https://caspercollege.cvlcollections.org/files/original/98571ea7c3256c4e1f13b3f2011dbb28.pdf fa002711a7cb64126dc30e6156a692a9 PDF Text Text May 1, 2023 Casper College’s Student Voice Since 1945 Student Senate's Casino Night at CC William G Eastin Chinook Writer As the clock struck 7 p.m. on April 19, Casper College students filed through the door with the opportunity to play a multitude of gambling games and other activities with the chance to win a variety of different prizes. Casino Night is a very popular event put on by the CC Student Senate every semester. Student Life Coordinator, Devin Fulton spoke to the reasoning behind the event. “It gathers students in a fun environment that gets them out of the classroom along with the professors and is a great way for staff to see the fun and competitive side of students and vice versa,” Fulton said. So what exactly goes into hosting such a popular event? The first and most important aspect is planning. Fulton stated, “There is a lot of discussion throughout student senate meetings including logistical planning, asking staff to volunteer, coordinating locations, and getting the good grace of Sodexo to partake”. Student senate also take this time to brainstorm solutions to any problems posed in the events prior. The organization’s obligations don’t stop there though, as CC Student Senate is also required to host the actual event. “Student Senate helped in three William G Eastin/Chinook Casper College students participated in Casino Night on April 19 in the Tobin Dining Hall. Games included blackjack, craps, poker, roulette, and bingo. key aspects including pre-event set up, the actual event itself where they had different stations for giving students their chips as well as raffle tickets, and event tear down,” said Fulton. Turning to the night of the event, CC students had the chance to play a variety of different gambling games. Fulton said, “The event had one craps table, seven blackjack tables, four poker tables, one roulette table, and eight bingo tables.” Staff and teachers worked as dealers for every table. “It is always awesome when you can get dealers like Linda Toohey and Dwight Gunnare who both have strong relationships with our students, and even the president himself, Dr. Divine,” stated Fulton. Starting out, students were each given one golden coin and could exchange it for 1,000 chips. Throughout the night, students gambled with their chips across the assortment of games in an attempt to attain more chips. Majoring in computer science, CC student Taylee Siemens stated, “Sitting with my friends, watching them bet everything and losing,” proved one of her favorite parts of the night. Nearing the end of the evening, students received one gold coin per 1,000 chips. They could then exchange however many golden coins they received for raffle tickets with the chance to win an assortment of different prizes. The most popular prizes were the Airpod Pros with over 100 raffle tickets alone, the 40-inch TV and the Xbox Series X with an overall total of 650 raffle tickets submitted, according to Fulton. As someone who participated in Casino Night three times, majoring in communications and multimedia, CC student Isabella Coronado said, “It’s always nice just getting to see everyone have a good time and it's always fun to try all of the games and get prizes”. "Shoplifters" steals the show at Casper College Jacob Klaudt Chinook Writer The 31st Annual Multicultural Film Festival at Casper College screened "Shoplifters," written and directed by Kore-eda Hirokazu, on April 25 in the Wheeler Auditorium located in the Wold Physical Science Center. Shoplifters, released in November of 2018, depicts the life of an underprivileged Japanese family forced to steal to meet their own basic needs. “The thing I like about Shoplifters is that I feel like it gives you a view into the struggle of these people and does it in a way that makes you feel compassion for a situation that you may not agree with,” said Dr. Kristina Pham, psychology instructor and co-chair of the CC Diversity and Inclusion committee. “It reminds me of those stories where someone steals baby formula, and the police pay for it instead of arresting the person responsible.” The two-hour and oneminute long film stars Japanese film celebrities Lily Frank and Sakura Andô and highlights this years’ Multicultural Film Festival’s theme: Dimensions of Poverty. “Poverty is rarely ever thought about as a part of diversity and inclusion. We tend to think about things like minority status and not necessarily about economic status and how that affects people’s lives,” said Pham. "Shoplifters" takes place in a financially challenged and underprivileged area of Tokyo. The story follows a make-shift family: one bonded a by compassion and basic trust rather than blood or familial ties. Each member of the family draws income from vastly different job types from construction worker to industrial laundry woman and even thief. “It’s really impactful when you first realize the type of dynamic the family has and the type relationships you anticipate they’re going to have,” said festival participant and health science major Jilian Moore. Even so, all of these earnings fail to support the family given a new sanction in the Japanese workplace. In turn, the father figure of the family is forced to procure food through stealing from the local supermarket with the younger members of his family. One night after the group’s routine shoplifting session, they encounter a young girl who appears to be abandoned teams, to try out for plays. You can do so many things.” And Zoby considers himself lucky to be a part of the culture here. He believes that Casper is a place that himself and other instructors who like to implement environmental concerns into their writing, such as CC Sociology and World Religions instructor Chad Hanson, have strived to be in. “Take Hanson and I. We fought to get here because we wanted to explore the West, and we wanted to be able to drive out and find a beautiful place,” Zoby said. “We’re people who read Edward Abbey, you know, and Aldo Leopold – big conservationists … we wanted a place where we could go camp and be on the land. We fought to get here. We gave up a lot.” And Zoby did give up quite a lot. Moving to Wyoming meant leaving his family and most of the people he knew behind. On the other hand, instructors like Hanson consider CC lucky to have him. Hanson joked that Zoby wins a national writing competition