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Winter 12-2017
2017 Highlander November and December 2017
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Substituting commuting for traditional college housing November 1, 2017
(Photo: Interstate Guide)
By: Jack Adams, Staff Reporter
When I first imagined what the surrounding area of a college campus would look like, I pictured bars and restaurants with school memorabilia hung everywhere: a vibrant community of alumni and students and a “college town” with an assemblage of students wandering the streets every night. Regis, however, like many other urban colleges nestled in cities across the United States, has a much more casual and metropolitan vibe to the surrounding area than traditional college campuses.
Fortunately, Regis is only a short drive from downtown Denver and is near a number of local concert venues and event centers. Students attending Regis University are in the perfect location to enjoy all Colorado has to offer, and the University’s website provides some great suggestions for activities.
Much like many other urban college students, Regis students encounter some setbacks when tryin g to find affordable housing in one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S. Regis is nestled between neighborhoods like the Highlands (where houses are going for upwards of a million dollars) and other local neighborhoods, like Lakeside, where some housing is slightly more affordable.
While housing prices in the Denver area continue to climb, many frustrated students (like myself) are resorting to living in more affordable housing, further from the campus. The amount of non -traditional and commuter students will undoubtedly increase in the coming years, as the student population at Regis continues to grow and housing near campus becomes more scarce.
Commuting to school definitely has some appeal, at least for me, since I am able to spend less mo ney on housing,
I can work near my house in Littleton, and I am not bound by any campus housing restrictions.
However, commuting to school can also be extremely infuriating when traffic is heavy and I have to get to class on time. Non-traditional and commuter students may also feel they have less opportunity for involvement in campus activities because they are not on or near campus as often as traditional students.
Thankfully, Regis provides a number of resources for commuter students: resources to help them become more engaged with other students on campus, find parking near campus more easily, and even providing a commuter lounge on campus! Personally, I love commuting to Regis, and thoroughly enjoy all of the amenities the campus and the surrounding Denver area has to offer students!
OP-ED: The Rail Jam parking predicament November 1, 2017
(Photo: Emily Schneider)
By: Sally Andarge, Staff Reporter
Two weekends ago Regis University held the Rail Jam event in Parking Lot 5, but not without a cost to some students. Weekend Programming and Student Activities got together to bring snow to Regis, along with food trucks, rails for riding and landing, and vendors there to sell some of their winter gear. The rails and snow made for an almost realistic snowboarding experience.
Now, I know what you must be thinking: How was there space for all of this? Well, Residence Life and Student
Activities got together in an effort make space for the event by making students move their cars. They did this by sending an email to students who were parked in “reserved areas” the day before the eve nt. The email was sent at
1 p.m. requesting that students move their cars immediately. One hour later students began to get calls if they hadn’t yet moved their cars. The first call was from one of the event planners explaining that the University would be issuing tickets and towing cars to lot 6 if their cars were not moved by 3:30 p.m., claiming that students should have received emails earlier in the week explaining why they needed to move their cars, even though no such email exists.
Now if you are one of the many people on campus whose day does not end at 3 o’clock, you probably had no idea what was going on or why your phone was being blown up. Finally, the last resort was having one of the ticket distributors call the remaining students threatening to ticket people and flag cars for towing!
As one may expect, this did not go over well with many students. A parking pass for a single semester runs for
$200 and $400 for a full year, so one would expect a little more accommodation in situations like this considering how much we pay for parking alone.
Overall, we can agree the entire situation could have been handled much better. Event or not, nothing warrants threats.
Regis Innovation Center offers networking platform for interested students November 2, 2017
(Photo: Regis University)
By: Marley Weaver-Gabel & Ethan Lockshin At the Innovation Challenge launch party on October 23, many students attended to get more information about the challenge. In total, about 80 students with unique, creative ideas expressed an interest in participating in the year-long project. With so many students interested, they will all be looking for teams and mentors to get their project off the ground.
Ethan shared that many students who expressed interest didn’t know how to go about finding a team or a mentor.
With quick thinking, the Innovation Challenge team found the perfect networking solution to connect innovators with interested team members and mentors.
Lockshin comments, “You spoke. We acted. Regis University invested in StartupTree and the platform is live!”
StartupTree provides the easiest way to manage, track, and support founders and startups in your network. StartupTree is used by schools such as University of Colorado Boulder, Virginia Tech, Michigan State
University and is a proven solution to effectively collect data and metrics surrounding your program.
Within StartupTree, you can create your own profile and add all of your details. The more detailed you make your profile, the better you will be able to find people that are a good match for your team! A detailed profile is the best way to make solid connections with like-minded innovators.
Any questions please contact Ethan Lockshin at [email protected] https://regis.startuptree.co
New Album Feature: Klangstof November 3, 2017
(Photo: Klangstof)
By: Lizzie Brown, Staff Reporter
Klangstof is set to drop their new EP “Resume” on November 3rd! Klangstof has had a definitive year and a half leading up to “Resume”; they toured with well-respected artists such as the Flaming Lips, Miike Snow and Jagwar
Ma, they were the first Dutch band to perform at Coachella and took home the trophy for Best Alternative A ct at the Edison awards. Klangstof is a Dutch indie rock band that excels at combining heavy synth and sharp drums with melodic guitar picking. “Resume” is no exception either; the song flows between potent synths pulsing like sirens and dreamily ambient and drawn out tones with percussion and chords following behind it. If you’re looking for some refreshingly nostalgic and fresh sounding alternative rock, check these guys out: you’re in for a treat.
Movie Review: Goodbye Christopher Robin November 3, 2017
(Photo: Pinewood Films)
By: Allison Upchurch, Staff Reporter
The beloved characters and stories of the Hundred Acre Woods are known throughout the world, but where exactly did these characters come from? That is the forefront of the movie Goodbye Christopher Robin.
Taking place over a period of time in the early half of the 1900’s, this movie tells the story of the famous author
Alan A. Milne (played by Domhnall Gleeson) and how his son Christopher (performed by Will Tilson) inspired
Milne to create and publish the famous Winnie the Pooh characters based on Christopher’s stuffed animal toys and the games they would play at home together.
The cinematic aspects of this movie are straightforward. The cinematography guides the audience throughout this story very smoothly but lacks a little in showing the transition of time. The physical settings, from the humble woods of Sussex to the grand home in central London, all play a crucial role in the development of the character’s circumstances which can bring more significant meaning and purpose into the plot.
There are also themes that reflect the nature of those people and families who lived during this time between two world wars, from dealing with PTSD to the relationship between parent and child that are weak due to the role of the nanny. These are all portrayed in the movie respectively and generously from the cast of actors, which also include Margot Robbie as Milne’s wife and Kelly Macdonald as Christopher’s nanny.
All throughout the movie, Milne is trying to find purpose in his work and frequently mentions how war is a burden on the world and the people in it. He dramatically exhibits the Jesuit value “contempla tive in action” to place his mark of world peace in the world. While it may not have been exactly what he was expecting, Milne was able to take the aspect of childhood and place it in the culture of his time as a powerful entity of justice. For their world to be “right” again, Milne allowed his characters to be taken and cherished by audiences around the world as a call to return to the simpler things in life with childhood wonder and peace.
Tyler, The Creator’s Camp Flog Gnaw continues to grow November 3, 2017
(Photo: Jack Adams)
By: Jack Adams, Staff Reporter Only two days after opening his first GOLF flagship store in Fairfax in Los Angeles, California, Tyler, The
Creator rolled out his 6th annual Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival at Exposition Park in Los Angeles. At the age of just
26, Tyler Okonma (better known by his stage name Tyler, The Creator), has built an empire along with his
Alternative Rap collective Odd Future. Multiple clothing lines, two television series on Adult Swim, a plethora of albums, and a documentary are just some of the accomplishments listed on Tyler’s résumé. Still, nothing serves as more of a testament to Tyler’s success than his annual Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival.
In addition to amusement park rides, games with Odd Future carnival prizes, multiple merchandise tents with hundreds of concert-goers in line, clips from his animated showThe Jellies!, and a virtual reality experience for the new Pixar film Coco—there was also an incredible two day line-up of musicians from a myriad of different genres. With performances from Punk/Metal bands like FIDLAR and Trash Talk, where mosh pits engulf the crowd, alongside a set from Korean Hip-Hop group Wednesday Campanella; you truly never know what to expect from the lineup at Camp Flog Gnaw. The lineup also included a good mix of both up-and-coming artists like BROCKHAMPTON (who arguably had the best set of the entire festival), and more established headliners Lana Del Rey and Kid Cudi.
With so many memorable sets, it is difficult to discern a favorite. However, Kid Cudi was my first Red Rocks concert ever over four years ago. Coincidentally, Odd Future was the opener at that show. Seeing Cudi perform classic songs like Soundtrack 2 My Life, gave me a feeling of pure bliss and nostalgia.
Some of the artists featured I had seen during previous years, as this was my friend’s and I’s fourth consecu tive year attending. Each year the festival gets even bigger and better, and in comparison to festival juggernauts like Coachella, Camp Flog Gnaw feels like an intimate affair. In fact, each year I have attended the carnival, I have met at least one musician just casually walking around the venue. I’ve met musicians such as Mac Miller,
Action Bronson, Freddie Gibbs (twice), Kali Uchis, Left Brain, and Tyler, The Creator; all of whom were beyond kind and responsive. Artists and attendees alike can feel safe walking around the venue, as security is top notch each year. All in all, this is the most enjoyable, relatively low-key, and well-organized festival I have ever attended.
For any Regis students interested in attending the event, tickets typically go on sale sometime in August or
September and are usually available until a couple of weeks before the festival. The festival is two days, usually in late October or early November, and tickets typically range from $200-$400, depending on whether or not you opt for the VIP package. Although it may seem like a lot of money to spend for one weekend, the memories I made with some of my closest friends in the world were absolutely p riceless.
Supernatural skills on the mixing board November 3, 2017
(Photo: Marley Weaver-Gabel)
By: Marley Weaver-Gabel, Editor-In-Chief
On October 28, ghouls, ghosts, and goblins paraded into the National Western Complex center for a night of
Halloween themed festivities and head-banging electronic music at the first ever Supernatural Festival. Global
Dance organized the sinister Halloween event.
Global Dance is a national electronic dance music (EDM) event producer working across the country, hosting events ranging in smaller shows and large festivals like Decadence NYE and Electric Daisy Chain. For the past 20 years, Global Dance had coordinated the well-known Hallowfreak’n’ween to deliver wicked vibes. This year,
Global Dance transitioned and rebranded with the Supernatural Festival 2017.
Inside the complex, eight stages hosted over 54 DJ’s ranging from artists like Alesso and Infected Mushroom, to smaller up and coming performers like Xander and DJ E. Through the spooky decorations of flying ghosts and spider webs, rave -goers could find the Phantom Academy stage where Regis’ very own DJ E started out the night with a bouncy, dance-filled set!
Jamming to an MC Hammer remix, DJ E answered a couple of questions before his set. DJ E commented that he was most excited “for people dance.” And boy did they. For a full hour of hoppy drops and twisted beats, DJ
E and his mentor, Walt White threw down their best to get the crowd up and moving!
You may know Ethan Beaudoin, junior at Regis University, from his impressive mixes at many of our sporting events. Ethan has been DJing for close to four years. He is a student of Walter White at the Global DJ
Academy where he has been mentored through the programs and stages of developing and creating a fluid DJ set.
As part of the program, Ethan got backstage access to the Global Dance Festival o ver the summer and even got to meet artists like Louis the Child and Deorro. Mentor Walter White also DJ’s at Colorado Rapid games, which
Ethan has gotten to attend. Through his connections, Ethan has learned more about the EDM industry and continues to train as a young DJ with vast potential.
Before Walter White founded the Global DJ Academy, he was a professional speed skater and cyclist. When he lost recognition for athleticism, he developed a new interest in electronic music. For a while, he worked the behind the scenes at raves because he was well versed in the programs and technology. He often was called “The
Wolf of Raves” and was known for his ability to fix equipment. White started maki ng his own music and found that there was no community to learn how to create electronic music. His journey inspired the Global DJ
Academy because “no one deserves to have to struggle as I did.” Now, the academy serves around 200 students with six instructors.
Ethan is passionately producing music and taking each lesson in stride. His performance at Supernatural 2017 was a landmark moment in his career. Based on his energetic performance, it is c lear that DJ E is only at the beginning of his career as an EDM artist. Keep your eyes open for his next event as it will be sure to delight!
Giggling away the grief from midterms November 3, 2017
(Photo: Dead Audio)
By: Jack Adams, Staff Reporter
Mark Twain once said, “Humor is tragedy plus time.” If that were true, however, then a plethora of college students would be winning awards for stand up material based on their academic strife. Personally, I find it a bit more therapeutic to laugh at a professional comedian than at myself; in fact this weeken d I found myself in stitches after attending Nick Offerman’s Full Bush Tour at the Paramount Theater in Denver.
For anyone who is not a cult-like fan of the NBC show Parks and Recreation, Nick Offerman is the actor who played Ron Swanson during the show's tenure. Offerman’s show at the Paramount began with a strong disclaimer to the audience stating the show would most certainly not be PG-13, and after a few minutes of some especially ribald material; it was evident the disclaimer was warranted. The pacing of the show was idiosyncratic and indicative of Offerman’s comedic style. The performance included a number of different songs and anecdotes, and
Nick’s musical talent shined as he played original songs such as “I am not Ron Swanson,” and “I’m Working
Blue.” Even though the show was on a Sunday night, my school work was the last thing on my mind as I was enthralled by Offerman’s comedic wit. Comedy shows can be a tremendous way to relieve some stress, especially for any college students fed up with burying their noses in textbooks. Also, fortunately for locals, the stand -up comedy scene in Denver is currently booming. Clubs in the Mile High City are regularly attracting the hottest comedians from across the country. Denver is also home to a growing number of reputed comedians and sketch groups. One comedian, in particular, T.J. Miller (most known for his role as Erlich Bachman on the HBO show Silicon Valley), just filmed his stand up special for HBO in Denver, which is his hometown. As the comedy scene in Denver continues to expand, any other Regis students looking to laugh away their anxiety can find more information about local comedy shows here.
Reinventing the F-Word: Guerrilla Girls visit Regis November 3, 2017
(Photo: Frances Meng-Frecker)
By: Natalia Zreliak, Digital Editor
“Are there any hungry feminists out there?” Yesterday two members of the Guerilla Girls, a group of feminist activist artists, began their speech by walking down the aisles of the Claver Recital Hall and tossing bananas to the crowd. The hall was filled with students, faculty, and community members while music from Queen Latifah and Christina Aguilera played. The event was hosted by Regis’ Fine Arts Department and Dr. Barbara Coleman, a professor of Art at Regis, welcomed the crowd and introduced the work of the Guerilla Girls by showing their first ever poster.
The Guerilla Girl's most famous work (Photo courtesy of Guerrilla Girls)
“What that simple poster said opened so many of our eyes to the institutionalized racism and sexism in the Regis’
Fine Arts Department, a group of feminist activist artists, began their speech by walking down the aisles of the
Claver Recital Hall and tossing bananas to the crowd. The hall was filled with students, faculty, and community members while music from Queen Latifah and Christina Aguilera played. The event was hosted by Guerrilla
GirlsYesterday two members of the so-called “liberated” world of the arts, that simple turn of phrase turned that world on its head,” said Coleman.
After a short introduction video, the Guerrilla Girls took to the stage and talked about their motivations and the work they have done over the years. The Guerrilla Girls started tackling injustice in the Art world in 1985 by calling out major galleries. “We stand for the conscious of the art world,” said Kathe Kollwitz, one of the
Guerrilla Girls who has taken the name of the dead artist to keep her memory alive as the rest of the Guerrilla
Girls do. They’ve had over 55 members through the years, some for weeks and others for years. They wear gorilla masks to keep their identities anonymous, grab the public’s attention, and keep the focus on the issues. Facts and humor are the main ways in which they spread their messages claiming that if you can make someone who disagrees with you laugh then you have more of a chance to change their mind. What started as a movement in New York City has spread all over the world, the two members having just returned from a protest in Brazil. Their work has also been featured in the very museums that they critique and their work has expanded to call out Hollywood and the injustice that lies there as well.
To learn more about the Guerilla Girls visit their website, www.guerrillagirls.com, and get involved.
Highlander News Report Week of 11/1/17 November 3, 2017
By: Reyna Revelle, Alejandra Pineda, Isaro Murenzi, John Schneider, Highlander Digital News Team
Catch up on what's happening at Regis with the Highlander News Report hosted by Highlander News Anchor
Reyna Revelle.
Portrait of a Wallflower November 6, 2017
(Photo: Emily Schneider)
By: Andrianna Veatch, Staff Reporter
Currently on display at the O’Sullivan Art Gallery is a widespread eclectic sample of art and artists, ranging from
Michael Campbell's’ delicate colored-pencil pictures of the Wildflowers of Burren to Robert St. John’s 3 - dimensional The Ozymandias Project. Botanists, gardeners, and other nature lovers on campus will be delighted to know that the overarching general theme of the exhibit is flowers, though that is by no means the sole subject of the display. At this time, the gallery is full of wonderland-like imagery, though special mention must go to Judy
Gardener’s pieces: Lotus Position and Succulence, gorgeous 3-dimensional reliefs printed in plastic and delicately tinted with acrylic. The artist herself notes her taste in floral subjects, saying “I often find myself drawn to botanical forms because of the complexity and elegance of the shapes. The connection between plant forms and the concepts of sacred geometry has intrigued humanity for eons and given rise to many mystical traditions. Plants somehow manage to follow strict sets of mathematical rules … they never appear rigid or formulaic.” Neither will Gardener’s works, who (living up to her name) perfectly cultivates an air of floral greenery that twists and curves in living color.
Befitting the Halloween air of unease this week, and departing from the broad theme of flowers (at least in thought if not in design), Bonnie Ferrill Roman’s statue, titled Zoonosis, captures the idea of disease. According to the artist, the piece was born “…as a response to new stories regarding an outbreak of Ebola in Africa last year, and how the disease likely migrated to humans from one or several species of monkeys” (Roman). Carefully crafted felt-covered “lilies” bleed red wool fiber into a dropping cluster of half-shell “cells,” all contributing to the visual conception of this spreading infection. The statue stands alone on the floor, an uneasy and unnerving testimony to the infectiousness of ideas and human progression.
Like a thematic greenhouse of commercial flowers, the current Regis O’Sullivan Gallery display contains a wide variety of art styles and samples that will appeal to the favorite tastes of its student patrons, continuing to dazzle and amaze with fresh and unique stylistic designs.
November 5 officially named Regis Day in Colorado November 6, 2017
(Photo: Regis University)
By: Natalia Zreliak, Digital Editor
In celebration of both Regis University and Regis Jesuit High School’s 140th anniversary, Colorado Gov. John
Hickenlooper proclaimed November 5, Regis Day in Colorado. Hickenlooper’s proclamation is a long list of the reason why both Regis University and Regis Jesuit are worth celebrating from being the only Jesuit university in the Western Rocky Mountains and the largest private and Catholic high school in Colorado to Jesuit values that make the schools so special.
Both schools were founded in 1887 on November 5 by two Jesuit Priests in Las Vegas, New Mexico but were very shortly relocated to Denver not too long after. Up until 1989 the high school and university shared space on what is now Regis’ Northwest Denver Campus. Originally Regis was known as the College of the Sacred Heart but was given a new name to honor Saint John Francis Regis, a member of The Society of Jesus during the 17th century who worked with prostitutes and the poor in the mountains of Southern France.
Regis University and Regis Jesuit are known for their service to the community surrounding them through c lubs and projects like those put on by Father Woody. Hickenlooper’s proclamation even notes both school’s missions to
“educate men and women to make a positive impact in a rapidly-changing global society by emphasizing academic excellence, service, and developing the whole person, as prescribed by the principles of the Society of Jesus.”
Anti-fascist counter-protesters outside Emancipation Park in Charlottesville OP-ED: Freedom even for the speech we hate November 6, 2017
(Photo: Getty Images)
By: Thomas Jones, Staff Reporter It’s astonishing that in modern day America one of our most fundamental freedoms, the right for one to speak freely, is now being questioned; it’s even more astonishing that the ones questioning this freedom are people who would actually call themselves liberals. We have seen a pattern of this happening, mostly beginning on college campuses and now spreading into a leftist viewpoint held by so -called liberal social justice groups such as Antifa.
These groups believe they’re doing a public service by silencing those with views they see as racist, sexist, xenophobic or just simply intolerant of others. Despite the obvious ironical contradiction of refusing to allow certain people’s speech to be heard on the grounds of spreading tolerance, we also see that this new brand of leftists have literally become the colonialists they supposedly despise and aptly see as a root cause of most of the major social issues we are currently facing in our society.
At the point where you force your assumedly correct and paramount ideology onto others, especially to the extent that you don’t even allow others who hold viewpoints outside of your ideology to even have a voice, you are practicing in the very core of what it means to be colonialist. You quite literally become the colon ialist oppressors which you hate when you act in accordance with the very definition of colonialism, which is at its roots, the practice of seeing viewpoints that you don’t like or understand and refusing to engage with those views, instead, assuming your own intellectual and moral superiority. This practice of refusal to engage with and acknowledge other groups is what has continually allowed colonialism to exist.
The intolerance perpetrated by the left to the right's viewpoint also isn’t helping further l iberal ideology, it’s actually causing the exact opposite of what those on the left would want. The biggest ad agency for the alt -right, so to speak, are liberals who refuse to engage with them in dialogue and instead just yell them off podiums and threaten them when they rally. The main attack by the left to the far right, and now even in many cases to the moderate right, has been to simply label them as racist or sexist or xenophobic or whatever label works best in a given circumstance without ever engaging with the reasoning behind the label.
This practice of unengaged and unthoughtful labeling is incredibly dangerous. It reduces the impact of what it actually means for one to be racist or sexist. If everyone is in some way labeled as a racist then no one is, and the label loses its power and true meaning. We already see this happening in regards to the growth of the alt -right.
The alt-right has been labeled as a racist white supremacist movement, which in my opinion it certainly is, but it continues to grow in number. This isn’t because people are suddenly deciding to proclaim themselves as racists, after all, if you were to ask an alt-right member if they considered themselves racist they would most certainly say no. It’s because titles like that of racist are hurled with such frequency nowadays to people who aren’t actually racist but rather just disagree with certain viewpoints held by the left. As a result, these people who are labeled as racist then face social exclusion and aren’t able to put forth their viewpoints into the social arena whe re they can be scrutinized because every time they try to do so it gets immediately shot down as wrong and racist without ever having an explanation as to why it’s racist. This social exclusion leads to further entrenchment of their views (this is the same on the left as well, since they never have to engage in argumentation as to why their views are correct, which ultimately leads to their views no longer being logical opinions, but simply dogma) and a greater political divide which ultimately leads to social outcasts finding refuge in groups of others with the same societal labels, and thus groups like the alt-right are created.
Now to be clear, I’m not saying that the alt-right and its members aren’t racist, I’m simply saying they weren’t born racist, and that the conditions that leftist groups have allowed to flourish that don’t ever allow engagement with these groups views is exactly what causes their ideology to flourish. Just simply look at the overarching message of the alt-right. Their main view is that white men are currently oppressed in society. The anger then that comes out of this supposed oppression is what leads to the alt-right wanting a white ethnostate.
Now that logic they put forward is ridiculous, but what happens when national media cover age shows them constantly yelled off stage and even threatened and harassed by leftist groups? The actions of leftist suppression of the right's agency are exactly what gives credence to the alt-rights ridiculous claims and therefore leads to its growth or at least to others sympathizing with their viewpoints.
If you don’t believe me, look to the last presidential election. It wasn’t that half of America suddenly became radically right-leaning since the last administration, it was due to the fact that the left refused to engage in discussion and debate with the right on their concerns. They would rather just assume their own correctness and continue to dismiss those on the other side of the aisle. This led to Democrats not only losing the presidency but the House and the Senate as well. It was not Donald Trump who won the election, it was the left that lost it.
So, what exactly does a world of political engagement with the seemingly ridiculous in political belief, like the alt-right, look like? It in no way means one must accept or even sympathize with these viewpoints, but it does mean you must allow them to be heard, and that you ought to have warrants to back up your claims against them, because otherwise, as long as they have reasons for their beliefs, no matter how absurd, you are technically losing the argument.
Free speech is the central tenant of effective democracies and just societies. At the point, you give way to suppression of any speech, no matter its content, you have no right to call yourself a liberal or a progressive, at the very best you are a regressive, colonialist leftist. Now, if you still disagree with me that speech should never be suppressed, I’ll leave you with one last thought.
Don’t be angry nor surprised when the pendulum swings, as it always does, and you no longer hold the power you do as of now, and don’t be angry nor surprised when the precedent you’ve set, allowing speech to be censored, is then used against you and as a result you are forced to sit in silence and watch all the progressive achievements you once made begin to vanish with the solemn knowledge that it was you who paved the path that allowed that to be possible.
Improv Showcase with OutRegis and Phamaly November 7, 2017
(Photo: Allison Upchurch)
By: Allison Upchurch, Staff Reporter
Last Thursday, November 2, a night of laughter and excitement took place in Walker's Pub as Regis' student improv group, OutRegis, performed with local improv performers from the Phamaly Theatre Company, a theatre group entirely made up of performers with disabilities.
The Phamaly Theatre Company's goal is to inspire people to re-envision disability through the art of theater.
Along with improv, they produce full-scale professional plays and musicals year-around in the Denver Metro area. "Being a part of Phamaly is great because it not only shows that I can live with disabilities but that I can thrive,"
Kimberely Jackson, one of the performers with Phamaly, said of her time with the group.
The show on Thursday played out in three parts. First, members from OutRegis performed together, doing improv exercises include translating poems of gibberish to made up English translations and performing a scene in a variety of different emotions. Most of the topics and subjects covered for these improvised scenes came from input and ideas from the audience in attendance.
The second part of this showcase came when the members from Phamaly came up and perf ormed their improv with each other. These members decided to use the technique of tapping each other in and out to perform various scenes that derive from the topic last mentioned in the previous scene. They also took experiences from their own lives and incorporated them into their improvised scenes.
The third part of the showcase was when both improv groups came together to improvise scenes based on topics and subjects that once again came from the audience. At the end of the night, they did a Q& A panel with the audience to allow the performers from Phamaly to showcase their talent and tell their stories.
Seeing both groups perform together became a strong reinforcement of how people who are passionate about performing can come together to bring laughter and inspiration to their community through the performing arts.
To learn more about the Phamaly Theatre Company and their shows, visit their website at http://www.phamaly.org/.
To get involved with OutRegis, follow their Facebook page, or participate in their rehearsals every Wednesday and Friday from 5-7p.m. in the Student Center Basement.
Humans of Regis: Gabriela Gonzales Lucero November 7, 2017
(Photo courtesy of Gabriela Gonzales Lucero)
By: Samantha Jewell, Social Media Editor
What brought you to Regis University?
The close, tight-knit community Regis offers to the students and the values instilled through the Jesuit
Community.
What is your major? And why did you decide that was what you wanted to study?
I am an Elementary Education major; I always loved working with kids. Throughout high school, I worked a program coordinator for the afterschool program for 1st- 5th grade. It was since then that I knew I wanted to work with kids and shape the minds of the future.
What is your plan after graduation? After graduation, I hope to teach at a Title One DPS school and specialize in teaching ESL students.
Who is the most influential person in your life?
The most influential person in my life is my mom. Throughout my childhood, she was always fighting for equal rights among many minority groups, and she always taught me to stand up for what I believe in.
What is the happiest moment in your life?
That’s so hard to choose, but I would have to say the birth of my son. You don’t know the value of everything you do in life until you have that little person looking into your eyes counting on you.
What is your favorite Jesuit Value? Why?
Men and Women For and With Others, It keeps you level and always checking you as a person to want to be constantly giving back and taking care of others not just yourself.
Tell us about the new club that you are starting? And who can join?
It’s Students Advocating for Educational Diversity. At Regis, we are educated men and women of all ages and faiths who take on leadership roles and try to make a positive impact in a changing society. My fellow education majors and I have started a new club on campus called SAED, Students Advocating for Educational Diversity. Our mission is to seek to support, advocate for, and include people of color considering a profession in the field of education. We hope to bring awareness to the underrepresentation of people of color across the university, but especially in the Education Department. Thus, our club includes undergrads from a diverse range of backgrounds, but particularly those who identify as people of color. We hope to help provide ALL future educators with opportunities to work in a diverse variety of school settings. Currently, we are focusing on anyone taking an education class and want to recruit more future teachers of color.
Ranger Basketball season is upon us November 9, 2017
(Photo: Frances Meng-Frecker)
By: Luke Cahill, Staff Reporter
This past weekend the Regis University Men's Basketball team kicked off their season with a trip to Wyoming.
The team fell short losing 75-65, but some may consider it a win. The University of Wyoming, a division 1 program, came out swinging but the Rangers were able to keep up for most of the game.
Senior Dexter Sienko led the Rangers with 15 points and 7 rebounds followed by Senior Ty Mcgee with 13 points and 4 rebounds.
With the team only having 3 incoming Freshman, watch out for the Rangers veterans to shine this season.
Coming up this weekend, Regis Athletics will be hosting the RMAC/Heartland challenge in the field house. The
Rangers will be playing against St. Mary’s University (TX) on Saturday at 1:30 followed by a 1:30 tipoff on
Sunday against Lubbock Christian University. With both competitors being very similar in talent to the Rangers, these games won't be ones to miss. Colorado School of mines will also be competing in the tournament, but the
Rangers will not be playing them.
This weekend will be the first test for the Rangers to see if they can capitalize on the 7 straight home games that they will begin the season with. The Rangers won't have to travel again until December 9th so hopefully, the extra rest and home game atmosphere will bring the Rangers success.
Come on out and support your fellow Rangers at their home opener this Saturday!
Regis students advocated for senators and representatives to pass legislation that fits with Jesuit values. University Ministry takes 12 students to D.C. November 9, 2017
(Photo by Emily Marshall) By: Catie Chesire, Staff Reporter
Every year, University Ministry takes students to the annual Ignatian Family Teach -in for Justice (IFTJ), which is a conference designed specifically for Jesuit high schools and universities. This year, the Teach -in took place Nov.
4-6 in Washington D.C. I have been lucky to attend both of my two years at Regis and had amazing experiences each time.
The trip was a little different than in the past because, aside from chaperone Brian Vander Heiden, Regis’ delegation was 12 female students and second chaperone Sharon Bramante, a new addition to the University
Ministry team. Accordingly, we named ourselves the “12 Angry Women” and took to D.C. to bond, to learn, and to do our part as citizens.
A huge component of the conference that was my favorite day both yea rs is advocacy day. On Monday Nov. 6th, everyone from the conference goes to the Capitol, makes meetings with our elected officials, and talks to them about policies we want to see change within the nation. The other two days of the conference aim to give students
This year, IFTJ had two policy focuses: immigration and criminal justice. In terms of immigration, attendees at the conference were briefed on the DREAM Act, including an emotional testimony from a high -school Dreamer.
When we spoke to our elected officials, a huge push was for the DREAM Act to be passed without any stipulations of increased border security. On the subject of criminal justice, we encouraged our elected officials to participate in and support any bipartisan sentencing reform.
The underlying thread of the conference was always tied back to the Jesuit values we uphold as an institution, making it even more impactful. For example, the theme of the conference was Rowing into the Deep: Magis Meets
Justice. We were encouraged to strive for the more, and not give up in the face of difficulties no matter how enormous they may seem.
Fittingly, the conference, as it did last year, gave me a sense of hope. Seeing over 2,000 students all committed to making a difference, being informed, and seeing justice done is a rare opportunity. In the words of Vander Heiden,
“I’d do it every weekend if I could.”
If you want to hear more about the trip look for the “12 Angry Women” event Tuesday Nov. 14th during Justice
Week.
Cuddle with a Tormal: Retro writer for winter reading November 10, 2017
(Photo: Virgil Finlay)
By: Andrianna Veatch, Staff Reporter
Murray Leinster, the pen name of William F. Jenkins, is the man behind many of science fiction’s most commonly known themes, especially “first contact” and parallel universes. Born on June 16, 1896, he quickly became one of the most prominent sci-fi writers of the twentieth century, and he produced hundreds of works in his fifty-year career.
This career of prominence began with The Runaway Skyscraper, published in 1919, though it was by no means his first foray into the writing world. Indeed, a short story titled My Neighbors was published under his Christian name in The Smart Set magazine of Misters H. L. Mencken and George G. Nathan in February 1916. While he genuinely established his name as a science fiction writer, Murray also produced works in other genres, including mysteries, adventure tales, pulp-staple westerns, romance, and movie scripts. Leinster is mainly known for his Med Ship Saga, chronicling the adventures of Calhoun and his tormal,
Murgatroyd, as they battle plagues, poisons and other planetary medical disasters aboard the spaceship Aesclipus
Twenty (or just Esclipus Twenty, depending on publication year and magazine).
The old saying goes, and modern readers can afford a chuckle at some of Leinster’s outdated 1900s technology: the spaceship navigation computers in “Ribbon in the Sky” are programmed with punched cards, and every story of the Med Ship series mentions the Aesclipus Twenty’s background tapes and overdrive -breakout tapes. These were not books written just to entertain, but also to foster questioning and thinking in their readers. There are not rare moments where Leinster deals with genuine issues: Pariah Planet discusses the horrific generational effects of racism and fear; The Mutant Weapon reveals a carefully crafted plan for mass genocide.
Leinster’s father died when he was only thirteen, successfully squelching any hopes the boy had about becoming a chemist, but what was denied him in one future delivered in another. He was the father of the “first contact” concept so popular in alien-themed movies today, and his story “Sideways in Time,” published in 1934, first introduced the idea of parallel universes. At the heart of it all, his work has withstood the test of time, and readers willing to delve through the technology of yesteryear will not be disappointed in the solid stories told therein — plus, Murgatroyd will steal your heart
The Critics Who Couldn’t Criticize November 10, 2017
(Photo: REX/Shutterstock)
By: Allison Upchurch, Staff Reporter While the conflict may not have been rooted right here in Colorado, it still has a say in what we as a society can identify as the restriction on press freedom.
On November 3, the Los Angeles Times posted on its annual holiday movie preview listthat Thor: Ragnarok and other movies released by the Walt Disney Company would not be reviewed on the list.
This absence came as a result of disagreements between the LA Times and the Walt Disney Company about a series of articles the LA Times had posted that took an inside look at the Walt Disney Company and its relationship and business influence in the city of Anaheim, California where the Disneyland Resort is located. The
Walt Disney Company said of the articles that “The Times moved forward with a biased and inaccurate series wholly driven by a political agenda.”
The disagreement resulted in the LA Times movie critics not being permitted to an advanced screening of Thor:
Ragnarok and all the other Disney Company movies coming out in the future.
As the weekend digressed, many critic organizations, newspapers, and valued members of the entertainment business took to respond to this by supporting the LA Times and its journalists. Many also committed to boycotting upcoming Disney movies such as Disney/Pixar’s Coco and Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
One of these supporters, the LA Film Critics, tweeted out a statement saying that Disney’s actions were
“antithetical to the principles of a free press and set a dangerous precedent in a time of already heightened hostility toward journalists.”
On November 7, the disagreement was settled and the LA Times was granted permission to attend future advanced screenings of upcoming Disney films and review them.
While the issue is closed, it brings into question how much we as a society value freedom of the press, even though we may never agree on what is being stated in the press. Restrictions of any kind can be seen as dangerous, as the Washington Post reported on in conjunction with this issue.
This overall theme of freedom of the press is a lot bigger than what can be covered here and now. To learn more about the issues faced with freedom of the press, you can go to https://pressfreedomtracker.us or explore a generalization of different resources at http://www.nyguild.org/press-freedom.
Movie Review: Thor: Ragnarok November 10, 2017
(Photo: Marvel Studios)
By: Allison Upchurch, Staff Reporter
One of Earth’s mightiest heroes and member of the Avengers return in the latest installment in the Marvel
Cinematic Universe, Thor: Ragnarok.
In this continuation of Thor’s storyline, Thor (played by Chris Hemsworth) learns that the goddess of death Hela
(played by Cate Blanchett) has broken from her prison and began her quest to bring an end to Thor’s home of
Asgard. Thrown through the Bifrost by Hela onto a planet called Sakaar, Thor must team up with his brother Loki
(played by Tom Hiddleston), the Hulk/Bruce Banner (played by Mark Ruffalo), and an ex-warrior Valkyrie
(performed by Tessa Thompson) to escape Sakaar and defend Asgard.
Because this is Thor’s third solo movie and fifth one overall in the Marvel Studios movie lineup, then that means that the character of Thor is pretty much developed. However, the plot of this movie lends itself to being perceived as a repeat of what he experienced in his first film because he is sent to an unfamiliar place and must think (and sometimes physically fight) his way out of the situations he is put in. What has established right away in this movie that differs from the previous Thor movies is the more availability of comedy, both verbal and physical. The setting of Sakaar itself contributes most to the comedy aspect of this movie because of the planet’s active and somewhat narcissistic leader the Grandmaster (played by Jeff Goldblum) and how he has established this planet to receive power from chaos. This dominates presence of comedy also derives from the fact that the comedy is not subject to just one character, but every main character can get at least one chuckle or bellow of laughter from the audience.
Regarding putting this movie and its characters into the context of a Jesuit education, the role of Thor and his purpose in the movie is best summed up in the Jesuit value of “men and women for and with others.” What this film ultimately comes down to is the idea that Asgard is not a place – it’s people, meaning the people itself are the heart and soul of Asgard. Without them, there is nothing. So when the people are threatened by Hela, Thor and his comrades take it upon themselves to best serve the people of Asgard by working together despite differences of opinion and protect them.
From this standpoint, I’ll be one to say that I can see Thor walking around campus as a student and fitting right into the Jesuit atmosphere.
COMPLAIN: Guerrilla Girls Workshop and Interview November 10, 2017
(Photo: Frances Meng-Frecker)
By: Frances Meng-Frecker, Photography Editor
On Thursday, November 2, The Guerrilla Girls came to Regis to talk about the activism they do and why they do it. It was an excellent talk, and I highly suggest you go read about that event here. I was also lucky enough to be able to attend a workshop they held the next morning on Friday, Nov., 3rd in the O’Sullivan Art Gallery. Students, faculty, and artists came together to listen to the Guerrilla Girls and discuss what change needs to be made in society. Each group focused on one thing they wanted to change, made posters, and c ame up with ideas that would be most effective. Topics included sexual assault, the word feminist, DACA, lack of females in art history, and more.
Change needs to happen, and we have the power to make that difference. Our first step is complaining. The
Guerrilla Girls love to complain, and they want you to complain as well. If we are not happy with something, we need to let people know about it. We can find unique and creative ways to make out voices heard. I had the privilege of interviewing The Guerrilla Girls before the workshop, and that interview is located below.
Highlander (H): You chose names of dead female artists, what are the reasons for selecting the artists you did?
Guerrilla Girls (GG): I have always admired Shigeko Kubota. The same week that I was joining the Guerrilla
Girls she passed away, and it was kind of like a sign that I needed to honor her name. And it is lovely to me that if
I send an email under her name that people might wonder who this artist is and come to find out that she was o ne of the pioneers of the art world and there is little known about her. Kathe Kollwitz was a German artist who lived from the mid-19th to mid-20th centuries. She was very politically active. In addition to being an artist, she was an activist, which I relate. She did many exciting works, mostly prints, and drawings. She didn’t like art to be expensive, so even if she did an excellent art print, she would do an inexpensive version, which I also relate to as a Guerrilla Girl. A lot of her subjects were workers, women and children and all kinds of political things.
H: What change do you hope to see on college campuses and throughout society?
GG: First of all, there are so many people on college campuses including students and faculty. We all need to fight for more human rights and more diversity in our own country. There are just beautiful people doing great work, but on the other hand, there are still people on opposite sides of our incredibly divided country today, and our goal is to try to change some of those people’s minds.
H: How can we help make a difference in the art world?
GG: There are so many ways. First of all, complain. If you go into a museum, or a gallery and notice that they are only showing white male artists; say something. This is how the Guerrilla Girls started. We started complaining about all this stuff, and sometimes it does help to do things anonymously. Put up signs in the bathroom, or something like that. It’s a slow process, so I think the most important thing doesn't get discouraged. Don’t get discouraged because you can’t do everything. Just do one thing, and if it works, do another, and if it doesn’t work, most importantly, do another.
H: As female artists, how do you think we can be heard and recognized?
GG: Do work. I mean, female artists are being heard and recognized, but the system isn’t moving fast enough. The world of artists is excellent. Artists put their whole lives into their work, and there are fantastic artists out there.
Women are here, and they are ready. H: You currently have exhibitions in Brazil, Ecuador, and New York. Could you tell us about the exhibits and your messages for each?
GG: In Brazil, right now, we have a retrospective of the entire portfolio of Guerrilla Girls posters on display. We also updated and translated two of our signs to Portuguese. And through that exhibition, we like to encourage
Brazilian artists and people to make their voice heard and empowered women and trans people and all those being persecuted. In Ecuador, we have a three-part exhibition in this incredible old giant building that has been repurposed as an art space. There is a room with giant versions of our work, but we also did the new job just for
Ecuador about Ecuador itself. When we are in an exhibition in a museum, we almost always do critical work of the museum or the art world of the country we are in. Then we have a bunch of videos because we make a lot of videos about different activists, and then we have a room that is entirely chalkboard. On the chalkboard, in
Spanish, it says, “I am not a feminist, but if I were, this is what I would complain about.” And it is covered with people writing incredible things. And the show at the Whitney is a group show that has activist art, and it has a bunch of our work in it.
H: How can art, in your opinion, change the world?
GG: I think art does change the world. I ultimately believe that art changes the world. It is a language. Art is every kind of art, not just visual art. It is all about a new way of looking at the world. What every artist d oes is invent their world no matter what kind of art you do, and as a viewer, you have to participate in that world, and it does change your mind about things and makes you think differently. We do it very overtly, but each artist has to do it in their way.
Highlander News Report: 11/08/17 November 10, 2017
By: Reyna Revelle, Alejandra Pineda, Isaro Murenzi, John Schneider, Highlander Broadcast Team
The week in Review and Preview of November 6th-17th, 2917 at Regis University.
The St. Pelagia’s Players Production of The Tempest November 13, 2017
(Photo: Frances Meng-Frecker)
By: Allison Upchurch, Staff Reporter
Last weekend, Regis’ Shakespeare group, the St. Pelagia’s Players, performed their production of one of William
Shakespeare’s final plays, The Tempest, in the Claver Recital Hall. For a more in -depth look at the players and the creation of the show, click here for the Highlander’s exclusive coverage.
In this specific production of The Tempest, a duchess named Prospera, played by Court Huston, has escaped with her daughter Miranda, played by freshman Alana LeBaron, to an island after her family tried to kill her and take her magic powers. In retaliation for the act, Prospera calls upon the island’s nature spirit nam ed Ariel, played by
Caroline Conrad, to raise a storm and strand her sister Antonia, played by senior Hannah Creasman, and the royal entourage of the Queen, played by junior Rachael Urquhart, on the island. From there, the entourage is separated and each group fights for dominance and an understanding of the mysterious island that they have landed upon. St. Pelagia’s Players have interpreted this production in a more modern setting, reflected primarily in the character’s clothing. Those characters who are regal and strive for power wear the sharp business suits and adopt powerful stances, while those who are more humble wear lighter colors. The costume that immediately stands out from the rest is that of the island’s fish-monster inhabitant Caliban, played by sophomore Gwendolyn Mulligan, which is made completely out of pieces of waste and trash.
In fact, the entire staging is uniquely made out of collected pieces of garbage. With an emphasis on plastic waste, the stage is lined with bottles, containers, wrappers, and giant pieces of Styrofoam. The staging reflects the theme the St. Pelagia’s Players present about consumer behavior in our world. In the Producer’s Notes presented in the playbill, it states “We as consumers…must remember that recycling is not enough: we must be conscious of all the plastic we encounter and purchase in our everyday lives, and endeavor to choose more wisely.”
Through the production of The Tempest, the St. Pelagia’s Players invite the audience to see the amount of trash that builds up in life, both literal and figuratively, and show how it is possible to work towards forgiveness and better conservation practices for our world.
For more information on the St. Pelagia’s Players, email [email protected] or follow their Facebook group @StPelagiaRegis.
The A Cappella Scene at Regis November 14, 2017
(Photo: LaDamion Massey)
By: Allison Upchurch, Staff Reporter
As the weather cools down, the voices of Euphonic Vox are warming up.
Euphonic Vox is Regis’ student a cappella group, where students sing to no instrumental accompaniment. Every note, beat, and sound of music is coming straight from their voices, all ranging from sopranos to baritones.
At the helm of this group is instructor LaDamion Massey. He was recruited by the previous concert choir director,
John Hubert, to instruct the group after Hubert’s departure.
“It’s cool,” he sums up of his time with Euphonic Vox. Massey enjoys working with Euphonic Vox because of t he commitment and talent that each student brings to the group. His hope is to have this group rooted in teamwork and leadership. Massey explains, “I would like it to be collaborative, where everyone takes ownership so that everyone has experience in a leadership role.”
Massey has had a passion for music for almost his entire life and was involved in a touring gospel choir in high school. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from the University of Northern Colorado, and has spent time with the award winning a cappella group Groove Society.
“I’m a fan of jazz – vocal jazz to be more specific,” Massey says, claiming he is a vocal jazz nerd at heart. In fact, that is what you will find Euphonic Vox singing for their show. Massey said the group are practicing and will perform songs that mostly are either jazz, RN&B, funk, or a little bit of all three.
When asked what the hope is for the future of this group, Massey says he hopes that the group will be able to partner with other a cappella groups at other schools. “That’s the ultimate goal, but for now we basically want to make the people in our group and the audience feel happy and entertained when they hear our singing.”
The Euphonic Vox’s first show will be free and open to the public on Wednesday, Nov ember 15 at 7:00 in
Walker’s Pub.
To find out how to get involved with Euphonic Vox, email the group’s President, Reyna Revelle, at [email protected].
Humans of Regis: Dr. Susan Sci November 14, 2017
(Photo: Emily Schneider)
By: Samantha Jewell, Social Media Editor
What brought you to Regis University?
Well, my first time that I ever taught here it was because Dr. Arne G’Schwind was going on sabbatical and he was teaching a class on Media Aesthetics that we still teach now. The department at the time did not have anybody to teach it, so a close friend of mine and Arne’s, Dr. Brian Ott suggested me to Arne and the department and Rob was like, “Oh yeah I know Susan!” And the rest is history, I have been here ever since that class! I adjuncted for about two years, and then I was a full-time instructor for four years, and now I am on the tenure track.
How did you get into the field of communications / studying public memory?
So, what got me into the field of communications is a little different than public memory. What got me into communications was an incredible teacher at Queens College who taught an introduction to interpersonal communication. I took this class and well it was one of those classes that I think a lot of students can relate to, I had to go! It was not because there was an attendance policy, it was not because of anything it was because I wanted to talk about exactly what we were talking about in class every single time. So, I was excited to go to class, and I was like, “Oh my God! The world finally makes sense because of this class”. It was als o because he was also kind of a nut job and he was the most unconventional teacher I have ever known, and that made learning exciting. What made me study public memory is a much longer story but what I can say is this, is that all my life I have been fascinated with questions of memory and issues of what we remember and what we don’t because of the difficulties of my own personal life and my mother being bipolar and when she was institutionalized when I was a child, my siblings and I have forgotten that whole portion of our history, and it was something that we never talked about growing up and so I always knew there was something significant about memory in terms of identity.
When I got to Colorado State for my masters, and I started to read the emerging li terature of public memory and public history I was like, “AHHHHH! It all makes sense now!!” Ever since then I have been fascinated with this area of research.
What do you like to do outside of teaching?
Well, okay, one of my favorite things is, I have a young daughter she is two and a half, her name is Amelia, so there is a lot of playing with play-doh, and building sandcastles in our back year. But, in terms for me for fun, it probably won’t shock you that even for fun I am like, let's go to the museum tha t sounds like a great time!! So every year on my birthday my husband and I go to the museum, he is like, “it's your birthday!! Time to go to the museum!!” On a more like frequent basis, I go to the gym, and the gym for me is an excellent way for me to find community. I go to barre class, I go to random courses all over the city which is kind of weird, but I have my barre class, I have my spin class, and my boot camp class. I have friends in all those spaces which I love. I love movies;
I love pop culture, I teach pop culture too, I love going hiking. I love just sitting around and going shopping. One of my most favorite things, I love going to the thrift store and finding things that I couldn’t see anywhere else. All of my clothes come from the thrift store! Everything I wear always comes from the thrift store because I love it and it’s soothing.
Who is the most influential person in your academic career?
In my academic life, there is a scholar by the name of Carole Blair, and she is currently the president of the
National Communication Association, and she has written about public memory. Blair was the first author of public memory that I had ever read. Carole is a redhead too, and she is at the University of North Carolina Chapel
Hill https://comm.unc.edu/people/department-faculty/carole-blair/ and she is a friend and she motivates me, inspires me all the time. Everything that she writes, everything that she does, the passion for what she does never cease to amaze me. She never seems to get bored, and I love that, but she also has unquestionably been the reason why I push myself because she got easily rest on her laurels, but her work is consistently innovated, consistently questioning. That is the kind of scholar I want to be.
What is your favorite Jesuit Value? Why?
I would have to say Contemplatives in Action; we can think lots of things, everybody has lots of thoughts. Last week Time Wise was here, and he was giving a unique presentation about race in America. One of his central premises was about how we need not just to think things about race, but we have to do them. I am privileged; I am middle class, I am white, I am sitting here at an excellent institution where I have a great job. Because I am white
I do not often have to think about race; I especially don’t have to think about what it means to be white. But, if I don’t put what I think about race into action then I do nothing. It does not matter what my thoughts are about how imperfect our racial system is in America if I am not doing anything about it, then I am not helping. So, unless I am putting my beliefs into belief and action, then it is no good. So, for me, that is more important than all the others because otherwise we are just going to consistently be in a position as humans to blame other people or be unhappy with situations but never empower ourselves or being empowered enough to make the change.
Is there anything else you would like to leave with the Regis Community?
What I would really like the Regis Community to know is that learning is not a thing that we do in any one place and that if you have actually learned anything at Regis I hope that it is that our lessons are not meant to be housed within any institution or any space, but they are intended to cultivate a way of questioning that will be with you forever. So, we don’t want to teach you knowledge we want to teach you a way to think and that that way of thinking about any method of one thing but the way of question ing and now a skeptical examination, not housed in anger but a questioning housed in curiosity, a questioning housed in an attempt to make things better than what we know. That as we liked to say in this country, “creating a perfect union.” That was creati ng a perfect union in the
United States means that we have to be willing to let learning happen throughout our entire lives no matter where we are.
Regis Men’s Basketball Weekend Recap November 15, 2017
(Photo courtesy of Regis Basketball)
By: Luke Cahill, Staff Reporter
The Regis Men’s Basketball team wasted no time getting off to a hot start in the RMAC challenge! On top of the victorious weekend for the Rangers, senior Ty Mcgee joined the 1000 point club only one game into the season,
Christian Little earned RMAC defensive player of the week, and Coach Brady Bergeson earned his 100th career win.
Starting off the weekend this past Friday, the Rangers faced a tough St. Mary’s team that made the trek to Denver all the way from Texas. St. Mary’s was able to push the Rangers to double overtime, but Regis would come away with the win 83-82. Dexter Sienko helped lead the way for the Rangers finishing the game with 23 points and going 9-15 from the field. Christian Little also tacked on a nifty 19 points and nine rebounds.
If you weren't convinced after Friday that the Rangers were the real deal, Saturday was the icing on the cake. The
Rangers looked even better than they did the previous day beating Lubbock Christian University 89 -74. The Rangers were able to find a way to incorporate all players into their offense with three players scoring in the double digits this game. Jarret Brodbeck led the way with 18, followed by Christian Little 14 and Ty Mcgee tacked on another 11.
Next Up for the Rangers will be Johnson and Wales University (0-5) Wednesday at 7 P.M in the field house.
Denverites continue to speak out against gun violence in the city November 15, 2017
(Photo courtesy of Denver.org)
By: Jack Adams, Staff Reporter
Gun control has become an increasingly hot-button issue across the United States, and incidents involving gun violence continue to dominate the twenty-four-hour news cycle. Growing public perturbation surrounding gun control has sparked citizens everywhere to voice their concerns. Students, in particular, have become one of the main proponents of gun control and legislation reform. In fact, just this past week, students from Ithaca
College came together to protest a speech at their school from notorious gun lobbyist Larry Pratt. Many students chose to attend the protest as an alternative to Pratt’s speech, chiefly due to his radical views against increased gun control.
Citizen’s concerns surrounding gun control are certainly warranted, as the rate of gun deaths in the United States has continued to increase in recent years. According to an article from the New York Times, “The rate of gun deaths in the United States rose in 2016 to about 12 per 100,000 people. That was up at a rate of about 11 for every 100,000 people in 2015.” Increases in the rate of gun deaths, coupled with the horrific recent gun-related tragedies in Las Vegas and Texas, has given the public plenty of reasons to speak out against a perceived lack of gun control.
Although gun violence plagues nearly every city across the country, Denver, specifically, has seen an unfortunate spike in crime and homicide rates. The Brennan Center for Justice reported that Colorado’s crime -rate increase in
2016 was more than 11 times the 0.3 percent average increase reported in the 30 largest cities in the nation. Also, according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI), last year’s number of homicides — 189 — marked a 9.9 percent increase over the 172 in 2015; almost a third of them occurred in Denver.
In response, a number of Denverites recently came together at the Colorado Capitol to speak out against gun violence. The rally attendees, mainly members of the Colorado Coalition Against Gun Violence, called for legislators to do things like enact universal background checks and end legal protections for the gun industry.
Sensible gun control will undoubtedly continue to be at the forefront of political debates, especially with midterm elections less than a year away.
Regis students interested in helping Denver interested in getting involved with the topic of gun control should consider checking out the Colorado Ceasefire organization.
KRCX, Denver's oldest college radio November 17, 2017
(Photo: Lidia Chacon)
By: Lidia Chacon, Staff Reporter
KRCX is not just any radio station; it is your radio station. Home to Regis University, KRCX plays music 24 hours a day, every day. Students are given a glimpse of the music featured on the KRCX station just by walking through the patio that enters the student center. With a record of being Denver’s oldest college radio, KRCX is staying up to date.
New music is filtered through a live stream every day by the music direction workers, production is making promos, and the marketing team is coming out with new advertising, including new stickers. KRCX gives musicians a chance to play their music that reaches new crowds every day. They also offer their recording studio as well for any singers and musicians to record their music. Volunteer DJ’s are welcomed to pl ay radio shows and only need to sign up. Each week a new album is featured as the album spotlight, which sometimes happens to be an up and coming band.
Not only is their music played on air but a background piece on these small bands can be found online, a s well as the live stream, which allows listening in any setting, of any internet connecting a device. Visit krcx.org to listen live!
A science fiction filled Christmas November 17, 2017
(Photo courtesy of Connie Willis)
By: Andrianna Veatch, Staff Reporter
On Saturday evening, November 11th, 2017, the Tattered Book Cover on Colfax hosted a book talk and signing by
Connie Willis. Connie Willis is a Grandmaster of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, eleven - time Hugo award winner, and seven-time Nebula award winner, and authoress of over thirty books. Her newest release, titled A Lot Like Christmas, contains all of the stories from her previous Christmas title, Miracle, and
Other Christmas Stories, as well as five previously unpublished works. Full of fun, flights of fancy, and solid science-fiction, the book is a pure delight for the holiday season. At the beginning of her talk, Willis read a section from her short story “All Seated on the Ground,” a hilarious account of an alien ‘invasion’ occurring at Christmas time, and humanity’s attempts to communicate with the aliens. The piece manages to capture a vast cast of characters and mindsets, from the tired -sounding but funny main character to a bunch of little choir girls who help solve a mystery; all throughout the story is entertaining and layered with irony.
A good story, according to Willis, contains irony, which she described as “…the gap between what you expect and what is.” The Christmas Story—the birth of Christ—is rich in such irony: the Magi expecting to honor a king, and finding only a kid; Herod getting backstabbed by the Magi when he requests their help in locating this king -kid. It is this irony that serves to make the Greatest Story Ever Told so satisfying. This topic of discussion soon led to a writing tip pertained to good endings: a happy ending needs to feel deserved—or else it becomes contrived, shoehorned in for convenience. There must be suffering which leads to rewards; otherwise, readers will become cranky. Willis revealed another important writing tip: Readers care about the most simple details; in one of her earlier works, Willis mentioned in passing a “Molasses Swamp” card for the Candyland game, and soon received an irate letter from someone explaining that there is NO “Molasses Swamp” card for the Candyland game. No matter what the subject, topic, or detail is, somewhere out there, somebody will care genuinely about it, so solid research is an excellent ingredient for successful writing and satisfied readers.
Future projects to look out for from Willis include a novel about a rollicking road -trip to Roswell, New Mexico, and another addition to her Oxford Time Travelers books. And no, she has never been kidnapped by aliens.
Humans of Regis: Robin Cloues November 29, 2017
(Photo: Emily Schneider)
By: Samantha Jewell, Social Media Editor
What brought you to Regis University?
I began working at Regis when I was doing postdoctoral work at the University of Colorado. I taught a senior neuroscience seminar class as a way to get experience in teaching while doing basic research. I enjoyed the course so much that I continued teaching it year after year – and continue to do so to this day!
How did you decide your career path?
I was interested in the human body when I was very young, and at first, I wanted to be a medical doctor. Then in college, I got the opportunity to work in a neuroscience lab and discovered how much I lov ed basic research.
Neuroscience is so fascinating, and I love teaching about the brain and science in general to undergraduates.
What do you like to do outside of teaching? I spend as much time as possible outside, hiking and snowshoeing. I especially love to backpack and experience being in the wilderness, entirely self-sufficient. I also play the violin in a community orchestra.
Who is the most influential person in your life academic/personal?
I was very fortunate to work in a lab as an undergraduate with an excellent mentor, Rae Silver. I worked with her for four years, then collaborated with her many years later. While we do not communicate that often anymore, she remains a role model. As I work with young people at Regis, I remember her influence.
What is your favorite Jesuit Value? Why?
Unity of Heart, Mind, and Soul is my favorite Jesuit value. I believe that to live truly fulfilling lives, we must develop the whole person, looking not just at our achievements, but at our families and friends, our pla ce in society, and how we can make the world a better place. If we can identify the various aspect of our lives that give us joy and meaning, then we can better contribute to our society. The personal and social aspects of our lives are just as important as the academic/work parts of our lives.
Is there anything else you would like to leave with the Regis Community?
I have been reading Emily Dickinson’s poetry recently and found this gem that says so much in so few words. May we use our life to make an impact.
In this short Life that only lasts an hour
How much - how little - is within our power
Facilitating Much More than just Dialogue November 29, 2017
By: Thomas Jones, Staff Reporter
Regis University has long been involved with increasing dialogue throughout their local community as well as the broader Denver area. The Institute on the Common Good has been hired by numerous organizations throughout its existence specifically for this purpose. The institute has helped guide productive dialogue for town halls, civic organizations and even some conversations which needed to take place off the books and in private due to their heightened nature of sensitivity. When I met with Daniel Justin, the Assistant Director for the ICG (Institute on the Common Good), he explained to me how the ICG is going to bring this work they’ve been doing for years in the broader community home to Regis and its student body.
This new program which the ICG is starting up has been referred to as both Dialogue Facilitation as well as
Dialogue Leadership. Justin stated that the main goal of this program is to “Create a space for authentic dialogue.”
What this space looks like, ideally, is one free from persuasion; this space would simply be one where people with possibly opposing views can discuss those views without the conversation turning into an argument. The ICG is accomplishing this through a set of workshops for students to go through who are preparing to be dialogue le aders/ facilitators. The first workshop, which has already taken place, centered around the theme, “What’s going on in a difficult conversation.” This workshop was run by a new faculty member named Mairi -Jane Fox who has over a decade of experience working as a dialogue facilitator. Justin stated that this workshop built skills for the students in the program to engage in difficult dialogue themselves; he furthered, “Before we have leaders, we need participators in dialogue to cultivate that skill.”
Currently, around twenty students have joined the dialogue facilitation program put on by the ICG. Justin stated that the institute encouraged as many people as possible to apply as well as reaching out to specific people to make sure that they have a group of dialogue facilitators that is diverse in every possible way. Long term, the ICG sees this dialogue facilitation program becoming fully student-run; a place where students will be the ones both creating and facilitating dialogue on campus. When speaking on so me of the challenges that these students will face within this volunteer work, Justin emphasized that, “The hardest thing about being a facilitator is that you can’t have a side on the issue, you have to give that up while you’re in this space and set it a side so that you can be fair.”
Justin ended our interview by striking at the core reason this dialogue facilitation program is so essential, especially today. He stated, “A lot of dialogue happens on campus’s now to convince people of something. We don’t want that within this program, we instead want dialogue for dialogue's sake. We live in a world which is very quick to dehumanize people who are not like us or don’t agree with us; we want a place where we can treat people as human beings.”
Photo Essay: It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas on campus November 29, 2017
By: Emily Schneider, Photographer
Is this town big enough for the both of us? December 1, 2017
(Photo: Getty Images)
By: Jack Adams, Staff Reporter
Recently, it seems as if almost everytime I’m out in Denver, I hear natives lamenting over the surfeit of citizens migrating to the city. Typically I try to ignore the local’s gripes about Denver’s population density, attributing them to misdirected frustrations over traffic on I-25. After an especially harrowing commute to Regis last week, however, I began to realize these incessant residential growth complaints may actually be justified. So I decided to conduct a bit of personal research, directing all of it toward answering one simple question: has Denver really become inundated with too many people?
Denver was one of the fastest growing cities in the United States between 2014 and 2015, and even though the city’s growth rate slightly dipped last year; Denver’s total population is quickly approaching 700,000. Although some of this population boost can be ascribed to Denver’s birthing rate (which is actually slowing), over 60 percent of the city’s growth from 2015 to 2016 came from people moving to Denver from elsewhere. Rural areas surrounding Denver are also feeling the effects of the recent population proliferation. The nearby city of Broomfield was ranked as the fifth-fastest-growing county in the nation in 2015, and recent census data also estimated the population of the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood metropolitan statistical area to be nearly 2.9 million— ranking it 15th among metro areas nationally. Although this influx of new residents is causing home values across the Denver metro area to soar, a recently imposed $450 million property tax cut (which may also sound great for current homeowners in the area) is having unintended consequences—namely via crippling rural fire departments already struggling to stay afloat.
Moreover, Regis students will no doubt feel the effects of rapid growth in the Denver metro area as well, especially when trying to find housing. With gentrification already consuming Denver neighborhoods (I’m looking at you Highlands), Regis students will continue to be tasked with trying to locate a nearby living space which is even remotely affordable. Also, as the surrounding area continues to burgeon, the University itself can certainly expect an inpouring of new students. In order to accommodate a significant amount of potential scholars, Regis will undoubtedly need to expand its current infrastructure; increasing parking near campus and creating additional classroom space.
Thus, even after examining the facts, I’m left to wonder, is Denver really becoming too big for its britches? Well, considering the city is still a few million people shy of New York City’s population, I’d say we’ll be just fin e—at least, for now.
Regis Ranger Athletics update December 1, 2017
(Photo: Kate Scott)
By: Luke Cahill, Staff Reporter
Men's Basketball
Post-thanksgiving, the win streak is still intact for the men’s basketball team. Morale is high after winning the first five games of the season.The team received ten votes in the latest NCAA rankings. This is, without a doubt, one of the better basketball teams that Regis has seen in a long time. Look for this team to be ranked in the coming weeks! Off to a hot start, Jarret Brodbeck is leading the way with 16.4 ppg. The team will be playing their next three games in Denver but will be on the road for quite some time after that. Make sure to catch a game or two before the boys look to continue their success on the road!
Women’s Basketball
The ladies are off to a slow start at 1-4, but there are many games to come. On a positive note, Majestie Robinson has had a remarkable start to the year averaging 14.2 ppg with an average of 30 minutes on the floor per game. Her success will be critical as the Ranger will look for their second win against Colorado Christian on December 2 in the fieldhouse. If you can’t make that game, the ladies will be playing on the 3rd in the fieldhouse as well.
Women’s Volleyball
This year Regis Volleyball team has been hugely successful. The team finished off 28 -3 which locked them into the one seed for the national tournament. On top of earning the first seed, the Rangers were the regular season champions and also RMAC champs for the first time since 1998. The girls are currently on a ten game win streak and did not even give up a set throughout the RMAC tournament. Come on out and sup port the team as they look to continue their season in the national tournament. The first and second round games will be held in the Regis
Fieldhouse.
Humans of Regis: Tessa Kelley December 8, 2017
By: Lidia Chacon, Staff Reporter Why did you choose Regis?
Um well I first heard about Regis from my brother’s, there’s a summer camp here where if he goes to summer school at this campus every year until he graduates, he gets full tuition scholarship here. So I had been on this campus before because of him and I applied. I was really busy senior year so I went to a ton of, well not a ton, I went to one in Oregon and that was it so I was like “we’re just go to apply to o nes that sound cool.” And I got in and they gave me a scholarship which was cool. I wasn’t seriously considering it until I got the scholarship. I missed Colorado, I lived here before I moved off to Utah, and I decided to stay because I love it here! I ju st decided on a whim to come here, but I decided to stay because I like it.
Onto the poetry theme, when and why did you first start poetry?
My sixth grade math teacher, can’t for the life of me understand why she’d put it in her math class, but she played a TED talk of Sarah Kay’s slam poetry of her performing Point B and then talking about her organization she runs to teach people poetry and ending with her poem Hiroshima, and I went home that day and I watched it like 12 times! I was just blown away by the fact that this medium existed. And so I started performing her poetry a lot.
And then when I got to high school, the open mics that I was going to, you had to have your original stuff, you couldn’t perform other people’s stuff, so I was like alright I guess I gotta start writing my own things, this is great. So I got to district finals, for Denver public schools, I started a poetry club my senior year. Went to open mics, competed, competed against some really cool people in Utah, like RJ Walker and I got to meet them, I was blown away freaking out the whole time . Then RJ Walker was like, “You wanna be facebook friends?” And I was like “What?? You wanna be facebook friends with me???”
What made you want to perform poetry?
It’s just this interesting aspect of connecting with the audience. It’s one thing to read a poem and get goosebumps it’s something that connects you to the poem, which is of course really powerful and I really enjoy, I’ve always loved writing, I’ve been writing since I was five. But the performing aspect brings a human element that I didn’t know was possible before I learned about some poetry. It’s possible and extremely interesting to be vulnerable in front of so many people and to know that they feel the same way, to hear their reaction a nd understand that you’re not alone and that there’s such a wide array of people out there that it is literally impossible for you to be alone in how you feel because there’s always one person at least who will connect with your poem.
What’s your favorite poem? That I’ve written? I’ve written a poem...this is a toss up. I’ve written a poem dedicated to my dad who’s, uh going to prison for a long time, and it’s a list of things I wish I could tell him right now if I were speaking to him. It’s a list of things that all kind of connect to the things that I’ve felt I‘ve overlooked in my childhood or things I wish he would understand and I don’t think he will because he’s going to prison and he will miss that lesson. So it’s a really powerful poem and I cry every time I perform it because at the end it’s just like I wish all of these things are true but I’m sorry you’re just not gunna see who I am when I’m a grown women. You’re not going to see all my accomplishments the rest of my family will get to see. My favorite poem in general...it has to be Point B by
Sarah Kay because it is why I started writing and it reminds me of my mom a lot.
Going back to the “human connection’ you said earlier and the poem about your father, do you like the vulnerability? Does it scare you to be vulnerable in front of audiences or do you get excited?
I think probably both. The way I started advertising for my poetry club senior year was by sharing a similar poem about the past few years of my life, and it’s not a happy poem, but I was sharing it with complete strangers. I had only been at that school for about a month and I was just sharing this part of my life with them. It excited me because even the people who didn’t want to interact with me after that it was like I didn’t want to in teract with the anyway. There’s something really important to me about being able to interact on a really deep level and if there are people that are scared of that, then those aren’t really the people I want to talk to all of the time. It’s scary but it’s important because it’s what got them to come to my club, people recognize authenticity and want that and to an extent wishes their life was more authentic than it really is. Even if people live a super authentic lives, there is always small things that they are drawn to that are more authentic. So vulnerability is a very authentic aspect of human life, and at some point you’re going to have to be vulnerable with yourself and with other people,. I think my favorite part of slam poetry and of the human connectedness is that it proves that it’s okay. It proves that we don’t have to hide our feelings, we don’t have to hide all these things that’ve happened to us because there is always going to be someone there for you, there is always going to be someone who u nderstands. I remember after
I competed in the Salt City Slam festival in early summer and I performed my poem called Crayon Box which is about racism and discrimination and just why society is wrong when it comes to imposing stereotypes on people.
After the slam this little old lady came up to me and was so enthusiastic about my poem. I’ve alway been proud of that poem, it’s always been my go to, my first performance at any place, but the fact that this lady was coming up to me asking for my information, the fact that she found it so important was kind of shocking to me because usually I get a younger audience really pumped, but it was this little old lady who thought “Yeah, racism sucks!” I was blown away that connection could transcend the original boundaries I thought.
Last question, you had a poetry group in high school, is that something you want to continue here at Regis?
You know, I’ve thought about it for sure, it’s definitely something I’m interested in and I would love to have a group of people who love to write and perform. I’d have to become a better teacher. In high school it kind of turned into this things where we show up and share poetry and go to open mic every month. I don’t know if this year it’s possible, but next year it’s definitely something I’d look into. I know that I do want to do poetry for the rest of my life, I just don’t know what path to take yet, but I’ll get there. So yes, probably.
Lighting Up the Season at Regis December 8, 2017
(Photo: Emily Schneider)
By: Allison Upchurch, Staff Reporter
On November 28, the Regis community kicked off the holiday season with its annual tree lighting ceremony and festive activities in the Student Center. A crowd of students and community members gathered outside on the Quad lined with candles and lanterns. St.
Nick was even walking around to spread some holiday cheer. There was also a table of hot chocolate to keep the chill of the Tuesday night away.
During the ceremony, Regis’ student a capella group, Euphonic Vox, entertained with a selection of classic holiday songs. A prayer for the holiday season was offered and the tree was officially lit up in glorious blue and yellow LED lights by Father Kevin Burke, S.J., the Vice President of Mission here at Regis.
The celebration continued inside the Student Center as Euphonic Vox continued singing their holiday songs.
Students and community members had fun decorating sugar cookies, making little bags of “reindeer food”, and creating Christmas tree ornaments made from ribbon and sticks. As a special treat, royal sisters Anna and Elsa from the Disney movie Frozen came to Regis to join in the festivities. Dresses in their iconic winter outfits, the sisters were on hand to meet community members, take pictures with them, and to wish them good holiday wishes.
Another holiday season is upon us, and the Regis community welcomed it with open arms.
Slack off stress with a Sci-Fi story December 8, 2017
(Photo: thenostalgistfilm.com)
By: Andrianna Veatch, Staff Reporter With the semester hurtling towards final weeks, the stress of exams, papers, and presentations are mounting, and it is hard sometimes to take a little breather for oneself. Just five, ten, fifteen minutes to relax and ease the strain; put that small voice at the back of one’s mind screaming about essays and studying and yadah -yadah on the back burner for awhile. Read a good story or watch a good film, or in this case, an excellent short film: “The
Nostalgist.”
Based on the 2009 short story by Daniel H. Wilson, “The Nostalgist” relates the story of a man and his son who reside in a stunning Victorian virtual reality. But when the man’s EyesTM and EarsTM begin to fail, the line between reality and fantasy becomes blurred, and there will be shocking revelations.
Despite its short length—a mere 18 minutes—and part Kickstarter funding, “The Nostalgist” is not a Two Men in a Car with a Camera kind of film; no, it is clean, careful and professional. It is so professional it even stars
Lambert Wilson, perhaps better known as Merovingian The Frenchman from The Matrix Reloaded, in the title role, and Samuel Joslin (Paddington’s Jonathan Brown) as the boy. The special effects are dazzling and gorgeous. The script is succinct and focused. The musical score is solid. It is, simply put, full-length feature- film quality condensed into a palatable, bite-size time limit for stressed-out students.
So no matter how you are feeling, do take time for a bit of fun; something simple, but high -quality. Enjoy!