Elevate Magazine Vol 6 Issue 1 | Fall 2020

ELEVATE MAGAZINE RJ MEDIA STUDENT MAGAZINE

RACIAL JUSTICE

R E G I S J E S U I T H S VOL. 6 ISSUE 1 NOVEMBER 2020

ROOTED IN LOVE

PG 4

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MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to amplify and include the voices that often go unheard at Regis Jesuit in the pursuit of diversity, authenticity, and community by listening and sharing unique perspectives from every corner of our campus.

RJ Media is an open Forum for student free expression We met every Monday during academic support and Tuesdays after school.

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF: MADDIE PROCTOR ‘21, SABRINA VIZURRAGA ‘22

EDITORS:

MASON HARRIS ‘24, SARAH FAESTEL ‘22

HEAD DESIGNER:

SERENA NGUYEN ‘22 GRAPHIC DESIGNERS:

Logan Able ‘23, Jose Banuelos ‘22, Tessa Hummel ‘21, Weston Mullins ‘23, Jack Pilcher ‘21, Annika Tanner ‘22

HEAD ILLUSTRATOR: JOEY PAOLUCCI ‘22 ILLUSTRATOR:

OUR DOORS ARE OPEN Comments, Questions, Ideas?

Come and see us in the RJ Media Lab RM P102 or find us on Social Media.

Dani Mendez ‘22

WRITERS:

Sabrina Vizurraga ‘22, Grant Barnes ‘23, Dawit Gebremariam ‘21, Victoria Tuffour ‘22, Rhiann Johnson ‘24, Maddie Proctor ‘21, Molly Nichols ‘23, Mason Harris ‘24, Sarah Mann ‘24, Luca Griego ‘21, Miles Herrera ‘24, Zach Hogan ‘23, Brynn Harnett ‘21, Adam Zdanowicz ‘21, Jose Ontero ‘21, Sophia Maines ‘21, Nzana Thillot ‘21, Gwyn Theobald ‘22

MUSIC & REVIEWS COLUMN Matthew Tierney ‘22

PHOTOGRAPHY: Reilly Wible ‘22, Zion Taylor ‘23, Kam Bermudez ‘22, Sabrina Vizurraga ‘22

ELEVATE

MAGAZINE

ADVISERS NICOLE ARDUINI, ADAM DAWKINS ‘98, MARIA LYNCH, MARY CLAIRE MODAK

ONLINE MAGAZINE: RJMEDIANOW.COM DEAR REGIS JESUIT COMMUNITY, As we have been saying for months now, this year is an unprecedented one With the progression of the novel coronavirus, a polarizing election, and nationwide social movements like the call for racial justice, there are many lessons to be learned and much to reflect on. The goal of this issue is to capture some of those events and their impact on our community, as well as to celebrate the unique qualities and accomplishments of our vibrant student body, staff, and alumni. A number of individuals have contributed many hours of arduous work to make this publication a reality. We would like to thank our advisers—Mr. Dawkins and Ms. Arduini—as well as Ms. Lynch and Ms. Modak, for serving as valuable mentors for the entire staff. We are also grateful for the contributions of many students, whether in their journalism and design classes or extracurricular, in publishing our first issue of the 2020-21 school year. Most of all, Regis Jesuit, we are blessed to have you. You are a community who is compassionate and open to discussion, who cares about social justice and is willing to tackle the hard questions. Thank you for your readership, continual dedication to making student voice heard, and allowing us to document what makes this community special. This issue is centered around racial justice, though it ventures into everything from an unparalleled sports season to profiles of our beloved students. We ask that you approach this magazine with compassion, sensitivity, and an open heart.

-THE ELEVATE MAGAZINE EDITORS

COVER ARTWORK: Joey Paolucci ‘22 AWARDS: 2019- 2020 NSPA pacemaker finalist, 2020 NSPA Best of Show 1st place Social Justice Reporting for Rooted in Love: Racial Justice cover story

EDITORIAL POLICIES RJ Media [Elevate Magazine, rjmedianow. com, RJTV and RJTV Sports Network] operates as a limited-open forum for student free expression. The publications are for the students, by the students.

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The staff aims to balance what the audience wants with what it needs, and strives to make solid judgments with regards to news value and news awareness.

The publications will serve as a medium for student opinions and ideas. RJ Media strives to produce objective, well-balanced and accurate reporting and content that features a range of students, their interests and their viewpoints. The staff is dedicated to being fair, accurate, balanced, truthful and responsible. The staff will seek the truth and report it, minimize harm and act independently. We promise to be transparent, accountable and open. The staff also upholds Ignation values with regard to social justice and openness to growth. The staff prides itself on using the Ignation Pedagogical Paradigm to help make decisions: context, experience, reflection, action, and evaluation.

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School officials, administration or faculty and staff shall not practice prior review or the have the ability to censor any student publication, with the exception of material deemed to be legally obscene, libelous, substantially and materially disruptive, or coverage on any one of the following three topics, wherein coverage will be worked through with the president and principals: Obituaries, employee termination, and crimes or cases in the court of law.

The views of columnists are not necessarily those of the newspaper staff. Opinions will be published on designated pages or otherwise marked.

All material published by RJ Media is copyrighted to RJ Media, year and date of original publishing. RJ Media will not publish any material that is a violation of copyright. We take our own photos and produce our own content. We sometimes use photos with express written permission, but only if we absolutely have to. Those will be credited to the photographer with attribution specified by the permission of use. Read our full editorial policies at rjmedianow.com/policy Read our full Editorial Policies at rjmedianow.com/about

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the editor are welcome and encouraged, but will only be published if they are accompanied by a name and signature. Letters should be short and free of “bashing” or obscenity. Letters to the editor do not reflect the views of the RJ Media staff and will be marked on pages designated as such. The staff reserves the right to edit letters for potentially libelous material and length.

The staff will not edit letters for punctuation, grammar and usage. Letters with issues will be returned to the submitter for further review.

Contact the RJ Media Editorial Board at rjmedia@regisjesuit.com or in the RJ Media Lab (PAC-102). You can also find us on Twitter and Instagram @RJ_Media

CONTENTS

FEATURES 04 ROOTED IN LOVE

A closer look at how a movement has effected our community

08 STUDENT VOICES

Students share their perspective on racial justice and what it means to them

12 DR. KABADI INTERVIEW

How Regis Jesuit as a school is combating racial injustice in our community.

16 USING YOUR PRIVILEGE How individuals can help minorities, become educated, and grow

28 MIND REALLY MATTERS

04

A look into our student body and teachers’ mental health

46 POLARIZED NATION

A call to unity that transcends party lines

EXTRAS+MORE

28

10

Honoring an unforgettable coach

24 FALL HIGHLIGHTS

In and outside of the classroom teachers work hard to gain some normalcy

26 08

22 SAYING GOODBYE

40 WHO’D YOU VOTE FOR?

How our student body feels about the 2020 election

22

44 STUDENT PROFILES

Get to know Regis Jesuit’s student body

“To foster an environment of faith and compassion, we

need to start with reflecting on our daily experiences and

listening to one another.”

Father Jim Goeke

48 YOUR OPINION MATTERS

24

Students’ thoughts on Blue Lives Matter, lack of representation in the media, and body image

TABLE OF CONTENTS ELEVATE 01

ELEVATE FALL

02 ELEVATE FALL

ENTER IF YOU DARE RJ FIRST ANNUAL HAUNTED HOUSE WAS A SUCCESS

Despite the push back of the fall musical, the theatre program created a haunted house worthy of nightmares.

Addison Weissert ‘24 said, “I got in the character when I put on my make up. I remember people’s shocked expressions when I turned around and had no eyes.”

PHOTO BY: REILLY WIBBLE ‘22

LEADING OFF ELEVATE 03

ROOTED IN LOVE From the

ELEVATE EDITORS

Photograph by

ZION TAYLOR ‘23

AS A STAFF, OUR GOAL IS TO AMPLIFY AND INCLUDE THE VOICES THAT OFTEN GO UNHEARD AT REGIS JESUIT IN THE PURSUIT OF DIVERSITY, AUTHENTICITY, AND COMMUNITY

BY LISTENING AND SHARING UNIQUE PERSPECTIVES FROM EVERY CORNER OF OUR CAMPUS. In this issue, you will find firsthand student accounts of what it is like to be a young Black person in America right now and a brief history of the Black Lives Matter Movement. You will also hear from Dr. Kabadi on our Jesuit calling to matters of social justice and Regis Jesuit’s response. Finally, you will find guidelines for white allyship in the BLM movement, as well as antiracist resources. We hope that you approach this issue with sensitivity and compassion. We dedicate this issue to the lives of those lost to police brutality and race-based violence.

ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9TH, Sophomore Josiah Harris and senior Julian Alexander kneeled, with senior David Dody and junior Dallas Macias standing in solidarity. The team won 34-7 against Mountain Vista in their first game of the season.

“What I did was not to offend anyone. I simply did what I did to show what I believe in,” #26 JOSIAH HARRIS ‘23 said. “Placing my hands on their shoulders felt natural. I just wanted to support my brothers,” #3 DAVID DODY ‘21 said. “Kneeling isn’t a sign of disrespect. I look at it more as an action to speak for the oppressed voices. There is a huge issue going on in the world, and it needs to be noticed. We just have to do right by each other and be with one another through the tough times,” #6 JULIAN ALEXANDER ‘21 said. “Regardless of what’s going on in the world right now, our team is full of brothers, and we are going to have each others’ backs no matter what,” #2 DALLAS MACIAS ‘22 said.

04 ELEVATE COVER STORY

RACIAL JUSTICE ELEVATE 05

by Sabrina Vizurraga ‘22

ACKNOWLEDGING OUR BLIND SPOTS

Now more than ever we need our faith to lead the way

YOU LOG ONTO TWITTER AND SEE THE NAME ‘GEORGE FLOYD’ FOR THE FIRST TIME. You may not have known it five minutes ago, but it is a name that will be known for the rest of your life.

It is a name that will cause division among your nation, your family, and your friends. With tears of frustration, you ask yourself, “Where is God?” It is easy to turn away from faith in these turbulent times. It is easy to put the blame on another person and point fingers. But now, more than ever, we need faith and compassion.

In the words of Bishop Robert Barron, “Racism is the original sin of America.”

Racism persists today in many forms, including the unjust killings of unarmed black men and women. These killings have sparked controversy, and the nation has become polarized to the point where a conversation turns into a screaming match.

“The real problem is that we have blind spots.

Trying to listen and get a feel for a broader range of experiences will help us,” Fr. Jim Goeke SJ

06 ELEVATE COVER STORY

said.

Goeke, who has been teaching at Regis Jesuit since 2017, explained that throughout history Catholics have failed to love their brothers and sisters by ignoring Church teachings on the dignity of the human person.

Fr. Goeke blesses the sacrament at sophomore This failure was mass on the football field. seen when the Due to Covid-19, mass has Jesuits first arrived to be held outside. Photo by Riley Fitzgerald ‘21. in America. They brought slaves Goeke said. along with them, even Acknowledging though the Pope publicly that society was and condemned slavery. In still is stained with the Jim Crow Era, around systematic injustice is 50 years ago, even the start of broadening the Catholic mass was your perspective and segregated. experiences.

“The larger “People struggle culture shapes our talking about systematic consciousness in ways injustice. People say it’s that are not necessarily just some bad apples good,” Goeke said. behaving badly, but “Slavery was just photo by Kam Bermudez ‘22 seen as something like, ‘Oh, this is something that we do.’ It is important to have other voices.”

According to Goeke, a challenge today is not sharing the same set of reliable facts.

“If we can’t identify what kind of reality we are talking about, it’s hard to come to the ability to grow,”

when you look at the statistics and policies, there are some [policies] that target those with a certain socio-economic background or racial background,” Goeke said.

These policies include discrimination in the American education and housing systems.

According to Goeke, to foster an environment of faith and compassion, we need to start with reflecting on our daily experiences and listening to one another.

“The self-examination is really one of the ways Catholics can shape their conscience,” Goeke said. “We base our assumptions on experiences. Our conscious formation is a factor of what values form the bedrock of our morals.”

The practice of The Examen originated from St. Ignatius of Loyola. It is a form of prayer to review one’s thoughts, words, and actions throughout the day. In this prayer, one not only reflects on his or her day, but also asks for repentance and resolution for any actions that hurt another person. The Examen is used among not only the laity of the Church, but also authority figures, like the Pope.

After the death of George Floyd, Pope Francis stated, “We cannot tolerate or turn a blind eye to racism and exclusion in any form and yet claim to defend the sacredness of every human life.”

Regis Jesuit issued a statement over the summer that said, “As

“To foster an environment of faith and compassion, we need to start with reflecting on our daily experiences and listending to one another.” Father Jim Goeke

Catholics, we believe in the dignity of human life from conception until natural death. We must champion the dignity of life, of every life, for every day and every moment in between. And we must stand up peacefully and with resolve when we recognize systemic injustice. As an Ignatian community, we are called to walk with the poor, the marginalized and those whose dignity has been violated, in a mission of reconciliation and justice.

This is what we are doing today.”

Regis Jesuit has a majority white population.

Over recent years, admissions have been trying to create a more diverse community. While doing this, Goeke said the Regis Jesuit community asked, “What does it mean to enable our students to feel at home here?”

Regis Jesuit concluded its statement with, “In order for reconciliation to have a chance, we must acknowledge the lethal impact of hate, racism and bias in our communities; we must not allow police brutality to claim another life; we must commit to change.”

by Grant Barnes ‘23

A CALL FOR UNITY & ACTION Reigs Jesuit Community’s Prayer service in response to the racism, police brutality, and recent killings in America “WE GATHER AS A COMMUNITY OF FAITH, COMMITTED TO PROMOTING JUSTICE AND MERCY.” -DAVID CARD, PRESIDENT RJHS

In response to racism and the recent deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmad Arbery, and the many others brought to the same heartbreaking fate, the Regis Jesuit community held a virtual prayer service on Tuesday, June 9 to gather, amid the pandemic, to hear the diverse voices from of the Regis community. For over forty minutes, staff, faculty, students, and Regis graduates reflected on how our faith intersects with this difficult issue.

Earl Stephens ‘20, a recent graduate of Regis Jesuit High School, gave his passionate reflection on race and how the national reckoning in the wake of George Floyd’s death was not a new reality to him. Earl was an RJ poster boy: a Varsity Lacrosse player involved in the Diversity Action Group, Presidential Ambassadors, and Arrupe Service Club. Yet, as he explained, he could not escape the fear of being black in America.

“It doesn’t matter what school I attended, the things I do, and the way I act,” he said, “I am nothing more but black to anyone who doesn’t talk to me personally,” Stephens, said.

Earl continued his reflection with a personal story of him being pulled over by law enforcement on his way to school as he was running late.

“I didn’t stop at the stop sign, rolled it, and turned right into the BD (Boys Division). Within seconds I saw red and blue flashing lights behind me. My heart began racing, I internally went into panic mode...The words of my father instantly struck my brain. I heard him telling me the steps of how to survive an encounter with the police.

I rolled down all the windows letting the cold morning air hit the nervous sweat that had pulled on my brow.”

He continued saying, he kept both hands

on the steering wheel, his registration on the dashboard in plain sight. But he had forgotten about his wallet in his back pocket containing his license.

“I internally begin to panic. When the officer approached my car, he asked me ‘Do you know why I pulled you over?’ Shaking I forced out the words ‘No Sir’. The words that could have sealed my fate that day left my mouth”.

Earl made sure that the cop knew he was reaching in his back pocket to get his wallet.

After waiting for the cop to return with his license Earl only received a warning and let Earl get into school because he was late.

“I was and still am grateful I wasn’t another headline on the news,” he said.

Earl also shared the message that everyone needs to be motivated to make a change. Using the platforms that we have to have an important conversation, to try to understand each other, and to speak out on any injustices.

Near the end of the prayer service, students and staff read 36 names of people taken from us, and invoking “all others we do not know”.

“We hold names to be sacred,” they said, for “evoking a name makes that person present to us again.”

After the remembering of the names, the prayer service held a moment of silence remembering the eight minutes and 46 seconds George Floyd suffered until he died under the knees of law enforcement.

This emotional and crucially important prayer service concluded with words from Assistant Principal of Mission, Ministry, and Diversity Dr. Kabadi, Ms. Quintanilla, and Principal Tricco.

The final blessing from Father Eric Ramirez was followed by Naimah Simonson’s meaningful rendition of “Lift Every Voice,” the Black National Anthem.

“Facing the rising sun, of our new day begun, let us march on til’ victory is won.”

THE CATOLIC RESPONSE ELEVATE 07

STUDENT VOICE: “Together we are more powerful than we could ever be if we are divided.”

ELEVATE FEATURES

DAWIT GEBREMARIAM

rowing up as a young black man in today’s society comes with a lot of obstacles to navigate.

In the midst of the all the events that have happened in the past year, I felt moved to give insight of where my mind is at as a young black man.

In the past few months we have seen major protests for equality and social justice stretching from Los Angeles to New York and even around the world. Even

08 ELEVATE COVER STORY

with these protests against racial inequality and police brutality, yet another black man by the name of Jacob Blake was brutally shot seven times in the back by members of the Wisconsin Police.

After hearing about this I was enraged to see that there has been no change in the mentality of some people in this country. Yet an incident that happened a few days later is what really compelled me to write this commentary piece. On August 25, Kyle Rittenhouse was spotted in Kenosha, Wisconsin during protests carrying a military style semi-automatic rifle.

That night he took the lives of two protesters. You might ask, “How did the

police respond to this incident?”

Well the answer is they didn’t. The police decided to remain stationary, instead of listening to pleads from protesters to get involved and arrest Kyle. There is video proof showing the police driving straight past Kyle as he walks towards them with his gun strapped around his chest and his hands up.

Now, I am not writing this to attack all police because I know that there are many good police officers out there who genuinely strive to make a difference in communities.

But their clearly needs to be change in the system.

Reform is needed in training and accountability.

To me as a young black male these two incidents show that there is a lack of equality in America. A white man literally walked straight past the police with a military grade weapon and wasn’t even approached by them. Yet a black man was shot seven times in the back for just walking away from the police. Twelve-yearold Tamir Rice was shot by police in Cleveland for being spotted with a toy gun at

the park. 23-year-old Elijah McClain was killed by Aurora, Colorado police while walking home after someone called the police reporting a “suspicious person.” It’s hard for me to understand how my black skin can be more threatening than a

“MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY COULD ATTEND MY FUNERAL... I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO FEAR FOR MY LIFE DURING A TRAFFIC STOP OR WALKING HOME BY MYSELF. YET THAT IS THE REALITY I HAVE TO GROW UP WITH AS A YOUNG BLACK MAN.” seventeen-year old carrying a gun. It is clear as day to see that in one way or another the system shows a prejudice towards people of color.

Whether we like it or not, prejudice still exists today. It’s frustrating and frightening to see that these racial incidents are reoccurring theme in our society. It’s happening so often now that some people are becoming used to these incidents happening.

It’s scary to think that I could be the next Trayvon Martin or the next Elijah McClain or the next Tamir Rice. Yet in today’s world being a victim of racial and social injustice is a serious reality for me. I could be injured or killed just because of how I look or the color of my skin.

My family and friends could attend my funeral due to an incident similar to those who have suffered from racial inequality. I should not have to fear for my life during things like a traffic stop or walking home by myself. Yet that’s the reality that I have to grow up and live with as a young black man.

So for those who are fortunate enough to not have to worry about these kinds of scenarios, I challenge you to educate yourselves and learn how you can help create change. Talk to those who have different perspectives of life then you. Listen to them. Truly try to learn and understand what its like to be a person of color in America. Have those tough conversations that challenge your beliefs and broaden your perspective. If you are old enough, educate yourself and vote to make legit change. If we are all able to do our research and have these conversations, we can make progress towards fixing things.

It may not come in a day or a month, but we have to fight for change. We have to try to fix the problems in society or else there will be no change. Together we are more powerful than we could ever be if we are divided.

Jesuit my sophomore year.

I thought that I would fit right in. I “knew the culture” and I understood what it meant to assimilate into a white school.

I encountered racism right away on our sophomore retreat last fall. I remember feeling uneasy as I saw white students wearing black hairstyles and throwing up gang signs. I felt like I should say something, but I had no idea what to say. So I just let it go.

When I got home, I did some reflecting, and I realized that my culture had just been appropriated, or adopted without permission or understanding. I brought it up at my next Diversity Action Group meeting, and myself and a group of other students talked

be black in America.

But wait, you say, “Haven’t you always been black?

Haven’t you always faced this sort of ignorance?” Well, yes, but I never realized it.

Even in diverse schools, there were still students of color that weren’t black, who would say the n-word or change a letter in the word so that they could say it. I never thought that this was wrong, but as the events of the past two years have shown me, this was just plain racism. And I was finally able to understand this willful, blatant ignorance.

This past summer only further opened my eyes to what I’d seen laid bare at Regis. We are all aware of the events of 2020, but for people of color, these events were especially draining. I will never forget the anger I felt when I saw the video of George Floyd being pinned “I WILL NEVER under Derek Chauvin’s FORGET THE ANGER knee. I will never forget how I FELT WHEN I frustrated I was. I will never SAW THE VIDEO forget saying “another one?”

OF GEORGE FLOYD once hearing about Floyd’s BEING PINNED case.

UNDER DEREK On top of all of this, I had CHAUVIN’S KNEE. I to deal with seeing some WILL NEVER FORGET people who I thought were HOW FRUSTRATED my friends post things such I WAS.” as “All Lives Matter” or “5 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Support BLM” on top of many posts from kids at school, people online, and even the president. It was infuriating. I had to lose to the administration about some of my friends over the what our response should basic idea that my life should be. We brainstormed ways to matter. Not only that,I had educate rather than punish to deal with the emotional the students. Even though trauma of realizing that this I hadn’t spoken out in the is something that keeps moment, I felt like I was happening and something I making a change after. may face someday because So you can imagine my of the color of my skin. surprise when I realized The trauma of watching nothing educationally as people who don’t or regarding discipline understand refuse to even happened, allowing acts try to learn and empathize. of ignorance to continue.

I remember sitting alone in I heard this was to be my room on Sunday doing expected, and saw that absolutely nothing because mirrored in our justice of how sad I felt about system. I started to everything that was going on. understand what it meant to I couldn’t bring myself to get

VICTORIA TUFFOUR

rowing up, I always attended schools with a great deal of people of color. I had always lived in diverse neighborhoods and because of this, I always went to diverse schools. I was taught to love and respect everyone, to truly acknowledge and try to understand everyone’s background. So you can imagine my surprise when I attended my first ever predominately white institution (PWI).

My mom raised me to be what she considered “proper,” avoiding rap music, “blaccents” and hairstyles. Because of this, I was forced to assimilate

into a culture that wasn’t mine. I would normally be in white friend groups, and I would only listen to rock and pop music. These were wellmeaning attempts by mom to help me avoid prejudice, but the fact that they might be necessary is a result of racism. It wasn’t until recently that I unlearned these assimilations.

Despite having many good friends whom I still talk to this day, and a wonderful best friend,I felt like I needed a change. So I decided to transfer to Regis

out of bed. And I stayed in my room all day.

The one thing that has helped is realizing that there are more activists out there than I thought. I saw so many of my peers post things on social media in support of Black Lives Matter. One of the things that had the biggest impact on me was when some of my white friends reached out to me to check on my mental health.

They had conversations with me, listened to what I said, and proved what it meant to be an ally.

Being a black woman is extremely difficult. I find myself constantly working harder than my white classmates just to have half of what they have. I have to push myself to get good grades, in order to get scholarships to attend my dream schools. Regis is a very competitive school.

Especially if you are a person of color. When it comes to college, studies show that only 37% of black 18-24 year olds were enrolled in college. In comparison to 42% of white students, it is obvious that there is a clear disparity. It is very hard to thrive in an environment in which the people that you are competing with are already miles ahead of you. On top of this, I also have to deal with societal beauty standards and the emotional trauma that society continues to inflict on me. But one thing is for certain. No matter how hard the system tries to terrorize me, I will always know who I am and what I stand for.

Being black doesn’t mean accepting ignorance and assimilating into white stereotypes. Being black means being strong, intelligent, and never letting the system get to you.

Although it is hard, being black is the strongest thing a person could be. And I would never want to trade it for the world.

STUDENT PERSPECTIVE ELEVATE 09

ELEVATE FALL ON JUNE 3RD, 2020, I did something I had never done before.

I gathered all of my photography equipment and made my way to downtown Denver in order to capture images after weeks of unrest in the wake of the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. However, I do not understand what it is to be Black in America, with centuries of oppression weighing on my existence and I did not know how best to help when I didn’t have the

personal experience so I immediately thought of taking photos.

To me, taking these photos were a way to capture the raw emotions of the protests, as well as help to spread the message of Black Lives Matter. This collection of photos remains the most important set I have taken to this day, marking not only my development as a photographer, but as a nation as we work towards ending police brutality. Photo by Reilly Wible ‘22

A GROUP OF REGIS JESUIT students attended a peaceful protest and march on June 4, 2020 in Denver, CO. “Being a part of one of the many Black Lives Matter marches downtown, was something incredible to behold. The action that stood out to me the most that day, which truly pained me to see, was that the news chose to talk about the rioting rather than displaying the beautiful protest that occurred early that afternoon. Nevertheless, marching through those streets I felt as if I was directly fighting for a change, which I had never felt before then, but now is something I strive to do on the daily,” Bryson Harris ‘20 said.

Photos by Bryson Harris ‘20

RACIAL PROTESTS ELEVATE 11

By Grant Barnes ‘23 & Maddie Proctor ‘21

SIGNS OF OUR TIMES r. Saj Kabadi (Theology Teacher & Assistant Principal for Mission, Ministry, and Diversity) speaks on behalf of the institution that, “Any movement of justice that is central to our mission is important to stand by.”

Following the death of George Floyd, Dr. Kabadi and the administration of Regis Jesuit released a statement. It read: We want to acknowledge and join the voices of our Regis Jesuit student community who are expressing their outrage over the horrendous death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer last week. One of the pillars of a Jesuit education is being Committed to Doing Justice. We are proud of our students who are using their voices to speak out against the murder of George Floyd and against violence inflicted upon members of the Black community across our nation.

We are with you.

Regis Jesuit students and faculty necessarily have a calling to combat systems of oppression and injustice, as intentionally stated in our mission. While the actions taken in pursuit of social justice may vary from person to person, one goal of education at Regis Jesuit is to promote courage in standing up for ethical, religious, and moral beliefs.

Dr. Kabadi relies on a prayer by Pedro Arrupe SJ

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when thinking about current issues of social and racial justice.

The prayer reads: Personal Prayer of Pedro Arrupe Grant me, O Lord, to see everything now with new eyes, to discern and test the spirits that help me read the signs of the times, to relish the things that are yours, and to communicate them to others.

Give me the clarity of understanding that you gave Ignatius.

—Pedro Arrupe, SJ Kabadi calls the BLM movement “our sign of the times.”

He says, “Racial injustice is a real problem in our society and country, and the current signs of the times indicate that.”

One skill that Regis Jesuit hopes to instill in its students is the value of discernment.

The RJ community, rooted in the Catholic Jesuit mission, must open their eyes to the signs of the times and discern the best way to further social justice and human dignity in our broken world.

Of course, seeking racial justice starts in our own school. When examining the barriers to racial justice faced by our own community, we have to acknowledge that Regis Jesuit is a predominantly white institution, or PWI. Kabadi says, “Naming who we are is important because

Social Justice Interview with Dr. Saj Kabadi

Dr. Saj Kabadi, Theology Teacher & Assistant Principal for Mission, Ministry, and Diversity

that gives it some power.”

It is important to acknowledge the own reality and brokenness of our community. Until we can confront how far we have strayed from right relationship in our own interactions and perpetuations of unjust systems, we cannot combat those in the world beyond.

Accordingly, the second challenge Kabadi names is our history.

He says, “Our history isn’t too different from other institutions in our country-soaked with systemic racism, systemic sexism, so on and so forth. Acknowledging that is important.”

It is equally important to acknowledge the progress we have made toward racial justice.

Regis Jesuit has worked extensively, from diversifying curriculum to efforts in increasing diversity in the student body, to create a

community that stands for the dignity of every human person. However, this inclination toward racial justice is not just limited to our institutional policies and administration.

Countless students and staff have taken part in activism and protests on a local and national scale. Moving forward, it is important for the right voices to take the lead and for our community to amplify the voices of those from underrepresented communities. These perspectives often do not get a voice in our community.

It is important that the conversation starts in our community. We must have it at the dinner table, in our classes, with our friends.

We must pay attention to the “signs of our times” and respond in a manner that is consistent with our community’s values of human dignity and equality. When asked if he could give one piece of advice to students, Dr. Kabadi called for students to “reach out to your teachers and be involved in the things you care about. Talk it through and take action to promote a positive change.”

“AUDITING A CURRICULUM AND MAKING THOUGHTFUL CHANGES TAKES TIME AND INVESTMENT, AND IT INCLUDES NOT ONLY CHANGING BOOKS TO BE MORE REFLECTIVE OF OUR DIVERSE WORLD AND INCLUDE AUTHORS OF COLOR, BUT ALSO EVALUATING OUR OWN BIASES, VALUES, AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES.” JAMIE DAWKINS ENGLISH DEPT CHAIR

by Rhiann Johnson ‘24

SOCIAL JUSTICE IN SCHOOL SYSTEMS

Regis Jesuit adopts curriculum that reflects justice, diversity and equality When segregation ended and ‘colored’ and white schools merged, the school curriculum did not adapt to fit all races. School systems today have tried to change their environment in order to bring justice, diversity and equality.

In recent years, and especially this year, Regis Jesuit is committed to becoming a new anti-racist community. Because of the recent murders of African Americans, the momentum of the Black Lives Matter movement, especially in a school that strives to be more diverse, a change was needed.

Regis Jesuit’s Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan states, “‘Diversity’ is used in general context to refer to the many ways our communities reflect varied life experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds, including (but not limited to) gender, ethnic, socio-economic, religious, sexual orientation, and learning styles. We must embrace the dignity of every person in order to find God in all people and experiences.”

Academic departments are striving to embrace this mission.

Over the years faculty and staff have attended

workshops and discussions concerning Culturally Responsive Teaching, and in the past few years have held voluntary book clubs looking at books like “How to Be An Anti-Racist” by Ibram X. Kendi and “White Fragility” by Robin DiAngelo. In collaboration with the Diversity Directors, a series called “Conversations on Race” was instituted into all academic departments and with all faculty and staff this year.

“I know that equity and diversity in curriculum has been a particular point of focus in the English department the past several years, where teachers recognize a wonderful, natural opportunity to incorporate a greater diversity of voices through literature,” said Theology teacher, Mr. Matthew Klassen ‘98. “We are getting better as a Theology department in this area, but still have a long way to go. It is in the nature of the work that it is never ‘done’ in any definitive way.”

Regis Jesuit’s diversity strategic plan also focuses on key elements that were not previously highlighted as important. Examples such as hiring a more diverse faculty and trying to maintain a more diverse student body while incorporating and expanding on a more diverse curriculum.

According to Mrs. Jamie Dawkins, the chair of the English department, the department has worked towards evaluating their curriculum in order to become stronger in their values of diversity and equity.

“Auditing a curriculum and making thoughtful changes takes time and investment, and it includes not only changing books to be more reflective of our diverse world and include authors of color, but also evaluating our own

biases, values, and educational experiences,” Dawkins said.

Regarding the future of diversity in the curriculum, Social Studies teacher, Mr. Scott Alcorn ‘99 said, “In addition to the Black History class we’re adding, I would love for us to add an Indigenous history class, a Latin-x history class, an Asian-American history class, etc.”

“My hope is that we keep looking at the books we use in all our courses and keep replacing them with ones that better represent our students and tell a diverse and more complete story. We have to do this kind of work for every single unit and ask ourselves where we can include more BIPOC voices. We’ve really got to be willing to ask that question all the time, and I think we are,” Alcorn added.

Mr. Klassen, Mrs. Dawkins, and Mr. Alcorn all mentioned that the work is continual and must remain at the forefront.

“Changing a book list is one step towards building an equitable classroom but not the end goal. We continue to educate ourselves on how to teach material PERSONAL PRAYER OF to lean into themes PEDRO ARRUPE of oppression, GRANT ME, O LORD, exclusion, systemic TO SEE EVERYTHING NOW WITH NEW EYES, racism, sexism, TO DISCERN AND TEST THE SPIRITS and injustice in THAT HELP ME READ THE all of our material, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, including the texts TO RELISH THE THINGS THAT ARE AND TO COMMUNICATE that have remained YOURS, THEM TO OTHERS. in the curriculum,” GIVE ME THE CLARITY OF UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU GAVE Mrs. Dawkins said.

IGNATIUS.

—PEDRO ARRUPE, SJ

DR. SAJ KABADI ELEVATE 13

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Black Lives Matter.

HISTORY

FROM CIVIL RIGHTS TO REGIS JESUIT

by Ruth Woldemedhine ‘21 and Victoria Tuffour ‘22

Photos taken June 3, 2020 in Downtown Denver by Reilly Wibble ‘22.

14 ELEVATE COVER STORY

Our country was founded “for the people.”

In reality, ever since African Americans were brought to the Americas as slaves, they have been treated unfairly both by individuals and overarching systems.

Unfortunately, in many ways, this injustice continues today. For hundreds of years, Black Americans have fought for the same basic rights that White Americans are automatically offered (a.k.a. privilege).

This disparity includes job opportunities, quality schools, safe communities, good college opportunities, the ability to trust police, and much more.

One notable movement that fought for the rights of Black Americans was the Civil Rights Movement. Back in the ‘60s, Black Americans fought to integrate and use the same facilities as White Americans.

As most people know, Black Americans were forced to use run down water fountains, sit at the back of the bus, and go to segregated schools.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., along with other activists, like Malcolm X, tried to change that.

They advocated for the rights of Black Americans and fought to get Black people the same facilities that White people were allotted. But that does not mean that it was not met without opposition.

There were others who believed that Black people

shouldn’t be given the same rights. Their racist views are a clear example of how Black Americans are easily dehumanized by members of the general public.

What does this have to do with Black Lives Matter (BLM)? Black Lives Matter stands for the idea that Black lives should matter just as much as any other life, because, as shown by historical and current discrimination and oppression, society says they don’t matter as much as a White person.

Since the era of American desegregation, little has changed in terms of Black rights. Black people are still killed disproportionately by the cops, and schools are still segregated. However, BLM seeks to remedy that.

Standing on the efforts of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Black Lives Matter is focused on affording Black people the same and similar basic rights that its predecessor, the Civil Rights Movement, stood for.

According to their website, their mission is to “eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes.”

Whether this means standing against the disproportionate rates at which Black people are killed by police or calling for systemic change, BLM never stops moving.

Although MLK was met with fierce opposition, he continued fighting.

Just like BLM is met with opposition from All Lives Matter and Blue Lives Matter, the movement continues the fight. So far, BLM has managed to get numerous racist statues taken down,

protests (and hopefully justice) for George Floyd, more police reform, including the banning of chokeholds innumerous police districts, Juneteenth recognized as a national holiday, support from athletes, and much more. This is not to say that racism is a thing of the past. Every day, Black people are still suffering from the impacts of slavery and Jim Crow. Whether that’s through the effects of redlining, which ensured that Black Americans would be confined to certain neighborhoods that limited their chances or being told that their lives are much less valuable than the lives of White Americans, Black people are always fighting. FIGHTING FOR THEIR LIVES. FIGHTING FOR OPPORTUNITIES. FIGHTING AGAINST RACISM. AND FIGHTING FOR BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS. Black Americans still pushing and won’t stop until they get there.

GEORGE On May 25, 2020, George Floyd, a 46 year old black man went to Cup Foods in Powderhorn, MN. He entered the Cornerstone to buy cigarettes, where he was accused of paying with a counterfeit $20 bill, and the police were called.

It was later revealed the $20 dollar bill was real.

The police attempted to put Floyd in the squad car, and he fell to the floor, telling the cops he was claustrophobic.

The situation escalated further as two more officers arrived at the scene. Derek Chauvin, a white police officer with many complaints to his name, pulls Floyd onto the pavement. Cameras catch Chauvin putting his

knee onto George Floyd’s neck for eight minutes and fifteen seconds.

During this time, George is heard repeatedly calling out “I CAN’T BREATHE”, a phrase similar to that of Eric Gardner’s. Life visibly disappears from his eyes, and he calls out for his deceased mother. The video has since gone viral, catching the attention of people throughout the nation and the world.

Chauvin was charged with second degree murder and manslaughter, and the other three officers charged with aiding and abetting murder. The death of George Floyd sparked an uprising demanding justice for black lives.

cops and an overhaul of the policing system, as well as an overhaul of many of the other systems discriminating against BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities.

A popular slogan coined in this movement was DEFUND THE POLICE, which demands funds put into policing are reallocated into social systems—such as education, foster homes, community leaders, suicide hotlines, crisis centers, and behavioral healthcare.

Although viewed as a radical demand, “Defund the Police” is simply a call

GEORGE FLOYD. BREONNA TAYLOR. TONY MCCADE. RAYSHARD BROOKS. AHMAUD ARBERY. ELIJAH MCCLAIN. ANTWON ROSE JR. PHILANDO CASTILE. TRAYVON MARTIN. TAMIR RICE. MICHAEL BROWN. ERIC GARNER. NATASHA MCKENNA. STEPHON CLARK. PROTESTS Chances are you have heard these names. “SAY THEIR NAMES” became a calling cry for the Black Lives Matter movement.

The intent of the protests was to mourn these devastating losses at the hands of law enforcement and call for justice and reform in a broken system.

The BLM movement quickly gained large traction and support, with activists protesting around the nation. BLM, as well as many other smaller organizations, set up the framework for many protests and a revolutionary nationwide discussion on racial justice and its intersection with the criminal justice system.

These protests called for the arrest of the killer

to invest in marginalized communities and divest from the criminalization of impoverished and minority communities around the country. According to the New York Times, the Black Lives Matter movement might be the largest our nation has ever seen, with protests spread out in all 50 states. Millions demanded justice in the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. The protests demand justice for the lives lost or harmed by the hands of officers and a new look at fixing the ongoing problem of systematic oppression.

COLORADO On August 24, 2019, ELIJAH MCCLAIN, a 23 year old black man, was walking home from a convenience store in Aurora after purchasing soft drinks.

Due to his anemia, Elijah wore a ski mask to keep him warm. On his way to the store, someone called the police on him, suggesting he looked “sketchy” but pointing out they didn’t know the type of person he was. Elijah didn’t have any weapons on him and didn’t appear to pose any actual threat. On his way home, Officers Nathan Woodward, Jason Rosenblatt, and Randy Roedama stopped Elijah. They claimed he looked suspicious, to which Elijah responds that he has “a right to go where [he was] going.” The police grab him soon after, where Elijah pleads for the officers to let him go. They then throw him on the ground. His last words are heart-wrenching, as he pleads for his life before he gets sick, vomits, and the sedative ketamine is shot into him. On the ambulance, Elijah suffered a heart attack and was put on life support for three days. The officers walked free, and District Attorney Dave Young claimed his cause of death was “unknown”.

The McClain family demanded the officers be arrested and charged for the murder of their son, who was killed without cause. His name is now chanted in protests throughout the world.

There was a large protest on June 27th in front of the Aurora Police Department catching national headlines. Police fired tear gas at protesters, who were often peaceful. There is one particular, now infamous clip of the police barging into the protest while peaceful protesters sat playing the violin in memory of McClain. This event caused a split in our community. Some saw Elijah McClain as a threat

and sided with the officers, perpetuating the stereotype that young Black men are “dangerous”. Others saw the McClain who liked to play the violin for homeless cats.

REGIS JESUIT Racial justice is an integral aspect of Regis Jesuit’s commitment to cura personalis, which is education of the whole person. This education of the whole person necessarily includes issues of social justice and humanitarianism, as our educational goals go beyond the academic. As a school, our mission is to develop each of the five Grad at Grads, one of which is being Committed to Doing Justice. Regis Jesuit, as well as its Jesuit superiors, are supportive of the Black Lives Matter Movement and the call for racial justice in our country.

The following pages include information on our institutional response and how to get involved as an ally to the BLM Movement, as Regis Jesuit is a predominantly white institution.

We value the voices and lived experiences of every student, and we are working to create a more equitable and inclusive community.

If you are interested in sharing a perspective on racial justice in this country, or any other issue of social justice, Elevate magazine would love to hear from you. Send us your thoughts and ideas at rjmedia@regisjesuit.com

BLM DAG ELEVATE 15

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USING YOUR PRIVILEGE FOR GOOD: WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A WHITE ALLY ARE YOU ABLE TO FIND SHAMPOO SUITABLE FOR YOUR HAIR TYPE? OR EVEN “SKIN”-COLORED PRODUCTS SUITABLE FOR SKIN TONE? Can you flip open a magazine or switch on your TV and see people of your race represented? Have you ever had a teacher who looks like you?

Do you feel safe in the presence of police? Congratulations, you have white privilege.

Systemic racism runs deep in the United States. People of color continue to be oppressed and discriminated against in our education, healthcare, employment, and criminal justice systems.

This systemic racism ranges from microaggressions like dress codes that deem Black hairstyles “unprofessional” to outright physical violence, as we have seen most recently with the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and countless other victims. The Black Lives Matter Movement has steadily gained momentum in recent years, led mostly by youth activists and people of color. If you are a white person/person of privilege like myself, you may be wondering how you can help.

It can seem daunting at first, but we all must actively take a stand against the gross injustice that is racism in our country.

Here are some of the lessons I’ve learned in becoming an ally:

1. NOT BEING RACIST IS NOT ENOUGH. Being an ally doesn’t just mean confronting your own personal biases, judgments, and actions regarding race (although that is a good first step and something we must all continually strive to

16 ELEVATE RACIAL JUSTICE

“To foster an environment of faith and compassion, we need to start with reflecting on our daily experiences and listending to one another.” Father Jim Goeke

by Maddie Proctor ‘21

do). It is not enough to not say the n-word or to have Black friends. You have to be actively anti-racist. That means confronting racism and using your privilege to help protect people of color (BIPOC), starting with the circles you are currently in.

Whether using your privilege means calling out racist comments made by family and friends or standing between POC and law enforcement at protests, being anti-racist is the first step in becoming an ally.

2. BLM IS NOT A SOCIAL MEDIA TREND. Performative activism is one of the most sickening trends of our time. Protests are not a photo op. Before you post something, reflect on whether your intention is to share meaningful stories, resources, and news about the movement, or if you are just virtue signaling.

Social media is a powerful tool. Use your platform to amplify the voices of POC and disseminate important information to educate your peers. We all have unique social circles, as friends, family, and peers. Use your unique position for good, but don’t use it to seem “woke”.

3. IT IS YOUR PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY TO EDUCATE YOURSELF AND OTHERS. It is not the responsibility of BIPOC to educate racist and/or ignorant white people. They are the ones who have to deal with the harsh realities of racism

day in and day out, and we have all played a part in creating the systemic racism that is prevalent in the U.S. today. As such, it is our own responsibility to educate ourselves and share resources with those who may not know the history of the Black experience in America. It is a privilege to opt out or to “get tired” of advocating for racial justice. Non-BIPOC cannot just decide to ignore racist people. That’s not enough.

We must continue engaging and challenging warped views in order to change them. There are plenty of great resources just a Google search away. I recommend the documentary 13th, the books Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? and Other Conversations About Race by Beverly Daniel Tatum, PhD., and the Netflix show Dear White People to start. POC are the only ones who have the authority to share their lived experience of racism, and it is our job to learn about the history behind their experiences to help ourselves and other white people get educated.

4. REMEMBER THAT WE ALL HAVE ROOM TO GROW. It is okay to be wrong. As Ibram X. Kendi said, “To be anti-racist is to admit when we’re being racist.”

It is okay to change your mind about something when presented with new information or perspectives.

A lot of white people are too scared to stand with POC

as allies because they are afraid they are doing it the wrong way. It is better to try your best than to stay silent and be complicit in racism.

Listen and be receptive to recommendations and criticisms from POC. Their willingness to share with you is a good sign. They are open to the conversation because they think it is productive and worth their time. Speak out against injustices, but know when to listen to the people it directly affects and pass the microphone.

5. DO NOT GIVE IN TO ALLYSHIP FATIGUE. Allyship fatigue is becoming a common term in the BLM ally circle. Some white allies have grown tired of the social media posts and protests.

To those allies, I say keep going. We cannot grow tired of demanding social change.

We cannot give up on our Black sisters and brothers.

Imagine how tired POC are of peacefully protesting and demanding justice, only to be faced with new forms of racism throughout the years.

Imagine how tired POC are of being forced to face racism in their own lives–whether that means losing a loved one to police brutality, seeing Black men in their community treated unfairly by the criminal justice system, or facing daily racist comments and microaggressions at school or work. When you get tired of helping to fight this battle, remember that Black men and women have been fighting this war for hundreds of years. Giving up is not an option.

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TITLES TO PICK UP

NOW

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1. Waking up White, and Finding Myself in the Story of Race Debby Irving tells of her “aha!” moment that launched an adventure of discovery and insight that drastically shifted her worldview.

2. How to Be an Anti-Racist Ibram X. Kendi discusses concepts of racism and Kendi’s proposals for anti-racist individual actions and

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systemic changes. 3. Born a Crime Details the author Trevor Noah’s growing up in his native South Africa during apartheid the mixed-race son of a white father and a black mother. 4.

Between the World and Me Ta-Nehisi Coates discusses the feelings, symbolism, and realities associated with being Black in the United States in a book penned as a letter to

her teenage son. 5. The NewComers Finding 5Refuge, Friendship, and Hope in America Author Helen Thorpe follows the lives of 22 refugee and immigrant teens throughout the course of one school year as they land at south High School in Denver. 6.

The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates Wes Moore, a Rhodes Scholar, examines the journey of his own life, and of the life of a man with the same name and background who ends up in prison for accessory to murder. 7. Just Mercy exposes the humanity that lies behind bars through Stevenson’s autobiography and the story of Walter McMillian.

8. The Autobiography of Malcom X The famous Malcom X gives his autobiography as told

by Alex Haley 9. Racial Justice and the Catholic Church Leading black Catholic moral theologian Bryan N. Massingale addresses the thorny issue of racial justice past and present.

10. Women, Race, and Class Famous radical Angela Davis studies women’s rights movements in the United States and examines how these intersected with issues of racism and classism in her essential book.

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SHOWS TO WATCH

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RACIAL JUSTICE ELEVATE 17

ELEVATE FALL

IN THIS TIME OF ISOLATION sports teams appreciated being together and working together toward a common goal. The campus was busy this Fall, as in-season teams practiced and played and off-season teams trained for their upcoming, although altered, seasons.

TEAMWORK SHINES THROUGH DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES

RJ POMS

FALL

SPORTS

performs during halftime of the RJ vs.

Legend Homecoming game. Homecoming looked different this year, but seeing the poms performance at halftime was a welcome sight.

Photo by Riley Fitzgerald ‘21

SENIOR ETHAN CARR TEES OFF AT A REGULAR SEASON TOURNAMENT FOR THE VARSITY RJ GOLF TEAM. THE TEAM FINISHED THIRD IN STATE AFTER GOING INTO THE FINAL DAY RANKED NUMBER NINE. Photo by Chalmers Powell ‘21

Photo by John Plumleigh ‘21

TENNIS

SOPHOMORE CAMERON KRUEP repeated as 5A State Champion in No. 3 singles after a straight set win over Cherry Creek’s Aram Izmirian. Senior Morgan Schilling secured back-t-back state tieles in No. 1 singles, and Conor Kaczmarczyk won the 5A No. 2 singles title.

CROSS COUNTRY PERHAPS THE BEST SPORT

for social distancing, RJ cross country ran solid times and placed highly in regular season meets. Seniors Amelie Colsman and Mikayla Smith competed at state representing the Raiders Photo by Audrey Harmanwell.

‘22

KATHERINE DERDZINSKI ‘21

Practices began for RJ Girls Rugby this Fall with the hopes of playing the Spring season C. Senior Riles Ward leads the team after making it to the 2019-2020 state championship tournament.

Photo by Audrey Harman ‘22

18 ELEVATE FALL

ADAM ZDANOWICZ ‘21 RJ FOOTBALL went 5-1 in the regular season with big wins over Chaparral and against Pine Creek on a game-winning field goal by Jaden Olson with time expiring. The team won a bid to the CHSAA state playoffs vs. Cherry Creek.

Photo by Reilly Wible ‘22

LANIE SMITH ‘21

SOFTBALL made the state tournament after an impressive season on the mound for senior Lanie Smith and home run bombs by senior Chloe Valdez, sophomore Brooke Carey and others.

Photo by John Plumleigh ‘21

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY

AMELIE COLSMAN ‘22 AND MIKAYLA SMITH ‘21

DALLAS MACIAS

CELEBRATES after scoring a touchdown against Douglas County The Raiders beat DC 42-0 on the road to the playoffs.

Photo by Reilly Wible ‘22

STATE GOLF TEAM RYAN OCCHINERO ‘21, TEDDY HUMMEL ‘21, AND LIAM WOOD ‘22 climbed from 9th place in the 5A State

competed at the state cross country meet representing the Raiders in October. Colsman ran a 19:35 placing 35th overall, and Mikayla ran a 21:09.

Golf Tournament to finish third. Senior Ryan Occhionero finished second overall. Photo by Chalmers Powell‘21

SPORTS PHOTOS ELEVATE 19

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we’ll

see you at the

AFTER AN UNEXPECTED LOSS, THE TEAM HONORS THEIR COACH & FRIEND

finish line

“COACH BEN WAS ALWAYS THERE, he was the sort of coach who was always cheering you on and checking in on you. He cared about you as a runner as well as a person, he wanted to see you succeed in running and in life. I am lucky to have had such an amazing coach.”

CLAIRE NIELSEN ‘22

20 ELEVATE FALL

“COACH BEN WAS THE KIND OF PERSON AND COACH WHO MADE YOU WANT TO BE AT PRACTICE EVERY DAY. He encouraged you to work hard, but somehow you always enjoyed working hard while around him. He made what is well-known as an extremely difficult, somewhat unpleasant sport, even for those who love doing it, into one that I and everyone on the team recognized as a gift every day.

He selflessly chose to give everything he had every moment he spent with us, and became a wonderful role model for us in that way. I am thankful for the time I was given with Coach Ben, and that God brought him into the RJXC family. Thank you, Coach Ben, for all the love, hard work, encouragement, laughs, and motivation you built in the team, and for the joy you brought to all those around you. You will forever be with us in our running.”

ISALINA COLSMAN ‘20

PHOTOS TAKEN FROM BBROWNLEE92 INSTAGRAM

BEN WAS A TREMENDOUS PERSONALITY. We were truly blessed to have him for the short time we did. I don’t think anyone, myself included, understood how much he brought to the programs. He did it selflessly because he loved the sport, and you could really tell, he loved the kids and they loved him. Why else do you come back, season after season, unless you’re getting more out of it than you’re giving?

And he gave a lot. I think he also speaks to the impact that the Jesuit community leaves on you. When he moved to Denver, he sought out another Jesuit institution. I believe that alone tells you how strongly he felt about being a man for others and passing along his own experiences at Dallas Jesuit to our kids.

He became a friend, and a part of the RJXC/ RJTF families almost immediately and that will never change.

Coach Taylor and I cannot wait for when we can host meets again and find a way to honor his memory long after the kids he’s coached have graduated.

COACH ANDREW DRYSDALE

COACH BROWNLEE ELEVATE 21

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FALL SPORTS PROFILES FOOTBALL It’s a breezy fall day, and young Clay Nanke and his family are attending one of his brother’s football games. Nanke sits in the stands, in awe of his brother’s performance. These memories, instilled in Nanke at such a young age, fueled his passion to play football. Nanke soon went from sitting on the sideline as an observer to hitting the gridiron and playing.

“When I was younger, I played a little quarterback. I could throw the ball. That was about it,” Nanke said.

This all changed when he entered high “I STARTED school. He was PLAYING introduced D-LINE AND to Coach LOVED IT. I Hasselbach, who LOVED HITTING pushed him away PEOPLE, from offense and AND I LOVED utilized his talent GETTING on the defensive AFTER IT,” side of the ball.

NANKE SAID. “I started playing D-Line and loved it.

I loved hitting people, and I loved getting after it,” Nanke said.

Nanke’s seemingly effortless transition to defense has been met with great success. In his Junior season, he was awarded Second Team All-State Honors while averaging 5.5 tackles per game.

Regardless of these awards, Clay has his eyes on the upcoming season, in which the team has high hopes of making a deep playoff run.

“Hopefully, during the playoffs, we’ll play some good teams, and hopefully they’ll have some big guys. I do a pretty good job right now of putting up with it,”

22 ELEVATE FALL

By Luca Griego ‘21

Clay Nanke The journey of becoming a D1 Recruit Nanke said.

Nanke’s excellent play in recent seasons hasn’t just been recognized on the state level, but the national level, where he has received a slew of Division one recruitment offers.

“I have a few D1 offers, including Wyoming, University of Northern Colorado, Iowa State, Nevada, and the University of New Mexico,” Nanke said.

Clay is adamant about receiving more offers but also acknowledges the struggles that may come with being a division one athlete. He has even envisioned a future without football if his career doesn’t pan out.

“I feel like I do a pretty good job talking to other people, persuading other people, and I just feel like I’m a pretty good negotiator,” Nanke said.

For Nanke, this is only a backup plan, as he still has his eyes set on the prize of playing in the NFL, and going Division one is only the first step in his journey.

“I’ve got so much work ahead of me if I even want a chance to get there, and that’s all it is. It’s a chance, and it has always been a dream, and that’s something I’ve got to keep working on every day. It’s doing something to get me to that goal to make it to the NFL,” Nanke said.

Nanke believes that hard work is the formula for success in football.

He believes that anyone can do it if they have their heart set on it.

“To be honest, anyone can do it. I was super skinny in my freshman year, started playing, and loved it, and I mean it’s all about will power. You have to be willing to put in the work,” Nanke said.

RUGBY

By Annalise Woodard ‘23

Rylie Ward How the sport changed her life

SENIOR MATTHEW COLLINS GOT INTO ESPORTS AT AN EARLY AGE, but he really started to enjoy it in high school. Matthew started with Cherry Creek since Regis Jesuit didn’t initially have an Esports team.

“One of my friends went to Creek, I went to Regis. That is how I first met people on the Esports team, and he is currently playing with them. I am still very close with the Creek team,” Collins said.

When Collins transitioned to Regis Jesuit’s new team, he used his experience at Creek to his advantage, knowing the competition and their strategies well. He feels that RJ has a good chance of winning when they face Creek this Fall, especially because Creek lost a couple of their best players this year.

He hasn’t always felt this confident. Going into the championship match against Gateway last year, the Regis Jesuit team felt good. But Matthew says he came in stressed and overwhelmed, and he didn’t play his best. His stats were lower than usual with a total of 38,320 point of damage, 7 kills, and 23 assists. He

ESPORTS

also played a position in the match that he wasn’t used to playing.

“We might change it in a few different ways, but if teams start to play against it, then we will work on something more viable, in that scenario,” Collins said.

The RJ team is working on themselves, not only as a group, but also as individuals.

“The best thing to have is for players to know exactly what their job is on the team and to be able to play together and to trust each other and commit. I think the individual aspect it is important to have high amounts of discipline, to actually understand the concepts that take a long time to learn or are frustrating to learn,” Collins said.

When asked about going pro, Matthew admits the money is tempting, but he values education too much and doesn’t think he’s quite at that level.

“I’m pretty sure the average player at least for LCS (League Championship Series) makes three to four hundred thousand, or at least that is the starting salary. People can go up to the millions,” Collins said.

By Bradley Schrameyer ’24

Matthew Collins

Competing on a digital level

The team forms a huge dog pile on top of each other as the cool mountain breeze hits their faces.

They have been in Evergreen since 7:30 this morning, and they are waiting to start their last game of the tournament.

“We like to say we have the Guinness World Record for cuddling,” Senior Captain Rylie Ward said.

The girls finished out the Evergreen Tournament strong, with a record of 3-0. They hoped to keep up their intensity for the rest of the season and did so by winning almost every game which led them to the 2019-2020 State Championships. Ward is grateful for her experiences as a player and the amazing community that has been built because of the sport.

“When people say there is a sisterhood at Regis, the first sisterhood I think of is the one I have created with my rugby players and teammates,” Ward said.

Ward joined the team as a junior last year and was a starting player with no prior experience. She had grown up in the rugby environment, having an older brother on the Regis Jesuit Boys team.

“I thought ‘if my brother can play rugby, I can play rugby too,’” Ward said.

Ward is a utility player, and her main responsibility on the field is to fill in positions for injured players.

She also plays as a back and moves the ball up the field by running from sideline to sideline. Her last responsibility is a scrum position whose job it is to feed flying balls from one side of the field to the other and then lift players to catch the balls.

The team’s revised COVID-19 after-school routine includes daily temperature checks in the Girls’

Division Tradition Hall and the new girls’ practice schedule. Practice is around an hour and a half and is filled with 45 minutes of dynamic practicing, followed by 45 minutes of touch games. The group of 28 girls splits into two teams and plays friendly scrimmages to improve their skills.

“The only way you are going to learn to play is by playing,” Ward said.

Rugby Colorado’s COVID precautions allow for two seasons: one Fall and one spring. Throughout the Fall months, the team competed in a few games that will be touch contact only. The team is hopeful that by the spring, Rugby Colorado will allow full contact playing, and the girls plan on participating in five tournaments all around Colorado.

With the new 2020-2021 season gearing up, Ward is hopeful when thinking about the new team. The roster includes players from every grade, with only seven returning players, and there are more spots for any interested students.

Because of the wide variety of ages, Ward is mostly excited to build a new bond with her team and get to know the underclassmen.

She says that, on the field, “We are teammates, we are equals.”

SPORTS ELEVATE 23

GOLF

By Zach Hogan ‘23

Ryan Occhionero

Headlines the RJ golf team

TENNIS

By Miles Herrera ‘24

Morgan Schilling Back-to-Back State Champion

Two years ago, the Regis Jesuit tennis team looked like they were unstoppable when they won a high school Colorado State Championship. They were so dominant that they won the following year, winning back to back Colorado State Championships.

The team was led by one of Colorado’s best tennis players, Morgan Schilling ’21. Schilling is a four-star recruit and is currently ranked as the 101st best player in the country. Last year, Schilling was the Colorado Player of the Year. He continued his success, recently winning his second consecutive Colorado Singles State

Championship.

“It is humbling to me that I have been able to accomplish things that have gotten the attention of local media,” Schilling said. “I’ve never liked to think of myself as better than others. I just have to believe I work harder and love it more.”

This year, Schilling and the Regis Jesuit tennis team were looking forward to winning their third consecutive Colorado State Championship, but they fell short to Cherry Creek a few weeks ago.

“I think that people who don’t know too much about tennis downplay how mentally taxing it is. Tennis

is a very lonely sport,” Schilling said.

Many athletes, no matter how skilled they are, can’t handle the pressure of the spotlight. However, Schilling loves it. He seeks the spotlight and wants to win when all the pressure is on him.

“I like the big stage, and I like the pressure that comes with it. It makes it that much more exciting to play and to compete,” Schilling said.

Schilling believes that hard work leads to better results. He is a fiery competitor who wants to be a great player. His success can be attributed to his rare work ethic.

With COVID-19 raging on, many seasons have been delayed until further notice. However, golf was one of the first sports selected to continue their season. As a result, the team has had to overcome numerous challenges.

Before practice, players must be screened. If a player has a fever, they must quarantine for at least two weeks, resulting in missed practices and tournaments. Along with this, the team is consistently split into groups at practice, making it harder to gain team synergy. Despite all of this, Ryan Occhionero ‘21, one of the core leaders of the team, remains optimistic.

“Coach Rogers has had a great impact on our performance this year and deserves most of the credit. He has helped step up all of our games this season with new obstacles and struggles,” Occhionero said.

Although the pandemic has introduced countless issues, benefits can still be found.

The team has had more time to practice, resulting in greater levels of preparation and confidence. Occhionero has also had time to attend all his classes, an anomaly last year. The newfound time has allowed him to focus on his academics, something he prioritizes.

“I see it as an opportunity to get better with the increased amount of practice we have this season,” Occhionero said.

Occhionero will continue to play golf at the collegiate level. However, he is stepping down from competitive golf. He now prefers to dedicate his time to his academics.

PHOTO BY JOHN PLUMLEIGH ‘21

24 ELEVATE FALL

PHOTO BY SARAH FAESTEL ‘22

By Brynn Harnett ‘21

SOFTBALL Lanie Smith Headlines the RJ softball team

In recent years, the Regis Jesuit softball team has severely struggled. Last year, the team only won five games in total. However, two years ago, the team was fifth in the state.

These struggles can be attributed to multiple factors. Last year, there were no seniors on the team. Two years ago, they lost four key players, including the pitcher and catcher. As a result, this year has been tough for them to navigate.

Despite the complications, Lanie Smith ‘21, a core leader of the team, remains optimistic.

“We are a scrappy team. We don’t have a whole power team, but we have a lot of people that come together to make a good team,” Smith said.

Smith is the starting pitcher of the Regis Jesuit varsity softball team, which is one of the most difficult positions in softball.

“One thing I like about pitching is having that control. I can do what needs to be done to help my team win,” Smith said. “When I am on the mound, I try to have the best attitude possible and the best mindset possible because that does affect your teammates.

They see your head down, they are going to put their head down.”

Smith is not only an exceptional softball player but an extremely smart student. She currently has a 4.0 GPA. During Smith’s sophomore year, she received an All Continental League honorable mention. In her junior year, she got All Continental League Second Team honors.

“I think a key element for the team to be successful is just working together, playing as

a team, and being sisters,” Smith said.

“I have truly found my best friends, people I will spend the rest of my life with.”

After having an incredible season two years ago, the team made it to the State Championship for the first time in Regis Jesuit softball history. They went on to beat Fossil Ridge, who was second in the state.

“We went into the game not expecting to win but expecting to give 120 percent effort. That was honestly one of the best games of my life.

That game we played together as a team, and it was honestly an amazing experience. The celebration we had afterward really showed how amazing and out of this world the experience was,” Smith said.

The goal this year was to make it to the State Championship to prove all the doubters wrong. The team ended up achieving just that, making state for the second time in Regis Jesuit softball history. The team was ranked fourteenth in the state heading into the state tournament, and third in the continental league. Both are the highest honors in Regis Jesuit softball history.

A win for the Regis Jesuit softball team in their second home game of the season! The Raiders beat the Heritage Eagles today by a score of 14-2. The Raiders were lead by senior pitcher Lanie Smith.

By Adam Zdanowicz ‘21

FOOTBALL

Drew Kulick Leader of the RJ football offense

Drew Kulick is this year’s starting varsity quarterback and linebacker for the Regis Jesuit High School football team.

He had an outstanding junior season with fifty-nine total tackles, four sacks, and two turnovers according to max preps. As a result, he has multiple division one offers at the linebacker position. Kulick has a lot of potential to be an outstanding player at the collegiate level.

“It feels great to contribute to the team as much as I do,” Kulick said.

Earlier this year, the 2021 football season was delayed due to COVID-19.

During this newfound time, Kulick was able to mesh well with the offense. Kulick is excited to embrace the new challenge.

“It’s every athlete’s dream to see the field as much as I do,” Kulick said on his new role.

PHOTO BY SARAH FAESTEL ‘22

PHOTO BY JOHN PLUMLEIGH ‘21

SPORTS ELEVATE 25

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by Mason Harris ‘24

SHOCKED. UPSET. BLINDSIDED. These three words could describe exactly how student athletes are feeling. With the cash cow of college sports, football, not returning to normal, many sports have been put on hold. The likes of soccer, swimming, baseball, and tennis are all included.

The heavy news has forced students to reevaluate their futures.

“I know they have to balance a lot of things when making that decision.

Obviously finances is a big part of it” Ms. Elisa Krapcha, one of the college counselors at Regis Jesuit, said on the challenges. “They have to balance Title 9 in making sure that they’re providing equitable resources and opportunities to male and female athletes on their campuses.”

teams combined for over 30 conference championships. However, that didn’t stop the programs from falling to the virus.

“I’m sure that the athletic departments probably tried to do everything they could to keep those sports as a part of their program, but college sports is a business, and winning a championship in a non-revenue sport is wonderful, but for the sake of the business line, it doesn’t always contribute to what they’re needing to keep their employees paid, ” Krapcha said.

Now that a multitude of college sports have been ruled out, students are left paralyzed. Their lives have completely changed and put on hold. A good amount of these students spent the majority of their lives preparing for the collegiate level. However, they must now rethink their plans. Questions arise in a time of uncertainty. When and will these sports return?

“It could very well be possible, but it would be years from now because they’re going to have to recoup finances lost from other revenue streams, and then rebuild up to be able to open facilities and update them,” Krapcha said. “Then, they have to bring in a team. So, it might, but I bet we wouldn’t see it for at least a decade.”

After learning this news, numerous students had a desire to transfer.

After all, some colleges still kept their programs intact during the pandemic.

However, this tough process comes with countless complications. As a result, a large amount of students opted to finish out their education at their current colleges.

Even if a student wanted to transfer to a program that was ongoing, their spot on the team wouldn’t be guaranteed.

Along with this unfortunate news, it’s not

Sports programs cut nationwide

COVID 19 CAUSES HUGE LOSS TO FUNDING FOR COLLEGE SPORTS

According to Krapcha, sports such as swimming and tennis are “non-revenue” sports at the college level. As a result, many colleges pour their funds into their major sports, like football. These funds are dedicated to luxurious locker room improvements, stadium renovations, and other equipment and facilities.

“From the revenue perspective of an athletics’s department, football is king.

After that, it’s generally basketball. In order to build your great program, you have to have great recruits. In order to have great recruits, you have to keep up with the Joneses,” Krapcha said.

Some canceled sports were coming off of championship years. When the news broke, students were caught off guard, especially those that were still celebrating their previous seasons. This was exemplified at East Carolina, where the men’s and women’s swim and dive

guaranteed that the programs currently open would stay open for long. As a result, many students are now turning to new opportunities.

“For some people, it may take time, but I think that they may realize too that it opens up an opportunity for them to do something that they weren’t able to do,” Krapcha said. “When you’re a student athlete, you’re committing to an insane amount of hours per week of training, practice, weights, etc.”

Luckily, many colleges kept scholarships intact. Student athletes are still able to attend their college with either a partial scholarship or a full one.

Nothing was repealed, allowing students to still receive a complete education.

“I think that’s a way that the athletic departments are able to say, ‘we clearly didn’t want this either, and we don’t want this to upend your life.’ It’s a big enough challenge that you have to give up the sport,” Krapcha said. “It was obviously the right thing to do, and I’m glad they did it. I also think it would be terrible PR for a college if they cut all these sports and then now you have 30 or 40 students that can no longer attend there. That would look really bad for a college.”

However, a lifelong “IT COULD BE YEARS sport being canceled can have a heavy effect FROM NOW BEFORE THESE SPORTS RETURN on a student athlete’s BECAUSE THEY’RE mental and physical GOING TO HAVE TO health. As a result, RECOUP FINANCES many colleges now LOST FROM OTHER have to implement REVENUE STREAMS, improved counseling AND THEN REBUILD UP systems.

TO BE ABLE TO OPEN “I would hope FACILITIES AND UPDATE that the athletic THEM.” departments at least are providing counseling. Usually, athletic departments have sports psychologists already, so I would hope they’d still give those students access to those, and I think it would just be a matter of utilizing those services,” Krapcha said.

CLAY NANKE, DEFENSIVE END/TIGHT END With their season postponed, football players continued practicing to ensure they were ready to play.

CHSSA PUSHES FALL SEASON

ATHLETES WON’T STOP AMONGST PANDEMIC

GIRLS LACROSSE

THE GIRLS LACROSSE PARTICIPATE IN THEIR FALL CLINIC in preperation for their seaon, which starts in late April due to the new COVID-19 sports schedule.

This fall didn’t look like a typical fall season for sports due to the pandemic. The CHSAA Board of Directors came to a decision to only allow boys golf, softball, tennis, and cross country the opportunity to compete on their regular schedule. These sports were concluded in October. With football’s season canceled in Colorado but not other states, the players began to question the regulation not to play in the fall. After Governor Polis announced on September eleventh that football that he would work with CHSSA to allow football back into the fall season. CHSAA provided schools with the local option to play football, field hockey, and cheer during season A. However, schools still had the option to resort to season C which would mean they would play in March. Both seasons would be treated equally however schools could not choose to play in both seasons. This allows schools and districts to make the decision that best suits them. The decision permits five0 players, per sideline, to be on the field for football. In field hockey, there may be twenty five players, per sideline, each game. All participants must wear masks while they are not actively playing.

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T H E I M P A CT O N M E N TA L H E A LT H DURING A PANDEMIC

w

hen it comes to talking about mental health, it feels like the same conversation is being had every time. It can be exhausting, repetitive, or even irritating to talk about such a large subject so frequently without making much progress in normalizing discussions about it.

Mental health is one of the most important issues to know and talk about with and amongst teenagers.

Adolescence, more specifically high school, is arguably the most formative time in one’s life, emotional and social changes, and a learning environment completely different from elementary or middle school. High school has proven to be a time in which mental health conditions can arise.

Half of mental health conditions start by 14 years old, but most cases are undetected and untreated according to the World Health Organization.

When you read that, where does your mind wander to? It would be no surprise if when you read “mental health condition”your mind immediately went to depression and anxiety. Now, there’s nothing wrong with that, in fact it’s understandable since depression and anxiety are probably the most infamous and commonly talked about.

A possible explanation as to why the discussion about mental health can seem continued on the next page

28 ELEVATE FALL

Covid - 19, Hybrid Learning and its effect on your brain

by Jose Ontero

OF MENTAL HEALTH student survey responses

During The Pandemic:

634% There has been a 634% jump in use of online tools to ease their anxiety.

69% of counselor meetings involve mental health.

Compared to last year, there has been a 362.5% increase in the numer of mental health related counselor visits and a 289.2% increase in counselor meetings in general.

800 700 600

667

500 400 300 200

296 184

100 0

2020-2021

149

2019-2020 Mental Health Acedemics

“The pandemic has put a pause on many aspects of life, but mental health is not included in that paused world. During these unpredictable times our lives are not entirely in control.”

THE STATE

873% There has been a 873% increase in those seeking information about Depression.

repetitive is the lack of varied information.

Because of this, the broad term of “mental health” dissociates from many other conditions, including ADHD, ADD, OCD, and eating disorders. Having the understanding that there are more mental health conditions than depression and anxiety is the first step to having a good conversation about it without having a negative impression on the matter.

The pandemic has put a pause on many aspects of life, but mental health is not included in that paused world. During these unpredictable times our lives are not entirely in our control.

It has been a long-standing issue among students that school assigns too much work and leaves little to no time for much else. It’s difficult to go to a high school and find someone that doesn’t complain about the amount of work that there is to do, and that is no different here at RJ. Whether or not, too much work is assigned or there is still the underlying problem of lack of sleep. According to the CDC, teenagers from ages 13-18 are should get between 8-10 hours of sleep per 24 hours. And it’s widely known that adults should get 8 hours, at least. While many people do get the suggested amount of sleep, about 7 out of 10 high school students, nationally, don’t get enough sleep.

Lack of sleep can lead to anxiety, and reasons for lack of sleep may be connected to stress. There are still other ways that lack of sleep is detrimental, but it still affects mental health. Everyone is connected to the subject of mental health, some more closely than others, that’s why it is important to stay informed on the matter and talk about it. The first step to talking about it is knowing about it.

MENTAL HEALTH ELEVATE 29

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M I N D R E A L LY M AT T E R S by: Molly Nichols

I

t’s hard to understand this type of health when you’ve never experienced it before. Ashlan Christensen, a first-year teacher, said that most of her adult life has been shaped by becoming educated on taking care of her own mental health. This type of health can make people seem lazy, antisocial, or weak but that’s simply not true.

“People used to be much more flippant in just telling someone who was struggling to “’suck it up’,” said Scott Alcorn. “Now we’re much more willing to acknowledge that mental health issues are real.”

Staff members around Regis Jesuit have been adapting to several new changes with this pandemic and it has made lots of changes to their perception and reaction to mental health.

“It wasn’t till just a few weeks ago that I realized, “Oh, wow, I’m just really afraid of COVID all the time.” That fear was really messing with me and I didn’t even realize it,” said Mr. Alcorn.

It’s been difficult for a lot of teachers to not become agitated and to manage the new complexity of their jobs.

Pastoral for example has become much more difficult, being able to plan retreats that are fun and safe is almost impossible.

Ashlan Christensen being a first-year teacher said flexibility is key, making sure you are doing what is best for your students can be difficult, but always be trying to work in their best interest.

Doc recommends finding concrete and safe ways of dealing with your emotions during this time. Things such as taking walks, hanging out with pets, and watching TV shows and movies that make you feel good. Of course, there are other options. Ms. Christensen suggests external relief, take the bus somewhere

30 ELEVATE FALL

and cry in public or sit in a cafe to be around others while at the same time being alone. The best thing you can do is talk to a professional, sometimes it just takes someone else to help you through it.

“Life is really hard, and sometimes we can deal with the challenges on our own and sometimes we just can’t and need someone to help us out,” Alcorn said.

As a country the United States is making progress in normalizing mental health and its importance, but there is a long way to go.

Millions of people don’t have the resources or financial means to seek adequate mental health care when they need it the most.

Sophomore Luthien Winnica ‘23 said reading books, watching TedTalks, and learning to listen will be how we move forward.

“It’s impossible to be stigma free because there are always going to be people that will stigmatize things,” she said. “That goes for many things, you can’t have a perfect world.”

At Regis Jesuit the staff and administration are supportive in educating students about the importance of mental health. They are optimistic that in the future it could even be considered simply human nature, for now they are making small steps towards big changes.

Christensen and Winnica have teamed up to create a club that focuses on educating others about mental health and spreading awareness. Mind Matters is a place where you are not expected to share your experiences, but rather

“The key is to remember these are medical terms used to help people and not adjectives.” Ashlan Christensen

FIRST HAND ADVICE FROM REGIS JESUIT STAFF ON HANDLING MENTAL HEALTH THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC to learn more about the subject of mental health with the people around you.

There are several misconceptions in our society about conditions such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and borderline personality disorder.

Some symptoms that come along with these ailments are often “scary” to those who aren’t as knowledgeable around the subject. “The key is to remember these are medical terms used to help people and not adjectives,” Christensen said. “Using them that way can diminish the experience of people who do live with these experiences.”

It is always an important reminder to stay judgment free, and realize that all the emotions you are feeling are only temporary.

“Pandemic, politics, parts of my life have definitely changed,” Winnica described. “The best part is that I’ve changed, now I perceive life and priories differently.”

“My one suggestion is for you to go easy on yourself, embrace life,” said Doc. “It’s important to note that everyone has mental health, beyond self care as taking a bath or buying something,” Christensen explained. “I’m hopeful to see awareness of mental health as just that, a component of our health.” She stresses that the important thing to remember is that everyone right now is grieving.

Grieving for normalcy, grief for COVID-19 victims, and racial violence victims. Treat people with gentleness, and work to normalize mental health.

THE STATE OF MENTAL HEALTH 91 out of 240 faculty responded

Teacher responses:

74

%

of teachers are stressed about their student’s wellbeing

70%

of teachers continue to work 5-15 hours after 3PM

On Sundays before school, teachers often feel Stressed and Exhausted, but there are a number of teachers that feel prepares and fine for the upcoming week.

Exhausted Stressed Fine Good Prepared Confident Other 0

10

20

30

40

50

MENTAL HEALTH ELEVATE 31

FOOD & MUSIC REVIEWS

BY MATT TIERNEY '22

BURGER KING MCDONALDS

32 ELEVATE FALL

Don't sleep on Burger King

I

f 2019 was the year of the fast-food chicken sandwich, 2020 is the year of the chicken nugget, specifically the spicy chicken nugget. A distinctly fast-food item, the chicken nugget is something you’d be hard-pressed to find anywhere without a drive-thru, and it’s certainly not considered to be a gourmet item. Before spicy chicken nuggets garnered attention, the popular, underlying consensus was that chicken nuggets are ultimately a childish and unsophisticated item, too bland to be enjoyed on their own by adults. While Wendy’s brought back their famous spicy nuggets in 2019, it was Burger King and McDonald’s that sparked a debate about the best spicy chicken nuggets with their release of the item this year.

Naturally, I was compelled to try them all to determine which spicy nugget should be my go-to.

My first stop was Wendy’s, as I had already been a fan of the nuggets since my early childhood. For $2.70, I was able to secure six spicy nuggets. Next, I went to McDonald’s, and got the same number of nuggets for only $2:00.

Finally, I stopped by the Burger King in Castle Rock with good friend Deavin McAlear and, to our surprise, we were able to get eight spicy nuggets for only $1:00. Needless to say, the Burger King spicy nuggets were the cheapest, but did they live up to the quality of the other options? For the most part, yes. The Wendy’s

the year of the chicken nugget

WENDY'S

and Burger King nuggets are remarkably similar, with nearly identical textures and a low level of spice.

While the spice is enough to make the nuggets taste good without sauce, it’s nothing to grab water over.

The only real distinction between Wendy’s and Burger King other than the price, then, was the quality of the chicken. By this measure, Wendy’s nuggets are slightly better. However, as Deavin remarked to me at the restaurant, “the consistency is still good.”

Both he and I agreed that we would certainly recommend Burger King’s spicy nuggets to friends.

With the first two nuggets being so similar, I was eager to see if McDonald’s would do anything to distinguish their nuggets from the competition. Surprisingly, they did. First, the McDonald’s product is much spicier than your run-of-the-mill fast-food nugget. When paired with the newly released “Might Hot Sauce,” they pack quite a punch. These nuggets are cooked in a cayenne pepper batter, making their flavor feel much more authentic. With that being said, it’s hard to point to any real culture that McDonald’s is pulling

from with these nuggets.

A typical McDonald’s meal seems to exist in a space almost entirely detached from any established cultural tradition. However, this is especially true for their nuggets, as the chicken feels less like actual chicken and more like a distant simulacrum.

It’s thin and dry, and the authenticity that the cayenne flavor brings is partially negated by the plasticy feeling of the chicken and breading.

So, while the McDonald’s nuggets were interesting, and they certainly provided a new take on the spicy chicken nugget, I was ultimately most satisfied with Burger King’s. The price is unbeatable, and the flavor and chicken quality certainly aren’t terrible. I recommend getting them with some sort of sauce, though, as the spice isn’t crazy. While the pioneer status of Wendy’s spicy nuggets and the sheer popularity of McDonald’s might overshadow Burger King’s nuggets, it would be a mistake to not give them a try (especially given the low price). Don’t sleep on Burger King.

AMINE: LIMBO ALBUM REVIEW SINCE HIS BREAKTHROUGH in 2017 with the massive hit “Caroline”, Portland native Adam Daniels, better known by his stage name “Amine” looked like a one-hit-wonder to some skeptic listeners. Amine stayed relatively quiet in 2018 and 2019. Although he dropped the project OnePointFive in 2018, it failed to recreate the success that he had in 2017. However, in 2020 Amine is back in the spotlight with his new project Limbo, a 44-minute album that develops many of the styles and aesthetics that Amine capitalized on in earlier projects. Limbo is an extremely fun project, and it’s a shame that it was released in the middle of a global pandemic. The album is packed with music that deserves to be played in the car, like the extremely catchy “Compensating” with Atlanta trap legend and pioneer Young Thug.

While the songs on Limbo operate largely within the trends already popular in hip hop right now, they all offer something unique and full of character, whether it be a clever sample flip or infectious Moog bass-line.

The guests on this album deliver across the board, with Vince Staples and J.I.D. delivering spectacular verses. The album does lose momentum towards the end, and the songs where Amine develops a more R&B style delivery do feel a little boring at times (with the notable exception of “Can’t Decide." However, the good tracks on Limbo certainly make up for the weak back half and make this album, overall, very enjoyable.

With this release, there’s reason to believe that Amine could be around for a while.

RATING: 3.5/5

CONWAY THE MACHINE- FROM A KING TO A GOD REVIEW COMING FROM BUFFALO, NEW YORK, it would have been hard for anyone to predict the massive success of hip-hop collective Griselda in 2020. A typical album from one of the collective’s 6 members reflects the grittiness of this Buffalo setting, with lyrics primarily focused on the criminal ways in which the artists made money to survive in a city hit hard by deindustrialization. Conway the Machine, a foundational member of the group, delivers what might be the most consistent Griselda record to date with From a King to a GOD. The tried-and-true Griselda formula- consisting of dramatic, looped samples, boom-bap drums, and dense, old-fashioned lyrical content- is mostly executed once again, but From a King to a GOD strays from this formula in crucial areas, making the album a much more dynamic listen than previous Griselda records. The lyrics are more varied, with multiple songs reflecting on the success of the collective despite the group’s difficult circumstances. However, the lyrical content is extremely sharp. The production is also much more interesting than previous Griselda efforts, as their recent success has most likely allowed for a higher budget. The beats are handled mainly by Griselda inhouse producer Daringer, but there are contributions from legendary beat-makers Hit-Boy and The Alchemist. The combination of new talents and ideas that Conway employs, paired with the trademark Griselda lyricism and gritty stylings, makes From a King to a GOD easily one of the best Griselda records to date, and displays the group’s potential to become a more permanent fixture in hip-hop.

RATING: 4/5

TOM MISCH & YUSSEF DAYESWHAT KINDA MUSIC ALBUM REVIEW HAILING FROM SOUTH LONDON, singer, songwriter, and producer Tom Misch has proven to be one of the city’s more successful exports. Misch has put out multiple albums, each operating at a crossroads between instrumental, alternative music and electronically produced hip hop and R&B. However, through linking with the extremely talented jazz drummer Yussef Dayes (also from South London), Misch creates an album far more interesting and enjoyable than previous releases. Misch and Dayes complement each other in the best possible way, and Dayes’ live drums make the songs on What Kinda Music feel natural, yet meticulous in performance. Misch and Dayes do an excellent job and creating expansive, relaxing soundscapes, and Misch’s singing fits very nicely over these instrumentals.

RATING: 4/5

WANT TO WRITE A REVIEW?

Are you interested in writing a reviews for music or restaurants Contact the RJ Media Editorial Board at rjmedia@ regisjesuit.com or in the RJ Media Lab (PAC-102).

You can also find us on Twitter and Instagram @RJ_Media

REVIEWS ELEVATE 33

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GREAT RJBakers, BAKEStart OFF Your Ovens F lour in the air, batter on the floor, and the smell of baked goods in the oven. This was the environment Anna Staton ‘24, Reilly Mohr ‘23, and Isabella Spezia ‘23 found themselves in this summer while taking part in the Great Regis Jesuit Bake Off.

Influenced by her favorite movie, REILLY MOHR ’23 created a “101 Dalmatians” inspired cake for the summer course, as the assignment was to create a Disney-themed cake. She knew that a lot of other Raiders would select some of the newer Disney movies that had come out, but were she to make another movie-themed cake, she would tackle the challenge for the beloved Mushu, from Mulan. Mohr is a self-taught baker, who recognizes baking as an opportunity to be creative. At twelve years old she started to find herself immersed in baking shows such as “Cupcake Wars” and “Zumbo’s Just Desserts.”

Reilly’s love for baking also spread to her community.

“When a dessert is needed for a party or event, I’m usually the first to volunteer!” Mohr said.

She has made a sunflower cake for her church, (which I’m sure we all would like to see – and more importantly taste!), as well as cookies for her softball team. However, one of her most impressive bakes has to be the 80 sugar cookies with hand piped royal icing Regis Jesuit logos she created for her swim team.

REILLY MOHR’S BUTTERCREAM RECIPE 3 Cups Confectioners’ Sugar 1 Cup Butter 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract 1-2 Tablespoons Whipping Cream Beat butter, vanilla extract, and whipping cream in a stand mixer until combined. Slowly add in sugar and continue beating until buttercream is made.

B

aker Anna Staton ’24 may be new to Regis Jesuit, but is in no way new to baking, as she had been baking since she was five.

Her “Pua the Pig” inspired cake was prompted by the assignment to create a character-themed cake. Seeing as he is a less common character, she jumped at the opportunity to put his adorable form onto a delicious cake. Staton’s grandmother taught her how to bake and decorate sweets, and she has used her skills to bake with her friends and sister. While Staton mostly bakes for her family, she will be selling cupcakes for a fundraiser for the Haven of Hope shelter in downtown Denver.

What began in the kitchen has spread throughout the community from Reilly’s swim team to the Regis Jesuit Instagram page. *One more sentence that makes it work*

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ISABELLA SPEZIA ‘23 also partook in the summer course of baking, but used her time to produce birthday cake flavored cake pops, to which Starbucks couldn’t compare. The task was to create a signature dessert, and seeing as she has always loved birthday cake and confetti, Spezia decided to incorporate this flavor into something new.

“My sister is my sidekick when it comes to baking,” Spezia said.

Having grown up in a family of bakers, they create delicious treats for their family. Spezia began baking more over the quarantine, but she has been busy with writing a book and practicing for the cheerleading tryouts, so it’s been difficult to find spare time to bake.

ISABELLA SPEZIA’S CAKE POP RECIPE 1 Box Cake Mix Flavor Of Your Choice Eggs, Oil And Water As Called For On Cake Mix Box 1 Cup & 2 Tablespoons Of Canned Frosting Flavor Of Your Choice 1 Pound Candy Melts ½ Cup Sprinkles 1 – prepare cake mix with the amount of oil, water, and eggs directed on the box. Bake in a 9”x13” pan according to package directions 2 – Let cake cool completely, then break apart and crumble until fine crumbs form 3 – Stir in the frosting until a dough forms. If the dough seems dry, you can add additional frosting, 1 tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency is reached 4 – roll the cake mixture into tablespoon sized balls. Place the balls on a parchment lined baking sheet and chill for at least one hour 5 – Melt the candy melts in a bowl in the microwave, heating in 30 second increments, and stir until completely smooth 6 – Place each cake ball on a fork and use a spoon to pour the candy melts over the cake ball. Tap against the side of the bowl to remove exes candy melts 7 – Place each ball on a parchment lined sheet pan. Top with sprinkles 8 – Store in the refrigerator until ready to eat. Can be made up to 3 days in advance.

oreoINGREDIENTS: balls 1 package of oreos 1 package of block cream cheese 1 Block of White or Chocolate Almond Bark (I get this at King Soopers) INSTRUCTIONS 1: Bring Cream Cheese to room temperature 2: Using a food processor, crush all the oreos 3: Line a cookie sheet with wax paper for easy clean up.

4: Using a blender or hand held or free standing mixer, mix Oreos and cream cheese together.

5: Roll into walnut size balls.

Chill for an hour. I like to chill over night to ensure firmness 6: While waiting, melt about 1/4 package of chocolate almond bark.

7: Melt approximately 3/4 package of white almond bark. (You can use Chocolate too) 8: Stick a toothpick in an Oreo ball and dip it in the melted white almond bark. You can add sprinkles on top 9: Allow to harden on wax paper.

Takes about 15 minute.

10: Try not to eat them all!

Store in the refridgerator

HOLIDAY MUST BAKES

Smores Candy INGREDIENTS: 15 graham cracker sheets seperated into 1 crackers 1 and 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1 cup butter 2 cup marshmallows 1 package of full size hershey bars pinch of salt

INSTRUCTIONS Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 1- Spread a large sheet of waxed paper on counter. Spray with non-stick spray.

2- Line a 15x10 inch sheet pan with foil, spray with non-stick spray.

3- Place crackers in pan in a single layer.

4- Melt butter in sauce pan over medium heat. Add brown sugar.

5- Bring brown sugar and butter to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat.

Boil 2 minutes.

6- Pour brown sugar mixture evenly over graham crackers in pan.

Spread so it covers all the crackers evenly.

7- Bake at 350 degrees F for 8 minutes.

8- Remove and spread evenly with marshmallows, broken up pieces of Hershey bars and chocolate chips, Turn oven to 400 degrees BROIL, 9- Return to oven and allow marshmallows to toast approximately 1 to 2 minutes.

10- Quickly remove crackers to a sheet of waxed paper that has been sprayed liberally with non-stick spray. Use 2 spatulas to do this.

11- Allow to cool Don’t eat to many and store in the fridge!

according to Mrs. Arduini Design by Tessa Hummel ‘21

RJ BAKE OFF ELEVATE 35

ELEVATE FALL

HYBRID must haves An iPad

A cozy blanket & snacks

I Need To Go To The Bathroom.

Your furry friend and some coffee

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1 2

My Wifi Went Out!

lanyard

I Forgot to Log On.

4

TOP FIVE

EXCUSES FOR DITCHING ONLINE LEARNING

3

I was Playing Games.

z z z z

I was Tired.

zz

HOW TO BREAK UP WITH THE PEST THAT WON’T LEAVE YOU ALONE Dear COVID, I know our one-year anniversary is approaching, but I simply can’t be with you anymore.

Please take yourself out the door.

You have taken a toll on not just me, but my family and friends. Don’t you ever try to make amends.

At first, I thought this would just be a fling.

A couple months type of thing. I won’t deny that I enjoyed the time alone, but you have taken over every throne.

I should have seen the red flags from the beginning.

Here is a list of the things that keep me from grinning.

You are so unpredictable. Spiking in the summer with the fires, some might call it biblical.

Controlling me and my friends and society?

Bro, you are giving me anxiety.

You have such cruel behavior; you have all of us looking for a savior.

You are so corrupt; I want to hit you in the head with a coconut.

Come-on now, off your high horse. I cannot continue down this course.

We are in isolation. Go ahead and stop with that flirtation.

This year sucked. Let’s make our end abrupt.

Please Leave me Alone. You are not my chaperone.

Peace out, Sabrina

HYBRID ELEVATE 37

ELEVATE FALL

FALL

BIG MOMENTS

DESPITE THIS TIME OF ISOLATION and overall craziness, the faculty and staff have found ways to work around it. From outdoor concerts to socially distanced dance lessons, the teachers have developed ways to keep learning interactive and safe.

“READING THIS OUT LOUD, IN FRONT OF MY CLASSMATES, allowed me to place myself in Douglass’ shoes and understand the challenges that he and many people have gone through. This moment clarified that America has come a long way but there are still things we need to approve on. It also made me realize that these challenges are similar to what many people are facing today however, they’re not as extreme. Douglass’ speech made me feel like I could let my own voice be heard, just like those who protested over the summer, in order to make America a better place.” ADAN SANCHEZ

IN DR. RINNER’S AP LANGUAGE CLASS, ADAN SANCHEZ ‘22, READS FREDRICK DOUGLASS’S FAMOUS AND POWERFUL SPEACH, “WHAT, TO THE SLAVE, IS THE FOURTH OF JULY.

38 ELEVATE FALL

“TEACHING DANCE DURING A PANDEMIC HAS BEEN A LEARNING CURVE FOR SURE. WE FOCUSED A LOT MORE ON SOLOS OPPOSED TO YOUR TRADITIONAL BALLROOM COULES. THE REAL GOAL IS TO GIVE THE KIDDOS A MOMENT TO DO SOMETHING OUTSIDE OF ACADEMICS AND MOVE THEIR BODIES. IT’S BEEN A BLAST AND THEY HAVE BEEN SUCH TROOPERS.”

“IT HAS BEEN A DIFFICULT TO MAKE CONNECTIONS WITH MY STUDENTS THIS YEAR. IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO MAINTAIN GOOD INSTRUCTIONS AS WELL. EACH DAY I CHALLENGE MYSELF TO DO THE BEST I CAN. I BELIEVE MY STUDENTS ARE DOING THEIR BEST AS WELL - I AM SO PROUD OF THEM!”

KATHLEEN WILLSON

BELLA GERVASINI, ASE GRACE SAVOCA

GROWING, ADAPTING, CHANGING Students and teachers adjust to learning in a global pandemic.

NATI SOLOMON ‘21 participates in a photo Olympics challenge in yearbook.

THE NEW NORMAL requires students to have their temperatures taken any time they come on campus.

MS. MCDERMOTT donates blood during the NHS blood drive.

Despite COVID and school being fully remote many students and teachers participated in the blood drive.

AMBER RAINSBERGER ‘21 transfers a sketch for Ms. Delzell’s Fine Art 1 Class.

MR. SAUER CONDUCTS the band during the Fall Festival. “We wanted to take advantage of the warmer weather in October for a safe and fun concert outside for our families. We ended up getting a beautiful sunset, some awesome music, and a wonderful memory,” Sauer said. Photo By: Nick Marks ‘24

Zane Wilson ‘24 playing the drums. “I have been a drummer for almost five years. My favorite thing about drumming is creating my own solos and melodies from scratch.”

FALL MOMENTS ELEVATE 39

ELEVATE FALL

2 0 2 0 U S P R E S I D E N T I A L E L E CT I O N

How has politics affected you or someone you know? How has that influenced your political views?

TOP 5 ISSUES IN THE U.S.

Studentes responded to a survey and declared what they thought were the most important issues in the U.S. today.

$

ECONOMY

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS

THE ENVIRONMENT

HEALTH CARE

FREE SPEECH

40 ELEVATE FALL

“

Trump’s views have been personally offensive to people of all minorities in this country. He attacks people of the LGBTQ community, women, and those of color. He has crossed the line in my life by disrespecting soldiers of this country, especially those who’ve died. “They’re losers,” he says. Well I can tell you one thing is for sure, my brother did not die heroically for this country, so that he would be disrespected by someone who has never set foot onto an active war zone.

He’s a disgrace to this democracy and to our country.

“

It affects all of us. The people we put into office make decisions to run our country. It can be clearly seen with COVID-19 and the restrictions put into place.

“

“

Being a peop support Jesui than t amazin some p will hara but th when I not. Pe we ma “there b

“

President Tru empathy for the they are white m the people who h has not shown res tha

Politics have affected me because I am a minority and a person of color. We love th world more than the world loves us and w saw that this summer. This has influenced political views because I want to support t person that supports us.

a Trump supporter at Regis is very difficult. I’ve heard ple saying they will harm or unfriend people if they t Trump which is absolutely not okay. People at Regis it pick people based off of political beliefs rather the values and morals they hold. Regis Jesuit is an ng school but, the people are very politically biased and people fear speaking their mind due to the fact people ass you, bully you and threaten you. I love Regis Jesuit, his is never okay! We were born with free speech and I go to school I expect that to be respected, which it is eople need to do better. Just yesterday, in a group chat ade plans with a few people to hang out. someone said better not be any trump supporters going.” Do better.

ump has not shown any e people of America unless men. He doesn’t care about have built this country. He spect for the diverse country at America is.

a he we my the

“

HOW SATISFIED ARE YOU WITH

OTHERS

TRUMP, PENCE

423 students responded to our anonymous survey and declared which candidate they support and how satisfied they are with President Trump.

BIDEN, HARRIS

COULD VOTE

CANDIDATES

IF STUDENTS

PRESIDENT TRUMP

“

Half my family supports Trump and the other half is extremely anti-trump and it’s led to a lot of arguments at thanksgiving. It’s influenced me by how passionate people are about politics.

I think that it can say a lot about somebody. I’m not going to unfriend someone based solely on their political opinions, but when it interferes with basic human decency and rights I will. I also feel like it’s our responsibility to be informed and make responsible decisions.

“

Everyone has their own political views. But when it comes down to this election, many people’s lives are at risk. Minorities are in constant fear of losing their rights and all the years of oppression they have fought against. Politics’ effect on who is in charge of everyone is major. I have already lost multiple loved ones and family members during this pandemic solely stemmed from the fact “my” president approached this very poorly. In addition, I’ve already lost countless family members due to deportation. Of course that influences my political views. I would never want anyone to experience the same pain I had endured. Seeing that the president is keeping children in cages at the border and cutting immigration numbers down truly saddens me.

423 students responded to our anonymous survey and give their opinion on how politics has affected them or someone else and how it has influenced their political view.

ELECTION ELEVATE 41

ELEVATE FEATURES

A C O U N T RY D I V I D E D

How to sit around the dinner table without starting a food fight IT’S SUNDAY. YOU’RE AT DINNER WITH THE EXTENDED FAMILY. YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT UNCLE JIM’S UPCOMING WEDDING, YOUR SISTER’S NEW GIG, AND THE REST OF THE USUAL CHIT-CHAT.

Then, somebody brings it up. Last night’s debate. Of course, what follows is a discussion that relies heavily on statistics and lived experience with the shared goal of achieving the common good. A civil, respectful, and educational discourse. Not. Maybe it wasn’t at family dinner.

Maybe you first experienced political division online, in hateful threads of Twitter comments, or fighting in Instagram DMs. Maybe it was in a class discussion that went too far or watching protesters clash in the streets of our cities and on the news.

Even within families, largely different sides of the political spectrum are represented. At times, this leads to passionate debates (if you can call them that) and less than dignified remarks.

Unfortunately, interpersonal experiences of political conflict are not limited to family. Really, it reflects a much larger problem in our country right now: polarization.

Polarization is the distinct separation between what initially seem to be contrasting binary beliefs. It is an “us vs. them” mentality, a political and ideological outlook that drives us apart. The easiest way to think about polarization is to think about the kind of polarity we learn about in science class, with magnetic attraction and repulsion.

In today’s political climate, discourse tends to look like two magnets of the same pole. No matter how hard you try to force the magnets to draw near, the forces

42 ELEVATE FALL

ultimately repel.

In a time rife with issues that demand our country to work together for a solution--from a broken criminal justice system to battling a pandemic to voter integrity and maintaining our democracy--we have never been further apart.

Polarization is clear in our presidential debates. Televised debates have always been contentious, but some called the October debate “the worst presidential debate in history,” citing multiple interruptions and blatant insults. It’s in our streets.

Honking and gesturing at opposing organizers (guilty). And it’s in our school, in social media battles and in some classes.

SO HOW DID WE GET HERE?

That can be a difficult question.

There are several factors to consider. Let’s start with where most Americans get their political information: cable news. In between slanderous political ads filled with misinformation, narrative spins, and heinous personal attacks, there is blatant political bias on both sides of the aisle.

While some outlets are certainly more biased than others, it is important to first check that you are consuming your news from a wide variety of reputable sources. Pay attention to what events they cover and don’t cover. Pay attention to the glorification or demonization of specific popular figures or groups of people. And pay attention to how statistics and facts vary from source to source. Before sharing anything, always take a moment to stop before you click and find the source. Always fact-check suspicious stories before reposting any story.

BUT THE NEWS ISN’T THE ONLY FACTOR FUELING THE FIRE OF POLARIZATION. The problem starts with individuals spreading misinformation and othering rhetoric through something as seemingly meaningless as a Facebook post or a tweet. Not only is this problem perpetuated by social media titans refusing to factcheck or censor hateful messaging, but it is influenced by corporations on a larger scale.

In a true democracy, elections would be decided by whichever candidate had the best policy alone. Because American elections are decided by both voters and donors, money has a voice in our “democracy”, too. Campaign finance is dominated by large donor groups, primarily political action committees (PACs) like the NRA’s and super PACs like the Sixteen Thirty Fund. The interests of these organizations are not representative of the majority, but both parties are forced to pander to their needs for funding and resources. The typical result of this pandering is more extremist views, as opposed to the centrism that the majority of Americans claim to promote.

Of course, civic engagement requires individual examination as well. If you can vote, have you done your research thoroughly?

Have you looked into not just the larger candidates, but the local candidates and ballot measures as well? When it comes time to vote, it is critical that we examine the reasons why we support a candidate. Do you stand behind the policies and leadership of a candidate, or do you just support them because your friends or parents do? An ethical vote requires courage and initiative. If you want to actively take part in

by Maddie Proctor ‘21

our democracy, you must have the courage to vote for the candidate you know is right, even if it goes against the views of those around you. You must take the initiative to research deeply and across party lines.

At Regis Jesuit, where do students go for information? WHETHER

YOU CAN VOTE OR NOT, IT IS VITAL THAT YOU LEARN HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR DEMOCRACY. Check

out the resources included in this magazine, or go to the library’s election guide. Explore voting guides from different organizations like the ALCU. Go to vote411.org and see what issues are on the ballot in your area. Then, research concurring and opposing opinions on each issue.

BUT WHERE ELSE CAN STUDENTS GO FOR INFORMATION? Well, the goal

of our institution is to educate the whole person. Why shouldn’t civic education be mandated in our curriculum? Currently, students are not required to take a government class in any respect.

The most we require is 3 credits of history, which can manifest as anything from AP Art History to AP European History, neither of which require any understanding of the U.S. government. By failing to educate our students on civic engagement and ethics in politics, we are missing out on an important opportunity for cura personalis.

While some teachers attempt to tackle these issues, we must incorporate politics into history, government, and theology classes because to be human is political.

It is a privilege to be able to ignore politics when so many people’s lives are affected by the decisions of the powerful. Not only are issues

Father Tom Rochford

“This is a conversation of brothers & sisters trying to talk about their experiences. It’s not a debate.”

like taxes on the ballot, but fundamental human rights are up for grab, no matter which way you swing. With issues like reproductive rights and abortion, as well as access to healthcare, being key to this election, becoming civically engaged is a humanitarian obligation.

If we claim to want to shape students who are intellectually competent, committed to doing justice, religious, loving, and open to growth, we have to start talking about politics. However, it is also understandable that teachers may be uncomfortable with the possibility of creating division within the classroom.

This is particularly clear within our community at Regis Jesuit. As a member of the senior class, I have seen firsthand the conflict that ensues when students dare to express their political opinions.

Seemingly faced with no other choice, teachers and other figures of authority are often forced to resort to quashing political discussion altogether.

One recent example of this was when we watched a brief presentation on civic engagement and basic tenets of government in Advisement.

It went over basic logistics, like the definition of politics and simple voting processes.

That presentation was certainly a start, but it was not enough. Students took a political alignment quiz, but we were clearly instructed to keep our views and answers to ourselves. This experience saddened me. Why do we limit political discussion when we open up discussion of different interpretations in English class? Differing opinions are encouraged in classes like Theology, and wrong answers are encouraged in the maths and sciences because they are

the most effective teachers. If we want to teach our students to think critically about their views, it is important that they are exposed to the broader political spectrum. We cannot be responsible for allowing uneducated voters into the world if we claim to educate the whole person.

But in our current, contentious political climate, it makes sense.

Too often, discussions of political viewpoints digress into personal attacks and harassment. Personally, I am guilty of demonizing the other side on occasion, too.

However, I just cannot help feeling that we have an obligation to discuss matters of importance, particularly those that dictate human lives and either advocate for or hinder social justice like the policies being decided right now.

SO THE QUESTION REMAINS: How can

we create an educational environment where students can truly explore current issues and their personal views, without making any member of our community feel unsafe or unwelcome?

Recently, I spoke with a broad spectrum of fellow seniors about political expression, particularly within an educational environment.

The consensus was clear:

STUDENTS WANT THE ABILITY TO DISCUSS THE ISSUES THEY ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT, BUT THEY DO NOT WANT TO FEEL ATTACKED OR ISOLATED BECAUSE OF THEIR BELIEFS.

Students on both sides of the aisle recounted experiences of losing friends and feeling unheard in political conversation. In this way, our community acts as a microcosm for the larger conflict of polarization in the

American political climate.

Regis Jesuit, and Jesuit institutions like it, are in a unique position to tackle issues of politics. On one hand, Catholic social teaching tends to lean conservatively.

Conversely, the Jesuit stance is one of the most liberal positions within the Catholic Church. Jesuits focus on advocating for and protecting the poor and marginalized, which typically manifests in liberal policy.

Of course, it is important to remember that a sizable amount of the student body does not identify as Catholic.

This tie between religion and politics, especially given the breadth of religious and ideological views within our community, encourages political diversity and expression.

Historically, political diversity has been the hallmark of our democracy. Without differing opinions, factors and entire communities affected by policy go ignored.

However, with the new norm of completely dismissing opposing opinions and personally attacking those who disagree with you, this can create a lot of hatred and animosity.

I have also felt the benefits of effective and respectful political discourse during my time at Regis Jesuit.

Discussing an issue we disagree strongly on, another Regis Jesuit senior and I spent an hour on the phone exploring why we feel the way we do and how our political opinions have been received in our community. I found the conversation enlightening.

She shared the firsthand experiences and values that shaped her views, and I gained insight into a perspective I had previously dismissed altogether. To me, this conversation proved that

political discourse does not have to be belligerent and that true, vulnerable discussion can bring understanding and connection.

That is the goal, isn’t it? To come to a common understanding of the ways in which we can make the world a more livable, loving place for ourselves, the ones we love, and the population.

With that goal in mind, it does not make sense to denigrate and condemn those who prefer different methodologies and political actions. If we want to be united, to come together and make the world just a little bit better, we have to do so with the intention of loving our neighbors, even when that means reaching across the political aisle.

Fr. Tom Rochford echoed this sentiment in his homily on October 4th. Fr. Rochford said of divisive political and humanitarian issues, “This is a conversation of brothers trying to talk about their experience.

It’s not a debate.”

At Regis Jesuit, we preach the concepts of sisterhood and brotherhood. We need to start practicing real sisterhood and brotherhood. WE NEED TO

HAVE THE COURAGE TO SHARE OUR POLITICAL OPINIONS WITH HONESTY BECAUSE OTHERS DON’T HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO SUPPRESS THEM. We

need to require students to engage with our democracy in class, too. Of course, we need to be respectful. We need to try to understand where others are coming from and remain open to growth. We need to educate ourselves and adjust or form our political beliefs accordingly. Overarchingly, we need to talk about it.

POLARIZED NATION ELEVATE 43

by Olivia Bendon ‘24

ARegisSTAR ISTheirBORN Star: Reed Horstmann ‘21 Jesuit has Found

Reed Horstman began acting when he was just seven years old. His mom signed him up for acting classes around town but it was when he was 12 that his professional career started.

“It was weird… the first few years were just me learning how to act for film and television and meeting with agents and managers,” Horstmann said.

As of right now, Horstmann has been in three major films and TV shows. He knows that there are more shows to come, but right now, with the Pandemic, it’s a little slow. Filming during COVID is hard because so many people are required

44 ELEVATE FALL

to complete a show.

Horstmann has had a few auditions so far but nothing is final yet.

One of the main shows Horstmann has worked on is a Netflix show called “The Expanding Universe of Ashley Garcia” or as Horstmann would say, “Ashley Garcia.” While filming, he lived in LA with his mom. They would get to the studio at about 7:30 every morning. He would do school at the set since there was a schoolroom set up. Most of his co-stars were also students so the set had a schoolroom.

Horstmann said, “Typically, I’m not in every scene in an episode; so, I would spend my time

not rehearsing in the schoolroom.”

Horstmann went back and forth throughout the day with filming and schooling. When he wasn’t on stage, he would be studying in the school room.

Due to the show’s confidentiality, Horstmann was not able to tell his classmates and teachers at Regis Jesuit about his newfound fame. At the beginning of 8th grade, he had to start leaving for a month at a time to go to LA. His classmates thought it was just his yearly California trip but his close friends new he had booked a show. Once he got into high school, he started getting busy with

acting. Because of this, he decided to enroll in online school for a semester.

“The teachers were super, super supportive,” Horstmann said. “They gave me a lot of advice.”

However, it is hard to be a high school student living in and out of LA. Horstmann feels as though he missed out on some basic parts of the high school experience, but he also gained a lot of experiences that most people can’t say they have had.

“At first I was super excited. I was like ‘yeah I get to skip school for six months’ but overtime, you see the freshman football game happening and homecoming and you see your friends hanging out,” Horstmann said. “It’s a bummer because I wish I was there for some of that but even more so, I wish they were there with me.”

Acting is the end goal for Horstmann, however, outside of acting he has many hobbies. He is in a song writing group and he has shown interest in playing the electric guitar on his Instagram.

He also did a lot of art when he was younger but now with the quarantine, he has picked it up again.

Throughout his career, there have been “too many times” when he has felt like giving up on acting. Throughout it all though, the Horstmann has received great advice.

“Never try to give up your personality or who you are when you are trying to get a job. What I’ve learned is, your personality is what gets you jobs.

If you give [your personality] up, you don’t stay true to yourself.”

SENIOR REED HORTSMANN visited with RJ Media reporter Olivia Bendon ‘24 on Teams to talk about his acting career.

Catch the full interview on our YouTube channel.

THE ARTIST

by Cami Evangelista ‘21

Senior Cole Hibbeln uses colorful Colorado as his insiration

Senior Cole Hibbeln’s biggest inspiration for his landscape paintings is Colorado.

“I’ve spent my whole life in Colorado,” he says, “and Colorado is just really pretty.”

He started off working in his living room, a not very ideal place, but has now moved to a room in his remodeled barn.

Going with the flow is normally the way he completes his artwork.

“Eventually after you paint on it for long enough, I feel like then you have sort of direction to go in,” Hibbeln said.

Hibbeln enjoys oil painting for the way it blends together nicely and is very satisfying. A canvas of 36” by 36” takes him about five hours to complete.

Being in AP studio art for the second year in a row allows him to have the Hibbeln to create his own type of artwork. The class isn’t restricted, it allows everyone to get their assignments and figure out the way in which they want to complete it.

Sophomore year in ceramics class, Hibbeln created a cup that won him First place Continental League in an art show. He continued working with ceramics by creating two intricate snakes.

He’s currently working on two commissions pieces; one is a colorful landscape and the other is the Aspen Maroon Bells. He hopes to be successful with his artwork and although he isn’t too sure what he careers he wants to pursue, he would like to continue down the path of art and one day hopefully open his own art store.

THE MUSICIAN Freshman Madison Suh Drums For Her Band, Jynkx

by Lauren Mun ‘23

Cheers thunder the stage as Madison Suh and her band, Jynkx, fill the air with music. Musically talented, Suh has been playing the piano for nine years, and the drums for about seven years. Due to the new effects of COVID-19 her bandmates can only practice once a week together with masks on.

“I think it impacts my life [to be in a band] because it gives me a lot of chances to perform and not care what others think about what I play,” Suh said.

Before a concert, if she reminds herself to play just as she practiced, it helps get rid of some of the nerves she can get.

“My favorite song [to perform] would probably be ‘Can’t Stop’ by Red

Hot Chili Peppers because it’s really catchy and not repetitive,” said Suh. Although they haven’t created any songs yet, Jynkx is working on making their own originals. Along with the drums, piano is another instrument Suh takes very seriously. To prepare for piano competitions Suh practices every day from one to three hours depending on how busy she is. Unlike the drums and her band, piano is something Suh considers for her future.

“It’s really important and I should keep going with it,” Suh said.

In 2017 Suh won the gold medal for the Level A Solo Division in IKOF. She also played with Annie Wang at the United States International Duo Piano Competition in 2019, and is expected to play with her again this year.

by Mariana Barrios ‘21

THEJunior SONGWRITER Lexi “Forest” Reska Writes Her Own Mucis It is an average day at Songwriters Club. Music, laughter, and resounding applause fill the choir room as members share their own songs with each other. Led by choir teacher Mr. Bernie Sauer ‘97, Songwriters Club is a co-ed club open for anyone to join.

Junior Forest Reska has been a member of the club for two years. They started writing songs freshman year, but have been involved in music their whole life.

“The best part of Songwriting Club is being able to write music with other people because we all have different genres and things we write about,” Forest says. “The club gives me opportunities to try other genres and test my skills.”

Forest says their own songwriting ideas don’t usually come in an organized way. Sometimes they start with lyrics, and other times they lay down the melody first. But Inspiration for their song “Dear Diary” came from something else.

“I was on the beach, walking, and the melody for it just stuck,” said Reszka.

For Reska, songwriting is more than just a hobby.

They explain that they would like to release their own music or produce others’ music as a career path in the future.

STUDENT PROFILES ELEVATE 45

by Maisie Myrsiades‘21

THE SINGER Senior Michael Dowling’s Dedication To Performance

by Molly Nichols‘23

THE Senior Phoenix LeeENGINEER Takes Computer Science Knowledege to Robotics Field

The very first time, it was weird: one blue bee in the swarm of buzzing yellow ones. Or in this case, a giant group of boys surrounded one female voice, a voice that was determined to make a difference.

“I was scared going in.

I thought that I wasn’t going to be taken seriously, but the boys have always treated me no differently than any other team member,” says Phoenix Lee ‘21. “And I’m proud of them for that.”

The learning and experience started for Lee as a child, as she often loved to build things and work with Legos. This lit the initial spark for her love of Robotics and her future as a leader in the field.

However, it took a long time for her to

46 ELEVATE FALL

feel confident enough to insert herself into a team situation, and she describes Robotics as a big self-advocacy activity.

Amongst people who have strong opinions, to make yours heard can often be difficult, but in order to be heard and recognized, you need to express your opinions.

“A female perspective is important to advocate for things we need, and to give our opinions.” Lee says.

As of right now only 23 percent of all computer science graduates are women, according to an early 2016 study done by Georgia Tech University.

“If you walk into a room where it’s only males and you feel unheard or dumb, it’s easy to convince yourself that maybe this isn’t the activity

for you,” she says. “We are the minority in the STEM field, and I think that slips people’s minds sometimes.”

Being a woman and a member of the club for four years, Lee is often a promotion focus for the club, so younger girls can feel more empowered.

“Small things such as taking a computer science class can make all the difference in bringing up the 23% average,” she said. “I believe my experience will always be different than the experience of males on the team. I am a part of the minority, but I feel that my role is no different, and my relationship to the team members is no different simply because I’m a girl.”

Senior Michael Dowling has been singing for most of his life. He began singing in middle school, and has been with Vox for three years with instructor Dr. Leanne He. Dowling loves the living and open community Vox has within its atmosphere.

“The Classmates in Vox are always super nice. If you need something, they are always there for you,” he says. “It’s more than just singing.”

His talent and dedication is also noted by his teachers. “Michael is awesome,” Dr. He said. “He has been in choir for the past three years with me. He is such a compassionate and hilarious person, on top of being an excellent singer.”

Apart from Vox, Dowling also participates in theater. Dowling and the rest of the theater cast and crew put in so much work after school, staying after class until 9:00pm for an entire week before their performances.

In theater, Dr. He’s favorite performance of Dowling’s was the French song in the musical Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat. She said that performance literally made her cry laughing.

“That definitely was my favorite song to sing during the musical, because it made people laugh.” Dowling said.

However, not everything is as easy as it seems for performing and practicing. Because of COVID, Vox is not allowed to sing inside of a classroom together.

Vox has to practice and then perform outside. Sometimes when the weather is bad, like snow, it makes it even harder for them to rehearse. COVID won’t stop Vox from performing, however. They sang in the Fall Performing Arts Festival in October and a Winter concert is coming up soon.

It is Dowlingl’s last year here at Regis Jesuit, but it’s not the last year of his singing journey. He plans to continue to sing on the side when he goes to college.

“I’m going to miss my teachers after graduation and the friends I’ve made,” Dowling says.

After high school, he wants to pursue something a bit different from his current style of performing arts.

Instead of singing or acting on a stage, Dowling wants to go to culinary school and fulfill his love for cooking.

THE Evangelista Encourages Unified Athletes Senior CamiCOACH

by Caroline Deeter‘23

Shoes squeak against the hard wood floor. A buzzer sounds. The entire gym fills with cheers. This is no ordinary basketball game. It is so much more.

Senior Cami Evangelista ‘21 and many others work year-round planning sports activities and games for the Project Unified club. This organization provides people with special needs the opportunity to come together as a team and play a wide variety of sports. The main goal is to support the athletes and have a great time competing, and they work on what’s vital: teamwork and trust.

As a result of this work, the Special Olympics team is very close and bond more and more every season.

“We all look forward going to practice because of each other and because of our athletes” Evangelista said.

Not only do Special Olympics team members practice with athletes, they also plan every single

game and event. One such event was a partnership with the Denver Nuggets last year which was an outstanding success. Evangelista explained that the people who showed up to this event and others like it had an incredibly positive affect on her and the team.

“It’s just so fun to see the whole school rally together to cheer on our team and cheer on our athletes” she reflected.

It’s obvious that everyone who is a part of the club genuinely cares about the cause and what they are doing. And it’s not just the school that thinks the club is doing a fabulous job. In 2019 Regis Jesuit became the first private school ever to receive “National Banner Status.”

If you are interested in making a working with the team or in organizing these events, please consider joining the Special Olympics club.

by Emma Ackerman‘21

THE AUDIO ENGINEER Senior Sav Orris Heads Up Sound Club In her last year of high school, Sav Orris can be seen wandering the gym during masses, setting up before football games, and helping the visitors during Diversity Day. She wears her Sound Club quarterzip with pride and leads the Regis Jesuit Sound Club this year.

“I’ve been in [Sound Club] since sophomore year,” Orris said. “I started through theater.”

Her sophomore year, Orris received the opportunity to do sound work at Thes-Con with the show “Sister Act.” There, she met with many professionals who were very helpful and willing to teach the members of the club a lot.

After doing sound work solely for theater, Orris transferred her talents and joined the person who originally introduced her to sound— Mr. Pantoja— in the Sound Club.

This club does sound work for all school events and smaller school events as well.

“Troubleshooting in front of the whole school is stressful” Orris said. “ Its our job to fix things before anybody notices.”

Diversity Day is the club’s biggest day of the year. Instead of going to workshops, club members wander

the hallways and help the workshop leaders with all of their sound needs. This includes the dance workshops for music, and any other visitor who may need help troubleshooting to make the day run smoothly.

Orris hopes to transition this skill into future endeavors. The president of the club last year has carried his work with sound into college and is majoring in audio engineering. Being a senior this year, Sav also hopes to continue her passion for sound.

When asked her favorite part of being in Sound Club Sav said, “You’re going to think I sound crazy, but I really like the early mornings because the school is quiet.”

Maybe it’s not too hard to imagine a girl who works with sound frequently to really enjoy a moment of silence.

by Bridget Fitzpatrick ‘23

THE PERFORMER

Ross Smallwood ‘23 Lights Up Stage

2020 has changed the lives of the students tremendously, but current sophomore Ross Smallwood wouldn’t have changed a thing about his first year at Regis or his part in theatre.

“I didn’t know what I was doing or getting into,” Smallwood said of his first year.

As he stepped into the Z Theatre a nervous freshman, he never expected to walk out as the understudy for the lead role.

“It’s nerve wracking at first, especially as a freshman, but once you get into it, it’s just like one big family,” he said. “I was introduced to a huge community of amazing, loving people and a bunch of friends in and out of the theater who you can turn to for whatever.”

The Drama Club and theatre department are open and welcoming to everyone and the actors are there for each other in

and out of the stagelight.

In every production, the strong bond between the cast and crew is the key to a great show.

“Everyone is always there to support you and it doesn’t really matter what role you get, what show you’re doing, everyone always has fun,” said Smallwood.

Although one thing he would change, is the amount of publicity the performances get.

“Theatre is overlooked at lot,” Smallwood said, “A lot of people tend to walk past theater and they don’t do the same for sports, but when you get introduced to theatre you end up loving it.”

STUDENT PROFILES ELEVATE 47

ELEVATE OPINION

RJ MEDIA FOR STUDENTS BY STUDENTS

Send us a letter to the editor or an opinion-editorial piece to be published in our next issue. We welcome submissions at rjmedia@regisjesuit.com

ELEVATE MAGAZINE IS OPEN FORUM FOR STUDENT FREE EXPRESSION.

NOT ALL COPS ARE BAD

by Annonymous

We raise our children to believe that they can be whoever and whatever they want to be. Little boys and little girls grow up admiring firefighters, doctors, and first responders of all kinds. They look up to those who dedicate their lives to helping others.

Including police officers. I believe that police lives matter. I am from one of the many law enforcement families at Regis Jesuit. I am also one of the many students whose voice was silenced and called “ignorant” because I spoke out about my support for law enforcement.

A new saying “All cops POLICE ARE HEROES THAT are bad” PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE EVERY DAY. THEY ARE (ACAB) HEROES WHOSE REPUTATION generHAS BEEN TARNISHED BY alizes THE FEW BAD APPLES THAT all law ABUSED THEIR POWER. enforcement workers across the country for what a select few officers did. I believe this saying to be disgusting and a disgrace to America. In no way will I defend the disgusting actions of the officers that killed George Floyd or the other unjust deaths at hands of law enforcement.

But I will stand up for the officers that dedicate their life to protect all of us despite race, color, sexual orientation, religion, etc. That is a majority of police officers.

There are bad people everywhere you go and in every profession. Teach-

48 ELEVATE FALL

ers who are tried and charged for sex crimes against students and priests who rape and molest young children.

However, when you think of teachers and priests you think of those who educate you and help you grow into the person you want to be. You think of the good they have done for the world, not the bad that is inexcusable for a select few of them.

It is unfair to say all cops are bad when that’s not true. Many say that police and law enforcement are complicit actors in an unjust system, and there are some circumstances where the system has been unjust and were called out immediately for those actions by those surrounding it. I do not believe that the majority of police officers stand idly by while injustices are being committed against people of color. Most police are there to fight and protect us from any harm that may come our way.

Police are heroes that put their lives on the line every day. They are heroes whose reputation has been tarnished by the few bad apples that abused their power.

Little boys and girls want to grow up to be police officers because they want to protect and help people. Not because they want to kill innocent people and get away with it. We have seen what happens in a city without law and without people there to protect. Complete chaos and destruction occurred.

I respect people who are strong in their beliefs, despite what they may be, but it is never okay to harass and tear down others whose opinion differs from your own. I believe that is hate and anger in its purest form when one believes it is okay to be strong and loud in your opinions only if those opinions fall in line with theirs. To call the opposite belief or opinion “racist” or “ignorant” is another pure form of hatred and anger. I support the police.

That does not make me racist. Nor does that make me ignorant. It makes me grateful for those who fight every single day to keep us safe.

DIVERSITY

IN MEDIA

by Mariana Barrios ‘21

How is diversity progressing in mainstream media?

Color-Coordinated Casting: The State of Diversity in Mainstream MediaDiversity is not new, no matter how sensationalized the idea of it is. The fact is that diversity is an inescapable truth of the world. It’s always been there, it’s just that only recently have minorities been given the opportunity to voice their presence. But diversity is not new.

So stop treating it like a trend.

TV shows cram as many minorities into their shows as possible in order to advertise how progressive, how new-age, how absolutely revolutionary they are. The result of this is a frustrating wave of one-sided stereotypes for characters and shallow plotlines that never lead into anything meaningful.

Take Kat from the Freeform show “The Bold Type.” Kat is the diversity catchall of her show. She’s gay, black, and a woman.

But none of these aspects of her identity is ever expounded on in a meaningful way. Her storylines often fall second place to the storylines of her show’s other main characters (just two basic workplace romances with equally basic white men).

Kat’s love interest even has to explain to Kat why she is wary of the police, something Kat, as a black woman in America, should have no problem understanding1. But Kat checks off three diversity boxes, so why should she be a full-fledged character? TV execs get to wave her around as a symbol of how progressive “The Bold Type” is, so she’s done her job, right? And at least this gives minorities more opportunities in Hollywood, right? Wrong.

A 2019 UCLA study found that people of color made up just 19.8% of film leads and 21.5% of broadcast scripted leads2. Women only made up 32.9% of film leads and 39.7% of broadcast scripted leads3. Another study found that over half of LGBT+ actors had heard anti-gay comments on set while almost half of gay and lesbian respondents believed that producers considered them less marketable4. So all this forced diversity isn’t even really benefiting anyone.

Listen, don’t get me wrong, we want representation. As someone who is Chinese and Hispanic, I know I want more of it. But we want real representation. We need roles and plots written by minorities who understand what it means to struggle for a place of equal opportunity in this world, not stereotypes written by white people in a desperate attempt to attract a bigger audience and buy into the “trend” of diversity. Because diversity is not a trend, and minorities are not just new and trendy plot devices to attract viewers and high ratings. We’ve always been here.

You’ve just never paid attention to us.

But now that you are, pay attention in a way that matters.

SOURCES: 1 Bowen, Sesali. “The Black Characters I Wish I saw More Of.” The New York Times.https://www. nytimes.com/2019/06/08/opinion/diversity-hollywood-black.html 2 Brown, Tracy. “UCLA diversity report finds women and minorities still underrepresented in film and TV.” Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes. com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-uclahollywood-diversity-report-201902 21-story.html 3 Ibid. 4 Pollard, Alexandra. “‘Hollywood gets queer stories wrong’: Should straight actors play gay characters on screen?” The Independent. https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/ films/straightactors-playing-gay-roles-charact ers-ben-whishaw-darren-criss-cate-blanchettrachel- weisz-a8723421.html Bibliography Bowen, Sesali. “The Black Characters I Wish I Saw More Of.” The New York Times, The New York Times Company, 8 June 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/06/08/opinion/diversity-hollywoodblack. html​. Brown, Tracy. “UCLA Diversity Report Finds Women and Minorities Still Underrepresented in Film and TV.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2019, www.latimes.com/entertainment/ movies/la-et-mn-ucla-hollywood-diversity-report-20190221-stor y.html​.

Pollard, Alexandra. “‘Hollywood Gets Queer Stories Wrong’: Should Straight Actors Play Gay Characters on Screen?” Independent, 13 Jan. 2019, 07:15, www.independent.co.uk/artsentertainment/ films/straight-actors-playing-gay-roles-characters-be n-whishaw-darren-crisscateblanchett-rachel-weisz-a8723421.html

LOSINGAN ICON

by Molly Nichols ‘23

SOCIETY 6 by tritonone

RUTH BADER GINSBERG

was one of the most prominent female activists of her time.

Maddie Proctor ‘21 describes her as, “the kind of woman we all want to be.”

Ginsberg worked to gain respect for the LGBTQ+ community, people of color, and gave women our greatest right thus far; the right to choose. The right to decide how we handle our own bodies has been, and continues to be, a controversial debate that has divided our country and our courts for ages.

With the death of this great Supreme Court Justice, an advocate for the minorities of this country, that debate rages on.

“She made great strides in granting women the ability to serve on juries, sign up for a checking account without permissions, and the right to choose what’s best for her own body,” says Caroline Deeter ‘23.

Ruth Bader Ginsberg accomplished many things legislatively but accomplished so much more socially.

Working to give people the voice, reminding the world that empathy is the key to a successful democracy, and that the separation of Church and State should remain a priority in politics.

There are countless examples of how Ruth Bader Ginsberg used deep controversial subjects to make our country more compassionate. Roe vs. Wade on the subject of abortion rights, United States v. Virginia on the basis of women in the military and so many more cases that dealt with discrimination based on sex. Her conscious need to always do more,

and to keep rooting for the underdog is what she’ll always be remembered for.

“RBG quite literally paved the way for women like me. Her primary virtue was her pursuit of equality and opportunity,” Proctor said.

Cases that she defended, such as Roe v. Wade, worked to allow women the right to abortion, contraceptives, and cancer screenings. With those rights currently in jeopardy, it is easy for people to question how this will affect the core of all women’s rights. These rights include to hold a checking account and to work and earn to the same level as their male counterparts. How our country proceeds will not only affect the women of this country, but the rights of the LGBTQ community, including same sex marriage. It could break the rights offered to people of color, even though our law enforcement systems are already facing scandals involved with the rights of African Americans. By altering one right, there is risk letting the system collapse into unbalanced chaos.

We need to face the facts that women’s rights, and the rights of the people, are held within the vote of each and every citizen. It is to make the people feel spoken and heard.

To confirm a new Supreme Court Justice so soon after her death, would be at the risk of making those voices feel meaningless and irrelevant.

“If women do end up losing some of their rights specifically those of women in the workplace, I could definitely see this affecting my future negatively,” Deeter said.

Taylor Cipra ‘22 discusses

how she feels this affects our generation, “We need to learn how to be more informed and open to new ideas because these days you are on either side of the argument...we need to take the time to understand opposing viewpoints to succeed.”

As the future of this country, it is important to know when we need to listen, rather than when we need to argue.

“RBG sparked a national shift toward progress, toward equality, toward inclusion, and acceptance. By opening the door for conversations of equality, she redefined our conception of justice,” states Proctor.

What we choose to do as a generation with the rights gained by Ruth Bader Ginsberg’s uphill battle, is how we will show our strength.

“Her legacy lives on in the humanitarians, lawyers, and empowered young women she leaves behind. Perhaps most importantly, electing women is how we will see progress in America,” Proctor said.

Ruth Bader Ginsberg was anything but ordinary, she was truly a champion of equality.

By dedicating her life to making sure no women had to endure the discrimination she went through, her traits are not only admirable, but describe a true leader.

Because of all that she did, and all that she was, she can rest peacefully knowing that she created an empire of auspicious and confident young girls, who will continue to carry out her mission.

Ruth Bader Ginsberg 3/15/33- 9/18/20

“​WOMEN BELONG IN ALL PLACES WHERE DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE.”

-THE NOTORIOUS RUTH BADER GINSBERG

OP-EDS ELEVATE 49

ELEVATE OPINION

RJ MEDIA FOR STUDENTS BY STUDENTS

Send us a letter to the editor or an opinion-editorial piece to be published in our next issue. We welcome submissions at rjmedia@regisjesuit.com

ELEVATE MAGAZINE IS OPEN FORUM FOR STUDENT FREE EXPRESSION.

WHAT ARE

by Sophia Maines ‘21

“EUROCENTRIC BEAUTY STANDARDS”

& HOW TO STOP PERPETUATING THEM As there continues to be discussions and articles around the United States regarding racial issues due to the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement, different perspectives of how racism has affected many aspects of the lives of people of color — outside of just the typical systemic or social situations that get most of the coverage and more nuanced issues — have been given the chance to be brought into these conversations. Some of these issues aren’t even ostensibly identified as racist until further reflection and dissection, such as the conception of Eurocentric beauty standards.

“What are Eurocentric beauty standards’?” I hear you asking. To start to define Eurocentric beauty standards in the United States, we have to acknowledge the historical reality of the suppression of non-Western and non-white cultures and identities that was perpetuated in America for such a long time. This reality undoubtedly affected the economic and social reality for minorities in the United States CAN HUMANITY UNITE AS during these times, but, although A SPECIES IN ORDER it is less commentated on, it also TO HELP EVERYBODY, OR had a cultural effect on people of WILL WE ALL JUST.. color and specifically women of PERISH DIVIDED? color in how they were perceived in media, politics and beauty.

Having those institutions of our society be predominantly controlled by white Americans in power caused a perceived superiority in white beauty to arise and is still prevalent to this day, even after so many advancements have been made in regards to equal rights in our country. A preference for straight hair, thin lips, slimmer forms, and paler skin tones in media and society are products of this beauty standard and continue to make women of color feel minimized in their perception of themselves and their own beauty.

“Well, why is beauty such an important topic?

Shouldn’t you not care what other people think?” How we perceive beauty has a greater effect outside of who we find attractive. Especially for women, beauty and general

50 ELEVATE FALL

attractiveness is a facet of power; when we perceive people to be beautiful, that perception influences our perception of their personality to be positive as well 2. This has many effects socially from how we fit in to job interviews, all of it stemming from societal beauty standards. To be clear, happening to fall in line with these standards is not the issue. When people argue for the deconstruction of Eurocentric beauty standards, they aren’t arguing that the people who are Eurocentrically beautiful shouldn’t be considered as beautiful. They are arguing that this deconstruction would allow for more women to feel beautiful as they are. Beauty shouldn’t be conditional or exclusive to the “winners of a genetic lottery” because it would be beneficial as a society to acknowledge that every kind of woman is beautiful, and we would all benefit from having our media portray beauty in a broadly and equally.

“How can we fix this, then?” As long as these standards have been perpetuated, there have been efforts to push them back. Many movements such as the Black is Beautiful movement in the US and the Indigenismo movement in Mexico have advocated for the representation of more diverse bodies in media to widen our definition of beauty to include all hair types, all body types, and all races and ethnicities. While it is impossible to completely erase these standards overnight, small steps can be made to help broaden our understanding of beauty. Consciously thinking about our perceptions of beauty and eradicating the idea that our natural selves aren’t adequate in upholding an aesthetic standard will start the process of redefining who and what is beautiful and will lead to us celebrating our differences and let the sentiment that “All Women are Beautiful” ring true in American culture.

1 Donnella, Leah. “Is Beauty In The Eyes Of The Colonizer?” NPR, NPR, 6 Feb. 2019, www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2019/02/06/685506578/is-beauty-in-theeyes-of-thecolonizer 2 Feingold, Alan. “Good-Looking People Are Not What We Think .” American Psychological Association, Yale University, 1992, www.gwern.net/docs/iq/1992-feingold.pdf

NO COMMENTARY PLEASE “YOU’RE NOT FAT, YOU’RE BEAUTIFUL!”.

WAIT, I NEVER SAID I FELT UGLY, I SAID I FELT FAT. IS THAT SYNONYMOUS WITH UGLY? In modern society, yes, it is. Apparently, it is also synonymous with lazy, undisciplined, and unhygienic. When a fat person walks down the street, they are met with deep stares that turn self-esteem into ashes. When a fat person decides to work out, people continue to stare, and jeer at their attempts to bring their bodies to society’s standards. And when a fat person has confidence and loves themselves, people say, “they’re so brave, I could never be like that”. It should not be a courageous thing to love yourself.

It should be the standard. Unfortunately, society rejects the body types that are not represented in media; the bodies seen as “unflattering”.

We tell little kids to reach for the stars. However, when weight is the most common

by Nzana Thillot ‘21

reason children are bullied- a third of the bullies being their parents themselves- where are these children supposed to find the strength to love themselves and achieve their dreams? Fat is not ugly. It is simply a word to describe weight but people treat it as a repulsive term. Even President Donald Trump called a former Miss Universe contestant “a real problem” because “she gained a massive amount of weight”. The hate is so institutionalized that “fat people…stigmatize themselves”, as self-loathing is a prominent feature of obesity. Studies show that even employers see being fat as “a fundamental character flaw”.

People think it is okay to commentate on others’ weight and fat shame because they believe “it will provide motivation to lose weight.” In reality, it is extremely harmful to the victim’s mental health.

Though society has come a long way, through anti-discrimination laws for obese people in the

workplace and anti-bullying laws for fat children, fat shaming is still a problem. It should not be a common occurrence and it should never be okay.

The internet is filled with fat shaming as celebrity gossip blogs document every new inch on an actress’s waistline.

People say, “treat your body like it belongs to someone you love.” A person’s body belongs to them and only them. We need to move away from these submissive metaphors and encourage people to live for themselves. Just because a fat person has confidence does not mean they are endorsing an “unhealthy lifestyle”. They are simply living. A fat person can be beautiful, athletic, ambitious, and everything in between. And yes, a fat person can also be unhealthy. But I am not a doctor and neither is the random bystander staring at the fat person at the gym. Put an end to the commentary.

LETTER TO REGIS JESUIT STUDENTS ON FULL TIME SCHOOL PARENT PETITION by Gwyneth Theobald Dear Regis Jesuit Students, In an ever-changing pandemic, it is hard to imagine how we will combat the seemingly infinite obstacles that we have been facing in 2020. As our school has settled into a new year, I have realized how much we take for granted in our everyday lives. A wave goodbye or sitting next to a friend in class have taken on an entirely new meaning. The value of our simple interactions have allowed us to see the importance of kindness in our relationships with others.

Being together is worth a lot. After so much isolation, members of our community are itching to get back into the classroom and to find normalcy once again.

So much so, almost 700 students, parents, and others have signed a petition to go back to school full time, five days a week.

The creation of a new petition by the “Regis Jesuit Community” has brought to light what students and parents at our school are willing to say and risk in order to transition into normal classes. The description of the petition outlines the reasons we should go back full time, referencing public health recommendations and state infection rates.

But here’s the bottom line: the more

exposure we have to other people increases the likelihood of catching COVID-19. And once too many students catch the virus, we won’t be able to go to school at all.

The amount of stress that we as students have had to live through is tremendous, and seeing a petition that directly undercuts the safety of our family and friends is both alarming and eye opening to the true intentions of the petition supporters.

The petition not only includes the authors’ suggestions of how the school can improve, but has a public section of comments that signers can leave. Some are legitimately valid concerns, referencing mental health and the personal wellbeing of students.

But others are downright scary.

One comment reads, “No masks. They don’t work. People are out at restaurants without masks sitting together and you’re going to make them wear them in class. Ridiculous.”

Another states, “Children are at practically zero risk of this virus. The numbers clearly prove this and the choice should be up to the parents.

Let the families that want to go back go and let the teachers who want to teach teach.”

And finally, “Keep going parents! You have a couple of “wet noodles” for leaders,

unfortunately!”

The amount of misinformation and falsities that are being spread is truly astounding.

The blatant insensitivity is blood boiling.

The dehumanization of our teachers and administrators, the people who are risking their lives to give us an education, is saddening and heartbreaking.

And as a fellow student, I feel ashamed. I am ashamed that some members of our community take so much for granted in a time when so many are struggling. I am ashamed they do not have empathy or concern for the 200 kids in our own walls who were exposed to COVID-19. But, most of all, I am ashamed of how they position the health of themselves above other students and their families, seemingly unaware of the sacrifices many of us have had to make in order to stay safe.

So I ask you this, students of Regis Jesuit, is this the face that you want to put forth?

Does this petition reflect the Catholic values of compassion and empathy? Who will you be in this confusing and hectic time: a source of division, or a source of love?

Sincerely, A Raider

OP-EDS ELEVATE 51

STAFF EDITORIAL Despite the craziness of this year, we, as a staff, are grateful for so much. We are forever grateful for Ms. Lotito and our incredible staff of nurses-especially Ms. Dwyre and Ms. Jaramillo- for helping to keep us safe. We are grateful for the workers who keep our school clean, for the IT department for helping with our technical difficulties, and for our incredible administration making difficult decisions. We are grateful for the ability to meet after school and make this beautiful magazine.

Most of all, Regis Jesuit, we are blessed to have you. You are a community who is compassionate and open to discussion, who cares about social justice and is willing to tackle the hard questions.

Thank you for your readership, continual dedication to making student voice heard, and allowing us to document what makes this community special.

52 ELEVATE FALL

OUR WAR WITH NO END

Our blood is the ink bleeding through this page.

Our tears are the pictures we write.

Our pain is stinging, built into our strong yet silent rage. Our land was land not meant to fight.

History has not been kind to our nation, Our houses ceaselessly mourn, The cries passed down to every generation, Are the punishments that are unwantedly born.

The sounds heard by our past heroes, Ring violently in our ears, Making us relive and recall our past and still present fears.

THEY ALL COME TO ME WITH THE BLAME FOR THEIR DESPAIR, THEIR SICKNESS AND WARS.

Few have ever looked past the cover of my book, Even fewer have read me to the end.

To you, I am the cold wind that whistles through your homes late at night.

To you, I am the screams of every living creature.

To you, no good could ever come from my presence.

You are wrong.

Life is such a precious thing, Serene and lovely, Playful and fragile, She is as unknowable to me as a bird’s flight is to you humans.

Yet I love her.

She is the composer of my love For what good is life should it have no and end? I am your purpose. How I love to hear her sing.

All at once I am the reaper of your current life and the guardian of what The melodies of her voice comes after. evident in the stories I hear, You think my goal be to hasten your coming to me. This is not so.

My only wish is to hear the stories of the life you lived, And I adore long stories.

What possible reason would I have to cut one life— one story— short?

I am your company in the after life and you are the story teller, Let me be the archivist of your life and dreams.

I will listen to all.

So please, I ask that you do not think me evil when I come to visit you.

For you, I am just as inevitable as Life.

All creatures come to me eventually, As all creatures are merely gifts from my love to me.

With each new story comes a single note.

She sings ballads to me, using the memoirs of those who to me may speak.

And I weep for the love of something as beautiful as she.

BY BRYNN DIXON ‘22

We do not want to fight.

We do not like war.

Our vision is still blocked by its sight.

We don’t want to go through what we’ve been through many times before. We just want peace.

We want peace.

Each breath we take is heavy. Each heart beat of ours is strained. We are still paying with our blood, Our souls still remain chained.

Our enemies occupying either side, Have us stuck in between our rightful lands that they’ve filled with lies, Trying ever so desperately, and succeeding, for their atrocities to hide, While our horrible memories, to the rest of the world, slowly die. Why do our feet still ache from the burning deserts we walked in? Why do our mouths still pray the same prayers for peace?

Why do our stories still ask to be listened to?

Why are we still asking these things?

Our fathers and brothers give everything to win and defend The same war we’ve been fighting our whole history with no end.

With courage overflowing from their hearts And true pride already running in their veins, Their sacrifices will always remain a part Of the numerous victories our zinvors win for their nation’s gains. We want our fathers’ land To be once again felt by our wounded hands, To be once again seen by our blinded eyes, For our land to be restored and to give us back our very lives.

Our burdened Armenian tears have stained enough of this earth.

Our tortured Armenian screams have haunted enough of our cities. Our heavy Armenian hearts have had enough loss.

Our strong, brave, resilient Armenian family has had enough suffering.

BY KARINA GASPARYAN

POETRY ELEVATE 53

ELEVATE

MAGAZINE

During the Fine Arts Fall Festival, Liam Kleinberg ‘23, plays the theme to Jurassic Park. The band performed an outside concert for their families. The concert was held outside due to the pandemic. Photo

by Rielly Wible ‘22