https://caspercollege.cvlcollections.org/files/original/51b74355369a4ff03665c1a92375b59a.pdf b83af8edd3f6ff3fc17234c12e263337 PDF Text Text March 1, 2022 Casper College’s Student Voice Since 1945 Single parent program supports Charlize Fritsinger Chinook Writer Casper College’s Neil and Doris McMurry Single Parent Program offers various services to support single parents yearround, and there are openings for more students. The Student Success Center, located in the Gateway building, is where many students go for advising or for a tour around campus. The single parent program is also located in the Student Success Center. The McMurry family established and funded the program after it was clear the college needed a program to support single parents at Casper College. Heather Owens, the student success advisor tasked with running the single parent program, spoke about the initiative. She said services offered through the single parent program include the McMurry Scholarship, a textbook loan program, a Pathfinder Credit Union free financial literacy course, access to a clothing closet and school supplies, as well as case management services linking parents to community services. The entirety of the program is designed to support parents and provide them with resources they need to not only go to school traditionally but for many parents non-traditionally. Owens said that many of the parents in the program are non-traditional, have already started raising their families, and decided to come to college. “Because of that, there’s a little barrier like isolation. I think a little bit just because they don’t fit into that 18, 19-year-old category,” Owens said, “Helping just break that isolation and honestly realizing that these guys are rock stars. Like that’s what I just some of them just blow my mind at how they’re accomplishing.” Jonathan Lucas, a single father and new non-traditional student at CC is studying secondary education. After meeting with an advisor, Lucas was introduced to the single parent program and involved ever since. According to Lucas, “It’s a program that helps single parents have a second chance at coming back to college.” He said the program helped him with books, tuition, gas, and even possible future bills. After serving in the military for 7 years as a US Army Paratrooper, Lucas made the decision to come back to college, and he expressed how beneficial he finds the program. However, even with the support of the program, the need for support from peers and faculty is also needed. “Understanding. Understanding what it’s like to have your life on hold. You know, when your children are sick, you’re down, you can’t come to work, you can’t come to college. You might not be able to make it to work. Understanding what entails that,” Lucas said. Charlize Fritsinger/Chinook Casper College student Jonathan Lucas posed for a photo in the lobby of the Student Success Center where advisor Heather Owens and the single parent program are located. Lucas added that he thinks or hopes faculty would be more lenient or appreciative of the hard work that goes into completed assignments and projects. He said those assignments might seem like they were done quickly, but perhaps they were done exhausted. Understanding and empathy are what many nontraditional students and single — See Parents, Page 3 CC, Hogadon offer night skiing to students Kaley Pieper Chinook Writer Hogadon Ski Area sits at the top of Casper Mountain where views of the sunset are hard to beat. The white snow is a stark contrast to the beautiful red, orange, and purple sky. And thanks largely to the Zimmerman Family Foundation, and many other contributors, this nighttime view is one that anyone can experience. While busy daytime schedules can limit time on the slopes, Hogadon Ski area offers night skiing, an experience that started a few of years ago when installation of the lights on the mountain began. Adam Lutz, an organizational leadership and business management major at Casper College, served on the team that put night lights on the slopes. He and his crew spent lots of time and effort to install the lights. When asked about the process, Lutz said, “It’s been a lot of fun. It’s been a process of just putting one foot in front of the other, even if you’re moving backward.” After the long process, the lights are finally up! Large light poles now illuminate several runs. The Hogadon Basin Ski Area is open from 3 to 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays for night skiing with about an hour overlap between day and night skiing. The lighted runs include Morning Dew, Park, and Boomerang. “We’re trying to really get the word out. The idea has been very well-received now that it’s going on. All the work and a couple of setbacks… it’s nothing when you’re up there, looking at the lights, and you can see Casper down below. I’ve never skied at night before this, so it was definitely a really awe-inspiring experience. And the first night it was open, we got a little extra snow the day of, and it was clear... And the sunset was perfect…” Lutz said about the experience. The idea for skiing in the dark of night comes from Lutz’s father’s home back in Michigan. Lutz fondly remembers hearing stories about his father and his friends going up the mountain after school to ski and snowboard on the artificially lit slopes until late at night. Since having school all day can leave students busy, night skiing gives an opportunity to still get out onto the mountain. Hogadon isn’t the only resort to come up with the idea. Snow King Resort in Jackson Hole Wyoming also provides lit runs. But here in Casper, college students only have a 15-minute drive to the Hogadon Ski Area. “It’s an opportunity for skiers and snowboarders alike to get out there and hone in on their sport. It allows you to come out more than just on the weekends.” Lutz said. “We want to get the word out and make the access to the area easier. God-willing with some snow, we can make [Casper] a nice little ski town, as it always has been.” A Casper native, Lutz recalls shoveling snow in the morning in order to get money to ski for the rest of the day with his brother. “Looking back on it, it’s a huge blessing in my life that I’ve been able to do that (Ski at Hogadon) with my family, and I want to make sure that continues to grow and is there for generations.” Despite the relatively dry and snowfree winter, the team at Hogadon Basin Ski Area is still working to get snow onto the slopes to give skiers a positive experience according to Lutz. The Natrona County and Kelly Walsh high school ski teams spend a few days a week practicing on the slopes. Besides regular weekend night skiing, the ski area also hosts promotional nights such as men’s night, and youth night. For adults, regular night ski lift tickets are a discounted $25. But Student Life offices make it even easier to hit the slopes my providing $15 ski vouchers for students. To get the voucher, students must bring student ID’s to the fourth floor Student Life Offices. Chris Stier, the Student Activities Coordinator at CC, works with the Hogadon Basin Ski Area to get the vouchers. “The ski vouchers have been actually a long work in process. I’ve been working with some people as part of the Hogadon Night Skiing Project. It was kinda put on hold last year with COVID, but they give a discount and Student Life offsets that cost for students. The same way it works with the movie tickets,” said Stier. Photo Courtesy of Adam Lutz A lone snowboarder rides the dark ominous lift ride towards — See Skiing, Page 3 the top of the mountain. Dance majors fueled by passion, not fear Jay M. Roccaforte Chinook Writer Jay M. Roccaforte/Chinook From front to back: Casper College students McKenzi Pieper, Kaitlin Koehn -- a graduate of the dance program -- Abigale Lipson, and Olivia "Liv" Daniels participate in a class led by instructor Jodi Jones. While Casper College dancers perform “Shadowed Winds and Ghost Roads” from late February through early March, many may be wondering what dance majors are all about. Dance majors make up a small majority of the students at Casper College, but the program impacts the students in a big way. CC offers many programs for students, but the dance majors choose their path for their clear love and admiration for the world of dance. Freshmen McKenzi Pieper and Abigale “BB” Lipson are just two lifelong dancers with passionate for the program. “I’ve been dancing since I was three,” Lipson said. “I could never see myself sitting in an office or doing any job where I wasn’t moving.” The head instructor of the dance program is Jodi Jones, and with CC being one of very few two-year schools to be accredited in dance, Jones said she is excited to see her performers grow during their time here. According to Jones, “Our job is not to grow professional dancers. Our job is to grow that artist to whoever or whatever they might find as their passion as they go through the program.” Jones also said she holds a firm belief that being a dance major is about more than performing. Dance majors follow an extensive and consistent routine that helps them grow in various ways. “Every day, I have two to three movement classes, then two to three other classes on top of that,” Lipson explained. “Then (I have) rehearsal from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m., and on Saturday’s, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.” While the heavy workload may be intimidating to many, the Dance majors at CC take it on by choice. According to Pieper, “It’s a lot, but it’s worth it. It keeps us busy. We’re not sitting around, twiddling our thumbs.” Many aren’t aware of how busy the world of dance can be, and Jones believes people share some other misconceptions about dance. “People think ‘oh, okay. They’re probably not really smart, they’re probably not good at anything, or they’re never gonna get a job,’” Jones said. However, in reality, Jones firmly believes in the program’s impact on her students. “What they’re going to — See Dance, Page 3 �Page 2 March 1, 2022 CHINOOK Chinook Stance Divine's Intervention: The generational divide John Watts J’s Journal Whether you’re a Baby Boomer, Generation X, or Generation Y, we all share the same thing in common: a disapproving opinion of Generation Z . No, but seriously, there is a pattern of con-secutive generations having resentment over the next generation. To answer the question of this fallacy, it is important to break down the demographics and significant world events that shaped the culture in which the populous was raised. Baby Boomers (1946-1964) grew up during the Cold War era and had the honors of following the greatest generation. They grew up during a time of economic growth, which gave birth to hard workers loyal to their occupations. Baby Boomers who don’t stay with one company for more than a decade are either born in the wrong generation or going through a mid-to-late life crisis. This generation is known to like rudimentary schedules, and they will almost always pre-fer a phone call over a text. Generation X (1965-1980) grew up during the Civil Rights movement, Space race, and Wa-tergate. This generation grew up in a time where it seemed more feasible to send a man to the moon than to have a computer fit in their pocket. The dynamics of family life changed drasti-cally as numerous women joined the workforce, and the American consumption lifestyle took off where houses got bigger, cars multiplied in people’s drives, and toys came in nearly every cereal box. Generation X is best known for their independent nature that they gained as a re-sult of very little parental supervision. Generation Y (1981-1995), better known as millennials grew up during the Reagan Era, Chal-lenger explosion, and the first mobile phone. This generation was raised by technology and Starbucks and have grown up to be cat and dog parents. Jokes aside, many millennials have postponed marriage to choose a career over having a family, as shown through a decline in population and the highest college participation numbers of any generation. Shaped less by physical labor and more by specialized jobs, many of them have softer hands and hearts. The biggest traits for millennials are the accepting of diverse work places, job-hopping, and equal pay and equality. Generation Z (1996-2012) grew up during the Iraq War, 9-11 attack, and a global recession. For them, airport security is a normal procedure, and paperless plane tickets along with Uber are the way to travel. With gas prices being so high, this generation truly doesn’t know the value of a dollar. All it takes to bridge the generational divide is to focus more on the similarities than the differ-ences. Every generation thinks the next generation is crazy, but couldn’t that be an age thing? Weren’t we all immature at some point? What happens when the generation who brought new life into this world needs help at the end of their life? Let us not make disrespect a stereotype; instead, let us establish respect as the new social norm. As long as Boomer doomer jokes are being made and millennials consume a ridiculous amount of avocados, our country will be held together by the glue of empathy in action. “ You have persevered through the most severe disruption in your life anyone has seen in decades, and thus I strongly suspect you can now approach and handle new obstacles better than ever before. — Darren Divine, Ph.D., Casper College President The Scottish philosopher Thomas Carlyle (1795-1961) once said “Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragements, and impossibilities: It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak.” The sentiment behind this quotation has often been an apt description of our students as many of you have overcome immense obstacles to not only make it to college, but to continue to persevere and complete your program. However, I believe this sentiment is more pronounced now than has been the case for quite some time. The COVID-19 Pandemic ushered in concerns, emotions, fiscal realities, and lifestyle changes on a scale not seen in our world for several generations. Quite simply, none of us have lived through anything similar. While it would be a bit premature to call the Pandemic “over,” most indicators point to the increasing likelihood we are exiting a pandemic and entering an endemic as seen with many other diseases the world lives with; it does appear the worst is likely behind us. So my question for you today is: What are you going to do now? How are you going to view and approach your goals and dreams moving forward, and how will you react to new obstacles? Certainly new obstacles will arise as inflation, political turmoil with the recent hostilities in Ukraine, and supply chain disruptions are just a few To click or not to click Kaley Pieper According to Kaley It’s 12 o’clock. I sit down for lunch. Buzz, buzz. The quick sound of a Snapchat notification vibrates the table as I start to eat. I quickly pick up my phone and check it, of course. Oh it’s just from that person? I’ll just answer them later. Buzz, buzz. The