hutchinson to serve third and final term as mayor | PaGe 3 THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN fort Collins, Colorado COLLEGIAN Volume 117 | No. 140 Tuesday, april 14, 2009 www.collegian.com THE STUDENT VOICE OF COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1891 SFRB approves student media OPPOSING THE ‘RAID’ fee for FY10 By eRin SMiTh dia, now operating under The Rocky Mountain Collegian the company title, Rocky Mountain Student Media As the Student Fee Re- Corporation. view Board approved stu- Smoot said he is in the dent media’s budget pre- preliminary process of cre- sentation for fiscal year ating a clause that would 2010 Monday, Associated protect student media Students of CSU President funding. Smoot said the Taylor Smoot insisted that clause would ensure that agreements should be made there is no threat of gov- to ensure future presidents ernment infringement on have no power over edito- student media’s day-to-day rial content for the media operations. group. “I want to get this done Last semester, CSU before I leave office,” Smoot administration requested said. that ASCSU absorb student Student government media’s portion of student officials said amount of fee fees after the media group dollars allocated to student severed its ties with the uni- media –– about $10 per stu- versity and became a non- dent per semester –– will profit corporation over the remain the same. summer. Previously, the student Student government media budget was funded officials said that because by the university’s pay sys- private companies can’t be tem, making student media funded directly from stu- a public institution. dent fees, ASCSU now has Student media employs BRandOn iwamoto | COLLEGIAN to approve student funding that goes to student me- See Fee on Page 3 Protestors against Colorado Senate Bills 273 and 281, which would allow the Colorado government to take $500 million from quasigovernmental organization Pinnacol Assurance to aid in balancing the state budget, rally on the steps of the state Capitol on Monday. The Colorado Senate approved both bills despite the large gathering of protestors in the senate gallery above. Legislature moves to seize Pinnacol assets despite angry protest at Capitol By STePhen Lin which Pinnacol and Colorado’s solicitor press their dismay at the extraordinary The Rocky Mountain Collegian general have called illegal and may pit measures that the Colorado legislature Colorado’s legislature against Pinnacol faces in solving the budget crisis, in- DENVER –– As the morning sun rose in a legal battle, representatives for the cluding the slash to higher education over Denver, hundreds of protestors or- agency have said. that Sen. Brandon Shaffer, D-Boulder, ganized by Pinnacol Assurance waved Senate Bills 273 and 281, both of called “unacceptable.” signs amid frenzied, angry chants on which passed with votes of 18-15 and Colorado already ranks near-last the Capitol building’s steps, protesting 19-14, respectively, seek to alter Pinna- in higher education funding in the na- the state Senate’s vote on a $500 million col’s structure to transfer $500 million tion. transfer of its funds. of the company’s $700 million surplus After speeches from legislators and But despite the protestors’ best –– $300 million of which is intended for business owners, dozens of protestors ROn edMOndS | AP efforts, the proposed state budget –– higher ed. filed into the Senate chambers to hear White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, left, listens to called the Long Bill –– passed, with two The vote Monday drew several the ensuing argument and vote. An Dan Restrepo, President Barack Obama’s senior adviser on bills aimed at funneling money out small business owners, employees of audible murmur rippled through the Latin America, speak about the changes in America’s Cuba of the quasi-governmental insurance the company and state representatives crowded observation floor as Bill 281 policy, Monday, in the press room at the White House in company’s surplus funds passing as to protest this action. came up on the floor first. Washington. well. “We should be scraping the gold off Senators dueled verbally over The Long Bill will now move on to the dome before we raid your money,” whether the mutual assurance compa- the House of Representatives. Rep. Cory Gardner, R–Yuma, said. ny was a private or government-owned The transfer –– a solution Colorado’s Armed with chants like “No on 273, venture. Shaffer argued that because Joint Budget Committee came up with end this shameful thievery;” “Don’t by the company receives a tax break, Obama allowing travel, this month to backfill its proposed $300 cynical, protect Pinnacol;” and “Stop money transfers to Cuba million cut to higher education –– is one the raid,” protestors turned out to ex- See BudgeT on Page 3 By JenniFeR LOVen cal freedoms, the spokes- The Associated Press man said. About 1.5 million Americans have relatives on the island nation that WASHINGTON –– Presi- turned to communist rule dent Barack Obama is al- in 1959 when Castro seized Construction starts on $32.2 million lowing Americans to make control. unlimited transfers of mon- Some U.S. lawmakers ey and visits to relatives in protested the changes, say- Cuba and easing other re- ing they could funnel mon- Student Recreation Center expansion strictions Monday, ushering ey or goods to the Castro in a new era of openness to- regime. Others, backed by By MadeLine NoveY STudenT RecReaTiOn cenTeR ward the island nation ruled business and farm groups The Rocky Mountain Collegian RenovaTiOnS/addiTiOnS by communists for 50 years. seeing new opportunities in Grand opening: August 2010 The formal announce- Cuba, wanted Obama to go After preliminary construc- Important Fact: Students ment was made by presi- farther and lift restrictions tion on the Student Recreation will have access to all Student dential spokesman Robert on travel by all Americans Center additions began Mon- Recreation Center amenities and Gibbs and, in Spanish, by to Cuba. day, students will still have ac- services throughout the construc- Dan Restrepo, the presi- Officials said Obama is cess to all classes and amenities tion process Cost: $32.2 million, funded dent’s top aide on Latin keeping the decades-old throughout the construction entirely by student fees approved American policy. U.S. trade embargo — for process. by the Student Fee Review “The president would now, at least — arguing that The current phase of con- Board in 2008 like to see greater freedom policy pressures the regime struction on the facility is slot- Construction company: for the Cuban people. There to free all political prisoners ted for completion in January Saunders Construction, Inc. are actions that he can and as one step toward normal- 2010, a recreation official said, Square-footage: 61,435- has taken today to open up ized relations with the U.S. and interior renovation and square-feet the flow of information to Restrepo said U.S. new construction –– which in- Occupancy limit: Designed to provide some important policy toward Cuba “is not cludes the addition of a climb- accommodate 30,000 to 32,000 steps to help that,” Gibbs frozen in time.” He had no ing and bouldering wall, multi- students said. timetable for when future activity courts and upgraded Gibbs said Obama is decisions might be made. spa areas –– is underway. aMeniTieS: only one part of the equa- Obama had promised “Aside from the obvious re- Climbing tower COurtesy Of CSu Facilities Management Bouldering wall and cave tion, with the White House to take these steps as a quest from students for more Possible juice bar if funds calling on Cuba to do more presidential candidate. It activity and exercise space, we Site plan for the Student Recreation Center expansion, due for completion in August of 2010. allow as well. has been known for over a want to provide students that A two-story glass cardio/weight With the changes, week that Obama would an- might not want to come over center (will more than double Obama aims to lessen Cu- nounce them ahead of his and use the weights and courts the site is the only indication ovations and should watch for current exercise space) bans’ dependence on the attendance this weekend at more amenities,” said Judy that construction has started, additions to all sides of the cur- Upgraded spa and pool area regime of Fidel Castro, hop- a Summit of the Americas Muenchow, the executive di- Muenchow said that students rent 61,435-square-foot Multi-activity courts for soccer, ing that will lead them to in Trinidad and Tobago. rector for Campus Recreation. could expect 75 percent of the volleyball and basketball (fea- demand progress on politi- While fencing surrounding existing facility to undergo ren- See Rec on Page 3 tures rounded walls) Pa g e 6 Pa g e 6 Pa g e 5 Two dead in Bangkok ‘Reign Over Me’ receives Pirates vow demonstration four out of five stars revenge for death of three colleagues Retreating anti-government Adam Sandler and Don Cheadle protestors clash with give powerful performance as Obama plans to work with neighborhood residents two reuniting friends other nations to halt piracy 2 Tuesday, April 14, 2009 | The Rocky Mountain Collegian WEATHER CORRECTIONS University Center for the Arts, CAMPUS EYE In Monday’s Collegian, Rm 204 Associated Students of CSU Come sit in on a master class Today Sen. Jordan Von Bokern’ s name with Hasse Borup, violin. The Mostly cloudy was misspelled in Sean Reed’s event is free and open to the Column titled “Schrader v. public. Conrad.” The Collegian regrets 69 | 42 this error. Family Fun Literacy Night 5 p.m. In Monday’s article “CSU C.O.R.E, 114 Bristlecone Drive, Wednesday alumni business surviving Fort Collins global economy,” Danielle and Come to a family fun night at Mostly cloudy Jay Iglehart’s names were misspelled in both the article C.O.R.E to support literacy.