“Western offers a concurrent enrollment program to high school students. During the 2023-24 school year, Culinary and Ethics classes were added.”
—Michael Viergge, Professor of Business Administration & Outdoor Industry MBA
“November 21, 2023 marked the first school board election for the Gunnison Watershed District in decades. The contentious race drew in much media attention and opinions spread like wildfire. Mark VanderVeer, Jody Coleman, and Anne Brookhart, who had formed a progressive coalition, ended up winning by a large margin.”
—David Plante, Professor of Economics & Outdoor Industry MBA
“Gunnison celebrated the annual Night of Lights tradition in which community members gather and light the town Christmas tree. The event took place on December 1, 2023.”
—Emily McMahill, Ferchau Lecturer in Biology
“Western celebrated the annual lighting of the W to accompany September 2023’s homecoming festivities.”
—Cassandra Osborne, Professor of Biology
“In March of 2024, Western Theatre Company and Crested Butte Mountain Theatre teamed up to do a production of White Rabbit Red Rabbit. The one-man-show play ran for three nights featuring Western’s theater director Steven Hughes, artist-in-residence Heather Hughes, and Western athletic department compliance officer Que Semien.”
—Karen Hausdoerffer, Lecturer in Environment & Sustainability, Director of Graduate Writing Workshop
“On September 6, 2023 Gunnison Country Times broke the news that the IBar owner, Bryan Wickenhauser, and employee, Dominic Danni, were arrested by the DEA and Colorado Bureau of Investigations. The Pair were charged with two felonies for distributing cocaine throughout the valley. Preliminary proceedings are still ongoing.”
—Jackie Gabriel, Assistant Professor of Sociology
“In late December of 2023, landowners Wynn and Ryan Martens donated the 40 acre Verzuh Ranch to Western Colorado University. The land, which borders Crested Butte, will be used for environmental conservation and research.”
—Courtney King, Adaptive Management Group Coordinator & Lead Field Technician for School of envs.
“In December of 2023, Western announced the new pre-nursing program. This initiative was made possible by a $1.5 million grant from the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade.”
—Shelly Jansen, Director of the Center for Learning and Innovation
“In late February, 2024, the Asian Pacific Islanders Club presented Western’s first ever lion/dragon dance during a basketball game halftime show.”
—Katie Crawford, Librarian & Advisor for APIC