Instagram banner notification pops up on the top of my screen. My best friend from back home just posted for the first time in a while. I better go give it a like! Oh, it’s a selfie? That requires a cheesy comment too. Buzz, buzz. Another Snapchat. Buzz, buzz. A text message. Buzz, buzz. Now Twitter. I stop and check the time. 12:14. I start to eat my, now cold, cafeteria spaghetti. Did I really just spend 14 minutes staring at my phone? I look up at my friends sitting across from me at the table. I’ve barely said a word since we’ve sat down. I ask them how their day is going. But they’re on their phones too, and their answers are brief and distracted. Buzz, buzz. Another notification. But this time I pause before I turn over the screen to check. What was this incessive need that I felt to pick up my phone? Buzz, buzz. Maybe it’s something important. Buzz, buzz. “Look at me” it seems to scream. I pick up the phone and get sucked into the trap that we as a society have accidentally laid for ourselves. Social media integration is becoming more and more prominent in our society each day. Almost everyone has a phone in their pocket at any given moment. And while liking a cute picture of a kitten, sending silly filters to your friends, or catching up on the daily scoop by scrolling through Facebook might not seem too insidious, social media also has very negative effects on our individual brains and society as a whole. Forget hard drugs or nicotine, we are addicted to our phones. According to an article by Werner Geyser, a professional in social media and influencer marketing, social media platforms such as Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram produce the same neural circuitry caused by gambling and recreational drugs. A constant stream of retweets, likes, and shares affects the brain's reward area and triggers the same kind of chemical reaction as other drugs, such as cocaine. Addiction isn’t the only negative The mind is the only limit... The most enlightened I have ever felt in Wyoming was at the recent 37th Annual Casper College Humanities Festival and Demorest lecture series. I became captivated by the stories and historical facts provided throughout the festival. Most, if not all the speakers had connections to Wyoming in some way or another. If I was forced to choose a favorite speaker, I simply could not. Every single presentation brought new valuable information to light. Reading these stories or historical events alone limits a very crucial understanding of the life experiences of the individuals who experienced them. Getting to hear the information presented by the speakers themselves felt like catching up with an old friend. The emotion current examples. My hope is you answer this question by recognizing you are stronger, wiser, and more confident than ever before. You have persevered through the most severe disruption in your life anyone has seen in decades, and thus I strongly suspect you can now approach and handle new obstacles better than ever before. As Carlyle might say, you have certainly proven you have a strong soul… could be felt in every word, connecting me to the history of these amazing people. I rejoiced in the possibility to join the conversation via Zoom call for the select meetings I could not physically attend. The experience in person most assuredly is the best way to enjoy the festival, but when I wasn’t able to attend the second day there was a means to keep me connected. The captivating narrative unfolded further at the end of every presentation when the floor opened up for questions to the live and online participants. Depending on what was asked, new areas of exciting details revealed themselves and intensified my interests significantly. Attending the festival, I found myself enjoying a variety of ideas presented in various arts such as a nonprofit bilingual radio station, filmmakers screening, award-winning playwright, extraordinary dance theater production, courageous sport activists, stunning musical performance, and life-changing speakers. Professor Tracey Owens Patton, Ph.D. used her own family history as a primary source for a largely erased history exploring issues of race during wartime in Germany. The research shared by Patton will live in my mind rent-free forever. I encourage everyone to attend the humanities festival in the future for you will not be disappointed. My only wish would be to have a higher turnout at the festival. Each Use the QR code on the left to enter our Spring Semester 2022 Customer Satisfaction Survey. impact social media has on our health and well-being. Social media statistics clearly show a negative correlation between social media use and self-esteem. When young people, especially young girls, scroll through Tik Tok and see all of the seemingly perfect lives and bodies of other “hotter” girls, it can be detrimental to their body confidence. "Photoshop and filters present people and things in their best light," says Jill M. Emanuele, PhD, the senior director of the Mood Disorders Center at the Child Mind Institute, "It creates a distorted fantasy world and raises the bar on what people perceive is 'the best' way to be." For a relatively new technology, the internet and social media have been integrated into our lives on a personal and professional level. But most people know the harmful effects it can have. So why do we use it? Why doesn’t everyone log off and unplug? It’s too convenient. It’s too addictive. We are sucked in. It’s hard to resist and easy to think that social media is just another part of our lives. But the next time you find yourself staring at your phone for hours on end, think about the time you spent staring at a screen that could’ve been used doing something else. Check your screen time. Is that really healthy to stare at a 5-inch screen for 3+ hours every day? Buzz, buzz. Is that Snapchat picture of half of someone’s face really worth feeding your growing addiction? Buzz, buzz. Don’t pick it up. Buzz, buzz. Go experience life. Buzz, buzz. Your phone can wait. meeting hosted only a handful of audience members, despite the festival's openness to the public. Maybe then we could gain more understanding of one another and spark conversations in our community. Wyoming as a whole needs to be exposed to humanitarian efforts and opinions. My personal experience in this state has been unpleasant because there tends to be more close-minded individuals focused most on their own personal liberties rather than any oppressed group. When I first moved here in 2019, it felt like I traveled back in time. The social aspect here feels very one-sided and forcefully so, as in people aren’t free to express themselves here without hostility. We could all benefit from impactful Max Tasche Max-imum Effort movements and caring more about timely issues rather than giving way to tradition and comfort. 2022 Graduation Speaker You can also enter the survey at https://tinyurl.com/y3byazz8 Enter your responses between February 28 and March 11 Would you like the honor of being the featured speaker at CC’s 2022 commencement? Did you graduate in Dec. 2021, or will you graduate in May 2022 or Summer 2022? Don’t miss this opportunity! The winner of this year’s competition will receive the honor of speaking at graduation, Friday, May 13, and receive a $500 scholarship to the transfer institution of their choice. 