I must first write to say (for the first or fifth time I don’t remember) that I do not entirely understand the “blogging” phenomena.  Expressing my thoughts and throwing them to the internet…because seems foolish and arrogant.  If someone really wants to know what I have to say or what I think they would ask.  You didn’t ask but I’ll tell you anyway.

First and foremost– Western is in Gunnison, Colorado. Gunnison is cold, small and secluded.  If you come to Western…be prepared to MAKE YOUR OWN FUN.  There are basically four things to do around here and the students seem to fall into these categories for better or worse 1. Study  2. Party  3. Have Sex 4. Outdoor Recreation.  Ta-da, that’s it.

There is no mall, there is no bowling alley, there is no iMAX, there is … not much so if you need these Urban necessities this is not the place to go.  That being said, the ‘Western Experience’ will be entirely what you make of it.  If you want to graduate with a competitive and competent education the faculty at WSC is more than qualified to get you there. My own Anthropological experience here I would put toe-to-toe with any in the country.  It is that good.  By the same token if you come to Western on Mommy and Daddy’s dime purely to hit the slopes in CB and dance with Mary Jane all day long that is certainly not a far cry from some students I have seen.
Western is unique from most other college campuses because it forces some of these adult decisions (drugs, study, drinking, sex, etc…)  upon you so much quicker.  If you have no plan, you have no goals, you are here…you’re not sure why … you won’t get far.  And this is because….drum roll please…  you’re in Gunnison!  It is up to you!  You have to make your own fun, balance it with study, and experiment as you see fit with very few distractions, (fewer if you cannot afford a Ski Pass).

If you want to leave here with an edge on the competition in your field it’s easy to do, if YOU WANT to.

(more random ramblings to continue at a later, unscheduled time)
Western State College started back up in full swing this last Monday the 24th of August.  It kind of snuck up on me.  I had spent the summer here (taking part in 11 credits in three great places that I hope to post about soon: W Mountain Mountaineer dig site, San Luis, and the Black Canyon) and looked out the window Saturday morning to see a full parking lot!  Holy WA!  It’s that time again.  Time for the Music block party on Main Street (with live music) and a pizza bash on the Ultimate Frisbee field paid for by NUNN construction (with live music) and for the Freshmen to realize that the Preview Day cooking in Keating is not what they serve everyday.  Sometimes there is a reason the sandwich line is the longest in the cafeteria.

And of course…time for classes.  As you progress up the ladder towards being a Senior again you can futz with your schedule much more easily.  You can have classes only in the mornings or afternoons, only on MWF or on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  This comes in handy when looking for that all important JOB to hold you over and pay the bills, oh yeah, and to utilize studying.  Today was quite special however, I had an Archaeology class in the morning with the head of the Anthropology Dept. (Dr. Stiger) total number of students in the class: 8.  That was followed by a Cultural Ecology class with a dual discipline attendance of ENVS and Anthro students, total :24.  What does this mean…small classes.  That’s right the brochures didn’t lie about that.  (an aside note: 24 students is the most full class I am taking, and when the college had Kelly Hall rebuilt they were offered a large lecture hall and turned it down.  Why? for the students)  That class was then followed this afternoon by my Archaeology Lab.  In this the Professor, Dr. Mark Stiger, took 4 students out to tour and fill out Data Management sheets for 2 sites.  I’ll repeat that, 1 Dr.  4 students.  2 sites.  in one lab!

WSC really is what you make of it.

For those of you that actually read this far, kudos! and I’ll leave you with this estranged tidbit.  George Washington was not our first President. Google or Bing “America’s first President under Articles of Confederation” …and now you’ll know.

Thanks, hope to see ya’ll here.

Jeff