once every six months. Hanson continuously stressed Zoby’s talent. “I think he’s probably one of the few people I know who could make, if he wanted to, a living as a writer. That's a hard thing to do, but Dave is good enough that he could totally do that if he wanted to,” Hanson said. “But he doesn’t. And I think it’s because he loves teaching. And conversations. He loves education so much, he’s never going to stop being a student.” As an English instructor with a bachelor’s degree in communications and journalism and a masters degree in fine arts, Zoby took literature classes on CC’s campus and at the University of Wyoming. Before joining students as peers in literature classes at CC, Zoby co-authored a book and published a variety of articles. Zoby reflected on his time co-writing his book, Fire on the Beach: Recovering the Lost Story of Richard Etheridge and the Pea Island Lifesavers, very fondly and hailed it as a moment in his and injured. The family then informally adopts the young girl. The rest of the film depicts the family’s downward spiral and allows the viewer to evaluate the morality of the family and its situation. “Through "Shoplifters, I really learned about the bon"ds people make when they are struggling and going through hard times. It’s pretty beautiful, pretty challenging and messy,” said festival attendee and social work major Tesla McConnaughey. Other films already shown at this year’s festival include Grass is Greener and The Florida Project. Grass is Greener, directed by Fab 5 Freddy, looks into marijuana’s impact on the AfricanAmerican community and its correlation with poverty. “Grass is Greener is a documentary chosen by members of the Casper College Student Senate in honor of Black History Month. It traces the history of cannabis in America and tThehe impact of the country’s war on marijuana on people of color, including art, music, and incarceration,” said Kat Bohr-Buresh, CC O.L.L.I Coordinator and co-chair of the Diversity and Inclusion committee. The Florida Project, starring Brooklyn Prince and Willem DaFoe, explores the journey of a struggling, single mother and her daughter over the course of an eventful summer. “That movie is about a young single mom who's trying to figure out how to “make it”, and looking at that journey through the eyes of a child and how children view that situation,” said Pham. "Shoplifters, a provocative and perplexin"g film on the effects of poverty in a foreign culture, fits quite well into the Multicultural Film Festival’s theme: Dimensions of Poverty. Past themes of the festival include: “Hispanic Stories” (2022), “Seeking Justice in a Diverse America” (2021), and “Native American Stories” (2020). At the end of the day, the Multicultural Film Festival at Casper College aims to educate the student body on important issues that impact society through the lens and scope of quality films. “Through the Multicultural Film Festival I was introduced to movies I would not have watched otherwise,” said McConnaughey. “It brings a different perspective to issues that everyone might not experience personally or on a day to day basis.” Dave Zoby's love for nature in his writing career Garrett Grochowski Chinook Writer Dave Zoby didn’t move to Wyoming because he loved anything anyone put here. He moved to Wyoming to explore things like mountains, rivers, education, and his writing. The Casper College instructor reflected on what he’s achieved in his career since writing a book, publishing articles in a variety of magazines, traveling the world, and moving to Wyoming to teach at CC. In Casper, he sets out to help students grow and give them opportunities they wouldn’t receive elsewhere before sending them off into the world. Zoby loves teaching at CC because of the opportunities a smaller campus can provide. “If you come to a community college like this, you can grab all the opportunities and have a good chance at getting some of them. Whereas you go to these big schools and you get lost in the shuffle,” Zoby said. “Here there’s opportunity to travel with professors, to be on Photo Courtsey of Chad Hanson English Instructor Dave Zoby fly fishes with his dog inside a river during the winter months. life he worked hard to do something important and do it correctly. Zoby said, “Two guys that were average students and average football players were like ‘we’re gonna go and chase this academic pursuit that's high level’ … and we chased it and went to the very top with it. It didn’t make us famous and it wasn’t like a bestseller of a book, but here’s the thing: it’s relevant.” According to Zoby, Endeavor Studios optioned — See Zoby, Page 3 �Page 2 Divine's Intervention: Chinook Stance Boredom... Carlos Fandal Carlos' Curiosities Unfortunately, I know Casper all too well. It’s a growing town, but it still has plenty of growing to do. People -- let’s be honest --Casper can be an incredibly boring town. Summer is coming up, and we can’t have boredom. You all deserve to have fun! If you’re here from out of town or you’re a local reader, I’ve got you covered. I, Carlos Fandal III, am about to cure your boredom and make your day ten times better with my definitive list of things to do in Casper Wyoming. I’m gonna do my best to keep this list diverse, cheap, and actually fun. Here we go! First, take a hike! Casper, Wyo. itself may not be a total gem to look at but thankfully for us, literally everything around us is remarkable. A short trip up to Casper Mountain’s Rotary Park is a beautiful picnic location that doubles as a trailhead for all sorts of trails, varying in difficulty. No Car? That’s okay too! Casper is home to several in-town trailheads too like Whitewater Park off of West 1st Street. Like I mentioned earlier, summer is very fast approaching! Assuming we don’t have another crippling winter storm, Casper is home to several great camping spots to learn and enjoy. We’ve got your standard mountain family campgrounds up on Casper Mountain, like Lodgepole campground, or the Elkhorn Springs campground. Fire pits, paved tent / RV spots, and vandalized picnic tables, what more can you ask for? Casper is also home to a couple of other sceneries for local camping, such as Alcova lake and Pathfinder Reservoir. One last place I’d like to highlight is Fort Caspar campground! If you’re looking for a historical kick, this is absolutely your place. Casper is historically very, very interesting in a couple different ways. Our next “thing to do” is to check out all of our local museums. Fort Caspar actually doubles as a museum too! See how Casper locals lived a couple hundred years ago while you camp! The National Historic Trails Interpretive Center is on the north end of Poplar street, and is a really intriguing and well put together look at life before us in Wyoming. Dioramas of Natives, and highlights of some of their local trails will get you in the historical spirit. For my archaeologists, we actually have a geological museum here! Despite being actually located on Casper College grounds, I’m surprised to hear a lot of students have no clue the Tate Geological Museum exists! Go there! It’s really cool! Casper also has a very rich history in that department as well. Straying from the historical themes, Casper also has a planetarium, which is near the Historic Trails Center on Poplar. The center can be really enlightening with a great display of technology. Finally, you could try out the Nicolaysen Art Museum if none of these are up your alley. This downtown I mentioned is home to several local shops, restaurants, and other oddities that are sure to satisfy the odd bored day, all within walking distance of one another. From a three story midwestern clothing store, to a bead store, downtown is sure to have something for everyone. While Casper may have a reputation for being a bit dull, there are actually plenty of fun and diverse things that’ll keep you entertained this summer. Whether you're in the mood for a hike, a camping trip, or exploring the town's rich history and museums, Casper has something to offer. Casper is what you make of it! www.caspercollege.edu/chinook May 1, 2023 CHINOOK “ For my last message this academic year, I want to first thank everyone for being a part of our Casper College community. Second, I want to wish everyone a wonderful summer. Whether you have the summer off, will work even more during the summer, have vacation plans, or simply plan to have no plans, I wish you a wonderful and happy summer. Abraham Lincoln once said “Most people are about as happy as they make their minds up to be.” In short, happiness, much like several other states of mind, is a choice to be made; one way or another. Certainly there are emotional conditions, life challenges, and a variety of other circumstances that make it difficult to choose to he happy, but in the end, it is still a choice we all make, or fail to make. I freely admit it took a long time to incorporate this concept into my own life. For too long I glossed over this idea and just “went with the flow.” When I was happy, I believed it was because everything was going well, and thus, I should be happy. When things were not going as well as I wanted, then I was, rightfully so I thought, unhappy. But in reality, neither of those concepts was correct. Events are events; they are not good or bad, they are simply circumstances that occur. While we usually cannot control such circumstances, we can choose how we react. Life is challenging. Be those challenges relatively inconsequential, or serious and life-defining, events will occur on a continual basis. Allowing events to determine your state of happiness, while common, is not the most proactive, or healthiest, of choices. Allowing yourself the freedom and control to accept events as they occur, and choosing to be happy regardless of circumstances, is a much harder, but ultimately much healthier, choice. I bid each of you a peaceful and fulfilling summer… Events are events; they are not good or bad, they are simply circumstances that occur. While we usually cannot control such circumstances, we can choose how we react. — Darren Divine, Ph.D., Casper College President Why we show Jonna McCullough Meeting McCullough Showing cattle is a wellknown agriculture pastime involving millions of families across the world that dedicate their time, passion, and love for the industry. Ranging between showing the traditional cattle breeds of British and Continental such as Angus, Simmental, Hereford, and Maine Anjou to the American breeds of Brahmans and Brahman influenced cattle. Waking up before the sun rises in the summer to put cattle in the barn to keep cool and clean is not an easy task. Making sure every morning and night they’re getting fed at the same time to keep a consistent feeding and gaining program is vital to a show calves world. Treating their skin and hair like our very own and maybe even better sounds crazy from an outsider looking in, but to those families, it all makes sense. We must keep the cattle under fans and air conditioners in the summer to recreate the feel of winter and to continue growing hair and maintain moisturized skin. Livestock kids spend most of their summertime in the barn with their cattle, like kids spend more time at school growing up. It’s hard to juggle school, sports, showing cattle, and family time, but with the right balance, goals, and ambitions there's always time for the things and people you love most. Showing cattle isn’t all about the stock and keeping good care of them, but it’s also about what you have learned along the way. A hard work ethic, passion, determination, and leadership, all of which are important skills needed to grow up are gained in the show barn. Many late nights, blood, sweat, and tears are soaked into the foundation and structure of the barn making every minute more valuable than the last. The perfect way to end the day for a show cattle kid is letting the animals out at sunset and watching the sun go down behind the green grass hills as the cattle graze. Not every day is easy to get up and go in the morning while your friends are sleeping in from a late night out. The urge to turn off your alarm and go back to bed is running through your mind over and over again, but those animals are relying on you to eat and get into the barn before the heat strikes. The responsibility is yours, and their hunger is on you. Growing up as a livestock kid and working in the heat while the sweat rolls down your neck can teach skills that sitting in the classroom can’t. The experience and opportunities to learn hands-on and make connections within the industry is irreplaceable. Practicing your public speaking and social interactions skills are regularly used within the livestock showing industry furthering the essential skills of independence. The memories made and people met along the way last a lifetime and carry on to another. For some families it’s just a hobby, but for others it’s a way of life that they wouldn’t change for