4 entries will be selected to Win $50 in Flex Bucks! Request an application from Megan Schafer at mschafer@caspercollege.edu. Applications are due Friday, March 18, 2022 Applications can be submitted via email to Megan Schafer at mschafer@caspercollege.edu Tryouts are Friday, April 8, 2022, 2-5 p.m. �March 1, 2022 Page 3 CHINOOK Parents.................................................... parents ask for when going through college. According to Owens, the program is assisting around 90 students this semester, but she suspects there are many more around campus without awareness of the program. Unfortunately, many students do not know about the program's benefits. Signing up for the program involves a few easy steps. There is a quick application on the CC website if searching “Single Parent” into the search bar, and the application is sent directly to Owens. From there a meeting is scheduled where she provides an overview of the program and what is needed to be fully accepted. “Eligibility requirements: You Skiing.......... cannot have a previous degree prior to the one you’re currently working on. You have to have completed the FAFSA and to receive the scholarship portion of it you have to maintain a minimum of a 2.0 GPA and a 67% competition rate. And oh, I mean, I guess the big one is that you have to be a primary custodial parent of continued from page 1 one or more of the kids. So I do ask for documentation to show that. Typically the documentation I get is court documents showing that you were awarded primary custody, or a birth certificate with only your name on it, or tax documents showing that you claim one or more of the kiddos,” Owen said. The program is busy at the beginning of the year with the textbook program, but many of the services are available year-round and the application is too. Owens said, “If you’re a single parent come see me, I always want more people, always. (I) always want my list to grow for sure.” continued from page 1 “That way it’s even cheaper for students to utilize. Where we live, it’s cold, so we have to take advantage of the outdoor opportunities that we have. It’s a great opportunity for students to get out there while being able to afford it.” Stier explained that the 2021-2022 academic year is the first year the college offers ski vouchers, so the college is piloting the program. At the end of the year, the college plans to evaluate the success of the program and make any changes to better the experience for students. As of now, the vouchers are only good for Friday and Saturday nights. “Knowing our students are in class up until that time, it worked out that it was a good opportunity to specifically our students and their schedules,” said Stier. Student Life also offers other activities for students to take advantage of during the winter months including movie nights, bingo, intramural sports, a comedian, and other events. Hogadon Basin Ski Area and Student Life work together to give students the opportunity to ski when it fits their schedule at an affordable price. Photo Courtesy of Adam Lutz Lutz shared his photo featuring the breathtaking view of the lights of Casper. The photo was taken from the top of Casper Mountain at Hogadon Basin Ski Area. Dance...................................................... Jay M. Roccaforte/ Chinook Front to back: McKenzi Pieper, Kaitlin Koehn, Abigale Lipson, and Olivia "Liv" Daniels dance in intermedia ballet I and II. learn and deal with on a daily basis are gonna give them all these amazing career skills! They’ll be able to go into any field they want to.” Jones said. A college student’s hardest decision is their major, and whether driven by fear or love, the decision can propel an individual into the next stage of their life. Lipson has always been passionate about dance, but needed an extra push to pursue her major in college. “I had a talk with my sister,” Lipson said. “I was afraid I wouldn’t be good enough, and she told me ‘you’ll get good enough.’” It seems like an impossible amount of devotion to many, Providing a place for life and faith Rachelle Trujillo Chinook Writer Casper College’s chapter of Campus Ventures is a non-denominational Christian organization that gives students individualized fellowship opportunities and helps them “figure out life and faith,” as promoted in the organization’s tagline. CV is an organization found on college campuses across the country. Students aren’t required or expected to identify with a certain religious background because the organization welcomes everyone. The organization’s “figuring out life and faith” message is geared towards college students as they leave behind their home churches and their family’s beliefs to begin a life of their own. Some students find the transition challenging. According to CV advisor Dave Weeks, the college age is one of the most tumultuous times in a person’s faith. “Students at this age can be wondering ‘what do I believe?’” Weeks said. “ ‘Do I walk through my own beliefs, my parents’, or do I need to start my own faith journey?’” Weeks knows all about this time of transition for students after serving as a CV volunteer for eight years prior to becoming a main advisor for the last 17. Over Weeks’ tenure, hundreds of students participated in CV at Casper College. His experiences with the group include cleanup following Hurricane Katrina, visiting Peru to work on local construction projects, and teaching the English language throughout areas in Mexico. “We don’t wanna just take, we want to give back,” Weeks said. The work doesn’t only extend internationally; community service is also an important component to CV. Around Natrona County, CV works with various food pantries, homeless shelters, and other non-profit organizations. Service is a cornerstone of what CV is about, but building relationships is equally important. First-year CV students Skylar Gott and Zachary Tenney are two of the roughly two dozen members this year. Gott, a Casper College nursing student from Indiana, said she is very grateful to be with the organization. “I met all my best friends through Campus Ventures,” Gott said. “It’s also just helped me grow my faith so much.” Tenney echoed a similar sentiment. “Once you reach that college age, you start thinking ‘where am I going in my life?’ Being a part of Campus Ventures says ‘I am going to make this [my faith] a part of my life’” said Tenney. Both Tenney and Gott said CV puts on countless activities to help foster such connections and spiritual growth. In fall of 2021, the group spent a few days in Rapid City, S.D. for a fall retreat. There, students spent time both together and individually worshiping in Chapel, doing devotionals, and listening to guest continued from page 1 and even though Pieper has also danced for 16 years, she says she wasn’t always confident in pursuing dance either. “I wasn’t positive on where I wanted to go with my life in the future,” Pieper said. “Thank you to my parents, who said ‘you should do this,’ and here I am!” According to Pieper, in her short time at CC, she’s grown more as a performer than she ever thought possible. Whether due to the instructors, the commitment, or the environment that comes with being a dance major, she is proud of her growth. “I’m finding what dance really is to me,” Pieper said. “The first 16 years of dancing, I really didn’t have an actual studio like here (at CC), but now that I have this environment, I’m like, ‘wow, this is what dance is!’” Everyone worries about their major at some point, but in Jones' experience, her students have never voiced regrets in pursuing their passions. Throughout one's time at Casper, the potential for growth is limitless. “If you’re really passionate about