Last fall鈥檚 D铆a de los Muertos 鈥淎ltar Crawl鈥� invited the 黑料社区网 community to engage with several altars honoring the lives of deceased loved ones. Altars were located across campus, including in the Guggenheim Building, the Koenig Alumni Center, the CU Museum of Natural History, the Center for Community and the Miramontes Baca Education Building. The crawl 鈥� hosted by the Forever Buffs Latinx group, the BUENO Center, the Latin American and Latinx Studies Center, UMAS y MECHA, Sigma Lambda Beta and the Center for Inclusion and Social Change, among others 鈥� highlighted the cultural significance of the day with moments of remembrance and celebration. 

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Photo courtesy Daniela Martinez Carpizo; Nelson R. Castro; Karla Rosete Nunez

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Glance at a photo of campus from the late 1800s, when only Old Main stood, and it may take a moment to orient yourself. Soon you鈥檒l spot familiar landmarks: the Flatirons rising to the west, Boulder Creek flowing to the north.

Far before the university鈥檚 earliest days, the natural landscape 鈥� and water, specifically 鈥� has played an important role across Colorado and the West.

More than wayfinding aids or scenic features, our rivers, reservoirs and rainclouds have defined the direction and pace of economic development, supported the agricultural needs of the nation and provided fertile ground for collaboration and conflict.

Today, water 鈥� or the absence of it 鈥� continues to be a defining factor for communities across the West. And now, 黑料社区网 faculty, staff and students are lending their expertise to help communities make smart, data-informed decisions about this precious and often imperiled natural resource.

In CU鈥檚 environmental journalism program, students and alumni are exploring how declining water supplies and climate change will impact our lives and livelihoods in the years to come.

Across engineering and the sciences, researchers are examining how water quality is impacted by oil and gas or mining operations, wildfires and other natural and human activities.

For 20 years, the within 黑料社区网鈥檚 Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) has partnered with researchers from multiple disciplines in Colorado, Wyoming and Utah to conduct innovative water research and make the findings more accessible to decision-makers across the region. The work directly aids communities seeking greater resilience in the face of climate change.

And for the last several years, instructors from CIRES also have through Coursera that allows students worldwide to examine scientific, legal and cultural issues around water using the Colorado River Basin as a case study. More than 3,000 people are currently enrolled.

Those are just a few examples of how members of the 黑料社区网 community are helping to address the West鈥檚 toughest questions related to water needs, bringing creativity, courage and commitment to bear as we seek to positively impact humanity.

In the face of climate change, these matters become more consequential. And it becomes even more essential that we bring diverse voices and perspectives into the conversation that have been neglected or ignored.

Too often, discussions on water in the West can leave us feeling concerned, distrustful or apprehensive.

But when I consider how 黑料社区网鈥檚 faculty, students and staff are becoming part of the solutions, I find myself once again with reason to hope 鈥� and that鈥檚 a river that will never run dry.

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Photos by Matthew Rossi/CIRES (right); Jeroen Geeraert/CIRES (top)

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CU Buffs often describe themselves as family, but in this case, two members of the 黑料社区网 Police Department (CUPD) sworn to serve and protect really are family.

Officer Cathy Chestnut and her son, Officer Matt Dillon, were sworn in together in October. Their shared passion for public service led them both to CUPD, where Chestnut was already serving as a police dispatcher when the pull to go back on the beat became too strong to ignore.

At the same time, Dillon was graduating from the police academy. His decision to become a police officer was influenced by his five years of service in the United States Marine Corps. Applying his service mindset closer to home meant mother and son鈥檚 paths converged.

鈥淚 am incredibly proud of Matt,鈥� said Chestnut. 鈥淚 am excited to be serving with him and looking forward to sharing my knowledge of the job to help him grow and learn.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 a privilege to be able to work here,鈥� said Dillon. 鈥淭he ability to serve this campus feels like protecting the future.鈥� 

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Photo by Matthew Jonas/Daily Camera

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A Love for Student Work 

Since June, D鈥橝ndra Mull has served as 黑料社区网鈥檚 vice chancellor for student affairs. In her role, she leads a division focused on student support and growth beyond the classroom. 鈥淓very day I get to wake up and love to do the work that I do,鈥� she said. 

How soon after waking up do you look at your phone? 

Immediately! 

App you wish you had the inner strength to delete?

Amazon!

Last person you called?

My best friend. 

Duration of longest call last week?

57 minutes. 

Location and description of last selfie?

Times Square, New York City 鈥� after a meeting with parents of our incredible Buffs. 

Does anyone else have your passcode?

Yes! My best friend. 

Oldest photo on your phone?

I had to look back a bit for this one. It is from Nov. 13, 2013. I was in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 

What is your lock screen or background image?

My lovely six-month-old daughter, Gigi. 

What do you use your phone for most?

Emails, texting and FaceTiming my daughter!

Three of your most used apps:

Snapchat

Safari

Baby+

Most-used emoji:

Laughing-crying emoji

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Photo courtesy D'Andra Mull

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On Sept. 26, during his annual State of the Campus address, Chancellor Philip DiStefano announced his retirement as chancellor of 黑料社区网. He has served in the role since May 2009. 

DiStefano will remain in the chancellor position until a national search for his replacement is complete, he said, and then he will return to the faculty in 黑料社区网鈥檚 School of Education, where he began his CU career as an assistant professor in 1974. 

鈥淚t has been such a rewarding and humbling experience to serve as chancellor of Colorado鈥檚 flagship university for the past 15 years,鈥� he told the crowd in the Glenn Miller Ballroom. 鈥淚 am so proud of our faculty, staff and students and all that you have accomplished, and I also will treasure the many alumni, donors, parents and friends of the university I was lucky enough to meet.鈥�

Beginning in fall 2024, DiStefano will serve as senior executive director at the Center for Leadership and continue his role as the Quigg and Virginia S. Newton Endowed Chair in Leadership.

In addition to his duties as chancellor, DiStefano 鈥� a first-generation college graduate 鈥� has served as an educator, dean and provost at the university, dedicating his career to making 黑料社区网 a nationally recognized research institution while also serving as a champion for democracy.

He intends to continue the work toward improving the university and helping students succeed, he said. 

鈥淲hen a Forever Buff asks themselves, 鈥楢m I better off for having attended 黑料社区网?鈥欌�� he concluded in his speech, 鈥渓et鈥檚 make sure they can automatically and unequivocally say 鈥榶es鈥欌�� not simply because of the dollars in their pocket, but because of the totality of their lives and the richness of the world around them.鈥�

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Eye Movements Reveal Decision-Making 

黑料社区网 research into 鈥渟accades,鈥� a rapid eye movement from one fixation point to another, has revealed that an individual鈥檚 decision-making can be revealed in their eyes. The eye movements are nearly completely involuntary and are faster than a blink, but 黑料社区网 scientists found that when given a choice between two options, subjects tended to move their eyes faster when they looked toward the option they wound up selecting 鈥� and the more vigorous the eye movement, the more they preferred their choice. The scientists believe that more studies into saccades 鈥� particularly when they are slowed 鈥� could help doctors screen patients for illnesses including Parkinson鈥檚 Disease or depression.  

Gardening Benefits Health

A first-of-its-kind 黑料社区网 study funded by the American Cancer Society found that mental and physical health could be improved by community gardening. Study participants who began gardening were likely to consume more fiber and exercise more often 鈥� two ways that can reduce cancer and chronic illness risk. They also reported diminished stress and anxiety levels, regardless of gardening expertise.  

鈥淚t鈥檚 not just about the fruits and vegetables,鈥� said study senior author and CU environmental studies professor Jill Litt. 鈥淚t鈥檚 also about being in a natural space outdoors together with others.鈥�

In Politics, Does Age Matter? 

Research out of 黑料社区网鈥檚 political science department found that age is not necessarily a factor when gaining support from voters. The study determined that voters seem to be just as willing to vote for older candidates for office as they are younger politicians. At the same time, young voters more often disapprove of the job that older politicians are doing. The reason may be that voters are more concerned with their political party winning a race than focusing on the candidates themselves, speculated lead study author and PhD candidate Damon Roberts (MPolSci鈥�21; PhD鈥�25). 

Heard Around Campus

鈥淟itigation can only go so far. The battle will be won or lost in the chambers of people鈥檚 hearts.鈥�

鈥� Naderev 鈥榊eb鈥� Sano, executive director of Greenpeace Southeast Asia, during the Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit, which took place at 黑料社区网 Dec. 2-4. About 4,300 people representing 99 countries registered to attend the summit 鈥� co-hosted by 黑料社区网 and United Nations Human Rights 鈥� in person or virtually. 

Digits: 黑料社区网 South

In November, City of Boulder voters upheld City Council鈥檚 2021 annexation of 黑料社区网 South, a 308-acre property on the south edge of town that CU purchased in 1996.

1,000s

Of hours city officials, 黑料社区网 and the community spent crafting the annexation agreement

2,300

Downstream residents who will be protected by a 36-acre flood protection project to be built at the site

119

Acres dedicated to become City of Boulder Open Space

1,100

Approximate number of housing units for faculty, staff and non-first-year students

5

Acres dedicated to permanently affordable housing for anyone in the community who qualifies

2026

Anticipated completion of flood protection project, which must be complete before 黑料社区网 begins developing the site

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黑料社区网 South illustration courtesy 黑料社区网

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Sonia DeLuca Fern谩ndez supports institutional change in DEI at 黑料社区网. While , she maintains a warm and humorous demeanor: 鈥淚 have the best boss [Chancellor DiStefano] and best colleagues in the world,鈥� she said. 鈥淎lso, I snack all day long and can be bribed.鈥�

How soon after waking up do you look at your phone? 

Seconds 鈥� there are alarms to futz with! Since I have a horrible sense of time, I need an alarm to go off at least every 30 minutes. Not to wake me up, but to help me keep track of time. And, because I go to bed so early (around 9 p.m.), there are usually texts I need to reply to first thing (around 4:15 a.m.).

App you wish you had the inner strength to delete? 

All of the random, one-off store and hotel apps. 

Last person you called?

My favorite young-adult-person: my nephew, Josh.

Duration of longest call last week? 

75 minutes with my best friend in St. Paul.

Location and description of last selfie? 

Denver. I got to have lunch with a friend who was in town from Pennsylvania. 

Does anyone else have your passcode? 

Hell nah.

Oldest photo on your phone? 

Dec. 9, 2015, of my cat, Dora. 

What is your lock screen or background image? 

The same weirdo, Dora. 

What do you use your phone for most? 

Podcasts and work. I鈥檓 listening to podcasts while in the car, on the treadmill and doing house chores. My favorites right now include Ear Hustle and Buried Bones. But I also take too many pictures of my cats, Dora and Diego.
 

Three most-used apps:

Outlook, Podcasts, Messages

Most-used emoji:

The hug emoji

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Andrew Cowell is a 黑料社区网 linguistics professor specializing in language documentation and linguistic anthropology. In 2003, he, along with faculty and students in the linguistics department, began documenting the Arapaho language to revitalize it for current and future members of the Arapaho nation. Cowell is also the director of the Center for Native American and Indigenous Studies (CNAIS), which, in partnership with the university and Indigenous community members, students, faculty and staff, helped develop a campus land acknowledgment that CU introduced in fall 2022.

Talk about 黑料社区网鈥檚 land acknowledgment. 

A good land acknowledgment does four things: It recognizes the current or former Indigenous inhabitants of an area. It recognizes that historically, the removal of Indigenous peoples from the land often involved severe injustices and that those historical injustices produce continuing inequities and harms in the present. And it commits to try to mitigate and address those continuing inequities and harms. 

黑料社区网鈥檚 acknowledgment is a historical and moral document. Also very important is the commitment by CU to consult with tribes and local Indigenous people. You can鈥檛 truly address and mitigate harms unless you engage seriously with the communities themselves and get their perspective on issues and potential solutions. The big question now is, what actual concrete commitments will the campus make to back up its pledges?

How can CU continue to make amends for its early history with Native American and Indigenous people?

One important thing that has already happened is the 2021 state legislature bill providing in-state tuition for students from any of 48 tribes historically associated with Colorado, which CNAIS helped pass. The idea is that Arapaho, Cheyenne or other people would likely still be here in Colorado if not for forced removal, so they should still be eligible for in-state tuition. That has already helped greatly increase Native American and Indigenous enrollment. 

As a state-funded institution, we have a broader responsibility to everyone in Colorado, and beyond, to address social issues and provide effective solutions. By reaching out to tribal communities, we can provide help with all kinds of things: language documentation and revitalization are one example, but there are so many areas for outreach and collaborative engagement with Native American and Indigenous communities.

What are some of the best aspects of having CNAIS affiliated with 黑料社区网? 

CNAIS is a teaching and research center where all students and faculty can engage. But we鈥檙e also a support center specifically for Native American and Indigenous students, staff and faculty. Since we have faculty and students from all over the campus, we connect interested folks with each other 鈥� engineers who might want to work on reservations, or tribes looking for expertise on climate change. In fact, it鈥檚 hard to imagine how CU could take on the moral commitments of the land acknowledgment without having a specific Native American and Indigenous-facing component like CNAIS on campus.

What sparked your interest in the Arapaho language? 

What started out as a personal interest turned into a career choice.

My wife is Native Hawaiian, and I had learned Hawaiian and really gotten a lot out of that, so when I was hired at CU, I figured I should learn about the Indigenous languages of Boulder. The Arapaho were the people historically most present around Boulder. I realized there wasn鈥檛 a lot of published information, so I went to the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming to meet some speakers who said they could use help documenting their language. What started out as a personal interest turned into a career choice. You never know where things are going to lead.

What鈥檚 important when documenting a language? 

Documentation is important for languages like Arapaho that are endangered, meaning there are no longer young or middle-aged fluent speakers. In such cases, documenting natural discourse 鈥� conversations, stories, songs, speeches and so forth 鈥� is key. If you want to try and revitalize a language, you need models to learn from 鈥� Native speakers engaged in everyday language activities and interaction. I鈥檝e recorded dozens of hours of that kind of thing, mostly on video, so you can also see things like gesture, Plains Sign Language signs, body positioning, the way people use eye contact or not as they interact 鈥� subtle features that go into actual communication.  

Are there other Native languages you hope to document and preserve? 

I鈥檝e written a grammar of the Aaniiih (or Gros Ventre) language of Montana, which will be published in the next year or so, and also done a bilingual anthology of legends and historical accounts in that language. I鈥檝e also written a grammar of the Coast Miwok language of California, which will be finished once I look at some archival materials from the 19th century. I also have created databases of the Southern Sierra Miwok language and the Central Sierra Miwok language of California. More recently, I鈥檝e been working with the Quechua language from Peru as well.

What do you do in your free time? 

I enjoy hiking, camping, snowshoeing, birdwatching 鈥� generally engaging with the natural world. I really enjoy knowing the plants, being able to identify birds and animals, and having a very detailed interaction with the environment. That helps me with the languages, too, when I鈥檓 working to document Native names for various plants or animals or Native ecological knowledge. 

What else should we know about you?

Honest cross-cultural engagement is hard work but very rewarding.鈥�

I鈥檓 a progressive, church-going United Methodist. One of the things I see at CU is a tendency for many students to view organized religion as being entirely conservative or entirely detrimental in relation to things like missionaries and Native people. That component is there, and many progressive religious groups are working to confront some of the highly problematic aspects of their past involvement with colonization or conquest 鈥� in a way similar to the Land Acknowledgment movement 鈥� and I鈥檝e been involved in that. But at the same time, many of the Native Americans I work with are themselves Christians 鈥� and often simultaneously practitioners of Indigenous religions. So I think we need to keep a nuanced understanding of the very complex role of 鈥渢he sacred鈥� and not be automatically dismissive of organized religion 鈥� or, conversely, engage in simplistic caricatures of Native spirituality. Honest cross-cultural engagement is hard work but very rewarding.

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Photos by Glenn Asakawa

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THEN 1908

In 1908, 黑料社区网 graduates braved a windy day to march to Chautauqua Auditorium for their commencement ceremony. They first paraded around campus, then took horse-drawn carriages to Chautauqua to complete the procession. That spring, 146 students graduated from the university.

The traditional Folsom Field commencement tradition began in 1949.

Photo by T.C. Black, Jr/Courtesy 黑料社区网 Heritage Center

NOW May 5, 2022

On May 5, 黑料社区网 was more than ready to host thousands of graduates at the first in-person commencement ceremony since 2019 - and Colorado's signature bluebird sky showed up too.

More than 9,000 degrees were conferred in the Thursday-morning ceremony.

Tom Castello (Jour'87), NBC News' Washington correspondent, delivered the commencement address.

"Never forget this moment, this place" he said. "The place that launched you. ...I never have!"

Photo by Patrick Campbell

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On 2019, opera singer Wei Wu (MMus鈥�13) won a Grammy for his role in the opera 鈥淭he (R )evolution of Steve Jobs.鈥� It was the same year jazz saxophonist Tia Fuller (MMus鈥�00) received a Grammy nomination for best jazz instrumental album, the second female solo artist to ever earn one in the category. 

Both are featured in the CU Heritage Center鈥檚 new exhibit, 鈥淐U Making a Difference,鈥� which honors the lives and accomplishments of a rotating cast of CU luminaries. Also on display are three of the five Nobel Prize medals awarded to CU faculty. 

The exhibit is located on the third floor of Old Main and is free to the public. 

In April, Kim Christiansen (Jour鈥�84), voice of the Denver International Airport鈥檚 famed train messages, visited the exhibit, which she is featured in. 

鈥淭he other alumni featured in the exhibit are extraordinary, brilliant and changing the world,鈥� said Christiansen, lead anchor for Denver鈥檚 9News. 鈥淲hen I see their names and faces, I鈥檓 incredibly proud to be a CU grad. It鈥檚 too bad I couldn鈥檛 add 鈥楪o Buffs鈥� as a tagline to my DIA train messages.鈥�

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Photos by Matt Tyrie 

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