THE INDEPENDENT

The Latest

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

Indigenous People's Day 2025 Indigenous People's Day 2025

Wednesday, November 12, 2025 | Written by Mya Simon, Photographed by M'iitra Pino

Indigenous People's Day 2025

October rain does little to keep FLC from celebrating Indigenous culture 

Banging Heads in Buckley Park
 Banging Heads in Buckley Park

Thursday, October 2, 2025
Mya Simon and Garrett Middleton

Banging Heads in Buckley Park

Locals share an inside look into Durango's metal scene. 

Safety First, Because Accidents Last
 Safety First, Because Accidents Last

Tuesday, September 30, 2025
Nels Christensen

Safety First, Because Accidents Last

Fort Lewis police report safety statistics in recent years. 

Hotels: the new Dorms?
 Hotels: the new Dorms?

Tuesday, September 30, 2025
Jimena Lopez

Hotels: the new Dorms?

Back to school! While some Fort Lewis students were making sure they had their backpacks ready to go, others were making sure they had somewhere...
59th Annual Hozhoni Days Powwow
 59th Annual Hozhoni Days Powwow

Friday, May 2, 2025
Written by Junior Parrish, Photographed by Donovan Riley and Junior Parrish

59th Annual Hozhoni Days Powwow

An event that brings joy and beauty, Hozhoni Ambassadors and First Attendant said.

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...

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'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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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