https://caspercollege.cvlcollections.org/files/original/7dd8df37605cae7cb34f8374312926d0.pdf 7c493bd7b7f60bbec6f00355a78ad9cc PDF Text Text November 1, 2025 Casper College’s Student Voice Since 1945 The longevity of the bookstore at Casper College Makiah Osborne Chinook Writer Casper College is currently considering whether a physical bookstore will remain on campus or if students will transition to virtual textbooks henceforth. Considering textbook as a core component to student learning, decisions regarding their accessibility hold impact. Amanda Fisher, manager of the bookstore, said, “We have been a bookstore, and we have been at the college for so long.” She went on to say, “We’re now seeing that the new generation, they are so used to virtual learning that they don’t want books.” Fisher said that COVID affected the learning preferences of younger generations. She said students select virtual textbooks more commonly over hardcover copies. Fisher stated, "So now, we’re slowly transitioning to doing both (virtual and hard copy books) here.” According to the fall 2021 Digital Learning Pulse Survey: The Digital Transformation of the Community College, “Community college administrators are even more positive about the future use of digital materials, with 84% saying that they 'Somewhat agree' or 'Strongly agree' that they will include more digital materials and digital resources in their future course offerings” (Seaman, 2023). An uprise in virtual textbooks began during the COVID pandemic, aiding students with virtual learning from home. Global necessity turned into a common practice. As times and learning methods change, institutions continue to evolve as well. At CC, the concept of a virtual store has taken root, following the example of the University of Wyoming. Fisher said that UW shifted its bookstore process in response to an increase in virtual textbooks, supplying physical textbooks only from the requests of individual professors. Fisher said that the store on campus acts as a student merchandise shop that also aids textbook inquiries. Otherwise, students primarily access textbooks through Follett Access, the common textbook platform between both institutions. Fisher said, “We still have a lot of professors that are old-school, and they like to have their students have (physical) books. And we have some professors that are totally on board. They’re ready to make the transition. They’re ready to do all the things.” Fisher said the college as a whole is not ready to transition to a strictly virtual platform. Eric Atkins, a world languages instructor that is also on the bookstore committee, spoke on the topic. In an email, he said, “There are many different disciplines on campus whose instructors and students have diverse needs when it comes to course materials. A one-size-fits-all approach is not realistic, so finding the best way that the bookstore can meet the needs of educators and learners is important. Digital mate- rials may work for various classes and programs, but allowing for physical books, or making exceptions, when requested, seems reasonable. As the world evolves into a digital age, CC aims for student success beyond the classroom. This means contemplating whether learning is better achieved through traditional methods (hardcover textbooks), or through virtual platforms such as Follett Access. Some would say, the issue is a matter of institutional evolution versus quality preservation. Tannis Lovercheck-Saunders, history and gender and women’s studies instructor, said, “The digital world is great because it gets so many more resources available. However, I still think there’s a place for the hard copies because people need to realize that if you just exist in a digital world, you’re missing something.” Differing opinions claim otherwise, considering virtual learning as a more immersive approach. Fisher said, “I think virtual learning is awesome because there’s so much more... it’s more interactive.” Coinciding with this issue, textbook prices deserve evaluation. Ethan Fife, communication instructor and member of faculty senate, stated, “I feel like hard copy versus digital is a very qualitative answer. Some kids like it, (and) some kids don’t. But you know what every — See Bookstore Page 3 Makiah Osborne/Chinook Kyndel Kisner, a general studies major at Casper College, is pictured shopping at the campus bookstore, located on the first floor of the Union building. Navigating the parking puzzle at Casper College Kaleb Lundine Chinook Writer — See Bookstore Page 3 Kaleb Lundine/Chinook Pictured above is a no parking sign located outside the Liesinger Hall building. Bella McManus Chinook Writer A Fond Farewell The Education Department at Casper College will miss Kerri Mahlum as she wraps up her last semester at the college. The education instructor is retiring after teaching at CC since 2001. Mahlum’s textbook, “Positive Guidance for Young Children: A Proactive Approach” is coming out in January after being in progress for three years. Mahlum is in remission after receiving a cancer diagnosis two years ago, when she took a break from writing to get better. She said via email that she gave feedback on other textbooks and was asked by the publisher to write a textbook of her own with her specific interest. “I've always been passionate about helping children grow into great adults,” she said in her email, “and I think the best way to do that is to help them learn to be kind to themselves and others.” Mahlum was a student at CC before transferring to Union College for her bachelor’s, and then to University of NebraskaLincoln for her master’s. She moved back to Casper and taught elementary school until an adjunct position opened up for an intro to early childhood class, which she ended up teaching once a semester until the head of department retired and she took over the role. Mahlum said she was struck by how many similarities there were between her elementary school students and her college students. “People are people, you know? Kids get bored. Adults get bored,” she said. She said she used many of the same strategies on both children and adults by engaging her students, exciting them, and giving them things to do with their hands. Mahlum said, “Plus, teaching in the education department -- I wanted to make sure I was teaching my classes in a way that students would know that's how they need to teach children. I wanted to model that. So, I wanted to be a really good teacher.” The Director of the Early Childhood Learning Center at CC, Emily Calmes, who was a student of Mahlum’s, said that her personality, kindness, and willingness to be human stood out to her most. “She’s an instructor who is just so relatable…. She makes it feel like you’ve just known her forever,” Calmes said. Calmes started as a nursing student with Mahlum as her advisor before she switched majors to early childhood. She went on to get her masters in innovative early childhood from the University of A familiar challenge rears its ugly head “Parking.” Growing demands from both students and faculty have put pressure on the current college’s administration to develop a solution and fix the parking problem for good. “The challenge will be to make parking more accessible for students and faculty at the southern campus,” Mitch Masters, director of faculties at CC said. “Our parking -it's just not necessarily located where a lot of the classes are taking place, and we were looking at potential solutions.” Isaac Agee, a student and dorm resident at Casper College finds the parking situation inadequate. The primary complaints focus on limited parking around specific buildings. “Finding a spot to park, whether that be around Liesinger or Strausner hall, has Colorado, working in the ECLC the whole time. “So, she’s seen a lot of me in the last 20 years,” Calmes said about Mahlum. Calmes fondly thinks of how Mahlum calls her open-toed shoes “prison shoes,” and had told Calmes when she was a student teacher that if she didn’t buy “real shoes” then she would fail her class. “So I got a pair of close-toed shoes to wear just for student teaching and have not worn them since,” Calmes laughed. Mahlum said she is immensely proud of Calmes and all that she’s accomplished, saying that she continued to grow throughout the years and became an amazing leader in early childhood. While Mahlum is sad at the thought of the college losing “institutional memory” after she leaves, stating that she has things she remembers that the current staff could benefit from learning, she is truly looking forward to “goofing off.” Mahlum took her cancer diagnosis as an opportunity to reevaluate her life, making the decision to plan her retirement this year. She said she always works hard and plays hard, and she is looking forward to sleeping in, making bread, playing with always been a struggle,” Agee said. Many people needing to park around those two buildings end up parking on the side of the road or at the nearby Visual Arts building. “The solution is we try to get more people on board and utilize the parking that already exists," Masters stated, pointing to lots of parking located around the Gateway Building that often remains underutilized. “Maybe we need to try to change some of the culture on campus. Walking a little bit shouldn’t be the end of the world,” Master’s suggested. This philosophy is directly influencing long term planning on campus. With each new building or remodel, the college is now tasked with considering the long-term parking footprint. The question then becomes where to add more parking and what qualities may need to be sacrificed for the greater benefit of the people. One significant solution many have proposed is the demolition of Wheeler Terrace, which could serve as a significant piece of land for future parking. Masters’ said that this solution is currently being discussed. “There have been idea’s that future parking spaces could be utilized at Wheeler," Masters noted, suggesting that Wheeler could serve as additional parking for the nearby dorms, or the nearby sports fields located to the west of campus. However, Masters emphasized that "nothing has been decided 100% on what we're doing, and the project surrounding Wheeler itself remains in preliminary discussions.” Looking ahead, campus staff is planning to install potential upgrades around campus to enhance safety mea- — See Parking Page 3 Photo Courtesy of Kerri Mahlum Kerri Mahlum, retiring education instructor, is pictured in her — See Farewell Page 3 office. �Page 2 November 1, 2025 CHINOOK Chinook Stance The Importance of Side Questing Chinook reporters hit roadblocks with new interview restrictions Taylor Crook Off The Crook Casper College student journalists recently faced new challenges when trying to conduct interviews on campus, particularly with certain administrative departments. The issue made it all the way to the college’s executive council last month. This semester, multiple Chinook writers found that to speak with members of the Casper College Financial Aid Department, they first needed to submit a list of the questions they planned to ask in the interview. The department also requested the opportunity to read the final article for accuracy and to submit edits before official publication in the Chinook, a practice that has never been part of the Chinook’s reporting process. The Chinook has been in publication on campus since 1945. St udent jou r na list Kaydance Parke encountered this requirement when she inquired about the student loan forgiveness program. I ran into the same restriction while reporting on the Golden Age Scholarship, a scholarship that benefits older students at CC. Financial Aid asked me to conduct the interviews through email, provide the questions beforehand, and allow them to edit the final draft before publication. Lisa Icenogle, CC’s public relations editor and news coordinator, said, “Yeah, we could ask for questions ahead of time, and some people do want to see the story before it gets published because they want to know what’s going on.” Icenogle said financial aid reached out to her for advice. She said, “Somebody [financial aid] had called me and said they were concerned about what kind of information and I said, ‘You can always ask for questions in advance.” CC’s Director of Public Relations, Christopher Lorenzen noted that he prefers only qualified individuals speak on behalf of the college to avoid placing interviewees in difficult situations. Lorenzen also wondered that because the Chinook is published on CC’s website and accessible to anyone in the community, if the Chinook is considered “external media.” If so, the Chinook would be subject to a policy requiring all media inquiries to go through the public relations department. Executive Council unanimously agreed the Chinook is not an external media source -- a win for the student news room. However, that decision highlighted an inconsistency: professional media outlets aren’t held to the same prescreening standards. Dan Cepeda, a features editor and reporter for Oil City News, shared his recent experience writing about CC. “I do have to go through PR, and they will usually facilitate the interview as well as sit in during the process. However, they don’t ask for prepared questions in advance and have never asked to approve articles, which is something that we’d never agree to in the first place,” Cepeda said in an email. Lorenzen explained why Chinook writers faced more restrictions than Cepeda, who wrote a story in August about the closing of one of CC’s student housing options. Lorenzen said that Wheeler Terrace, the apartment building, was pretty straightforward compared to financial aid. “[It’s] something we’ve been working on for a long time,” Lorenzen said. “It was just lots of content and fairly easy to do.” In the Chinook’s case, PR suggested asking for questions in advance and for final article approval post-interview to make the interviewee in financial aid feel more comfortable. Lorenzen said there is not a written policy for such a process – it’s merely a sug- gestion. Later, he added, “I mean, you really can't edit a reporter's story.” Now that executive council concluded the Chinook is part of the campus community and not an outside media source, student reporters hope that means fewer restrictions when interviewing administrators moving forward. CC’s own "Students' First" document published in 2024 states that a “students first” culture puts “students above process.” A direct quote from the document reads, “At Casper College, education is not merely a transaction; it’s an ongoing, engaging, and passionate dialogue between educators, staff, students, and their families.” It also encourages staff to take risks and work through discomfort to benefit innovative thinking and support others.” By limiting interviews or imposing editorial oversight, departments risk violating these very principles while undercutting experiential learning opportunities for journalism students. CC students are not the only ones facing these roadblocks. It is happening across the nation. Brian Rosenzweig, a Herald Times reporter, wrote a story published on Oct. 23 about a first amendment issue at Indiana University where administrators reportedly interfered with student media operations. A lawyer for IU’s student paper cited Husain v. Springer (2007), which forbids administrative interference with student media speech at public universities — a precedent relevant to CC’s situation. While CC student reporters have not encountered outright censorship like IU students, they hit barriers much earlier in the process with departments avoiding interviews. Chinook student reporters struggled to learn and gain applicable experience of the reporting process because they were restricted before the writing process even began. Since Casper College’s Executive Council clarified the Chinook’s standing, student reporters hope campus leaders will recommit to the college’s “Students’ First” philosophy, putting education, experience, and free expression ahead of institutional discomfort. Bella McManus Rose-tinted rants Everyone should go on at least one side quest a week. It is the ultimate, and arguably the most fun, way to keep your priorities straight and your perspectives fresh. A side quest is essentially any impromptu adventure. Fishing at 10 p.m. on a Tuesday because playing cards was boring, soaking your jeans jumping in puddles after it rains, agreeing to a last minute weekend trip, go karting and drive-in movies with your sister -- side quests are the good moments that shape a great life. Side quests got their name because in roleplaying video games, there is a main plot that you must complete to win. Any optional or second- ary task is a side quest, because it does not help complete the main plot in any way. In life, side quests will not advance your career, pay your bills, or further your education. So, what’s the point? Why bother? Well, for one, you can’t plan them, so thinking of them in terms of something that needs to be intentionally added into life is useless. A true side quest is something that makes you step back and say, “I did not expect my day to end up here when I woke up this morning.” No one truly expects to find themselves at a park at midnight eating an 86-cent pie from Walmart, or on a walk with the sole intent of rescuing worms and slugs from the sidewalk after the rain drew them out. Making side quests a regular (yet still sporadic) part of your life starts with being able to look at things as an opportunity to go out and discover more about yourself and the world around you. Almost everything offers the potential to be enjoyable if you choose to find the fun. Even being stranded on the side of the road for five hours on your birthday – speaking from personal experience – can turn out for the best. I ended up meeting a lovely couple that took me into their home and fed me leftover pizza while I waited for my dad to rescue me. It is one of my favorite birthday stories to tell. Another practical way to embrace a side quest lifestyle is to say yes to more. Just because an outing wasn’t a part of your plan to begin with doesn’t mean it would be a bad thing to allow yourself to do Oftentimes we get too set in our schedule to try new things, especially if these new things seem pointless or frivolous. I believe that if it makes you smile, deepens your relationships, or brings just fun, then it isn’t pointless. We were not born to wake up, go to work, go home, and repeat. We were designed to discover and to explore the world with childlike wonder, yet when the time comes that we are able to do so with the freedom of adults, we no longer feel the desire to explore. These silly little side quests are a big part of what give life true value. Accepting that life is unpredictable and embracing its spontaneity allows us to enjoy it to the fullest. Lady T-Birds Undefeated in conference play Photo Courtesy of Chris Lorenzen Peyton Carruth digs a ball out of the net against Western Wyoming Community College. The Lady T-Birds are 10-0 in conference play and 22-7 overall. WRITING CENTER caspercollegechinook.com The Writing Center at Casper College is here to help our students and members of the community. The Neurodivergent Collective Do you have autism, ADHD, or think differently? Join us for community and support! Meets FRIDAYS, 2-3PM Starting August 28 UU415 Topics are tailored for neurodivergent students and include: Understanding neurodiversity Executive functioning strategies for college success Sensory needs management Effective communication with instructors and peers Stress management and self-care Time management and organization Self-advocacy and accessing college resources Presented by the Wellness Center. Email: scarlett.verity@caspercollege.edu with questions Brainstorm possible paper topics Craft an essay Get feedback on a draft 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 Contact: wco@caspercollege.edu 307-268-2610 https://writingcenter.caspercollege.edu/ �November 1, 2025 Page 3 CHINOOK Bookstore............................................... student likes? Cheap books.” An additional factor is the financial sustainability of hardcover versus virtual textbooks. Fife said, “What I see is generally, a lot of digital books do not actually give a significantly better price. That was always the sell of a digital book - that they were going to be significantly cheaper, but it turns out, when you are in a market that isn’t actually a market, that every student has to buy the book, there’s no actual incentive to reduce the price just because you converted it into a PDF.” Textbooks remain a constant necessity for students, though the conversation of the most viable option continues to cycle. Differing opinions, cultural shifts, and financial roadblocks lie at the center of an unanswered problem. Fisher said, “What is hap- pening is some students are just not buying books because it’s too expensive and they can’t afford it, so their grades are dropped.” In the process of compiling concerns and rising questions, Parking................................................... sures when it comes to parking lots. In the future, the college will work to install new LED lighting around the campus parking lots. “Definitely it is our goal to have more lighting around campus for safety precautions," Masters said. Another modern consideration being discussed is the implementa- tion of electric vehicle charging stations. While the college is currently without charging stations, Master’s acknowledged that the stations haved been brought up before, though plans to implement the stations have not been enacted. The challenge, as with many parking decisions, is balancing utility Farewell...... with space. "It makes sense, right?" Masters said. "But then at the same time it's like, well, if there's only two cars utilizing the charging stations, is it worth it taking up 10 spots?" For now, the colleges' approach to parking is one of strategic management rather than major expansion continued from page 1 the future state of the bookstore remains in question. “It is my understanding that a physical bookstore will remain on campus, though the size, form it takes, and content may be different,” Atkins said. continued from page 1 or implementation. The college sees abundant parking space, though it seems much of it is underutilized due to its less than desirable location away from popular classroom spaces. Still the path forward involves integrating parking considerations into new projects, whether that be potentially reclaiming land like the former Wheeler Terrace apartments or encouraging the campus community to utilize the existing, if slightly more distant, parking lots as a viable solution. As the campus continues to evolve and grow, so too will the ongoing effort to solve the campus’ parking puzzle. continued from page 1 her dogs, and traveling. She planned a week in London and hopes to one day go to Egypt to explore her more unspoken interest in Egyptology. She said that she will adjunct for classes at CC or the University of Wyoming if asked, because she loves teaching too much and doesn’t expect to ever stop. Something Mahlum said she would tell her younger self just starting at CC is to always put the students first, and she feels she lived up to this advice very well. “I know that's a cheesy phrase,” she said. “But I do think that's the thing I did well -- when I made decisions, it was based on what's going to be best for my students.” Calmes said that Mahlum truly led by example and shared such a passion for what she does that it is hard to imagine what the early childhood department will look like without her presence. While Mahlum is expecting, and hoping for, a quiet leave in December, Calmes said too many people love her too much for that to happen. Join our Chinook staff! TAKING CONTROL OF YOUR TECH USE Interview & write Take photos & design Learn sales & advertising Explore web development Create social media content The Chinook is a one credit class titled Independent Publications Contact our faculty advisor Bri Weigel for more information brianne.weigel@caspercollege.edu JOIN OUR GROUP TO HELP TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR TECHNOLOGY USE! WE WILL EXPLORE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF TECH, REFLECT ON OUR USE, DISCUSS TIPS, AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER. SESSIONS WILL COVER PROS AND CONS OF TECH MINDFULNESS PRACTICES EMOTIONAL REGULATION SOCIAL MEDIA AND GAMES WEEKLY ON TUESDAYS, OCTOBER 7TH DECEMBER 2ND HACKING YOUR BRAIN AI COMPANIONSHIP SLEEP AND TECH USE ALTERNATIVES TO TECH 3 - 4 PM UU ROOM 415 Taking Online or Hybrid Courses? Plus lot m a ore! The Casper College Digital Learning Center supports your journey by helping you master essential digital tools. We ensure you have access to the resources you need for online and hybrid classes. MARK KATIE r You s our i s ces Suc iority! Pr HOW WE CAN HELP: DAVE MyCCMoodle: Online Tutoring Guidance: Zoom Assistance: Study and Work Spaces: Learn how to submit assignments, participate in forums, and more. TERESA Access/navigate Zoom for remote classes and collaborations. Google Suite Support: Docs, Drive, Gmail — make the most of these tools. OMAR Office 365 Access: Use MS Word, PowerPoint, and other essentials. 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 Navigate NetTutor and other resources for extra help when you need it. Try out our newly furnished student room to study, relax, or use the computers and printer. Tech and Snacks: Enjoy snacks like popcorn or ask about our VR and green screen! �Page 4 November 1, 2025 CHINOOK Wheeler Terrace to be demolished Future campus apartment options uncertain Raymond Jackson Chinook Writer Following graduation in May, Casper College’s Wheeler Terrace apartment building closed for demolition. Casper College staff have not yet decided what to do with the original building site. Without Wheeler, the college’s apartment style housing options will be cut off entirely with plans for a new building still up in the air. Since opening its doors in 1970 for young families and sophomores, the building faced several issues with where and how it was built. Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Corey Peacock stated that the site suffered from asbestos insulation, underground water intrusion, and a general lack of upkeep. Peacock added that updates to its MEP system (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) would cause more problems than solutions. “For us to extend the useful life of that building, we would have had to have put a significant investment into replacing all of those systems,” said Peacock. “And the reason that we didn't want to do that with Wheeler is, and I wasn't alive when it was built, but it's not the best building site.” New apartments replacing Wheeler are still being considered, but the apartments would be built elsewhere. Peacock said a parking lot is being considered as an option for the Wheeler Terrace location. Several companies have been recruited to work on a comprehensive plan for such a building. Cyan, a company conducting CC’s housing study, is finding that students prefer apartment-style living on campus. In regards to the current on-campus living option – the residence hall – Residence Hall Area Coordinator Elizabeth Dobson said that improved air conditioning, flooring, kitchens, beds, and laundry facilities are several priorities in what the residence halls are looking to improve. “There's a lot of moving pieces and we can't just say ‘yeah we're going to build a new facility’ even though there's clearly a demand for it and we would love to fill that demand,” Dobson said. “There is so much to consider in terms of the long-term goals of our college and what projects we already have going… Raymond Jackson/Chinook Included above is a photo of Wheeler Terrace as it currently stands, closed off to the public for demolition. The apartment building opened on campus in 1970. it's a larger conversation that I'm lucky to be a part of.” With potential new housing opportunities, the budget for such a project is concerning. Peacock said that a 125-bed apartment style building comes in at an estimated $26.6 million to finance. An option for a 36-bed is estimated to cost $8.6 million. “That was the other side of what we asked this company to do was not only measure demand, but also look into what would it cost for us to build a new complex and how would we make that work in terms of how much we charge students to live there,” Peacock said. “The thing that students might not realize is when you look at academic buildings on a college campus like Casper College, a public campus, the state will usually fund about half of the cost of those buildings, and then we usually fundraise for the rest.” New housing at CC may be on the horizon, but work is being done to improve the current standard of living and availability of the residence hall. Without Wheeler Terrace, housing options are limited for the time being. However, students will still be able to live and thrive on campus and have their needs met, with or without additional options. “We of course have to operate from the perspective of it may not be in the budget -- it may not be in the financial card -- but I will always advocate that apartment style living options that are specifically available to students versus external outside of campus where they're available to anyone,” Dobson said. The role of AI in the college's education department Submitted Photo CC student Kurstin Larsen is pictured above working on developing a lesson plan for how to teach students to use AI responsibly. Kaydence Parke Chinook Writer At Casper College, Education Instructor Abigail Bishop is guiding future teachers to use artificial intelligence as a tool for inquiry-based learning. Bishop emphasizes using AI responsibly, showing future educators how to treat technology as a resource in learning rather than a replacement for human connection in the class- room. As programs like ChatGPT, Magic School AI, and Google Gemini spread through higher education, instructors everywhere are juggling with the unknown questions about academic integrity and creativity. Bishop works to embrace curiosity instead of fear. “It’s about how we maintain the integrity of what we’re doing and balance that with technology that can help make things more efficient for us,” Bishop said. Bishop teaches courses like Instructional Technology and Foundations of Education where she helps students explore responsible ways to incorporate AI in a real classroom setting. Bishop said she believes instructors should do their best to prepare students to use technology ethically rather than punishing students for showing interest in AI. Bishop practices a “school of thought,” where she guides students to use AI ethically and grants them second chances to make the work their own. She said it’s not a slap on the wrist for her -- it’s a learning process. “In higher ed we are dealing with basically a brain that’s still developing so our executive skills like planning, time management, task initiation -those are not all on board 100%,” Bishop said. “And for most students, the reason why they procrastinate is they just don’t even know where to start.” Bishop explained AI can be one of the tools that provide insight or structure to help students begin their work. Bishop said she integrates AI tools such as Magic School, a platform designed for educators, to help students learn the process of creating lesson plans and organizing classroom materials. She teaches them to use AI as a resourceful starting point rather than a final product. In her ITEC class, students give AI prompts and let it generate ideas, and then they modify the results to fit their unique classroom needs. Outside the classroom, Bishop applies AI to her advising process. She uses Google Gemini in Google Classroom to simplify communication and save time for both herself and her students. She built what she A glimpse at CC soccer Photos courtesy of Zach Nagy Above, Hedy Bechar takes the field against LCCC. Right, Brecklyn Arcibald races against competitors from Lamar Community College. calls an “all-in-one help document” that provides students with everything they might need -- from degree evaluation forms and program sheets to instructions for changing majors. She said the system allows students to access information quickly while still encouraging personal follow-up. Bishop said she approaches AI with curiosity. She thinks fear is inevitable but that’s where research becomes useful. She encourages her students to ask questions and experiment while maintaining ethics around AI. She said banning AI or ignoring it would only leave students unprepared for a rapidly changing future. Elementary education major, Brooklynn Carlen, said Bishop’s approach helped her feel more confident using AI in her coursework. Carlen said AI comes up in nearly every class she takes, whether that be good or bad. “I think as a future educator, it’s scary not knowing what the future holds as far as students actually retaining information. I just worry about future generations not wanting a social connection,” Carlen said. Carlen uses AI for assignments in ITEC when they are directed to do so. She explores lesson plans by giving AI a specific prompt and running with it. She explained that she rephrases AI content and makes it personable. She also argued that she believes AI can never fully replace face-to-face connection in the traditional classroom setting. Carlen said Bishop understands some students may want to explore AI, so she embraces the technology and explains to her students what other instructors dislike about AI. She went on to say that Bishop does a great job of explaining how to make their work unique. Carlen said that the inconsistency among instructors and AI creates anxiety for students who worry about getting in trouble for using AI, even when they follow the rules. She said most of her peers are cautious and try to tread lightly. Despite fears, Carlen believes every future educator should learn to use AI effectively. “Times are changing,” Carlen said. “I think it’s up to us to give AI a good reputation and influence older people who might be scared or not know much about it and teach them.” Looking towards the future, Carlen said she pictures AI eventually helping teachers personalize learning for every student. She said she would design an AI tool to help create lesson plans for kids with learning disabilities, like dyslexia. She said every kid learns differently, which can be hard to manage in a classroom. Bishop shared Carlen’s point of view. She said she believes AI will continue to change education but never replace human creativity or empathy. Bishop believes we’re built for connection, and technology should never take that away. Bishop said she hopes to see AI used as a resource for inquirybased learning rather than an out for students and instructors. She said educators that stay curious help their students do the same. “I think we need to approach it with curiosity because it doesn’t mean you have to use it or align with it, but using such a dualistic black and white way of responding to something like that is already happening, isn’t flexible,” Bishop said. “And that is actually going to end up doing more harm to students in the long run.” At CC, curiosity is defining how current and future educators