Africans United to Host 7th Annual African Night

CSU students, staff, faculty and the Fort Collins community will be treated to the taste and culture of Africa on April 1 when Africans United hosts the 7^th Annual African Night.

At this year’s event themed, The Journey through the Motherland, guests will be entertained to dances from African countries such as Liberia, Uganda and Ghana, as well as a fashion show and food from the different countries.

President of Africans United and junior social work student, Tigist Lijetewa, said the event would provide a platform for people to expose themselves to various African tradition and culture.

“This will be a great learning experience, and also people will be guaranteed to have fun attending an entertaining show,” Lijetewa said. “I think the CSU campus and the CSU community will become aware of Africa from a positive perspective and not what they are used to hearing about Africa on the media.”

The event will help Africans United, an organization created in 2003, reach out to the African community on campus.

“African United aims to unite African students on the CSU campus as well as in the community and to educate about the diverse cultures of Africa through dances, programming and cultural events,” Lijetewa said. “You don't have to be an African to be part of Africans United.”

Junior anthropology student, Jasmine Young, has been a member of Africans United for three years. Young said Africans United gave her the opportunity to have a passion for new experiences and people.

“Being an African American in an African based group allowed me to learn more about others through friendships, program facilitations and more,” Young said. “I have a greater passion for people, and I can say AU has helped me see that.”

Young said she was thrilled about the prospect of attending another African Night.

“I am excited for African Night because AU is always ready to let its audience experience new and amazing things like culture, food, music, and art,” she said. “AU always puts on great programs, and I expect nothing less from African Night.”

Due to lack of funding from student government last year, Africans United had to charge guests to attend the event for the first time in five years.

“I think it was unfortunate that we had to charge last year, but despite that, the event went very well,” said Gabrielle Ohaya, a junior communications studies student and former president of Africans United. “Now that it is back to being free, I expect that there will be a large turnout.”

The event, which is free, is open to the entire public and will take place at the Lory Student Theater from 5-9 p.m.

How to Be a Recessionista

Spring is here and summer is just around the corner. Along with new seasons come new clothes for many. However, there are ways to introduce new trends without breaking a sweat or breaking the bank.

“Set an overall budget,” says Brad Ulrich, a finance graduate student. “Make sure to pay immediate bills, then set aside a percentage for you to play with each month. But remember, when that money is gone the spending stops until next month.”

Another important trick that keeps bills where they belong is to ask yourself questions. Just make sure to be honest and don’t cheat.

“We need to ask ourselves what happens if I buy these amazing pair of boots, what do I have to forgo” says senior fashion and merchandise apparel major, Shannon Marks. “At this age, we all need to budget, so we have to realize that there needs to be a trade-off somewhere.”

Marks says she became consumed with staying on trend and purchasing items that were out of her budget. She says she didn’t have things in perspective and needed a different mindset.

“It was so easy to justify expensive purchases because my major revolves around fashion. Girls in this major typically dress to impress,” she says. “I started to go into debt and one of the things I started doing was asking myself if I truly need it. I do it with everything, not just clothes and it’s really helped me.”

Of course, there are always good, old-fashioned sales to help keep bills low.

“March is the best time to go shopping,” says Hollister employee Mimi Swiatkowski. “Stores put winter clothes on clearance and spring and summer stuff on sale to encourage buying before the season actually gets under way. You can stock up on all seasons for cheap!”

She recommends checking out whether a store has an email list to sign up for because oftentimes a store will send unique coupons to only those customers on their email lists.

Another simple way to spruce up an old wardrobe is by incorporating new accessories or updating seasons-old pieces with fresh elements.


“It’s so easy to be on trend without spending a fortune,” says Kate Hannah, owner of Fort Collins clothing boutique Tula. “The newest trends for spring are bright colors, chunky accessories, and gladiator sandals. It’s so simple to update your style with these you already own.”

Hannah suggests layering and stacking jewelry to be on trend this season. She also says to consider making or updating pieces with fabrics and stones from Hobby Lobby.

“The best way to be trendy on a budget is to make your own,” explains Hannah. “For example, if you want to try incorporating bohemian elements look for tarnished metals and earthy beads and glue them on to plain flip-flops or sandals using fabric glue.”

Of course these tips are easier said than done, but with practice and a little creativity, being on trend this season is cheaper than ever before.

MMJ dispensaries ordered to match state regulations

MMJ issue not over yet

JTC 320

By Courtney Riley

Regulations on medical marijuana dispensaries in the city of Fort Collins will now conform more closely with the requirements of the state of Colorado because of the passing of the second reading of three ordinances by city council last Tuesday.

Infinite Wellness, an MMJ dispensary located at 1740 S. College Ave.,

displays the variety of marijuana it offers in a display case.

Ginny Sawyer, the neighborhood administrator, presented the ordinances and intended changes to the council and residents of Fort Collins.

Ordinance No. 018, 2011 proposed that all medical marijuana dispensaries in Fort Collins should be grandfathered, which passed 5-2 with council members Lisa Poppaw and Wade Troxell being the only two to vote against it.

Ordinance No. 019, 2011 called for conforming licensing to state law and removing redundant language from the city’s regulations. It also proposed a revision to eliminate the restriction on growing medical marijuana by individual patients in a duplex or multi-family dwelling unit, which was included in the first hearing of the ordinance.

In addition, it called for removing the 8 ounce limit on buying and receiving medical marijuana, while maintaining the 8 ounce. limit on selling it.

The regulation also passed 5-2 with Poppaw and Troxell opposing it.

