annual Casper College Multicultural Film Festival screened “To Kill a Mockingbird,” on Friday, April 16 at 7 p.m. and “Just Mercy,” on Friday, April 30 at 7 p.m. in the Wheeler Auditorium. Erich Frankland, Chair of Political Science, History, and International Studies directed the film festival. Each year, Frankland said he tries to alternate between lighthearted content such as international cartoons or a serious topic relating to current political and social climates. His intention for this year’s festival involved choosing a theme that connects to the two films and facilitates an open discussion by the end. “The film festival is an opportunity for you as a student to explore issues with people who maybe see things completely different from you,” said Frankland. The theme this year emphasized the American legal system and ‘Seeking Justice in a Diverse America’ regarding race and class. Amanda Nelson, director of the Casper College Paralegal Studies Program, led the discussion for the “To Kill a Mockingbird,” screen- ing. The discussion focused on American’s Miranda rights, such as an individual’s right to an attorney when questioned or interrogated. “A good part of the discussion focused upon the concern if things have really changed for minorities to obtain justice in America and how our ideals of justice often lag in reality. We also explored that sometimes little steps on diversity and justice are exceptionally important and can lead to major change,” said Frankland. “We also looked at the impact that dignity and morality can have on peoples struggling for equality and those helping them.” The film “Just Mercy,” follows lawyer Bryan Stevenson on his journey to defend those wrongly condemned or convicted of crimes they did not commit. When “Just Mercy,” made its initial premier, theaters were closed due to the COVID-29 pandemic and quarantine. The timing wasn’t ideal and it went under the radar, so Frankland wanted students to be exposed to a film that discusses such important issues. “The idea of justice is very subjective, and with this theme we explore how it’s not right for specific races and groups to be discriminated against. In both films, race and class are the overarching themes. Neither of the gentlemen can afford a quality attorney, and we want to discuss why these barriers for justice and fair treatment exist within the American criminal justice system,” said Frankland. Frankland said he intended for thought-provoking discussions and diverse interaction between students and the community. He reiterated the importance of face-to-face discussions as opposed to debates on social media. The film festival provides an opportunity for students to find common ground while also being exposed to different opinions and perspectives. “We are content to say things on social media we wouldn’t usually say in person, or maybe we’re avoiding certain conversations because we don’t want to be unfriended. This setting allows a safe, real conversation and that’s one reason we’ve stuck with this approach,” said Frankland. Chad Hanson, Chair of Social and Cultural studies, said that the importance of public forums should be preserved in the name of American democracy. The Multicultural Film Festival celebrates its 30th anniver- sary next year and upholding this tradition is important in his eyes. Hanson hosted and moderated the screening for “Just Mercy,” and provided a sociological perspective for the audience. “Some of the discussions we should have had regarding inequalities in the United States were swept under the rug. And I think we live in a time where some of the curtains are being pulled back. We’ve reached a time where people are more willing to talk about these issues and try to change them,” said Hanson. Community colleges and universities are one of the most important places to have these kinds of discussions. The festival allows people to look one another in the eye and come from a place of empathy and respect. The anonymity of the internet has changed the way we talk about these topics and civil discussion within a public forum is a vital aspect of American democracy that holds immense value. “Where else in society can you just get together with peoJulia Nielsen/Chinook ple you don’t even know and have a really important con- Advertising for the Multicultural Film Festival at the versation about something that college featured the movie cover for "Just Mercy." matters, knowing that you’ll be The Multicultural Film members of the community heard and listened to. I think that alone is a tradition to pre- Festival provides a public to discuss topics that matter forum for students, staff, and to them. serve,” said Hanson. Sounds of the school Tyler Gallegos Chinook Writer To some, music is simply the noise you hear when you turn on the radio. For others, however, music can provide meaning to life. For the last 12 years, Nathan Baker found his home at Casper College as the school’s music theory director, but his musical journey started in his youth. Baker began his music career in the fifth grade and played the French horn. The summer after his fifth grade year, he was demonstrating multiple instruments in his uncle's collection to his little sister, as she was going to join the school band the following school year. While Baker was demonstrating these instruments he found a certain love for the trombone, an instrument he still plays to this day. “I picked up the trombone and demonstrated that to her and thought -- I like this, I’m going to keep this (and) you can have the trumpet,” said Baker. Throughout school, Baker was very active within the band and took part in the jazz band and the pep band as well. During his time in high school he considered going to college to become a high school band teacher. After graduating from high school, Baker decided to further his education and enrolled in Utah State University to pursue music education. While Baker attended school, he decided that the high school band teacher route wasn't the route he wanted to pursue. Baker’s theory professor presented the idea of teaching music Photo courtesy of ArtCore theory. Music Instructor Nathan Baker is pictured above. He said the photo was taken for his Baker stated, “He said to me, ‘you know you are really good at this, have you ever considered first recital with ArtCore about ten years ago. decade or so ago. Baker shared that his love for music began at a young age. teaching music theory at a college level?’” Baker decided to explore the idea more and ended up continuing with that route. Baker, became a teaching assistant in his last three years at Utah State University. Baker continued his education at the University of Oregon for graduate school and received his PhD from the university. While looking to pursue his career further, Baker found a job opening here in Casper and decided to make the move to Wyoming and join the CC staff. Baker liked the area and environment of Casper because of the many similarities to the area in which he grew up. Baker said, “It reminds me of Missoula where I grew up so it felt like coming home when I came to Casper.” Baker said he finds great happiness teaching here and described his work at CC as his “dream job.” In his free time, Baker said he enjoys many different genres of music. ”In no particular order some of my favorite things to listen to are video game music, late nineteenth and early 20th century Franco Russian music, jazz, Indian classical music and 80’s pop,” said Baker. During his time in Oregon Baker, made an argument to his opera teacher that the soundtrack for Final Fantasy 6 was the best opera written in the 20th century. Baker and the music department are always working on many of the concerts that are playing at CC, and he shared details about the remaining events of the year. The Music of the Masters concert is coming up on May 2, featuring music performed by the choirs, wind ensemble, and chamber orchestra. You can find upcoming events on the college’s arts website and find ticket information to attend some great live performances on CC’s campus. � 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 2021-05 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. 2021-05 Description An account of the resource This is a copy of the online Chinook Newspaper from May 2021. 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_2021-05 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF