Inspiring, that's what Custodial Services morning supervisors and leads are! As Facilities Management adapts to constant change, these mid-level managers are working to support employees in all facets of their daily work and assist each other in becoming a successful supervisory team.
Just in time for the Breeders’ Cup, a CSU researcher has released new studies about the impact of bleeding in racehorses' lungs.
The Kathryn T. Bohannon Speaker Series is sponsored by the Kathryn T. Bohannon Women's Program Fund. The fund was established in 1993 by Mr. David Folkes in memory of his wife, Kathryn, who was a graduate student at CSU in the Department of Design and Merchandising and Consumer Sciences in 1991. Prior to her return to school, Kathryn was an Environmental Consultant in Denver and an Environmental Engineer with Eastman Kodak in Windsor, Colorado and Rochester, New York. A member of Phi Kappa Phi, Kathryn graduated Cum Laude from Kansas State University in 1974. Kathryn had a committed interest in developing self-esteem in women.
Culturally Safe Sex Education
Jessica Danforth is the founder of the Native Youth Sexual Health Network (NYSHN), the first and only organization of its kind by and for Indigenous youth working across issues of sexual and productive health, rights, and justice through the U.S. and Canada. Danforth will be speak at noon Nov. 5 in LSC 324.
Tough Guise 2: Violence, Manhood and American Culture
Educator and Cultural Theorist Jackson Katz challenges the myths befalling men and boys around the meaning of manhood. The film looks at a series of behaviors that lend to the normalized culture of violence against women and LGBTQ people. The abbreviated film screening will be followed by discussion facilitated by WGAC Staff.
Taking the 'Boo' out of 'Taboo': Sex Positivity
Emily Ambrose and Priscilla Gardea will be presenting a workshop to promote healthy sexual identity, exploration, and consensual intimate practices. The workshop takes place at noon Nov. 19 in LSC 372-374.
All events are free. For more information visit this website.
Colorado State senior quarterback Garrett Grayson earned several weekly honors after his career-best performance in the Rams’ 45-31 victory over Wyoming.
Elk, owls, coyotes, and snowmobiles all have been heard on Colorado State University campus lately.
CSU's partnership with the City of Fort Collins is getting recognition across the country, most recently in a feature article in the Arizona Daily Sun.
The following column was written by Melissa Wdowik, PhD, RDN, an assistant professor at Colorado State University in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, and director of the Kendall Anderson Nutrition Center.
Genetically engineered foods are all around us: an estimated 60 percent to 80 percent of processed foods in U.S. grocery stores have genetically modified ingredients. With the food labeling initiative Proposition 105 on the November ballot, this is a good time to improve our understanding of both genetic engineering and the voting option before us.
Genetic engineering involves the transfer of genes for particular traits between species. Other terms for genetically engineered (GE) plants (or foods derived from them) are genetically modified (GM), genetically modified organism (GMO), and bioengineered. Historically, most of our foods have been naturally genetically modified through domestication of wild plants and natural selection, and agriculturally modified using genetic and selective breeding. The newer techniques of bioengineering are more precise laboratory methods of physically removing a gene from one organism and adding it into another, giving it the ability to express a desired trait. Most current GM crops have been engineered for resistance to insects, diseases, or herbicides. While “herbicide tolerance” sounds like an excuse to use more herbicides, it actually allows farmers to use products that are more environmentally friendly, while reducing soil erosion and CO2 emissions.
According to Dr. Patrick Byrne, a professor in CSU’s Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, crops most commonly engineered in Colorado include corn, alfalfa, and sugar beets, as well as soybeans and canola. Nationwide, cotton is another major engineered crop.
The biggest concern to consumers is: are these GM crops safe to eat? The term “frankenfood” was coined to reflect fears of unknown changes to our food supply. Indeed there are both pros and cons to genetically engineered foods espoused by supporters and detractors, respectively.
Supporters say benefits include increased pest and disease resistance, drought tolerance, and increased yields. They point to 18 years of GM consumption and hundreds of research studies finding no difference in food safety or nutritional value between GM and non-GM foods. They also point to potential GM crops that are nutritionally superior, such as Golden Rice, enriched with beta-carotene.
Detractors say risks include creation of pesticide-resistant weeds, accidental contamination between GM and non-GM crops and, hypothetically at least, antibiotic resistance and introduction of allergens into foods. The issues go further, however, with political, environmental and industrial arguments beyond the scope of this column. It is a highly complex issue, full of pros and cons.
The question remains, will labeling of GMOs help? Food labeling may give transparency for consumers to make informed decisions, but critics remind us that the cost will be passed on to taxpayers and consumers and loopholes make the benefits questionable: many foods will be exempt even when they do contain GE ingredients. Some experts support labels but want to wait for more accurate, reliable labeling rules. In the meantime, interested consumers can buy certified organic foods, which are by law free of GE ingredients, or “Non-GMO Verified” products. See Dr. Byrne’s thorough, unbiased explanation of labeling pros and cons here.
A related SOURCE story on this ballot measure, "Researcher: Analysis of GMO labeling initiative unbiased," is available here.
Students from CSU’s Department of Construction Management took the overall winner’s crown at the Oct. 17 Homecoming Parade.
It's the 10th year in a row that a Construction Management team has gotten a first place in the competition.
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The CSU Chinese Club got first place in the "Novelty" category among CSU floats.[/caption]
The Construction Management team took first among CSU floats, with Team Skyline coming in second and Team Laurel landing third.
In the “Novelty” category among CSU floats, the CSU Chinese Club got first place, the Alumni Association took second, and the CSU Rodeo Team was third.
In the overall “Community” class, the Harmony Gardens float got top honors, The Studio came in second, and The Egg & I took third.
In the “Community Novelty” category, first place went to Gallegos Sanitation, The Cheer & Dance Connection landed second place, and the Silver Grill Café got third.
Together with the Fort Collins Lincoln Center, the CSU Department of Music, Theatre & Dance presents the internationally acclaimed Orchid Ensemble with the CSU Concert Choir, the third installment in the new Classical Convergence Music Series, on Wednesday, Oct. 29 at 7:30 p.m. in Organ Recital Hall at the University Center for the Arts at 1400 Remington Street. This new series features traditional classical solo artists and chamber ensembles, as well as explores the new projects and concepts continually branching out of the genre.
Tickets are $10 for students and $20 for the public. Tickets are available at the Lincoln Center box office at 417 West Magnolia Street, by phone at (970) 221-6730, or online. Tickets may also be purchased at the door at the University Center for the Arts (UCA). The ticket office in the UCA lobby opens 90 minutes prior to any UCA performance and through intermission.
Blends musical instruments, Chinese traditions
Building on the classical concert programs of both organizations, the co-produced Classical Convergence Series features seven world-class performers and ensembles – performing at the University Center for the Arts and the Lincoln Center – including Grammy award-winning violinist Joshua Bell, as well as pianist Jeremy Denk, Mother Falcon, the Borromeo String Quartet, Orchid Ensemble, Classical Jam, and the Mendelssohn Trio.
“The series allows us to thoroughly examine the intersection of world-class performers and our community, creating intimate experiences that allow for real interaction with these artists,” said Jack Rogers, general manager for the Lincoln Center.
The Juno nominated and Independent Music Award winning Orchid Ensemble blends ancient musical instruments and traditions from China and beyond, creating a beautiful new sound that is both creative and distinct. The ensemble has embraced a variety of musical styles to its repertoire, ranging from the traditional and contemporary music of China, world music, new music, to creative improvisation.
Comprised of members Lan Tung, erhu and vocal; Geling Jiang, zheng (Chinese zither); and Jonathan Bernard, marimba and percussion, Orchid Ensemble regularly collaborates with musician from a wide variety of world cultures.
For this performance, Orchid Ensemble joins forces with the CSU Concert Choir for three pieces: In the Very Highest Place, which uses traditional Chinese musical characteristics and text, a Hebrew text from the Song of Solomon which blends traditional Jewish and Asian musical styles into a fascinating blended style, and Ghost Mind utilizing avant-garde choral techniques.
“These pieces are really unlike anything that our students have ever performed before,” said Ryan Olsen, conductor of the CSU Concert Choir. “The biggest challenges in preparing this concert have been learning the very modern compositional techniques, both for the choir and their interaction with the instrumentalists, and also trying to coordinate the choral parts with these Asian instruments that we don’t have at CSU.”
The energetic yet endearing performance style of Orchid Ensemble consistently intrigues and delights its audiences, consistently receiving standing ovations.
“This will truly be one of the most unique concerts that CSU performs this year,” said Olsen.
'One of the brightest blossoms' in world music
Acclaimed as ‘One of the brightest blossoms on the world music scene’ (Georgia Straight), the Orchid Ensemble has been tirelessly developing an innovative musical genre based on the cultural exchange between Western and Asian musicians. The Orchid Ensemble regularly collaborates with musicians from a wide variety of world cultures and actively commissions new works by Canadian and US composers for its unique instrumentation. Read more.
About the Classical Convergence Series:
Fall 2014 marks the beginning of a partnership between the Colorado State University Dept. of Music, Theatre and Dance and the Fort Collins Lincoln Center with the launch of the Classical Convergence Concert Series. The series features traditional classical solo artists and chamber ensembles, while further exploring the full spectrum of the classical music genre. Read more.
2014-15 season
Orchid Ensemble with the CSU Concert Choir
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29, University Center for the Arts
Mendelssohn Trio
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2, University Center for the Arts
Jeremy Denk, Piano
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan., 20, 2015, University Center for the Arts
Joshua Bell, Violin
7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 12, 2015, Lincoln Center
Classical Jam
7:30 p.m. Saturday April 4, 2015, University Center for the Arts
Borromeo String Quartet
7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 18, 2015, University Center for the Arts
The University Center for the Arts provides an enriched venue in which the study and practice of Art, Dance, Music, and Theatre are nurtured and sustained by building the skills and knowledge needed by future generations of arts professionals to become contributors to the essential vitality of our culture and society.