approach this changing academic world. While AI continues to grow, instructors and students agree: the classroom will always need human connection. �November 1, 2025 Page 5 CHINOOK Nick Mesecher: Protecting CC's campus online Jonathan Togstad/Chinook Nick Mesecher, IT systems security analyst, posed for a photo. Mesecher works to protect Casper College online with cybersecurity. Jonathan Togstad Chinook Writer Nick Mesecher is protecting students and staff alike at Casper College by utilizing cybersecurity protocols. Technology advanced significantly in past decades, and scammers advanced along with it, making cybersecurity more important than ever. When it comes to online campus security, it’s even more important as campus data bases impact thousands of students and staff. Nick Mesecher started working at Casper College in 2016 where he started as System Administrator. He later transitioned to being the campus’ IT Systems Security Analyst. In the last 5 years of his work with IT he began to heavily consider the importance of cybersecurity. He said he’s now worked in IT for over 25 years total. Cybersecurity is now essential to the operation of college campuses and Casper College is no different. Mesecher said he deals with numerous phishing emails, which are emails that are attempting to steal your data, and analyzing the traffic that comes through the college’s systems on a daily basis. Using tools like Security Onion, he evaluates the data and seeks out where a threat or breach may occur. “I want to know if there's some area that we could get compromised and how to protect ourselves,” said Mesecher. Another way he is protecting campus is through an automated process that labels phishing or sketchy emails as quarantined, meaning there is a smaller chance of harm. He is also working with the campus’ Human Resources department to create an onboarding program for new and current employees to have a better understanding of how to identify a phishing email and how to report them to the IT department. Mesecher improved security in many ways since transitioning to his current role. He spent much of his time and effort on outreach and aware- ness to students and staff. For example, some may notice the Control Alt Defend newsletter sent to Casper College inboxes. Mesecher said the newsletter sat on his to-do list since taking his current position. The goal of the newsletter is to educate students and staff on cybersecurity procedures. Mesecher did a large awareness campaign for cybersecurity month and hopes to continue the newsletter. Mesecher and IT Network Coordinator Brian Clark, conducted another outreach event in hosting a movie night for Tron. They discussed how cybersecurity relates to the film and how students can become more knowledgeable about their online security both on and off campus. “I always think that our biggest threat is ourselves. Not teaching and not educating students and employees on how they should handle that type of stuff,” said Mesecher. “I think we just need to keep doing better at that. So I'm really working on more awareness campaigns.” Mesecher said the most common mistake users make is not slowing down. Many users see an email and open it immediately without checking the email address of the sender or content of the message. Mesecher offered some of the questions to consider when receiving an email that could be fraudulent: Were you expecting something from the sender? What actions are they asking you to do? Generally, is this something that person would even ask you to do? Mesecher emphasized the importance of thinking critically in cybersecurity situations to make sure the email is not spam, fraudulent, or harmful. He went on to say that transparency on campus is extremely important. Despite emphasizing guidelines and awareness campaigns to combat them, breaches still occur on campus. Mesecher concluded, “When somebody opens a phishing email and they go through and they give up their credentials, (then) I like to start the conversation…This wasn't your fault. This is not something that you should feel bad about. These are criminals. These are bad guys that are doing everything that they can to make your life hell.” caspercollegechinook.com Knowledge Enrichment for Youth KEY CAMP Looking for a rewarding way to spend next summer? Join the team at Casper College’s KEY Camp as a camp counselor, classroom assistant, nurse, or teacher! It’s a valuable experience for your resume and an opportunity to mentor academically inclined 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. Contact Community Education at 307-268-3401 or comm_ed@caspercollege.edu for more information. caspercollegechinook.com � 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 2025-11 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> Date Created Date of creation of the resource. 2025-11 Description An account of the resource This is a copy of the online Chinook Newspaper from November 2025. 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_2025-11 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF