College Avenue magazine gets a new look (JTC 326 Individual Reporting Project)

The CSU student-run College Avenue magazine reveals a new look, improving marketing, distribution and recognition.

Out of habit, you go to pick up The Rocky Mountain Collegian newspaper on your way to class, but tucked inside is something new, a magazine called College Avenue. And somewhere in your mind the name might ring a bell.

Few might know, the publication, produced by Colorado State University students, has officially been around since 2005, but this year, now in its second issue, it has been revamped and redesigned.

What once had a glossy cover, was published three times a year, and distributed by itself in racks around campus, now prints on tabloid-size, high-quality newsprint, publishes monthly and is distributed in the Collegian. The magazine also added elements to their logo, redesigned their cover, increased their ad to content ratio and redesigned their website.

College Avenue Editor-in-Chief Kristin Hall works on the magazine's third issue of the year. Hall, along with the help of editors and advisors, helped solve College Avenue's advertising, distribution and branding problems by increasing ad content to make the publication self-sufficient, inserting it into the Collegian monthly to increase circulation and adding design elements to the logo and cover to make it more recognizable. Photo by Ricki Watkins.

The changes to the publication, which is owned by Rocky Mountain Student Media Corporation, were made in effort to increase readership by making the magazine easier to access and branding it for easy recognition, as well as to become a self-sustaining medium.

“When we were looking at the magazine product as a whole, as its been over the 7 years of its life,” student media newsroom advisor Mike Humphrey said, “we were realizing that we were doing a good product, but we weren’t exciting the community and the advertising base enough.”

College Avenue has already seen an increase in readership and recognition, especially online, which has seen a tripling in web traffic.

College Avenue staff worked to redesign the magazine's online site over the 2012 summer; web traffic has tripled since then. Photo by Ricki Watkins.

“We have seen a huge spike in interest from what we have seen in the past,” Kristin Hall, editor-in-chief said. “I just hope that what we have done this year will set it up for success over and over again in the future.

The changes this year have not been the only ones through the magazine’s life, the publication has evolved and changed through the years, while still maintaining its original logo and folio design and dedication to well written content.

“I think its really been a natural progression and I think the best part about how it’s progressed is that its all come from the students,” former magazine advisor Jenny Fischer said.

College Avenue Editor-in-Chief Kristin Hall works from her desk in the Colorado State University student media room, with the covers of past College Avenue issues hanging on the wall as inspiration. Photo by Ricki Watkins.

Past College Avenue covers serve as a memory of the start and transformation of the magazine since its beginnings in 2005. Photo by Ricki Watkins.

College Avenue Editor-in-Chief Kristin Hall types, working on the third issue of the 2012-13 volume.  Photo by Ricki Watkins.

History of College Avenue. Infographic by Ricki Watkins.

Guilty conscience: recycling

To start off with, I am a strong supporter of recycling. But, as a busy college student, I guiltily admit, I have been slacking in the recycling department.

First, I have to describe the recycling situation at our apartment complex. There is one central recycling center down the road. And each apartment complex is about a hundred feet from a dumpster. Myself and my three roommates barley have time to take the trash out, nevertheless recycle.

Before college, my family was very active in recycling. And while living in the dorms freshman year at Colorado State, my roommate and I recycled, as the trash and recycling bins were right next to each other.

Now, recycling isn't so easy. Especially when the convenience level decreases. In fact, inconvenience seems to be the number one reason people choose not to recycle, as seen in these articles: "Why People Don't Recycle" and "5 reasons why people don't recycle and 5 reasons they should."

I think Colorado State and some other local businesses, such as Mugs and the Starbucks on Elizabeth and City Park, are increasing that convenience, making recycling easier; trashcans and recycling bins are side-by-side. Unfortunately, sometimes in order to make more people recycle, that convenience needs to be there. Businesses, waste management and the city can make that happen. However, responsibility still lies in the hands of the consumer. People, myself included, need to make more of an effort as well. Together, both parties can make that guilty recycler conscience disappear.

It's that time of year: Warren Miller ski films

Yes, it is that time of year: ski films are everywhere. And here again, Fort Collins plays host to the legend of all ski films: Warren Miller. Out with his 63rd ski film, "Flow State," is sure not to disappoint.

This film focuses on the "flow state" in which a person becomes so focused on skiing/snowboarding, going so fast, time seems to slow down. The movie follows top athletes as they travel the world, from Japan to Switzerland, discovering where the "mountain meets the mind." 

“The Flow State is a place where the impossible becomes possible – where time slows down and a perfect moment becomes attainable," said director Max Bervy in a Warren Miller Entertainment press release. "This film reveals what it is like to be completely immersed in the present…completely immersed in the snow, in the mountains and in the enjoyment of winter.”

The film is playing at the Fort Collins Lincoln Center Oct. 26 at 6:30 p.m. and at 9:30 p.m. and Oct. 27 at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. Tickets can be purchased through the Lincoln Center or Outpost Sunsport for $16. 

Included in the price of the ticket is a coupon for a free beer at Washington's Sports Bar and Grill, a free appetizer at Beach House Grill, a 2-for-1 lift ticket for Winter Park Resort, three free lift tickets to Crested Butte Mountain if you stay at the resort and $25 off a $100 purchase at Outpost Sunsport. 

You can try to win a free film ticket by entering into the ticket giveaway contest.

Jay Lehr speaks on climate change

Dr. Jay Lehr, who holds a doctorate degree in environmental science, will be coming to Colorado State University Oct. 10 to discuss his controversial views on climate change. Lehr is well known for his belief that global warming is a myth and that climate change is normal and not caused by humans.

Some background on Lehr: he holds a degree in geological engineering from Princeton, he became one of the nation's first to earn a Ph.D. in Environmental Science from the University of Arizona, he is the senior fellow and science director of the Heartland Institute, which is known for promoting the message that climate change is not man-made, he has written 19 books and is a well-known speaker.

After Lehr speaks on Wednesday, a panel of professors will respond, presenting several different outlooks and perspectives on climate change.

I think this could be an extremely interesting discussion, seeing as though Colorado State is well known for being a green university, committed to lowering its carbon footprint. Also due to this fact, the proceeding panel of professors will add an alternate perspective; I would be interested to see how Lehr responds. Though I am definitely not a proponent of Lehr's theories, I think this lecture would be interesting due to the fact that an audience member would be able to see in full display all of the different perspectives on this controversial subject.

The lecture will be held in the Lory Student Center Theatre, starting at 7 pm. The event is open and free to the public.

CSU Snowriders

If you are a Colorado State University student and you love to ski or snowboard, I would definitely recommend you check out this club: Snowriders.

One of the largest clubs on campus, with over 300 members, Snowriders is focused on providing CSU skiers and snowboarders transportation to and from the major ski resorts, including Breckenridge, Arapahoe Basin, Keystone, Vail, Beaver Creek, Heavenly, Copper, Winter Park and Steamboat.

"Snowriders is all majors, all levels of riders, just people that want to have a good time," Snowriders president Spencer Kaye said. "We are definitely trying to bring the skiing and snowboarding community of CSU together as much as we can."

The club hosts day trips, overnight trips, a trip to Jackson Hole Ski Resort, a spring break house and other events. For the day trips, the club meets in the West Fall parking lot on Saturdays, taking two busses up to the mountains.

You do not have to be a club member to participate in club events or trips, however members do enjoy certain benefits. Membership into the club costs $30, which includes a t-shirt and a discount card for gear, trips and events. With a long list of sponsors, Snowrider members enjoy discounts at several retailers, including Christy Sports, Outpost Sunsport, Icelantic Boards and POW Apparel. Also, for day trips, Snowrider members pay $15 each trip, whereas nonmembers pay $20.

If you are interested in joining or learning more about Snowriders, you can visit their office hours in the Student Organization Suite in the Lory Student Center or visit their website.

Another great ski film...

Teton Gravity Research will be back in Fort Collins, this time with its premiere of snowboarder Jeremy Jones' "Further," the second installment in this three part trilogy.

In this film, TGR athlete Jeremy Jones pushes himself and his crew to the extreme, exploring deep within the backcountry to find new territory. Filmed over two years, Jones and his crew travel around the world, from Japan to the Arctic Circle, riding previously untouched lines.

"Deeper," the first film in the trilogy amazed audiences when it came out in September 2010. "Deeper" premiers brought in 82,000 fans over 200 showings. The film won numerous awards, including the ESPN Editors Pick Award.

Knowing TGR's film history, having seen both "One for the Road" and "The Dream Factory," I am sure "Further" will not fail to impress. So if you are craving another ski film or just want something to get you excited for the upcoming ski season, this is one to go to.

The film will be playing at the Colorado State Lory Student Center Oct. 13, with doors opening at 7 pm and the show starting at 8 pm. Tickets can be purchased for $12 on the TGR website.