the world. Student Voice Since 1945 WRITING CENTER The Writing Center at Casper College is here to help our students and members of the community. Brainstorm possible paper topics Craft an essay Gain writing strategies 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 �May 1, 2023 Page 3 CHINOOK Zoby........................................................ the book and the work has the potential to be turned into a movie or television series. Zoby’s shorter works have also seen their fair share of success. Magazines such as The Sun, and many outdoor sports-focused journals, feature Zoby’s grim and occasionally prophetic takes on the world and its systems. Zoby uses his writing to comment on the unsustainable way humans are using the out- doors, even here in Wyoming. According to Zoby, fish unnaturally stocked into Natrona County waters create an illusion of inexhaustible resources and immediate access to game. “Here this is a Disney World. We got the dam, which pumps out cold water, right here in Casper, as much as we want or as little as we want. It keeps all this trout – ridiculous trout populations – alive, which is totally a fiction,” Zoby said. In other places, his writing paints an even bleaker portrait. He recalled seeing fishermen in Alaska standing shoulder to shoulder for yards fishing in the same spots for salmon, turning up less every year. Alaska is rich in resources, but that's what makes it so attractive to abuse. Hanson reflected on a conflict between Alaskans over a proposed mine, its potential for creating jobs, and its potential environment ramifications as examples of how he, Zoby, and their students have sought conflict as sources of inspiration. Studying the varying interests in such a fragile area, according to Hanson, is an experience rich in art, media, and culture that’s invaluable to young writers. Whether at home in Casper or in Homer, Ala., where Zoby spent many summers, occa- continued from page 1 sionally alongside Hanson, he’s written about the attrition of wild fish populations in Kachemak Bay. Zoby uses literature as a means of communicating what he thinks needs protecting. He has concerns about problems he illustrated in his award-winning writing about Alaska reaching Wyoming, and he reflects fondly on what he considers worth protecting. Camping above the tree- line, watching elk graze from afar, a deep value of intimate education, and, unlike his anecdote about shoulder-toshoulder fishing in his essay Breaking Up With Alaska, peoples’ appreciation of space. Qualities nearly exclusive to the most rugged of the lower 48 are what keep this talented author at CC, where students can learn from a passionate, experienced writer each semester. CC ag hosts 43rd Annual Lamb and Pig Sale Kaylee Davis Chinook Writer The Casper College Agriculture Department held its 43rd annual Lamb and Pig Sale on Sunday, April 2nd. Aside from bringing people across from the state of Wyoming to gather and discuss their passion of raising livestock, the event also provides opportunity for CC Ag Department students to learn how to run and manage a sale, while earning money for the department. The Lamb and Pig Sale was first started as “a fundraiser for the Livestock Judging team by Kelly Burch, who was the head judging coach at the time, along with department head Bill Henry.” stated Ag Department head Heath Hornecker. This year’s sale hosted 31 lambs and 31 pigs that went through the show and sale ring. The night before the sale, a sift occurred, also referred to as the show, which is where every animal is evaluated and that determines the sale order for the next day. The sift not only helps with sale order, but it allows the producers to exhibit their animal’s show ring presence, which may help buyers choose which animal they prefer to purchase. Colby Hales, the head Livestock Judging Coach for the CC teams was once a student involved in the sale. He now helps prepare for the big day and volunteers his time as the auctioneer. Hales spoke to how he sees the event help students. “On a student level, the sale is nice because the students get to see the interworking of a sale, and I bet around 50% of ag students don’t get to see that.” Hales said. “On the college level, it’s a cool event that it brings a positive image to the college, and it gets people on campus which is valuable for recruiting, and for alumni and supporters to see what we’re doing as a department and group.” While most of the profits go towards the producers, 8% of the overall profit from each animal goes towards the CC Ag Department for commission. As of now, the sale is an invite sale only, with preference given to former CC Alumni. Such a structure allows alumni to come back, engage with current students and staff and catch up on the college, ag department and judging team happenings! Kaylee Davis/Chinook Above, Emmy Hornecker, a local producer, stands with her lamb before going into the ring. To the right, ag club members run the front table welcoming buyers. Pictured from left to right is Bailey Mast, Ceara Moffatt, Lacee Sanford, Kassadee Lym. Burkett retires as livestock judging coach Jacob Klaudt/Chinook Dr. Jeremy Burkett, Casper College alumni and current animal science instructor, retired from coaching the CC Livestock Judging Team back in March after the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Burkett coached 14 teams, drove over a million miles in the judging van, and instructed approximately 350 judging students. Six of Burkett’s judging students earned the title of All-American Junior College Livestock Judges. “Dr. Burkett not only aided in my growth as a livestock judging student but in my development as a person, reinforcing life skills such as honesty and integrity, which I will hold near and dear for the rest of my life,” said agricultural business major and CC sophomore Jessy Barger. Burkett helped lead the T-Birds to a National Championship in 2014, winning by a substantial margin of 31 points. Burkett and the 2022-2023 team hold the record for the lowest placings drop in the junior college division at the National Western Stock Show with five evaluators dropping 88 points out of a possible 3000. In retirement, Burkett said he will enjoy exhibiting show sheep with his family, serving the swine industry as a member of the National Pork Board, and continuing to educate students at CC. “Spending time with my family is what I’m most excited about in terms of my retirement,” Burkett said. “At the same