something, and that’s really where you are and who you are, you will never be miserable in what it is you’re doing,” Jones said. “The door is open. Follow your heart.” speakers. Over the summer, a special opportunity called Project Impact will be available to students. For the event, students who choose to participate will move to Denver, and spend the summer learning tangible ways to make faith a more prominent part of everyday life. While the major events are fun and exciting, the weekly meetings and regular get-togethers are just as impactful, according to Gott and Tenney. For the first time since before the pandemic, CV worked with Student Life this past February to host a Super Bowl watch-party in the T-Bird Nest. Looking to the end of the year, the organization is planning an end of the year party to provide food and fellowship to everyone who wants to attend. In between it all, CV students can be found skiing, snowshoeing, camping and more. “We do anything we can outside,” Weeks said. CV meets every Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Physical Science Building, room 103. Weekly meetings include small group discussions, devotionals, and guest speakers. Weeks expressed that students are welcome to email advisors, connect on Facebook or Instagram, or just sit in on a meeting to see everything for themselves. “Everyone has a faith of some sort in Photo Courtesy of Dave Weeks something,” Weeks said in closing. “It’s From left to right: CV members Sam Orr, Zachary Tenney, just about helping students walk through and Maisy Wilkson posed during an outdoor retreat in fall what theirs is.” 2021. Wellness Center introduces Nod app Nod supports students to build social connections in three ways: 1. Ideas: Prompts based on the science of social connection that help you take action. 2. Reflections: Short in-app exercises help students process social experiences, track their mood, reduce self-criticism, and build resilience so you can keep progressing toward your social goals. 3. Testimonials: Real student perspectives on social connection to help you learn from others and understand the ups and downs along the way. Connect with a Wellness Center counselor for a deeper dive into reaching your social goals. Call 307-268-2267 Join our staff this fall! Practice interviewing & writing Take photos & design Learn sales & advertising Explore social media & promotion The Chinook is a one credit class, titled Independent Publications. Contact our faculty advisor Bri Weigel for more information brianne.weigel@caspercollege.edu �Page 4 CHINOOK March 1, 2022 T-Birds to Region IX Tournament Abigail Landwehr/Chinook Shooting a free throw, sophomore Peter Turay playing forward for the CC Men’s Basketball team, takes his aim at the basket during a home match against Central Wyoming College on Saturday evening. The game was won by the T-Birds with a score of 91-75. Following the game's win, the team has qualified for the Region IX Tournament where the team will travel to La Junta, Colorado during the upcoming week to enter the bracket as the No. 3 seed in the North sub-region. Abigail Landwehr/Chinook Men's Head Basketball Coach, Shaun Gutting, addresses his team during a timeout as a part of Saturday’s game. Abigail Landwehr/Chinook (Above) Belen Morales Lopez, a sophomore playing point for the Lady T-Birds, goes in for a layup during a home game against Snow College earlier in the season. The game was won by Snow 69-68. “I’ve improved my game a lot,” Lopez said. “I am really happy with the steps I am making and hopefully I can help my team to get the Championship of Region 9.” The Lady T-Birds have won the South Sub Region with a record of 10-0 and are starting to get into the regional tournament. According to the National Junior College Athletic Association, the Casper College Women’s Basketball Team is currently placed 15th in the Division 1 rankings. (Left) In hope to send luck to the players, the student section directs “spirit fingers” towards one of the CC players shooting a free throw during a home game. �March 1, 2022 Page 5 CHINOOK A hot take on fire science Julie Seidel Chinook Writer In service for over 13 years, the Fire Science Association at Casper College is an excellent program that produces hard working firefighters. Life as a firefighter can be both physically and intellectually testing. The Fire Science Association is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary for fire service employment. Not all fire departments require an academic degree to get a job, so some may wonder why students seek such a degree. Students choose to further their education in fire science, as the coursework provides critical knowledge that can help them better protect the community. The formal degree can lead to promotion opportunities and additional career options too. “If you want to become a firefighter, you have to become a servant of the community,” said Dale Anderson, the fire science instructor at CC. Anderson’s work with the program started 27 years ago. In the beginning, he worked as a firefighter and participated in the program part time. Once he retired as a fireman, Anderson became a full time employee and took on a larger role in the program by developing the Fire Science Association 13 years ago. The association is student run, which means the CC students elect their own leaders at the beginning of each school year. The students strive to help out the community by attending community service events like Mealson-Wheels and the Special Olympics Jackalope Jump. When students select their fire science major, they are a part of the program. About 35 students currently attend the program at CC. According to Anderson, even though not all of the students participate in the Fire Science Association, they continue to show good leadership and attendance at events. The fire science coursework includes very few practical exercises. To counter, the Fire Science Association focuses primarily on such practical exercises. The students of the association are able to participate in more events, such as the maze. The students love to gather on Friday nights to enjoy some pizza and participate in the maze, according to Anderson. The maze includes multiple training props, such as the trap door. These real life situations simulate the experiences the students will partake in as firefighters. The practical exercises promote team building and provide the opportunity for students to get to know one another. According to Anderson, once the members build a community within the association, they are able to help their local community. Along with all the volunteer work the association also participates in profitable opportunities. The association contributes to the community by providing vending at the Ford Events Center in Casper during state events, and in return the association receives a bit of funding for the association. Due to COVID, the association has not used much of their income. “And the only thing I ask is that half goes to a non-profit,” said Anderson. “But since COVID, the last two years, they haven’t done much of anything with their half of the money.” Kathy Thomas, the Natrona County Republican Women committee co-chair, recently reached out to Anderson in December to get help with the Veterans Wreath Pickup, a nonprofitable event, at the Oregon Trail State Veterans Cemetery. Thomas requested the students in the Fire Science Association help place the wreaths a week before Christmas and regather them at the end of January. Even though the timing clashed with the CC’s