Posts tagged citizens
Boulder County Sheriff Orders Fire Ban
0June 12, 2013
Today, June 12, 2013 at 12:00 p.m., Sheriff Joe Pelle will enact a fire ban for the central mountain corridor of Boulder County. The central mountain corridor includes all unincorporated areas between Highway 93, Broadway Avenue, and Highway 36 (North and South Foothills Highways and Broadway Avenue in the City of Boulder) and Highways 119, 72 (Coal Creek Canyon Drive and Peak to Peak Highway), 7 (South Saint Vrain) including Rabbit Mountain Open Space and west of Rabbit Mountain Open Space to Highway 36. (See attached map)
State statutes authorize counties to impose a fire ban “to a degree and in a manner that the Board of County Commissioners deems necessary to reduce the danger of wildfires within those portions of the unincorporated areas of the county where the danger of forest or grass fires is found to be high based on competent evidence.”
Areas where fires are banned are red
This fire ban allows for:
Indoor fires in fireplaces or stoves
Smoking indoors or within an enclosed vehicle
Campfires in improved and maintained public campgrounds that are currently open to the public, as long as the fuel for such fires are smaller than two feet in diameter by three feet in height.
Liquid or gas fuel stove use on private and public lands
Charcoal grill use on private and public land
Smoking outdoors in areas free of flammable material
It bans all other outdoor burning, slash fires, use of any kind of fireworks, model rockets, and all other outdoor spark or flame producing activities.
The fire ban does not affect open fires within incorporated cities and towns; however citizens must comply with applicable ordinances and regulations in their respective cities and towns.
The fire ban will be in effect until the Sheriff finds that the hazardous conditions have subsided.
Anyone found in violation of the fire ban may be convicted of a class 2 petty offense and may be subject to a $500 fine, in addition to any possible civil penalties. Higher fines may be imposed for subsequent offenses.
For current fire and shooting restrictions for United States Forest Service properties go to the following website:
http://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/arp/alerts-notices
For current fire restrictions in Eldorado Canyon State Park go to the following website: http://www.parks.state.co.us/Parks/eldoradocanyon/Pages/EldoradoCanyonHome.aspx
Sheriff’s Office press release
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CU business school endowed with $2.25 million chair to promote global enterprise
0April 3, 2013
Advancing global enterprise at the university level by a billionaire seems to make excellent sense.
A better understanding of the core drivers that help great leaders innovate — and avoid failure — is key to advancing global enterprise. The Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder is now better equipped to advance this understanding, thanks to a new $2.25 million gift from the Thomas Stix Guggenheim family to establish an endowed faculty chair aimed at educating new generations of entrepreneurs on the core drivers of successful business design and innovation.
This prestigious faculty post was made possible by Thomas Stix Guggenheim and his wife Pedie, of Cincinnati and Snowmass Village, Colo., and his four children, each of whom also attended CU-Boulder.
The new chair will enhance business education at the Leeds School by offering a broader exploration of the factors that allow some firms to succeed while others fail.
The chair also advances key Leeds priorities, as it will help aspiring innovators develop the critical thinking skills that result in creative solutions to diverse and complex challenges. “Our business experience has demonstrated there is as much, if not more, to learn from business failures as from successes,” Guggenheim said. “One main aspect of our endowed chair is to case-study this belief.”
David Ikenberry, dean of the Leeds School, said the creation of the Thomas Stix Guggenheim Family Endowed Chair in Business Design and Innovation is emblematic of the school’s mission. “We have embarked on an innovation agenda that will enable graduates to evolve in a rapidly changing business climate and ensure their ability to drive value,” he said. “We are fortunate and grateful for the family’s generous support as we pursue this great challenge.”
The concept of business design is an emerging area of business education — exploring the interaction of factors such as strategy, product or service design, and entrepreneurial leadership to solve complex problems and drive economic innovation and successful business creation.
With Leeds and CU’s long-standing reputation for entrepreneurship education along with Boulder’s identity as one of the nation’s most entrepreneurial and creative cities, the new chair is a logical fit for Colorado and its economy.