time, family is what I’m going to miss most about CC livestock judging.” �Page 4 May 1, 2023 CHINOOK Globalization and its affect on students Kaley Pieper Chinook Writer Submitted Photo Pictured to the right is a histroical photograph of Sash Moline's family on their homestead. Submitted Photo CC Student Sash Moline posed for a photo with her husband and children on her family's seventh generation homestead. Globalization is a relatively new term that is becoming increasingly important in understanding our global community. Globalization is defined by Oxford dictionary as the word used to describe the growing interdependence of the world's economies, cultures, and populations. Depending on the field of work or study, the definition of globalization may vary. For example, in the economics industry, increasing cross-border trade, wide-spread use of technology, and interest in global capital makes globalization strong. In the media field, the spread of cultures and ideas integrates media across the globe causing media companies to grow even larger with a more pervasive reach. So what really is globalization, and how does it affect the life of a Casper College student? Three students in a world geography class wrote essays to answer just that. Sash Moline, Suzee Sanford, and Jay Joccaforte each explained what globalization means to them, and how it has affected their lives. Moline is a mother of three with another child on the way. She takes online classes through CC while living in Thermopolis and working at the elementary school. Moline and her family still live near the original homestead of her ancestor’s ranch and currently run a cowcalf operation. She explained that being from Thermopolis, Wyo., she definitely determines the term globalization differently than someone from Haiti or Brazil. “I believe globalization affects all of us, especially with how much we all have access to the internet.” Moline explained. “Being able to search for anything you can think of and have any item shipped to your house from any vendor in the world, even here in rural Wyoming, in just a matter of days makes us reliant on globalization.” Since we live here in the U.S. and have internet access, Moline explained that such access puts us on the forefront of globalization and makes us even more connected to the rest of the world. She said globalization looks very different from the perspective of someone in a different country. “Haiti is known to be the Western Hemisphere’s poorest country. This country deals with economic problems and its people are experiencing widespread poverty. Poverty would mean the people would not be as connected through internet usage, leaving the people of Haiti to interpret globalization as a suppression of their culture,” Moline said. Another student had a different opinion on globalization. Sanford is a 53-year-old Spanish major going into international studies. She shared her interpretation of globalization. Sanford said, “Being able to not physically touch, but contact something so physically far away. Being in touch with the world on a moment's notice.” During Sanford’s childhood, she said her only ‘window to the world’ came through her TV in her rural Pennsylvania living room. In the 1970’s, there were no home computers or internet, so her concepts of people from other cultures and countries came from the Wide World of Sports, and Godzilla movies. “It’s instant and constant news now. There’s no break from it,” Sanford said. “We’re just bombarded with news constantly, tragedies usually. Globalization is unavoidable at this point in world history.” Roccaforte is a 20-year-old ,multimedia communications major and RA at the dorms on campus. He pointed to the popular Western fast-food chain McDonald’s in his explanation of globalization. After starting in the U.S., McDonald’s is now one of the most popular and prevalent restaurants on the planet. Roccaforte said, “It has been argued that the term ought to be changed to “Americanization,” as globalization has been claimed to only benefit the United States; it has created a world that echoes the ideals and values of white America.” Roccaforte also described the struggles of cultures conforming to the globally dominant status quo, and its negative effects on his life as a result. “My grandmother and her 11 siblings moved to the United States from Mexico as children, seeking the economic opportunities America offered. In school, she was bullied for speaking Spanish, and when she grew up, she chose not to teach any Spanish to her daughters. As a result, the language has been erased from the culture of my family. This anecdote fits closer to the definition of Americanization, my family having felt obligated to assimilate into American culture at the expense of their own.” Roccaforte wrote in his essay. While there are benefits and drawbacks to globalization as a whole, a question remains -- Is globalization good or bad? Each student shared a similar answer; it’s complicated. “That question is complicated and open to interpretation. Here in Thermopolis, having Amazon delivered to my doorstep is good. In the U.S. it allows us to be more connected with the rest of the world,” replied Moline. Sanford was less positive in her interpretation of globalization. Sanford explained, “I’m kinda 50-50. The technology that allows us to do that is amazing, but I would hate to be a victim of globalization.” Roccaforte answered, “In general, it’s bad I guess? It rejects cultural diversity in the name of profit and convenience.” Whether or not globalization is a good or bad thing, it is important to remember and celebrate each culture’s differences. Globalization shouldn’t be the reason cultures are lost. As Roccaforte wrote in his essay, “Silencing the minority experience is easy, and humanity as a whole needs to do the hard thing. It is through an improved understanding of globalization, the effects it has on an individual life, and the deliberate action to engage with a variety of cultures that one is able to truly advocate for the preservation of cultural diversity at a global scale.” 