holiday break, the association still had a turnout of 20 students. Thomas emphasized that the event could not have happened without the support of the Fire Science Association. Dominic Jahr, a 20 year-old member of the Fire Science Association said, “I really enjoyed helping out with the wreath pickup. It was a blast and I am happy to help my community.” Jahr joined the Fire Science Association at the start of the 2021 fall semester. Jahr stated. the dangerous life of a firefighter was not always his dream. He participated in many extracurricular activities, such as football, basketball, and he even earned a scholarship to run track. Jahr said his uncle, brother, and a couple of his friends introduced him to the world of fire science when they took an interest in the major. According to Jahr, the job is not for everybody because of the dangerous aspect of it all, but after becoming a part of the program, he quickly accepted the challenge. He said he hopes to soon join the Evansville Fire Department as a volunteer or possibly a part time firefighter. “Being a part of the association, I’m definitely learning far more than I would’ve in just the fire science program,” said Jahr. Jahr is a servant of the community and he plans on staying that way. He participated in serving food at Wyoming Rescue Mission, our local homeless shelter, for two years. He said such activities created who he is today, and without them he is not sure if he would have become a servant of the community. “One of the main things I get out of the association is public speaking,” says Jahr. “You learn how to publicly speak in front of the community as a firefighter.” He said his community service has taught him to be more of a people person and develop an outgoing personality. In developing his communication skills, Jahr feels like he is one step closer to becoming the best firefighter possible. According to Jahr, firefighting is one of the most fulfilling and respectable callings in the world. In addition to the fact that one gets to save individuals lives, you also become responsible for keeping the community under control in a crisis. A fireman must be a brave, daring individual with strong critical thinking, and quick decision making abilities. “You can go and help an elderly lady that fell down, and at the end of the day she would bring you some freshly baked cookies,” quoted Jahr. “It is not just going into houses that are on fire, but the small things you can do to make your community a better place.” Julie Seidel/Chinook Pictured above is the fire science students supply lockers at Casper College. Julie Seidel/Chinook Focused above is Dominic Jahr's personal locker, also located at Casper College. www.caspercollege.edu/chinook Taking online or hybrid courses? Students: 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. Examples of items we can help with: 1. MyCCMoodle — including how to submit assignments, participate in forums, etc. 2. ZOOM – help you learn to access and use Zoom for your remote course meetings and collaborations 3. Google Suite — Google Docs, Drive, GMail, etc. 4. Accessing Office 365 .- such as MS Word and PowerPoint 5. Online tutoring — How and where to get extra help as you need it, using NetTutor. Plus a lot more! Contact us. Don’t wait! Get your Questions answered now. Teresa Pat Mike Tyler 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 �Page 6 March 1, 2022 CHINOOK Forensics: Building a generation of advocates John Watts Chinook Writer Casper College's Forensics Team posed for a team photo. Pictured in the back row (left to right) is Brax Sambrano, Shelby Davis, Curtis Winfrey, Jay Roccaforte, Emma Rudell and Alex Walters. Front (from left to right) is Markie Whitney, Pearl Taylor, Violet Wright, Hart Doherty, and Emma Kellick. The Casper College Forensics Team participates in competitive speech and debate on campus where advisors and students are focused on building a generation of advocacy through strong, confident speech. The forensics team is made up of full-time students who write, practice, and perform many different styles of speech. According to Casper College student Jay M. Roccaforte, it is not uncommon for many students with a forensics background in high school to partner with college freshman who have little to no experience. According to Casper College’s assistant forensics director and communication instructor Ethan Fife, the main reasons for students to join forensics is to work on communication skills, discuss subjects on a deeper level, and then advocate on a platform. Fife mentioned the benefits forensics gives to students. “The students get a space to debate in a safe and structured environment,” said Fife, adding that the environment allows for a “deeper level of discussion than surface- layer encounters in public.” In a recent interview, Douglas Hall, CC forensics director and communications instructor, mentioned the social platform available to each student. “The students no longer see Forensics as a game but as an opportunity to make a change.” Due to the structure and the forensics no topic is off-limits rule, every student can use their position and voice to be the change that both Fife and Hall talked about. Hall said, “The thing I enjoy the most about teaching is ticipate in the Annual Platte River Clean-Up. In January, the group participated in Martin Luther King Jr. Day events, including Casper’s annual march on Monday, then on Friday the group volunteered with Project Homeless Connect. According to Erich Frankland, a political science instructor who started serving as the faculty advisor for Campus Democrats in 1998, “The current leadership is really focused on social justice. They really want to engage with the community and do volunteer work.” Campus Democrats continue to work on the creation of the Casper Freedom Trail in conjunction with ServeWyoming, a project that started two years ago. The project started as a way to engage the community during the pandemic. they can do to change things in Wyoming, as well as get them involved with meaningful causes. “If you care about not only your Casper community, but your country at large, this is a group that will inform you on key issues and give you an opportunity to make a difference” Frankland stated. “This is a group that is welcoming to different political views and perspectives, even if you feel you lean conservative or Republican, we aren't going to exclude you. You can really make an impact in state and local politics as part of this group” In March, the Campus Democrats will travel to Cheyenne to watch the Wyoming State Legislature in action and learn more about Wyoming politics. Photo and Courtesy of Cory Garvin Jay Roccaforte posed for a photo as a member of the Casper College Forensics team. Submitted Photo getting to watch the students develop and become impassioned advocates as competitors and individuals.” Under the guidance of Hall and Fife, a generation of advocates are born. Roccaforte explained that each forensics student is required to compete in four different events over the course of a semester, and they accomplish this by choosing from a list of events including: persuasive speaking, informative speaking, communication analysis, after dinner speaking, Lincoln-Douglas debate, parliamentary debate and many different interpretational events. Students competing in speech create a ten minute speech for each of their events, which will result in 40 minutes of content created and memorized annually. Memorization is in the back of every forensics student’s