CSU-Pueblo Today

Pack stamps tourney ticket with third consecutive RMAC 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 conference 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.

Guest Speaker for the Women’s Leadership Institute gives her advice on how to become a woman of leadership

Brittney Whatley — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 04:30:03 +0000

Sarah Weddington, keynote speaker for the conference

About 100 female students and women from the Pueblo community spent the morning of Feb. 19, listening to a speech by a woman known as a leader in Congress at Colorado State University-Pueblo’s Women’s Leadership Institute.

Sarah Weddington, who has received much recognition for her work, including the 2006 International Athena Award, was the keynote speaker at the institute.

In addition to a speech by Weddington, the institute consisted of round table discussions led by women leaders from the Pueblo community.

Some of the women on the panel were Caroline Parra, an executive director for the Southern Colorado Small Business Development Center; Janet Fieldman, chief foundation officer at Pueblo Community Health Center Foundation; Judy Weaver, director of staff education at the Colorado State Mental Health Institute at Pueblo and several others.

These community leaders were assisted by women from the university including Cora Zaletel, executive director of external affairs at CSU-Pueblo and Donna Souder, assistant professor of English and director of writing program, as well as other women leaders.

Topics of discussion ranged from parenting to conflict management to becoming a multifaceted woman. Each round table discussion was structured to discuss areas that students may have had questions about or issues with.

The discussions were also based off Weddington’s speech; using pieces of advice as discussion starters.

During her speech, Weddington gave five questions of topic which the groups could use to generate discussion and she also said students could use these questions to help themselves become better leaders. The questions were:

• “Ordinary people sometimes do extraordinary things.” Why and How?
• What can I do today to give myself more options tomorrow?
• What would I want to be a leader about? What kinds of things need to change?
• How can I practice leadership?
• What are the skills needed to be a leader?

Since students were confined to choosing two tables to participate in from the eight total tables, Weddington had each community leader explain what their table discussion would consist of before she began her speech, and she said this way every attendee could learn a little from each topic.

Weddington also gave her own tips to becoming a great leader during her speech, since she had become a role model for women leaders through past experience, she said.

She told of these experiences during her speech; the one she is known for best is having successfully argued the landmark Roe v. Wade case before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1973, becoming the youngest person to ever win a Supreme Court case at age 25.

Other accomplishments by Weddington were becoming the first woman from Austin, Texas, ever elected to the Texas House of Representatives. She also said she served as an assistant to former President Jimmy Carter.

This was the second time Weddington shared her experiences as a guest speaker.She spoke the previous night, Thursday Feb. 18, as a speaker for the Distinguished Speaker Series, hosted by the Office of Student Activities.

At the end of the Women’s Leadership Institute, Weddington announced that she had brought copies of her book, “A Question of Choice,” for everyone who attended the institute.

The institute was concluded with a book signing and photographs with Weddington, upon request.

Diversity Resource Center Shines Light on Micro-Inequities

Nikki Martinez — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 04:04:46 +0000

LaNeeca Williams talking to the audience

Twenty-First Century Discrimination: Micro-Inequities, a workshop focused on combating discriminatory behaviors, was held by the Diversity Resource Center Monday, Feb. 22, at Colorado State University-Pueblo.

Micro-inequities, or subtle discriminations, are an annoyance as well as a discouraging factor in school, work and social lives, said LaNeeca Williams, director of CSU-Pueblo’s Diversity Resource Center.

The definition of micro-inequities is “Cumulative pattern of subtle, semi-conscious, devaluing messages which discourage and impair performance,” Williams said.

“Micro-inequities can be subtle or unsubtle, conscious or unconscious and verbal or nonverbal,” Williams said. “They can cake the shape of looks, gestures, tone of voice, nuance, inflection, inference or an absence of a message.”

Williams said she decided to host the workshop to make the campus aware of what micro-inequities are. The workshop also discussed how students and staff can approach a situation in which they are faced with a micro-inequity and to minimize micro-inequities by realizing their own personal stereotypes, prejudices and limitations and changing them.

The audience was shown three videos that demonstrated micro-inequities in the workplace.

The first video, “Dinner at the Boss’ House,” involved an equally qualified man and woman who were not offered the same job opportunities because the man was given certain opportunities over dinner at their boss’ house.

The second video, “Subtle Slights and Other Annoyances,” displayed a situation where one employee’s idea is taken by another in a meeting with their boss. The employee who had the idea initially feared that she would be looked down upon if she demanded credit for her idea.

The last video, “How Do You Wash Those Dreads?,” involved a woman talking business with a co-worker. The co-worker tells her he can’t get over how wild and exotic her dread-lock hairstyle is, and asks how she manages to wash it.

“At times, we may have all been guilty of these behaviors,” Williams said. “These videos are to make you aware of how these things affect people personally.”

Williams explained the difference between micro-inequities and rudeness.

“Rude behaviors happen occasionally,” Williams said. “Micro-inequities happen constantly and have a way of boxing a person in or creating a less than positive cultural climate.”

Micro-inequities can impair performance in the workplace by discouraging employees, Williams said. She encouraged the audience to address and confront micro-inequities in the workplace.

“The negative effects of micro-inequities in the workplace are that you’ll leave or you’ll be unhappy. Bring those things to the forefront, do it for yourself,” Williams said.

Williams also talked about social micro-inequities.

“The most powerful aspect of communication is not verbal communication, but nonverbal,” Williams said.

Williams said negative nonverbal cues can be a micro-inequity in a social situation. Among the nonverbal cues were shrugging the shoulders, yawning, tapping of the feet and raising eyebrows. These nonverbal cues, Williams said, are behaviors meant to discourage.

The audience was asked to pair up, sit across from one another and talk for three minutes each. While the speaker talked about three things they did in the last week, the listener was asked to give negative nonverbal cues. The audience then shared their accounts.

“She was rude,” said Kristiyna James, an attendee, of her partner. “Even though it was pretend, I was mad. She actually asked me, ‘Are you almost done yet?’”

The audience agreed that the negative nonverbal cues made them feel devalued.

Williams said that when faced with a micro-inequity, a person should: “Relax. Relate. Release. Don’t release until you’ve done the other two. Use every moment you have like that to educate people, not attack them.”

Williams encouraged the audience to turn micro-inequities into ‘micro-advantages.’

“Talk about the things that offend and upset us, things that are discriminatory towards us,” Williams said. “Encourage your supervisors and co-workers to turn it around and make it positive so you can work together as a team.”

Williams ended the workshop by quoting George Washington Carver, “How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong, because someday in life, you will have been all of these.”

Students can network with employers at Career Fair

Bill Dagendesh — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:55:15 +0000

A Career Fair, designed to give students an opportunity to meet and network with employers from local, regional and national companies, will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesday, March 3, in the Occhiato University Center Ballroom at Colorado State University-Pueblo.

More than 45 employers are scheduled to participate in the event, according to Michelle Gjerde, director of the CSU-Pueblo Career Center. Students will get to explore and learn about careers in their area of interest, and seek out internships and job opportunities, Gjerde said.

According to Gjerde, men should wear a business suit, and women a business suit or tailored dress. She said students should bring several copies of their resume, a notepad and pen and, if applicable, a professional portfolio.

Students should make a list of key skills, the director said, and jot down a situation in which they demonstrated that skill.

Gjerde said students who fail to write a resume, dress professionally and display a positive attitude when applying for a job, ultimately fail to impress a prospective boss.

Employers want applicants to be prepared for these job fairs, Gjerde said, and few students prepare accordingly. She said preparation makes a difference between getting hired and being rejected by an employer.

Employers scheduled to participate include AmeriCorps NCCC, Board of Water Works, Enterprise Holdings, Farmer’s Insurance, Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, Pueblo Diversified Industries, Social Security Administration and Wells Fargo Financial.

Other employers are Airgas, City of Pueblo, Colorado Springs Utilities, Convergys-Pueblo, Crossroads Turning Points, Inc., Denver Department of Safety, Fastenal, First Command Financial Planning, Government Employees Insurance Company, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, KOAA-TV News First 5 and Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office.

Gjerde said students who don’t prepare for a job interview can expect to stand in the unemployment line. She said preparation is everything, and you get out of the job fair what you put into it.

You can learn more about the career fair by calling Gjerde at 549-2980 or visiting careercenter@colostate-pueblo.edu.

Pack searches for consistency in doubleheader split

Joe Foley — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 01:55:58 +0000

After an encouraging start to a doubleheader Saturday against the Regis Rangers where the Pack grinded out a win in the first game, 7-2, the team proceeded to lose the second game, 9-3.

Colorado State University-Pueblo got a strong start in game one from pitcher Josh Herback-South, who pitched four innings, allowing only four hits and no runs. Reliever Wes Oliver came on to finish the game, pitching five strong innings, and giving up only two runs.

The Pack got help on the offensive side in the fifth inning when left fielder Jon Proesl belted a solo home run to left field, his third of the year. Third basemen Austin Roff also helped the cause with a two-run homer in the same inning that helped put the ThunderWolves on top 7-1.

That’s all of the help the Pack would need for the remainder of game one. Oliver would pitch the final five innings in the game, allowing two runs on seven hits, with five strikeouts.

“Wes (Oliver) threw strikes, kept the ball down, and did a real good job of mixing pitches,” said coach Stan Sanchez. “He gave us a chance to win.”

Herback-South got credit for the win to start the season off with a 2-0 record.

In game two of the doubleheader the Pack saw starter Joaquin Montano struggle. Montano started the game with a walk, hit-by-pitch, two singles, and a double before he was yanked. Reliever Nate Perlitsch helped the Pack get out of the first inning, but not before Regis scored six runs.