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 �May 1, 2023 Page 5 CHINOOK Becker reflects on 30 years in law enforcement Photo Courtesy of Zachary Vreeman John Becker posed for a photo in the CC Security Office. Prior to his time at the college, Becker worked at the Sheriff's office for over 30 years Ella Meyer Chinook Writer On the morning of Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001, John Becker was getting ready for work and getting his kids ready for school when the first tower was hit. The attack stopped the flow of the morning, as both he and his wife found themselves enthralled with what was going on in New York City that fateful morning. Many people found themselves in the same situation on the day of 9/11, simply getting ready for work when the two towers were struck down. This was no different for Becker and the other officers in the sheriff’s office. Becker worked for the Sheriff’s office in Natrona County for 30 years prior to working as head of security for the college. During his years on the force he worked as a firearms instructor at the airport, where he met Mike Hendershot. Mike Hendershot worked as a Fire Medical Deputy Sheriff for 30 years at the airport before leaving to work security at Casper College. Hendershot described Becker as knowledgeable, not only during his time at the airport, but also in his work at the college. “He always listens to what we have to say, and he’s a fair interest in racing. Former CC Automotive Technology Instructor Chris Raymond played a role in Garvin’s passion for racing. Garvin’s brother majored in automotive tech, and Raymond helped him get into rally racing, a point to point race where cars go one at a time on a dirt or asphalt road instead of a designated race track. Eventually he invited Garvin to try a rallycross race, a race with multiple cars on a circuit road designed for racing. “I thought ‘sounds like going fast in cool cars, so sure. Why not?’” Garvin said. “We actually ended up buying an old beater Honda Civic, and we tore the crap out of it. We went to a few events and it just kind of sucked me in.” A 2001 Honda Civic with a manual transmission was the first car Garvin bought and fixed up specifically for racing. Garvin noted that it was a “piece of junk.” When he bought it, the fifth gear didn’t work, it needed a new clutch and a few other basic repairs. He and his brother did a clutch job, replaced the spark plugs, and then Garvin replaced the transmission when he decided to sell it. The first race Garvin participated in was a rallycross in Colorado, he said his goal for the race was just to not get last place. “It was a fall event so it wasn’t super hot, but it was very dusty. I just remember being around all these people I didn’t know and thinking ‘this is crazy,’” Garvin explained. “But there were a ton of cool cars there, and I think that’s actually the first time I saw this Fiat that I have now.” In 2020, Garvin purchased his second race car – a 2013 Fiat 500 Abarth. The white car is small and round with red decals. When the doors are open, the car greets you with a chime and the cozy interior showcases shiny red leather seats and a new car smell still lingers. He named this car “Appa” after the sky bison in the show “Avatar the Last Airbender.” “I saw it at a couple events, and the guy who drove it was a fantastic driver. He won like everything he went to,” Garvin said. “I was getting really sick of working on that Civic, and I was getting ready to sell it… and then in the group he posted that Fiat was for sale. And I wondered ‘Do I really want a Fiat? It’s kind of a goofy car.’ But the more I researched it, they’re fast for what they are. Once you get over that idea that everyone is going to think I’m weird for driving a Fiat, then you open it up and it blows their minds and they realize maybe that is a cool car.” The previous owner was selling it for a very good deal under market value along with four wheels. Garvin said he couldn’t resist, and he never doubted his decision. “That’s one of my best car purchases I’ve ever made, just from the sheer enjoyment I’ve gotten out of it,” Garvin said. The first race with Appa was in the stock class, racing unmodified cars, and they took second place overall and first place in novice. After his first race, he modified Appa and moved up to a different class. Now he is working his way up and trying to improve his racing in the higher class. “I loved [Appa]... It’s Racing full throttle Lucy Jane Crimm Chinook Writer Cory Garvin is a computer support technician for Casper College. While a typical day for him consists of fixing computers and printers, he maintains a bold and surprising hobby. Garvin started fixing, modding and racing cars in 2018. “Cory’s an adventurous guy, he’s always open to new stuff even if it’s a little bit dangerous, but as a friend he’s just a tame and open guy. Always friendly and always willing to help out and share what he knows,” a friend of Garvin and fellow racer Christian Gopperton said in a phone interview. Born and raised in Casper, Garvin said he grew up helping his dad fix stuff and enjoyed tinkering with things. Many of his hobbies came from his enjoyment of tinkering– cameras, computers, cars and airplanes to name a few. “My hobbies are all of the expensive ones,” Garvin joked. “Anything I can tinker with or get an adrenaline rush out of, I’m usually into. When I’m home, I’m tinkering with something. Whether it be a computer, camera or car.” Garvin got his first car in high school. It was a 20-yearold 1991 Jeep Grand Cherokee that used to belong to his cousin. The car needed significant work, and he ended up doing it all himself which taught him the basics of auto repair. Garvin said his second car is when he started messing around with modding cars– he raised the suspension with a lift kit. Fixing and modding his vehicles sparked his interest in cars, which soon grew into an boss who doesn’t micromanage too much,” said Hendershot. They became fast friends when working together at the airport, often seeing each other nearly every day. Their common ground in law enforcement started them off on the right foot, working together to make the training easier and the airport safer. However, out of 30 years of working together, the event that brought them the closest was 9/11. Becker was working in the sheriff’s office at the time, taking the day to close down all forms of air transportation and escorting everyone out of the airport. The day was a somber one, filled with confusion and many civilians in the airport trying to create an explanation for what was happening in their country. “The first thing I felt was shock,” Becker said as he talked about that morning, noting that most of the country was in the same state. Becker said there was a ripple effect in law enforcement that day, and without needing to be told, airports