THE INDEPENDENT

The Latest

Skyhawks Stay hot, Push Win Streak to 7 behind Second-Half Surge Skyhawks Stay hot, Push Win Streak to 7 behind Second-Half Surge

Friday, February 27, 2026 | Christian Kirkman

Skyhawks Stay hot, Push Win Streak to 7 behind Second-Half Surge

The Fort Lewis College men’s basketball team extended its win streak to 8 games after using a strong second half to secure a conference win...
ASFLC Meeting 2/11
 ASFLC Meeting 2/11

Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Preston Roundy

ASFLC Meeting 2/11

Information for students about the weekly meeting of the Associated Students of Fort Lewis College

Trans Day of Remembrance at Fort Lewis College
 Trans Day of Remembrance at Fort Lewis College

Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Jimena Lopez

Trans Day of Remembrance at Fort Lewis College

Nov. 20 is nationally recognized as Trans Day of Remembrance. This day serves as an opportunity to remember and mourn members of the transgender...
Cookin' Stuff!
 Cookin' Stuff!

Tuesday, December 9, 2025
Nels Christensen

Cookin' Stuff!

Food, friends and dorm life; how one student makes the most of kitchens on campus
Community and Music Production with Kino Benally
 Community and Music Production with Kino Benally

Sunday, November 23, 2025
Nels Christensen

Community and Music Production with Kino Benally

November is Native American Heritage Month, and Fort Lewis College is kicking off a series of events to celebrate. The Center of Southwest...

All News

Thinking outside of the 9 to 5 Thinking outside of the 9 to 5

Thinking outside of the 9 to 5

By Julian Zastrocky Indy Staff Writer

From coffee-making to plant-care to art, here's how some students on campus pay the bills. 

What better way to make a little extra money than a side hustle. Some students at Fort Lewis College sometimes need a little extra money, so they use their interests and skills to make the extra cash they need. But other times that little extra cash can turn into more.  Devyn Valandra is a sophomore at FLC, majoring in entrepreneurship. When he was a senior in high school, he took a...

Read more

'A String of Prayers' 'A String of Prayers'

'A String of Prayers'

By Dorothy Elder Editor-in-chief

Behind a four-day, 232 mile prayer run that stretched all around the Four Corners region to raise awareness and pray for missing and murdered Indigenous women.

For around an hour on a cold, brisk Friday in February, the First Assembly of God’s church parking lot in rural Dove Creek saw the most action it’d probably seen in years, as cars swiftly pulled in, sandwiches were exchanged and runners eagerly drank water.  It was a small pitstop, just off U.S. Highway 491, in a rather large endeavor: a four-day, 232 mile prayer run that...

Read more

Lee Bitsóí Departs FLC Lee Bitsóí Departs FLC

Lee Bitsóí Departs FLC

By Alx Lee Indy Staff Writer

Effective on March 1, LeManuel “Lee” Bitsóí, associate vice president for diversity affairs and Special Advisor for Indigenous Affairs has left his position at Fort Lewis College.

Effective on March 1, LeManuel “Lee” Bitsóí, associate vice president for diversity affairs and special advisor for Indigenous affairs has left his position at Fort Lewis College. The news first broke after an email sent from Bitsóí to Fort Lewis College President Tom Stritikus was shared with the FLC community.   The email included Bitsóí’s acceptance to the...

Read more

La Plata County sees increase in fentanyl cases

By Julian Zastrocky Indy Staff Writer

Last week, the La Plata County coroner released an autopsy report that confirmed that a student at Animas High School had died of a fentanyl overdose, bringing concern to the community about the drug’s prevalence in La Plata County. 

Last week, the La Plata County coroner released an autopsy report that confirmed that a student at Animas High School had died of a fentanyl overdose, bringing concern to the community about the drug’s prevalence in La Plata County.  In recent years, La Plata County has seen a significant increase in the amount of fentanyl-related cases, Casey Malone, a commander at the Durango...

Read more

All hail the queens All hail the queens

All hail the queens

By Tiara Yazzie and Alx Lee Indy Staff Writers

PHOTO ESSAY: Durango’s popular drag scene arrives on campus

Kassandra Carrasco, Assistant Director of El Centro and The G, felt like there was a lack of LGBTQ representation on campus, she said.   After attending Drag Trivia at the Starlight Lounge in downtown Durango,Carrasco took interest in the connection of Puerto Rican descendancy and drag queen identity of the host, Aria PettyOne. Carrasco noticed the intersectionalities of...

Read more

12345