FINAL-V2-Talon SP23-05

[ 4 ] TALON – EXCELLENCE IN JOURNALISM COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF DENVER

[ 1 ]

CONTENTS

04 OUR STORIES THROUGH

THE OURGLASS

by Timothy Grayson

06 THE PERKS OF BEING A

SPORTS PODCASTER

by Gabrielle Mendoza

10 JO KOY IS MY ELVIS

by Monica Montez

14 GARAGE BAND

by Ishany Rojas Gonzalas

18 FIRST FRIDAY

by Stephenie Baker

20 MR. CARDENAS GOES

TO WASHINGTON

by Xavier Cardenas

26 MISTRESS: INTERVIEW WITH

A HELPFUL DOMINATRIX

by Stephenie Baker

30 LET’S GO SKYDIVING!

by Nevaeh Washington

34 GREETINGS FROM BUENA VISTA

by Stephenie Baker

36 WHAT’S IN MY BAG!

by Monica Montez

38 CAPTURING EMOTION

WITH A READY LENS

by Emily Kinney

42 STREET FIGHTER:

$2 MILLION PRIZE

by Joseph Nguyen

Cover Photo: Photo of Timothy

Grayson by Stephenie Baker

Back Cover Photo: Photo of Smino

by Alejandro Rojas

DEAR READER

We would like to share a big change for us at Talon Magazine.

It is the first semester we have been fully staffed, writing hard,

and meeting in-person since the beginning of the pandemic!

There are Stephenie Baker, Tyler Raymond, and myself, Monica

Montez. Baker is pursuing journalism as her major and is Talon’s

photo editor. Raymond’s is also a journalism major while I am an

English major. We are all editors of the magazine, passionate to

give you the best stories we have to offer.

But we have not been the only ones who have experienced

changes this year. President Biden is going to declare the end

of the COVID-19 pandemic on May 11. Mayor Hancock officially

ended Denver’s COVID-19 state of emergency on March 3.

6.87 million have died worldwide and 74,272 died in Denver. Our

world drastically changed.

Where were we when the world went dark? We shut ourselves

into quarantine, reminiscing about what life used to be. Retelling

ourselves the stories that had already happened, wondering

when we’ll make new ones again. I believe that through the

quarantine, we’ve all learned to appreciate how beautiful the

simple things are. Whether it’s a firm handshake, a smile or eating

at a restaurant, we realized what living is all about- connection.

About being there.

For this Spring 2023 Issue of the Talon Magazine, we want to let

you in on the stories in the Auraria campus and Denver where

students are connecting through different exploits.

We have exclusive, in-the-flesh coverage of a wide range of

adventures that promises to inspire and delight you away from

your day to day life. From a young garage band trying to find

their sound, to a young United States Senate Page learning the

ropes of Washington DC.

We got the privilege to go skydiving for the first time and see

the nationwide comedic extraordinaire, Jo Koy. Last semester,

one of our own got to explore and enjoy an October evening at

the Art Crawl at the Santa Fe District. And we got the juicy scoop

of the unlikely therapeutics of a BDSM house party, thanks to a

dominatrix that we can call a friend! These are the stories that

you only get here at Talon Magazine!

Our front cover showcases this idea of ‘being there’. Here we see

one of our writers, Tim. He’s on campus, experiencing VR, enjoying

the moment. VR can help us experience different worlds and

promote the sense of being present. Because there is no time

like the present!

We are being there. Being there is being one with the world, not

worried about the past or the future. Paying attention to the little

things in life and appreciating them- the shape of a cloud or a

bird chirping in a tree. Wherever you are, just try to be there in

the moment. United with the sounds, the smells, the sights, feelings-

it’s for us to experience.

Happy reading, and here’s to being there!

MONICA MONTEZ, Editor for Talon Magazine

[ 1 ]

Spring 2023

Talon Magazine

MEET

THE STAFF

DAN SCHAEFER

Assistant Professor, Journalism

& Communication

Dr. Dan Schaefer is an assistant

professor of Journalism and

Communication at CCD and

faculty advisor for the Talon

Magazine and the Digital

Storytelling Student Club. He

is passionate about those

genuine true stories that

resonate and help us make

sense of our world. As a native

Michigander, Dan loves two

things: fishing and stories of

fishing the third coast.

STEPHENIE BAKER

Editor

After spending years wandering

around Colorado, Stephenie decided

that she wanted to take

photos of more than just the

trees. She became a student at

CCD which furthered her need

to empower others. Her plans

include becoming a professor,

writing a children’s book, and

continuing to further her education

after she graduates. She

loves being creative and you

can often find her writing short

stories, poems or working on

her blog ‘Cloudy Thoughts on a

Sunny Day’.

MONICA MONTEZ

Editor

Monica Montez is an English

major and editor for Talon

Magazine. When she’s not

catching up on schoolwork,

she runs her Blogger website

and plays catch with her furbaby

Legend.

TYLER RAYMOND

Editor

Tyler is working towards a

degree in journalism with

plans to become a combat

war journalist. With Tyler’s

Marine Corps background and

habit of going on unorthodox

adventures, a job as a combat

journalist would come naturally

to him. He is always willing

to go to locations that most

would not go to or experience

in order to get a unique story

that is exclusive to himself and

never second hand.

GRETCHEN

OCCHIONERO

Project Manager, DZGN Studio

Gretchen is a graphic designer

with CCD’s Creative Services

and project manager for the

Multimedia/Graphic Design

Service Learning course. In her

spare time, she enjoys traveling,

gardening and searching for

new trails to hike with her

daughter and golden retriever.

AUGGIE RODGRIGUEZ

Assistant Project Manager/

Graphic Designer

Auggie is a graphic designer

specializing in crafting

strategic and innovative design

solutions. His design approach

relies on simplicity rather

than complexity, clarity over

vagueness and a preference,

for abstraction over trend.

His love for typography is the

main driving force in his design

aesthetic. He loved TYPE since

his early years doing graffiti,

when he enjoyed seeing

people’s reaction to the letter

forms he created and that

made him happy.

JOSEPHINE BEE

Graphic Designer

Josie is an aspiring graphic

designer with a background in

traditional art and an interest in

character design and concept

art. She is currently finishing

her Graphic Design degree and

is branching out into the world

of freelance design.

VALDIR DA SILVA

Graphic Designer

Valdir is a Brazilian artist

looking for new horizons.

He’s in his last semester at

CCD finishing his certificate

in Graphic Design. He was a

vocalist for two decades, a solo

biker and enjoys the freedom

of being able to create without

strings attached. Be yourself,

by yourself.

ROSSI DIMITROVA

Graphic Designer

Rossi is a Creative with a

capital “C” based in Denver.

She draws her inspiration from

everything around her: nature,

the human body, landscapes,

architecture, and more. She

has extensive background in

fine and applied arts including

ceramics, sculpture, drawing,

painting, photography, jewelry

and other product design.

Currently, Rossi is majoring in

Graphic Design at CCD.

KEVIN MEAUX

Graphic Designer

Kevin is a Denver-based

creative with interest in fashion

design. He is currently finishing

his certificate program in

graphic design this spring at

CCD. He is looking to pursue a

degree in fashion design and

garment construction.

TREVOR NOON

Graphic Designer

Trevor is a digital designer

who is always looking towards

the future. He plans to use his

design knowledge he learned

at CCD to the fullest. Trevor

is currently diving into the

world of 3D modeling and

motion graphics as his quest

for knowledge continues. His

latest design experiments can

be found @decibel_design on

Instagram.

ALIE SELENKE

Graphic Designer

Alie is a graphic design student

at CCD. She enjoys challenging

herself with different stories

and works that she designs.

Alie enjoys exploring new

aspects of design and art and

is passionate about bringing

joy and happiness into every

design she makes. In her spare

time she likes to cake decorate

and read true crime,

ALEXANDRA SMITH

Graphic Designer

Alexandra is a graphic designer

and artist who is passionate

about creativity. Her work is

inspired by the beauty and

complexity of the natural

world. She earned a degree

in Graphic Design at CCD in

spring 2023. Alexandra is also

a certified yoga instructor,

She currently works fulltime

as a graphic designer

and also takes on freelance

projects. To see examples of

her work, visit her website at

alexandracarolinedesign.com.

DAVID VALENZUELA

Graphic Designer

David is a graphic designer

Inspired by the art of

architecture and fashion.

He is based in Denver but is

seeking to work around the

globe to experience multiple

perspectives of the design

world. David is honored to be

a part of the striking designs

constructed by the Talon

magazine team.

[ 2 ] TALON – EXCELLENCE IN JOURNALISM / COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF DENVER

[ 3 ]

Our Stories

Through the

Ourglass

An Empathetic Editor Sees the

Person Behind the Piece

AUTHOR TIMOTHY GRAYSON

LAYOUT ALIE SELENKE


[ 5 ]

“ I’ve had several stories that

didn’t make it in...

that totally made me cry.”

A

literary magazine’s purpose is to present stories,

poetry, and art in as pure a creative form

as possible. The Ourglass, Community College

of Denver’s decades-long-running lit mag, holds sacred

the artistic vision of their contributors. When the editorial

staff accepts a piece for publication, there are no further

edits. If it is executed with precision and emotion, it

stands out to the editors who can envision it blossoming

on the page exactly as the writer intended.

As a fledgling writer and CCD student as well, I

often wonder if I could be capable enough to build a

career out of crafting words for the page. It’s an easy

habit to look back at my writing and see how my sentences

drag on and clunk into each other, how some

transitions feel more senseless than seamless. Despite

my self-criticism and doubt (and also being required to

for a creative writing assignment), I ended up submitting

several poems and promptly putting it out of mind.

Investigating what happens after you hit submit,

I discovered that my poems likely ended up in the

hands of Riley Nguyen, fellow CCD student and one of

the editors on the editorial team. After talking with her,

Riley Nguyen, Ourglass Editor

it was clear how much goes into this review process.

She’s been busy preparing this year’s publication, receiving,

reviewing, and making the judgment call on

submissions to the magazine.

Riley’s background in charity fundraising is the

perfect foundation for this type of editorial work. She

knows how to sharpen a message, direct it at the correct

audience, and earn the investment capital needed

to sustain an organization. She sees her role in

fundraising as that of liaison, where the visions of a

“You want to have a

connection between

the artist and the

reader and my job is

to mediate between

the two...”

non-profit organization or entrepreneur get translated

and forwarded to the powerful minds and hands that

can dole out investment dollars. The stakes are real,

and she is dependable.

Her skills of communication and detailed wordcraft

have transferred nicely into the literary sphere.

The currency and stakes she now deals in are emotions.

Making clear her priorities, Riley said, “You want

to have a connection between the artist and the reader

and my job is to mediate between the two because,

yes, the artist can make a brilliant piece of work, but

it’s really difficult for a reader to understand if it’s chaotically

organized.”

She leans forward in her chair focused on her

open laptop, critically experiencing one story after another,

balancing how long a piece is with the potential

value it might bring to readers. Every accepted entry

must be justified — after all the reality of the form of the

magazine means printing space is limited. Out of an

estimated 300 pieces, only 30, or perhaps as many as

40, will make it in. Their standards make it clear there

is no room for incompleteness or slop.

Riley, ever the empathetic editor, acknowledges

the range and depth of the submissions. Noting one

particularly emotional and delicate story that struggled

to meet the magazine’s standards, Riley said, “I

recognize that this is a very vulnerable story… and unfortunately,

I have to be the arbitrator of these standards,

but also that doesn’t mean that I haven’t been

touched by these stories. I’ve had several stories that

didn’t make it in for one reason or another… that totally

made me cry.”

Graceful or stumbling, readable or not — these

stories are real and full of meaning, and at these soulful

moments, they reach out and touch an audience,

one set of eyes and emotions at a time. Some stories

just require more cultivation and work to accomplish

this goal.

Once selections are made and the drafts and design

are finalized, it will get digitally bundled together

and sent to the printers to be printed out in its physical

form and dispersed throughout Auraria Campus. The

students and readers who eventually open a copy will

have the same chance to experience the stories, just

as Riley did, but more carefully curated.

To be honest, when I contacted Riley for an interview,

I had completely forgotten that I had submitted to

the magazine. I was reminded only a few days ago, while

working on the piece you’re reading now, because I discovered

an Ourglass rejection letter in my student email

inbox. I could have felt disappointed, but, on reflection, I

could more easily imagine Riley, with her laptop, leaning

into my poems, understanding how they’re not the right

fit, still appreciating that another whole human being

took the time to write themselves onto the page for her

careful consideration. n


[ 7 ]

AT THE BAR WITH

DNVR PODCASTER

ADAM MARES

AUTHOR GABRIELLE MENDOZA

LAYOUT AUGGIE RODRIGUEZ

The perks of being a sports podcaster in a Denver

sports bar are many. Sports podcaster, Adam Mares,

helps hosts the DNVR Denver Nuggets Podcast, located

in the DNVR bar near East High School off Colfax.

As it just so happens to be, he is my cousin. I had

the pleasure of sitting down with him at the DNVR bar

and asking him a few questions about his career and

the podcast.

Adam has established his name as a credible

sportswriter and podcaster in the media world of Denver

sports. He is a Colorado native originally from

Thornton. He majored in philosophy and played basketball

at the Colorado College in Colorado Springs.

After college, he started writing about the NBA as

a passionate hobby and developed quite a following.

Adam has always loved Denver sports, especially basketball.

It wasn’t until a couple years after he started

writing that he thought he could actually make money

off of it. Adam recalls, “The only reason I made it in is

because I was doing it because I wanted to, because

how many people would take a three-year unpaid internship,

which was basically what I did, even though I

didn’t have an internship I was writing unpaid for several

years.”


[ 9 ]

At the time, podcasts were just starting to get big.

For the uninitiated, podcasts are pre-recorded audio

shows that discusses specific topics relating to the

show’s theme. Subscribers can download and listen

podcasts to on their own schedule, making them accessible

and popular.

The first podcast he made was called the Pick Axe

Podcast and he made it to try and get his name out there

and practice his skills in podcasting. Eventually this paid

off because he got hired by a startup called Locked On

Sports. Locked On Sports has since grown into a

big company and Mares still does a podcast

there called Locked On Nuggets.

The DNVR Denver Nuggets

podcast is an intensive indepth

daily podcast that

covers the Nuggets five

days a week. Adam said

there are five journalists

who help host the podcast

at various times with usually

only three or four of them

hosting for any show. The

five of them are all genuine

friends who share a passion for the Nuggets. Adam said,

“Our audience feels like they’re hanging out with their

friends talking about the Nuggets.”

After every game, they discuss each of their perspectives

and narratives. It covers analysis, news, and

the community revolving around the Nuggets. Their podcast

is the number one Nuggets podcast in the world.

One of the perks and (Adam’s favorite thing about

the podcast), is the nicknames. Adam said they get to

come up with a lot of the culture for Denver sports,

like the nicknames and sayings that make the Nuggets

who they are. For example, every year they nominate

a player and call them ‘Mr. Nugget’. The player can’t be

the star, or the best player, but it’s somebody who embodies

the spirit, best aspects, and traits of the team.

The week before this interview, they decided Aaron

Gordon, who has been with the Nuggets since 2021,

was going to be ‘Mr. Nugget’. After they made the decision,

they interviewed Gordon for the podcast and

announced he was Mr. Nugget. At the next game, Ball

Arena also introduced him as ‘Mr. Nugget’! Adam said,

“That’s my favorite thing about this is that we add to the

experience and create these things that then become

ubiquitous and universal and everyone adopts.”

Another key perks of being the number one

sports podcast is access. The hosts get to meet and

interview the players from the team. In fact, Adam has

interviewed every player on the Nuggets at least once,

if not more than once. He has also interviewed Michael

Malone who is the coach for the Nuggets, and who is

his favorite person to interview. Adam said, “Michael

Malone is so charismatic and hilarious, and sometimes

pointed… he’s just a really good interview.”

Adam’s most memorable experience since being

with DNVR has been taking the DNVR podcast on the

road to Serbia in 2022. Last year a group of staff from

DNVR went to Serbia to learn about the history of

basketball in the country. Five people from the show

went including Adam, and two producers. Adam said,

“As far as professional things I’ve done it was my

favorite, we went out there to learn all about

the history of basketball, we made a

documentary on it, and we did a

bunch of interviews and met a

bunch of people.”

While they were there

they even met up with Adam’s

favorite player, Denver

Nugget star player and Serbian,

Nikola Jokic. Adam said

when they went out there,

they had a small following,

but over the time they were

out there it got bigger and bigger. Adam said, “We

went on both of the national morning shows, they just

called us up because we had gone so viral while we

were out there and made such a big splash that they

were like you guys have to come on.” He said the last

day in Serbia, they got stopped about ten times to talk

to fans or take photos. This was all just on their one

mile walk to lunch.

Adam offered a lot of sage advice for anyone that

wants to go into sports media. One piece of advice resonated

the most with me and my own interest in journalism

was about passion. Adam said, “Some of this is

just life advice, and some of it is sports media advice,

but you need to love something if you’re going to do it.”

A second piece of advice focused on getting better

at doing the thing you love. Adam advised, “Just do it

and it doesn’t matter if you have an audience or not,

because your first article is going to suck, your first podcast

is going to suck, your first everything is going to

suck, so is your second, third, fourth or 100th but eventually

you’ll be like ‘oh wow I’m way better at this’.”

All in all, I gained a lot of perspective from my time

spent talking with Adam Mares. I find him inspiring because

he’s someone that is successful in the field of

work. I would hope to be just as successful doing this

kind of work in the future. He makes pursuing a career

within media and journalism seem more attainable.

The perks like working at a bar in Denver sounds

nice, too! n


[ 11 ]

Spring 2023

Talon Magazine

Jo

Koy

is my

Elvis

AUTHOR MONICA MONTEZ

PHOTOGRAPHY JOKOY.COM

LAYOUT TREVOR NOON

[ 12 ] TALON – EXCELLENCE IN JOURNALISM / COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF DENVER [ 13 ]

here are only two people who have their

T

own day in Honolulu. Elvis Presley and

Jo Koy, one of my favorite comedians. Jo

Koy is a Filipino-American observational

comedian who has captivated the nation. If you’re

into the raunchy and the relatable, Koy is the guy

for you. It was also his adoration and connection

to his Filipino roots is what shot him into stardom.

Koy is someone who stayed true to himself and

his art in a world that adores masks. The masks

that executives put on stars so they can be more

‘culturally accessible’ to audiences. But Jo Koy

refused to be another casualty.

Because he stayed true to his culture and

his art, he’s brought a plethora of different

kinds of people into his fan base. I remember

myself watching him for the first time

and realizing how hooked I was when he

was connecting the Mexican and the Filipino

cultures as one in the same. His experiences

were so much like mine—I saw myself

in him. That doesn’t happen a lot for me.

In this different world, he reminds you to laugh at

yourself and to not take things too seriously. His bubbly

storytelling and light-hearted fluidity to connect with the

audience is what makes it so easy to gravitate to him.

This inspired me to attend his stand-up show at the

Ball Arena on Saturday, March 4. Forgetting the struggles

I had all night with my hair, I was ready to watch

his “Funny is Funny” tour stop here in Denver. I can

remember sitting on the light rail and mentally crossing

my fingers for a lot of people to come see him. I cringed

at myself for being such a fan girl, but whatever!

After a long chat with a girl in line about Supernatural,

I checked in and weaseled my way through the

ocean of people. I was so happy to know that all these

people who knew Koy, found him equally admirable.

Snagging my Truly hard seltzer and nachos with

haste (don’t ask how much they were), I rushed to my

seat. I heard the crowds cheering as the signal that

he had finally come out. I was floored to see the big

man himself for the first time! Even though his face

was a blur from the balcony seats, I was just happy to

be there. It had been a long time since I could enjoy

going to an event without the fear of getting sick or

having a mask to muffle my laughter and cheers. It

was good to be back.

One instance, he called out a gentleman named

Cameron in the nosebleed section. Koy could not get

enough from the fact that Cameron looked like he

borrowed his tiny shirt from his girlfriend, and neither

could we. It was all in good fun and throughout the

night, we all laughed about Koy’s microscopic butt, his

son, and much more.

Towards the end of the show, he jumped to the

subject of today’s youth. Everything that the generation

before us had enjoyed, was lost in time. They did

not know the cosmic prowess of 90s music or what a

phone book was. Despite being a 2000s baby, I agreed!

The laugh-drunken arena enthusiastically followed his

lead in singing songs from TLC, Boyz II Men, and K-Ci

and Jojo. Not once did I feel awkward when belting the

lyrics to ‘No Scrubs’. This man reached down into our

inner child and brought them out to play. There was

oneness throughout the arena, and I felt at home. Not

just anyone can do that, but Koy did that for me.

He was loving and gracious when he was bidding

us his farewells. It was like leaving your friend’s house,

feeling on top of the world from having a good night.

There was a tinge of hope in me when he said that one

day, he might do a special here in Denver. All I knew

was that if that were to happen, I would be there!

Walking through the hordes of people, I admired the

merchandise so meticulously laid out. I silently laughed

to myself looking at the prices, but I remembered that a

gift of comedy like that doesn’t come cheap.

Humming to myself with a big smile, I practically

skipped to the light rail. I left feeling inspired and ready

for life again. The transparency for his love for fun and

people is what makes those very things embrace

him. We all have a gift that wants to

be seen as we all contribute something

to the world. Jo Koy is someone who

shines through with his gift, bombastically

and unapologetically.

Thank you Jo Koy I think

you deserve your own day here

in Denver! n

If you’re

into the

raunchy

and the

relatable...


[ 15 ]

Spring 2023

Talon Magazine

Every garage band has an origin

story. These stories start

with a small group of teenagers

interested in making music

in the garage and expecting

no audience. Yet dreaming of

the sounds of the crowds who line

up for hours to hear them, chant

their name, and enjoy their music.

There is a local garage band

that is just setting out on the journey.

No name has been chosen.

The music style is still undecided.

To understand this band’s music is

to understand the bandmates and

how their different personalities

bringing forth their own talents and

skills to create a new form of music

and perhaps style.

Jakob, Louis, Myles, and Josh,

friends since middle school, recently

decided to form a band in their junior

year of high school. All of them

have their own particular story behind

the music that they create and

how they came to love the art. The

essence of their music is derived

from both the sense of self-love and

the love for their loved ones, making

powerful sounds. This compels

me to tell their story.


[ 17 ]

JAKOB

Jakob describes music as “just [a]

kind of an escape as emo.” To him

the most awesome part of the music

is “how you can put these certain

sounds together and it hits a chord

in you”. He started playing the guitar

when he was in sixth grade due to

seeing his older brother play it.

Soon, his older brother started

teaching Jakob which sparked

his love for creating art. He also

loves a variety of music but more

specifically “jazz like Jaco Pastorius,

Bill Evans, Rick James and

Sly and the Family Stone to black

metal like Darkthrone, Meshuggah,

and Terrorizer”. He carries on this

list to inspirations such as Animals

as Leaders, Acid Bath, MF Doom,

Thundercat, Minor Threat, Bad

Brains, the Prodigy, and Death Grips

which are artists that Jakob describes,

“I just love and it’s hard to

pick a certain one I like more than

the other”.

His MP3 holds both the music

his family liked and the music

he liked, setting the foundation of

his individual sound- “There was a

period of time I completely forgot I

had that MP3 player, so I got a lot

more into rap and hip hop then rock

and shit like that but then around

like 7th grade. I discovered it again

and just jumped right back into all

that stuff.” The band that they are

forming, he describes more as

“just a couple friends who like music

getting together and messing

around”, making music for fun. As

Jakob expresses in his laid-back

way, “Music’s pretty cool”. And creating

it makes it even better.

pose of not just making music but

having one day of the entire hard

week from school and relaxing with

his friends.

MYLES

Myles enjoys music because it is

a way for people to express themselves.

“Regardless of whether or

not that what I write has some significant

and deep meaning, each

piece of writing sets the framework

for who I am. Anything I couldn’t formulate

to others, I could articulate

within music”, he says.

Myles has been writing songs

his whole life, but it was at 13 years

old where he discovered music production

and his own love for music

saying, “I gravitated towards it

due to the comfort I felt in knowing

there’s others who have the same

feelings as I did. It was that feeling

that I wanted to capture myself, resulting

in me being more serious

about songwriting”.

As he began to learn how, the

passion for music grew so much

that he had finally convinced his

mom (through a lot of late-night

singing) to let him get singing lessons

in order to improve his voice.

It was since then that singing had

been all he did.

Enjoying every kind of music,

he explains, “I believe every genre

holds importance in its own respect.

I view music as human nature.

Each artist and band has

music full of human expression

exercised in various ways. There’s

not a genre I don’t listen to”. Also

adding that he is not exactly fond

of the music that feels “unauthentic

or industrially fabricated for the

sake of attention only”.

Myles expresses his gratitude

in joining the band, to which he had

no hesitation of saying ‘yes’ when

asked to join. He is, “happy in deciding

to join due to the wider diversity

of ideas thrown about to create

something personal to all of us” and

is heavily inspired by David Bowie

and others.

JOSH

Lastly, Josh explains that his own

love for music comes from the fact

that it is able to bring people together

and that he enjoys it more

that way rather than just listening to

it. While he had been enjoying music

and had learned lots about it, he

also just began to play the ukulele

this past summer out of boredom

and because of it “collecting dust”.

He enjoys a lot of classic rock,

hip hop, and “a little bit of modern/

lofi? Like metamodernity type stuff”.

All of this is thanks to his older

brother who introduced him to most

of what he listens to today.

For him the band was both a

way to share what he had learned

and is a “nice excuse to hang out”.

And while he doesn’t have many

inspirations for music, Josh does

say “I admire the story and backgrounds

of certain artists like Capital

STEEZ or Nujabes… maybe not

inspired but definitely piqued my

interest” and adds, “my favorite artist

is producer Nujabes. He’s very

LOUIS

Starting 3 years ago with his own

instruments, Louis finds that music

is fun to play with and loves to see

how it “communicates” with those

around him. He learned to play

guitar, electric guitar, and piano as

well as editing the music to make it

fit together.

He enjoys any type of music,

but punk rock is his favorite- “Just

those bands who are for the music

and playing for the fans”, he says as

I asked for his favorite. Above all, he

loves Vansire because of “his very

surreal style”.

Surreal, meaning that it revolutionizes

the human experience and

perhaps even brings in the power of

the unconscious mind and invokes

beauty from the uncanny. This is a

recurring theme for the band itself

that Louis helps provide. For Louis,

creating this band served the purinfluential

and I admire his ability to

produce and produce well. He was

on a lot of the soundtrack to one of

my favorite shows, Samurai Champloo.

And also, the fact he used to

sample with physical records and

collected them- shits was cool to

me, very traditional. Shame he died

so early.”

THE MUSIC

While they don’t think the world is

quite ready for them yet, the question

remains: are there any original

songs? The answer is yes.

Louis says the music they make

is called “stressitself”- all spelled

into one word. What began as a sort

of joke and a way for them to mess

around with their music has now

grown deeper. As Louis explains

“stressitself” as a “joke song that

kinda weirds out the listener. It purposely

weirds them out for a unique

experience”.

The sound they want to create

is always changing, but there is one

thing that Louis knows for certain-

“I think we’re definitely gonna be

heavy hitting with emotional segments

as a band.” With all of them

undergoing through their own personal

hardships, it has given way for

new inspiration and the purpose of

their band. However, they still want

to spread messages through their

music and inspire other bands and

songwriters to “love yourself and

put it into your craft no matter what

it is.”

I wish this band all the best of

luck to keep moving forward, especially

in their hard times and hopefully

someday we can all see them

perform. My message to them is

that those struggles are the best

inspiration for making art. Whatever

type of art they are doing, it is in the

hard times that wonderful masterpieces

can be created. n


[ 19 ]

FIRST FRIDAY ART WALKS ARE ALWAYS A HIT.

The Denver art district of Santa Fe is a unique

corner of Denver that provides the satisfaction

of gorgeous art, culture, local food and music

that makes the perfect combination of a relaxed

and fun environment.

On Santa Fe, not only can you look around Denver’s

local art galleries, but shops like Moon

Dance Botanicals greet you with open doors

and a hot cup of healthy herbal tea. You are

urged to explore the small local businesses such

as Katya Candles. This establishment is wellknown

for their signature homemade candles,

beautifully crafted to look like food or the shape

of curvy bodies. The colorful and undemanding

atmosphere compels your own inventiveness to

be stimulated.

The First Friday Art Walks remind you to work

hard and play harder within your own life let

loose! If you’re an artist suffering from creative

block or just need a fun night out, come to this

side of town! This event is held every first Friday

of the month. ■

AUTHOR/PHOTOGRAPHY STEPHENIE BAKER

LAYOUT KEVIN MEAUX


[ 21 ]

GOES TO

AUTHOR XAVIER CARDENAS

LAYOUT JOSEPHINE BEE

still remember where I was when I heard the

news. My dad told me to go upstairs immediately,

which is never good. He told me cryptically

that “the government was calling” about me. I got

the rundown from my parents about what that actually

meant. They were informed that Senator John Hickenlooper’s

office was looking for a Senate Page for the

fall 2022 semester, and my now-former principal had

recommended that I fill this slot.

The first place I turned? Wikipedia. “Page of the

United States Senate” turned up some interesting

results. I found that Pages had their own school and

dorm, but their hours were long and the programs had

received much scrutiny over the years. On top of everything

else, Pages didn’t have access to their phones

during the entirety of their stay in Washington, D.C.

My parents told me I pretty much had to do this

program, and I’m not sure why, but I obliged. I say no

to just about everything, but this time felt different.

Maybe in the back of my mind, I didn’t think it would

amount to anything. All I know is that I agreed.

That was a Sunday. The next few days were pretty

hectic, because the turnaround was dangerously fast.

In between some Britannica research on what the Senate

actually does, I completed an application, got a letter

of recommendation from the Denver Public Schools

superintendent, and did an interview with Hickenlooper’s

chief of staff. By Wednesday, she had called me

back saying that they wanted to offer me their Page

slot. I thanked her and excitedly told my parents.

Not even a month later, I stood in line outside our

dorm, Webster Hall. I was with the other 25 pages, all

from different states and across the political spectrum.

It was just my dad and I, and I felt a strong sense of unease

being around so many people I didn’t know and

in an environment I had never been to.

By the time we were introduced to the Senate

floor and toured the dorm, all the families had left, and

the Pages were shuffled into the dayroom to meet

each other formally. I sat in the back of the room, only

speaking when spoken to and trying to avoid being

front and center. Not only did I not know much about

politics, but it took me a long time to open up in such

an unfamiliar environment.

Thankfully, I was glad to see that it did indeed get

better over time. Even though I didn’t have much in

common with any of my five roommates, we came to

share a brotherly bond. And despite my work shift being

quiet in our first days, we gradually came to show

off our individual personalities, no matter how emotional,

outrageous or overachieving we were.


[ 23 ]

The coolest moments started pretty much immediately.

During our first month, Sonceria Ann Berry, the

Secretary of the Senate, presented us each with pins

to wear on our blue uniforms. We each got a photo with

her and listened to her share her words of wisdom.

The long hours weren’t as bad as they were made to

seem. I still remember the reactions people had upon

seeing the more famous members of the Senate, but

we quickly got used to working side by side with them

School was unlike any other education I had ever

experienced - that’s ignoring the fact that class typically

started at 6 A.M. and never ran past 10 A.M. All the

teachers had their own quirks and interests. Our science

teacher, Dr. Johnson, was always there to make sure

we understood the material, and we had lots of laughs

poking fun at our social studies teacher, Mr. Fiorill. The

math teacher, Ms. Glines, had a vocabulary all her own

that the rest of us Pages came to adopt. She laughed if

we were ‘weak sauce’ or making ‘J.V. moves’. And I had

never met anyone like the English teacher, Mrs. Owens,

who had been with the Page Program since 2000. She

had the most unapologetic and dry wit. But it was clear

underneath it all, she loved her students.

In between school and work, the residence staff

made sure that we had time to have fun and get to

know each other. During our first weekend, we did a

cool team building activity in Maryland. We enjoyed zip

lining and being dropped from heights merely being

held by a thread. Sometime during the first month, we

were taken to a production of Hamilton at the Kennedy

Center. Despite the fact that I am not a “musicals” person,

I was so enthralled by the show that I found myself

forgetting where I was during the intermission. In

general, D.C. has lots of cool sights, many of which we

were lucky to have toured, like the Library of Congress

and Georgetown University. School field trips were

fun too, like Mount Vernon and Williamsburg, even if

we mostly resented the fact that we were still there to

learn and would get quizzed on them.

Every Page got the chance to meet their Senator,

and my meeting with Hickenlooper was nothing short

of ethereal. I got to talk to him in his private office, and

was glad to see that he remembered things like where

I go to school when we spoke. I saw him a number of

times throughout my service as a Page, and every time

he made sure to say hi to me and ask how I was doing.

Our class of Pages was unique in that the Senate

spent a lot of time in recess, meaning we had no work

to do and had more flexible hours. Recess weeks were

filled to the brim with field trips; places like the National

Air and Space Museum and the Planet Word Museum.

Perhaps my favorite field trip of the entire program

was when we went to Hershey Park in Hershey,

Pennsylvania on a Saturday. It was fun to be able to let

loose with my new friends, snacking and riding roller

coasters with a sense of freedom that I had never felt

before. During recess weeks, I got to work alongside

Hickenlooper’s incredible staff in his office, sorting

constituent mail or organizing team press releases. On

one recess day, myself and two of my friends snuck to

the House side to take pictures in front of Alexandria

Ocasio-Cortez’s office.

All the fun we had didn’t mean that we weren’t

committed to our work. I worked past midnight a number

of times. The Capitol at 12 A.M. is truly a sight to

behold. It’s every bit as composed as you would think

it is, and could easily get creepy. Such long hours likely

would have deterred most people from doing it,

but everyone was there for each other. The Senators

were nice on the floor; even a simple thanks from Mitt

Romney or Elizabeth Warren after holding the door

for them was much appreciated. The littlest moments

were always some of the most important to us. I can’t

even describe my excitement when Bernie Sanders

passed by me and said hello. The Secretary even let

us go to her Christmas office party in December!

By the last month of the program, things were

starting to feel final, but that didn’t mean anything was

slowing down. We got to tour the White House and

view all of its decorations in their glory. Perhaps the

single most important day of the program (and what

I would already consider one of the most important

days of my life), was the swearing in of the new senators

for the 118th Congress. On January 3rd, 2023, we

saw the swearing in of the first ever female President

Pro Tempore of the Senate, Patty Murray. And the actual

President of the Senate was there - Vice President

[ 24 ]

TALON – EXCELLENCE IN JOURNALISM / COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF DENVER

[ 25 ]

Spring 2023

Talon Magazine

Kamala Harris. One of my friends got to serve her water,

and she gave her an enthusiastic thanks. Needless

to say, we all felt so much secondhand pride.

The program was beginning to wind down starting

with final exams week. They weren’t as bad as

everyone thought they would be, and they lifted tons

of stress from our shoulders. We got to just hang out

at work for the final few times, each day more bittersweet

than the last. On the last day of work, Senator

Cory Booker, who was known to be a great friend of

the pages, gave us a tribute and asked that our names

be submitted to the Congressional Record. I tried to

hold back my tears upon hearing his speech, but

seeing my friends cry made me fail. He stayed in the

lobby with us afterwards, happily taking pictures and

signing our yearbooks.

January 27, 2023 was the hardest day. It meant that

we were packed and ready to leave, saying goodbye

to all of our teachers and favorite staffers. We traveled

to the Capitol for the last time as a class for the closing

ceremony. It was a moment of bittersweet peace - everyone

got their awards and speeches were delivered

on behalf of our class. Hickenlooper spoke, and I even

got a shout out during his speech. Once it was over, I

got to introduce my family to the other families as well

as my always-cool supervisor, Toussaint. I gave them a

special tour of the Senate side before we left.

As I wished my fellow Pages farewell, we put my

things in the car and drove off. I stared at our dorm and

then the Capitol until they were out of sight, and let a

few tears roll down my face.

Even if I was sad to leave behind what had become

my life, I would be forever grateful that this program

opened the doors that it did for me. Though it’s

physically over now, I know that I will let the memories

live on in my mind forever. ■


[ 27 ]

Mistress

Interview With a Helpful Dominatrix

AUTHOR STEPHENIE BAKER

LAYOUT ALEXANDRA SMITH

“I had one person come to my BDSM party who had a

really bad day at work in tears. I spanked her and we cuddled,

she cried and told me about her day.”

Mistress Valerie, a dominatrix in the metro Denver

kink community, recalled one encounter that demonstrated

the therapeutic benefits of BDSM play parties. I met

Mistress Valerie when I attended one of her play parties.

I was interested in building my photography portfolio and

offering photos at her events. Later that month I found myself

struggling with lighting during another darkly lit BDSM

party which featured a St. Andrews Cross.

While the only photos I got were of Mistress Valerie

and a table of impact toys. I was curious about understanding

Mistress Valerie and this part of the kink community.

In a lengthy in-depth interview, we discussed the

recent curiosity with the kink community’s play parties.

For the uninitiated, BDSM is a variety of erotic role

playing involving bondage, discipline, dominance, and

submission. Play parties are simply events to meet

fellow members in the kink community. A dominatrix

holds a central and dominating role in BDSM and

play parties, often leading participants in these

activities. What a better way to connect with a

partner(s), yourself or even someone you never

thought you would meet than to visit a play party.

These parties are for adults who are 21 or

older and want to explore the kink community.

Each party is catered to what the host

wants the party to feel like.

One night a host might hold a BDSM

party whereas another host might be

holding a trans play party. This is what

makes this experience unique and

unlike any other; you get to connect

with people who share or are curious

about the same kinks. Each

party has its own personality. The

structure of the play party varies

depending on the interest

of the host and their guests.

[ 28 ] TALON – EXCELLENCE IN JOURNALISM / COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF DENVER [ 29 ]

“What is so

wrong with

liking sex,

with liking

being

spanked?”

Mistress Valerie, who also goes by Miss

Valerie, has been frequently hosting parties

since April 2022. She usually hosts parties

once a week to once a month. Her parties

tend to tilt towards a house party aesthetic to

make people feel comfortable.

She said, “You’re going to see people

sitting on comfortable furniture talking getting

to know each other. I try to have board games

out, Jenga, or something to help people interact

and socialize. Generally, drinks, possible

snacks, but it’s not as intimidating as you think.

You might see a scene, someone on the cross.

Possibly someone getting flogged or spanked

or electrocuted.”

Obviously, safety and consent are critically

important to have a good party. These are

two of her main focuses as a host. The intentions

are to make sure that everyone who

attends a party knows the rules of consent.

This is a shared responsibility of each person

who attends the party.

As a savvy host, Miss Valerie has developed

a keen sense of how to make

sure safety and consent are embraced

by party participants. She suggests

having proper consent conversations

before parties and even screening

members to ensure they know what

consent looks like to them. She

also suggests having a party partner.

This helps guest keep each

other safe. If you see that your

partner is uncomfortable speak

up. The knowledge that these

parties are others safe space is

important to recognize.

Miss Valerie opened up

about her experiences as a

host. “I think that’s a really

big thing and that’s part of

my drive. I’ve had so many

people who have said that.

The energy is there, and the

vibe is there, the safety and

sense of community. I’ve had

so many people tell me they

feel home.”

The goal of these play parties

to develop a sense of community

that doesn’t judge someone

because of who they are.

Rather they empower you for being

human. Sex is very much part

of the human experience and Miss

Valerie wants to empower people though being

a dominatrix as a life coach.

This is probably the most startling revelation

of my interview with Miss Valerie. The role

of helpfully empowering people through her services

as a dominatrix (domme). To the point that

she hopes to one day be a life coach by leveraging

her services and knowledge as a domme.

Miss Valerie explained that people are often

faced with life’s hard things they need to take care

of but can’t due to procrastination. For example,

creating a living will is a hard thing for a lot of people

to wrap their heads around. It involves so many

complicated emotions and a good deal of mental

anguish. People don’t want to deal with it, especially

if you have a kid.

Miss Valerie imagines a business model of accountability

through BDSM, where people who are

faced with this kind of difficult decisions would

hire her as a means of, well, “strongly encouraging”

them to complete these hard tasks. “We

would set up a plan. I’d check in with you like

once a week and if you haven’t done it we’re

going to have a session and you’re going to

pay me for it. Hopefully you’ve been able

to write your will and done a few more on

the list of errands. I’ve made some money

and we both feel good about our relationship,

you got some kinks out that

you get to enjoy! It’s like accountability

through BDSM.”

It’s an intriguing business model.

One of the biggest obstacles to overcome

is the stigma of kink and

BDSM. Hopefully that will change

as time passes and more people

are comfortable talking about kink.

Miss Valerie wants the world to

embrace and better understand

the kink. She said, “I wish the world

would just be not so judgmental.

There is a little bit of kink in everyone

and if it doesn’t hurt you, and

if it doesn’t affect you, and all parties

are agreeing and consenting

adults then why should it matter

what they do?”

Reflecting on the world of kink,

Miss Valerie wondered, “What is so

wrong with liking sex, with liking being

spanked?” n

[ 30 ] TALON – EXCELLENCE IN JOURNALISM / COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF DENVER [ 31 ] [ 31 ]

Let’s Go

Skydiving!

AUTHOR NEVAEH WASHINGTON

LAYOUT ALIE SELENKE

TALON – EXCELLENCE IN JOURNALISM / COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF DENVER

[ 33 ]

JUST

PURE

REVITALIZING

JOY

T

he first time I decided to go skydiving, I needed to

feel something bigger and gain a new perspective

and outlook on life.

When I got to the Skydive Orange Skies skydiving

outfit located in Fort Morgan off State

Highway 52, the only thing I could see

was an open field with a big stablelike

building. The staff said to come

an hour earlier to make sure I was

eligible to jump by getting weighed.

I also needed to fill out paperwork

and sign a waiver.

After filling out the paperwork, I

had time to sit and watch as the group

before mine started to float down.

At first no one could see them, but a

staff member told me those birds flying were skydivers

who were just up so high. That’s when it really hit me,

I was next.

“ALL I COULD

HEAR WAS THE

PLANE AND

WIND”

Once that group landed the instructor came up to

me, handed me goggles, and went over a brief demonstration

of what to expect during a tandem skydiving

jump. This is where two people are strapped together

during the entire skydiving descent.

Pretty common for instructors and

first timers like myself.

Our group loaded quickly on the

plane. My instructor and I were the

first ones on, so we’d be the last

ones to jump. I was getting anxious.

My instructor and I weren’t going to

be connected until the halfway point

to the skydiving jump spot. And after

passing through the clouds, we

were still not connected.

At the jump spot, I learned that the plane was at

an altitude of 14,000 feet. One by one people started

jumping out of the open door. All I could hear was the

plane and wind. When it was our turn, we squatted at

the door of the plane. We got to the edge, and I knew

at any moment he was going to jump. It got oddly completely

quiet where I couldn’t even hear myself think.

It was silent for 10 seconds, and then we jumped.

When we fell out of the plane, we were falling

around 120mph for about 60 seconds. Then my instructor

who was tightly tethered to me pulled the cord to

release our parachute. He tapped my shoulders twice

signaling me to shift into the spread-out starfish position

known in skydiving.

Once in position, the parachute opened, and we

were thrown into the sky like a football. After that I just

floated. I can’t even begin to express the feeling. It was

just pure revitalizing joy. I couldn’t see any people, or

buildings or anything small, and suddenly all of those

big things don’t seem so big.

After a few minutes of floating, you’re supposed

to put your feet up like you’re sitting with your feet out.

Then you get tapped twice on the shoulders to prompt

you to start running, so you won’t crash into the ground.

But because I’m so short my instructor told me I

could just continue to float there for a little while longer.

I absolutely loved skydiving. It changed my outlook

on life. I think everyone should go skydiving at

least once in their life. n


[ 35 ]

AUTHOR/PHOTOGRAPHY STEPHENIE BAKER

LAYOUT DESIGN KEVIN MEAUX

Approximately three hours south of Denver in Chaffee County, you will

find a quaint little town called Buena Vista, aka, ‘Bewnie’. Every

Sunday in the summer, the farmer’s market gives everyone the chance

to buy the many blessings of Coloradan agriculture. Nearby, the locals

congregate and fish at the town lake.

Take a short walk down Buena Vista’s Main Street and enjoy its food

trucks, wine bar, infamous doughnuts and much more. If you want

to start the day with a cup of locally roasted coffee, stop by the

Roastery. There is a distinct taste in the cup of joe that you can only

find when you’re in the castles of Buena Vista’s Rocky Mountains.

Due to human error, if you forgot to pack outdoor gear for the trip,

head over to the State Highway Department. Not only can you buy any

gear you need, but you benefit from the stop by grabbing lunch or

frozen yogurt on the other side of the department building.

Need a snazzy swimsuit for one of the hot springs in the area? No

worries, on Main Street, you can stop in to CKS and purchase any of

their qualitative in stock assortments of swimwear. You will also come

to find their rafting, kayaking, and paddleboarding essentials that

will make to be great additions to your highly anticipated trip to this

charming little town.

So, if you’re trying to figure out what to do on a dull weekend, why

not take the time to drive the three hours it takes to find yourself in

one of Colorado’s little gems like Buena Vista?


[ 37 ]

Stephenie Baker

What’s in

My Bag!

AUTHOR MONICA MONTEZ

LAYOUT ROSSI DIMITROVA

hether you’re a packrat or a minimalist, we always carry what is important and

meaningful to us and our day. The new social media fad of ‘what’s in my bag’ is

an exclusive look into people’s personal belongings and see what helps build and

support a person’s day! Here is an exclusive look at the things that make CCD’s students who

they are. You can tell a lot about a person and who they are by what they carry with them.

What they deem as the essentials is also essential to their character and their life. It’s a fun

way to get to know someone (as long as you get their permission).

Here are the few but fun contents of Stephenie Baker’s bag. Known for

her aesthetic shots, she has her Polaroid camera and her stock of film

ready for a photo shoot. Next to her helpful Fruit Roll-Up snack, she

has her whip-fidget toy. She got it from a store on Broadway, Awakening.

Not only is it a great fidget toy but it’s also a helpful photo prop. Next

to that, we have her beautifully embroidered wallet. This wallet was a

gift from Mexico. This showcases her connection and marriage into the

Chicano culture. Her cute ‘Juicy’ keychain (also from Awakening) is a

sparkly statement that is representative of Stephenie’s colorful style

and personality.

Paola Moreno

Tim Grayson

The next treasure trove is from a fellow CCD student,

Paola Moreno. In the field study of political science,

one must understand that this subject is not easy, so

she has her favorite snacks and favorite Starbucks

drink lined up to carry her through her assignments.

Last but not least, we have Talon’s own Tim Grayson

and belongings to show off. His personal contents

showcase the unique and fun-loving person that

he is. His American flag fan of fun is for when he

needs to air off the sweat from his bike rides during

the summer. His pink Bohemian lanyard holds his

CCD student ID, helpful for bike storage on campus.

His 8-bit designed pencil bag and colored pencils/

case for all of his scholarly needs. Lotion for his

hands, prone to dryness. EpiPens, just in case of an

One can deduce that Moreno is a hardworking student

with her school notebooks, planner, pencil bag, and

laptop all contribute to her life as a student here at CCD.

The pinks and purples reflect her elegant and coordinated

style.

extreme allergic reaction. Clip-on sunglasses for his

eye prescription. A book of poetry to read in the calmer

nooks of the day. A legal notepad for when he needs

to take notes for class. His cell phone which stays in

his bag rather than on his person—someone who likes

to live in the moment and away from the phone! A deck

of playing cards in case of the need for a playful

challenge with friends. And then a black laptop for all

his self-proclaimed ‘homework-y’ and ‘computer-y’ needs.

If you look in your own bag, what do you see in there? What reflects who

you are, what you like, and what your style is? You will delight in finding

out what it all means to you, no matter how useful or mundane! n


[ 39 ]

“We

s a new addition to the Talon this past fall, Photo

Editor, Stephenie Baker has been busy taking pictures

for the magazine and telling the stories of communi-

are here,

ties impacted by the overturning of Roe v Wade and

I grew up in a small rural town, Buena Vista, so being

we

the national celebration of PRIDE.

This has been a shift for Ramon herself. Before last

year, her photography focused on lifestyle (family, couples,

and boudoir). However, she has embraced this as

a new challenge.

Her work offers representation

here, we do exist, and we are proud. It is important to

see people in the media that you relate to.

do exist

of students of all kinds at

and

the Com-

we are

munity College of Denver, capturing

emotions, and leaving you with

something to think about. “I want

are here,

we

to capture emotions. From styled

shoots to candid. As much as I love

lifestyle and enjoy the people I work

with, I want people to feel something

from the photos I take,” said Ramon.

Stephenie grew up in Buena

Vista, a town with a population of

“We

under 3,000. As a member of the

LGBTQ+ community she felt as if the representation

of those like her was limited. Her experiences at CCD

(Community College of Denver) and in Denver have

been different.

What was the story you wanted to tell and why?

I grew up in a small rural town, Buena Vista, so being

seen as part of the LGBTQ+ community was not always

are

accepted.

here,

It is more of a statement than a story, we are

here, we do exist, and we are proud. It is important to

see people in the media that you relate to.

we

AUTHOR EMILY KINNEY

PHOTOGRAPHY STEPHENIE BAKER

LAYOUT

do

AUGUSTINE (AUGGIE)

exist

RODRIGUEZ

do exist

and we are

What was the story you wanted to tell and why?

seen as part of the LGBTQ+ community was not always

accepted. It is more of a statement than a story, we are

How long have you been a photographer for the

Talon? I have been a photographer

for Talon for about a month.

“We

How long have you been doing

photography overall? I have been

doing professional photography for

almost a year. I have mostly done

lifestyle (family, couples, boudoir).

These are two national topics; how

did you try to localize them to the

community in Denver? In terms of

localizing them I took photos of

Denver’s capitol building. I also localize

them in discussions pertaining to the photos.

Most of the people who follow me are from Denver.

Why was it important for you personally to cover these

events? It was important for me to cover these events,

because they are part of who I am. I am a woman, and

I am a woman who is part of the LGBTQ+ community.

What are your goals with photography? I want to capture

emotions. From styled shoots to candid. As much

as I love lifestyle and enjoy the people I work with, I

want people to feel something from the photos I take.

Profile of a Compassionate Photojournalist

and we are


[ 41 ]

We go to

the media that you relate to.

PRIDE

celebrate

What equipment did you use? I used a Canon EOS TI7

with a 70mm-200mm telephoto lens.

Where was this event held? This event was held at

Colfax next to the Capitol Building.

ourselves.”

“We go to

Why did you decide to photograph the Pride festival?

We go to pride every year. We go to celebrate my partner’s

grandmas and we go to celebrate ourselves.

celebrate

ourselves.”

I see that most of the pictures seem to be of the

parade, did you take pictures of/go to any other

activities? These were during the parade! I got a couple

photos at the events after, but we did not stay long.

I have a cranky three-year-old who needed a break.

I see that most of the pictures are candids as well,

is it mostly the people walking in the parade or the

crowd? All of the photos taken were people in the

parade itself. I ended up finding a few of them through

social media and got to send them their photos!

Did you feel like people were accepting of you being

there taking their picture? With me taking photos of

the parade itself, People generally expected it. They

weren’t shocked at all and some even stopped to

pose. Though I do believe that if I had been taking

photos of people in the crowd without permission that

would have been a different story.

What was the story you wanted to tell and why? I grew

up in a small rural town, Buena Vista, so being seen as

part of the LGBTQ+ community wasn’t always accepted.

It’s more of a statement than a story, we are here, we do

exist and we are proud. It’s important to see people in

Why are these pictures important to CCD? These are

important to everyone, not just CCD. In terms of their

importance to the school it is important that people are

represented. Some CCD students relate to these photos.

These are photos of people in the community they

deserve to be celebrated.

Do you have a favorite of these pictures, if so, is there

a story that goes along with it? My favorite photo is of

a gorgeous drag queen with a flowing rainbow gown.

She has a white wig on with a sequin dress under the

gown. She almost made me cry. I found her on Instagram

and sent the photos: she responded. She not only

loved the photos, but told me that the photo that I had

taken captured every emotion they were feeling in that

moment and that has really stuck with me.

“This is a

Roe change V.

Wade

history.”

What equipment did you use? I used a Canon EOS TI7

with a 70mm-200mm telephoto lens.

Where was this event held? This event was held at the

Capitol building.

Why did you decide to photograph the Roe V Wade

protest? As a woman with a daughter, my rights are

actively being taken away along with hers. I wanted to

photograph this because this is a change in history. The

overturning of Roe V Wade is dangerous and detrimental

to society so the documentation of it is important.

What was the most interesting story someone told

you? One story that will always be in the back of my

mind is the woman who needed to have an abortion

due to the fetus passing in her womb.

This baby was wanted, loved and

would have been taken care of, but if

she did not have an abortion, it would

have killed her. This is important because

people think that an abortion

means you had unprotected sex and

just didn’t want a child. Which is far

from the truth, sometimes an abortion

is a lifesaving procedure. So, when people are chastising

others for being “pro-choice” on social media they

forget that these are real people, and no one will ever

know the full story or reason why they had an abortion.

How did being in the middle of the protest make you

feel—scared, concerned at all? I wasn’t scared. Even

when people driving by were screaming “baby killer”

out the window. I don’t know if it’s ignorance, or lack of

safety concern; maybe the anger overshadowed all of

it. I felt like the people I was surrounded by would protect

me, like I would protect them. Being in the middle

of a protest is powerful. You’re surrounded by people

who care about what you care about.

Were there counter demonstrators? If so, how did that

make you feel? There were not, to my knowledge, any

at the protest. There were people who drove by yelling

out their window, but nothing passed that. I feel indifferent

about people who do not support Roe V Wade. I

can only give information and support to those in my life

who support me. I do not view them differently than my

50-year-old uncle who does not support it. Why would

they? It does not affect them. They are not the ones who

need birth control or access to cervical cancer screening.

The overturn has nothing to do with their rights.

Do you have a favorite of these pictures, if so, is there

a story that goes along with it? My favorite photo from

these is the photo of a woman yelling with bold black

eyeliner. There isn’t a story other than she was leading

in the chants. This is my favorite because it holds a lot

of power to it. When I look at it, I can feel the emotion

behind it.

Did you feel like people were accepting of you being

there taking their picture? With a protest people take

photos so generally speaking many people showed up

knowing that others would take

photos. I usually hold my camera

up, make eye contact and get a

head nod when taking photos so

I would say it was accepted pretty

well. I also had the intention of being

in the protest, so I believe that

helped people feel comfortable

with me taking their photos.

What was the story you wanted to tell and why? Roe

V Wade is not the end of taking away human rights. It is

only the start. I wanted to give people information and

I wanted it to be known where I stand in the matter. I

wanted to show that these are real people, and this

protest is important.

Why are these pictures important to CCD? These are

important to CCD because the overturning of Roe V

Wade affects students who attend CCD. The students

at CCD need to be supported and represented in

the school. n

[ 43 ]

2

million dollars

is a crazy amount of money to win

playing a video game!

AUTHOR JOSEPH NGUYEN

LAYOUT VALDIR DA SILVA JR

TALON – EXCELLENCE IN JOURNALISM

COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF DENVER

[ 45 ]

Capcom Studios, the video game company that developed

the video game Street Fighter, announced

a two million dollar prize pool for the upcoming 2023

Capcom Cup X video game tournament this February.

This is a big deal—it is the largest prize pool any

gaming event has ever received. The largest cash

prize for a major event in gaming was a tournament

held in the Dominican Republic for $300,000. Since

1987, the popular martial arts, arcade-style video

game has shaken up usual video game formula with

every game Capcom produces.

And not to mention, Street Fighter franchise is

accepting of people from all walks of life. The video

game was one of the first franchises to include characters

from over twelve regions of the world. The

franchise has a unique influence within

the video game world and pop culture.

The tournament news is huge for

all fans of Street Fighter in the Denver

area. Many students around the Auraria

campus (myself included), have

decided to participate. The opportunity

to play these games more openly

with a wider audience will be great for

people from all over to connect with

each other.

Street Fighter is no stranger to

embracing all peoples—the tournament

reflects that, as this will be Street Fighters first ever

open entrance tournament. Therefore, anyone can

enter, no matter what age, race, gender or ethnicity

they are. Many e-gamers in the Denver area are going

to try their best to enter and win as many rounds

Author, Joseph Nguyen

Poison is

the first

transgender

character

to appear in

gaming history.

as they can so they can take home the cash for themselves.

And while it is unlikely that any of them will

win the grand prize, it is almost certain that the Denver

area will be seeing a lot more gaming content

and events in the near future.

Participants will play the newest installment

of the series, Street Fighter 6,

which is to be released this June. It is

also worth adding that Street Fighter 6

will be the most accessible franchise in

over a decade, meaning the price will

be affordable to everyone interested in

obtaining it.

The characters in Street Fighter

are well known. Guile is the hot-headed

and charismatic soldier from America,

Dhalsim is the calm and collected

monk from India. Chun-Li is the Chinese

kickboxer who is one of the most iconic fictional

women of color. Poison is the first transgender character

to appear in gaming history.

Capcom Studios is interested in the expansion of

e-Sports gaming worldwide and to help it to be more

mainstream. They are working on hosting major tournaments

in California, New York, Colorado, Texas, and

Florida. Is there anyone betting on me to win two

million dollars?!

[ 47 ]

ccdtalon.com

Community College of Denver

Spring 2021 | ccdtalon.com

Community College of Denver

The Pandemic Hustle

Volume 1 Issue 1 Fall 2020

The Art of Teaching

A Profile of Brian Weaver

Article By Zada Herrera

Perfectly Placed:

A Profile of President DeSanctis

Article By Jenna Duke

Bring a Good Camera and

Wear the Right Shoes:

Lessons from a Protest

Article By Molly Thomas

A Pentax Photographs

a Pandemic

Photo Essay By Jenna Duke

And the Deep River Ran On:

A Profile of President Freeman

Article By Zada Herrera

Let There Be Change

The Paradox of the Side Hustle

Article By Dillon Junger

ccdtalon.com

THE TALON

The Talon Magazine Project is an online and

print magazine produced through a unique

collaboration between the Community College

of Denver’s (CCD) Journalism Program

and MGD Service Learning course in Fall and

Spring semesters. Each semester, Talon journalism

student-contributors write feature news

stories, interview and profile interesting people,

report on emerging trends, and take pictures

about topics that matter to CCD students on the

Auraria campus. This content is then carefully

edited and handed over to the Graphic Design

team to layout the stories, illustrate, and design

the graphic vision for the magazine.Journalism

Program and the Service Learning Graphic Design

course in Fall and Spring semesters.

All CCD students are encouraged to submit

their journalism feature articles, photos, and

illustrations for selection. If you’re interested

in journalism please contact us at journalism@

ccd.edu or if you’re interested in graphic design

contact us at CCD.edu/GraphicDesign.

CCD’S JOURNALISM

DEPARTMENT

The purpose of journalism is to see life and make

sense of the world by sharing our stories. These

stories find us, draw us closer, make us feel, and

shape our decisions. CCD’s journalism program

offers classes that will start you on this path to

a career as a journalist or as a public relations

professional and give you what you need to

transfer to a four-year university. For more info:

Please contact us at journalism@ccd.edu.

DZGN STUDIO

MGD Service Learning Course (DZGN Studio): In

this course CCD students operate a multimedia

graphic design firm to provide them with workbased

learning opportunities prior to entering the

job market and learn professional and business

practices. The studio provides opportunities to

gain training in creative problem solving, and production

on working world projects.


FINAL-V2-Talon SP23-05

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