A Publication by the Students of the FRCC-Larimer Campus

V OLUME 8, I SSUE 1 A UGUST — O CTOBER 2008

H IGHER SGA F INDS A W AY

G ROUND
BY E MILY S EVERANCE ,
BY K ELLI C OLSON , R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER
R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER
Want to be involved? Have ideas
Poverty is a growing problem of how to make Front Range a
here in Larimer County. better learning environment?
Since 2000, the number of Make your voice heard and visit
people living below the the Student Government
poverty line has gone up just Association.
over half of what it used to
be, and now that number is The SGA is the representative
just over 34,000. More than voice for students, faculty, and
7,000 kids are currently the surrounding community on
living in poverty, an increase campus at Front Range. It
of 75 percent since the year Anatomy and physiology instructor Molly Fiechtl captured one of advocates important issues with
2000. These numbers are the campus’ resident owls with her two owlets last spring. the goal of making the quality of
only of people living in life and education better. Weekly
Larimer County, and they continue to grow. duties of elected members include planning events and
community service, and holding open forums with administra-
The Interfaith Council of Fort Collins is an organization trying to
tion. Each elected member is required to have available office
help people rise above poverty. They recently co-sponsored a
hours and attend various regional leadership conferences and
candidates forum titled “Pathways Past Poverty,” which was held
workshops. The SGA is funded 100 percent by student fees.
in the Longs Peak Student Center on Sept. 23 and 30. Colorado
politicians running for public office came together to discuss how
Just like any academic year, the SGA‟s schedule is jam-packed
they would help end poverty if they got elected and, in some cases,
with activities and
re-elected.
projects. Their hectic
One of the public officials who attended the Sept. 23 forum was semester was kicked off
state Democratic Sen. Bob Bacon. He helped make over $26 with student government
million in bioscience grants available to Colorado universities and elections. President Hana
start-up companies. He also sponsored a bill to renew Fort Collins‟ Shatila was voted into
Downtown Development Authority. Bacon hopes sponsoring both office last spring; however,
of those bills will help build more jobs. the vice president and
secretary positions needed
The majority of the candidates agreed with Bacon‟s idea of how to
to be decided. Candidates
get people out of poverty, which is to gain more primary jobs
were seen campaigning
rather than service jobs. A primary job is a salary job for a large
throughout campus and in
company, such as Microsoft, whereas a service job is a waitress or
their classrooms, and in
hostess at a restaurant. However, when asked how he plans to
the Longs Peak Student
close the gap between families‟ annual wages decreasing, and the
Center. Votes were cast
cost of living increasing, he simply responded, “We will never
and for the first time in
close the gap.”
SGA history, there was a
The best way to end poverty, according to all the candidates, is to tie between vice
strengthen early child-care education. “Education is the building presidential candidates
block for a successful student,” Bacon said. Benjamin Rencher and
Zachary Williamson.
All of the candidates agreed that figuring out a way to provide no- Rencher won on Oct. 2
cost or reasonable childcare will help better educate the child, and SGA President Hana Shatila
with 36 votes.
help with the finances of the family.
Photo by Michelle Motherway
(Continued on page 4) (Continued on page 4)
 2

M EET OUR E DITORIAL T EAM

Faculty Advisor &

Managing Editor………...… Kate Tarasenko
Editorial Team…….…...……..Josh Brickner
….....……………………………Evan Brown
………………………………….Kelli Colson
…………………………………….Matt Etter
………………………………...Alex Golubski
……………………………...…Alex Hummel
………………………………Chance Johnson
………………………………...Brad Menefee
………………………………..Jeremie Schatz
……………………………...Emily Severance
…………………………………Vashti Torrez
……………………………Danielle Zimmerer
Photo Team…….. .……….…Miranda Baker
………………………….Michelle Motherway
……………………………….Whitney Weber
Layout…….. ..….……...……Kate Tarasenko
(L to R) back row: Jeremie Schatz, Alex Hummel, Chance Johnson, Matt Etter, Kelli Publications Board….... .…….Karl Dukstein
Colson, Brad Menefee; middle row: Evan Brown, Joshua Brickner, Vashti Torrez; ………………………………..….Blair Oliver
………………………………...…..Erin Smith
front row: Danielle Zimmerer, Alex Golubski and Emily Severance ……………………………….Kate Tarasenko
Photo by Karl Dukstein
FREELANCE SUBMISSIONS
MISSION STATEMENT: POLICY:
The Rangeview provides a voice for FRCC’s Larimer campus. We strive to give our readers We welcome feedback, letters to the
accurate and balanced coverage on a variety of news and events in an effort to keep our editor, original articles and op-ed
campus well-informed about its college community. We approach our responsibilities pieces (as well as story ideas and
with the goal of maintaining the highest journalistic standards to the best of our abilities. tips) from all members of the FRCC
Larimer Campus community.
Please do not exceed 600 words.
M EET OUR P HOTO T EAM The Rangeview also accepts photos
and artwork in j-peg format.
All submissions must be emailed
directly from your FRCC account as
a Word.doc or j-peg attachment,
and must be accompanied by full
name and local phone number, to:
Rangeview@FrontRange.edu
All submissions are subject to final
approval by the Editorial Team and/or
Publications Board, and may be edited
for length, clarity, and potentially libel-
ous content.

Please submit your

calendar items and events to
Erin.Smith@FrontRange.edu.

(L to R): Michelle Motherway, Karl-Heinz Dukstein, Whitney Weber and Miranda Baker ALL CONTENT © 2008 RANGEVIEW
Photo by Kathryn Dokter

ALSO
IN THIS ISSUE:
Serving the Students
IT Services.……….…..….5
Ann Healy, WC.…………6
Math Help…….………….7
PR Dept………………….8
Online Learning………...10
Scholars’ Square
Barb Patterson, NRP...…11
Wm. Foster, Eng...……...12
Club Hub
PTK…..………..………..13
SOFA…………………...14
Campus Wellness
Facilities Services………15
Denise Proulx, HHP…….16
Medium Cool
John Hill, Theater……….17
DNC Photo Exhibit..........18
Ballot Measures W/D...…18
Student Special
“Barack-ing the Vote”….19
Be Our Guest
“Independent Lens”…….16
Peru………………...…..20
SPRING 2009
Register for JOU-106,
the Fundamentals of
Reporting, and write for
The Rangeview!
CRN 63586;
3 transfer
credit hours
Also offered as an
Honors Institute class.
3
F ROM O UR R EADERS
I have only recently become
acquainted with FRCC’s
Rangeview, and I am impressed
with its professionalism. The
expository writing is clear and
correct, conveying even complex
data so that it is accessible to the
reader. The interviews and
features are lively and well-
conceived, and each writer
possesses a “voice” that adds
human interest.
The Rangeview gives enough
information on a wide variety of
campus activities to be useful to
its readers. Grammatical and
spelling errors, the bugbear of
student writing, are rare.
All in all, the writing in The
Rangeview compares well with
that in the Fort Collins Coloradoan
and similar publications. Those
involved in its production should
be complimented.
David Healy
Professor Emeritus of History
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
(Fort Collins)
The Rangeview
is funded by Student Life
using student fees, and by the
Department of Arts & Letters.
Reporting for The Rangeview
is provided by the journalism
students of JOU-106,
the Fundamentals of Reporting.
Photography is provided by
the students of FRCC-LC.
Q UICK H ITS & I TTY B ITS
Cover Letter & Resume Writing Workshop
Learn about the purpose of a resume, the various sections
within a resume, different styles and strategies for
formatting your resume, and how to avoid common
mistakes, as well as how to write effective cover letters
and develop a lists of references on Tuesday, Oct. 21
from 10 to 11 a.m. in MA 131.
Single Parent Program Information Session
Find out about free support services for single-parent
students: Monday, Oct. 27 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.,
Longs Peak Student Center‟s East Conference Room
Pre-registration is required for all workshops. Sign up at
www.frontrange.edu/lcsingleparent (under Workshops).
Questions? Contact Sheryl.Harrell@frontrange.edu
Four-Year Transfer Fair
Four-year college and university representatives from
around Colorado will be on campus Wednesday, Oct. 29
from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Longs Peak Student
Center.
Career Doctor
Stop by and get a variety of career assistance with
informal career counseling, cover letter and resume
writing, career assessments, and job search assistance on
Wednesday, Oct. 29, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., LPSC Foyer
El Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)
Altars will be displayed in the Harmony Library Commu-
nity Room on Thursday, Oct. 30 from noon till 4 p.m.
Overcoming Test Anxiety
Learn a simple technique for managing stress and staying
calm before and during tests: Tuesday, Nov. 4 from 1:00
to 2:00 p.m., Longs Peak Student Center‟s East
Conference Room
 4
(SGA continued from page 1)
Williamson will act as secretary, treasurer and any other position
that the council needs filled. David Murphy will act as a legisla-
tive representative. Filling only five out of 16 available slots, the
SGA encourages every student to think about joining.
“We‟re small but mighty!” Shatila exclaimed. She is 18 years old
and has attended Front Range for the past two years. Born and
raised in Fort Collins, Shatila graduated early from high school
and is studying political science and pre-law. She hopes to
graduate from Colorado State University and become a lawyer.
Outside of Front Range, Shatila loves reading, shopping, traveling
and spending time with her friends and family.
“I am extremely proud of Hana,” said Erin Smith, Student Life
director and SGA advisor. “She can do anything she sets her mind
to.”
As president, Shatila is responsible for facilitating meeting
discussions, sticking to council goals, and spreading the word
about SGA on campus.
Smith has been the SGA advisor for the past five years. “My
duties as council advisor include developing good rapport with
students, suggesting ideas, acting as a liaison between students and
administration, and creating a sense of team spirit.” Smith said.
“I hope the SGA will set some challenging yet attainable goals that
I will work to help them accomplish,” she said.
After training and an induction ceremony, the real work begins.
New officers are required to pass an official background check and
are considered employees of the State of Colorado. Members of
student government receive a small monetary stipend for the work
they do.
Incumbents and candidates for the Colorado House and Senate
gather for “Pathways Past Poverty,” the first of two public forums
held at FRCC on Sept. 23 and 30.
Photo by Dr. Martin Carcasson, director of CSU’s Center
for Public Deliberation, which co-sponsored the event
This year‟s agenda includes many annual events, special pro-
jects, and a trip to Colorado Springs for the State Student Advi-
sory Council Leadership Conference. At the conference, mem-
bers will get to meet the legislative teams from the other 13
colleges in the Colorado Community College System. They
will talk about issues affecting all campuses, and how to be-
come great leaders and impact the world around us.
This is a unique opportunity for members to network with other
student government members and advisors. The conference is
designed to inspire leadership and action for student
representatives to bring back to their college campuses.
Upcoming events for the Larimer campus include Halloween
festivities and providing Thanksgiving dinners to those in need.
Last year, the SGA provided 50 Thanksgiving turkey dinners
for the Fort Collins community. The SGA assisted with CSU‟s
Homecoming parade, as well. Possible projects for the Larimer
campus include a healthcare insurance system for students, and
creating private accommodations for nursing mothers.
Located in the Longs Peak Student Center, the Student Govern-
ment Association accepts applications all year for those who
want to help make a difference. Interested in Executive
Council? You must be a registered student enrolled in at least
nine credit hours, have attended FRCC-LC for a complete
semester, with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher. Interested in
being a legislative representative? You must be a registered
student with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 and enrolled in at least
one credit hour. SGA meetings are held every Monday from
4:00 to 5:15 p.m. in the LPSC‟s East Conference Room.
Students and faculty are welcome to sit in on meetings and
participate in the open discussions.
“Come see us!” Shatila exclaimed. “We want more students
involved!” ®
(POVERTY FORUM continued from page 1)
Bacon hopes to help all educational institutes do the job they
were meant to do. He wants to make sure public schools earn
enough money for special education and programs where
non-English speaking students can learn English. He wants
to get more people to be hands-on with public schools and
help kids succeed. “[The] drop-out rate starts as early as
eighth and ninth grade,” he said.
Bacon, like all the other candidates, said that if we educate
children at an early age and get them started on the right
track, then they might have an easier time continuing through
college and getting a good job in the end.
Some people might think that a roomful of politicians talking
about one topic for three hours may be uninteresting, but the
audience stayed entertained the entire time. The candidates
held their attention by cracking jokes with each other. The
room was quiet throughout the entire forum and many of the
audience members were taking notes and asking questions.
A young woman who was focused on the forum and rarely
took her eyes off the candidates was sitting in the front row
(Continued on next page)
 5

(POVERTY FORUM continued from previous page) S ERVING THE S TUDENTS

and taking lots of notes. Nikki Schillaci is 18 years old and
a student at Front Range. She was attending the forum for
a class. “I thought all the candidates had really interesting
things to say,” she said. “And they pretty much all agreed
on many of the key issues.”
Schillaci is a member of the Democratic Party but thought
both Republican and Democratic candidates made valid
points. “More people should understand the poverty
problem we have here in Fort Collins,” Schillaci
explained. She had had no idea how many people here in
Larimer county live below the poverty line. Schillaci went
on to say, “It‟s important that people know so they can
help.”
After the forum, the majority of the audience stayed to talk
to some of the candidates one on one. Schillaci still isn‟t
sure who she will vote for. “Many of the candidates had
very good ideas. It will be hard to choose just one,” she
said.
There are many ways to help and get involved. One can
donate to charities, volunteer at daycare centers, etc.
“All of us are weak at some point and are in need of the ITS Coordinator Susie Peppers, posed in front of an arsenal of computer
community‟s help,” Bacon said. ® towers, joined FRCC this past summer. (See related story below.)
Photo by Michelle Motherway

IN TOUCH WITH ITS
BY J OSHUA B RICKNER , R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER
It takes a lot of effort to keep the multitude of computers on
campus running smoothly. Susie Peppers, the Information
Technology Services (ITS) coordinator of the Larimer
campus, is in charge of making sure they do. Peppers manages
the IT Support Desk on campus which is a support resource to
faculty. They deal with the various problems that crop up with
the software and hardware that are installed on campus.
Peppers moved to Colorado 13 years ago from southern
California. She attended FRCC, receiving an Associate of
Arts degree in 2003, after which she attended Regis
University in Fort Collins where she received a bachelor‟s
degree in Computer Information Systems (CIS) in May of this
year. In that month she also got married. In July, two months
after graduating and tying the knot, Peppers began her career
at FRCC. In her free time, Peppers enjoys hiking, skiing and
reading.
When asked what especially interests her in technology,
Peppers responded, “Technology is always changing and
evolving. I like that nothing stands still. Change keeps us
moving forward in life.” Peppers says she enjoys using all
the gadgets that these advances in technology provides.
Peppers‟ tidy corner office consists of a large desk with a
computer, and a few piles of computers stacked about.
Peppers says that the best part of her job is “helping users,
and working with so many different departments and people.”
She decided to go back to school for her CIS degree after holding
a position as an administrative assistant, where she learned the
basics about how computer hardware and software work. Peppers
says she “always been interested in learning about technology.”
Peppers says the most common issue that her department deals
with is forgotten passwords. With all the things students and
faculty have to keep track of, it is quite common for them to forget
their computer login information. If you forget your password,
Peppers recommends you visit the Computer Commons (BP101)
in Blanca Peak. After presenting a photo ID, the lab monitor will
reset your password for you. “For student e-mail and Blackboard
Vista support, students can call 1-888-800-9198 or log onto
http://help.cccs.edu,” says Peppers.
It is important to protect your digital identity on and off campus.
“Never share passwords,” says Peppers. It is important that you
keep your passwords secret and change them often.
Peppers also warns that you should “be very careful of the
personal information you post to Internet sites.” Once something
is posted to the Internet, almost anyone can see it and it is very
difficult to remove something once it has been posted online.
Finally it is important that you always logout when finished using
the computer, to ensure that One common issue that Peppers says
ITS cannot help students with is corrupted or broken USB flash
drives. Although flash drives are cheap and useful tools, they are
not fail-safe, they can break, lose data, or become lost. She noted
that it is imperative that students do frequent backups of the data
(Continued on next page)
 6
S ERVING THE S TUDENTS
(PEPPERS continued from previous page)
stored on their flash drives. By simply copying the files from
the flash drive to your computer‟s hard drive, you can save
yourself the pain of losing that paper or homework assignment
that you spent hours creating. It can also be useful to place a
text file with your contact information on your flash drive. If it
is found on campus whoever discovers it will have a good
method to return it you. If you happen to find a flash drive left
behind by another student, you can take it to Police Services in
Mount Antero.
Looking into the near future, Peppers said that a new Internet
Protocol (IP) telephony system will be installed across campus
“to enhance security.” The new IP telephony system means a
phone will be installed in every classroom. These phones will
be able to dial 911 and Public Safety in the case of an emer-
gency. This system should be rolled out this semester.
When asked what the worst part of her job is, Peppers said
“It‟s all good!” ®
H EALY ’ S H ELPFUL H INTS
BY V ASHTI T ORREZ , R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER
Instructors from various departments of Front Range are
increasingly referring their student to the Writing Center on
campus. The Writing Center is an offshoot of the English
Department and is open each weekday on a walk-in basis. The
Writing Center is staffed by Front Range instructors and, for
the last three years, 77-year-old volunteer Ann Healy.
Healy originally moved to Colorado from Wisconsin 10 years
ago to retire from 25 years of teaching English composition
and history at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Yet, when
she got here, she realized that she wasn‟t ready to put teaching
aside. “One side of me says that I wish I were still full-time
teaching, but the flexibility of volunteering has its advantages,”
she states.
Healy has dedicated much of her life to the institution of
education. Her post-secondary education began at the
University of Wisconsin-Madison where she earned her
undergraduate degree in natural science. Healy states, “I was
actually doing that to be a vet-tech or a doctor.”
After five years exploring different opportunities in the Red
Cross, YWCA and eventually working as a grade school
teacher, Healy went on a trip. The trip was guided by a
Russian history professor and the destination was the former
Yugoslavia. She reminisced on this pivotal point in her life and
comments, “I just got interested. I went to Yugoslavia, [and] I
just got interested in the history of Eastern Europe. It was the
trip that was largely responsible for my interest [in European
history].”
At this point, Healy decided to go back to school and
explore the history of Europe with a concentration in
Russian history. She received her master‟s degree in
history and continued until she earned her doctorate in
European history, with a concentration in Russian history.
Throughout her schooling and teaching career, Healy has
published various pieces of work. Her first published work
was her dissertation for her doctorate titled “Russian
Autocracy in Crisis: 1905-1907.” She also translated a
memoir from Russian originally written by Gennady
Khomiakov-Andreev and published it under the title
“Bitter Waters: Life and Work in Stalin‟s Russia.”
While teaching English composition, she also co-wrote
and published a textbook for her class titled, “Strategies
for Writing: A Basic Approach.” She explained that she
fought for the book to be titled “So, You Don‟t Like to
Write,” with a funny picture on the cover, but the publisher
urged them against that approach.
Healy has a rich past of teaching various students on
different levels in their writing careers. Some include
English as a Second Language (ESL) students, some are
(Continued on next page)
The Writing Center is located inside
the Learning Opportunity Center in
Blanca Peak, room 102G. Staff is
available to assist all FRCC students
with any writing project or assignment
on a first-come, first-served basis from
9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday.
This semester, you’ll also find staff
posted in the foyer of the Longs Peak
Student Center from noon till 2 p.m.
For help online, go to
http://frontrange.edu/writing
 7

S ERVING THE S TUDENTS

(HEALY continued from previous page)

considered “at-risk” students, and others are

students who took her upper-level history courses
at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. With all
of these students, her underlying goal is the same:
to clarify, strengthen their work, teach them how
to become critics of their own writing, and
develop confidence by helping them realize that
they do have a lot to say and can bring a lot to
their writing.

She explains that the diverse student population

and student age at Front Range is part of the
attraction of volunteering at the Writing Center.
She explains that the best writing comes from
students relating to their own life experiences. But
she also sees a lot of different writing, ranging
from veterinary sciences to scholarship essays.

Healy states that “writing is a presentation of

yourself,” and she encourages students of every Semi-retired educator, author and Writing Center volunteer Ann Healy assists
level to come into the Writing Center. Most student Kathy Berry (right) with an assignment. On most days, the avid skier and
professionals, including Healy, don‟t publish a hiker rides her bike to FRCC from her home in Old Town.
piece of work without first getting it reviewed. ® Photo by Whitney Weber

Y OUR D AYS ARE N UMBERED !
BY C HANCE J OHNSON , R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER
For those who struggle with math, a free tutoring service is avail-
able here at Front Range. The Math Help Center is available in
Blanca Peak, room 102 D. Getting help in math may be costly and
difficult to find, but by getting help from the tutors on campus, this
is no longer an issue.
Ceyra Sexton, a student at Front Range enrolled in Math 121,
sometimes struggles with math courses, homework, and the many
frustrations that the combination that the two present. Sexton
revealed that she takes advantage of the Help Center frequently, at
least twice a week, even if it is to make sure that she is clear on the
directions. She said that she will usually study there for an hour to
an hour and a half. To ensure that she is confident and under-
stands her math course, Sexton will visit a tutor even if she is not
struggling with anything in particular. She then admitted to using
the Help Center for three hours per session when in preparation for
a test.
Sexton steadfastly stated that the center is “very helpful” and that
the tutors “explain all steps and directions well.” She visits most
often with tutors Ivan Loy and Margaret Counts, who are math
instructors as well as tutors.
Janis Hess, another tutor and Front Range math instructor, gave
more insight and information of the usefulness of this facility.
Hess, an upbeat and thorough instructor, is participating in her first
semester working in the Help Center. She has also done group
tutoring for certain courses during the previous three years in
the Harmony Library. Hess currently tutors on Tuesdays and
Thursdays. She said that she starts her diagnoses by first
“discovering how much a student already knows,” then goes
from there. This saves time by not re-teaching a student what
he or she may already know how to do.
What Hess has noticed that has helped students is that the
tutor‟s guidance builds confidence. Some students sometimes
already know how to do the work, but require reinforcement,
which makes them more confident in doing the work. As an
instructor, Hess always makes sure from the first day of the
semester that her class is aware of the facility. From there, if
Hess notices that one of her students may require extra
attention throughout the course, she will direct that individual
to the Help Center.
Hess acknowledged that it is a challenge when a student is so
far behind in the material that she is required to go back several
sections to find the root of the problem. She has also noticed
that when a student misses class, he or she will show up
expecting to be taught an entire section instead of seeking
specific help.
Hess believes that the best part of using the Help Center is that
the one-on-one assistance allows her and other tutors to assist
at the student‟s pace, as opposed to group teaching where
several students may learn at varying paces.
(Continued on next page)
 8

S ERVING THE S TUDENTS

(MATH HELP CENTER continued from previous page)

Hess has already noticed that her students that use this
service are “more apt to improve than not.”

Carla Berley oversees the Math Help Center, is in charge

of scheduling the shifts of the tutors, and is a math
instructor at Front Range. Berley has been challenged to
improve it with a limited budget.

As an instructor, Berley, like Hess, makes certain that all

of her students are aware of the Help Center, and even
walks them over so that there is no question of its
location. Berley said, “I inform my students of the free
tutoring on the first day of class so that they will use it
before problems arise and begin to snowball into larger
problems.” Math builds upon itself and if one detail is
not understood, it is very likely to affect future sections.

Math instructor Janis Hess tutors student Alastair Johnson in the

Berley even advocates the use of the lesser known,
smaller, Math Help Center in the Harmony Library for
Math Help Center in Blanca Peak 102D. Photo by Whitney Weber
030 and 060 students. She also tries to make all students
aware that Saturdays from 9 to 11 a.m. are great opportunities to
use the tutoring services because it is much easier to find an
available tutor than during the week. Berley is currently
challenged with having the center decorated on a limited budget
Q: What do you get when you divide
to be more aesthetically pleasing, thus more appealing to use. the circumference of a
Primarily, her constant challenge is making students aware of jack-o-lantern by its diameter?
the free service available to them. A: Pumpkin Pi!
The Math Help Center is an essential tool for students‟ success.
®

F RIENDLY R ELATIONS : PR AT FRCC

BY J EREMIE S CHATZ , R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER

Have you ever thought about what lures students to Front Range Community College? Maybe they saw the college‟s Web site
chock full of information, or read a press release in the newspaper about enrollment opening up, or simply heard a rumor about
the well-kept campus and quality instructors. In one way or another, whatever influenced their decision could in some way be
attributed to FRCC‟s Public Relations Department.
An often misunderstood or overlooked link in FRCC‟s success lies within the Public Relations Department. When John Feeley,
55, left the associate editor position at the Coloradoan in 1996, he filled the role as the director of college communications in
charge of media relations here at FRCC. Since then, the department has evolved into the Department of Marketing and Advance-
ment where a lot of the marketing responsibilities fall under Feeley‟s public relations position.
“The advancement part of the department is our FRCC Foundation, which raises money for programs and, particularly for readers
of The Rangeview, scholarships,” he says. The FRCC Foundation, established in 1994, focuses mainly on securing funding to
allocate to students in the form of scholarships. Feeley helps the Foundation by creating press releases for various fundraising
events that the Foundation organizes. It‟s hard to miss the many flyers plastered on bulletin boards around campus alerting
students to the different scholarships that are available, who can qualify for them, and when the window of opportunity exists to
apply for them. “There are scholarships that are for certain groups: single parents, ethnic minorities…A lot of these depend on
what the donor wants and the donor directs those,” says Feeley.
(Continued on next page)
 9

S ERVING THE S TUDENTS

(PR continued from previous page)
One of the responsibilities of the PR Department is to “tell the
story of the college…There are stories of successful students, there
are stories of important programs, there are stories of partnerships,
there are stories of outstanding faculty, and we try and tell those
stories to different audiences,” says Feeley.
Feeley also emphasizes the ties of the college to important perti-
nent community organizations throughout the area. For instance,
FRCC is a sponsor of Larimer County‟s Small Business Develop-
ment Center which advises new and existing businesses. “Here is
an organization about creating jobs…and saving jobs in Larimer
County, for the formation of businesses. It‟s part of driving and
supporting the local economy,” says Feeley.
Sometimes it‟s an internal audience that is being addressed, such
as the students who are getting the story about a new scholarship
that‟s available, or a faculty member hearing the story about an
instructor‟s recently acquired master‟s degree. There is a much
greater audience, though: the external audience, such as potential
financial donors, “the general public, legislators, community
groups, all kinds of different groups that we want to target at
different times,” says Feeley.
While one of the PR Department‟s goals is to keep the press up to
date on the college‟s happenings, it‟s important that there is a
gatekeeper of information. “I try to be successful by sending them
things that you really think are news,” says Feeley. In the end, he
says, “it‟s up to the infinite and autonomous wisdom of the media
itself to decide.”
For Feeley, public relations is much more than filtering out press
releases. There are a number of online duties that he is responsible
for as well. The college‟s internal audience is the target for a
biweekly electronic newsletter called the FrontLine. The content
“is contributed, of course, and I do the editing for it and assemble
it,” Feeley says. Another more visible online responsibility is the
college‟s Web site. “I‟ve been the content director of the
Web site for probably about eight or nine years, and the Web
site is a big contact point for the general public, and for
students and staff,” says Feeley.
In his eight years as the coordinator of student recruitment,
Marko Mohlenhoff, 38, specializes in reaching out to the
college‟s external audience. When representing FRCC at a
recruiting booth, Mohlenhoff may be the first to help create
an image of what FRCC is all about. He sums up his ideal of
the FRCC image in four concepts: “accessibility, quality,
professional, and supportive.”
Mohlenhoff isn‟t just on the giving end of PR; he‟s also on
the receiving end. “When we need promotional materials for
an event…[the PR Department] are the ones who basically
get us the final product,” he says. He and Feeley collaborated
with other FRCC staff to develop a full-color information
packet as a major-league marketing tool that is answers
many preliminary questions that a potential student of any
age or background may have, but mostly Coloradans.
“Ninety to 95 percent of our students are Colorado
residents,” says Feeley, ”so we‟re not like CSU, which
knows they have fertile grounds for recruiting in Texas and
Hawaii…Our students aren‟t there. Our students are here.”
Although many of the public relations responsibilities fall
largely within the marketing and advancement department,
Mohlenhoff and Feeley both agree that everyone involved
with FRCC is inherently contributing to the college‟s public
relations. “When Jim Butzek, the vice president [of FRCC]
is out at a community event representing Front Range, he‟s
telling our story. That‟s public relations, too,” says Feeley.
Mohlenhoff reflects that “A main benefit of having a public
relations or marketing department is that top-of-mind aware-
ness…Community colleges don‟t just happen; they need the
support of the community.” ®

(ONLINE continued from page 10)

students access to an online writing lab in which tutors would
return an essay within 24 hours.
Vercauteren and Salahub believe that online classes and learning
aren‟t for every student. “They have to possess a different dynamic
and personality style,” states Vercauteren.
In Fall 2007, a survey was given to online faculty. Of the 115
instructors, 45 responded to the survey from 23 different
disciplines. The survey, according to Vercauteren, found that the
top reasons faculty taught online course was, “they like the
flexibility of teaching online, they enjoy using technology, and
they enjoy interacting with students online.” The survey also
concluded that almost 38 percent “already started using audio
and video in their classes.”
Technology in FRCC‟s classrooms has significantly advanced, “Street Preacher” by Kathryn Dokter
with faculty making a determined effort to incorporate new soft- Read her editorial on page 16 about her experience
ware and find better means to relay information for students who photographing the sights around Denver during the DNC.
take online classes, with on-campus students benefiting. ®
 10
S ERVING THE S TUDENTS
O N B OARD WITH O NLINE L EARNING
BY V ASHTI T ORREZ , R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER
Online classes at Front Range Community College began with one
class in 1991 that was done by e-mail between the instructor and
the students. Classes over the last 17 years have expanded from
that one to 250 courses, four online degrees, and 10 online certifi-
cates that can be completed exclusively online. Technology has
expanded beyond the scope of e-mail to include the use of Black-
board, a course management system provider. Online instructors,
in an effort to both customize their courses and provide more
content to students, are beginning to use various software to
provide audio, visual or a combination to get content to students.
Eric Salahub is the lead philosophy faculty and Online Learning
lead for the Arts and Letters Department. He is one instructor who
incorporated new technology in his online course. As Salahub sits
in his office, he opens the Blackboard
website that shows his Philosophy 112
Ethics class and explains that he started
this semester with a video of himself,
introducing the class for his students.
He also uses software called Screencast
-o-Matic, which allows you to create a
video recording of your screen and
include audio, to create a customized
tutorial of Blackboard which shows
students the applications used in his
course. “Students are getting more
[technology] savvy and asking for it,”
Salahub states.
Compared to on-campus classes, online
classes are almost double the tuition. As of Spring 2008, an on-
campus class cost $173 per credit hour, compared to $235 for an
online class.
Tammy Vercauteren, dean of Online Learning, explains that the
tuition for online classes is set up by Colorado Community
College System. The cost is the same for all students in Colorado
who attend community colleges. She hopes that in the future,
since even on-campus classes take advantage of systems that are
paid for with the online learning budget, that could be spread
across the board.
As Salahub reviews his online course, he leans back in his office
chair and proficiently navigates between two monitors connected
to his PC, each open to show various applications. “It‟s a third of
the way through the semester and I have a total 2,170 posts,” he
says as he reviews the online discussion component on Black-
board.
Students have to expect that they will spend just as much time in
an online class, if not more, as an on-campus class, Salahub
explains. “There is no „back of the classroom‟ in online classes.
You have to participate,” he states.
In addition to video and Screencast-o-Matic used in his classes,
Salahub records his lectures for student to open as an MP3 file. He
scripts and records each lecture completely separate from his
same on-campus course and makes the script and MP3 file
available for students. Salahub explains that the textbook as
a sole piece of information for the course “is not enough.”
One thing that Salahub stresses in reviewing his online
course is that content is added semester after semester. He
has been building off past experience of 14 years. Salahub
started teaching online courses in 1994 at Oregon State
University.
“We had no idea what we were doing [back then],” he states.
He set up his class on a website that his 12 students would
refer to throughout the semester, in addition to corresponding
through e-mail.
In the last eight years alone, enrollment for FRCC‟s online
courses has increased from 430 students to 1,160 students,
according to Vercauteren. Enrollment numbers include
online classes for the Westminister, Brighton, Boulder
County and Larimer
campuses.
Students from any of the four
campuses can enroll in either
Front Range Community
College online classes or
Colorado Community College
Online classes, or CCCOnline.
In the 2007 and 2008 school
years, online classes made up
almost 18 percent of student
enrollment, according to
Vercauteren. This percentage
includes Front Range
Community Colleges and CCCOnline classes. However,
from that number, 65 percent of students enrolled in Front
Range online classes, and the remaining 35 percent were
enrolled in CCCOnline classes.
Vercauteren explains that the difference between students
taking a course through the FRCC online and CCCOnline is
that the courses are taught by current or former Front Range
faculty, and that they possess a “personal touch” which
allows the students easier accessibility to faculty throughout
the semester. CCCOnline also doesn‟t proctor any exams
through the on-campus Testing Center.
Vercauteren is instituting technology on a college-wide scale
that would assist students taking online classes through
FRCC. One recent application is the Blackboard Vista Help
Desk that is available to students 24 hours a day, seven days
a week. Students can receive technical assistance by phone,
submit an e-mail, chat with a support team member or view
self-help articles. Vercauteren is also piloting a new service
with an English and biology class called SMARTHINKING.
The service would allow students to access to online tutors
24 hours a day, seven days a week. The service also gives
(Continued on page 9)
 11

S CHOLARS ’ S QUARE

Association for Environmental Education, and I‟m presenting at

T IED TO THE L AND : a conference in Reno, Nevada in November for the Society of
B ARB P AT TERSON American Foresters.”
SAF is an organization founded in 1900 that, according to their
BY J EREMIE S CHATZ , R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER Web site, “has provided access to information and networking
opportunities to prepare members for the challenges and the
It can be quite the task tracking down the program director and changes that face natural resource professionals.”
lead faculty of the Forestry, Wildlife, and Natural Resource Not one to limit herself to only teaching others, Patterson has
Program at Front Range‟s Larimer campus. Barb Patterson is a been furthering her own education and academic involvement
busy woman with a gaggle of students, work-study employees, with the near completion of a Ph.D. from Colorado State
and fellow instructors trying to track her down for a moment of University. She received a grant from the National Science
her time. Foundation for achievement-gap research which “minimizes the
Patterson‟s small office, complete with plaque-mounted fish achievement gap in science for…low socio-economic class
and various preserved animals, was buzzing with activity and Mexican-Americans.” Achievement gap research deals with the
students overflowing into the hallway. The comparison in the rates of learning between different groups of
small crowd had dissipated and only a lone students, especially groups of differing
work-study student remained as she re- “We abuse land because we socio-economic and gender. The
status, ethnic background,
program is a collaboration
turned from a meeting. As she settled on regard it as a commodity
the grass in the shade of a tree outside of between Oregon, Montana and Colorado,
belonging to us. When we and Patterson‟s research stems from
Red Cloud Peak, she plucked a leaf and,
rubbing it between her fingers, proclaimed, see land as a community to similar work she did on Native American
which we belong, we may reservations. “I‟m transferring my research
“Fraxinus Pennsylvanica, green ash.”
from Indian reservations to Mexican-
Patterson, born in Wisconsin in 1957, is
begin to use it with love and Americans because it is the largest
passionate about conservation. “I grew respect." achievement gap in the nation,” says
up near a wildlife reserve where my dad ~Aldo Leopold Patterson.
would take me hunting, fishing and camp-
ing, and I fell in love with the outdoors,” Patterson‟s favorite aspect of her work at
she says. “I have a very strong land ethic,” a philosophy FRCC is hands-on experiential learning. This teaching method-
conceptualized by environmentalist and ecologist AldoLeopold. ology is also emphasized in her Ph.D. research, and forms the
Leopold was a prominent ecologist during the early 1900s who basis of the entire Forestry, Wildlife, and Natural Resource
wrote: “Conservation is a state of harmony between men and Program that she created. “People have to learn hands-on out
land,” and was a strong proponent of conservation education. in the field. My dissertation is about how science needs to be
This passion for the outdoors and the science that fills it is what taught out in the field so [the students] can make connections
Patterson has been instilling in students at Front Range for the with the environment,” says Patterson.
last 25 years. Patterson‟s
At the beginning of her term here at Front Range, Patterson was vigor far out-
involved with the Vo-Tech Program, the Horticulture Program, weighs her
and went on to develop the Fisheries and Forestry Program. “It‟s small stature.
the best job for me because I created it,” says Patterson. Earlier After she
in her career, she taught at a college in Minnesota, and at a high disclosed that
she was born
school in Wisconsin.
in 1957, she
After receiving her bachelor‟s degree in agriculture with an went on to say,
emphasis in forestry and horticulture, it wasn‟t a straight shot “I just climbed
from school to teaching for Patterson. Showing her dedication to three 14-ers
the field of science, she spent six years with the National Forest and bicycled
Service working with timber and soils at a research station and over three
working with wolves in Minnesota, and with birds at the mountain
Minnesota Department of Wildlife. passes…So
who cares how
There is no such thing as down time for Patterson, who has an
other-worldly amount of energy and a million things going on old I am?” ®
around her at any given moment. “I volunteer for the Colorado (See related
Division of Wildlife, I‟m teaching a workshop in two weeks on story on
bird education, I‟m involved with the North American page 20.)
 12

S CHOLARS ’ S QUARE

As Foster claims, he is “so blessed to live in a place where you

can do whatever you want.”
F OSTER F OLLOWS H IS H EART
Since everyone learns differently and at a different pace, Foster
BY C HANCE J OHNSON , R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER says he learns from his students as much as they learn from him.
Learning about the constant changes in his field is one challeng-
ing aspect of his job that he enjoys. Although Foster enjoys his
Take a closer look at folks at Front Range Community work a great deal, he also takes it seriously and expresses that it
College and you may be surprised at the stories you find. comes first before any other commitments.
English instructor William Foster is one such individual with a
story to tell. This 36-year-old could be profiled on campus as a Foster recalls the beginning of his career and how it was diffi-
friendly guy, easy to talk to and always smiling. His laid-back cult at first to manage his time and get into a routine, balancing
demeanor is immediately evident as he kicked back in his chair his home life and work. He explains that in teaching, much of
and propped up his feet on his office‟s trash can. his work gets taken home with him, but he has since overcome
this obstacle. The only other thing that Foster finds frustrating
Foster was born in Denver but lived there only for six months is when he comes across a student that he can not get through to,
when his family relocated to Maine. Foster‟s father, a retired especially when he is doing all he can to help that individual,
lieutenant colonel in the Air Force, was a criminal defense such as one-on-one help.
attorney whose job required the family to move frequently.
Foster and his family lived on the East Coast until he was 12. Although he is a very busy person because of his dedication to
Soon after, he and his family found themselves living in Saudi his career, in his free time Foster enjoys several hobbies. He
Arabia. While in this foreign land, he worked with his dad, a loves his two dogs and cat, which he considers to be his family.
master diver, and taught diving. This planted the seed for his He likes to take them along with him on outdoor activities such
future career in teaching. as camping, hiking, and snowshoeing. Reading is something he
does for fun, as well as fly-fishing and traveling. Foster also
Foster fondly recalls this time in his life as very memorable for contributes his time volunteering on behalf of Front Range as
having the privilege of being able to immerse himself in other well as at the Larimer County Humane Society, and values
cultures otherwise unfamiliar to him. Not only did the young
Foster have the opportunity to better appreciate the Middle being a good and ethical member of the community. ®
Eastern way of life, but by the time he was in high school, he
was attending boarding school in Switzerland. In hindsight,
Traveling Man...
Foster finds himself fortunate that he got to experience
boarding school, as many children don‟t. At this early stage in
his life, Foster had already lived in three different countries,
shaping his character all the while.
After high school, Foster returned to the United States to study
at American University in Washington, D.C. With his already
extensive background in various cultures, he chose to major in
international relations. All this time, he still held closest to his
heart his passion for literature and writing. Being one who
strongly advocates doing what one loves, Foster decided to
couple his love of reading and writing with his love of
teaching, and pursue a degree in English Education, and made
the move to Colorado State University.
After he earned his bachelor‟s degree, he then returned to CSU
to earn his master‟s degree in 2004. Shortly thereafter, he
began teaching at Front Range where he has happily remained
since 2005. Until recently, Foster also worked as an adjunct
instructor at CSU teaching English as a Second Language.
This was until he began teaching full-time at Front Range.
“Follow your heart,” says Foster, who firmly believes that
people must do what makes them happiest. He feels that it is
his responsibility to share with others what means so much to
him. This is what he also considers one of the best parts of his
job; having the privilege to be able to share his passion with his
English faculty member William Foster grew up in different parts
students through classroom interaction. Foster considers him-
self very fortunate that he is able to have a career doing what
of the United States, as well as in the Middle East and Switzerland.
he loves. Photo by Michelle Motherway
 13
C LUB H UB
PTK S ERVES WITH
H ONOR
BY A LEX G OLUBSKI , R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER
Of the many clubs at Front Range Community College, Phi Theta
Kappa is the leading honorary society for two-year colleges and
includes 50 states of active PTK chapters across the country. The
club promotes scholarship opportunities to students and residents
of Colorado for colleges all over the world, leadership skills,
fellowship, and community services.
Phi Theta Kappa originated at Stephens College in Columbia,
Miss. in 1918 by the presidents of the
Missouri junior colleges for women.
The new honorary society was based
on an already existing organization,
Phi Beta Kappa. With the idea of
promoting leadership and educational
programs and community service
projects, Phi Theta Kappa was built on
the same concepts. In 1926, Phi Theta
Kappa expanded beyond Missouri,
and was recognized in 1929 by the
American Association of Community
Colleges as the official honor society
for two-year colleges.
Bonnie Lindsey, the president of Phi Theta Kappa, was elected
last April at one of the conventions hosting PTK Honorary
Societies from all over the country. This year they plan to have it
in Dallas, Texas, where two potential officers will go to represent
their club. Last year, Front Range Community College‟s Phi
Theta Kappa organization won for Outstanding Officer of the
year and the Hallmark Essay Award. Lindsey says that the
outstanding officer of last year‟s Phi Theta Kappa club is now a
Peace Corps representative in the Republic of Ghana, in West
Africa. Lindsey is planning on raising money this year to have
some of representatives go to Ghana to help build a library for the
young students.
Victoria Eisle, faculty advisor of Phi Theta Kappa at FRCC,
explains that many children in Ghana haven‟t even seen a book
before.
(McKELVEY continued from page 15)
Front Range also operates with green-approved cleaning products
and 96 percent post-consumer recycled toilet paper and paper
towels.
Front Range Community College is a leading source of green
initiative and energy conservation. McKelvey encourages all
students to become a little more conscious everyday. “In order to
save our planet, we must become better at sacrificing a little
comfort for conservation; even just one thing a day can really
make a difference!” ®
Peace Corps Representative Katrina Rueschhoff hopes to raise
enough money for the children going to school in Ghana.
Lindsey has been in contact with Rueschoff and is trying to
organize fundraisers for representatives from Phi Theta Kappa
to visit Ghana next year to help build the library.
“The biggest project we are organizing this year is Ghana,”
Lindsey says. She hopes to be able to go over there next year
to help former PTK member Rueschhoff to teach English at
the local school.
Along with other projects this year, Lindsey says that it is
possible to still save money for the Ghana project by some
time next year. PTK is also planning their monthly food drive
for this November, along with other activities in Colorado
such as hosting a campus debate on Front Range issues,
making a Homecoming float, and putting on a Math
Department craft fair. Phi Theta Kappa also has
over $35 million worth of scholarships each year for
students in need.
Students at FRCC and other schools can participate
in Phi Theta Kappa projects and fundraisers. “It is
important to get involved,” Lindsey says.
Eisle helps Lindsey and other members incorporate
more students in the club‟s promoting of projects
and activities. Eisle started as the advisor for Phi
Theta Kappa in the spring of 2007, and helps
coordinate activities and fundraisers. Lindsey and
Eisle are both working on budgeting and finding
fundraiser projects to help get money for the Ghana project
next year. Later on this semester, they are planning to sell
pastries to raise money. Phi Theta Kappa volunteer members
also sell goods at the CSU football games to go towards the
fund.
PTK is looking for more people to join to help their causes,
and there is no limitation to how many students can join. To
meet their requirements, students must have a 3.5 GPA or
higher and maintain a 3.2 throughout the year, with 12 credits.
Members must pay the joining fee, depending on the level of
membership. The student must meet all of the requirements,
have an outstanding achievement at their school, and pay the
joining fee. Students can join at any time during the school
year. Members meet every other Monday at 3:30 p.m. in
Longs Peak Student Center. ®
G ET Y OUR G REEN O N :
www.resourceyard.org
www.hagemanearthcycle.com
www.goodwill.org
www.arcthrift.com
www.savers.com
http://fortcollins.craigslist.org
®
 14

C LUB H UB

G ET OFF THE C OUCH AND J OIN SOFA

was easy for people to be involved and show their artwork.
It was well attended and SOFA got a lot of positive feedback
BY B RAD M ENEFEE , R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER from students. People commented that they wanted to see
more student art shows like that around campus. Kiessling
One of the most common flyers seen around campus that seems to Michler thinks that they will hold another ARTSlam! in May
be in every hall is for the Students of Fine Arts Club (SOFA). this year. She said, “It‟s a great end-of-the-year event.”
According to the outgoing president and one of SOFA‟s founding
members, Wade Rawley, 21, the big- “ARTSlam! was the defining project of the
gest tasks of the club are advertising club,” said Rawley.
and getting people to join. As he put
it, “It‟s so hard to get people One of Rawley‟s plans for this year is to do
involved.” an art show in which artists could donate
their art and it would then be sold as a fund-
Although SOFA helps members hone raiser for SOFA. Raising funds is one of the
their skills as artists, it offers them a problems the club sometimes faces because
lot more. Alysha Carmien, 20, an some of the art supplies for workshops can
FRCC student and the club‟s newly be expensive.
elected president, said, “[SOFA]
helps art students become artists.” Although SOFA can be useful and educational, it isn‟t just
A lot of art students learn the skills needed in class and in practice about work. There is an event in Fort Collins called the First
to be artists, but don‟t have the knowledge of the art business to put Friday Art Walk in which galleries stay open until 9:00 p.m.
their skills to use professionally. According to Rawley, the primary and are free to visit. A lot of communities around the
objective of SOFA is to provide members with skills that will help country do events like this on the first Friday of the month.
them in pursuing careers in art. As president, he wanted the club to One of the mainstays of the club has been visiting galleries
be fun but also serve a purpose for the members and not be a waste in the area on some of these occasions. Some of the galleries
of time. “I wanted the club to be active,” he said, “because if it‟s they have visited here in Fort Collins are the Colorado Coali-
not active, people don‟t care.” tion of Artists (CoCOA) and the Fort Collins Museum of
Contemporary Art (FCMOCA). Kiessling Michler said, “It‟s
This is why the club holds good for students to experience gallery culture.”
activities like artist resume work-
shops and photography workshops. Last year, SOFA met almost every Friday. Kiessling Michler
Karl Dukstein started the club in doubts they will be meeting that frequently this year.
the spring of 2008 and now According to her, it was too overwhelming for some of the
co-advises SOFA with Jennie club members trying to meet that often, plus it‟s nearly
Kiessling Michler, who teaches Art impossible to get everyone to meet every Friday afternoon.
Appreciation and Museum Studies Because it‟s so early in the school year, there isn‟t a set
at FRCC. As advisors, they help meeting time this semester, but after the Oct. 3 elections,
members learn about portfolio that should change.
preparation, art resume prepara-
tion, and taking images of one‟s SOFA hasn‟t been around for two full semesters yet, so
artwork. SOFA is an important expansion is not only welcome but necessary. Rawley
institution for art students because, explained that even though they try and plan it so that
before it was started last semester, meetings work with members‟ schedules, only a fraction of
SOFA’s new president, the art community at FRCC didn‟t
Alysha Carmien the people can show up for most meetings, so overcrowding
have a club. It offered members a isn‟t a problem. Although most of what the club has done so
Photo by Whitney Weber much-needed extracurricular outlet
far has been oriented around the visual arts, Kiessling
Michler wanted to make it clear that it isn‟t just for visual art
to not just learn about art, but also enjoy art. students. The “fine arts” include any art form developed for
The efforts made by Rawley could have paid off because “a lot of aesthetics, so the club is open to students interested in music
the founding members stayed involved,” said Carmien. and other art forms.

Last May, SOFA held an art show at FRCC called “ARTSlam!” It
was a showing in which anyone could just drop their art off with the
club and give their information, and it would be displayed in a
conference room in the Longs Peak Student Center. When it closed
at the end of the day, participants could just pick up their art, so it
Anyone interested in the arts can join SOFA at any time.
Students interested in joining or just checking out a meeting
can contact Kiessling Michler at 226-2500, extension 2446.
®

C AMPUS W ELLNESS
T HE G REEN M AN
BY E MILY S EVERANCE , R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER
Do you consider yourself environmentally friendly? Do you
make a conscious effort every week to recycle your pop cans or
turn off lights before leaving the house? Being environmentally
aware is becoming more and more important every day. Scott
McKelvey, director of Facility Services at FRCC, makes sure
that does happen everyday, helping our college campus become
greener.
McKelvey, 40, is from Orange County, Calif., and has lived in
Colorado for seven years. He graduated from BOMI with a
certificate as a Facilities Management Administrator. BOMI,
which stands for Building Owners and Managers Institute
International, is an online school much like the University of
Phoenix. Located in Annapolis, Md., this program teaches and
trains property and facilities management. After completing his
training, McKelvey was the facilities director at the Marriott
Hotel in Fort Collins. When asked to re-locate, McKelvey
turned down the offer and found an open position at Front
Range. The McKelvey family felt very much at home in
Colorado and did not want to move. “I was very lucky to find
something in this area,” McKelvey commented. This is his
second year on staff at Front Range. He also assists the Serve
on Safety Committee through the Dean of Students.
Outside of Front Range, McKelvey loves spending time with his
family, wife Ara and two sons, Travis and Kieran. The family‟s
favorite activity is going snowboarding or skiing together.
McKelvey is actively involved on the Climate Wise Committee
of Fort Collins, as well. Climate Wise, a city-run program, helps
local businesses tackle everyday challenges that affect quality of
life. Their main goals include promoting waste reduction,
energy savings, alternative transportation, and water conserva-
tion with the goal to lower greenhouse gas emissions that
threaten our future.
When asked to elaborate on his job title, McKelvey stifled a
chuckle and explained what he does here at FRCC. His duties
are mostly administrative, but McKelvey and his team are in
charge of repair and maintenance, painting, electricity, power,
landscaping…essentially everything needed to make a campus
run smoothly. Among his team are Julie Wilson, Steve
Zialpando and Jim Walsh.
Have you noticed the addition to the campus bookstore or the
new asphalt in the parking lots? These are just a few of the many
projects this department has accomplished. Upcoming plans
include a new addition to the science wing in Challenger Point,
and installation of a computerized energy managements system.
EMS is a control system allowing access to each building‟s
heating, air-conditioning and ventilation. This program will
allow localized control over the entire campus. Other
15
Scott McKelvey, director of Facilities Services, works at FRCC
and with the Fort Collins community to advance green
initiatives.
Photo by Miranda Baker
developments include a high-tech camera security system and
exterior lock system. Though these things seem to be daily
operations, McKelvey says, “The most rewarding part of my
job is when someone says „thank you.‟ Compliments from
students, staff and the community really make it worthwhile.”
So, how exactly does FRCC stack up with the rest of the world
in green initiatives and energy conservation? Our recycling
system is through a third-party company called Waste-Not
Recycling. You may have noticed the white recycle bins placed
throughout campus. Waste-Not collects once a week and fits
needs based on what is being recycled. For example, if one
week there is an abundance of plastic bottles, they will send
more boxes for that. As for cardboard waste, McKelvey says
that operation has been a big success. Each department is
utilizing these Dumpsters, resulting in less garbage. Another
big success is the garbage system. The company in charge has
provided FRCC with bigger containers, thus resulting in 40
percent fewer trips for the garbage trucks to make. Instead of
coming once a day, the trucks are coming three times a week.
As for lighting and electricity, McKelvey was proud to
announce that every building at Front Range is equipped with
T8 energy-efficient light bulbs. These bulbs only use a third of
the energy compared to regular fluorescent lighting. As for
heating and air-conditioning, FRCC abides by a program called
Cool Biz. Adopted in Japan, Cool Biz encourages companies to
raise the air-conditioning thermostat, resulting in carbon
emission reduction. As for water consumption, FRCC uses
automatic, low-flow toilets and waterless urinals. The irrigation
system is advanced in that it adjusts to moisture in the ground
to signal when to irrigate the grass and flowers. That way,
sprinklers aren‟t left on for hours wasting water.
(Continued on page 13)
 16

C AMPUS W ELLNESS

Reiki uses both hands-on and hands-off techniques to offer or

H EALING T HYSELF to enhance energy that already exists in you and the universe.
In a typical Reiki session, the client will lie down on a massage
BY A LEX H UMMEL , R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER table and the practitioner will use his or her hands above the
person to channel energy into and around the client‟s body. The
energy is used as willed by the client‟s body, and most clients
Here at Front Range, class selections are getting broader every
say that they feel some sort of sensation, ranging from hot to
day, and alternative healing methods are getting more popular and
cold, electrical buzz, to calm and tranquility.
even getting their own major, such as the Holistic Health Program.
Denise Proulx, age 50, is a part-time holistic health program in- Proulx explained why energy is important and said, “Energy is
structor here at FRCC. Proulx teaches three classes available to what the universe is made of…It‟s what animates the body and
students at Front Range Community College: Reiki Massage, what leaves you when you die, also known as the spirit.”
Crystal and Mineral Usage, and Stress Management. Proulx continued, “Everyone has the potential to heal [balance]
themselves.” Proulx illuminated what Reiki means to her as
With a registered nursing- bachelor‟s degree (RN) from Michigan
simply, “To know Reiki is to be free of victimization of one‟s
State University, she stumbled upon holistic health. As a nurse,
own body.” Stress and bad energy is like a dam of one‟s own
Proulx had terrible headaches after work, and a colleague asked
energy and Reiki is the release of that dam. Proulx illustrated
her to take off her shoes. Stunned at this request, she did and
that a key lesson from Reiki is that, “Feeling is believing…
proceeded to receive an acupuncture massage, which, conse-
Once you feel it, then you know.”
quently, relieved her headache. She exclaimed, “It couldn‟t be
magic.” Shortly after that, she took some classes on energy work, As far as a scientific explanation for the power of Reiki goes,
they sparked her interest, especially after having worked on her there are some still being developed; however, nothing is a
infant children and seeing drastic and positive results. Since her proven fact. In Proulx‟s Reiki class, she shows a video
children were too young to know what Reiki is, she could see them demonstrating an energy and frequency correlation. This video
reacting and had to research more in depth. “It took two and a half can be found under the YouTube query “Vibration Creates
years to unlearn what I had just learned in nursing school.” she Form.” As far as scientific explanations go, the research done
said. She got her first holistic degree in 1987 and now, over 20 by scientists is still going on today. Research includes
years later, is a teacher of holistic health. cymatics, and kirlan photography [biomagnetic fields] which
are sciences in themselves but can relate wholly to holistic
A popular holistic class Proulx teaches is Reiki Massage. Reiki
health and energy work.
dates back as far as 630 B.C. in Tibet and is energy work based on
a Japanese technique learned by Mikao Usui, a Chi Gong master. Proulx stated, “Everyone should know something. They should
He developed these healing exercises after a 21-day fast in a know something to heal themselves…Give a man a fish, he
Tibetan monastery. Usui taught many students and eventually, in eats for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he feeds his village.”
1936, Reiki spread to America by means of Hawayo Takata, a
Holistic health is spreading fast in today‟s society and Proulx
student of Usui‟s teachings.
said holistic healing can be beneficial to “everyone: cat, dog,
“Rieki can be defined as spiritually guided life energy,” Proulx and plants, anything with life force.” Proulx also owns her own
continued. The word Reiki comes from “God consciousness business that she runs out of her home called Wholistic Health
called „rei‟ that guided the life energy called „ki,‟ in the practice Options, specializing in Reiki, Jin Shin, Therapeutic Touch,
we call Reiki.” Proulx described Reiki as “fine-tuning your radio and Nutritional Supplements, all dealing with energy work and
[body] to a different frequency” and increasing your power to heal healing the body. ®
yourself.

B E O UR G UEST
I NDEPENDENT L ENS BY K ATHRYN D OKTER , G UEST C OLUMNIST

As a photographer, I desire to capture on film what others might not see. As one of the contributing photographers for the DNC photo
exhibit currently on display in the LPSC‟s Study Art Lounge, I want to share my experience at the DNC at Invesco Field.
Leading up to the convention, I was intrigued by what I perceived to be an overly extravagant event about to take place for the first time
in 100 years in Denver. The manpower, the security, closing I-25, Greek columns…What was this all about? I took this historic
opportunity to observe what made up the Democratic supporters and others attending the convention.
I was careful not to distort or promote any particular view. Rather, I strove to understand the people who are so excited about a man we
know very little about, a virtual unknown coming up through the ranks. What does he really stand for? Where is the massive amount
of financial support coming from? What I saw was hope and excitement about a charismatic personality, an “idea” – an idea that this
man will “save” America.
At the same time, I felt frustrated about the limitations that were placed on me as a photographer. Why was I stopped from photograph-
ing past certain barriers? Why were photographers allowed to use only 70 mm lenses and shorter? Why was no one other (next page)
 17

M EDIUM C OOL

has used McCabe's work in the past, and is planning on using it

S ET TING THE S TAGE again in the future.

BY M ATT E TTER , R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER Along with being the director of the Front Range Family
Theatre Program, Hill is an officer for a National Theatre
Program sponsored by the Kennedy Center American College
Along with every instructor who walks through the campus here Theatre Festival. The KCACTF is a program designed to
at FRCC comes an interesting story. Among the packs of students support, encourage and develop theatre. This program also
and faculty here on campus stands John Hill, a theatre instructor.
Hill, with his beard and glasses, and wearing jeans and a collared
shirt, looks casual, approachable and friendly. His office is
simple and organized, with a couple of posters on the wall.
Now teaching in his first full time semester, John Hill has been
trying to bring excitement and fun to the campus of FRCC for
over ten years now with the variety of plays over the years. Since
the spring of 1998, Hill had been an adjunct instructor at FRCC,
and is looking forward to teaching full-time. After growing up in
a theatre family in which both parents were involved in theatre,
Hill always knew has was going to be in theatre. He has his B.A.
in theatre performance and a minor in vocal performance. After
going to graduate school, Hill earned his Master of Fine Arts,
with a concentration in theatre and costume design.
“Like 99 percent of the people in theatre, I wanted to become an
actor,” Hill said, smiling. Before coming to FRCC, Hill said he
loved his job as the costume shop manager at CSU. Now that Hill
is a full-time member of the faculty at FRCC, he has big plans for
the future of the FRCC theatre program. John Hill’s students apply stage makeup during one of his
One of the things that Hill is most excited about is a production theater classes.
that he has been working on that is called “Paint Box,” a Photo by Michelle Motherway
children‟s production that will focus on literacy, and reading and
gives scholarships to students from colleges across to country
writing skills. “Paint Box” will be feature a small group of actors
and sponsors theatre festivals every January and February.
who will go around to public elementary schools in the Fort
After every festival, one student is selected from each of the
Collins area and put on the shows for kids. Hill described it as a
eight national regions. Last year, a student from FRCC was
“props-in-a-trunk” type of play. He plans to use three actors in
selected to go to the National Critics Institute in Washington,
these performances, and hand puppets, if more characters are
D.C.
needed. PowerPoint presentations are also used during the plays
so it is easier for kids to follow along. The next time that you see a flyer for a play being put on by the
Over the past five years, FRCC has been putting on a theatre FRCC students, think of John Hill and the theatre program. ®
program during the summer on the FRCC campus called the
Front Range Family Theatre Project. This theatre program is put (INDEPENDENT LENS continued from previous page)
on by the students and faculty of FRCC and is open to the public.
Over the past five years in the FRCC plaza, over 12,000 people than registered Democrats able to get passes to the event? And
have come to watch these summer performances. The perform- why did the DNC set up the “Freedom Cage” to keep protesters
ances during this summer program are mainly for kids but are away from the delegates?
open to everyone. The DNC painted a pretty picture, giving the homeless haircuts
This Halloween, Hill and the FRCC theatre program will be and bus passes to remove them from the stage they desired to
portray. To me, this was not free speech, but controlled
performing the classic play “Dracula” at the Bas Bleu Theatre.
propaganda.
Hill is looking forward to the play but says that it is hard to
deliver these types of performances because of the lack of space All these things limited me as a photographer, so I was content to
to perform on campus. FRCC does not have a theatre on campus, photograph “From the Edge” – of the “Pink Ladies” who travel
so Hill usually rents theatre space for all of the plays that he is from event to event, of the police officers there to protect, of the
involved in at FRCC. Last semester, Hill and the students homeless man with a nice haircut, and of the street preacher who
performed their rendition of “The Wizard of Oz.” A friend of wanted to show that no one man will “save” America. ®
Hill‟s named Tom McCabe wrote this particular version of Kathryn Dokter describes herself as a“non-traditional, second-
“The Wizard of Oz.” Hill likes to use McCabe‟s work because it year photography student pursuing my passion to make great
is a chance to share his friend‟s work with a new audience. Hill pictures.” See her photo on page 9.
 18

M EDIUM C OOL

how to move on. A man with a guitar passed her and she asked
T HE L ONG L ENS OF H ISTORY him if he knew what was going on. He explained that he wasn‟t
allowed in due to his instrument and its carrying case and the
BY E VAN B ROWN , R ANGEVIEW R EPORTER fact that he only had a vendor‟s pass, which he gave her. Weber
had to retrace her steps to another second level security check-
The Democratic National Convention was held in Denver from point. She was able to make it through the second and third
Aug. 25 through 28. History was being made as Sen. Barack checkpoints by flashing the pass while never stopping.
Obama accepted the Democratic Party‟s nomination for president Eventually, she made it to the fourth and final checkpoint and,
of the United States. One Front Range instructor and three before she knew it, she was in.
intrepid photography students were on the scene to capture the
day with their hungry eyes and cameras. One in particular was Inside, she had to keep moving to stay away from the younger
bold enough to sneak inside the convention and capture images volunteers who were “hassling everyone” within arm‟s reach
and to get that perfect shot. At the heart of the convention,
and events that she will hold dear for the rest of her life.
Weber was greeted by a surreal scene. As the speakers for the
Whitney Weber is a sophomore at FRCC, working towards her party talked, they were greeted by a huge and enthusiastic
Associate of Arts degree with an emphasis on photography. The crowd, many of whom were yelling, screaming and stomping.
day of the convention, she was equipped with two cameras – a As she moved around the stadium, she caught all of this in her
digital SLR that would plague her all day with faulty batteries, photos.
and a 35 mm SLR with a 70 mm lens. She spent the day outside
and around the city shooting nearly 300 photographs of the Then Obama came to the podium. Whitney grabbed two shots
supporters and protesters who had gathered for the occasion. of the presidential nominee, one from the front and to the left of
However, shooting the crowd outside was not enough. Weber the senator as he spoke, and the other from behind. Both pic-
wanted inside; she wanted her finger on the pulse of the historic tures “invoke the feeling of the crowd.” Weber‟s photo of the
day.
After taking the light rail that
runs through Denver, Weber
and the other two photogra-
phers from FRCC, Michelle
Motherway and Kathryn
Dokter, camped out near the
first security checkpoint
around Invesco Field. There,
Weber joined a group of
ladies passing through the
checkpoint and moved onto
the next checkpoint. She
hung around for a few
moments, trying to figure out

crowd, “People “People for Change” by Whitney Weber

B ALLOT M EASURES W ITHDRAWN
DENVER (Oct. 2) – Secretary of State Mike Coffman
confirmed that Amendments 53, 55, 56 and 57 will be with-
drawn from the General Election ballot as requested by the
initiatives‟ proponents. The amendments withdrawn are:
Amendment 53: Liabilities of business entities and their
executive officials – criminal liability;
Amendment 55: Just cause for employee discharge or
suspension;
for Change,”
was an attempt to “capture the essence of the Democratic Na-
tional Convention, the energy, the atmosphere.” The other,
“Behind Obama,” captured “this serious historical event that is
occurring and the position of the crowd at the DNC.”
As the speech reached its midpoint, Weber left the heart of the
event and made her way to greater Denver once again. She
hopped on the light rail as the speech ended. As the fireworks
exploded at the end of Obama‟s words, she could only watch the
city from the station.

Amendment 56: Employer responsibility for health
insurance; and
Amendment 57: Safe workplace.
Although the ballots have already been printed, the results of
the measures will not be tallied, pursuant to C.R.S. 1-40-134.
®
The photograph she took of the crowds and the presidential
nominee at the Democratic National Convention hang inside the
LPSC‟s Study Art Lounge. Weber‟s photographs, as well as
work by Dukstein, Motherway and Dokter, will hang there until
Oct 20. ®
 19

B ARACK - ING THE V OTE political activists.

I have had countless encounters with voters who are familiar and
BY D ANIELLE Z IMMERER , knowledgeable about the candidates‟ policies and issues. Some
S PECIAL TO T HE R ANGEVIEW have settled on a vote, and others are still undecided and waiting
until the final speeches. But then I have overheard classmates here
In 12 days, I will be voting in my first presidential election! I am at Front Range who admit they don‟t even know who is running or
stoked to walk into CSU‟s Lory Student Center and cast my ballot what the issues are. My own roommate is not planning to vote
for the eloquent gentleman who I think will guide because she can‟t decide how to vote. Spending five minutes on
our country into a promising future. each candidates‟ Web sites and reading
about issues that will affect you, and then
Early voting starts Oct. 20 until the end of the deciding who has the better outlook, is
month. Students for Obama are encouraging every- simple. Why would any American dismiss
one to vote early, to avoid calling and pestering such a responsibility and privilege to be an
procrastinating voters on Election Day. educated voter by Nov. 4?
The build-up and hype alone of this election can be I pride myself on being laid back and tame-
heard and seen daily. Canvassers are out registering tempered when approaching people about
people, and the phone calls and emails about their party affiliations. It is a borderline
candidates, and the yard signs and paid-for inappropriate question, like asking your
campaign commercials are all aspects of the teacher how old she is. But in these
election. The message streaming to the people is circumstances, it‟s best to identify those
to cast an educated vote. who plan to support Sen. Obama‟s policies
I am a 20 years old and volunteering for Students and those who don‟t.
for Obama at the CSU campus. Due to the When people ask me why I support
magnitude of this election, I felt that helping where Obama, I mention that he seems more in
ever seems fitting may help my main man Obama touch with 95 percent of Americans, the
become the next president. struggling middle class. I think that his
On the CSU campus and surrounding neighbor- proposed changes and execution style are
Rangeview reporter and needed, such as his plans to cut taxes for
hoods, I have been able to register Republicans,
Obama campaign volunteer these 95 percent, addressing discrepancies
Democrats and Independents for the election. I
have gone door to door, passing out mail-in ballots Danielle Zimmerer in wages between men and women, and his
to McCain and Obama supporters. Setting out on Photo by Miranda Baker stance on education. According to his Web
Sunday afternoons, I am greeted with slammed site, Obama plans to “make college afford-
doors, friendly faces, and undecided voters who answer the able for all Americans by creating a new American Opportunity
door during commercial breaks of a Broncos game. Feeling Tax Credit. This universal and fully refundable credit will ensure
unappreciated, praised, welcomed and unwelcomed is what the that the first $4,000 of a college education is completely free for
door-to-door is all about. most Americans, and will cover two-thirds the cost of tuition at
the average public college or university. Recipients of this credit
My aim is to register people to vote, seek Obama supporters, ask will be required to conduct 100 hours of public service a year.”
for volunteers, and provide undecided voters with information This may seem like a bold initiative, but who can lose by this?
and a valuable resource, and
we encourage all to watch the Why would any American dismiss such Opportunities to volunteer for the Obama
televised speeches. campaign are still available up until the week of
a responsibility and privilege to be an Nov. 4. The campaign office is located on Mason
A month ago I began to educated voter by Nov. 4? Street behind the Sports Authority on College
engage fully in this election Avenue. They open at 8 a.m. and close at 9 p.m.
and researched both parties‟ views on various issues. Personally, On Election Day, they want 2,000 volunteers in the office to
I am an advocate for social issues, and Obama‟s community partake in festivities, call pending voters, and be moral support
outreach experience instills faith in me that he will work hard for for the campaign.
the citizens.
“Enough is enough. I don‟t care what they say about me, but I
Students for Obama assemble on debate nights for viewing love this country too much to let them take over another election
parties. During the vice presidential debates, we made posters for with lies and phony outrage and swift vote politics. Enough is
upcoming events and corrected flyer information. We filled a enough!” Barack Obama delivered these words in response to
living room with 13 politically aware college students who were Sen. McCain‟s desire to postpone the first presidential debate.
all critically watching the vice presidential hopefuls, and listening
for truthfulness and words of wisdom while the candidates I would say don‟t vote if you‟re not interested in global warming,
discussed and defended their policies and plans. gun control, the war on terror, the economy, education, poverty,
global genocides, health care, gas prices, Social Security, the war
Volunteering with this campaign has been such an awesome on drugs, affirmative action, genetic engineering, welfare or
experience. Students for Obama hosted Eva Longoria Parker, abortion rights. The future is in your vote, Oct. 20 through
Kal Penn and Adam Rodriguez to come talk for free at the CSU Oct. 31, or on Nov. 4. With such a historic election upon us, you
campus to stress the importance of the minority vote and the must exercise the most crucial civic duty: voting. ®
youth vote. It was inspiring to get to hear from Hollywood‟s
 20

B E O UR G UEST
P ERU : L AND OF R UGGED B EAUTY
BY S COT S HARP ,
G UEST C OLUMNIST

Waking up to howler monkeys (Alouatta seniculus) calling in

the distance, taking stunningly beautiful boat rides down the
Tambopata River, and exploring ancient Incan cities are
some of the amazing thing I got to experience in my trip to
Peru this past June.
The trip was part of a Tropical Ecology class offered at
Front Range Community College. Two teachers, Barbara
Patterson, the natural resources instructor, and Chris Romero,
a biology instructor, planed the trip for 16 students, including
myself. The trip was arranged through the Holbrook Science
Foundation, Rainforest Expeditions, and Inca Nature
Travel.
The trip was a perfect mix of biology, botany and
anthropology, as well as a great opportunity to participate in
The ancient Incan city of Macchu Picchu sits high in the Andes a service-learning project in the remote village of Inferno.
Mountains of Peru. Photo by Chris Romero
After a few flights within the country, we arrived in Porto
Maldonado where we boarded a boat that took us up river to the Posada Amazonas Lodge. Along the way we saw white Caiman
(Caiman crocodilus) basking on the shore, and hoatzin (Opisthocomus hoazin) calling from the trees. We were all expecting rugged
accommodations, but were pleasantly surprised to find a giant wooden lodge with just about everything you would expect from a high
quality hotel, but deep within the jungle.
Our first day included a hike through the jungle to a canopy tower where one of our guides, Augusto, taught us about the many
different adaptations that the plants and animals of the jungle use.
The next day we visited the local village of Inferno. There we had a rare chance to talk with the, elected, president of the community
and learn about inner workings of the village. After that we were invited to play a friendly game of soccer with the local team. Of
course, they won. I blame the heat, but it was more than likely their superior skill.
This was only beginning of our adventure. In the following days, we also toured a medicinal plant farm, observed a clay lick used by
macaws (Ara spp.), and even got the unique opportunity to watch giant river otters (Pteronura brasiliensis) fish. And each day after
our dinner, our guides would present different lectures about topics ranging from macaw conservation to the history of the lodges.
A trip to Peru wouldn't be complete with out visiting a few Incan ruins. The two we visited were the famous city of Machu Picchu and
the ruins of Ollaytambo.
We traveled by train through the Sacred Valley, which is at the center of the ancient Incan empire, to the city of Aquis Calientes. From
there we took a bus up a mountain trail to the Machu Picchu site. As we rounded a corner, we caught sight of the breath-taking city
sitting atop a mountain. Elga, our tour guide, lead us through ruins and taught us about the history of the world-famous site. Some of
the other students chose to hike up Wayna Picchu, the mountain peak that rises out of the city. It was a beautiful and life- changing
experience. ®
Scot Sharp is studying natural resources at FRCC. The 26-year-old hopes to transfer to a four-year school to pursue a degree in wildlife biology.

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