Student Academic Services is there to aid students in the college careers by editing papers and determining problem areas, among other things. Photo courtesy of the university's website.

“It would be wonderful for more students to come in, call or ask for assistance,” said Pam Chambers, interim director of Student Academic Services. “We’re here to help, and our services are free.”

SAS is responsible for the Writing Room, Gen Ed Tutoring Center, Academic Advising Program, National Testing Program, Academic Improvement Program and Disability Resource Office. The program was formerly located in the Psychology Building, but is now located in the Library and Academic Resources Center, according to the program’s website.

The Writing Room is a resource available to CSU-Pueblo students that provides assistance with the writing process at any level and in any discipline. Tutoring for writing assignments is available by walk-n or appointments, but students can also use the Online Writing Lab to submit assignments and access additional resources, Chambers said.

“I would encourage students to come in at all stages of the writing process,” she said. “Even if they haven’t actually begun writing, we can help them get started.”

The Gen Ed Tutoring Center provides tutoring for all general education courses on an individual or group level, Chambers said. Both the Writing Room and Gen Ed Tutoring Center are located in LARC, Room 251.

In order to aid students who are not quite sure which direction they are heading, the Academic Advising Program works with students who remain undeclared after their first two semesters, new transfer students with more than 13 credits and continuing students who have changed their major, Chambers said.

It utilizes career exploration activities to help students find the best major for their interests and skills. The AAP uses major discussions, career assessments, major fairs and exploratory courses to do so, according to the program’s website.

Students who need to work with the AAP are typically directed to the service by the university’s First-Year Programs organization and the Office of Admissions, Chambers said.

The National Testing Program at CSU-Pueblo serves not only university students, but the outlying community as well. Through the program SAS administers standardized tests such as the ACT, SAT, LSAT and CLEP. These services are provided in LARC, Room 267.

“Our National Testing Program serves many high school students in the Pueblo area,” Chambers said. “It’s a great opportunity for them to get on campus and experience the university as well.”

In the same room is the Academic Improvement Program. This resource aids students on academic probation to develop an academic improvement plan and how to raise their cumulative GPA above a 2.0, Chambers said.

The Disability Resource Office is the final branch of SAS. It can be found LARC, Room 169, and is mentioned on every syllabus handed out at CSU-Pueblo. In accordance to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, this office offers classroom accommodation, an adaptive technology lab, testing accommodations and support for students with documented disabilities, according to the department‘s website.

President Lesley Di Mare began her work at CSU-Pueblo Dec. 1, 2011, and she's in it for the long haul, she said. Photo by Chelsea Reese.

“It’s like a lifetime achievement for me. My only regret is that my father is not alive to see this because he would’ve been so thrilled,” the new president said in a more somber tone than before. “I’ve never been a bucket list kind of person and I think that’s because I’ve been doing all the things I wanted all my life.”

Lesley Di Mare, 60, was born Nov. 13, in Utica, N.Y., where she resided with Philip, her younger brother of three years, Gloria, her mother whom she considers her best friend, and her father Jim.

Her childhood was as a typical one she said, however their home soon ended up being on the other side of the country in California. This is where she completed most of her higher education.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in theater arts in 1972 from California State University-Chico with a minor in English. She then went on to complete her teaching credential at CSU-Sacramento’s School of Education in 1974, according to the vitae she used to get the job at CSU-Pueblo.

Later she earned her Masters of Arts degree in speech communication at CSU-Hayward. Her doctorate degree in speech communication came after she moved and attended Indiana University in 1984.

While still attending school herself, she decided to put her teaching credential to good use and bestow the same knowledge she learned to her students for 25 years before she fell into administrative positions. Her most recent position was the interim president of Nevada State College, according to the vitae.

When she got the call from the BOG, Di Mare was delighted to be a part of the momentous occasion at CSU-Pueblo as being the first female president and she quickly accepted the invitation to move to Colorado. She not only wanted to escape Nevada’s desert climate but also wanted to be a part of the thriving institution CSU-Pueblo has become, she said.

“We love Colorado. I mean it’s just a beautiful state with what we’ve found to be very warm and welcoming people in every region,” Di Mare said. “I love the cold weather. It’s not too cold, you don’t get too much snow, it’s just enough so that you actually have seasons and because I’ve lived in the desert now for over 20 years, I really am enjoying the seasons.”

“My husband said Lesley never met a coat she didn’t like,” Di Mare joked. “I’ve got 5,000 coats and I just wear a different one every day now. I’m just so happy.”

Di Mare met her husband David Walter on the online dating site oneandonly.com while she was in Scottsdale, Ariz. They met 12 years ago and later married Dec. 27, 2007, she said.

“I believe my husband is my soul mate,” Di Mare said.

Walter and Di Mare do not have any children together, but Walter had three children in a previous relationship that Di Mare cares for like they are her own, she said.

“I feel very close to them and our grandchildren.”

So far, Di Mare is pleased with the decision to accept her new position and is very impressed with CSU-Pueblo’s facilities and programs, she said.

“This campus has some of the most sophisticated equipment in the state, in biology, in engineering, in nursing, and our students are getting a very hands-on applied education that meets the industry’s needs,” she said.

“And plus that we have music, and art, and theater. So I really feel our students, between hands-on experience and education, athletics and the arts and humanities, we really have well-rounded graduates,” she continued. “It’s got so many positives. If I were a student I would definitely choose to come here.”

Does she have any advice for the students she will, from now on, be leading? Basically, she just encourages her students to have integrity.

“Just persevere and do what you think is right and you’ll be successful,” she said. “Those two words, perseverance and right. You just got to have integrity.”

John Wark, a photographer, presents his aerial photography to a crowd of about 50 people Thursday, Jan. 26. Photo by Ye Ming.

PechaKucha, which is Japanese for “chit-chat,” is a forum for enthusiasts to share their interests with others using a 20 by 20 format. Meaning, each presenter uses 20 slides and has 20 seconds per slide to discuss their knowledge on a chosen topic. The format allows for each presentation to be six minutes and 40 seconds long.

Pueblo County clerk Gilbert Ortiz and election supervisor Dena Abeyta presented on the importance of voting, registering to vote and updating addresses to vote in Pueblo County. Their 20 slides included photos of first time voters in other countries, which they said should inspire the Pueblo community to vote.

“I wanted to show you the pride in these people’s eyes as they vote for the first time,” Ortiz said. “That’s how important it is for us. So go vote every time you have the opportunity.”

Ellen Mueller, CSU-Pueblo artist in residence, presented a satirical slideshow about preparation for the end of times called “Apocalypse.” Mueller went through eight scenarios pertaining to how the world might end in 2012 and offered advice on survival tactics. The instances included zombie attacks, projectile from space and aliens.

“Begin praying now,” Mueller said as she offered advice for the possibility of a ‘deity-induced’ apocalypse.

The presenters also included two photographers, Ye Ming and John Wark.

Ming presented, “City life, Homesick, Nostalgia,” which detailed the lifestyles in Shanghai and Beijing through photography.

As a CSU-Pueblo international student from China, Ming told the crowd of about 50 people that she is often asked what China is like, and her aim was to illustrate that life through photographs.

Photos included the streets of China and people in their daily routines, such as a man window washing and a woman peering down from her apartment.

Wark presented his aerial photography called “Floor of the Sky.” Wark, a pilot, explained his process of taking photos and that as he is flying above an area, he opens the door to his plane and shoots, Wark said.

Photos included aerial shots of the Pueblo Steel Mill, the Colorado State Fair and local livestock and farming fields.

Artist Brian Spillman, founder of B.Vant.Garde, a Pueblo art studio, presented on the live art format of his studio. Spillman’s team of artists create live art by painting on-the-spot at shows and in the studio, he said.

“All we do is paint,” Spillman said. “A whole lot of art built literally from the ground up is in the gallery.”

Burlesque performer ‘Str0ker Ace,’ of the Pueblo burlesque troop Harlequin Aces, spoke on the history of burlesque, detailing its roots from its arrival in the U.S. in the early 1800s where skirts above the knee were risqué to its loss of popularity when strip clubs became legal in the ‘70s.

Ace credited Dita Von Teese, a burlesque dancer who premiered in the ‘90s, with bringing back the art form.

Ace’s photos primarily included barely-dressed women. Concluding her presentation, she told the audience, “You can uncover your eyes now.”

Sam Sumeracki, self-professed “waiter/bartender/to-go specialist” and a CSU-Pueblo mass communications major, read aloud a comical poem about his life as a waiter as photos from the movie “Waiting” appeared on the screen behind him.

“Waiting is all about the Benjamins, or scratch that, it’s more about the Alexander Hamiltons. They really add up. But I’d really like a Jackson every now and then, too. But usually it’s a Lincoln or a Washington,” Sumeracki said about earning tips in his poem.

David Bemis, a graduate student in CSU-Pueblo’s chemistry department, presented on his work with gold nanoparticles called “Fabrications of Gold Microstructures.” Bemis included pictures of his work with gold at a microscopic level.

Using gold, Bemis creates objects, such as the Venus de Milo, on extremely small scales using lasers. He used fractions of the human hair as the point of reference for the size of his creations. Bemis made a PechaKucha logo at this microscopic level, which was on display at the event.

Mathias “Mo” Valdez, who owns LastLeaf Printing, told the audience about creating posters through the process of silk screening. Valdez explained the process through a series of photos, which showed the hand-labored method. The posters shown in Valdez’s slideshow were made for the Pueblo band “The Haunted Windchimes” tour.

 Emily King, the event organizer, is proud to host an event where people of all walks of life can share their interests in a unique and quick way, she said. King is also enthusiastic about having CSU-pueblo students join in the PechaKucha nights and would like to see it happen more often, she said.

Jeanne Gibson, an audience member and director of the English Language Institute at CSU-Pueblo, was impressed with both the variety of topics and the quality of the presentations, Gibson said.

“Anybody would have found at least one thing they really liked tonight,” she said.

The third PechaKucha Night attracted a crowd of students, faculty and community enthusiasts Thursday, Jan. 26, in CSU-Pueblo's Fine Art Gallery. Photo by Ye Ming.

Ellen Mueller, artist-in-residence of CSU-Pueblo art department, alerted people to watch the news in order to be informed after the apocalypse. Photo by Ye Ming.

 

Gilbert Ortiz, Pueblo County clerk and recorder, talks about elections. Photo by Ye Ming.

 

'Str0ker Ace' of Harlequin Aces Burlesque and Keyhole Lingerie talks about the history of burlesque. Photo by Ye Ming.

 

Presenters answer the audience's questions at the end of the night. Photo by Manuel Winter.

 

 

Distinguished speaker Phil Plait illustrates his point about misconceptions in the field of astronomy during his speech Wednesday, 25. Photo by Tyler Shomaker.

The purpose of his speech is to show people the misconceptions in astronomy are where he finds his interest and why these ideas are nonsense and reveal “reality,” he said.

Plait started by talking about the legend of standing an egg on its end during the spring equinox. This myth has been around for a while and resurfaces in popularity in the news around March, he said.

“This wound up being my introduction into debunking myths and misconceptions about astronomy,” Plait said.

Plait’s lines of eggs that he had standing up in the middle of October proved that the legend is false. Plait also spoke about his troubles during the process of balancing the eggs.

“Make sure that the space in between (the eggs) is more than their combined diameter or you’ll end up playing a game of dominoes with eggs,” Plait said.

He also explained in detail why people believe this only happens during the spring equinox and why most people think eggs will only stand on end during the spring equinox because the sun and earth align up

“What has this to do with astronomy? The correct answer is nothing,” Plait said. “Somewhere on Earth is always aligned with the sun every day.”

Plait researched where this myth came from and found it actually comes from an article in “Life Magazine.” The article was about a ritual in China where they stand an egg on end during the first day of spring.  This article, printed in 1948, formed the misinterpretation that has become popular today, he said.

 “The worst source of misconceptions about astronomy, Hollywood,” Plait said. He points to many examples in the movie “Armageddon,” which bring in misinformed details about astronomy.  This “bad science” leaves misconceptions in people, he said.

Plait then passed around an asteroid that he acquired from eBay that impacted in South America. The idea behind “Armageddon” is false because asteroids hit the earth all the time and the earth takes care most of them, Plait said.

He then clarified by pointing out that all the asteroids in the asteroid belt are about the size of the moon. The sciences in these Hollywood movies are not what we want to follow. Instead, Plait wants the audience to focus on real science because, “Good science can save us all.”

Leticia Steffen talks about social responsibility in journalism at the 20/20 series Jan. 20. Photo by Sam Acar.

Two professors each give 20-minute presentations on a topic based on the theme of the lecture. The theme of this lecture was “Social Responsibility in the 21^st Century.” Students were encouraged to come to this series because it gives them a chance to speak to professors out of the classroom.

“The most important goals of the 20/20 series is to emphasize the importance of life-long learning and to help everyone realize that even though we work in different disciplines or majors, there are common themes in what we teach and learn,” Steffen said.

Steffen used the example of Hurricane Katrina and how images or discussion about it can bring out certain emotions. She talked about how people reacted to the news coverage on it, as well as some photos from the aftermath of the hurricane. Coverage of news topics can have an impact on many people in various ways, ways that not everyone likes, she said.

 “Sometimes I feel like the news can overdo it with some of the stories that they cover. It’s on one channel, then 30 minutes later it’s on another one,” said Desaray Johnson, senior mass communications major.

Sam Ebersole, a professor in the mass communications and center for new media department, does not like the news trying to draw specific feelings out of him.

 “I don’t want news to direct my emotion. I really don’t want much anger from it,” Ebersole said.

The next example that Steffen used was someone who tried to bring out emotions in people with all of her work.

Steffen spoke to the audience about Nellie Bly, an investigative journalist in the late 1800s, who went to extreme measures to expose wrongdoings. Steffen pointed out how Bly went undercover in an insane asylum, as well as how she worked in a sweatshop to show cases of child abuse. Steffen also read an excerpt from the book “Inside Reporting” about how Bly behaved while she was in the asylum.

Jonathan Poritz talks about the ethical use of mathemtics in education. Photo by Sam Acar.

Steffen also explained the extent to which Bly acted as though she was mentally ill in the asylum.

Poritz used various aspects of math to get his point across to the audience.

The title of Poritz’s lecture was, “Is there a such thing as mathematical ethics or ethical mathematics?” Poritz used slides, stories and information from his background to develop his point. One of the slides showed math word problems used in elementary schools.

“Each basket has 56 oranges. If eight slaves pick them equally, then how much would each one pick?”

The professor had another slide that elementary school students used as a word problem.

“Frederick had six baskets filled with cotton. If each basket held five pounds, how many pounds did he have all together?”

The word problem referred to none other than the man who escaped slavery, Frederick Douglass.

“I don’t know if there’s a lesson here besides don’t write word problems,” Poritz said.

Poritz went on to explain how irresponsible it was to represent mathematics how it’s been in the examples he used.

Poritz wrapped things up by talking about how math, like journalism, can carry an important role when it comes to social responsibility. The professor also used a quote from the movie “Spiderman” to express the power of social responsibility in math.

“With great power, comes great responsibility,” Poritz said.   

Trevor Grant, a sophomore at 174 pounds, competes against Nabraska-Kearney Thursday, Jan. 26. Photo by Tyler Lundquist.

After getting out to a quick start winning the first two matches in the 125 and 133 weight classes, the Pack saw a string of defeats losing their final seven out of eight matches.

The Pack knew it would be a challenge, especially when it came to the 149, 157 and 165 weight classes. Kearney’s three duelers were ranked No. 2 in the nation and two of them were facing below .500 wrestlers for the Pack.  Although the Pack fought hard, all three fell short by hefty margins.

Even after a string of Kearney wins, the Pack was still in a position to take the lead. CSU-Pueblo sophomore Trevor Grant was faced with taking on the fourth straight nationally-ranked Loper in his 174-pound duel against eight-ranked Mark Fiala.

In one of the tightest matches of the night, Grant scored a late take down to seal a three-point victory for the Pack, inching them back in the hunt for an upset.

With Grant’s upset win, Pack coach Dax Charles must have been feeling good about their chances going forward. Pack junior Adam Carey, in the 184-pound weight class and ranked seventh in the nation, took on Ross Brunkhardt with a chance to bring the Pack within two points of the powerhouse Lopers. 

The match went into two sudden death overtimes, the second in a row for Carey, when Brunkhardt finally completed the upset with a take down.

Though it would be a long road back, the Pack still had two chances to make a comeback with their final two wrestlers, 197-pound freshman Cody Johnson and heavyweight Bill Gray.  But it just wasn’t the Pack’s night.  Johnson and Gray were both defeated, sealing a 25-10 Nebraska-Kearney win.

After a three-match win streak, CSU-Pueblo has dropped the last two.  With the loss, the Pack’s record drops to 7-5 overall.

CSU-Pueblo takes to the road in their next two conference duels when they take on Colorado Mesa and Western State before returning to Massari Arena against Oklahoma City University Feb. 8, at 7 p.m.

Chris Beltran, right, and the Veterans Upward Bound Staff at a meet and greet Tuesday, Jan. 24. Photo by Chris Lujan.

The Upward Bound program is a non-profit organization funded by the U.S Department of Education that began in 1972. VUB is set up to help veterans with their transition into the academic community and there to support any of their needs as they pursue a secondary education.

VUB, with cooperative efforts from the school, community and other organizations and agencies, seeks to provide better opportunities for veterans. It offers college entrance assistance, academic instruction and educational programs as well.

 “We want veterans to be more successful in their post-secondary education by providing the support and influence they need to be successful,” said Chris Beltran , the director of VUB. “Our office is a hub for veterans on campus, a place where veterans can seek help in numerous aspects of their college career.”

Beltran currently has a group of volunteers working on a new program where other veterans mentor new veteran students. They will teach and supply them with the tools they need to achieve their academic goals. Veterans helping veterans is their motto.

“In the military we speak a different kind of language, I’m hoping to increase their ability to continue their education by helping them out,” said Lance Stewart, a volunteer working with Beltran.

The best part about the program is that it’s free to all qualifying veterans. VUB provides free academic skills training and tutoring in computer literacy, English, grammar and composition, mathematics, science and Spanish. Career counseling, books, class room materials and online skill building modules are also benefits of the program, also with no cost to the applicant.

Assistance in other needs such as housing, utilities and financial aid through other programs and sources like the G.I. Forum and American Legion are alternative veteran centers that are also provided by VUB, Beltran said.

The program focuses on low-income students and first generation students.

The CSU-Pueblo VUB program works in concurrence with other on campus veteran services, such as the Veterans Military Support Club and the Veterans Educational Benefits Office. Together these programs strive to prepare future veteran graduates with the opportunity for success not only in their college careers but future business careers.

Veterans Upward Bound program holds several fundraising and informational events throughout the year. This spring they will be hosting a Valentine’s Day dance Feb. 11, at the South Colorado Gaming and Events Center, as well as the Veterans Resource Fair Mar. 31.

For more information on upcoming VUB events or to volunteer contact the VUB office at 719-549-2875, or their office is located in the Library and Academic Resources Center, Room 374.

The ThunderWolves men's basketball team scores against Chadron State, Friday, Jan 20. Photo by Sam Acar.

Lead by junior guard Ryan Arel, the Pack managed to have their best shooting night so far this season, shooting 60 percent from the field and 55 percent from the three-point line.  Arel sparked the team going into the second half knocking down two key three-point shots with just minutes remaining in the first, which gave the Pack a comfortable 17-point lead going into halftime.

Even more impressive than the Pack’s shooting was their staggering defensive performance.  The Pack forced the Eagles into 14 turnovers and held them to 41 percent shooting from the field.  They didn’t waste opportunities to capitalize on the Eagles’ mistakes either. Of the 14 forced turnovers, the Pack scored 21 points, including 11 fast break points.

The overall team effort allowed the Pack a have great start and maintain the lead throughout.  Contributors included Andre Martin’s 18 points, 4 steals, and an emphatic alley-op dunk to spark the crowd of more than 1500. But Martin wasn’t the only one contributing on the offensive end; the Pack had four of their five starters in double-digit scoring.

The Pack dominated almost all statistical categories including rebounds, led by Bryse Velasquez who pulled down seven.  Velasquez also scored 18 points along with 11 assists and two steals, a season high for Velasquez.

CSU-Pueblo needed a big performance from Velasquez as they saw their leading scorer Arden Dennis, a junior college transfer, go down with a season-ending knee injury Jan. 14 against Regis University.  Dennis had been averaging 14 points a game and shooting 43 percent from three-point territory.

Although Dennis wasn’t missed Friday night this could be a big loss for the Pack in the future as the RMAC schedule continues.

Kendall Babler looks to score against Kearney-Nebraska. Photo by Tyler Shomaker.

The CSU-Pueblo’s women’s basketball game between CSU-Pueblo and Nebraska-Kearney Saturday, Jan. 21, was intense from the very start, but the ThunderWolves had the better hands and defeated Nebraska-Kearney 52-38.

The game started with both teams’ plays mirroring the other.  Both were tough on defense, as expected, and both shot equally poor.  The ThunderWolves then went on an unanswered nine-point scoring run and started to gain momentum.  The Lopers, who rebounded well early on in the game, began to lose control and the game continued to go in CSU-Pueblo’s favor.

“Tonight we were a team and played well as a team,” senior Kendall Babler said. “I simply came in, did my job and it seemed to be enough.”

Babler, who came into Saturday night’s game averaging 12.2 points, and the rest of the ThunderWolves had little time to prepare for the Nebraska-Kearney game after playing Chadron State the night before.

As points from the field were scarce, the ThunderWolves relied on successful free throw shots to put them ahead. CSU-Pueblo shot 29 free throws throughout the game. Babler led the team in free throws, shooting 8-for-10 from the line.

Nebraska-Kearny’s only threat in the first half seemed to be Vanessa Leeper-Jones with her 4 points. Her team would help rally back in the second half as all the starters for Nebraska-Kearney checked in. With seven minutes left in the game, the Lopers were down by six points, but the steam quickly faded and the ThunderWolves came out with a victory.

CSU-Pueblo will be on the road for their next three games. The road trip starts Jan. 27 when they take on New Mexico Highlands.