The Center's Academic program is Thriving in 2007

By Roni Ires

The Center of the American West is touching the lives of students at the University of Colorado through our Hoffmon Scholars program, our certificate program, our off-campus internships, the Thompson Awards, and more. Spring 2007 has been an especially thriving time for the Western Studies academic program. With almost too much going on to mention, here are a few highlights.

With support from the Hoffman Scholars' program, four students have been able to travel to conferences with members of the Center staff:

• March 2-3, 2007 - "The Colorado River Compact in the 21st Century: Time for Change?" Stegner Center's 12th Annual Symposium at the University of Utah, attended by students Audrey Powell and Dylan Eiler with Patty Limerick and Elaine Tucci.
• March 7-9, 2007 - 16th Annual Rocky Mountain Land Use Institute Land Use Conference at the College of Law, University of Denver, attended by student Jeff Maslow with research associate Tim Brown.
• April 5, 2007 - "How the "Real West" Became - and Stayed - the Rural West: Literature, Open Spaces, and the Eclipse of the City," Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, Seminar on Environmental and Agricultural History, attended by student Josh Reznick with Patty Limerick.
• April 24-26, 2007 - Bureau of Land Management Public Affairs conference, Santa Fe, New Mexico, attended by student Jeff Maslow with Patty Limerick.

Two students are completing independent studies on noteworthy topics:

• Mary Peacock on Native American uses of plants and land, under the faculty sponsorship of Professor Andy Cowell of Linguistics.
• Jeff Maslow on our Secretaries of the Interior project under the faculty sponsorship of research associate Tim Brown.

Patty hosted two student/faculty dinners at her home this semester. On February 1, the anniversary of Jeff Limerick's passing, architects Rick Petersen and Cameron Kruger shared their thoughts on an appropriate and authentic architecture for the Rocky Mountain West. They showed slides featuring buildings and sites to illustrate their often humorous points. We had a remarkable turnout despite the raging blizzard that threatened to thwart our plans.

On April 11, third generation president of Rockmount Ranch Wear, Steven Weil, shared some history on his family business and spoke on Rockmount's role in developing a unique clothing line that is both practical and expressive of cowboy culture and Western identity. You might say that Steve is an architect of clothing, putting much thought into the materials, structure, and design of Rockmount's garments, and adapting traditional forms for modern-day use and aesthetics.

We are gearing up for our second year of student internships and will soon be interviewing student applicants for the Fall 2007 semester positions. Colorado Conservation Trust, The Nature Conservancy, The Bureau of Reclamation / U.S. Dept. of Interior, Colorado Preservation, Inc., Walter Echo-Hawk, Jr., National Conference of State Legislatures, and EPA Region 8 have all posted jobs through our program this year.

Finally, we commend and congratulate our four graduating certificate students: Matthew LaConti, Mary Peacock, Audrey Powell, and Abigale Stangl. Each has connected with the Center in a unique and profound way, and they share some of their thoughts with us below. We will miss them, but look forward to hearing of their adventures and achievements as they move on to new phases of learning and action.

Mary Peacock:

Having a double major in two strictly science-only fields I had grown accustomed to a lack of personal relationships with professors and a study of research conducted in the past. When I enrolled in the Center of the American West, however, my sense of place at CU completely changed. I found myself in classes that were small enough for professors to not only have the opportunity to learn my name but also wanted to. The Center has provided an environment where I can learn about and meet people who are influential in issues today throughout the West instead of only reading about them in new-edition textbooks.

Audrey Powell:

From growing up in the American West I have learned that the area holds many myths, endless landscapes, incredible history, and an array of viewpoints. The Center of the American West has played a huge role in developing my thoughts of the West and applying them to my major, environmental studies. I have been exposed to many views, ideas, and Western issues through guest speakers, Center of the American West dinners, research, and events. I feel privileged to work with so many great students and especially faculty members. The Center has been the core of my university experience.

Jeff Maslow:

I cannot think of a better capstone to my undergraduate education at CU than my involvement with the certificate program at the Center of the American West. The Center presented me with countless opportunities. As soon as I enrolled in the certificate program the next thing I knew I was sitting at the same breakfast table as Secretaries of the Interior James Watt and Stewart Udall during their historic meeting. I met some of the most prominent figures in the West and engaged in my own independent exploration of Western issues. Just a few of the many memorable experiences made possible by the Center of the American West. I now have a more profound appreciation for the West and the many ways in which it connects all of us.

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