across the country shut down, and air traffic in the United States halted for the foreseeable future. That day brought many law enforcement officers together, including Becker and his office of coworkers. Becker said law enforcement changed the way they trained at the airport, more of it becoming terrorism based. But, what got Becker through the stress of the next few weeks was his faith. He said he changed the way he looked at life, including the way he looked at neighboring countries. On the day of 9/11, he was in church, praying for those who lost their lives in the attack. He came in uniform and said the priest at the time thanked him for coming in uniform, showing the people there that America was going to be ok. “9/11 brought everyone together and opened the line of communication between law enforcement officers,” Becker said about the weeks and months after the day. Pilots made people talk to each other on the plane, encouraging them say hello to their neighbors. Becker talked about how many people were merely concerned with themselves before the attack, and America felt truly divided. But 9/11 brought United We Stand to the nation, and the sheriff’s office and the police department were no longer so separate. The law enforcement agencies started working together more frequently, and Becker said he still works to keep the door open between the sheriff’s office and security at the college. But, as the nation moved on from the terrorist attack, the sense of unity diminished too. Becker said people don’t talk to each other anymore, and neighbors seem more hostile to one another in the process. “The whole country needs to unite and step up!” Becker said of the country’s current climate. Throughout his time as the director of security at Casper College, Becker said he made it a part of his routine to talk to students by sitting in the middle of the cafeteria when eating and teaching classes for the criminal justice major. Whether it be students, teachers, or people visiting the college, he makes a point to be kind and reach out. When reflecting back on his time at the airport, Becker said that he wouldn’t change a thing. He is most proud of his 33 years of marriage, raising three boys, and accomplishing 37 years in law enforcement. He also is a Deacon at his church, becoming closer to God after the attack, and working on that relationship since then. Becker said that the key to life is to enjoy what you do, and if you don’t enjoy it then you need to find something else. “Enjoy what you do, and treat people how you want to be treated,” said Becker, talking about what got him so far in life and what’s kept him happy throughout his career. Hendershot described 30 years of knowing Becker as a pleasure and honor. Becker shared the same sentiments, and extended them to his other brothers in law enforcement. His time at the college is not over, just yet, as he plans to keep working until his ultimate goal: retirement. Lucy Jane Crimm/Chinook Above, Cory Garvin stands next to the Miata he refurbished. During his work day, Garvin is a computer support technician for Casper College. a really uncommon car and I’ve always really loved when people race cars that aren’t expected,” Gopperton said. “Through that I just knew that Cory really had an enthusiasm for cars and not just the lifestyle where it’s just a status symbol.” Garvin’s passion for racing also helped him build friendships with people who shared those passions. Garvin introduced Gopperton to the racing world, and they used racing as a way to build their relationship. Gopperton races in a 2011 Honda CRZ. “I just started [racing] last year, actually because of Cory,” Gopperton said. “I had seen through social media that he had gone out and done rallycross, and up until that point I had just gone to shows and meet ups on the street. I had just started to discover the entry level point of motor sports… I got in contact with him and he ended up inviting me to a rallycross event in Colorado.” Gopperton and Garvin met while they were in high school and were in Civil Air Patrol together but never really became close until two years ago when they reconnected over racing. “With rallycross and autocross the drivers volunteer when it’s not their turn to drive, and Cory was the photographer at a lot of the events and one of the events we went to he was doing photography,” Gopperton recalled. “I was just starting to get into photography at the time and he needed a spotter so I asked him if I could… We both ended up taking pictures on course, but it was just so cool that he was open to the idea of letting me.” Unfortunately, Garvin said he hasn’t raced as much as he would like recently because between gas, hotels and car repairs, the expenses add up. Garvin’s future plans for racing are to start doing more racing with Appa on pavement so it isn’t as hard on it and he wants to get his 1990 and 1991 Miatas in shape to continue racing on dirt roads. “It sounds kind of weird, but racing has taught me to just be patient,” Garvin said. “Sometimes you just have to let the car do things, and when you really think about it in life somethings are just going to happen and you just have to let it happen and then correct afterwards. That’s really philosophical and it sounds kind of silly, but just plan ahead, but be patient and be okay when things don’t work out how you want them to.” 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 at brianne.weigel@caspercollege.edu �Page 6 May 1, 2023 CHINOOK CC's Jennie Miller says chihuahuas are people too! Carlos Fandal III Chinook Writer Jennie Miller is a wellrespected psychology instructor at Casper College who has been making a difference in the lives of both humans and animals for many years. While her professional expertise lies in the field of psychology, Miller's passion for animal welfare led her to become a devoted rescuer of chihuahuas, or as she likes to call them, her chicos. Over the years, she fostered and found loving homes for countless dogs, earning the admiration of her colleagues, students, and chicos alike. The foundation for fostering started years ago when Miller began her career as an English teacher for secondary and high school students. During that time she became deeply interested in the mental well-being of her students and what was going on in their minds. Miller reflected on her experience. “I kind of got intrigued with what was going on with the kids, you know, do they really feel like reading Romeo and Juliet