CSU-Pueblo Today

Annual Student Art Show

cgray — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 01:05:30 +0000

Photo: Monique Garcia

2010 ASG election campaigns begin

Nikki Martinez — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 01:00:34 +0000

The 2010 Associated Students’ Government election campaigns kick off today, March 15.

Write-in packets are available at Student Life in the Occhiato University Center Suite 003.

The online polls open Monday, April 5, at 8 a.m. and close Wednesday, April 7, at 4 p.m. The winning candidate’s names will be posted Thursday, April 8.

For more information call 719-549-2586.

Below is a list of the eligible candidates for the upcoming Associated Students’ Government elections.

President and Vice President for Finance & Administration (vote for one ticket)
Thomas “Tommy” Farrell & Kayleen St. Louis (Revamp Party)
Steven Titus & Richard Cahill (LIVEGREEN Party)

Vice President for Legislative Affairs (vote for one)
Vanessa Rodriguez (Revamp Party)
Miashia Dixon (LIVEGREEN Party)

Fourteen (14) Senators

Senator At-Large, who shall serve as Pro Tem of the Senate (vote for one)
Sarah Bennett
Sheneé Taylor (Revamp Party)

Senator representing the College of Education, Engineering and Professional Studies (vote for two)
Koby Wittek (LIVEGREEN Party)
Vacant

Senator representing the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (vote for two)
Jazmine Wells (Revamp Party)
Lindsay Reeves (LIVEGREEN Party)

Senator representing the College of Science and Mathematics (vote for two)
Anthony Montoya (Revamp Party)
Audrey Duran (LIVEGREEN Party)
Talisha Bell (LIVEGREEN Party)

Senator representing the Hasan School of Business (vote for two)
Holly Litchfield (LIVEGREEN Party)
Kyle LaMar (LIVEGREEN Party)

Senator of Residence Life (vote for one)
Amber Willems (Revamp Party)
James Vicars (LIVEGREEN Party)

Senator of Student Empowerment (vote for one)
Daisy Mendoza (Revamp Party)
Britney Titus (LIVEGREEN Party)

Senator of Recreational Affairs (vote for one)
Garrett Martin Proctor (Revamp Party)

Senator of Student Activities (vote for one)
Gerson Lopez (LIVEGREEN Party)
Alicia Beaver (Revamp Party)

Senator of Clubs and Organizations Funding Policies and Procedures (vote for one)
Edwin Watson (Revamp Party)
Ryan Encinias (LIVEGREEN Party)

YWCA Chocolate Indulgence

cgray — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:20:34 +0000

YWCA to honor Anna Taussig and award local women ...

Author brings attention to sensitive subjects while sharing a reading of her newest publication

Brittney Whatley — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:00:56 +0000

Maria Meléndez, editor and publisher for the literary magazine Pilgrimage, read from her newest publication “Flexible Bones,” on Feb. 11 in the Cottonwood Room of the Occhiato University Center at CSU-Pueblo.

Southern Colorado Reading Series Coordinator, Juan Morales announced that the shipment of Meléndez’s book was received Feb. 10, just in time for Meléndez’s reading.

During his introductory speech, Morales said the publication had been long awaited at the university and said he was excited for its arrival.

Maria Meléndez after her SoCo reading on Feb. 11. Photo by Zak Bratton

“Flexible Bones” is a poetry collection which had been titled from the process of creating the book, Meléndez said, and because he was trying to be more flexible with her writing.

She read a passage from the epigraph which explained how a bat’s bones can sometimes be flexible when under stress or pressure; Meléndez joked saying how we could all use some bat bones.

Meléndez said “Flexible Bones” has a sense of nature, politics, friendships and history within its text.

Morales said Meléndez’s writing reminded him of “poetry’s overall power to preserve,” which Meléndez expressed by reading several pieces that interrupted her opinions about political issues, such as the war in Iraq. Click here to listen to the poem “Bridge,” from the new book “Flexible Bones” by Maria Meléndez.

She read a poem titled “Nonsense”, which she said was her way of expressing how the current war and the previous war with Iraq were just nonsense.

“What’s that they always say? Fight nonsense, with nonsense,” Meléndez said before reading the poem.

Even though Meléndez said she “brushes” politics with her poems in her new book, she still ties nature into her descriptions and imagery.

Her first reading from the book was one that conveyed her opinions and ideas about the Mathew Shepard hate crime murder outside of Laramie, Wyo., in 1998, which she felt she related to. In her poem, she compares the crime to the act of killing Bull Bison in Wyoming, just for the bull’s fur coat.

At the end of that poem, the audience was silent.

Morales said Meléndez utilizes her imagery and treats the page like a “canvas for her work rather than just a median for her poetry.”

Meléndez also has two other publications, “Base Pairs,” which Meléndez said has been out of print for five years, and “How Long She’ll Last in This World,” which she also read from during her presentation.

“Base Pairs,” received an honorable mention at the 2007 International Latino Book Awards, Meléndez said, and was a finalist for the 2007 PEN Center USA Literary Award.

Meléndez’s own love for nature is shared by her husband who recently received a job at the Pueblo Nature Center, in June 2009. She joked during her reading saying that she literally lives at the Nature Center.

She is also a family literacy coordinator at Bradford Elementary School, and she said she helps teach English as a second language to the Spanish speaking children and parents. Meléndez said she learned to speak Spanish by taking classes in college and perfected her dialect encouragement from her aunts in Arizona.

Blood Drive gives CSU-Pueblo a Chance to Save Lives

Nikki Martinez — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:00:31 +0000

A blood drive, which invited students, faculty and staff to donate blood for use in Colorado hospitals, was held in the Occhiato University Center’s Heartwell Lounge at Colorado State University-Pueblo on Thursday, Jan. 28.

The Bonfils Blood Center blood drive was from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and had three beds that remained filled throughout the day, as 30 donors gave blood. Each donor gave 470 milliliters of blood for a total of about 30 pints donated, according to Rudy Sosa, regional manager of Bonfils.

Both the blood and components of the blood are used in hospitals. The blood donated is categorized into types A, B, AB, and O, positive and negative. Only about 7% of all people have type O negative blood, making it the rarest group. Type O blood is the most needed because it can be given to a person of any blood type in an emergency, according to the American Red Cross Web site.

The blood components needed are plasma, which carries blood cells, and platelets, which help the body to control bleeding.

Some major reasons for the need of blood donations are cancer, heart and blood vessel diseases, disease of the gastrointestinal tract and emergencies such as car accidents and burns.

The amount of blood and blood components needed varies based on the instance. For example, an automobile accident requires 50 pints of blood. A heart surgery requires six pints of blood and six pints of platelets. A bone marrow transplant requires 20 pints of blood and 120 pints of platelets, according to the Community Blood Center Web site.

Among the donors was Steve Titus, president of the Associated Students Government. Although he was nervous, as it was his first time donating blood, he encouraged students to donate, Titus said.

“We need to help our fellow man,” Titus said. “Whatever we can do to help save a life, we should take advantage of.”

Faculty and staff members also joined the effort. Michael Lobato, the assistant director of dining for Chartwells, said he frequently donates blood because there is a constant need for blood.

Lobato also said staff and faculty should set an example for students by donating.

“If you don’t have a good lead, no one will follow,” Lobato said.

Sosa said he was pleased with the turnout but looked forward to even more participation in the future. He said he also hoped to bring four beds on their next visit to CSU-Pueblo on April 13.

Students, staff and faculty who missed the blood drive can donate blood at Bonfils Blood Center in Pueblo at 3676 Parker Blvd. in the Parkwest Medical Building, Suite 380. For more information, contact Bonfils Blood Center at 719-296-1094 or www.bonfils.org.

Lindsay Wolking — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:06:33 +0000

photo by Lindsay Wolking

It’s a rare sunny day in Southern Colorado this winter.

Pack stamps tourney ticket with third consecutive RMAC Shootout title

Joe Foley — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 01:52:11 +0000

Good things come in three’s. Well at least that is the case for the Colorado State University-Pueblo women’s basketball team.

