Western's Newsroom

At Western State Colorado University, Master in Environmental Management (MEM) student Ryan Walker and associate professor Dr. Jonathan Coop have partnered with collaborators at the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service to study strategies for sustaining these forests. One question they have been examining is how some types of fire–including prescribed fire and naturally-occurring, low-severity fires–might protect forests from extreme, high-severity fires.

There were 14 teams in the final competition, and the trio competed against the likes of CSU, University of Colorado Boulder, CU Denver, the University of Wyoming and the University of Denver. The teams included both undergraduate and graduate students.

Thorpe is famous for her work with creative nonfiction, which has been regarded as "masterful" by The Denver Post. At her upcoming appearance at Western, she is slated to discuss her new release, "The Newcomers," which details the lives of 22 teenagers in a beginner-level English class at South Denver High School. We spoke with Helen about her new release and her upcoming appearance here at Western.

Prior to your time as a published author, you were quite a successful journalist. How has your time in journalism shaped your writing today?

The week before Presidents Day weekend was a busy one. Working with the LEAD office, the BSA managed to kick-start its celebrations of Black History Month with a few high-turnout and fun events, starting with Soul Food night and trivia on Feb. 12.  

“We fed everyone, and now we’re educating and inspiring people,” said BSA President Alicia Herbert, talking about the Black History Month’s tie ins with the diversity awareness and educational programs on campus. 

Buell Foundation Executive Director Susan Steele notified the university last month, according to Western Vice President of Finance and Administration Julie Baca, who forecast that design could be launched as soon as late April.

The library originally opened in 1939. None other than Denver-based architect Temple Hoyne Buell–after whom the Buell Foundation is named–designed it in the Spanish Colonial Revival style. In 1951, the library was dedicated in honor of trustee member Leslie Savage to recognize his work at Western.

The event is free and open to the public.

“American Climber” is a memoir loaded with epic climbing stories and adventures—much of which take place during Mehall’s time at Western and in the Gunnison Valley. It contains two underlying themes: a compelling narrative of the author’s tumultuous journey to climbing, which ultimately saved his life, and a detailed look at the American dirtbag climbing culture. This new version includes a complete full color photo spread.

“Students are eager to volunteer in their communities and become better stewards of the environment,” said Matt Harris, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Participating in Tree Campus USA sets a fine example for other colleges and universities, while helping to create a healthier planet for us all.”

Tree Campus USA, an Arbor Day Foundation program, is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. The Tree Campus USA program honors colleges and universities for effective campus forest management and for engaging staff and students in conservation goals.

On Monday, April 9 at 7:30 p.m. in the University Center Theater, Nicole Esquibel will host a showing of her documentary “Neva Romero: Jamas Olividados,” which explores the deaths of six Chicano Rights activists in 1974 Boulder.

The film focuses on a 21-year-old University of Colorado student who, along with two other activists, was killed in a car bomb at the Colorado Chautauqua. Three other activists were killed 48 hours later in another car bomb. No one was ever convicted.

This three-night series billed as “Wildlife 101: Management in the Gunnison Basin”–free and open to the public–is slated for three consecutive Thursday evenings: Feb. 15, Feb. 22 and March 1. Each talk will be held on Western’s campus at the ICELab off Escalante Drive from 6:30-8 p.m. The series is designed to explore the science behind wildlife management, including topics such as: the role hunting plays in conservation, population ecology, habitat management, and the challenges and opportunities in the Gunnison Basin.

This includes but is not limited to operations from marketing, student recruitment, faculty hires, programming, curriculum, institutional culture and services.

Salsbury also asked the DEII Committee to work alongside each of the strategic planning committees to ensure the groups integrate attainable, actionable, relevant, specific and temporally appropriate goals in their respective sections of Western’s next Strategic Plan.

The DEII Committee is also charged with developing and tracking metrics and benchmarks to qualify progress. 

Beginning with the 2018-19 academic year, five new classes focused on topics such as information security, cryptography, network security, hacking and malware will be available to students.

Western modeled its new Information Security emphasis after a renowned program at the University of Maryland, positioning Western to be a leader in this area of study within the State of Colorado.

Organized by senior-level students, the Crab Feed serves as a final project for ESS Event Management students and a volunteer opportunity for student athletes.

Nearly 30 athletes volunteered to act as wait staff for the event, representing Western’s football, swimming and women’s soccer divisions.

“A lot of people will be there, a lot of people who pour into this program and pour into athletics as a whole," said Zach Manchester, a sophomore Business Management student. “It’d be great to serve them.”