mind, and they can often fade into thinking about their speeches through the day. Roccaforte, who is still memorizing and perfecting the speeches he created in early fall 2021, said, "You have to be careful not to be the kid walking down a school hallway with an open mouth rehearsing your speech.” Before the students can commit their speech to memory, they must first give birth to the ideas and issues they want to raise. For many students, the process of writing a speech starts by collecting newspaper clippings, film segments, social media posts and other forms of media that will inspire and support their message. Two other elements in creating a speech come in the form of character studies, which provide a relatable emotion, and tropes (figures of speech) from movies and plays. Once the speech reaches full maturity and is ready for competition, it is up to the speaker to make the words on the page come alive. Roccaforte said the best way for the speaker to connect with the audience is to “present a familiar topic that will develop into a new point of view.” This new vantage point allows a persuasive argument to take place and form within a ten-minute time constraint. To gain recognition from the judges the speech must be, as Roccaforte said, “organized and effective in delivering the topic.” Once these two pieces are in place, the speaker will put on a performance with the varying inflections and complementary gestures taught in forensics. While Forensics is a competitive team, the work impacts individual students directly. Roccaforte confirmed forensics’ effectiveness when he said, “Speech was an opportunity to find my voice and become more confident” and it “changed how I live every facet of my life.” Roccaforte explained that whether speech comes in carrying on an intellectual conversation or confidently asking or answering a question in class, he possesses the tools to communicate effectively. The tools Roccaforte and his fellow classmates build are as Fife described as an open-minded approach to free speech, respectful debate, inclusivity, and diversity with unity. Within this environment, team members embody impassioned advocates, as Hall discussed, they share the advocacy platform Fife mentioned, and they use their new-found voice to communicate like Roccaforte. Campus Democrats represent in community Violet Wright Chinook Writer Casper College student organization, the Campus Democrats is a multifaceted group that invites students to learn about how students can impact their community. The organization is the oldest on campus and involves students in many different ways. The group emphasizes political education, specifically on issues that affect students in Wyoming. Additionally, the group is involved with many service projects around Casper. e group already completed three service projects this academic year. In September, the Campus Democrats were one of two campus groups invited by the Bureau of Land Management to par- The trail allows people to tour sites that are part of Casper Civil Rights Movement history. Skyler Nelson, a nursing student at CC and the President of the Campus Democrats explained, “I think the turn-out could be a lot more. If we get the word out more I think a lot of people in our community would be interested in things like the Martin Luther King Day service,” she said. “It really brings everyone together in such a beautiful way.” The group might have “democrats” in the name, but it is open to all students on campus regardless of political leanings. The group is mainly student-led and currently focused on helping students gain a better understanding of what Photo Courtesy of Skyler Nelson Skyler Nelson, a nursing student at CC and member of the Campus Democrats, studies for classes. �March 1, 2022 Page 7 CHINOOK Using stickers as a form of self-expression Abigail Landwehr Chinook Writer Walking into almost any spot on campus and seeing students at work on devices will most likely give one a look at a newer rends among college kids -- a trend that’s doing two things, adding some color to a plain laptop lid and giving a glimpse into personalities without uttering a single word. Stickers showcase everything from school logos to obscure movie references, and the colorful decor is becoming a more common sight on student’s devices. Sometimes there’s only one or two, and other times the owner plastered their device with so many that it’s hard to tell what was originally underneath. Ellie Vaughn, a sophomore at Casper College majoring in psychology, scattered about 12 stickers on display across her laptop lid. She said she received most of the stickers randomly for free but a couple of them represent more meaningful backstories. “The ‘life is simple’ one I got from my little brother before I moved away for college,” Vaughn said, referring to a sticker of a mountain with the phrase written underneath. “The cat with lots of eyes my roommate bought me when we first moved here, and the lgbtqia+ flag I got because I consider myself an ally of the community.” She said she understood the idea behind students using the stickers to express themselves. “I’ve been told a lot of different things about what people first think when they see me,” Vaughn said. “Sometimes people think I don’t look friendly, or I look like someone I’m not. But I think that if someone sees the stickers, they kind of say who I am.” Another member of the laptop decorating committee is Douglas Hall, a communications instructor at the college. A couple of the stickers on his device’s lid include a sticker from the Casper College Forensics team Hall directs, the logo of a board game, and references to the ‘90s TV show Twin Peaks. “It kind of communicates a little bit of my personality,” Hall said about his stickers. “Like if you recognize the stickers, that would, you know, probably start a whole conversation.” The most notable of Hall’s stickers is a red rectangle with white text reading, “don’t be chicken” in all caps. “I put it on here because whenever [students are] doing their stuff, they can see the back of my computer only,” Hall said. “It seems appropriate because we need them to do big brave things.” He said he collected the sticker from a box of artificial chicken nuggets he bought a while back. “It's a way to communicate Abigail Landwehr/Chinook who you are,” Hall added about the stickers. “Or at least put Markie Whitney prepares for forensics competition in the squad room with Doug Hall, comsome form of self-expression munication instructor and head coach of the college's forensics team. Hall puts stickers all over the lid of his laptop as a form of motivation and expression. onto your devices.” Casper College theater: A look behind the scenes Isabella Coronado Chinook Writer Students involved in theater at Casper College shared the stereotypes put on them because of their interests. No one really knows what theater is actually about until experiencing it for themselves. Many judge theater before learning what goes into putting on a production. Theater requires a variety of skillsets. Kaitlin Koehn, a native of Riverton, Wyo. spoke about her theater experience and wanting to be a part of productions as a department specialist. Koehn started out as a dancer, though she said once she started CC’s dance program as a student, theater also peaked her interest. One of her friends that attended CC studied theater performance major and another musical theater. Koehn said she attended dance shows, plays, and musicals with her friends. “I think really through those two