https://caspercollege.cvlcollections.org/files/original/74d366afcda5b65e342c2f2e3bbc2216.pdf a07de04048faa33d3019249c3c546283 PDF Text Text November 1, 2023 Casper College’s Student Voice Since 1945 The ‘Scoot Gang’ strikes again Nina Bivens Chinook Writer Casper College does not currently allow rollerblades, skateboards, or anything similar on campus, as interpreted by CC security. International exchange student and soccer player Zack Gorman explained that the regulations prove especially challenging for foreign students with little access to other transportation, “During my time at Casper Community College, I have had the privilege of meeting several international students who face numerous challenges when it comes to getting to class in a timely manner. Many of these students do not have the money or the time to obtain a driver's license, let alone a vehicle,” Gorman said. With the current regulations, some students are at more of a disadvantage than others. Regarding one particular incident, Gorman said, “My friend was late to her class due to long commutes from building to building. Despite leaving her class as soon as she was dismissed, she encountered unexpected delays and arrived late. Witnessing her frustration and disappointment made me realize how crucial it is for our school administration to address this issue.” To mitigate the issues they were facing, the soccer teams and other international students turned to using scooters on campus. According to Dean of Students Corey Peacock, campus security originally denied the use of scooters due to current policy. When asked about the current policy surrounding other means of transportation besides cars and bikes, Peacock said, “It’s generally well-known by students that skateboards are not allowed on campus. I think there was an assumption made by a lot of folks, including campus security, that scooters fell into that classification. So, security asked students with scooters at the beginning of the year to not have them on campus.” In response to the current policy, Gorman and others who owned scooters decided to try and get the rule changed. To do so, Peacock said the students started a petition. In regard to the petition, Peacock said, “This one happened to be very successful in getting a lot of names. They presented to student senate, and student senate was able to go through the proper channels to try to look at policies.” Peacock said that the meeting included students, student senate, security officers, and himself. They very — See Scoot Gang, Page 3 Submitted Photo Zack Gorman, International transfer student and soccer player, rides his scooter on campus earlier this semester. CC's budget: Where do student fees go? Kassadee Lym Chinook Writer Kassadee Lym/Chinook Connie Brooks is pictured here helping Casper College student Ceara Moffatt with financial questions in the Gateway Building. Casper College students pay large sums of money to the institution each semester, and the money is distributed to fund various aspects of the college. The Chinook investigated how tuition and mandatory student fees are decided and where the money goes. Lynnde Colling, vice president of administration at CC, explained the allocation of received funds and where they come from. She also explained the structure of the operating budget at the college, which classifies into three main categories: state appropriations, local appropriations, and tuition and fees. Colling said that state appropriations are money the college receives from the state, whereas local appropriations are money the college receives from local property taxes. Colling said one challenge the college must navigate when dealing with both sections of the budget is fluctuation. Because of the mineral industry and other variables in the state of Wyoming, Colling said, “ It’s (the budget) is not necessarily flat. It’ll have big ups and downs.” Colling also explained that steady inflation increases the price of medical supplies, equipment, and technology software. However, the operating budget of CC remained relatively steady. Colling shared another example of a budget challenge that occurred in 2021. CC’s operating budget saw a two-million dollar shortfall. To deal with this, Colling explained that she and her team worked to refigure the budget to avoid cutting any piece entirely. “It's not easy to do quickly, so you have to be looking ahead at the what-ifs,” Colling said. Tuition and fees make up the last segment of the operating budget. Colling explained that the Wyoming Community College Commission fixes tuition. The commission works together to decide a set tuition rate for all accredited community colleges in the state based on several statistics and how the state compares with others in the region. Colling said, “They (the commission) put a lot of focus on affordability and accessibility for students.” She further explained that the commission will maintain the in-state tuition price until fiscal year 2025. In terms of fees, Colling explained that mandatory student fees vary by college. She said CC ranks second in the lowest student fees of the community colleges in the state, behind Eastern Wyoming College. Hailey McKenzie, CC student and livestock judging team member, explained that cost became one of the biggest factors in deciding to leave her hometown of Jefferson, Ore. “ This(Casper College) was one of the cheaper junior colleges that I looked at,” McKenzie said. While student fees at CC are on the lower side, the allocation of the fees differs amongst other colleges as well. Colling said each community college decides the allocation of its student fees. CC’s mandatory student fees are set at $42 — See Budget, Page 3 Brushing boundaries LucyJane Crimm Chinook Writer People say if you love what you do, you’ll never have to work a day in your life and for Casper College drawing and painting instructor Justin Hayward, that definitely rings true. For 16 years, Hayward has taught and inspired art students at CC while continuing to further his own art career. “I [paint] as a profession, but it’s also my hobby. I love to do it,” Hayward said. “I’m constantly drawing, sketching, creating. Outside of class, between classes, and during classes I’m always working on something.” Hayward doesn’t just paint as a hobby,for class or for exhibits. He also does portrait and landscape commissions as a profession. People reach out to him after finding him on social media or hearing about him by word of mouth. There are even some commissions that he applies for. Hayward is currently doing a commission for the Air Force Academy in Colorado. “The graduating class every year hires an artist to do a painting, I applied and they chose me,” Hayward explained. “The painting is going to be given to the keynote speaker of the graduation. There’s some rumors of who it is, but I don’t know for sure until they actually announce it.” Hayward’s passion for art began at a young age, and he drew as a child. He knew he wanted to continue pursuing art, and he wanted to be a Disney animator when he grew up. When he first started art as a child, he had limited access to mediums so he mainly drew, but when he was in high school, he was introduced to the world of painting, which became his main medium when starting his career. “I was always good at it [art] and teachers started to point it out at a young age. I wasn’t good at anything else, so I just kept pursuing it,” Hayward said. “Oil paint is my main medium. I’ve used it for so long. I just know all the tricks to it and selling work- it seems like buyers want oil painting more than an acrylic or watercolor.” Hayward is a realist artist and mostly does landscape paintings but also explores portraiture and still life. When creating his landscape artworks, he said he takes an immersive approach by going on hikes, photographing the scenes, and carefully observing the surroundings before translating them onto a canvas. He even occasionally brings his art supplies out on LucyJane Crimm/Chinook — See Hayward, Page 3 Justin Hayward stands in front of his painting that hangs in the hallways of Casper College’s new visual arts building. �Page 2 November 1, 2023 CHINOOK Chinook Stance Divine's Intervention: Our expectations of college The way college culture is presented throughout the years in movies/TV shows is toxic. They push the narrative of being attractive, party-heavy, and somehow maintaining a 4.0 GPA. Television portrays students effortlessly acing/passing all tests and classes like cake. The reality of taking hard courses is not shown. This implies that school is easy and so is maintaining a social life. The truth is, that every aspect of college is challenging and requires long nights and dedication. There are aspects of everyone's academic career that test the student's capabilities. This fraud has made it both difficult and easy to normalize struggling situations. Although everyone experiences some form of setbacks, no one talks about the pressure of it all. Television puts out this narrative of how a person's romantic and social life should be. Painting a picture that shows nonstop parties, love triangles, and instant deep friendships isn't a college norm. Making long-lasting relationships in college is difficult. Either it's too awkward and childish to ask “Hey wanna be friends?” or people have their friends. Making friends can also turn into a drama-filled horror show. As for relationships, this generation is so afraid of rejection that their true emotions are never laid out on the table. There are factors like bad intentions and toxic situations, nevertheless, signs are pointing to those red flags. In television, they go by troupes, like friends to lovers, enemies to lovers, or forbidden love. It’s unrealistic movies like “Legally Blonde” or “Mean Girls” that set the notion that school is easy as long as you have “pretty privilege.” Because apparently, that's the most important takeaway from life. This is what people expect when going to college. In America, there is a well-used term called party schools (colleges). These are universities with a high reputation for having large numbers of students who regularly party and drink alcohol or use drugs but do not spend much time Yaasmiyn Hickman Yapping with Yaz studying. Examples would be: Tulane University, Florida State University, and the University of California, Santa Barbara. The outcome for students is the ongoing sense of freedom that is imagined. But it in fact makes the college process harder. The lack of focus plus the built-up tolerance to alcohol and drugs can cause addiction. But no one wants to watch a movie about the struggles and realizations that college has to offer. Hollywood sells it as the best years of a person in their late teens or early twenties life because of the connections and memories. Movies often gloss over the importance of time management, as well as financial realities. A lot of the time, students have to balance school work, studying, a part-time job, and kids, all while trying to sustain a social life. Lately, college TV shows have been moving to showcasing the normalcy of a messy life. The characters have been exhibiting acts like backstabbing and self-sabotage to be relatable to the viewers. All in all, college culture is a combination of what television portrays because it is embedded into our minds at a young age. The transition to adulthood is complex, and there are so many different categories that people fit under. What they don't say is the pressures eventually fade away into achievements. In the end, college isn't a movie or easy lightwork. It’s a point in life where hard work pays off, connections are built, and finding yourself is expected. As I sit composing this article and looking out my office window I see a calm, peaceful scene. The flags on the flagpole are barely moving, and despite a few clouds in the sky, it is a beautiful October day. However, the forecast calls for very cold temperatures in the next few days, with a chance of snow. Although this news is unwelcomed by some, seasonality helps us mark not only changes in the weather, but also changes in our lives. Not as predictable, but certainly as ever present as seasonal weather changes, is conflict between human beings. Whether we are referencing something as trivial as a disagreement picking between two different restaurants, or are referencing a globally-significant armed conflict, given enough time, some level of conflict will develop between different groups of individuals. Accordingly, a pragmatist does not spend time wondering if conflict will arise, but instead allocates their time thinking of ways to respond when it does arise. Whether the change facing you is the natural aging and progression of your children, or the sudden and unexpected death of a loved one, we all need coping strategies. Whether the issue at hand is what movie to watch this evening, or what side of a perceived moral issue you find yourself on, the possibility oaf conflict, at some level, is always present. Avoidance and denial are seldom adequate responses, nor useful coping strategies. Please understand I am not suggesting each of us go through life enthusiastically embracing all forms of change that present themselves, nor am I suggesting we look for potential conflict around every turn. I am suggesting maintaining a mindset that change is a constant in our world, and conflicts may arise at any time and at any level, ensures you will not be taken completely off-guard, and thus be more prepared to meet the challenge as presented. Challenges are not inherently bad. Properly met and addressed, some challenges can turn out to be defining moments in our lives. The variable each of us can control is choosing whether we allow such challenges to become negative defining moments, or positive defining moments. Challenges are not inherently bad. Properly met and addressed, some challenges can turn out to be defining moments in our lives — Darren Divine, Ph.D., Casper College President The Joy of Intramural Sports I was a college football player in the spring of 2023. Now, I’m just a student in college looking to keep my competitive edge. Casper College intramural sports allow me to do just that, but there are also a few problems with the structure of the programs. I’ll share my experience and suggestions. The school offers basketball and volleyball, so I always feel like I have something to look forward to and keep my love for sports alive. Being from Casper, I was invited to join a team with my friends from high school and have loved every moment of it. I am able to keep my competitiveness without the fear of being yelled at by a coach or punished for doing something wrong. Intramural sports at CC are a great way to meet new people and get together with friends to play organized sports. Each sport is refereed by students, and players are expected to call their own fouls on the basketball court. Such practice promotes good sportsmanship and brings the joy of playing sports to weeknights. I have met many new people and enjoy the sports I love while building relationships. Though these sports are very fun, there are a few problems. There is a lack of organization when it comes to scheduling games, and there is not a clear place to find the game schedule. The schedule can be found online under student activities on CC’s website, but it isn’t promoted or wellknown unless you are actively looking for it. The next problem is the lack of rules for coed. I found that when we played coed basketball, there were very few girls who played. I believe that this is because of the lack of rules on the matter. Some may argue that there aren't any girls who want to play, but I believe this is because they are often forced to play against a team that consists of all guys. This structure takes away some of the fun for female athletes and draws less interest from the female student body. If there was a rule stating that each team must always have one female player on the court, then there may be a greater interest among the student population and bring more teams to the table. There were only five teams that played during the basketball season and many instances occurred when the other team did not show up to the game. If there were more teams, the season could be longer and teams could play different groups of people. The change Lane Johnson Johnson's Journal could also allow for new friendships to be formed. Overall, intramural sports are a great way to have fun and meet new people, though there are a few problems. I highly recommend looking into playing these sports and for the chance to compete in something. It is always a joy to win the championship and it would be even better if there were more teams to play against. caspercollegechinook.com Phishing attack kicks off awareness month Geoff Cooper/Chinook Kent Brooks, director of the CC IT department is pictured here at his desk. Brooks spoke to the Chinook about a phishing attack at the college. Geoff Cooper Chinook Writer Casper College suffered a multiwCasper College suffered a multiwave phishing attack in the middle of last month. Phishing, according to IBM, involves digital or voice messages that try to manipulate recipients into sharing sensitive information, downloading malicious software, transferring money or assets to the wrong people, or taking some other damaging action. According to CC’s IT director, Kent Brooks, “The first wave was over 2,000 emails, and of that, two hundred were opened.” Brooks and several IT staff spent the weekend of Sep. 15 dealing with the attack, and he said he personally clocked thirty-two hours at the office during the ordeal. Most of the work involved notifying students, faculty, and even other institutions that may have been affected. In addition, Brooks said he and his team manually went in and pulled the emails from the receivers’ inboxes. Brooks said that the ratio between students and faculty who engaged with or became compromised by the phishing emails was close to evenly split. This particular attack aimed to obtain personal information that circumvents the multi-factor authentication in place for CC logins, and it worked in at least one instance. The victim’s account was taken over. “It was totally social engineering,” said Brooks. “There’s no technical thing that would have stopped it.” Social engineering, in this context, is the use of deception to manipulate individuals into divulging confidential or personal information that may be used for fraudulent purposes, according to Oxford Languages. It is also known to organizations, like IBM, as “human hacking.” With the advent of things like multi-factor authentication, the only variable left to exploit is the user. “It is way more challenging for me to hack your password than it is for me to ask you politely,” said Brian Clark, the IT network coordinator for CC. Despite the recent phishing attack, campus functions remain undamaged. As for the individuals affected, both Clark and Brooks want to change the narrative around cyber-attacks. In their experience, whenever someone falls victim to an online scam, they aren’t regarded with compassion like any other victim. Rather, they are blamed for falling for the scam. Victims even blame themselves and often express shame or embarrassment. Neither Clark nor Brooks believes this to be the appropriate response. For them, the blame rests solely on the criminal behind the scam. “I have a master’s degree in cyber security, and I’ve fallen for phishing,” said Clark. “It’s going to happen because we are trusting people. People need to recognize that they were trusting, not stupid.” According to both Clark and Brooks, it doesn’t help that these attacks are consistently improving either. Phishing attacks are way better now than even just last year. With the advent of something like ChatGPT, scam messages are getting harder and harder to detect. Many of these messages originate from outside the United States, and with the help of AI, scammers are capable of much greater linguistic nuance. With this in mind, the IT department will continue to send out information and resources regarding cyber threats, and they have the resources to organize fake phishing exercises for awareness in the future. The most important thing for users to understand is that IT will never ask for passwords or logins, and neither will any other reputable business. Any suspected campusrelated phishing attempts should be reported to the CC IT department. �November 1, 2023 Page 3 CHINOOK Scoot Gang............................................ amicably put their heads together to come up with solutions. Peacock said. “We want to see these devices be allowed, but we also want people to be safe and responsible with their use.” Considering the reasons that students wanted scooters on campus, and that the current student policies do not mention scooters specifically being banned, student senate as well as Peacock drafted a policy for CC’s policy committee to consider. However, a policy change must go through a step-bystep process before it can be implemented. “What we’re proposing is a policy that does allow all of these non-motorized vehicles, so skateboards, rollerblades, longboards, and non-motorized vehicles,” he said. Peacock spoke about the main deciding factors in changing the policy. He said, “I’m all for student advocacy. I think it was a good continued from page 1 example of students bringing up something that they would like to see us looking at and what our current policies currently say.” While it takes time for policies to go through the proper channels, the future of Budget..................................................... per credit hour. Colling chairs Casper College's Student Fees Committee, which determines how those funds are split. Student senate President Taylee Siemons represents student involvement on the committee. Nearly half of the student fee funds (49.19 percent) go to technology support. The smallest portion of student fees is publications. In fiscal year 2024 the fees will rise from no allocation to .36 percent of student fees. The Casper College Student Senate Hayward..... receives some of the other portions of fees. Student senate prioritizes funding requests from clubs. Student fees are also used to allow student free admission to athletic events. A general course student fee minimizes course fees and supports academic allowing non-motorized vehicles on campus is potentially up for a big change. When asked whether he will personally invest in a scooter, Peacock said, “I will not, mainly because I’m old. I don’t want to break my face.” continued from page 1 operating budgets. Klacie Groene, Wyoming resident and fitting and showing club president said, “Student fees allow my club to take cool opportunities.” Groene mentioned that through student senate funds, her club gets to take a trip to the Cheyenne Livestock Expo to exhibit heifers. However, Groene is not the only one in this case. Casper College student fees support opportunities for students, and tuition contributes to the CC’s operating budget. continued from page 1 WRITING CENTER The Writing Center at Casper College is here to help our students and members of the community. Art Courtesy of Justin Hayward Justin Hayward, visual arts instructor at CC, shared a photo of one of his paintings for publicaiton in the Chinook. Hayward's art is exhibited across the country. hikes with him and paints the landscape right there. “Usually when people go [hiking] with me, they get annoyed because I have to stop to look and take pictures, or I’ll just sit for a while and just see how the light is falling on the objects,” Hayward said. Hayward originally got a degree in illustration and illustrated a few books, but ultimately decided that his role was to teach others. He found inspiration from the teachers he had in high school and college to get him to where he is now. He said, “I wanted to be an animator as a little kid. Then as I got older, I had some really good teachers throughout high school and college, and that inspired me to be a teacher. I think if I didn’t have those teachers, I probably wouldn’t be where I’m at.” Much like his teachers before him, Hayward’s passion also extends to his students who admire his artistic abilities. Fine art major Sierra Farquhar-Baltazar took 2D design in the spring of 2023 and is currently taking his drawing class. She said she’s learned a lot from Hayward. “I was a one-trick pony, and taking his 2D class really forced me out of my box… I was able to try different media, color palettes [and] subjects. His drawing class made me realize I really didn't have as great of a grasp on the fundamentals that make a drawing go from good to great. These tools have greatly improved my work and my confidence within these works,” Farquhar-Baltazar said. If Hayward didn’t seem busy enough already, he’s also had his art featured in numerous art exhibits and shows in museums. Locally he exhibited his art in the Nicolaysen Art Museum, Art 321, Casper College and other art shows around town. He displayed a portrait in the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC. Many museums around the nation featured his work including Utah, Michigan and New York to name a few. “I think early on I knew I wanted to do something with art,” Hayward said. “The A/’s came easy in Art… I knew at an early age, I just didn’t know what I was going to be doing… but I just knew it would be something with art.” Hayward made his mark with his art, but it’s still just the beginning for him. As he furthers his art career, he will continue to inspire and teach the new generation of artists. “I've seen many of his [paintings]. I have a profound respect for him as an artist, so I stalked him a bit- - artistically, that is. I love them. He's very versatile, and his talent is inspiring,” Farquhar-Baltazar said. “Justin is tough and sometimes he seems very stern. That's not uncommon with instructors, but he warms up to you and then he's hilarious. He's very honest but he's really helpful and goes the extra mile to see you succeed. If he tells you (that) you did a great job, you know he's not pulling your leg. He has good hair, good jokes, and good clothes. Despite what other people might say.” 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 �Page 4 November 1, 2023 CHINOOK From classroom to club to career Abrielle Santee Chinook Contributer Casper College’s Occupational Therapy Assistant Club prepares students for future careers in the OTA field. Because occupational therapists work in such a wide array of settings, community outreach is crucial for OTA students to develop their skills and find their niche. The OTA club allows students to build leadership skills, grow a social network, and practice real-world problem-solving skills. To help support students, the OTA club provides leadership opportunities. Each member has responsibilities within the club. Lyndi Jensen, a second year OTA student and OTA club member explained, “Every member of the club has a role to help it run effectively.” In addition to an officer team club members are put in charge of hosting fundraisers, voting fÅor projects, participating in mentor programs, and staying active in collegehosted events. Club leaders encourage members to identify opportunities to make a dif- ference. Additionally, community partners allow students to get a better feel for clinical sites before they enter fieldwork rotations. Club members get to build connections with people already working in their career field while also getting used to communicating with the patients they will eventually see. “It (the club) helps us have a foundation so once we are graduated we have connections with people. We have good relationships with them, and we’ve had positive interactions with them so we’re set up for more success leaving the program,” said Jensen. Strong relationships can provide job opportunities and future internships. The OTA club takes students to the American Occupational Therapy Association national conference. At the conference, students meet other college students in addition to seasoned professionals and get an idea of what occupational therapy looks like across the nation. On campus, the club helps teach students to handle their time responsibly and balance their heavy course load while building strong relationships with professors and fellow classmates. Classroom teaching meets real-world application as students go out into their communities and find problems to make solutions. “As part of the program, we really focus a lot on being good stewards. Good stewards to the clients to the community, and we want to emulate that in the club,” said Melissa Neff, OTA club advisor and CC Instructor. The club donates to local clinics, as well as many other organizations. The OTA club is increasingly active in community service with the goal of helping students recognize the impact of giving back to their communities. Neff explained, “We like to Submitted Photo give people a good quality of Pictured from left to right: Tana Downs, Jessie Nesterenko, Lyndi Jensen, Raesha Vanderhoff, life. It’s what we do.” and Alona Wilkerson participated in highway clean up as part of OTA community service. Whether it’s dealing with muscle or mind, the occupa- dents, the club is open to all Around campus, the OTA are a very active club, and tional therapy field strives to CC students. To join the club, club is responsible for the the students stay very engaged give independence and confi- students attend club meetings sensory room in the Goodstein in the classroom and in their dence back to those in need. and pay dues of five dollars Foundation Library, caring for community.” “The OTA club is all about a semester. The club partici- the rose garden in Liesinger This mindset earned the helping people become better pates in many organizations Hall, and campus food drives. OTA club the Casper College by doing,” Jensen said. like Reach for a Star, Grief Neff said, “I’m very proud Club of the Year award last While established for occu- Camp, Advancing Abilities, of the club. Even though we year and will take these stupational therapy assistant stu- and the Jackalope Jump. tend to be a smaller club, we dents far in their careers. Need help with homework? The Residence Hall offers tutoring services Nina Bivens /Chinook This is room 200 in the Residence Hall where free tutoring happens every Sunday-Thursday evenings from 6:30-9:30. Bernadette Pieper Chinook Writer Casper College provides free tutoring services in the Residence Hall for a few years now, but students are not taking advantage of using it when tutoring is needed in their academics. The tutors are available Sunday through Thursday from 6:30 to 9:30 every night for free. “Tutoring is very powerful,” said Liz Dobson, the residence hall coordinator. Dobson is also in charge of the tutors in the Residence Hall. She talked about how students who might not know about peer tutoring know how successful it could be for them to go to a tutor to get help. In the 2022-2023 school year, 4,614 students were enrolled at CC. Out of the enrolled students, 80.3% never used tutoring services, including the tutors in the residence hall, the Writing Center, and the STEM Center at CC. The tutoring services in the Residence Hall is open after the Writing Center and STEM Center close. There are two tutors in the Residence Hall. Nina Bivens, tutor, a sophomore, and public relations major tutors students who need assistance or help with English or any communication classes. Lewis Gordon one of the tutors, a sophomore, and a soccer player, tutors students who need assistance with math or science classes. “We are here to help you,” Bivens said. Bivens talked about how there are times that the tutors see several students a night between Bivens and Gordon, but then there are other nights when the tutors don’t see any students. Dobson said she sent out emails to students and posted flyers in the Residence Hall to advertise the tutoring services, and she wants to reach out to faculty to have them inform students as well. Dobson explained that she worked as a tutor when she went to college and wants to help students thrive academically or receive help from the tutors in the Residence Hall. She said she sees a lot of potential in Bivens and Gordon to help any student to succeed in their work for classes. “The one-on-one attention with someone who is helping you learn how to study but also be successful with the material can be the difference between an “F” and a “B” or “A,” Dobson said. Dobson talked about how the tutors plan to reach out to any student on the “D” or “F” lists soon why midterms just got over. The tutors are there to help any student, but can help students who are almost on academic probation. “Tutoring can also be mentor coaching,” Dobson said. “There is always room for improvement.” Tutors can help students with their coursework, but they can also help students with other skills like time management, academic skills, mentorship, or coaching the students to do their best. “I think overall tutoring is very important,” Bivens stated. “It should not be shameful to come in and get help if you need it.” Students might be shy about going to a tutor making them lose confidence in their work, but going to a tutor can help students to change their academics. Bivens talked about how students might be ashamed, dumb, or unintelligent of themselves if they are seen by friends when getting help from the tutor. Casper College provides free tutoring services across campus why pay for a tutor when students can get it for free? The Residence Hall tutors are there to help students with their academics, academic skills, time management, and can mentor the student. Tutoring is a great resource and tool for any student who is in need of assistance with their class work. Don’t be shy to go and get help if needed. caspercollegechinook.com 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 COMM2390. Contact our faculty advisor Bri Weigel for more information brianne.weigel@caspercollege.edu �November 1, 2023 Page 5 CHINOOK On the lamb Photo courtesy of Abrielle Santee The ewes and Homer the goat peacefully graze at the Casper College Ranch. Abrielle Santee Chinook Contributer Ovine convicts escaped their enclosure at the Casper College Ranch on Saturday, Sept. 23 and ended up in a barn where they ate a small portion of students horse feed. The college's sheep flock consists of two rams and 20 to 25 head of breeding ewes. A student alerted authorities of the breakout around nine p.m. Saturday. Sunday morning Agriculture Instructor and Advisor Heath Hornecker brought CC student and work-study employee Garrison Utter onto the scene to round up any last stragglers and find out how the sheep escaped. Once out at the ranch, they found a small hole in the fence. Hornecker explained that regardless of the fence's state, sheep rarely stray from the flock. For this reason, he and several others in the college's agriculture department believe a phony shepherd infiltrated the barnyard. The criminal in question is named Homer. Homer is the free-range goat orphaned at the ranch and then adopted by the college. Agriculture Instructor Anne Wood said, “He is well loved and the troublemaker of the ranch.” When talking about the ewes getting out, she said, “He’s the leader of the bunch, and these are pregnant and hormonal women happy to follow their new best friend.” Homer now resides inside the fence with the flock. The Agriculture Department hopes this will dispel his loneliness and halt his mischief. Coming to his defense is Homer's number one fan and Dean of the School of Science Gerald Hawkes who insists Homer is a scapegoat -- a goat in the wrong place at the wrong time. Back on the ranch the flock’s safety is one of the top priorities for ranch staff. Saturday night, the students shooed the wooly escape artists out of Barn 3 and put up a temporary panel to prevent them from re-entering the barn. Barn 3 is the stalling barn the rodeo students used to house their horses and tack, including their feed and hay. The next morning Hornecker and Utter found the last couple of ewes around the pivot, eating alfalfa. Ranch staff moved the panels and perpetrators away from the faulty fence and into a more secure location until someone could mend the fence. Hornecker and Utter examined the ewes for any sign of injury or illness before checking the barns for stolen contraband. “It’s a big concern -- you don’t want them to get into any hay left out for other animals or anything else they’re not supposed to have,” Utter said. Sheep, being small ruminants, makes them prone to bloat, which is a disease caused by rapid changes in a ruminant's diet and overfeeding. Bloat is a common disease that can be fatal if not treated in time. On top of that, sheep cannot ingest copper, a heavy metal essential in horse rations. No one knows exactly how many sheep broke out or for how long. Between the break-in buffet in Barn 3 and the feast out at the pivot, Hornecker happily reported that there weren’t any signs of bloat or injury. “We had attentive students that said ‘hey this a problem,’ (and they) knew it could be a really bad problem and were able to get the sheep moved out and back somewhere safe before it became an issue,” Hornecker said. The absence of students who normally care for the sheep made everyone even more grateful the ewes came out unscathed. Approximately two weeks later, the flock staged another breakout. This time, ranch staff found no sheep outside the pen. Instead, they found an open gate and hoof prints in the mud. Whether this is a user error or a sign of Homer's increasing intelligence is still up for speculation. Whatever the case may be, the agriculture department is discussing plans to add chains and a padlock to increase the security of the enclosure. In the meantime, Hornecker said, “All sheep are safe. Everybody’s happy. Hopefully, Tuesday (Oct. 10), we’ll find out if everybody’s pregnant and on schedule to lamb.” Having survived their jailbreak antics, all the ewes, joined by Homer, took a field trip up to the ag pavilion on Oct. 10 for pregnancy checks and vaccinations. Professor Hornecker’s Introduction to Animal Science class gave the bunch lots of love while learning how to properly ultrasound and give shots. 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 November 1, 2023 CHINOOK "The Drowsy Chaperone" takes the stage LucyJane Crimm/Chinook CC put on the musical the Drowsy Chaperone Oct. 13 - 21. The musical was a comedy story of a love struck performer who gave up her life in the spotlight to marry, but all was not as perfect as she hoped. This story was all told through the eyes of a reminiscent man in a chair who was listening to the play with the audience and adding his own commentary. Above and to the left, Janet Van de Graaff, played by Abigail Larsen, is interviewed by a reporter before performing the song “Show Off.” Above and to the right, Abigail Larsen and Roman Gaddis dance on stage together, the two play the main love interests in the play. To the far left, Mr. Feldzieg, played by Kadyn Riley, is threatened by two gangsters played by Rhynne Zmiewski (left) and Aster Harrison (right). Left, Kyler Rabourn, who plays the unnamed Man in Chair, takes a sip from his tea cup as he reminisces about his favorite play, the Drowsy Chaperone. Lighten Your Load Presented by CC Counseling Services Join us to visualize throwing away stress. Take home stress busting swag! Tuesday, Nov. 7 from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. Casper College Union/University Building, first floor �November 1, 2023 Page 7 CHINOOK Soaring to new heights Lane Johnson Chinook Writer Submitted Photo Aviation student Tyler Petersen stands in front of a plane at Natrona County International Airport. He’s pictured holding certificate for the completion of his first solo flight. Casper College currently offers an aviation program through a partnership with Rising Wings Aviation. While Rising Wings Aviation takes care of the aviation classes off campus, the connection with CC allows students to receive more financial aid, according to the academic chair of the aviation program Justin Eggemeyer. Eggemeyer spoke with the Chinook about the cost of aviation in general and covered many details about the expensive major. He explained that through CC, students can earn an associate’s degree of applied science in aviation. “If a student doing aviation wants to take out student loans, they have to do private student loans,” Eggemeyer said. He explained that many of these private loans require students to provide a “cost of attendance” and Rising Wings Aviation doesn’t provide that information. He went on to explain that Rising Wings Aviation partnered with CC to allow students to provide a cost of attendance for private loans. According to Eggemeyer, Rising Wings Aviation is a separate entity where people can attend flight school without going to CC. Eggemeyer talked about how students can take aviation classes online or at the Natrona County airport. He said a cost chart for Rising Wings Aviation is available on the CC website, separate from the cost of attending the college. CC allows students to complete general classes such as history, math and science that are still required to get a degree in Aviation. Eggemeyer then said Rising Wings Aviation offers the rest of the classes needed. The Federal Aviation Administration follows very strict rules about hours, so there is no time table for when one can complete their degree, according to Eggemeyer. Students must complete a certain number of flight hours in order to get their license for two different levels of piloting. Eggemeyer explained that, “a student should be able to go all the way through private, instrument, and then commercial in two academic years. Many do not… because it’s a lot of hours.” For a private pilot license, students must complete 40 total flight hours and 10 of those hours must be solo flights, according to the Rising Wings Aviation FAA flight chart. The chart also gives students a relative price estimate for each of the four sections of aviation. For the private pilot license alone, there is an estimated cost of $17,000. The total realistic cost estimate for a student obtaining their private and commercial license and their instrument and multi-engine ratings will come out to approximately $101,000. Eggemeyer explained that the cost is why CC decided to partner with Rising Wings Aviation to help make things somewhat more affordable for students. He also said that students can get jobs as an instructor after a certain amount of hours with Rising Wings Aviation. He said that the opportunity helps students continue getting the many hours required by the FAA. Aviation major Tyler Petersen talked about how CC helped him tremendously on his journey into the aviation program. He said “I’m still working towards my private license, but attending CC has made my experience a little bit easier.” Petersen is in his third year at CC and he is pursuing a second associate degree while also continuing his aviation education through Rising Wings Aviation. He credits CC for helping him make his goals more attainable. Though CC doesn’t directly have an aviation program, its partnership with Rising Wings Aviation helps many students find a more affordable option to get into the aviation field. About Us Discover the educational opportunities at UW Casper, the exclusive branch campus of the University of Wyoming. At UW Casper, we are dedicated to serving site-bound students, whether you're following a traditional path or pursuing education on your terms. Our diverse range of bachelor's and master's degree programs are offered through both asynchronous and traditional delivery methods, catering to your unique learning style. Plus, we're proud to offer a variety of scholarships to make higher education a valuable and accessible experience for every student. Join us in shaping your future at UW Casper, where excellence in education meets your needs. Bachelor Degrees Master’s Degrees Master of Social Workadvanced standing and standard programs available Master of Counseling- school counseling and mental counseling available Organizational Leadership Biology Communication Psychology Medical Laboratory Sciences Elementary Education Social Work Zoology Sociology Secondary Science Education Criminal Justice General Studies Career & Technical Education Make an appointment with an advisor today! 307-268-2713 Union/University Building #435 uwyo.edu/uwcasper/ �Page 8 November 1, 2023 CHINOOK Lady Thunderbirds climb the mountain Carlos Fandal III Chinook Writer In the world of college sports, there's a quiet champion waiting to take its place in the spotlight. Volleyball, with its unique blend of finesse and power, often operates under the radar. It’s as challenging as any collegiate or professional sport with its quick-paced nature that requires split-second precise decision-making. The necessity of teamwork and communication among players makes it even more demanding, straining players physically and mentally. Still, volleyball is often questionably overshadowed by other major college sports like basketball and football. Head Volleyball Coach Angel Sharman, a twenty-year coaching veteran, spoke to the Chinook about the sport at Casper College. “I just think it's a great and beautiful sport when it's played well. The athleticism of the athletes out there is just… it's fun to watch. It's a complex sport that people don't understand too much.” Sharman said. Sharman’s years of experience illustrate a passion for the sport that goes much further than just having fun. What’s crucial is her commitment to the growth of volleyball, as well as women's sports as a whole, even if it’s an uphill climb. “If our women want to play any kind of sports, they have to go overseas. Their opportunity is just not there like it is with basketball, where they have a little bit more opportunity. If we can get a professional league in the United States to see all these kids continue doing what they love to do and still have their profession, it would be kind of fantastic… Get men's volleyball here, I think that would help as well,” Sharman said. Despite this, the Lady Thunderbirds are in the midst of a remarkable season so far, winning 22 games and losing only 11. Of particular note is the team’s stellar conference record of eight wins and two losses, which mirrors their record on home turf. Midway through September, the Lady T-Birds began a nine-game winning streak, showcasing their prowess with six consecutive shutout victories during this impressive run. Consistency can be tough to maintain, but Sharman manages to keep her team prepared to win. “We have a goal set. We talked about that at the beginning of the year. And again, we talked about unity with our team, and I think the unity of volleyball is huge. Eight people have to be in sync to be successful because if you have a weak link, the opponent's going to find that weak link. So you have to have players that trust each other and just are hungry to win. And I think this group is hungry to do that,” Sharman said. Sharman leads by example for her players and school to keep getting better and better every day. “If they (The Lady Thunderbirds) see me being a little bit lazy coming into practice, then they're going to follow those footsteps. We want to keep climbing that mountain. We just need to keep climbing. We talked about 2% -- getting better 2% every day. That's what we're trying to do” Sharman said. Volleyball's journey to the limelight begins with the Thunderbird community. The Lady Thunderbirds are giving their all, and it's up to the community to rally behind them. By attending games and cheering on the volleyball team, these athletes can shine as the stars they are meant to be. Sharman's commitment to unity and improvement is driving their success, setting an example for the entire team. Her vision for volleyball's growth and opportunities for women in sports paints a bright future for this sport. As volleyball's star continues to rise, it inches closer to the limelight in college athletics. As Sharman said, “We want Photo Courtesy of Edwin Gonzalez to keep climbing that moun- Nia Surman, a Casper College student athlete from New Zealand, attacks the ball during a tain.” recent volleyball game. New Beginnings for CC’s Men's Basketball Team Submitted Photo The Casper College Men's Basketball Team shoots around in the Erickson Thunbird Gym earlier this fall. Yaasmiyn Hickman Chinook Writer As November approaches, so does the start of a new basketball season. This year’s Casper College Men's Basketball team is made up of new players, new coaches, and new attitudes. One of the exciting aspects of this upcoming season is the new coaches setting the scene. College basketball is an opportunity for aspiring athletes to work their way up to their dreams while juggling the stresses of school work, ambitious goals, and intense practice. Dedication and chemistry are primary attributes that go into preparing for a good season. The root of the team is CC’s new head coach, Tom Parks, and new assistant coach, Deion Anderson, who work with a nurturing but tough strategic method. The team spends six days out of the week practicing for two hours with an additional hour of lifting. The coaches put in work to go the extra mile for the team. Anderson stated, “It’s not work if it is doing something that you love.” The world of basketball is wide and broad on its own. With high school, college, NBA, and professional leagues overseas, there is always a coach on the sidelines. Coaches serve the players by guiding them in the art of the game and in making improvements. They tweak defensive strategies and shooting techniques, and they foster the ability to make split-second decisions on the court. Coaches contribute the proper elements that go into the sport mentally and physically. A large majority of players gravitate toward coaches as role models. Anderson sees himself as responsible and reliable for all fourteen players. He stated he does his best to be there for his players whether it's getting them a tutor, providing them with a ride, or giving them advice. Both coaches are there to better the lives of each player by being a part of guiding each athlete's future to success and happiness. As the basketballs start hitting the gymnasium floor, players prepare for the upcoming games. The dynamic of each team differs over the years at CC with the different types of players displaying their collective personalities. This year’s team looks closer in strategy, as well as in friendship. Since rooming with one another and being each other's first interactions with CC, the players have formed a fast closeness, not only sharing the same love for basketball but creating a long-lasting sense of comfort. As with any team, it is important to build a strong connection. Trusting each other on the court is crucial to the game. The CC players also spend time with each other in practices and classes while also rooming together. The chances of forming a connection are easier and faster. This year’s team is more unified than previous years. According to returning sophomore, Jaden Peters, “The team this year has a lot of outgoing personalities, which made it easy to form close connections. We all talk a lot because we spend most of our time together.” In community college basketball, every victory is celebrated as another milestone to get closer to a goal. The more athletic achievements that are collected, the better they get as players and coaches. There is more than standing on the sidelines, screaming and pointing. Coaches and teammates provide motivational direction that not only shapes the players on the court but also the people off the court. Running up and down the court, they symbolize the flexibility, opportunity, and transformative power of sports. This shows the true determination of an interworking community. � 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 2023-11 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/</a> Description An account of the resource This is a copy of the online Chinook Newspaper from November 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_2023-11 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF