Noted surgeon, alumnus to speak at CSU
Alumnus will discuss his experience as a surgeon and the future of medicine at free lecture.
Category: "Uncategorized"
A fond farewell: Ann Gill announces retirement
Dean of the College of Liberal Arts will step down next July.
In memory: Ann Marie Beruff
Ann Marie (Vitto) Beruff of Centennial, died at home on August 16, after a lengthy illness. She was four days shy of her 72nd birthday. Ann was born August 20, 1943, in Washington, D.C. to Anthony and Celeste (Mastromarino) Vitto. 
She attended Coolidge High School in Washington, D.C., and was graduated from Walter Johnson High School in Rockville, MD, in 1962. She worked at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD. She lived in Tysons Corner, VA, Fort Collins, and Centennial. She worked for the Defense Mapping Agency, and then for Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, in the Dean's office. She retired from Rocky Mountain Health Plans.
Ann was always encouraging to her friends and family, and always taking time to cheer others on. She was an avid fan of the Rockies and Broncos. Ann was also a cat lover. She leaves behind her beautiful cat, Sunshine. Ann enjoyed staying connected to friends and family on Facebook, and especially loved the closeness she had with her daughter, Lisa, and grandson, Brennen.
Ann is survived by her daughter Lisa Armstrong and grandson Brennen Jon Armstrong, both living in Centennial; her brothers, Anthony Vitto, MD, PhD (Terri Ann) of Richmond, MA; Nicholas Frank Vitto (Dale Ann) of Lancaster, PA; and a paternal aunt, Mary Theresa (Vitto) Anastasi of Silver Spring, MD. She is survived by numerous cousins/nieces/nephews/grandnieces and grandnephews. Ann was preceded in death by her parents and her sister Catherine Antoinette (Vitto) Lindemer.
Ann requested no funeral or memorial services. Condolences can be sent to Lisa Armstrong, 7303 S. Xenia Circle, #A, Centennial, CO, 80112. Donations can be made to the American Lung Association for COPD research.
CSU student ambassador visits Todos Santos
Student submission: Joanie Ellis, 2015 At the end of spring semester, I wasn’t exactly sure what my summer plans would include, but I knew I needed to brush up on my Spanish speaking skills and experience a new culture, new people, and a different way of living. Todos Santos, Mexico presented the perfect opportunity and more than fulfilled these needs! I fell in love with everything the small Baja California Sur town had to offer. Even better, I was able to experience life in Todos Santos as a Colorado State University student. As a CSU ambassador for five weeks, I learned not only from the great CSU Todos Santos team, but I also learned a tremendous amount from the local community. As conversations occurred between myself and the local people of Todos Santos, I was able to help explain CSU’s presence in Todos Santos. Aside from informing individuals of CSU’s presence in Mexico, I also had the opportunity to learn from a number of community engagement meetings. Whether it was a youth dance group, a meeting of school directors, a group of Americans, or an environmentally interested group, each gathering was productive in sharing more about CSU, and learning about what the community members wanted from CSU, whether it be workshops (dance, future preparation, veterinarian, environment) or involved in helping improve the community (trash/recycle). It’s easy for me to talk for hours about the amazing community of Todos Santos, and in the following I have only described a few highlights from my five weeks in the community. Continuing to learn from the community as a student ambassador, I had the wonderful chance to assist in the Todos Santos Recycling Center, “Punto Verde,” which is run entirely by two brothers. People can bring their recyclables to the center, and the brothers break each piece down, separate it, and eventually transport recyclable materials to La Paz, the capital city of Baja California Sur, Mexico. Recyclables included cooking oil, glass, plastics, metals, paper products, or any electronics, and involved hard work that needed to be done on a daily basis given the quality. Whether it was going to the center and doing the hard work with them, or helping put together presentations to present to the local schools about recycling, being a part of the recycling process and learning more about the challenges and opportunities that exists was motivating and inspiring to continue to be an environmentally conscious person. In addition to helping out in “Punto Verde,” I also assisted in The Palapa Society of Todos Santos, which exists to encourage education and safe activities (to name only one of the amazing things that The Palapa Society does). From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, a group of 20-30 children, ages seven to ten, came for summer camp. We played games, learned about recycling, conducted science experiments, made art, tie dyed shirts, and much more. Developing a relationship with each kid also made the goodbye hard, but I know I will forever have friends at The Palapa Society. Also associated with The Palapa