Dear Beloved Community,

“Justice is what love looks like in public.” ~ Cornell West 

As we enter into what is often a slower paced block with more interruptions to our common rhythms, I want to use this space to remind everyone to make time for rest, joy, and connection. These can be our greatest tools in a system that depends on our sadness, anger, and exhaustion. As Tricia Hersey reminds us, “Our worth does not reside in how much we produce... Rest... becomes an act of resistance and a reclaiming of power because it asserts our most basic humanity. We are enough.” 

We are enough.  May we all be committed to loving each other more in our unending pursuit of a more just world.   

In solidarity, 

Rosalie 

In Block 3, IDEAL came together to discuss the ways in which the change in presidential administration may impact programs and people on campus. We are working on compiling resources and support for those who may be concerned about federal policy changes, which will be shared on the IDEAL webpage as they become known/available. 

We encourage you to read the message from our AVP of Wellness, Janelle Taylor for important reminders, tools, and resources.  

As part of our new Sense of Place Initiative, the office of Institutional Equity and Belonging sponsored a faculty, staff, and student trip to the San Luis Valley led by Dr. Karen Roybal and Dr. Santiago Guerra. The trip included visits to the Fort Garland Museum and Jacales Fine Art Gallery, as well as discussions and conversation with local artists, activists, and curators. You can read more about the trip in the Southwest Studies newsletter.

Photos by Megan Clancy, Debbie Howell, and Cindy Hyman. Two murals and a Sense of Place group photo featuring: Debbie Howell, Nam Ninh, Caryn Lawler, Niki Sosa, Jessy Randall, Megan Clancy, Rory Brumback, Carlos Duarte, Cindy Hyman, Christian Gonzalez, Maybellene Gamboa, AliciaRose Martinez, Abby Le, Santiago Guerra, and Karen Roybal. 

Antiracist Book Club 

The Antiracist Book Club selection for Block 4 is Shutter, by Ramona Emerson. 

This title is available for pick up in the campus bookstore. Please note: This story contains detailed descriptions of crime scenes and paranormal activity which may be troubling for some readers.

Join the discussion here!

From the publisher: 

Rita Todacheene is a forensic photographer working for the Albuquerque police force. Her excellent photography skills have cracked many cases-she is almost supernaturally good at capturing details. In fact, Rita has been hiding a secret: she sees the ghosts of crime victims who point her toward the clues that other investigators overlook. As a lone portal back to the living for traumatized spirits, Rita is terrorized by nagging ghosts who won't let her sleep and who sabotage her personal life. Her taboo and psychologically harrowing ability was what drove her away from her hometown on the Navajo reservation, where she was raised by her grandmother. It has isolated her from friends and gotten her in trouble with the law. And now it might be what gets her killed. When Rita is sent to photograph the scene of a supposed suicide on a highway overpass, the furious, discombobulated ghost of the victim-who insists she was murdered-latches onto Rita, forcing her on a quest for revenge against her killers, and Rita finds herself in the crosshairs of one of Albuquerque's most dangerous cartels. Written in sparkling, gruesome prose, Shutter is a blood-chilling debut from one of crime fiction's most powerful new voices.   

Monday, Dec. 2 at 6 p.m. in the Max Kade Theater, Armstrong Hall, 3rd Floor 

Bobby LeFevre

Join us for an evening of poetry and reflection with Bobby LeFebre, Colorado’s Poet Laureate Emeritus, as he delves into the themes of place and belonging in the Southwest. Through poetry that bridges the personal and the communal, the rural and the urban, LeFebre will explore what it means to be rooted in this land, shaped by cultural legacy, driven by complex heritage, and committed to an unwavering path of liberation and anti-racism.  

This reading is inspired by CC's ongoing Sense of Place Initiative, which seeks to deepen understanding of the complex history of the Southwest, forge meaningful partnerships within Colorado Springs and surrounding communities, and foster a true sense of belonging. LeFebre’s work, which often draws from his family’s deep ties to the Southwest, will invite attendees to consider their own connections to place, history, and each other. 

Sponsored by the Hulbert Center for Southwest Studies

The Butler Center  

Check out the Butler Center webpage every block for new and recurring programming, and don’t forget to look at the Butler Center IG and TikTok for the most up-to-date information on events.    

Throughout the block, there are many cultural and religious observances. Please visit our website to learn about the many ways you can engage and support these observances on campus and in the community.