For the third consecutive year the CSU-Pueblo ThunderWolves claimed the RMAC Shootout title by defeating number one seeded Fort Lewis College, 61-60.

The Pack got a huge effort from RMAC freshmen of the year Katrina Selsor who was efficient on the floor shooting 80 percent (12-15), including being perfect from beyond the arc in her three attempts.

Selsor finished the day with a game-high 28 points to go along with six rebounds and five assists.

CSU-Pueblo (20-10) also got help off the bench from senior guard Kami Dahlberg. Dahlberg entered the game as an early first half substitution for senior guard Kristi Arness and made her presence felt immediately.

Dahlberg got in sync quickly with a layup in the lane before connecting on three 3-point attempts to open up an 11-point lead for the ThunderWolves.

“We knew we all had to do our part,” Dahlberg said. “Everyone was just doing their part.”

Fort Lewis (30-3) would keep the game close though, cutting the CSU-Pueblo lead to eight at the half, trailing 34-26.

As all teams do the Skyhawks were poised for a run in the second half. Behind senior forward Alison Rosel, the Skyhawks were able to make a run at the ThunderWolves to keep the game close.

With 45 seconds remaining in the game and the ThunderWolves up one point with possession of the ball, Rosel stole the ball from Pack forward Amanda Bartlett to give the Skyhawks the chance to take the lead.

On the next play Rosel would come up big again scoring the go-ahead layup to put Fort Lewis on top with 32 seconds remaining.

The game was now in the drivers seat of the ThunderWolves who looked to their freshmen sensation to make a play.

Selsor received the ball at the top of the key and drove to her right where she tossed in a layup over two defenders to give the ThunderWolves the lead, 61-60, with three seconds remaining.

“When the ball came to me I just tried to take it as hard as I could and do it for my team,” Selsor said.

After a desperation 3-point shot from Laura Haugen fell short, CSU-Pueblo could finally celebrate its third consecutive RMAC championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II national tournament.

“To do what we’ve done this week, to win on the road, and knocking off two number one seeds back-to-back,” said coach Kip Drown, “this one was extra special because of that adversity.”

The win was also CSU-Pueblo’s first over the nationally ranked Skyhawks in three tries this season. In the previous two games the ThunderWolves lost in the regular season at Fort Lewis, 82-68, before dropping a thriller to the Skyhawks at home, losing 64-59.

Rosel led the Skyhawks down the stretch shooting 79 percent (11-14) and finishing with 24 points. Haugen was the only other Skyhawk to net double digit points, ending the game with 15 points.

CSU-Pueblo had three players named to the all-tournament team with Dahlberg and senior center Caitlyn Jewell being name to the team. Selsor was also honored for her play by receiving MVP of the tournament.

With the win CSU-Pueblo stamped its ticket to the national tournament with a No. 7 seed. The ThunderWolves will play No. 2 seed Wayne State (Neb.) in Durango, Colo., when the tournament kicks off Friday.

CSU-Pueblo is seeking its first ever win in the national tournament.

Pack in position for RMAC title

Joe Foley — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 22:41:26 +0000

For the third year in a row the Colorado State University-Pueblo women’s basketball team is returning to the RMAC Shootout championship.

Behind a 19 point and 15 rebound performance from RMAC freshmen of the year Katrina Selsor, the ThunderWolves defeated Colorado Christian University, 66-63.

With the Pack playing without do-it-all guard Rachel Espinoza, who was lost for the season to injury, the team looked for a spark to shake the Cougars.

“The number one thing we talked about was executing and playing together as a group,” said coach Kip Drown.

Colorado Christian played a strong first half, leading the game for all but two minutes of the game. The Cougars found most of their offense in the paint and were paced by forward Juanise Cornell, who led all scorers in the game with 20 points.

In the second half, Colorado Christian fought off several ThunderWolf rallies and found themselves tied with the defending RMAC Shootout champions with only 2:57 remaining in the game.

That’s when the spark was found inside Selsor who took control of the game, scoring the game-tying basket along with the layup and a free throw that put the Pack ahead by three with 2:10 left.

Selsor would again show a spark by coming up with a crucial block on Cornell that all but sealed the game for the Pack.

“After losing Rachel we knew the team had to step it up,” Selsor said. “Pueblo is known for winning championships and we all have the mindset we’re going to do it again.”

The win by CSU-Pueblo puts them into the RMAC Shootout championship game against Fort Lewis, who has beaten the Pack both times they played during the regular season.

Cold shooting freezes Pack in Shootout semifinals

Joe Foley — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 01:49:20 +0000

A somber mood was set over the Colorado State Fair Events Center Friday as the Colorado State University-Pueblo ThunderWolves were defeated 70-61 by Metro State in the semifinals of the RMAC Shootout.

A team that shocked the conference three days earlier by defeating number one seeded Mesa State for the second season in a row saw its own season cut short by Metro State behind a 19-point performance by junior guard Donte Nicholas.

After sharing baskets to open the game, the RoadRunners turned up the defensive pressure, which helped cause 11 first-half turnovers for the ThunderWolves.

Metro State was helped on the interior by 6-foot-7 center Jonathan Morse and 6-foot-9 reserve center Shakir Johnson, who both made it tough to find easy looks in the paint.

The tall presence in the paint forced CSU-Pueblo to continually shoot from the perimeter where they struggled to find its range. As a team the ThunderWolves shot 16 percent (4-25) from beyond the arc.

CSU-Pueblo kept it close despite the poor shooting, trailing 36-28 at halftime.

Metro State would extend that lead to start the second half, going up 16 with an assist from Nicholas to Johnson who put the ball away with a dunk.

Although down by double-digits CSU-Pueblo continued to battle, cutting the lead to nine points with a layup from senior forward Chris Busch with 7:04 remaining in the game.

“We knew they were going to make a run,” Nicholas said. “We just knew that if we weathered the storm we would be okay.”

That was as close as the ThunderWolves would get for the remainder of the game. The tandem of Nicholas and sophomore guard Reggie Evans helped Metro State push the lead back to 14 points with 2:10 remaining in the game.

Evans broke free for a breakaway dunk that all but slammed the hopes of the ThunderWolves away.

“I think our guys did a really nice job of coming out and setting the tone on defense,” said Metro State coach Brannon Hayes.

The ThunderWolves suffered in the game from 19 turnovers compared to Metro State who committed only 14 turnovers on the day.

CSU-Pueblo commencement speaker announced

Bill Dagendesh — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:58:59 +0000

About 950 Colorado State University-Pueblo students are expected to participate in the spring 2010 graduation commencement ceremony scheduled for 10 a.m., Saturday, May 1 at the Colorado State Fair Events Center.

Guest speaker will be A. J. Rhodes, director of Strategy and Marketing at Disney Interactive Media Group, West Hollywood, Calif. said Cora Zaletel, executive director of External Affairs at CSU-Pueblo.

Rhodes graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mass communications/business administration from CSU-Pueblo in 1999, Zaletel said. He is former senior manager of marketing and promotions at Radio Disney, senior manager of worldwide marketing at MGM Studios and media analyst at Focus Media.

The doors to the Colorado State Fair Events Center will open at 8 a.m. Graduating students can pick up a parking pass when they pick up their cap and gown order. Graduates are encouraged to arrive at the Palace of Agriculture between 8:45 and 9:15 a.m.

Guests should give themselves time to park their vehicle so they can be seated by 9:30 a.m. Guests are encouraged to enter the Events Center through the south doors, and the northeast doors also may be used. Security guards will check bags at all entrances, and will not allow large backpacks or packages.

A reception for graduates, family, and friends will be held on the State Fair Grounds following the ceremony. The CSU-Pueblo Alumni Association is sponsoring the reception.

To learn more visit www.colostate-pueblo.edu/commencement or call CSU-Pueblo’s Office of External Affairs at 719-549-2810.