Every March, student-athletes compete in the NCAA Division I basketball tournaments to determine the best Men's and Women’s college basketball teams in the country.  The first-ever NCAA Division I basketball tournament took place in 1939 and saw the University of Oregon Ducks defeat the Ohio State University Buckeyes to become the first national champion. March Madness is one of those sporting events that feels so ingrained in American culture.

The months of Jan. through March are notorious for being the season of depression, where spirits are low and the jovial times of summer feel like a distant memory.  After the conclusion of the holiday season, many people experience seasonal depression where they feel dejected, fatigued and hopeless. However, we do not have to subject ourselves to feelings of depression as there are simple measures we can take to help alleviate our mental health issues.

If you shopped at any grocery store recently, you probably noticed the ridiculous inflation of prices for everyday food items such as eggs, milk and bread. A quick stop at any store for a few items can easily turn into an expensive ordeal. It feels like forever since I have been able to keep the bill under $20. The issue affects people nationwide, with the average American spending an extra $72.01 a month on groceries. Many people are feeling the strain on their finances and are forced to be more frugal with their purchases.

Nowadays, many students struggle to pay attention in class or aimlessly scroll their phones while attempting to do homework. They often lack the ability to focus on one thing for extended periods of time and are easily distracted by any disruption.  One of the explanations for the decreasing attention span of people is a technology and social media specifically. Social media provides instant satisfaction that individuals use to boost self-esteem or improve their mood. In turn, this creates a feedback loop where the user becomes dependent on instant satisfaction.

Fort Collins holds over 200 miles of dedicated bike lanes making it one of the most bike-friendly cities in the country. Given the high student population in the city, these bike lanes provide a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way for students to move around.   Building bike lanes may appear like a simple change in city design, but its consequences prove to be beneficial for the community’s quality of life. In Dec. 2022, the City of Fort Collins adopted the Active Modes plan which aims to promote walking, biking and other modes of active transportation.