Society, we went to the beach on Tuesdays and Thursdays to teach the kids water safety in the ocean, as a lot of these kids who live in Todos Santos don’t know how to swim. The activities with the Palapa Society were a great highlight in sharing CSU with the kids and their families, and I’m glad I was able to represent CSU in an encouraging way for participants of The Palapa Society. These past five weeks were incredible, and for me to be able to represent CSU was likewise a special experience. I also hope that I was able to make as much of an impact on the individuals I met in Todos Santos as each of them made on me. It was an experience that I will never forget, and I will always cherish the relationships that I developed and what I learned. My biggest take-away is to respect other cultures as you would want your own to be respected. CSU stepped into the small town of Todos Santos, and along this journey for both the American and Mexican cultures, the two have worked hard to learn from each other – that’s what “neighbors” do. I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to go to Todos Santos, Mexico for five weeks as a CSU student ambassador. My love and passion for CSU has grown, as along with my love for another culture. For each of these aspects of my life, I can proudly say that perhaps they have been the most influential parts of my life as learning opportunities. Our CSU partnership with Todos Santos is important to both communities, and will only continue to evolve. I cannot wait to see what the future holds for this perfect place.
Pros and cons: a.m. or p.m. workouts?
As we are adjusting to a fall school routine, our exercise routine must also change. But, a new schedule can bring new struggles: do I exercise before class, will I have enough time between class, work, meetings etc., or should I wait until the end of the day before or after my journey home?
Q&A with Colorado Futures Center at Colorado State University
Take an in-depth look at the latest study from the Colorado Futures Center at Colorado State University with a question and answer session with the study researchers, Charles Brown, Director, and Dr. Phyllis Resnick, Lead Economist at the Colorado Futures Center at CSU. Read more about the study, published by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, a nonpartisan think tank.
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Phyllis Resnick, Lead Economist of the Colorado Futures Center at CSU[/caption]
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Charles Brown, Director of the Colorado Futures Center at Colorado State University[/caption]
Q: Why did you do this study?
A: Our previous work on fiscal sustainability suggested that certain provisions of TABOR were distorting the distribution of school property tax burdens. We did this follow on research, supported by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, to further study those distributional effects.
Q: Did you find that provisions in TABOR are in fact causing distortions to school property taxes?
A: Yes. We found that property taxes for schools have become more unequal and regressive since the passage of TABOR. Additionally we found that Coloradans in 74 school districts (approximately 81% of the state’s population) are paying higher school property taxes because of the distortions caused by two of TABOR’s property tax provisions.
Q: How is it possible that TABOR could result in 81% of Coloradans paying more in school property tax?
A: The issue is one of distribution. To come to this conclusion we assumed that the amount of state aid going to school districts remained constant. Then we examined how that state aid would be redistributed differently if TABOR’s property tax provisions (particularly the property tax revenue and mill levy limits) had not significantly and permanently driven down mill levies in certain districts.
It turns out that many of the districts most significantly affected by TABOR’s property tax revenue limit also, over time, received increasing amounts of state general fund support for their schools. If TABOR had not driven down the mill levies in those districts, more state aid would be available for the remaining districts, thus allowing them to have lower school property taxes. In total, this applies to 74 of the state’s school districts (containing 81% of the state’s population) which face property tax rates that are higher than they would be if TABOR’s provisions had not driven down rates in select districts elsewhere in the state.
Q: Does this report mean that you think TABOR should be repealed?
A: No. TABOR has many different limits that apply to the state, local governments, and school districts. Our report focuses on the combined impact of two of TABOR’s limits on school district property taxes. We believe these limits should be changed in order to address the distortions in property taxes for schools. In this research, we did not study any of the other limits contained in TABOR and thus are not saying all of TABOR in its entirety should be repealed.
Q: Did your study look at school funding from all sources, including fees and federal aid?
A: No. We primarily looked at the property tax levies and the state aid used to pay for school funding under the state’s school finance act. These two sources comprise the vast majority of operating funds for schools and are the funding sources subject to the distortionary forces we were studying.
Q: Does your study examine the impact of school finance property tax limits on the growing burdens on the state General Fund and State Education Fund?
A: No. This study examined only on the distribution of school district property taxes; total funding levels and the implications of the growth of state aid for schools were not the focus. However, in our on-going research into state fiscal sustainability, we do study the impact of changes in school property taxes on the state budget.
Q: Isn’t it true that without TABOR, much more state aid would have been spent on schools?
A: Not generally. During our 25 year study period, TABOR limited state spending only 5 times -- for each of the fiscal years from 1996-97 through 2000-01. During the other 20 years of the study period, state General Fund and State Education Fund revenue growth were limited by the availability of state revenue. Weak revenue growth or revenue declines resulting from the two recessions occurring during the early and late years of the last decade had a far greater impact on limiting state funding for schools than did TABOR.
Q: So then what was TABOR’s effect on overall school funding during your study period?
A: More than anything else, TABOR served to distort the distribution of school district property tax burdens statewide.
Q: Does TABOR mean something different in each district?
A: No and yes. First, the provisions of TABOR apply uniformly to all districts, so in a sense TABOR means the same thing to every district. On the other hand, each district embodies a unique set of circumstances regarding their tax base changes, enrollment fluctuations, local economic dynamics, and the manner in which they have received voter approval to “de-Bruce.” So, while TABOR means the same thing to all districts, it affects them very differently.
CSU among top five in Sierra magazine’s Coolest Schools green ranking
Culminating a series of recognitions for sustainability, Colorado State University climbed to No. 4 in Sierra magazine’s Cool Schools ranking.
Media Tip Sheet: CSU experts available to discuss Animas River mine spill
CSU experts are available to discuss a variety of topics related to the mine waste spill that has impacted the Animas River in southwestern Colorado.
Life is beautiful in New York City for Marie Claire intern
Apparel and merchandising major, Lauren Fudale, is interning in New York City with fashion magazine Marie Claire.
Updated Aug 14: Utility work impacts Pitkin Street
Updated August 14 Traffic on Pitkin will continued to be reduced to one late between Center Avenue and Mason Street until August 21. On Friday, August 21, the section between East Drive and Mason will open to traffic both ways. On Thursday, August 27, the remaining section between Center Avenue and East Drive will also open. Updated 2 p.m. Aug. 7 On Monday, Aug. 10, traffic flaggers will on Pitkin Street be between East Drive and Mason Street while traffic is reduced to one lane for utility work. Work is expected to be completed in this area by Tuesday, Aug. 25 and also will impact pedestrian and bike routes. Additional periodic traffic disruptions are anticipated between the Newton statute on Center Avenue and East Drive into the fall. Flaggers will be in this area through mid-November for periodic lane closures. Two-way traffic will be allowed with the flaggers during daytime hours, and both lanes are anticipated to be open during evenings and weekends. Updated 3 p.m. Aug. 3 Pitkin traffic will be reduced to one lane from Aug 6-15 directly north of the stadium construction site, and south of Newsom and Aylesworth Halls. Flaggers will be on site to manage traffic. Both lanes will be open during evening and weekend hours. (original post July 24) Pitkin between Meridian to Visual Arts Building Traffic flaggers will be on Pitkin Street from Meridian Avenue east to the Visual Arts Building starting Monday, July 27 through Friday, August 7 to accommodate utility work. Both east and west traffic will be allowed to pass, but expect delays and detours. Eastbound traffic will move through the work zone, and westbound traffic will be rerouted through the Braiden parking lot to South Drive. Pitkin between Center Ave to East Drive On the east side of campus,Pitkin Street will be impacted by utility work between the Newton statue on Center Avenue to East Drive, starting July 29. Initial disruptions will be to the sidewalk on the north side of Pitkin Street, but starting in late August also will impact traffic lanes. At that time, traffic flaggers will assist with traffic flow through mid-November.