The ThunderWolves would cut the lead to three in the home half of the first inning but would get no closer than that. Regis starting pitcher Gerard Mohrmann pitched a complete seven-inning game, allowing three runs on seven hits.

The Rangers win over the Pack, combined with their 7-6 victory Friday helped Regis take the three-game series.

CSU-Pueblo has struggled with stringing together consecutive wins so far this season. In every series this season the team has won back-to-back games only once, and has split wins and losses, in every series. The ThunderWolves now have an overall record of 6-7 with a 1-2 conference record.

“It’s a tough place to pitch in the RMAC,” said pitcher Wes Oliver. “We just have to stay motivated and keep going after it.”

The team will try to dig its way out of the RMAC gutter as they travel to face Plains Division leader Nebraska-Kearney in a three-game series starting Friday.

Order your cap, gown at Graduation Fair

Bill Dagendesh — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 01:55:27 +0000

The spring 2010 Graduation Fair, when students can order their graduation cap and gown, will be held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday, March 2, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday, March 3, in the Occhiato University Center bookstore at Colorado State University-Pueblo.

Additionally, CSU-Pueblo students can place their orders from 3 to 6 p.m., Monday, March 1, at the CSU-Pueblo Colorado Springs office, 730 Citadel Dr. East, Suite 300; by visiting www.csupueblobookstore.com starting March 3 or by calling the campus bookstore at 719-549-2146.

Students must pay for their cap and gown when they are measured for fitting, according to Kristi Alfonso, administrative assistant to the provost at CSU-Pueblo. Costs are:

• Master: $63.37
• Bachelor: $31.15
• Souvenir Tassel: $5.37

Orders placed at the bookstore or on the Internet can be picked up at the bookstore from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday, April 30. Orders placed through the Colorado Springs office can be picked up at this office from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday, April 30.

Late orders must be placed at the campus bookstore. Students will be charged a $15 late fee for orders placed from March 4 to 13, and a $25 late fee after March 13.

Students using their own cap and gown must make a reservation for the ceremony by calling 719-549-2284 or by signing up online at www.colostate-pueblo.edu/commencement.

Honors

According to Alfonso, the following grade point averages indicate the three honors levels for students earning a bachelor’s degree:

• Summa cum laude (4.000-3.900 GPA)
• Magna cum laude (3.899-3.750 GPA)
• Cum laude (3.749-3.500 GPA)

Students must earn a minimum of 60 semester hours to be considered for honors, and remedial courses and credit by exam are excluded from the 60-hour minimum, according to Alfonso.

Honor students’ names will be listed in the commencement program; however, this list is not a guarantee students will receive that honor, Alfonso said.

Also, students can order personalized announcements from the campus bookstore. Standard announcements also will be available while supplies last.

According to Alfonso, students don’t need to bring anything to the fair, but should allow themselves about 30 minutes to conduct business. Students can learn more by calling 719-549-2146 or visiting www.csupueblobookstore.com.

John Adams Unbound art exhibit hosted by CSU-Pueblo library

Damarkus James — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 14:00:52 +0000

Colorado State University-Pueblo’s university library will host an art exhibit in the spring.

The “John Adams Unbound” exhibit will be presented in the Occhiato University Center March 5, 2010. There will also be a colonial-themed dinner served and a performance by Bill Chrystal. The display is a panel exhibit featuring former founding father and historical figure John Adams and his collection of more than 3,000 books.

Julie Fronmueller, assistant professor for library services, said the exhibition is based off a quote from the “Diary of John Adams,” “Fame, fortune, Power are some, are the Ends intended by a library. The service of God, Country, Clients, Fellow men, say others. Which of these lie nearest to my heart?’”

The art display will be moved to the Hoag Hall foyer from March 7 through April 15, 2010, for people to view it. An opening for the display will be March 12 in the Hoag Hall foyer, which will present historians and authors Margaret Hogan and Woody Holton. This will be a free event open to the public.

Fronmueller said people should see the exhibition because it could educate them about colonial history. She said the exhibition will include pieces like the Boston Massacre case along with other works that are done by Adams.

She said the panels feature different aspects of his life. Former President Adams used to be things such as a lawyer, politician and also a student.

Fronmueller also said it is an opportunity for people to learn about Adams and what his thoughts were as he collected books.

“Each panel features a different part of his collection and why he collects the books,” she said. “It also shows what he wrote in the margins of the books.”

Fronmueller said the gallery was organized by the Boston Public Library (BPL) and American Library Association Public Programs office. She said the curator of the book collection, Beth Prindle from the Boston Public Library, based it on themes about why Adams collected books.

“The only way you would see these books and learn about them is if you actually went to the Boston Public Library,” Fronmueller said.

Pictures of the display are on johnadamslibrary.org.

For information about the exhibition, contact Fronmueller at 719-549-2826 or Julie.fronmueller@colostate-pueblo.edu.