The Thomas Stix Guggenheim Family Endowed Chair in Business Design and Innovation is a tribute to the successful career and outstanding leadership of the chair’s namesake. After graduating from CU-Boulder in 1950 with a degree in marketing, Guggenheim went on to lead two successful hosiery (sock) businesses.
“It’s exciting to see CU-Boulder graduates giving back to the university in such an important way so future generations of students can succeed in their entrepreneurial endeavors,” said Chancellor Philip DiStefano.
A longtime donor to CU-Boulder, Guggenheim has supported the Center for Education on Social Responsibility, which integrates ethics education across the Leeds School curriculum to develop values-driven leaders, and a popular freshman-level course titled “Profiles in American Enterprise,” which invited top executives to discuss relevant business issues.
An endowed chair gift provides a reliable and perpetual stream of funding for a senior faculty position. It is a public indicator of a program’s prestige and it helps universities recruit and retain top talent.
A global search will launch immediately to identify a candidate to serve as the first Guggenheim Family Endowed Chair. The goal is to fill the tenured post, to be housed within the school’s Division of Management, for the start of the fall semester in 2014.
The gift is one of more than 275,000 gifts made to date during Creating Futures, a $1.5 billion fundraising campaign to enhance CU education, research, outreach and health programs benefiting citizens throughout Colorado and beyond. Visit http://www.cufund.org for more information.
-CU Press Release-
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Boulder County Sheriff’s Office announces huge cocaine bust
0January 23, 2013
The Boulder County Drug Task Force (BCDTF) and the Denver Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announce the conclusion of a significant investigation of a cocaine distribution organization operating in the Counties of Boulder, Weld, and Adams, and the City/County of Denver.
Today, 210 law enforcement personnel represented by the BCDTF, Denver Field Division of the DEA, Denver Division of the Internal Revenue Service, Boulder Police Department, Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, Louisville Police Department, Longmont Police Department, Adams County Sheriff’s Office, North Metro Task Force, and the Weld County Sheriff’s Office executed search warrants of eleven (11) residences (5 City of Boulder, 1 City of Louisville, 1 City of Longmont, 2 Unincorporated Weld County, 1 Unincorporated Adams County, and 1 City/County of Denver), and the pursuit of twenty (20) suspects based on Grand Jury Indictments and Arrest Affidavits detailing over 300 Felony counts of Possession of a Schedule ll Drug, Possession with Intent to Distribute a Schedule ll Drug, Conspiracy, and Possession of a Dangerous Weapon.
The seventeen-month investigation utilized various investigative techniques leading to the seizure of significant amount of cocaine. The accomplishment of the case is based on the partnerships of the BCDTF, DEA and the North Metro Task Force.
The efforts of this investigation will put a significant dent in the flow of cocaine into our local communities and hopefully make the communities safer.
DEA Special Agent Barbra Roach stated, “This investigation has cut off a pipeline from Mexico to Boulder that brought cocaine and weapons to our streets. Boulder and the surrounding communities are safer today due to the cooperative efforts of federal, state and local agencies”.
The Boulder County Drug Task Force is comprised of personnel of the Boulder Police Department, Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, 20th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, University of Colorado Police Department-Boulder Campus, and the cities of Erie, Lafayette and Louisville. The BCDTF encourages citizens to contact the BCDTF at 303.441.1690 if they wish to share information regarding the illegal sales and distribution of dangerous drugs in the communities we serve.
A supplemental media release will be electronically distributed at 4:00/pm today with the identification of the suspects taken into custody.
The names of those arrested:
Antonio Chaparro dob 6/18/78
Vicente Espinoza-Gonzales dob 7/18/66
Manuel Galindo-Lopez dob 3/29/77
Jorge Zavala-Ramirez dob 10/22/79
Juan Carlos Chaparro-Salcido dob 5/5/83
Claudio Omar Mallo dob 5/2/70
Jesus Garcia-Bueno dob 12/12/74
Miguel Angel Ruiz-Morales dob 4/18/91
Benito Beruman-Serate dob 4/5/72
Juanita Burciaga dob 12/12/74
Diego Arellano-Rodriguez dob 4/21/91
Craig Carl Dagostino dob 9/29/59
Cheryl Harvanek dob 11/12/56
Jose Alejandro Rivera-Segura dob 11/19/79
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Boulder county commissioners take oil and gas panel to task over water-testing
0January 7, 2013
Statement from Boulder County Commissioners on the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission’s new water testing rule
Boulder County – Earlier today, the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC ) adopted a new rule for groundwater testing that has been deemed one of the weakest in the nation by citizens and environmental advocates:
“The Boulder County Commissioners are extremely disappointed that the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission has decided against putting in place a science-based groundwater protection plan to ensure oil and gas development will not have a detrimental impact to the state’s groundwater resources.
This is especially true in the Greater Wattenberg Area, a large geographic area that includes parts of eastern Boulder County and is exempted wholesale from the statewide rule, making this significant expanse of land subject only to a cursory testing requirement despite having some of the most intensive drilling activity in the state.
This type of rulemaking at the state level is a prime example of why local governments should be able to respond directly to their citizens’ concerns and provide for their community’s request for more protection.”
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January 4, 2013
Two Boulder police officers put on administrative leave during personnel investigation
The Boulder Police Department is continuing its internal personnel investigation regarding the killing of an elk on the evening of January 1, 2013 in the area of Ninth and Mapleton. Although personnel investigations can take weeks to complete, the Boulder Police Department is taking some administrative action immediately.
Officers Sam Carter and Brent Curnow have been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the internal investigation.
Once the investigations are completed, the information is forwarded to the employee’s chain of command for review and recommendations to the Chief of Police. After this review, the report is reviewed by a panel made up of both citizens and sworn officers who also make recommendations to the Chief. The Chief of Police will make the final decision as to the disposition of the case and whether disciplinary measures may be appropriate.
The Boulder Police Department will not be making further statements while the investigations are pending.
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Boulder County fire ban rescinded
0December 18, 2012
Tomorrow, December 19, 2012, Sheriff Joe Pelle will rescind the current Fire Ban. The recent precipitation has reduced the fire danger threat by increasing the amount of moisture in the grasses and the other fuels.
Although this current moisture will make a difference lowering our wild fire severity and potential, our local grasses and light flashy fuels will dry out relatively quickly and pose the greatest threat to rapid fire spread. Caution is advised as folks resume using open flame fire for recreational purposes, agricultural maintenance and forest management. Please refrain from burning during windy conditions and have a readily available water supply.
On July 1, 2012, the Boulder County Commissioners passed Boulder County Ordinance 2012-02, developing a permitting system that will encompass public health, local fire protection districts, and Boulder County requirements in a “one stop” online application process. In addition, permits may be obtained by mail or picked up in person at many of the County’s public buildings. The Sheriff’s Office wants to remind citizens that prior to burning (broadcast burns or slash piles) they must obtain a permit. Agricultural burns and campfires are excluded from the permitting process.
To see current fire and shooting restrictions for United States Forest Service properties go to the following website and click on “Alert and Warnings”.
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Boulder Valley School District opens online forum
0October 10, 2012
by Ron Baird, news editor
in News
October 3, 2012
Boulder, CO – The Boulder Valley School District has launched BVSD Listens, a new comprehensive community engagement website developed by MindMixer. It’s a place parents can engage, communicate and collaborate with the superintendent and school board – along with other residents – on where they see the district heading.
The goal is communication – involvement. Parents and community members who sign up with BVSD Listens will be part of the planning process on issues like the school year calendar and the role schools can play in Boulder’s future as a city.
BVSD Listens allows contributors a chance to share new ideas, second others’ ideas, expand upon existing ideas, give feedback on initiatives, and work with school leaders on a variety of topics online anytime, anywhere. The Boulder Valley Board of Education, Superintendent Bruce Messinger, and other key administrators at BVSD will be tuned in to the site.
The discussion has begun with the following topics and will branch off from there based on contributor input:
- Which calendar guiding principles are most important to you?
- What is the best way for the district to communicate with you?
- What is your favorite thing about Boulder Valley Schools?
- How do you see the public schools and the students they produce contributing to your vision of our community’s future?
BVSD Listens also measures and tracks participation, identifying the most interested citizens and most compelling topics. The tools make it easy for administrations to communicate back with parents, and they deliver measurable results and invaluable insight as plans move forward.
Nick Bowden, CEO of MindMixer, says,“ Our tools go beyond just technology. Our mission is to build community contributors. Ideas, voices, and perspectives are shared to facilitate deeper and better conversations that yield actionable insights and a stronger community.”
As part of its service, MindMixer consults and collaborates with clients to identify issues that are critical to stakeholders in order to update topics and content for their websites.
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Seth Brigham goes out of control attacks witness over Boulder Restraining order
1August 9, 2012
Seth Brigham went out of control on Saturday morning when he attacked Jann Scott at the Boulder 1 Foundation in east Boulder across from the Daily Camera. Scott is the CEO of Channel 1 networks and Boulder Channel 1. Brigham has a restraining order protecting the city council and city staff from him.
Brigham is upset because Scott is a witness for the city in Brigham’s protective order case. Brigham has admitted to Boulder Channel 1 news that he has shown up at city council meeting drunk and under the influence of drugs on many occasions. He is also a mental patient. The combination of which is volatile. Brigham has called Boulder Channel 1 drunk and screaming many times over the past 10 years.
He has physically confronted Jann Scott on multiple occasions. Saturdays attack was the latest occurrence. Brigham was escorted from the building.
The city attorney Tom Carr who is prosecuting Brigham was informed and concerned that Brigham may have violated his restraining order by attacking the city’s witnesses connected with the case. The protective order strictly prohibits Brigham from contacting witnesses.
Boulder police department is investigating Brigham for criminal charges on his attack on Scott, interfering with a witness and other felony charges.
The permanent restraining order on Brigham will be heard next week. It will protect the city from Brigham, but he will still be free to attack citizens at will. Brigham interfered with media operations during the JonBennet Ramsey case in 1998. He has interrupted many city meetings, stalked Journalists and finally attacked Boulder channel 1 s Jann Scott. Brigham has also had run ins with landlords and neighbors over the years.
Brigham has written some columns for Boulder Channel 1, but they have had to be critically edited because of his extreme personal attacks on people. We have had to block his emails and phone calls. Brigham has proven himself to be a violent threat to staff at Boulder Channel 1.
Related: Story: Daily Camera
Related: TV show and Column by Jann Scott
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100,000 Coloradans support an initiative to overturn Citizens United ruling
0August 6, 2012
by Ron Baird, news editor
in News
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Coloradans are fed up with corruption and have chosen to fight back. Today, more than 100,000 signatures are being turned in to state officials from citizens who support a statewide ballot initiative. Initiative 82 calls for a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission and get corporate and wealthy donor money out of our elections.
Our elected officials are supposed to serve the voters, not the highest bidder. Since the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, which allows corporations to spend unlimited amounts of money to influence elections, Super PACs and other independent groups have spent huge amounts, in some cases outspending individual campaigns by a ratio of 2-to-1. Citizens United-enabled outside group spending, much of it secret, is devoted overwhelmingly to negative attack ads. The funds come from a very small cluster of people; a recent report found that just 47 people, each giving at least $1 million to Super PACs, accounted for more than 57 percent of the money raised by Super PACs during this current election cycle.
Along with millions around the country, the people of Colorado are courageously reclaiming their elections and making sure that democracy is for people, not for corporations. State legislatures have called for an amendment in California, Massachusetts, Hawaii, New Mexico, Vermont, Rhode Island and Maryland; more than 280 communities across the country have done the same. Public Citizen is proud to continue partnering with groups like Common Cause and U.S. PIRG, as well as the people of Colorado, as they push forward toward restoring our democracy.
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County fire ban rescinded
0August 1, 2012
Today August 1, 2012, at noon, Sheriff Joe Pelle will rescind the current Fire Ban. The current wet weather has moved us closer to seasonal precipitation patterns and wild land fuel moisture averages.
Although this current moisture will make a difference lowering our wild fire severity and potential, our local grasses and light flashy fuels will dry out relatively quickly and pose the greatest threat to rapid fire spread. Caution is advised as folks resume using open flame fire for recreational purposes, agricultural maintenance and forest management. Please refrain from burning during windy conditions and have a readily available water supply.
On July 1, 2012, the Boulder County Commissioners passed Boulder County Ordinance 2012-02, developing a permitting system that will encompass public health, local fire protection districts, and Boulder County requirements in a “one stop” online application process. In addition, permits may be obtained by mail or picked up in person at many of the County’s public buildings. The Sheriff’s Office wants to remind citizens that prior to burning (broadcast burns or slash piles) they must obtain a permit. Agricultural burns and campfires are excluded from the permitting process
To see current fire and shooting restrictions for United States Forest Service properties go to the following website and click on “Alert and Warnings”.
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City of Boulder to get tough on crosswalk violations—finally
0April 6, 2012
Police to step up crosswalk safety enforcement
Residents should be aware of three new laws
Beginning on Monday, April 9, 2012, the Boulder Police Department will be performing proactive enforcement at city crosswalks. As priorities allow, officers will target Boulder’s busiest intersections to make sure drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians are following three new rules that went into effect in February.
The three amendments to the Boulder Revised code are:
- “Stop at crosswalk required” [7-4-77] stipulates that when one vehicle stops to yield for a person in a crosswalk, another vehicle cannot overtake and pass that vehicle.
- “8 mph speed limit for bicycles in a crosswalk” [7-5-5] establishes a speed limit of 8 mph for bicyclists during the immediate approach, entry and traversal of any crosswalk that spans a roadway.
- ”Pedestrian obedience to traffic signal required” [7-5-15(f)] targets the use of flashing crosswalks (those with flashing yellow crosswalk signs) by requiring a person crossing to enter the crosswalk with the warning device activated.
The rules are intended to address some of the most frequent problems highlighted in “Safe Streets Boulder,” the city’s recent traffic study analyzing data from motor vehicle collisions involving bicyclists and pedestrians. The data compiled during a 40-month period indicated that overall, the city’s street safety record is good, considering the high number of pedestrian and bicycle trips in Boulder.
“Most people are using common sense and following the law, but there are still some problem areas in town. We’re stepping up enforcement to educate citizens about the new laws. Ultimately our goal is to save lives and prevent more accidents,” says Cmdr. Carey Weinheimer.
The report found that crosswalks at intersections are the most common location for collisions and identified 15 of the most accident-prone spots. Police will focus enforcement efforts at those locations. Four of the intersections are along Broadway, adjacent to the University of Colorado campus. The University of Colorado Police Department will also enforce the city’s pedestrian ordinances and focus on high traffic areas of campus.
Possible penalties for violating the new laws are listed below:
- Stop at Crosswalk Required [7-4-77]: possible $300 bond, $125 mail-in fine and 4 point violation
- Speeding bicycles in Crosswalks [7-5-5]: possible $100 mail-in fine and 0 points
- Pedestrian Obedience to Traffic Signals [7-5-15(f)]: possible $50 mail-in fine and 0 points
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Boulder police officers, citizens, to receive awards for bravery, service
0February 14, 2012
Boulder police officers, employees and community members to be recognized for outstanding service
On Wednesday, Feb. 15, the Boulder Police Department will present 23 awards to department employees and community members to recognize them for their contributions in making Boulder a safer place to live. The ceremony will be held at 1805 33rd St. and will begin at 3:30 p.m.
Twelve Boulder residents will receive Outstanding Citizenship Awards:
- Jared Kaszuba assisted a CU student from Nigeria who was being assaulted;
- Norman “Matt” Moore, Nick Tarnofsky, Tyler Adams and Joe Sondag tackled suspect Galen Bercaw as he tried to strangle a woman and steal her purse, and held him until police could arrive;
- “Erin” Kennedy gave police the tip that led to suspect Kevin McGregor, who was recently found guilty of First Degree Murder in the death of Todd Walker;
- Ben Gilbert, Drew Meyer and Jeff Medanich held down an armed, combative suspect who tried to burglarize Gilbert’s home until police could arrive;
- Lisa Hupfer and James Hansen are being honored for their heroics in rescuing a man from a burning car at a local gas station.
Department employees who are being honored include:
Purple Heart
- Sergeant James Byfield was attacked by a suspect with a knife, and suffered a concussion and several broken bones while investigating a vandalism incident on University Hill;
- Officer Christian McCracken responded to a report of a combative suspect and during the incident, suffered a serious head injury.
Medal for Lifesaving
- Officer Kathy Lowe who, at great personal risk, pulled a man from a burning car (along with Lisa Hupfer and James Hansen – see above).
- Officers Ron Perea, Andrew Kirshbaum, Beth McNally and Patrick Vest, who saved a woman who was trying to commit suicide.
STAR Award (Superior Tactics and Response)
- Officer Nathan Vasquez was able to establish a rapport with a distraught, suicidal male at Boulder Community Hospital. The male was armed with a handgun, but Officer Vasquez was able to help resolve the situation peacefully.
Award for Excellence
- Officer Marcus Askins provided superior service and built positive relationships with students and the community as a School Resource Officer for the past six years;
- Police Record Specialist Renée McCoy is our resident composite artist, and her sketches often show an uncanny resemblance to suspects;
- Detective Steve Faber provides the kind of above-and-beyond service on a day-to-day basis that makes the department proud.
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CU study: Polarization fans the flames of political activism. Huh??
0February 9, 2012
Americans overestimate political polarization,
according to new CU-Boulder research
Many Americans overestimate the degree of polarization between Democrats and Republicans, and this misconception is associated with citizens’ voting behavior and their involvement in political activities, according to new findings from the University of Colorado Boulder.
“It is clear that Americans see themselves as very sharply polarized,” said Professor Leaf Van Boven, who led the research efforts. “And that the extent of perceived polarization dramatically overstates the actual degree of polarization.”
Van Boven of CU-Boulder’s psychology and neuroscience department and Professor John Chambers of the University of Florida presented findings of two studies on political polarization last month at the annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology in San Diego.
In one study, which included a nationally representative sample of 1,000 voting age respondents during the 2008 presidential campaign, Van Boven and his colleagues found that individuals with more extreme partisan attitudes perceived greater polarization than those with less extreme partisan attitudes. For example, in the 2008 presidential election, people who strongly supported either Obama or McCain perceived Americans as more divided than did those whose support of either candidate was more moderate.
In another study, which included an analysis using a subset of 26,000 respondents from three decades of surveys of Americans, the researchers determined that the average gap between Republicans and Democrats on five-point scales regarding different issues such as the death penalty and abortion was approximately three-quarters of a point. However, people believed there was a scale difference of two points or more between the two parties.
“The more strongly people feel about an issue, the more divided they see other Americans,” Van Boven said.
The data also suggest that the people who perceive the most division among Americans are also the most likely to vote in elections.
“It seems that the people who see the most polarization are also more likely to engage in various kinds of political activities, including joining campaigns, persuading other people and contributing to PACs,” Van Boven said. He expects that both major political parties may try to benefit from the perceived polarization of voters during the current presidential election year.
“If I were a strategist and I saw that maybe I could get a 5 percent increase in turnout on my side by increasing people’s perceptions of polarization, I know exactly what I would do,” he said. “I would push toward increased perceptions of polarization.
“There certainly is a sound scientific basis for the strategy of making the other side seem very strong, very extreme and very active,” he said. “If I think the other side is really fired up and they are going to turn out the vote, that becomes a threat to me. So that might motivate me to vote.”
CU-Boulder Professor Charles Judd of the psychology and neuroscience department and Professor David Sherman of the University of California, Santa Barbara, were co-authors with Van Boven on the paper titled “False polarization of the American electorate.” Van Boven, CU-Boulder doctoral candidate Jacob Westfall and Professor John Chambers of the University of Florida co-authored the other paper titled “Political polarization projection.”
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CU: Out with the old, in with the “new” journalism
0January 11, 2012
FIRST CLASS OF CU-BOULDER UNDERGRADUATES
SHOULD BE COMPETENT IN THE DISCIPLINES THEY REPORT ON, ACCORDING TO PLAN
As a new year and the spring semester begin, the University of Colorado Boulder is welcoming the first class of journalism students entering under a new undergraduate degree structure called “Journalism Plus” that CU officials say will create better journalists, better news content and, over time, a more informed society.Currently, more than 45 new students are expected to enroll for spring semester under the new Journalism Plus requirements. Journalism Plus stipulates that students supplement their journalism degree requirements with an additional field of study in a specific arts and sciences discipline, an approach that Journalism Director Chris Braider says will make better journalists and communication professionals, better university students and better citizens.
“Journalism Plus ensures that the journalists and communicators CU produces will not only possess the updated skills they need to create and deliver messages, but will also possess the analytical abilities, research tools and knowledge of a subject to communicate something of value in those messages,” Braider said.
Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward–the
“old” journalism?
“Our students will understand, with depth and context, the content they will create as journalists. We think this will set them apart from other journalism programs across the nation.”
Journalism and Mass Communication will continue to grant the Bachelor of Science degree in one of five sequences: advertising, broadcast news, broadcast production, media studies and news-editorial. Under the new requirements, students also will enroll in a 30- to 33-credit-hour additional field of study, the equivalent of work in a major in a discipline of their choice — anything from English, physics and history to political science, environmental studies or film studies.
Students admitted prior to spring 2012 have until May of 2016 to earn a degree under the former requirements, or they can elect to complete the Journalism Plus degree requirements.
The changes, say CU-Boulder Provost Russell L. Moore, were deliberate and in line with CU’s larger goals for its students.
“We want CU-Boulder students to be both knowledgeable and engaged in the world they live in,” said Moore. “So the goal for us was never to make journalism go away, but to pair it with a discipline that would add the depth of knowledge of a liberal arts degree to the skills developed in a journalism curriculum.
Lyndsay Lohan is news? Who decides?
I think this is going to answer a call we’ve heard from media professionals — don’t just send us skilled graduates, send us graduates who can interpret and understand the information they gather with some depth and context.”
At a practical level, Braider says, this will mean better, more contextual reporting to inform and shape our democratic society.
“In this model, science writers will possess first-hand knowledge of the sciences they report on,” Braider said. “Reporters covering government or business will bring an in-depth knowledge of political science and economics to the events they chronicle. Advertisers and graphic designers will explore the full range of expressive arts on which their professions rely.”
As Journalism Plus is implemented, more students will be admitted directly to Journalism and Mass Communication as freshmen.
The university is continuing on a path to creating a new interdisciplinary college or school of information, communications, journalism, media and technology, which will one day house journalism and companion disciplines in an environment of sharing, innovation and scholarship.
Journalism and Mass Communication continues to be accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education for Journalism and Mass Communications. In two years, the accrediting council will make a determination on accreditation for the following four years.
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See what it’s like to be poor in Boulder County
0December 2, 2011
County to host poverty simulation Dec. 15 in Lafayette
Boulder County, Colo. – The Boulder County Circles Campaign will host a poverty simulation on Dec. 15 in Longmont to allow residents, members of the business community and representatives of local nonprofit agencies to understand the realities of poverty.
What: Poverty Simulation
When: Thursday, Dec. 15, 6-8 p.m.
Where: Longmont YMCA, 950 Lashley St.
During the simulation, participants role-play the lives of low-income families. Some are Temporary Assistance for Needy Families recipients, some are disabled, and some are senior citizens on Social Security. They have the stressful task of providing for basic necessities and shelter on a limited budget during the course of four 15-minute “weeks.” They interact with human service agencies, grocers, pawnbrokers, bill collectors, job interviewers, police officers and others..
The simulation enables participants to look at poverty from a variety of angles and then to recognize and discuss the potential for change within their local communities. The simulation was designed to sensitize those who frequently work with low-income families, as well as to create a broader awareness of the realities of poverty among policymakers, community leaders and others.
Please contact Kara Edin at 303-441-3977 or kedin@bouldercounty.org or Eliberto Mendoza at 303-441-1503 or emendoza@bouldercounty.org for additional information and to register.
The Circles Campaign is part of Boulder County’s continued effort to help move individuals and families out of poverty and into a life of sustained self-sufficiency. The campaign provides a stable structure for people working their way out of poverty to receive guidance and support from mentors to help them develop skills and access resources needed to move toward economic stability