Ordinance No. 020, 2011 proposed amendments to the land use code to define MMJ dispensaries and the zones in which they would be allowed, which passed unanimously.

Mayor Doug Hutchinson said he toured four dispensaries to better educate himself on the issue before making his decisions on the regulations.

“Seeing this was an enlightening experience because there are some stereotypical ideas about (MMJ dispensaries) that I didn’t really see,” he said. “I think Fort Collins has done a good job diligently trying to make sure that these businesses are not a problem in the community.”

Council member Ben Manvel agreed with Hutchinson.

“I think a lot of people in Fort Collins would learn a lot if they could see these operations,” he said. “In the back of my mind I was thinking, ‘this is not a person in a back alley selling me a baggie, these are business people.’ They like their business and they want to stay in business.”

Matt Ryan, the owner of Infinite Wellness, said he’s willing to follow the rules and do whatever it takes to have a legitimate, fair business.

“We’re not pot stores with the marijuana leaves, and the rainbows and the hippies, but a business to benefit others who have medical needs,” he said. “We think it’s best for the community.”

Damien Farris, a resident of Fort Collins and employee of Top Shelf Colorado, said before the ordinances were passed, MMJ dispensaries in Fort Collins were forced to go to other cities, such as Boulder, to buy more marijuana because of the 8 ounce limit on purchasing.

“Being able to work with our business alliances will allow us to work within our city without having to drive an hour or two to other cities that may not have Colorado’s best interest at heart,” he said.

Scoot Crandall, the executive director of Team Fort Collins opposed the ordinances. He referenced an e-mail from Dr. Tom Crowley, a professor at the University of Colorado Denver and the director of the division of substance dependence at the university, saying that medical marijuana may have medical uses, but it also has adverse effects. He suggested that it should just be distributed through pharmacies.

“Medical marijuana would finally be medical,” he said.

But council member Aislinn Kottwitz said the passing of the ordinances was not a discussion of the harm or benefits of medical marijuana. If residents of Fort Collins want to ban medical marijuana, she said, they can start an initiative.

“This is not condoning the use of marijuana medically or illegally,” she said. “It’s legal in the state of Colorado, and it’s our job to make sure it’s available to those who legally meet the requirements.”

She also emphasized that the use of medical marijuana is not a simple issue, and the passing of the three ordinances are not the end of the issue.

Manvel agreed, saying this is an ongoing process that will likely change within a year.

“There are so many other things that can happen with medical marijuana,” Kottwitz said. “It’s a catch-22.”

Shifting gears into the future

By Jason Pohl

As gas prices rise and the weather warms, you may hear the phrase “on your left” mixed with a power-drill-like buzz the next time you are passed on one of Fort Collins' local trails.

Though not yet legal, steps are being taken among city leaders and advocates to change city ordinances to allow motorized, electric bicycles on Fort Collins' pedestrian trails and bike paths.

Currently, any motorized vehicle is prohibited on trails in town. If the ordinance is changed, certain electric-powered vehicles and bicycles would be allowed, but there is still a lot of work to be done.

“This is really the beginning stage, but it seems to be picking up momentum,” Fort Collins Director of Park Planning Craig Foreman said.

The 25-year Parks Service worker said that the process has been in the works for years, and it is currently in the ending months of the initial “outreach stage” where comments and concerns from numerous agencies and boards around the city are being heard.

Supporters of the measure include Josh Kerson, owner of RunAbout Cycles, a local “e-bike” store. According to minutes from the Board of Parks and Recreation, Kerson has repeatedly pressed for changes to the ordinances and has said that these bikes are being used by the elderly for “social recreation.”

In a letter to the Board of Parks and Recreation, Kerson said that over 50 electric bikes are already in use in Fort Collins. “These help our country reduce its dependence on foreign oil, reduce our carbon footprint and enable people to resume their old exercising habits again.”

Many say that the elderly have special requirements that often go unnoticed including difficulty breathing and weaker musculature. Kerson says these bikes will allow this group of citizens back on the trails with a little help from a motor.

With this technology gaining momentum, board members expressed concern that it would be too loud and that people would travel too fast and reckless on bikes that can travel up to 20 mph with little effort.

However, supporters including Kerson say that the main group is the traditionally careful elderly population, and motors can be made to be slightly louder than a hand-held drill.

One of the hand-built bikes from RunAbout Cycles

The interest in this has yet to impact college-age populations, it seems. When surveyed, many trail-users had no knowledge of the measures being considered and seemed indifferent to the idea of new vehicles on the trails

“I've seen them around campus, and they don't really seem like a big deal as long as people follow common-sense rules,” 21-year-old sociology student Menna Kubisiak said.

Pablo Bidwell, a 20-year-old computer science major, agreed for the most part. However, he was wary of how the city would limit and enforce the different technologies on the market.

“Electric bikes sound fine, but then what about gas-electric mixes or different power sources? What about size limits? Whatever they decide, they need to think about these little things.”

When asked why the process has taken such a long time and what the next step would be, Foreman said, “You have to take into account the various interests of different groups. Fort Collins has a history of taking the necessary precautions before changing things, and we like to take pride in what we actually accomplish.”

An outreach program will be held Saturday, March 26 at City Park from 10 a.m. to noon. Numerous board members and interested people will be in attendance including Kerson, e-bike users and local politicians.

This is the largest e-bike event in Fort Collins yet, and everyone is encouraged to attend.

For more information, visit www.fcgov.com/bicycling.

Check it out for yourself

When? Saturday, March 26 Where? City Park What? E-bike demonstration and information Who? Everyday citizens and city leaders Why? Raise awareness about the e-bike transition