THE INDEPENDENT

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Fashion Thrift Market at Fort Lewis College Fashion Thrift Market at Fort Lewis College

Wednesday, October 21, 2026 | Scott Logan

Fashion Thrift Market at Fort Lewis College

Fashion at Fort Lewis, a Registered Student Organization, hosted a Fashion Thrift at 9 a.m. on Oct. 2, at the Student Union Plaza.  
The Indigenous Garden is Open! The Indigenous Garden is Open!

Wednesday, October 21, 2026 | Izzy Mora

The Indigenous Garden is Open!

Fort Lewis College hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for the long awaited Indigenous Garden opening to the south of the Art & Design Hall on...
Bears on Campus
 Bears on Campus

Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Story by Zara Tucker, Photo by Melvin Scott Jr.

Bears on Campus

Black bear encounters have increased in Durango as bears search for food after a warm winter and a late freeze, leading to much higher human and...
Dancing with the Powwow Circle
 Dancing with the Powwow Circle

Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Scott Logan

Dancing with the Powwow Circle

The Fort Lewis College Powwow Circle elected new officers on Sept. 11 as the student organization started to plan for events and to revive...

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New President Begins Tenure by Engaging with Campus Community New President Begins Tenure by Engaging with Campus Community

New President Begins Tenure by Engaging with Campus Community

By Ben Mandile

Tom Stritikus, the new president of Fort Lewis College, wants to make students a priority in his work to ensure their success.

Tom Stritikus, the new president of Fort Lewis College, wants to make students a priority in his work to ensure their success. People around campus, including student and faculty leaders, say they feel that he is open to listening and understanding the campus community and that they are excited to see what happens during his tenure.    The President’s...

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416 Fire Offers Educational Opportunities For FLC Faculty and Students 416 Fire Offers Educational Opportunities For FLC Faculty and Students

416 Fire Offers Educational Opportunities For FLC Faculty and Students

By Mandy Lorenson

The 416 Fire, which broke out 10 miles north of Durango and burned over 55,000 acres impacted Fort Lewis College in numerous ways. 

The 416 Fire, which broke out 10 miles north of Durango and burned over 55,000 acres impacted Fort Lewis College in numerous ways.    The wildfire broke out on June 1 and subsequently burned over two months, leaving hundreds of people evacuated .   However the trouble didn’t stop when the fire was fully contained. The flooding that came after the fire is the...

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Q&A: Root Routledge Q&A: Root Routledge

Q&A: Root Routledge

By Max Rodgers

Root Routledge is a Durango resident who has audited eight different classes at Fort Lewis College from 2012-15.

Root Routledge is a Durango resident who has audited eight different classes at Fort Lewis College from 2012-15. A class audit is when a resident who isn’t registered for classes sits in on lectures and keeps up with the readings, but isn’t graded on assignments or exams. He received a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Washington State University in 1968; a...

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Animal Activity on Campus has Decreased Since Last Year

Meritt Drake

Despite consistent raccoon activity around trash cans, there has been less animal activity on campus compared to years past.

Despite consistent raccoon activity around trash cans, there has been less animal activity on campus compared to years past. There have been raccoons nightly around the football field and the dumpsters around the dorms, Fort Lewis College grounds supervisor Carl Gregg said. The raccoons also like to eat some type of bug that lives in the grass, so they’ve been digging at night as...

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Faculty Senate Discusses Handbook Changes and the New Administration

Merrit Drake

Fort Lewis College Faculty Senate met on Thursday, Sept. 20 for a question and answer session with President Tom Stritikus and to discuss changes to be made to the handbook.

Fort Lewis College Faculty Senate met on Thursday, Sept. 20 for a question and answer session with President Tom Stritikus and to discuss changes to be made to the handbook. Stritikus addressed progress the Board of Trustees has made in the process of creating its strategic plan. “The strategic plan will lead with objectives and measurable results,” Stritikus said....

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