Tori Peglar (MJour’00)

I will never have the desire nor technical expertise to climb Mount Everest, but our story, “When Everest speaks” on page 6 in this issue is particularly close to my heart. It follows Neal Beidleman (MechEngr’81) as he climbed the world’s highest mountain 15 years after he survived the tragedy that left eight people dead in the wake of a fierce storm.

I arrived at CU-Boulder for graduate school the year Jon Krakauer published his book Into Thin Air, which provided a sobering, firsthand account of the 1996 Everest disaster. I couldn’t put the book down.  I had spent the 1990s, learning how to rock climb and self-arrest down snow fields with an ice axe. I had climbed Mount Kilimanjaro with Mountain Madness, a company owned by the legendary Scott Fischer who died that fateful day.

But I don’t think I fully understood the dangers of high-altitude mountaineering until I read Krakauer’s book, in which Neal really shined as a hero.  We learn lessons from other peoples’ tragedies and that one, more than anything else, made me aware of the risks inherent in outdoor sports.  In short, I became more of a wimp. But I did climb 13,223-foot Mount Audubon west of Boulder earlier this fall. Winds were howling at 50 miles per hour, the temperatures were below freezing and being above tree line never felt so invigorating after a week in the office.

Wishing you safe and exciting adventures in the new year.

DECEMBER 2011

Coloradan aims to connect, inform and engage readers in the life of the University of Colorado Boulder through regular communication with alumni, faculty and staff members and friends of the university. It is published four times per year in March, June, September and December by the CU-Boulder Alumni Association. Permission to reprint articles and illustrations may be obtained from the editor.

EDITORIAL OFFICES

Koenig Alumni Center, University of Colorado, Boulder CO 80309-0459; phone 303-492-3712 or 800-492-7743; fax 303-492-6799; e-mail tori.peglar@colorado.edu

ADDRESS CHANGES

To change your address or remove your name from our mailing list, write or call the Alumni Association at the address and numbers above or e-mail processing@cufund.org.

Please include your alumni ID number, which is on your mailing label.

ON THE WEB

Visit www.coloradanmagazine.org to read the magazine and latest web exclusives.

PUBLISHER

Deborah Fowlkes

EDITOR

Tori Peglar (MJour’00)

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Marc Killinger

STUDENT ASSISTANT

Christie Sounart (Jour ex’12)

CONTRIBUTORS

Glenn Asakawa (Jour’86), Michelle Starika Asakawa (Jour, Mktg’87), Gary Baines (Jour’83), Patrick Campbell (EnvDes’11), Casey A. Cass, Peter Caughey, Dave Curtin (Jour’78), Paul Danish (Hist’65), Clay Evans, Marty Coffin Evans (Engl’64), Andi Fabri (Art, Comm’00), Bronson Hilliard (Hist’86), Clay Latimer, Jennie Lay (MJour’05), Lisa Marshall (Jour, PolSci’94), Kathy McClurg, Ken McConnellogue (Jour’90),
Doug McPherson, Malinda Miller-Huey (Engl’92, MJour’98), David Plati (Jour’82), Linda Poncin, Jim Scott (EPOBio’73), Greg Swenson (MJour’98), Doug Wray

DESIGNERS

Elizabeth C. Johnston and Marissa Price of Lizzardbrand Inc., www.lizzardbrand.com

Please recycle with magazines.

Amid explosive economic and cultural growth of the West, David spent 40 years as a national expert in federal Indian and natural resources law. His successes stemmed from his deep commitment to creating a more equitable and healthy West.

David’s passion for the West is reflected in our alumni. No matter where we live, Boulder lays an unshakeable claim, much like a past love, to a piece of our souls. So catch the wave with Forever Buffs in Pac-12 territory and join us at our events or on Facebook this fall. With almost 37,000 alumni living in Pac-12 states, we hope to better connect you with each other and the university [see pages 38-42].

Tori Peglar (MJour’00)

SEPTEMBER 2011

Old Main was built in 1876, becoming the first building on campus. Today it houses Arts and Sciences offices and CU’s history museum, the Heritage Center, on the third floor. Casey A. Cass

Coloradan aims to connect, inform and engage readers in the life of the University of Colorado Boulder through regular communication with alumni, faculty and staff members and friends of the university. It is published four times per year in March, June, September and December by the CU-Boulder Alumni Association. Permission to reprint articles and illustrations may be obtained from the editor.

EDITORIAL OFFICES

Koenig Alumni Center, University of Colorado, Boulder CO 80309-0459; phone 303-492-3712 or 800-492-7743; fax 303-492-6799;
e-mail tori.peglar@colorado.edu

ADDRESS CHANGES

To change your address or remove your name from our mailing list, write or call the Alumni Association at the address and numbers above or e-mail processing@cufund.org. Please include your alumni ID number,  which is on your mailing label.

ON THE WEB

Visit www.coloradanmagazine.org to read the magazine and latest web exclusives.

PUBLISHER

Deborah Fowlkes

EDITOR

Tori Peglar (MJour’00)

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Marc Killinger

STUDENT ASSISTANT

Christie Sounart (Jour ex’12)

CONTRIBUTORS

Glenn Asakawa (Jour’86), Michelle Starika Asakawa (Jour, Mktg’87), Gary Baines (Jour’83), Patrick Campbell (EnvDes’11), Casey A. Cass, Peter Caughey, Dave Curtin (Jour’78), Paul Danish (Hist’65), Clay Evans, Marty Coffin Evans (Engl’64), Andi Fabri (Art,Comm’00), Bronson Hilliard (Hist’86), Clay Latimer, Jennie Lay (MJour’05), Lisa Marshall (Jour, PolSci’94), Kathy McClurg, Ken McConnellogue (Jour’90), Malinda Miller-Huey (Engl’92, MJour’98), David Plati (Jour’82), Linda Poncin, Jim Scott (EPOBio’73), Greg Swenson (MJour’98),  Clint Talbot (Jour’85), Doug Wray

DESIGNERS

Elizabeth C. Johnston and Marissa Price of Lizzardbrand Inc., www.lizzardbrand.com

Please recycle with magazines.

Len Ackland (A&S’66) taught me to ask hard questions and provide a balanced story. Tom Yulsman took the class to a tall grass prairie to train us to transform dry science into stories people talk about in coffee shops and Congress. Robert Trager’s media law class illuminated the intersection of free speech and the press.

Moreover, I learned a good story is like an old friend who shares hard truths, abides by strong ethics and stays with you. When the school closes June 30 [see article], I hope future journalism grads learn this and more as they produce their first drafts of history.

Tori Peglar (MJour’00), Editor

Glenn Asakawa (Jour’86) captures the beauty of Macky Auditorium, the campus and Flatirons.

JUNE 2011

Coloradan aims to connect, inform and engage readers in the life of the University of Colorado Boulder through regular communication with alumni, faculty and staff members and friends of the university. It is published four times per year in March, June, September and December by the CU-Boulder Alumni Association. Permission to reprint articles and illustrations may be obtained from the editor.

EDITORIAL OFFICES

Koenig Alumni Center, University of Colorado, Boulder CO 80309-0459; phone 303-492-3712 or 800-492-7743; fax 303-492-6799; e-mail tori.peglar@colorado.edu

ADDRESS CHANGES

To change your address or remove your name from our mailing list, write or call the Alumni Association at the address and numbers above or e-mail processing@cufund.org. Please include your alumni ID number, which is on your mailing label.

ON THE WEB

Visit www.coloradanmagazine.org to read the magazine and latest web exclusives.

PUBLISHER

Deborah Fowlkes

EDITOR

Tori Peglar (MJour’00)

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Marc Killinger

STUDENT ASSISTANTS

Christie Sounart (Jour ex’12)

CONTRIBUTORS

Glenn Asakawa (Jour’86), Michelle Starika Asakawa (Jour, Mktg’87), Gary Baines (Jour’83), Casey A. Cass, Peter Caughey, Dave Curtin (Jour’78), Paul Danish (Hist’65), Clay Evans, Marty Coffin Evans (Engl’64), Andi Fabri (Art, Comm’00), Bronson Hilliard (Hist’86), Clay Latimer, Jennie Lay (MJour’05), Lisa Marshall (Jour, PolSci’94), Kathy McClurg, Ken McConnellogue (Jour’90), Malinda Miller-Huey (Engl’92, MJour’98), David Plati (Jour’82), Linda Poncin, Jim Scott (EPOBio’73), Greg Swenson (MJour’98), Doug Wray

DESIGNERS

Elizabeth C. Johnston and Marissa Price of Lizzardbrand Inc.

www.lizzardbrand.com

Please recycle with magazines.

Last year my husband lost one of my ski poles. I haven’t missed it. Instead I’ve rediscovered the thrills of the bunny slopes and skiing backwards as my kids bomb down toward me. For the most part I am OK living vicariously through Buffs like Mike Kaplan (IntlAf’86) [pages 4-7] who have impressive careers in the ski industry. If the photo of him skiing through a foot of powder doesn’t make you want to call in sick for work tomorrow, I’m not sure what will.

Happy spring,

Tori Peglar (MJour’00)

EDITORIAL OFFICES

Koenig Alumni Center
University of Colorado
Boulder CO 80309-0459

phone 303-492-3712 or 800-492-7743
fax 303-492-6799

e-mail tori.peglar@colorado.edu

ADDRESS CHANGES

To change your address or remove your name from our mailing list, write or call the Alumni Association at the address and numbers above or e-mail processing@cufund.org. Please include your alumni ID number, which is on your mailing label.

ON THE WEB

Visit www.coloradanmagazine.org to read the magazine and latest web exclusives.

PUBLISHER

Deborah Fowlkes

EDITOR

Tori Peglar (MJour’00)

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Marc Killinger

STUDENT ASSISTANTS

Alex Bak (A&S ex’13)
Christie Sounart (Jour ex’12)

CONTRIBUTORS

Glenn Asakawa (Jour’86), Michelle Starika Asakawa (Jour, Mktg’87), Gary Baines (Jour’83), Casey A. Cass, Peter Caughey,
Dave Curtin (Jour’78), Paul Danish (Hist’65), Clay Evans, Marty Coffin Evans (Engl’64), Andi Fabri (Art, Comm’00), Bronson Hilliard (Hist’86), Clay Latimer, Jennie Lay (MJour’05), Lisa Marshall (Jour, PolSci’94), Kathy McClurg, Ken McConnellogue (Jour’90), Malinda Miller-Huey (Engl’92, MJour’98), David Plati (Jour’82), Linda Poncin, Jim Scott (EPOBio’73),
Greg Swenson (MJour’98), Doug Wray

DESIGNERS

Art director Elizabeth C. Johnston and assistant art director Marissa Price of Lizzardbrand Inc.

www.lizzardbrand.com

Please recycle with magazines.

Coloradan aims to connect, inform and engage readers in the life of the University of Colorado at Boulder through regular communication with alumni, faculty and staff members and friends of the University. It is published four times per year in March, June, September and December by the CU-Boulder Alumni Association. Permission to reprint articles and illustrations may be obtained from the editor.

EDITORIAL OFFICES

Koenig Alumni Center, University of Colorado, Boulder CO 80309-0459; phone 303-492-3712 or 800-492-7743; fax 303-492-6799; e-mail tori.peglar@colorado.edu

ADDRESS CHANGES

To change your address or remove your name from our mailing list, write or call the Alumni Association at the address and numbers above or e-mail processing@cufund.org. Please include your alumni ID number, which is on your mailing label.

ON THE WEB

Visit www.coloradanmagazine.org to read the magazine and latest web exclusives.

PUBLISHER

Deborah Fowlkes

EDITOR

Tori Peglar (MJour’00)

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Marc Killinger

STUDENT ASSISTANTS

Alex Bak (A&S ex’13)
Christie Sounart (Jour ex’12)

CONTRIBUTORS

Glenn Asakawa (Jour’86), Michelle Starika Asakawa (Jour, Mktg’87), Gary Baines (Jour’83),
Casey A. Cass, Peter Caughey, Dave Curtin (Jour’78), Paul Danish (Hist’65), Clay Evans, Marty Coffin Evans (Engl’64), Andi Fabri (Art, Comm’00), Bronson Hilliard (Hist’86), Clay Latimer, Jennie Lay (MJour’05), Lisa Marshall (Jour, PolSci’94), Kathy McClurg, Ken McConnellogue (Jour’90), Malinda Miller-Huey (Engl’92, MJour’98), David Plati (Jour’82), Linda Poncin, Jim Scott (EPOBio’73),
Greg Swenson (MJour’98), Doug Wray

DESIGNERS

Art director Elizabeth C. Johnston and assistant art director Marissa Price of Lizzardbrand Inc.

www.lizzardbrand.com

Please recycle with magazines.

Graceful campus cupolas frame the snow-dusted Flatirons. Casey A. Cass

This fall I was driving down Broadway past the UMC when my 4-year-old daughter announced from the backseat she was not going to college. I almost drove through the red light. Not go to college?

I wanted to tell her what I told prospective students and their families at a CU recruiting event in Scottsdale, Ariz., a few weeks earlier. It is one of the few schools in the world where you run alongside a Nobel Prize winner on the Rec Center track, control satellites in space and view ancient Roman art at the CU Art Museum [see pages 26-30].

In Scottsdale the students’ excitement for the university filled the room, especially as alums shared their CU stories. When it ended, one alum said, “I cannot help but be a bit jealous of them. They have their whole lives in front of them.”

Which brings me back to my daughter who loves Friday night Buff football rallies, Macky concerts and visiting my office but has no idea how incredible the campus academic environment is. Someday she’ll be as excited as the students in Scottsdale. And I’ll be the one feeling envious of the new adventure she will pursue.

Wishing you and your family health and happiness during this holiday season.

Tori Peglar (MJour’00)