when they have bad things happening at home or, you know, having emotional issues? I was like, Oh, I think I want to be a school counselor,” Miller said. “And so I started going back to school to get my master's degree, and when I got into my program, I was more intrigued with the mental health aspects rather than school counseling. So I went that direction and got into mental health counseling.” Following her time in counseling, Miller realized she missed being in the classroom and surrounded by kids. “I like working with the older students, the adults. I call them all kids,” Miller said. With a newfound appreciation for teaching, she pondered her next steps. Miller said, “I thought, well, I'll go get my PhD. Because I thought I might teach at the college level. I didn't want to go back to the public schools. So that's what I did, I got my PhD.” During her PhD studies in Portland, Or. Miller formed an unexpected bond with a special companion. While she didn’t realize it at the time, the encounter marked the beginning of a lifelong devotion to a particular breed: chihuahuas. Miller then dove into the story. “I was in my PhD program out in Oregon, and I was living in a trailer court. There were these people that lived in a horseshoe trailer court. They had this dog, and they didn't really want the dog. It was a Chihuahua. But they were taking care of it, and these people weren't very responsible, either. I think there were some drugs going on down that way.” Miller’s compassion drove her to check on the little dog one day. “So I knew the dog was there. I'd seen the dog outside a few times on a little chain. I came back from school, and it was really hot in Portland, Ore. And I thought I'm gonna go down to make sure that dog has water, because I was just, you know, I like dogs.” said Miller. The conclusion of the story is heartwarming and reminiscent of a scene straight out of a heartwarming children's movie. “When I went around the corner, there was this little black and white Chihuahua with a choke chain on her. And she looked up at me, and I swear she smiled. I picked her up, took the choke chain off. I thought, ‘when they come home, I'm gonna tell them they need to be a little more responsible’, but they never came. They didn't want the dog back. So I ended up keeping the dog. Her name was Lupe. I knew that much about her. The vet said she was probably about eight or nine, and she had some issues, but she was just the cutest dog. And I just, I don't know, there was just something about her. And after that, I was hooked.” said Miller After years of traveling and owning several Chihuahuas, Miller made the decision to return to Casper and live closer to her family. At about the same time, Casper College was looking for a general psychology professor. She applied for and earned the position, which is a job she still holds to this day. “I mean, this is probably one of the best jobs I've ever had. I really liked the people that I work with, and I really liked the students” Miller said. Nowadays Miller has four dogs, and a cat, all of them from a different source. Miller said, “I have a long-haired Chihuahua, and then I have a short-haired Chihuahua. And then my mom, I got her dogs because she passed away. She had a papillon, which is kind of like a chihuahua except that it has a lot of hair. I'm a sucker for rescuing dogs. So I ended up rescuing a Chi-whippet. It's kind of like a miniature greyhound. She's kind of bigger than when I first saw her. I thought she was smaller. But then she looked so sad. And she was all skinny and scrawny. So we took her and so I've got four dogs now.” Miller said her cat is also from an unlikely place. “She's a stray. I always end up with the refugees. She just started showing up in our backyard. And I was like, ‘Oh, hi, cat.’ I was like, Oh, I'll get a can of tuna fish. So we started putting out cans of tuna fish, and she'd show up. She is so funny, because she is a bully to the Chihuahuas. She's a bully, she'll stand at the top of the stairs on the deck and won't let them up.” Adopting a pet is a big responsibility that requires careful consideration and preparation. Being mindful when adopting a pet ensures the animal receives the proper care, attention, and love that it deserves, leading to a happy and healthy life together. Unfortunately, not every animal adoption is as nice and wholesome as Miller’s, as she told Chinook. “That's what's happening right now. During the pandemic, I think the statistic is something like one in every five households adopted a pet during the pandemic. And now they're giving them away to shelters and whatnot, because they've had to go back to work. Chihuahuas specifically, they're on the top 10 List everywhere you look in terms of animals being put in shelters and abandoned. They're up there with the pit bull and the other big dogs, which is kind of surprising.” Miller's journey is an inspiration for those who wish to follow their passion and make a positive impact in the world. Her dedication to animal welfare and her beloved chicos led her to become a role model for students, colleagues, and animal lovers alike. Her story of how she became a rescuer of chihuahuas is heartwarming. Miller's work as a psychology instructor at Casper College and her passion for animal welfare shows how good it can be to do what you love and help those in need. �May 1, 2023 CHINOOK Page 7 Let's Rodeo! The 67th Annual CC Ropin’ and Riggin’ Days Lucy Jane Crimm/Chinook Left, CC rodeo clowns try to redirect a bull after a bull riding event at the 67th annual Ropin' and Riggin' Days. Lucy Jane Crimm/Chinook Below, Casper College's Beau Rees and Laramie County Community College's Dane Pokorny participate in the Wild Ride, an additioanl event at the Saturday night performance. Cassidy Espenscheid rides past after roping a calf in the breakaway roping event. Lucy Jane Crimm/Chinook Above, CC Bareback Rider Myles Carlson holds onto his bronc while competing in the 67th annual Ropin’ and Riggin’ days. To the right, two CC rodeo team members, Garrett Titmus and Jasper Neal untie a calf during the tie down roping. Lucy Jane Crimm/Chinook � 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 2023-05 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. 2023-05 Description An account of the resource This is a copy of the online Chinook Newspaper from May 2023. 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_2023-05 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF