The Buffs Win in Three Against the Cincinnati Bearcats
November 10, 2024 (via/CUIndependent)
Sports at the University of Colorado were at a high this week after both the football and volleyball teams walked off with wins. At the CU Events Center, the women's volleyball team swept the University of Cincinnati Bearcats on Saturday, November 10. After losing to the University of Utah on Wednesday, the Buffs broke their losing streak by defeating the team from Ohio. Ana Burilovic played strong from the start, reaching 14 kills and nine digs. Lily Dwinell also contributed with 10 kills by the end of the game. The CU Buffs were on and controlled the game throughout.
“I'm really happy. I think we regained our confidence,” said Ana Burilovic, “We were all really hungry for winning.”
Starting with their normal six on the court, Colorado began the game with high energy and intensity. They played evenly matched until the Buffs took the lead and won the first set 25-20. This energy continued through the second set where they capitalized on their defense and offense. Serving was on point as they exploited the Bearcats' gaps and kept them out of rotation.
“We were able to get them out of system a lot and just really target their passers and we took it and ran with it, that helped a lot to finish the game,” said Lily Dwinell, a sophomore outside attacker, who ended the game with 10 kills.
Libero Sarah Morton connected well with setter Taylor Simpson, as they consistently assisted their front-row attackers. The black and gold triumphed in set two, finishing at 25-18. In the third set, a series of aces gave momentum to the Buffs as they closed out the set. The Bearcats came back, but a four-point run from the Buffs sealed the game at 25-21.
Overall, this was a strong performance and well-deserved win for the University of Colorado women's volleyball team. This week, the Buffs head to Ames, Iowa, to take on the Iowa State Cardinals on Wednesday, November 13.
The Buffs Week At The Net: BYU and West Virginia
October 26, 2024 (via/CUIndependent)
The University of Colorado Boulder’s women’s volleyball team is now more than halfway through the season. After this week's performance, their record stands at 10-11, following a three-game losing streak. The Buffs faced a challenging lineup, playing West Virginia on Wednesday and BYU, currently ranked 21st in the nation, on Friday. The top attackers of the week were Lily Dwinell, Ana Burilović, and Cayla Payne, each averaging 11 kills per game. Senior setter Taylor Simpson from California was a key asset, recording 30 assists against West Virginia and 37 against BYU. In the back row, libero Sarah Morton maintained her composure against BYU’s tall attackers but had to exit the first set against West Virginia after taking a hard shot to her neck. Emilea Stepaniuk replaced her for the remainder of that match.
October 23: West Virginia
Wearing pink for their Breast Cancer Awareness game against West Virginia, the Buffs brought high energy to warm-ups that carried over into the start of the match. The young team stayed competitive for the first 20 plays but fell behind after a run by the Mountaineers. Stepaniuk entered early to replace Morton after her injury. The Buffs lost the first set 25-20. In the second set, the Buffs held the lead throughout, gaining momentum with strong swings from Dwinell, Payne, and Burilović. However, after a service error at 24-21, West Virginia fought back to win the set 25-23. In the third set, both teams rallied back and forth, but the Mountaineers found more gaps in the Buffs' defense, winning the set 25-17. The Buffs continued to battle in the fourth set but ultimately fell, losing 25-17.
October 25: Brigham Young University
Starting at 7 p.m., the Buffs challenged the BYU Cougars. The game featured hustle plays and pressure points, but the Buffs ultimately lost to the team from Utah. After losing the first set 25-13, the Buffs fought hard in the second set. Freshman Maria Splawska from Poland made her debut, helping the team adjust against BYU’s aggressive style. The Buffs improved but lost the set 25-19.
In the third and fourth sets, the Buffs showed their strongest play of the match. They addressed previous mistakes, finding gaps in BYU’s blocks and targeting the Cougars with strong serves.
“We played some new kids tonight trying to get out of the hole we were in for the first two sets where we hit negative,” said head coach Jesse Mahoney. “For the most part, I thought that was a success.”
In the third set, the Buffs dug themselves out of a hole and applied pressure on the Cougars. Dwinell’s powerful swings helped secure the third set with an attack from Splawska. The Buffs stayed close with BYU in the fourth set, forcing both teams into timeouts. Despite a hard-fought effort, the Buffs lost 25-23.
“We are still making some mistakes we need to clean up if we want to win matches like that, but the last two sets were a step in the right direction,” said Mahoney.
A Farmers Market Story
May 5, 2024
Assorted micro-greens from Simply Fresh Micro-greens.
As the sun slowly started to rise across the Flat Irons, vendors started to set up their products and tents as the shadows lengthened across 13th Street. Everything from pots of basil and pepper plants, to packed baskets full of freshly baked bread waited as people started to file in. Walking down the row, the scent of aromatized herbs combined with local food vendors engulfed the noses of the patrons walking within the market. In between the information desk and the mushroom farmers, lay the booth of Colorado local Ibrihim. This passionate farmer travels from Longmont on Saturdays and Wednesdays to present their nutrient packed, micro-greens to the Boulder Farmers Market. Across the way from them is MASA Seed Foundation where they provide everything from flower seeds to full blown tomato plants. The Boulder Farmers Market is a core place for not just the people of the area, but the farmers and providers that live to supply the market with fresh, sustainable, and delicious products.
Being established over 40 years ago, the Boulder Farmers Markets is a hub for all. A selective choice of foods ranging from Brazilian chocolates, assortments of onions, fruits, to jam and honeys. Frankie Ryder is the Marketing director of the Farmers Market which covers the Boulder and Longmont locations. She says the farmers' market consistently stays on Saturdays and Wednesdays as it gives the locals, and the farmers the time needed to prepare. One of the main reasons farmers markets make such a significant impact is due to the connectivity of the farmers and the locals.
“The role that farmers markets play in local agriculture is really connecting the growers, who are doing incredible work in their community, to the customers who already have an interest in buying those products,” said Ryder
Local couple picking out succulents at a vendor.
There are over 100 hundred vendors that take part in the Farmers Market. They are separated by produce farms and plants, milk, dairy, and eggs, food and drink vendors, and finally, packaged goods. Ryder explained how there is a strict process when deciding the vendors each year.
“We have a matrix that people get rated on. It's really quite an involved process,” said Ryder.
A certain list of requirements must be met to take part in the market. The non-profit only accepts those 100% locally grown in Colorado. A certain level of sustainability must also be met, again, following the idea of local, ethical farming. To ensure these, their team visits each farm to verify what the farmer is practicing is true.
For Ibrahim Ayad, getting involved was a long, yet satisfying journey. He started growing microgreens for his family in one tray under a table. Adding it to their family meals to add more nutrients. His neighbor soon found out what he was doing and Ayad started growing for him. He then started to join in a six-acre community garden where his greens became extremely popular. Moving to Colorado challenged his growing as the climate was contrasted, however he learned to grow inside. This allowed him to grow year-round. He started Simply Fresh Microgreens, which is now involved in four farmers markets in the Boulder-Longmont area. His microgreens are not only nutrient dense, but also provide patrons with a sustainably grown product.
“We conserve almost 95% of the water that we use,” said Ayad.
Top: Farmers Market food court filled with local eateries. Bottom: Ibrahim Ayad trimming an assortment of micro-greens for a customer.
By using coconut shells which retain water usage to plant the seeds in, using trays instead of large plots of land for growing, and no preservatives or animal byproducts, microgreens are a step in the right direction. They are essentially the seeds of regular vegetables such as broccoli or beets but trimmed 75 days before forming the actual plant. This densely grown plant has 40% more nutrients than its comparative counterpart.
“So yes, it is a little bit expensive. But it's really good and healthy, because it's pure organic,” said Ayad.
Overall, it's important to support farmers markets to continue the cycle of dependency it has created. The farmers depend on the patrons to buy, and the patrons depend on the farmers to sell. This creates a relationship that brings up the importance of supporting these markets and local agriculture.
“I think I would definitely ask the people to support the local producers,” said Ayud, “This is not only beneficial to them to have, like we said, local fresh foods, but it's also helping the local economy for them as well.”
Locally grown flowers and seeds
A Vietnam Story: War, Retreat, and Refugee
October 12, 2024
South Vietnamese Gen. Nguyen Ngoc Loan, chief of the national police, fires his pistol into the head of suspected Viet Cong ocer Nguyen Van Lem, AP Photo/Eddie Adams
In the early 1900’s, a series of events occurred to later grow into what we call today, the Vietnam War. The war between a country and when the rest of the world got involved, results were devastating. Beginning with the division of the North and South, the Vietnam War grew into one of the most memorable wars in history.
After World War II ended in 1945, there were a number of remaining overthrown areas, including in Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh was leader of the Viet Minh, a Chinese and Soviet communism league for the Independence of Vietnam. Essentially, he was the ruler of thenorthern territories of Vietnam. He was an aggressive and relentless leader who brought his blend of communism and tried to unify them all.
In the south, Emperor Bao Dai was influencing his ideas of connecting with western regions and incorporating economic and leadership values. He was originally backed by France after the war, and later the United States of America as well in 1954. Dai was pushed aside by Ngo Dinh Dien who brought in the U.S ally. A few years later, fights and intercity conflicts started between the two regions which strengthened enemies. Due to these inner-city conflicts, Diem forces started to arrest any pro-north supporters. More than 10,000 were arrested, tortured, or forcefully executed.
Tensions continued to rise in 1964. John F. Kennedy has been assassinated in the United States of America and Lyndon B. Johnson has taken over control. Following the attack of two U.S Destroyer ships, the Gulf Of Tonkin Act had been created, granting him access to war plans and decision making. This resulted in over 2 million bombs dropped throughout 1964-1973 in the Northern Vietnamese and Laos territories. It prevented any movement by what was called Pathet Laos, or Laos communists.
It is now 1967, stamina and hope is low on both sides, U.S-S. Vietnam and Northern Vietnam. There are around 500,000 U.S troops and over 15,000 men were killed. The war was taking hits on both sides, but fought onwards with operation Tet Offensive. Around 100 cities and towns were impatiently attacked in Southern Vietnam by the Northern Hanoi leadership. Named after the Lunar New Year, Tet Offensive resulted in the end of bombings in the North and there was finally a switch in the war mindset.
“In our village today, a big battle was fought. Old ladies and children, were sent straight to hell, our eyes filled with tears, while we watch and ask God: Why is the enemy so cruel?”
Vietnamese Song, Cited in: Facing My LaiIt was finally time for the start of peace and end of violence. The American public was divided and riots were breaking out everywhere. In 1968, A last major massacre resulted in the breaking point in America and Vietnam both. A small town named My Lai was attacked by U.S troops and 400 unarmed and innocent civilians were slaughtered. This was one of the worst and major war crimes that occurred during the war. It created uproar in the American states and continued to push the war over the limit.
Cambodia was invaded merely after this event in 1970. The operation led to deep attacks in cambodia. Heavy use of Guerilla forces were used as they took over communistists. The Khmer Rouge, ruled by Pol Pot, fought against the South as they continued to enter Cambodia. At this time, the United States was slowly pulling their troops and because of this, the Khmer Rouge gained control leading to more conflicts later on.
Following the back and forth invasions and failed attempts, the war reached a breakthrough. In 1972, Hanoi proposed a peace treaty however this was actually rejected by Saigon. And the last major series of bombings occurred in Hanoi and Haiphong. Finally, in 1973, everything started slowing down. The peace treaties were finally created which ended open hostilities between the two sides, yet conflicts were still stirring until 1975. On April 30, the DRV, or Northern Vietnam, captured Saigon and renamed it Ho Chi Minh City after their leader who had passed away in 1969.
Women and children crouch in a muddy canal as they take cover from intense Viet Cong fire at Bao Trai, 1976 - AP Photo/Horst Faas
The war was finally over but not with the outcome the South and U.S had hoped and dedicated their lives to. What was left was terror, death, and people fleeing. The Vietnam War resulted in a destroyed, seperated, and now dispersed country. Vietnam was torn up. Over 2 million dead, the country is now faced with the aftermath of a dangerous and major war.
After two decades of war and violence, Vietnam and its surrounding countries were left disheveled. Laos and Cambodia included and even smaller civil wars had broken out. Innocent citizens and soldiers are fleeing the concentration camps where they withstood countless amounts of torture and berating. Towns such as My Lai were going to have centuries of scars that were going to take years to heal. Lives were recovering, and it wasn't going to happen overnight.
There was a series of implementations from the North public officials once they had replaced all of the original officials in Ho Chi Minh City. Formerly called Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City was Vietnam’s new largest city that was forcefully endorsing the North’s political views and practices. The newly unified country was not done with violence yet, re-education camps were brought in. These camps were more described as more prisons, rather than camps. Torture, starvation, and punishment where failed discipline were all common in these camps. With holding estimated numbers from 500,000 to 1 million, some prisoners were held for upwards of 12 years. Some were lucky enough to survive, or escape, however a portion of prisoners died in these camps due to over labor, starvation, and disease.
Throughout the war, there were concentration camps set throughout the entirety. One of the largest and more well known was called the Hỏa Lò Prison, or informally known as “Hanoi Hilton”. This concentration camp was located in Hanoi and its conditions were sufferable. Prison guards were relentless to the American prisoners of war. Some were held in other places such as South Vietnam by Viet Cong guerilla guards, or even Cambodia or Laos where they were completely isolated and harshly tortured. But, in 1973, the Paris Peace Accords ended U.S involvement in the war and around a number of POWs were released. Around 591 American prisoners were able to return home.
As for the Vietnamese citizens, most of them were forced to escape and flee during and after the war. The most common were known as the boat people. This was because of the tightly packed fishing boats entire families traveled on. There were around 2 million refugees. The majority were boat people. They fled to the coast of Hong Kong and from there made their way onwards to places like the United States of America or other countries in Asia. Such as Thailand, Philippines, or even Guam. The refugees were faced head on with the dangers of the open oceans, along with diseases, pirate attacks, and starvation. Those who made it were able to re-settle and start a new life and most commonly became American citizens. Those who were not, unfortunately perished in the depths of the sea.
The Vietnam war was a detrimental war with the outcome that shocked the world. The people of SouthEast Asia remember this war for eternity as they still suffer from the everlasting wounds that came with the war. As history moves on, Americans and the Vietnamese remember what happened during that war, and its mistakes that potentially caused the loss to the North.
From Plowing to Chowing
March 7, 2024
Harvesting Crops, saltboulder.com
The newly grown harvest is ready to be picked and collected. As the restaurant started to prepare for its fresh delivery of products, they were suddenly filled with alarm when receiving pressing news. The grounds were covered in snow and lined with frost, which meant that the season for tomatoes was going to be cut short. This leaves restaurant owners with the decision to stay true to their values or go to large factory imports to fill the missing products.
“You try and pivot as best you can and see what they have,” said Jordan McMahan, “A lot of times, farmers will have something similar and if they do, obviously, we want to go that route.”
Jordan McMahan is a passionate chef, restaurant entrepreneur, and current assistant manager of SALT. Credited for its farm-to-table practices, SALT is a well-known restaurant here in Boulder, Colorado. It is one of many establishments that has made a name for itself while still following the principles of what eco-friendly services are. McMahan explained that although availability is one of the most challenging aspects, staying true and building communities around what it means to be sustainable is one of their main goals.
While being a seasonal ingredient-based restaurant, McMahan and the staff continue to uphold their practices by keeping the menu frequently updated. This ensures that the restaurant stays up to date with the local farmers' crops, adjusting accordingly.
SALT Front, saltboulder.com
Although locally sourced products result in a menu that is constantly changing, SALT can come up with intricate and changing menus that keep customers involved. The owner and chef, Brad Heap, is passionate about giving back to the community through his food. He takes part in events such as the Boulder Film Festival’s CineCHEF and is working on a new regenerative farming film that will be displayed in the coming months.
With Heaps knowledge and passion, he creates an environment that focuses on being sustainably friendly, modern, and community incorporated.
“Our owners are really big on leaving the world a better world for his kids,” said McMahan, “And that's kind of where a lot of his passion comes from.”
Farm-to-table practices allow restaurants to stray away from big corporations like Sysco or PepsiCo. One of the largest reasons for being locally sourced is simply the quality. Not only are products sprayed with harmful toxins such as malathion or glyphosate but are kept for longer than the typical human may know.
“It’s something like the average apple has been sitting on a shelf for over a year,” said McMahan.
The food's quality affects the flavor of the dish, but also the health benefits and the carbon footprint. Being a locally sourced restaurant means you are helping the local economies. By supporting these farmers, these places can grow their business and their own. SALT and other local restaurants work with farms in the Boulder area to help reduce their carbon footprint and create these vibrant restaurants.
One of the largest reasons for being eco-friendly is its carbon footprint. Climate change is a continuing issue in the food and agriculture industry. According to the National Library of Medicine, industrial farming companies use copious amounts of fossil fuels, water, and land in unsustainable ways. By supporting local sustainable farms, owners like Heap know exactly the process being used on their products. McMahan said that there are tight relationships between the farmers and restaurant owners. Trusting your supply is crucial when it comes to farm-to-table as it is the foundation of their meals. Local farmer, Christian Toohey is the owner of Toohey and Sons Organic. Located in Boulder County, they provide fresh grown seasonal products ranging from spring lettuce mixes to pumpkins in the cooler months of October and November.
Toohey and Sons Farmer’s Market, tooheyandsons.com
Another way Toohey continues to give back and supports the community as a local supplier, is the Farmer’s Market. Farmer’s Markets host vendors from all around the local area to sell their produce and crops. Any local business or farmer can take part and that is another way they make a large amount of their commission. These markets are held from the months of April to November. During these periods is where chefs like Heap also obtain their produce. McMahan said that Heap is known to walk down to the farmers market during the day to pick up ingredients they might need. Having short distances between the restaurant and the source reduces their carbon footprints.
Boulder is a hub for active, food, and health enthusiasts. There are multiple sustainable food destinations and more keep developing. Local students are able to utilize Boulder’s resources like Giovi Suarez. A Boulder native, Suarez often visited the farmers market when she was younger. Suarez said that it was a recurring weekend activity her family would do.
“It was always so convenient,” Suarez said, “We were always picking out fresh fruits and vegetables.”
She continues to go throughout her college experience, explaining how it is a nice Saturday activity her and friends enjoy.
Sustainable farming and food practices allow the people of Boulder to stay connected throughout the community. Intertwining long-term goals of climate change, health, accessibility, and a zero-waste ecosystem help increase the funding and practice of these movements. Restaurant owners such as Brad Heap and Jordan McMahan continue to show their passion and interest in the health of the world through food and connectivity. The modern food systems continue to innovate new ways that overall, are saving the earth
The Snowboarder’s Race Against the Sun
Sunday, December 17, 2023
Red Bull Content Pool, Sam Anderson, Red Bull Heavy Metal, 2022
Inspired by his older brother to start when he was only five, Sam Anderson never stopped. He has been a sponsored snowboarder since he was eight years old and is now a pro at age 25. Growing up in Madison, Wisconsin, he never had any big terrain. He started to ride within the streets of the city. A professional street rider was never the intention, however, he has made a name for himself and has watched the industry change, including the snowfall around him.
“I saw a noticeable change when I first started riding street in Madison of having about four months of steady snow,” said Anderson, “the last couple years we'll be lucky to have a month of snow in the city.”
Climate change is becoming a threat to the snowboarding community. While resorts profit from these athletes and amateurs, the climate crisis remains. Snowboard companies are working to figure out how to create a more sustainable system for snowboarding. Whether it’s using recycled materials, packaging, or working with organizations to create change, trying to preserve the snow is a collective goal.
As temperatures have been rising, the snowpack has been decreasing. According to the EPA, the average temperature for the U.S. has increased to 3°C and there has been a 23% decrease in snowpack across 94% of the western side of the United States. Whether in the mountains or small towns in Wisconsin, the snow is decreasing. Anderson says that the future of snowboarding is very unpredictable due to the uncertainty of climate change.
National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Annual Temperatures 1995-2022, December 2023
Sophie Gilk switched from skiing to snowboarding due to ACL tears and has now been riding for over 10 years. She has been working in the REI snowboarding department for over six years. She gets an inside look at how the climate crisis is incorporated into the technology. Gilk says figuring out how to use recyclable materials or making boards more recyclable would be a step forward.
“When you use a lot of adhesives, it makes it really hard to recycle,” said Gilk.
Another brand that works at being eco-friendly is Burton. Burton has been one of the largest snowboarding brands in the world since 1977. Everett Wesp, former rider for the U.S. Revolution Tour and current Burton employee, has been working in the snowboarding industry his whole life. He explains how Burton uses recyclable materials within their products and distribution to stay environmentally friendly.
“Burton is definitely doing as much as they can because obviously, we're all snowboarders. We want to keep the snow,” said Wesp.
There are several ways to stay sustainable on the mountain. A lot of sustainable uses are within the manufacturing and distribution process, said Wesp. Many brands are focusing on how to be more green, like Anderson’s sponsor, Never Summer. Their audience is the U.S. so they save a lot of emissions by not distributing internationally. They also reduce the amount of base materials they put in the products by taking excess substances and incorporating them into different boards.
Red Bull Content Pool, Travis Rice in Valdez, Alaska 2023
“It is kind of somewhat of an oxymoron because ski resorts definitely aren't zero emission,” said Anderson, “they require a lot of energy to blow snow and as the winters get worse, they just have to blow more snow which in turn is a larger environmental footprint.”
The amount of greenhouse gasses going into the atmosphere from resorts and transportation is an issue alone. The National Ski Area Association has been tracking ski and snowboard participation since the 1978-1979 season. In 1980, there were around 40 million while the 2022-2023 season consisted of 64.7 million visits making it the busiest winter season ever. However, 75% of emissions burned from resorts in 2022-2023 were propane and diesel.
“I think snowboarders as a whole and everybody in the snowboard community is kind of on that same level where it's like, yo this is an issue that we really need to address,” said Wesp.
Ross Taylor
Ross Taylor
December 10, 2023
Growing up, Ross Taylor found himself with his dad, and his dad was always developing film. They both spent hours in the darkroom together. So naturally, this is where his love for photography started.
“I learned that you can actually do it for a career. And I thought, gosh, that sounds amazing. And then I did one internship and I was hooked.”
Whether it’s through words, images, or visuals, journalism is the art of telling stories. Journalism’s crucial as it speaks for those who cannot speak for themselves. It brings light to topics that have been ignored or forgotten. Before switching to teaching, Taylor devoted his time to documentary journalism. He shared parts of peoples lives that are touching to viewers. As an individual, he affects many others simply through his generosity and kindness. He has empathy and compassion all around him, not just within his work.
He started as a local photographer for The Chapel Hill News while attending the University of South Carolina. He studied journalism and photography. He then climbed his way up to winning awards such as the photojournalist of the year from NPPA and even a Pulitzer Prize nomination for his work in Afghanistan. Taylor found that he can express stories through visuals better than words. Taylor said it took almost eight years for him to land his first position, and wasn't given many opportunities.
“But boy, when I got them [opportunities],” said Taylor.
Colleague and friend, Angie Chuang, was able to watch his work process on his short film, Mango House which was released in 2021. During a time where COVID-19 was still uncertain, refugees in Denver still had essential jobs, exposing themselves to the virus. Taylor was following an immigrant doctor who offered affordable aid to them. Even though Taylor was putting himself at risk for COVID-19, he gained important information and visuals for his story.
“Had he left that out, the story really would have been missing something,” said Chuang on Taylor’s ambition to feature shots of the sick refugees.
Taylor has now created bodies of work that capture raw and true emotions. He has covered everything from a trauma hospital in Afghanistan filled with horrifying war injuries to a recent project called the Hardest Days, which covered owners' last moments with their pets.
The Hardest Days (left), Role 3 Combat Hospital in Afghanistan (right)
Taylor is not only recognized for his compelling work, but has been described as one of the most genuine individuals some have met. Another friend and colleague, Eli Imadali, looks up to Taylor as a mentor. Imadali says that he’s always down to help and lifting people around him up. After taking a workshop with him, Imadali found himself moving to Colorado and now teaching all due to Taylor.
“He’s just a person that makes the industry better,” said Imadali
He cares for students and those around him daily. He even took extra classes with Chuang on how to be a better professor when previously winning many teaching awards. Always striving to be the best at his job, Taylor is a positive influence on CU Boulder and everything surrounding. Although he’s not in the field as much as he was, his main goal now is to help others reach their full potential by using all the knowledge and experience he now has.
“He really doesn't need to help me, he just always goes out of his way to,” said Imadali, “It just exemplifies what kind of a person he is.”