Returning to the Museum of the Rockies as a college student.

by Maggie Hickman

Growing up in less than a block from the Museum of the Rockies (MoR), I was somewhat of a fixture at this world-class institution. I never got sick of looking at the seemingly endless collection of fossils and artifacts, not to mention the triceratops sculpture that roared when it sensed movement. (Whatever happened to that thing, anyway? It would provide the perfect homey touch to my rundown rental house.) Then I entered middle school, and immediately became too cool to learn about the rich and dynamic history of my state. I was more interested in re-watching The Lizzie McGuire Movie for the umpteenth time than learning about the newest paleontological discovery by Jack Horner. (Fun fact: Jack Horner was the scientific adviser for all three Jurassic Park films.)

“Big Mike”  guards the museum entrance

Recently some free tickets landed in my lap, and I decided it was time to return to MoR after my extended hiatus. To bring things full-circle, I brought my mom. As soon as we parked, I threw open the car door and skipped to the front doors. Yes, it was as if I was a kid again, with my mom following close behind.

Giving the clerk our tickets, I pondered the best placement for my admission sticker, then promptly  peeled off the back and slapped it on my forehead.  My mom rolled her eyes. “Are you going to wear that the whole time? Maybe we should get you a stroller so I can keep track of you, too,” she teased.

Fossils in the Hall of Teeth and Hornes

Wandering into the featured exhibit, “Geckos—Tails to Toepads,”  I immediately found myself captivated, stopping at every display. I read each gecko’s informational blurb in its entirety, and viewed each species from all angles of their glass enclosure. (Fun fact: Many geckos have “disposable” tails that can be released in an attack.  The broken tail wriggles to distract the predator and muscles around the wound quickly seal torn blood vessels while the lizard escapes.)

Day Gecko

Meandering from one gecko species to the next, my mom and I  conversed about evolution and whether or not Charles Darwin had written anything on geckos.  We even tried in vain to explain to one another the complex science of how geckos obtained their colors and camouflage.

It wasn’t all adult talk and pretentious references to On the Origin of Species, however.  At one point I squealed, “Mom! Look!  This one has polka dots!” (Spotted animals are cool at any age.)   It was nearly impossible not to feed off the enthusiasm of the awe-inspired children, who were as psyched about a Native American “metate” (essentially a big rock used for grinding grain and seeds) as they were about the hyperactive gecko making gravity-defying leaps from branch to branch.

Kids and adults enjoy the gecko exhibit

Whether time really does make the heart grow fonder, or my mind had been opened by additional schooling,  I found myself appreciating the  lizards for more than just their pretty colors and their acrobatic ability to hang upside-down on branches. I could now acknowledge the properties and natural processes that create such a unique organism. Chemistry, physics, and evolution—to name a few—all had a part in the gecko’s creation. Wow, Mother Nature is truly impressive.

Some of the many types of gecko scales

Overall, my little jaunt to the Museum of the Rockies was not only a great way to spend an afternoon, it made me realize how I’d taken the place for granted.  How many people can walk across the street and find themselves face-to-face with a fossilized dinosaur rib taller than the average person?  Yep, we’re pretty damn lucky to have MoR in Bozeman, and this time, I won’t forget it.

Leg and rib bones of a Sarapod (Brontosaurus)

“Tails to Toepads” is one of the Museum’s rotating exhibits, and will only be on display until September 7, 2014.  The museum also includes permanent exhibits on dinosaurs, regional and American Indian history, a children’s discovery center about Yellowstone, a living history farm, and the Taylor Planetarium, which features one of the world’s most advanced projection technologies. For more information visit museumoftherockies.org.

Insight into the MSU Convocation Committee’s selection for 2014

by Isaac Lorton

It’s not easy for someone to inspire nearly 3,000 first-year college students. It’s not easy to speak at the MSU Fieldhouse in front of 7,250 people. But, it was easy for the Montana State Convocation Committee to choose this year’s speaker, Shiza Shahid. Shahid, a 24-year-old Stanford graduate and education activist, embodies everything the Convocation Committee desires.

For example, committee chair David Singel explains, “The combination of valor to [defend education] and… someone the same age as the students was really exciting to us.”

During her studies at Stanford, Shahid, a native of Islamabad, began to closely follow Malala Yousafzai. She lived in Mingora, just north of where Shahid grew up. Malala spoke out for formal education of women as many female institutions were destroyed and girls barred from schools. Malala blogged about the oppression under a pseudonym for BBC News and publicly defied the Taliban by protesting the bombings of female schools and the murders of their students.

While on break from Stanford, Shahid arranged a young womens’ conference for 30 girls, including Malala. The covert meeting was to discuss the continued promotion of female education; as a result, the two young women became close friends and remained in contact after the conference ended.

Before they became international activists, they were friends

In 2012, Malala’s school bus was stopped by a Taliban member who asked for Malala by name then shot her in the head. She was flown to England for extensive treatment, where Shahid rushed to her support. Despite her injuries, Malala survived and remained committed to spreading her message of education for all. Shahid immediately began managing the media frenzy while Malala recovered, becoming the co-founder and CEO of the Malala Fund, an international organization that promotes female education. Since then, Shahid has been named on TIME and Forbes magazines’ “30-under-30″ lists, as a young adult making an international impact.

The story of Malala and Shahid will make students and community members think about how important education is and the opportunities MSU students have—and why they shouldn’t take them for granted.

Shiza Shahid will speak on August 25 at the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse

“We want [the message to be], ‘Let’s think seriously about education. Let’s think about what you want to be doing here for the next four years,’” Singel said. “We want the students to understand all of the opportunities available to them. [The convocation] will sharpen the focus and deepen the appreciation for education.”

The committee also invited local nonprofit organizations to attend the event to promote MSU students becoming involved in the Bozeman community.

“This is a community event,” Singel said. “It is an event, where we as a university, and as the Bozeman community, are welcoming the students to Bozeman and to MSU.”

The Malala Fund advocates female education and empowerment

Shahid demonstrates the world’s diminishing cultural boundaries as she, a Pakistani female, is the CEO of an international nonprofit.

As Malala said, “Education is neither eastern nor western. Education is education and it’s the right of every human being.”

The 2014 freshman  convocation is a public event and everyone is welcome. It will be held on August 25 at 7:30 pm. For ticket information visit montana.edu/convocation.

Four decades of Shakespeare in the Parks

by Felicia Hamilton

The smell of green grass drifts to my nose as I place our blanket on the ground, still moist from recent rainfall. Families and friends chat and laugh and the rustle of the breeze in the trees make for a relaxing background to our picnic. As we eat, I wave to friends and acquaintances who share our excitement for the upcoming show. As showtime draws closer, everybody glances to the stage more frequently. Finally, an actor strides to the center of the stage to begin the performance. The bustle of the audience dissipates as he extends his arms in greeting and readies himself to introduce one of the most famous plays of all time, Romeo and Juliet. I nudge my friend in excitement–I’ve been waiting for this play all week.

The play begins

This is Montana Shakespeare in the Parks (MSIP), one of the state’s most anticipated summer events. The premier each season is in Bozeman and spreads to other towns across the state. This year the company has lived up to the expectations of passionate performances and audience engagement with their productions of As You Like It and Romeo and Juliet.

An uproarious comedy, As You Like It will have you laughing the entire time. You’ll hear familiar phrases like, “All the world’s a stage,” in their original context. Everybody knows the story of Romeo and Juliet and has seen some adaptation of it, but this is the original, complete with audience interaction. Don’t be surprised if a character suddenly delivers lines behind or directly to you.

Shakespeare in the Parks performs in Montana and the neighboring states of Idaho, North Dakota, Washington, and Wyoming. The purpose of this MSU outreach program is to make “quality, live theatrical productions of Shakespeare and other classics accessible to communities… with an emphasis on underserved, rural areas who would not otherwise have this opportunity.”  In other words, MSIP offers country folk the privilege of quality live theater. The performances are professionally produced by a small permanent staff supplemented by seasonal employees of the College of Arts & Architecture.

The program has seen immense growth over its 42 years. Founded in 1973 by Dr. Bruce Jacobsen, Shakespeare in the Parks has performed over 2,250 times and was awarded the Montana Governor’s Award for the Arts—the highest honor for an arts organization in the state. The troupe has also been featured in the New York Times and on an NBC Nightly News special feature. Another interesting number: $700,000. That is the current annual budget for the program, nearly 50 times larger than the first annual budget, and donations are always accepted.

Shakespeare’s plays may be old, but they’re still accessible for today’s audience

But the parks are not the only place these thespians perform. The program Shakespeare in the Schools and Montana Shakes offer productions of Shakespeare plays with workshops in schools. These events introduce and increase appreciation for Shakespeare’s works in a way that is understandable and engaging to children. Shakespeare in the Schools tends to focus on engaging middle and high-school students while Montana Shakes focuses on appealing to elementary-school children.

I have always preferred Shakespeare’s comedies, and As You Like It typifies how true comedy can transcend time and place. MSIP set this year’s play in turn-of-the-century Butte; it’s the story of young love, confused identities, and family relations – with a generous helping of the Bard’s signature puns, jokes, and innuendos. The performers fully embrace their characters and in the process imbue them with life. The day that I went to see As You Like It was a perfect day as the threat of rain did not come to fruition. But be aware, this is outdoor theater and the weather will affect your experience.

As You Like It is set in 1917 Butte.

This became very clear during my endeavor to see the second production, Romeo and Juliet . We did get to see a portion of the play—up to the famous balcony scene (“Wherefore art thou, Romeo…”). But the roiling mass of unfriendliness that were the clouds overhead, lived up to their threats and the rain came down. There were many who had every intention of sticking it out and seeing the entire play from beneath umbrellas or tarps, but swordfight scenes are dangerous on wet stages so the performance was cancelled early. Those willing to stick it out – myself included – would have stayed despite the rain, because Shakespeare in the Parks is worth it. These performances make the old language accessible to today’s audiences through meticulous  reflection of the director and actors on the meaning of every line. The classic stories become not only tangible; they become engaging because of their universality and are not to be missed.

The Capulets and Montagues just don’t get along

This year’s productions of As You Like It and Romeo and Juliet are scheduled to be in Bozeman again during the Sweet Pea Festival on August 1 and 3. To see the group’s entire tour schedule, check out shakespeareintheparks.org/schedule. php.

A weekend of hiking, biking, and friends in Bozeman.

by Tyler Gobin

It’s an energy that’s inexpressible. It’s filling tip jars and trailheads, it’s revealing bike paths and bombarding the breweries. It’s spring in Montana.

When Bozemanites are asked about their favorite season, most will say winter or summer, and unfortunately spring gets forgotten. It’s no surprise: winter has its powder, and summer, its absence of school. But spring is what fuels the summer fun – there’s a certain energy released after winter casts its last spell.

That energy gives people more choices of what to do, and when to do it. Those unwilling to give up winter can hike up and get in a few more turns on the Bridgers, Beartooths, or Gallatin ranges. Those who prefer to cross-train on bike can tour their way around the valley and get into the mountain trails. The amount of activities to pursue multiplies with the time to do them.

In spring, the sun graciously hangs in the sky longer each day so we may enjoy time outside at our favorite bars, coffee shops, and restaurants. Live music fills the streets and the population is back to a sustainable level as college students leave and give us room to breathe. The sun is spring’s best friend and either one would not be complete without the other. It motivates people who hid during the winter to get back outside and enjoy the adventures to be had. There’s much to say about spring in Montana, but even more to live.

Last weekend exemplified this unique spring spirit. It was filled with wilderness adventure and social activities right on Main Street. The outdoors highlight was a trek to the top of Mount Baldy, high in the Bridgers above town. Baldy offers incredible views of the Beartooths, Crazies, and Gallatin mountains. It was straight up as I climbed to the ridge where the trail continued over multiple faux peaks and ended with one last push up an open, steep slope of scree. The hike up was a thigh burner, lasting an hour and a half and gaining more than 4,000 feet of elevation from the “M” trailhead, but the reward at the top was phenomenal. I was lucky enough to enjoy the scenery from the summit on a bluebird day. It consistently amazes me how isolated I can feel while still being so close to Bozeman – and given the hunger you’ll feel after such a hike, the short drive back is nice.

A view from the top of Mount Baldy

On Saturday night I joined some friends at  a new Indian restaurant called Saffron Table. The tiny eatery is wedged between the Roost and the Round House on W. Main. It has a small bar, small menus, and what will become a small garden, but big atmosphere. We dined, drank, and laughed our way through the evening with our friendly waitress; the owner of the establishment even joined the fun. Bozeman needed some Middle Eastern cuisine on its plate and Saffron Table delivers with authentic flavors, colors, and textures.

There are a lot of things to do in the Gallatin Valley regardless of the time of year, but no season gives you the options that spring does. Whether you’re an outdoors addict, music buff, or foodie, spring’s inimitable bounty contributes to each and every aspect of life in Bozeman – so don’t wait for the temperature to max out. Instead, get out there and make the most of Bozeman’s best season.