friends of mine, I found a love and appreciation for theater,” Koehn said. Koehn said she thinks it’s common for people to stereotype theater kids as dramatic. While such an assumption is not always incorrect, she said people just tend to take it the wrong way, meaning everyone looks at it as a bad thing. Koehn said, “It’s almost like we’re one big family, and I think that makes them more comfortable and outgoing. And just like any family, there’s always drama, and I think because of that they tend to be more comfortable with each other.” Anastasia Zetl is a current student at CC majoring in Musical Theatre. Zetl is from Casper, Wyo. where she started doing theater in fourth grade. She’s currently helping with tech for the production that they are working on now which is The Shadowed Winds and Ghost Roads, as well as working on the crew for the recent productions of Narnia and Mamma Mia. Growing up, Zetl said she loved watching movies and seeing shows, and she always wanted to be a part of something like that. With her degree, she said she hopes to find successful theater, fulfillment, and to be able to help others emotionally through art that she expresses while putting on a production. Zetl said one of the biggest stereotypes theater kids withstand is the notion that they’re annoying and talk a lot. “For the most part it’s true. I’ve met lots of people who are very flamboyant, are very expressive, and in touch with their emotions,” said Zetl. Zetl expressed her feelings on what she wished people knew about theater kids. She said many people have a perception of the way theater kids think or the way they act, and so they tend to keep boundaries from getting to know theater kids. Zetl said she wishes people knew that theater kids enjoy a lot of the same things everybody else does in other departments, and that they’re not always “weird.” At the end of the day, Zetl What’s your next move? said everybody is weird and theater kids get a lot of judgment because they’re doing something that is out of the comfort zone of a lot of people. Another current student talked about her experience in CC’s theater program. Elizabeth Crowley is a native from Wheatland, Wyo. currently in her second year as a double major in multimedia (communication), but she said she mainly focuses on her major in technical theater. She contributed to every show in the last two years and is now focusing on aspects like stage management, the more technical aspects of putting on a production. Crowley said she wants to use her degree and work in big theaters or just within the theater industry. She realized that a lot of people in theater were similar to her and ended up having the same thinking process as she did. From a technician's point of view, Crowley talked about how she wished people knew there is much more than going on stage and just performing for theater kids. She said, “Not everybody is a performer. Normally when people think of theater kids, they always just think of performers, but there are technicians, builders for sets, and just a lot more aspects than people think,” said Crowley. Crowley described theater in one word. She said, “Overwhelming but in a good way.” Although several stereotypes about theater exist, Koehn, Zetl, and Crowley all recommend theater, sharing in the sentiment that working on a production is a good experience, and there’s a job for everyone. Zetl said it’s a perfect way to express oneself while not feeling judged. Putting on a production requires many specialties and significant time. The process can also prove emotionally draining, but as hard as theater is, Koehn, Zetl, and Crowley agreed they wouldn’t change it for anything. WRITING CENTER The Writing Center at Casper College is here to help our students and members of the community. Max Tasche/Chinook Nathan Baker, music theory coordinator and faculty advisor for the thunderboards gaming club, recently smiled for a photo on campus. Max Tasche Chinook Writer The Casper College Thunderboard Gaming Club plays board games in the music building for two hours once a week to provide social engagement and promote strategic thinking. It all started back in the fall of 2017 thanks to a couple of computer science majors who approached Nathan Baker, now faculty adviser for the club, due to his reputation for liking board games. Baker came up with the name, "Thunderboards" as a play on words for CC’s thunderbird mascot. Like every club at CC, there are certain requirements, it is not all just fun and games. The club's main service project involved playing games with the Boys and Girls Club of Central Wyoming. The club still operates in a leadership structure, with officer positions assigned to students and staff, and they volunteer a certain amount of hours. Officers meet before the games begin to cover the Thunderboards basic club requirements, and then it is off to gaming. The club is uniquely situated in a crossover of nerd-dom and familiar home activity, it helps bridge the gap between outgoing people and the more reclusive types. Those who want an avenue to explore getting to know others can find a safe space to develop friendships and socialize. The Thunderboards supply social stimulation, and also a stress-free environment to just take a break and provide amusement. Baker put the club into perspective, “It’s a great opportunity to just blow off some steam, you know? College is a lot of work, especially for a lot of our students who are also working a part-time job to take care of things, and sometimes it’s just nice to show up, have a place to relax and unwind, and beat someone up on the game board.” Catelyn McCardle is a sophomore at CC who recently joined the club in the fall of 2021 without any prior board game experience. She explained, “I don’t think that we have to be serious in getting down to business all the time. You don’t have to think unless you’re thinking about what your next move is.” Both Baker and McCardle share a common opinion of how unique the club is compared to others on campus. McCardle wants to assure everyone Thunderboards is a place to vacation from your burdens, “It’s all just about getting together playing some games, having some fun, and leaving your classes outside of the door because this is where you simply just kind of escape reality for a moment, and I think everybody could use an escape from reality sometimes. I don’t think you can get that in many other clubs.” Degrees and certifications require a lot of attention. The Thunderboards understand such pressure and actively seek members to come hang out to share in the fun. The club is open for all interested and there is no player limit, and those interested are free to contact Nathan Baker at nbaker@ caspercollege.edu. Baker spends most of his time in the music building where he reserves a room, not too far from his office MU 210, to bring all his games. The club is still deciding a time to meet for the spring semester. Brainstorm possible paper topics Create a resume Craft a scholarship essay And so much more! Visit us in Strausner Hall, room 215 or visit the Writing Center Moodle site for additional resources and appointment scheduling! Contact: 307-268-2610 wco@caspercollege.edu � 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 2022-03 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. 2022-03 Description An account of the resource This is a copy of the online Chinook Newspaper from March 2022. 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_2022-03 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF