Dr. Megan Kate Nelson. Photo provided by Nelson.

Don’t miss the 2026 Pettit Lecture, “How the Real West was Lost: The Frontier Myth and the Erasure of U.S. Western History,” with Dr. Megan Kate Nelson on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 4:30 p.m. in Tutt Library.

Over the course of the 19th century, what we know as “The American West” came into being. In this talk, Pulitzer Prize finalist Megan Kate Nelson will explain how diverse communities grew and flourished in the region, while (at the same time), they were erased from a frontier myth that lionized individualism and celebrated white settlers traveling west in search of prosperity. 

Drawing on material from her new book, The Westerners (published by Scribner in 2026), Dr. Nelson will describe this process of erasure, which accelerated over the course of the 19th century. She will introduce three of the protagonists in her book, whose popular memories were manipulated in the years after their deaths: Sacajawea, not just Lewis and Clark’s guide but an explorer who forged her own path; Jim Beckwourth, a biracial fur trader whose sharp cultural insights made him famous in his time; and the defiant Ella Watson, a Canadian immigrant with dreams of becoming a cattle rancher in Wyoming. 

For more information and Nelson’s bio, please visit the event calendar.

Students, staff, and faculty playing hamster soccer outside Worner Campus Center at the Campus Sleep-Out in 2025. Photo by Jamie Cotten/Colorado College.

Worner After Dark takes over Worner Campus Center on Friday, Sept. 4, from 6-11 p.m. Spend the evening exploring activities in and around Worner, including pickleball, hamster soccer, tarot card readings, henna, s’mores, arts and crafts, and an interactive photo booth. Student DJ Matteo Horvat ’29 will keep the Student Event Space moving from 6-7:30 p.m., and students can swipe their Gold Card to enter a raffle for a chance to win a Tiger plushie.

At 7:30 p.m., head to Gaylord Hall for a movie, selected by CC students via Campus Activities Instagram, then close with late-night breakfast in Rastall from 9-11 p.m., featuring pancakes, tater tots, donuts, bacon, and eggs. Come and go throughout the evening, bring your friends, and make a night of it. Worner After Dark is open to all students, faculty, and staff. Explore the full schedule and event details.

On Sept. 1 and 3, President Manya Whitaker, Chief Operating Officer Pedro de Araujo, and Vice President of Finance & Administration and Chief Financial Officer Lori Seager will present the first Work of the College Series sessions of the year, sharing the Institutional Review’s findings and the College’s plans for implementation.

The findings build on the executive summary shared with campus this summer, which the Board of Trustees reviewed in depth at its July meeting. From that discussion, the Board identified four priorities moving forward:

This session will cover how the College is putting those priorities into action and what to expect as efforts get underway.

Faculty, staff, and students are all encouraged to attend. Both sessions will cover the same material, so choose the date that works best for you.

Tuesday, Sept. 1 | 3-4 p.m. | Bemis Great Hall | [Register]

Thursday, Sept. 3 | 3-4 p.m. | Bemis Great Hall | [Register]

Julien Lee ’28, Joaquin Campos (New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology), and Finn Braun ’29 working on their Define-Combine procedure during the 2026 MCURE Program. Photo provided by 2026 MCURE Program Director Molly Moran.

By Julia Fennell ’21

This summer, nine undergraduate researchers spent eight weeks using mathematics and computer science to explore one of democracy’s biggest challenges: how to make voting districts fairer.

Hosted by Colorado College’s Department of Mathematics & Computer Science through the Mathematical and Computational Undergraduate Research Experience (MCURE), the program brought together five CC students and four students from universities across the Rocky Mountain region for eight weeks to investigate how mathematical models and computational tools can help answer complex questions about fairness, representation, and democracy.

READ THE FULL STORY »

Photo provided by the FAC.

Mark your calendars for the upcoming production of Come From Away, running on the FAC mainstage from Sept. 10-Oct. 4.

Based on an extraordinary true story, Come From Away follows the small town of Gander, Newfoundland, where thousands of airline passengers were welcomed after 38 planes were diverted on Sept. 11, 2001. Filled with traditional Irish folk music, this Tony Award-winning musical is a celebration of hope, humanity, and the connections that bring us together.

In commemoration of the 25th anniversary of 9/11, the FAC is offering complimentary tickets to the first 200 eligible Colorado Springs first responders.

The production also extends beyond the stage through partnerships with Partners in Housing and NAMI, along with the FAC’s Pay It Forward 9/11: 11 Days of Kindness campaign.

Visit the Fine Arts Center website for more information and to purchase tickets.

Sophia Murphy ’27, CCSGA President, giving her speech at Opening Convocation in Shove Chapel, Monday, Aug. 24. Photo by Stacey Rocero/Colorado College