Highlander End of Year Issue 2020-21

THE HIGHLANDER END OF YEAR SHOWCASE ISSUE 2020-21

ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN THE DENVER NORTH STAR

STUDENT VOICES AND PERSPECTIVES

CAMPUS LIFE

APRIL 2021 REGIS UNIVERSITY

CURRENT EVENTS

3333 REGIS BLVD. DENVER, CO 80221

Letter from the Editor I stepped into this role with hopeful eyes of what it could be, rather than what it was. Tragically, the Highlander had fallen before I had come on board, to the point it was barely existing and hardly known. I came in with the aspiration to pull it out of the ground and build it up from scratch. Though there wasn’t a lot to work with, there were limitless possibilities. I was not restricted by tradition, nor was I restricted by the people who came before me. This humble publication fell into my lap, and I was going to breathe life into it.

Sometimes you don’t truly realize what an impact you have made until you step back from your project and look at it in all its entirety. This year, I have established a collaboration effort with The Denver North Star, a local publication in the Denver area. That granted us the opportunity to showcase out writing outside of the context of Regis. We also started building connections with the affinity

groups on campus in the form of the Kalon Magazine project, for which we supplied photographers for and will eventually help design. That is going to be completed sometime next year.

Despite the challenge of COVID, we increased the amount of content, involvement, and staff. With the lack of opportunities for coverage, I decided to open up what our content could be by allowing people to express themselves and have their voices be heard through student perspective pieces. Now look, we have an actual print issue, when there hasn’t been one in over four years.

This issue serves as a testament to this groundbreaking year. We have built a foundation, and it is only the beginning. This year was just laying the groundwork, there is more to come. I only see great things for this publication, and I hope the Regis community will see us, support us, and follow us along in this journey.

Morgan Jacobus Editor in Chief

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Highlander Staff

AMY REGLIN

CARLY COMPESI

SARAH GOMEZ

PUBLISHER

STAFF WRITER

STAFF WRITER

Year: Junior Major: Elementary Education

Year: Senior Major: English and Secondary Education

Year: Freshman Major: Undecided

HANNAH URY

JESSE STEWART

LAUREN ALVAREZ

STAFF WRITER/PHOTOGRAPHER

STAFF WRITER

FUTURE STAFF WRITER

Year: Freshman Major: Mathematics with a minor in Peace and Justice

Major: Applied Sciences with a Management emphasis

Year: Junior Major: Communication with an emphasis in Public Relations and minor in Environmental Studies

Not Pictured ALAINA VALDESPINO STAFF WRITER/ PHOTOGRAPHER Year: Sophomore Major: Criminal Justice with a minor in Music

Staff - 3

Denver North Star

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Embracing the Stormy Sea-OVID-19

By Jesse Stewart

By: Jesse Stewart

In March of last year, I was on a date with a model at a fancy Italian restaurant in Hong Kong. In March of this year, I was alone in my parents’ basement with a plate of chicken tenders. I ordered chicken tenders in Hong Kong as well, but that's not the point.

I’m among those that had a 'good' life before the waves of COVID-19 swept me overboard. I'm a filmmaker and the third big project of my career was set to shoot in the summer. But by the end of Spring my entire industry wasn't sure how it could even exist. Sure, the quarantined masses need entertainment, but how can projects be funded when no one has any income? If actors need to stay six feet apart, how are we supposed to shoot that romantic scene where they share chicken tenders?

I initially used the free time to finish a screenplay or two, as well as indulge in the video game Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Focusing on myself was beneficial, I grew as a person through this isolation.

But I own a business and it's not like my operating costs stayed six feet away. My business partners and I looked at options for 'COVID-proof' film concepts, but it's very difficult to draw up battle plans for a large group effort when ‘large group efforts’ are illegal.

By June, I imploded. There's only so much 'internal growth' one can attempt before weakening your sense of self to the point of collapse. Flurry, the hamster who lives on my Animal Crossing island, may be the sweetest being in existence, but she doesn't actually exist. They may be tasty but I can only eat so many chicken tenders. I am a modest and frugal man, but even I have my limits.

There are only two options when faced with misfortune.

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One can stop, resign, and sink into the abyss, choosing to see the present conditions as insurmountable. Or there is strategy; it's a matter of physics in saying that there are four choices when faced with an opposing force: you can go over, under, around, or through that which is antagonizing you.

COVID-19 isn't an obstacle: it's a state of reality. In the same way one wouldn't lament the impossibility of breathing underwater, there is a respiratory disease that spreads through close-contact infection and it can't simply be 'willed' out of existence. It’s not a stone in your path, it's the uneven stones upon it. The terrain has changed, your tactics should change along with it.

By July I surveyed the peaks and valleys of 2020, those rolling hills that none expected when cresting the New Year. Filming anything this year seemed foolish, but remaining reserved until conditions cleared was clearly causing me to sink. John A. Shedd once said, "A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for"; the territory of 2020 isn’t a solid land, our peaks and valleys are the rolling waves of an unsure sea. So, I crafted buoys to guide me. I found a great apartment in Denver, not as great as my apartment in Beijing but I learned to curb my conceit. I hadn't done manual labor in years, but I found a part-time job loading shipping boxes into the back of shipping trucks. Each day is tough, dirty, and tiring, but I sleep like a baby. And I returned to college to finish my degree, having left to pursue my career; a decision that really floated until a force of nature ground the entire globe to a complete halt. Like Mike Tyson said, "Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face."

The benefit of COVID-19’s all-encompassing punch is the psychological certainty in knowing that whatever you're struggling with, there are multitudes who are just as unsure, unstable, uneasy, and unprepared for tomorrow as you might be. Chart your uncertain shores and look to be one of those facing this seemingly-ceaselessly-stormy sea with open sails.

Last year, my feet dangled over the waters of Victoria Harbour as Hong Kong struggled over who they wanted to be. This year, well, the rug having been pulled out from under me; I’ve no choice but do the same, head over heels about being up in the air and excited to see where I might land next.

Denver North Star

HOLIDAYS IN THE TIME OF COVID

By Morgan Jacobus COVID has made so many dramatic changes to so many different aspects of our lives, but something that affected me more than I thought it would was the effect of COVID on the holidays.

For me and my family, we normally have a simple holiday, just the three of us. We never threw any parties, or hosted any get-togethers, we just spent time together; me, my mama, and my dad. Since we usually have a rather isolated holiday already, I didn’t think I would feel that affected come time for the holidays. However, there were subtle things that I missed that made a big difference.

Something I loved being a part of last year was Regis’ annual tree lighting ceremony. The air was filled with joy and merriment, a true community event. Not only were Regis students and faculty invited to see the ceremony, but families from surrounding neighborhoods were able to be a part of it as well. There was a cute train that took kids on rides around the quad (I was jealous I couldn’t fit, because it looked like a blast). Inside the student center was decorating gingerbread men and writing letters to Santa, and outside around the tree was hot cocoa, and even a Santa Claus. Honestly it was one of my favorite memories from my freshman year.

However, this year this was impossible, because of not only restrictions on gatherings, but also because of our longer than normal winter break. The main hall building had red and green floodlights like last year, but there wasn’t the glow of the lights on the trees on the quad. There wasn’t the ceremony, there wasn’t any kind of celebration on campus that put me in the holiday spirit. After all, we went home before Thanksgiving, so it would’ve been a waste if Regis had done anything festive, but that was something I truly missed.

Even before I was in college, when I was in high school there was a feeling of Christmas approaching, usually a fun day in class, perhaps meeting with friends to do a gift exchange… something. However, this year that was not present. My friends and I agreed to do our cookie exchange in lieu of bought gifts once again, but because of the long break we will do it toward the end of January when we come back. I’m sure it will still be fun, but it won’t be the same.

While some people opted to decorate early to bring joy, our house was a little late to the party. Holiday decorating is an undertaking, and not something you can, or should, rush through, so it took a while for my mama and I to find a good time to decorate.

Even though the virus didn’t directly affect Christmas Day with my family, I could tell there was a definite shift from the year before. We wanted to go to the Christmas Eve service at church, but because of capacity and distancing, the tickets sold out quickly, so we watched from home.

Even the overall mood was different, because of all the stress and frustrations from how COVID has affected our lives. There wasn’t the same mood or feeling, even on such a usually joyful day.

Though my holiday wasn’t what I expected it to be, I did find joy. For instance, something that really uplifted me was driving around with my mama, wearing my Christmas jammies (a festive onesie) and drinking hot chocolate while we looked at lights. It was a cool and dark night, the night of Christmas Eve, we had made some hot cocoa, we listened to our favorite Christmas music, laughed, and enjoyed the time together. That is something I will cherish for years to come.

I hope that even with everything else feeling different, the presence of family still brought nostalgic reminders of times before COVID for you and your families. Though there are more challenges, more things to bring us frustration, and changes that try to dampen our spirits, it is more important now than ever to find the joy. I hope and pray you all find joy, even though the holiday season is ending.

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Denver North Star - 5

Denver North Star

MUSIC AMIDST A GLOBAL PANDEMIC

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Photo courtesy of Mark Davenport

By Alaina Valdespino Music during a global pandemic… seems pretty impossible, at least to perform, wouldn’t you say?

Well, for all those involved in Regis Universities’ Music Program, it’s still happening! Amidst all odds and facing tremendous obstacles, students and faculty have worked to find solutions to allow for the continuation of musical art in a way that is both admirable and enjoyable to listen to.

Because confined indoor classroom spaces aren’t exactly safe for singing or instrument playing in the age of COVID, music faculty worked to provide a safer solution and created an outdoor rehearsal space that gives students a place to rehearse in a socially distant and productive way. Not only does this outdoor space provide students with a chance to continue to pursue their musical endeavors, but it also happens to provide anyone and everyone near the Claver parking lot with beautiful, live music to listen to.

At first glance, these outdoor rehearsals may look a bit unorthodox. After all, singers wear what is called a singers mask (a mask that protrudes from the face allowing for space to sing) and band members have to wear masks even if they play a woodwind instrument (in this case they cut a hole into their mask.) However, by abiding by these safety protocols, students and faculty are allowed to safely continue their music in this COVID-stricken semester.

Because outdoor rehearsals provide a safe alternative to indoor, performances are also being held outside. That being said, performances also have a virtual option in which they are (whether they be choral, solo, or band) recorded and then uploaded for students to view.

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As unconventional as it may seem to be hosting choir and band rehearsals outside, it has been very rewarding.

Being a Regis music student, I have experienced this firsthand and can say that I enjoy it very much. Sure, it's not ideal to be singing under a tent when it's snowing; yes… that happened. Sure, it's not always ideal when the wind causes your sheet music to go flying everywhere.

But at the end of the day, I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue to do what I love with a group of individuals that feels the same.

Music provides us with something nothing else can. It gives us a chance to channel our emotions into something that can impact others. Music has power.

Music gives us a chance to relate to something and to feel in a way that no other thing can. Music is a gift, and I can honestly say that I cherish every rehearsal, and every chance I get to create it. And given these unprecedented times where musicians across the country struggle to find a safe place to create, all I can think about is how grateful I am to be at a place that not only allows me to create music, but encourages me along with other students to find ways to do it in a COVID-safe way.

Masks, outdoor rehearsals, recording performances… all of these are the new normal for Regis University music students. And rather than waiting for the situation to revert to what it once was, the Regis Music Program was proactive about the situation in a way that continues to give students a chance to pursue their music as best as possible given the circumstance.

Denver North Star

A REGIS STUDENT'S GUIDE TO DENVER DINING

By Carly Compesi

For the College Classics McCoy’s Diner - McCoy’s Diner quickly became a staple of my collegiate experience upon my arrival to Regis University.

This diner is on Federal just a block away from the school, which made it easy to walk there with my friends at night. It’s a classic diner menu, but their cinnamon rolls are uniquely gigantic. Though McCoy’s is no longer open 24 hours, they are offering limited indoor dining for those who want to give it a try.

Brooklyn’s Finest Pizza - Brooklyn’s Finest Pizza is just across the street from Regis University and makes for an easy lunch, dinner, or late-night snack. Regis University students can also receive a discount with their student ID. In my opinion, it beats out a few of the pizza chains, but I guess you’ll have to taste it to find out for yourself. Dine in, pick-up, and delivery options are available.

Las Tortugas - According to my friends, you cannot go wrong at Las Tortugas. They serve a wide variety of sandwiches and each one sounds amazing. They also have horchata and aguas frescas available. It’s a bit longer of a drive for Regis students compared to the other restaurants listed but they have delivery options as well as pick-up.

For Something a Little Classier Sushi Hai - One of my friends’ favorite dinner spots is Sushi Hai, which is located on 32nd and Lowell. This restaurant offers both variety and affordability, making it perfect for a college student. My friends recommend the rocket roll, which has tuna, spicy mayo, cucumber, avocado, tempura flakes, eel sauce, and sriracha. Sushi Hai currently offers pick-up via online ordering.

The Noshery - The Noshery’s convenient location at the corner of Lowell and Regis Boulevard makes it an easy spot for Regis students to grab a morning latte or a fresh slice of banana bread. I especially like their lemon poppyseed bread and chai tea latte. The magic of this little cafe continues on their back wall, which displays products from local artists and business. The “Nosh” is currently open for indoor and outdoor dining, pick-up, and to-go options.

Atomic Cowboy (Denver Biscuit Company and Fat Sully’s) Atomic Cowboy has already gained the attention of national television networks, and of course, the local college population. For an inexpensive, extra-large, and extra delicious slice of Fat Sully’s pizza, stop at the window near the storefront. For savory and sweet dishes on biscuits, enter Denver Biscuit Company. My personal favorite is the Dahlia sandwich. Dine in, delivery, and pick-up options are available.

For the Sweet Tooth Little Man Ice Cream - Little Man Ice Cream has become an iconic Denver landmark, making the parking difficult but the ice cream worth the wait. I’m grateful for their dairy free options, but I may be even more grateful for their milkshakes. Little Man Ice Cream is surrounded by other great restaurants and overlooks LoDo, which makes this place even more fun.

Sweet Cow - Once you’ve had dinner at Sushi Hai, walk across the street to pick up some ice cream from Sweet Cow. They have flavors that you won’t see elsewhere, and those flavors change regularly, so you might just have to go more than once. Sweet Cow also has a wide range of dairy free options, making it even better. I’d recommend a flavor, but you can’t go wrong. Pick-up and delivery options are available.

The Bardo Coffee House - This coffee house is a perfect late-night study spot for anyone who needs to break out of their dorm or apartment. I tend to ask for the baristas to “surprise me” and I haven’t been disappointed yet, although I have yet to figure out what “secret ingredients” they claim to include. The Bardo Coffee House is currently open for indoor and outdoor dining, pick-up, to-go, and delivery options.

For the Legal Drinkers (+21) Goldspot Brewing Company - Goldspot Brewing Company is located inside a little brick building near 50th and Lowell. I know this brewery to be a student and professor favorite, and while I’ve never tried it for myself, I’ve passed it enough to catch a glimpse of their fun, Colorado-proud atmosphere. Goldspot is now open at limited capacity for those who want to taste what is on tap.

Rocky Top Tavern - This is another student favorite given that it is close to the Regis University campus.

Rocky Top Tavern is highly regarded by Regis Rangers because of their drinks and their deals, but don’t forget about their food—especially their tater tots. Rocky Top currently offers indoor and outdoor dining options.

Book Bar - As an English major and a book lover, the Book Bar holds a special place in my heart. I used to study there after ordering a mug of hot chocolate and one of their book-themed snacks. While the independent bookstore and wine bar combo is now restricted to curbside pick-up, I still recommend stopping by next time you find yourself on Tennyson Street.

Denver North Star - 7

Campus Life

Photo courtesy of Celine Campos

An Interview with Kalon Creators: Celine

By Carly Compesi Carly: What inspired you to do this event?

Celine: Primarily to represent the diversity and showcase the diversity of students that we have here at Regis. I feel like it’s not brought to light as much as I want or other students want. I think it’s important to showcase and take pride in where you come from whether that be your own roots or your family’s roots or your parent’s roots because I think it’s something very beautiful to put out there. It definitely makes up a large portion of who a person is, so just to showcase that in a magazine or everybody to see is very important, especially in the times we’re living in now.

Carly: What is your goal for this project?

Celine: My goal for this project is to introduce a diverse range of students who are representing many countries from across the world. And to (hopefully!) take this magazine and convert it into a tradition where other students can hop onto the project and add their ideas to it. My hope is, by next year, we’ll have the magazine and, by the Fall of my junior year, we’ll have issue number 2. Hopefully, we either pick a theme to go with or allow more students to participate—I feel like this time is kind of a trial run. Turns out, by

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the looks of it, the turn out today was pretty good. So those are my hopes. Just keep it going.

Carly: I heard the name [of this magazine] took a long time to pick out. Tell me about the name.

Celine: So the name--we were debating between so many names, but we definitely wanted to keep it kind of broad, just because a lot of countries are being represented, a lot of students are going to be represented. And we were not looking only looking to represent culture [and] heritage. We are definitely trying to represent students through religion or sexual orientation or any symbol that represents them. So the name “Kalon” in Latin means “beauty that is beyond skin deep” and we decided on that name because we wanted a formal name that we could use for every magazine—and then put a subtitle on it and change the issue number—just to keep the tradition going and kind of keep it sacred.

Carly: What would you tell someone who was interested in participating—especially if they feel like their culture is harder to see or present outwardly?

Celine: I would normally tell students who are interested but struggling to find pinpoints that are culture-related —because I feel like a lot of students thought that this was only culture and

heritage-related—come and just find a symbol or anything that represents them. It doesn’t have to be culture, you know? We’re all unique. We’re all beautiful in different ways. I’ve just told them to show up [and] have fun with the photoshoot because it’s honestly just them showcasing who they are. A person is much more than a skin color. They are much more than their ethnic background or their social economic background.

Carly: Alright. Is there anything you want to add? Is there anyone you want to thank?

Celine: I would like to thank all of the affinity groups—SOMOS, ASA, BSA, QSA, the Sustainability Club. And honestly, everybody that’s been working—all the professors and the advisors who have come to show support. I think it’s pretty nice to have all of us united, so thanks to them for making it happen. Also, shout-out to the photographers. It was kind of hard to find a photographer, but the Highlander is helping us a lot.

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Campus Life

Photo courtesy of Mark Bruhn Recently, I spent the morning with Dr. Mark Bruhn, a professor of English who specializes in cognitive literary studies and has taught at Regis University since 1996. I was told by his colleagues that his story was an interesting one, and I quickly discovered the truth behind that statement.

“I wasn’t going to go to school,” Bruhn began. “My parents wanted me to, and that was my main motivation not to. I was a terrible English student through school—I just hated it.”

This rebellious attitude proved to be a theme in our conversation. “It just goes along with my character,” Bruhn said. “You can’t tell me what I should do—you tell me I have to research, I have to be Catholic, I have to go to high school, I’m gonna say, ‘I don’t want to do any of those things. Those things are for fools.’ But as soon as I don’t have to do any of those things, they become interesting to me. It’s gotta be my choice. I’m still like that, you know.”

Despite concerns about Bruhn graduating from high school at all, he completed high school and stayed in Connecticut.

After finding his position in the produce department unsustainable, he joined his parents in Maine and got a job at a gas station.

“I had no way to meet anybody,” Bruhn explained. “I’m an eighteen-year-old man desperate for friends [with] no way to meet them, so I thought, ‘Well, I guess one way to meet people would be to take some classes at the University of Maine at Augusta.’ I signed up for a few classes and, lo and behold, they were remarkably powerful to me.”

After spending three semesters of unprecedented academic engagement and inspiration at the University of Maine at Augusta, his professors recommended that Bruhn pursue a Bachelor of Arts. Bruhn took this advice and spent the next two and a half years completing an English major at the University of Southern Maine. His studies provided him with a new outlook on literature and faith.

However, Bruhn’s newfound love of English literature locked him into a somewhat intimidating fate. “[I] did realize that, ultimately, I would have to be a teacher,” Bruhn said. “That was a little daunting at first because I was really afraid of public speaking. [I] challenged myself to get over it by putting myself on the spot. And now I’m at the point where I just love to stand in front of an audience and hear myself talk, so there’s hope for the fearful.”

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? INTERVIEW WITH DR. MARK BRUHN

By: Carly Compesi

His public speaking was soon put to the test. “We found out that we were going to have a child,” Bruhn explained. “I was working at a deli at the time, and it didn’t sound like a deli was going to pay for three peoples’ existences. So I realized, yeah, I’m going to have to come up with something, so I started applying for high school teaching jobs.”

From there, Bruhn ended up teaching high school at Lincoln Academy, which did not go as well as he’d planned. His love of literature seemed to outweigh his love for his students. “I looked like I was about 12.” Bruhn said. “ They could threaten me, and it would work. They knew they were going to make a whole lot of money lobster fishing, so they weren’t really interested in literature.”

Luckily, Bruhn’s time at Lincoln Academy didn’t turn him away from teaching altogether. While there, he also taught introductory English classes at the University of Southern Maine. During this experience, he found himself valuing the motivated, respectful older students that he had in his evening classes. “Of course I love my students,” clarified Bruhn. “But I really love helping them to love the thing I love. That made it clear that I needed to get a Ph. D.” His graduate studies began at Duke University, but because of the program’s new emphasis on stardom through literary studies research, he left before the end of his first year. “I did [English] because it was feeding my soul,” explained Bruhn. “I wanted to share that with people, not selfglorifying self-promotion.”

At age 33, he completed his Ph. D. This was followed by a year of teaching at Dalhousie before he came to Regis in 1996. “One of the messages I’d give to undergraduates is: You don’t need to know what you’re doing until you’re 35,” Bruhn laughed. “I think you should expect to play around with a bunch of different directions as you graduate, [don’t] chastise yourself or beat yourself up over the fact that you haven’t figured it out.”

Read the full story online by scanning the QR code

Campus Life - 9

Campus Life

Photo courtesy of Malia Olson

My Friend For President By: Lauren Alvarez

I stroll into the pub on campus at 5:25. I wanted to be here early, but of course she’s sitting at our usual table working on some homework. Crap. Malia Olson has her reusable water bottle, recycled materials phone case, and half a dozen rings on her fingers. She is engulfed in her bio homework when I sit down. She’s not nervous, nor should she be. This doesn’t feel much different than our thrice a week dinner at The Caf. The only difference is that Malia Olson is running for Regis Student Body President, and I’ve got the scoop.

I’m approaching this interview through the bias of a good friendship and my sincere belief she brings something brilliant to the table. The table we are chatting at, our conversation is slightly dulled by the roar of the dinner crowd.

“So, Malia, would you rather have teeth for toes or toes for teeth?” She laughs—I’m hilarious.

“Teeth for toes.”

Ah. A woman of culture. Though the interview is supposed to be formal, we ebb and flow through the conversation, mixing in her glimpses of her personality while discussing some ideas Malia has for the future of Regis.

Ms. Olson has a background at Regis as a Violence Prevention Educator. This work not only prevents stalking, intimate partner violence, and sexual assault on campus but also trains athletes as well as classes and facilitates programs like V-Day and Denim Day. When asked how her work as a VPE affects the way she hopes to lead Malia responds, “Since I am a survivor of sexual assault, that really motivates me to make campus feel like a safe space for students. I know it’s not always easy being a student here and that shitty things can happen.” She continues, sharing some questions that are not only incredibly important to her campaign but to her values as a Regis student, “How do we create space for students who’ve had rough experiences to feel safe and feel heard, and give opportunities to tell their stories?”

Malia is candid in her admiration for Regis. Of course, we all know the appeal of a smaller school, its prime location between downtown and the breathtaking Rocky Mountains, but Malia emphasizes that it’s a Catholic school.

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While this is slightly unexpected—both of us are nonpracticing—she explains that the Jesuits add that, “Social justice focuses on all of these classes.” She goes on to say, “Even science classes ask how this matters and how it affects us?” Looking through the lens of intersectionality between science and social justice is something Malia is quite comfortable doing, as she is majoring in Bio with an emphasis in Molecular Biology & Genetics with a Psychology minor.

Malia is not afraid to criticize Regis too. Talking about the administration’s handling of the tech hack of Fall 2019 and their response to COVID-19 when it started last March, (can you believe it's been a year!?!) Malia uses the shortcoming of our school to emphasize how valuable what the students are saying is, “There are really powerful instances when students really made a change.” We, as students, were outspoken about our disapproval of their actions and they made changes because of our demands. Beyond the confines of running for Student Body President, Malia is also a student during the time of COVID-19. These are difficult times. Meeting new people is hard enough, not even considering the restrictions we all must make to stop the spread of the virus.

She talks about the idea of “missing out” on the college experience, “Regis sometimes lacks that sense of pride… pride in your school. RUSGA is a really good place to address those things because that's the [students’] money going towards programming… they can go to their Senators, they can go to their representatives and be like, ‘hey I want to do this thing where I hand out utensils’ or whatever.”

I then ask her the most intimidating question of all time: how would you describe yourself? Usually this question brings instant panic, but Malia doesn’t hesitate, “I’m very introverted and I’m a helper.” This intrigued me, as you often don’t see introverts holding a lot of power. I pick her brain and I’m pleasantly surprised when she says, “Any sort of government is built and structured so that it benefits extroverted people. So, when you have somebody holding a leadership position that is an introvert, that is so important because…[you] notice when other introverts are not in the conversation or their voices aren’t being heard.”

Campus Life

Photo courtesy of Julia Masciarelli

Regis Woman in Stem: Julia M. By: Morgan Jacobus

Not only is she a varsity athlete, maintaining good grades, taking masters classes, and working two jobs, but she is also leading the way for women in STEM. Meet Julia Masciarelli, the president of CyComp – Regis’ cyber security club.

Her interest in computers was first sparked when she was young, when her dad, an aerospace engineer, first showed her a computer. He would show her his code and she wanted to know how he did it.

“I played video games and just did stuff on the computer, but my first computer programming class was my junior year of high school. I just wanted to take it because I was interested, and I loved it. So, then I took it again senior year because it was the only class they had at my school, and I just went into it for college,” said Julia Masciarelli.

She got involved with CyComp her second or third week of her freshman year when her RCC professor suggested she check it out and has been a part of it ever since. Soon enough she was competing and getting more involved. Come her sophomore year, she was elected as ambassador.

“I knew I wanted to get more involved in the leadership position. I wouldn’t say I am the most technical person in the club, but I think I have a lot of good organizational skills and I wanted to use those for the club because it was pretty small and unorganized when I first started. Then I was elected [president] by everyone else in the club junior year and then reelected again this year,” said Masciarelli.

According to one of Masciarelli’s peers, her work in the club as president has made it what it is today.

“Ever since she became president the amount of people that come to meetings has gone way up... She has made a really fun, cool atmosphere, and she puts

in a ton of work and time,” said Ian Priest.

While she has implemented several improvements to the club, her most notable impacts have been with helping the members of the club, both experienced and new to the world of cyber security.

“When I started, being such a beginner, I was really lost, and I didn’t want other beginners to not come back to the club because they felt like they couldn’t keep up,” said Masciarelli.

In addition to making beginners feel welcome, she also has tried to encourage more girls to join the club.

During her freshman and sophomore year, Masciarelli was the only girl in the club, so she tried to target more girls through her outreach. However, this was not an uncommon situation for Masciarelli, since her work and interest in computer science has often resulted in her being the only girl in the room.

“It is definitely male dominated… so I have definitely gotten used to being the only girl in the room. I just try to not let it bother me. I know that I am just as valuable as all my other colleagues and peers… and I don’t want to let my gender stop me from that. My mom is also an aerospace engineer, so I have never been turned away from women in STEM. I have lots of powerful women in STEM in my life so it never felt like something I couldn’t do,” said Masciarelli.

In addition to embracing that her gender can’t hold her back in this field, Masciarelli also feels that it is “a huge loss for everyone,” if half the population isn’t considering this field that is experiencing a lack of jobs that are being filled.

“Women shouldn’t be turned away from something because they feel like there is a gap or that they are going to be the only girl in the room, or feel like ‘oh if I am a woman in STEM then I can’t be girly’ or ‘I can’t do this,” so I try to set an example by that. I play soccer and I am in STEM; I love fashion and I’m really girly… I think you can do all of it,” said Masciarelli.

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Campus Life - 11

Current Events

RUTH BADER GINSBURG

a legacy that will live on

By Kira Oviedo “My mother had two lessons that she repeated over and over ‘be a lady’ and ‘be independent.’ Be a lady meant don’t allow yourself to be overcome by useless emotions like anger, and by independent she meant ‘it would be fine if you met prince charming and lived happily ever after, but… be able to fend for yourself,’” said Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Nearly a month ago the Associate Justice for the Supreme Court, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, unfortunately passed due to a decline in health.

Although all of her supporters were in mourning, there was a collective response that all of her work needed to be spread. I find myself among these supporters and feel as though it is important to display a glimpse of how her drive pushed society into an era of women's rights.

I think RBG has set an emphasis on what it means to truly stand up for justice.

12 - Current Events

Since her graduation from Columbia Law School in 1959, the Notorious RBG (as fans would call her), spent the entirety of her legal career pushing in advocation of women empowerment. After being nominated to the Supreme Court by former President Bill Clinton in 1993 and sworn in soon after, Ginsburg took the position seriously, making her opinions clearly known to fellow Justices. A key case Ginsburg argued for as a Justice was United States v. Virginia.

In this, RBG swayed the Justices to form the majority opinion in allowing women to attend a primarily men-only military institute. She delivered the opinion on the side of the plaintiff, stating that women who were qualified could not be denied entry to the Virginia Military Institute.

Growing up in the 50s, Ginsburg understood that women were seen as less than that of a man, shown by her being one of nine women in a class of 500 students at her first year of law school. She made it a point to tell all who identify as female that she expects big action, starting with how she wants the Supreme Court to look like in the future.

“In my life, I expect to see two, three, four, perhaps even more women on the high court bench.

Women not

shaped from the same mold, but of different complexions,” said Ginsburg.

I think RBG has set an emphasis on what it means to truly stand up for justice. The idea does not simply mean that one should focus on issues that pertain to themselves.

Justice is not subject to tunnel vision, but rather a means to aid those who feel minimized by society, and others who are afraid to have their voice heard.

What happens now? With a seat now open on the Supreme Court, thoughts and opinions have been circulating about if President Trump should or can nominate a new Justice so close to the election.

Concerns of many have been brought to light that if someone is nominated, it is unlikely that the person would hold women to the same regard as Ginsburg did.

Nonetheless, with a pandemic ongoing and an election looming, one thing she enforced is for certain. That is, no matter where you stand on the political spectrum, or what you believe in, you must speak up and act in the aid of others.

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Current Events

AMY CONEY BARRETT AND RELIGIOUS CONSERVATISM

By Hannah Ury In just four years, the Trump Presidency has selected two highly controversial Supreme Court nominations, and it is looking more and more like his second nominee, Amy Coney Barrett, will be confirmed and become a member of the Supreme Court. Thankfully, Barrett does not have any allegations of sexual assault, a rarity in today’s politics, but she does have her fair share of sources of controversy.

When taking a look at her past, it’s easy to like Barrett. She has seven children, two of whom are adopted from Haiti. She is a woman of faith, and she has done extensive work as a judge and a professor, and her students at Notre Dame say she is a great professor who never brought politics into the classroom. It is also refreshing to see a woman rise so easily to power in a career field dominated by men.

However, do not expect the rights of women to advance at all should Barrett be confirmed.

Barrett would overturn Roe v. Wade if given the chance, and organizations like Planned Parenthood would be weakened even further than they already have been. Although Americans have little say in the process of picking Supreme Court Justices, the process certainly impacts

the American people. To overturn Roe v. Wade would be a significant step backwards, and it would not accomplish the conservative goal of putting an end to abortions. Women would not stop having abortions, they would simply have illegal abortions, but conservatives don’t care. While their message is that they want to save lives, they disregard the millions of children in foster care, the women who will die from dangerous abortions, and so many other lives in the process. This disregard shows that their agenda is not truly about life at all, it is about controlling women’s bodies. If Barrett will not stand up against the control of women’s bodies by the government, what will she stand up for?

One thing Barrett certainly advocates is marriage between a man and a woman, and a man and a woman only.

It is fair to assume that given the chance, she would undermine LGBTQ rights, and expand religious freedom to discriminate against LGBTQ people.

In our legal system, it is perfectly fine to believe in one’s religion that marriage is between a man and a woman, or a woman and a woman, or whatever else your religious text may say. However, personal beliefs are just that, personal. It is fundamental to our Constitution that religion and state remain separate, and as an originalist

Photo credit: Susan Walsh, AP Photo

interpreter of the Constitution, Barrett should be more than familiar with the concept. However, despite her familiarity, the rulings she has made as an appellate judge and will make on the Supreme Court reflect her religion nonetheless. The United States is not an anti-religious country, but we are, or at least claim to be, a country without an official religion.

While it is okay for Supreme Court justices to have religious beliefs, it is unconstitutional for their religious views to leak into our legislature.

Americans can expect to see a wave of religiously-driven decisions made by the Supreme Court in the future. Gay marriage, the right to choose, and many other landmark decisions could be impacted or even overturned under this new vehemently conservative Supreme Court. While Amy Coney Barrett might be a nice woman and an abundantly qualified candidate, she will leave a lasting impact on America, and it won’t be a good one.

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Current Events - 13

Current Events

What you Need to Know about the Women in Biden's Cabinet

By Sarah Gomez

Joe Biden’s recent win for the presidency did more than make Kamala Harris the first Black, south-Asian woman to be vice president. The cabinet Biden announced is set to increase diversity all around, by nominating what he claims to be the most diverse presidential cabinet in history. His cabinet includes people of various races and ethnicities, but also an impressive mix of women. The cabinet includes nine women, five of whom are women of color.

Marcia Fudge, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Marcia Fudge is a Democratic African American woman from Ohio. Marcia Fudge’s notable political history includes being a U.S. representative for the state of Ohio and mayor of Warrensville Heights Ohio. Her beliefs are closely aligned with far-left Democratic views and she is to manage multiple programs in the housing division. In addition to this, Fudge aims to increase affordable housing and rent assistance.

Jennifer Granholm, Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm is a member of the Democratic party, a former attorney general of Michigan, and former governor of Michigan. She is a strong believer in climate change and has spoken out on the need for clean energy jobs. However, in the past this position has been a front for nuclear weapons, so this new direction will hopefully focus on climate policy.

Deb Haaland, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland is a Native American woman enrolled as a member of the Laguna Pueblo. Deb Haaland has served as New Mexico’s vote director for Native Americans and as the chair of New Mexico’s Democratic party. As a Native American, many are hoping she will undo previous wrongs done to the native populations. Haaland would be the first Native American cabinet secretary, where she will oversee natural resources and tribal land.

Gina Raimondo, Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo is the governor of Rhode Island and was the previous treasurer of the state. She is a Democrat who is credited with helping to boost the economy in Rhode Island.

Once confirmed, Raimondo will be tasked with reporting to Biden with information regarding businesses, universities, and the economy.

Janet Yellen, Secretary of the Treasury

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Janet Yellen was a member of the Federal Reserve Board of governor for a total of 11 years; she is also known for chairing the council of economic advisers during the Clinton administration. She is an economist who has worked with past presidents and even the Federal Reserve Bank. As secretary of the treasury, she will be tasked with advising on domestic and foreign finances and other economic issues.

Isabel Guzman, Administrator of the Small Business

By Sarah Gomez Administration Isabel Guzman has served as a California office of small business advocate and deputy chief of staff to the administrator of the small business administration. The state of many small businesses are not well during the pandemic, however, many believe Guzman can help small business owners. As the administrator of the Small Business Administration, she will be responsible for overseeing programs to assist small businesses in various areas.

Avril Haines, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines served on the senate foreign relations committee and as deputy director of the CIA. With her previous history with the spy agency, it was no surprise that she was Biden’s pick for the position. As director of national intelligence, Haines will be tasked with overlooking the National Intelligence Program and reporting these matters to Biden.

Katherine Tai, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai is a Chinese American with both her parents originating from mainland China. Katherine Tai has served as the chief for the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means and has also worked on trade cases at the World Trade Organization. Having been nominated for representative, she is to coordinate international trade and commodity. Tai is to be put in charge of trade agreements like the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

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Current Events

A LETTER FROM ASA: STOP AAPI HATE In light of the tragedy within the AAPI community in Atlanta, we wish to share our thoughts with Regis University.

We, Asian Student Alliance, condemn this tragedy as a racially-charged hate crime fueled by white supremacy.

This recent incident is one of many in a history of hate against the AAPI community, and unfortunately, the rhetoric in response to the COVID-19 pandemic has only increased this discrimination and harassment. It has been reported that there were over 3,800 instances of discrimination in the past year (Stop AAPI Hate https://stopaapihate.org/reportsreleases). Types of discrimination include verbal harrassment, physical asaault, civil rights violations, and online harassment.

At the heart of this issue is the model minority myth.

This myth perpetuates the idea that Asian people have more privilege than other people of color. This creates tension between communities of color and blindsides us from the real issue, which is white supremacy. The model minority myth was originally a political tool used by white supremcists who claimed that racism doesn’t exist—since Asians were a “successful” people of color, hardships among other communities of color were attributed to laziness. This is a false and harmful claim because it leads to other issues, including the segregation of education amongst East Asians and South East Asians. It also covers up the racist past of the US Government and ignores how white supremacy has used Asian people as a scapegoat for previous immigration and job issues, as was evident in the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882.

The rhetoric that blamed COVID-19 on Asian countries has created a bigger target on our backs, especially for those in the elderly community because they are considered an easier target. Again, this feeds into the harmful myth that Asian people will not fight back because they are considered nonconfrontational. Scapegoating the AAPI community in this way has clear and deadly consequences.

For this reason, we are disheartened by the portrayal of this attack as motivated by a “sex addiction” rather than race. In reality, these issues are interconnected. The AAPI community has endured decades of stereotyping, all of which have caused the AAPI community to be perceived as foreign.

This has caused a dangerous fetishization of Asian people that, as we saw already, can prove to be life-threatening. Asian women are especially at risk; Stop AAPI Hate reports that women in the AAPI community experienced 2.3 times more hate incidents when compared to AAPI men. Reducing the

problem to a “sex addiction” prevents us from addressing the real issues at hand. We must instead address the harassment these women have faced and the reasoning behind it.

Furthermore, we are disheartened by the claim that this was simply a “bad day” for the domestic terrorist who attacked the parlor in Georgia. This excuse minimizes the devastation of this attack. As a society, we have witnessed how women are forced to internalize their “bad days.” Meanwhile, men are excused for committing hate crimes on their “bad days.” Neither outlet should be accepted.

We understand that this is not an easy subject to talk about. Our best recommendation is listening. We want our voices to be both heard and echoed. The best help you can provide is through extending our message to others. The Asian community has already spent decades suffering from stereotypes that encouraged us to stay quiet.

This is true of other communities of color, too; however, we wish to address that this issue should not be compared to the Black Lives Matter Movement. Our problems and communities each suffer from our own struggles and histories. Forcing a comparison between the two can downplay the realities that both communities face.

We don’t expect you to relate to the issues we have shared with regards to the AAPI community, but we plead for recognition in a society that has tried to silence us. We are optimistic that the rest of the university will follow suit in our call to action. Our hearts go out to the families and friends of those who lost their lives in this tragedy. May their memories live on through the actions we take to become a better country. #STOPAAPIHATE Resources: https://stopaapihate.org https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co

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Current Events - 15

Student Voices

FRESHMAN YEAR OF zoom university

By Sarah Gomez

Coming into a new environment all alone, as a teenager, is difficult to say in the least. Starting without any family or friends and having to live on your own for the first time in your life is a terrifying thought. Every new freshman faces this challenge, but eventually, everything works itself out, right? Friends are established from dorm floor movie nights and joining clubs during welcome week. It gets easier when you feel less alone when you have a friend to eat dinner with or even just someone in your class you can study with. Freshman year is hard for everyone, but it gets easier once you have something to look forward to, even if it’s something as silly as watching a movie on the quad.

This semester has been like one never before. There have been so many changes to classes, even the ones in person feel surreal. Having classes with masks, spread across the room was something unimaginable this time last year.

For the most part, up until March of this year, going to class was something close-knit. A classroom was a place to ask questions and interact easily, and now it feels like there is never a good time to unmute the mic on the Zoom call.

If you stop to think about what the college experience is known for, you’ll find yourself thinking about parties or on-campus events, hanging out with friends, or even being able to engage with your classes. Parties are an obvious loss, COVID-19 made that clear, but the semester is not even halfway through and we have already lost a majority of the other things as well. Everyone on campus is aware of these challenges and for the most part,

16 - Student Voices

is trying their best to counteract them.

We have seen the efforts taken by the programming board to keep everyone busy and doing some things on campus. From the Wednesday activities to the movies on the quad, the highlight of many students’ weeks was participating in those events.

Sadly, the state of Colorado’s Department of Health instructed the university to postpone further events, making everything all the much harder. From laser tag to just watching a movie you love, there are no longer fun activities to get students out of their dorms.

Though it has been said time and time again that “we are in this together,” the challenges we are facing are not equally distributed. A big challenge many first-year students run into is having to start all over. Out of state students and even those from Arvada have problems making friends in their classes or even friends around campus. Some people are having an amazing experience, they have friends from years past with them to enjoy this time with. Some people have friends or family near campus and can enjoy a break from the stress of school and enjoy some familiarity. Some people have no one, people who came from states away, all on their own, and have no one they know for hundreds of miles. Yes, it is very annoying that you can’t hang out with all your friends in a study room but it's even harder having to go on without even having friends. That’s not to say people haven’t put in efforts to make these connections, it is just exponentially harder.

The classroom is a difficult space to make friends nowadays for many reasons.

If you are lucky enough to be in person, there is no longer the option to send a kind smile across the room, for it’s covered by a mask and doesn’t look too inviting. It’s even more difficult asking classmates questions now too, since the muffling of the mask makes it easier to just go on without a clue.

It is hard to look forward to the future when the only news we seem to be getting is negative. From the quarantine of the Residence Village to in-person classes always being “next week,” the idea of being able to thrive as a freshman feels a bit ironic. How can we be expected to get out and involved in our community when we have already been told that doing so would result in a fine or worse. The extent of the college experience firstyear students are receiving is limited to what we can manage in the walls of our dorms and windows of our technology.

To be a first-year student during a global pandemic has been difficult to say in the least. All of high school we were told college would be life changing. Yet, this semester has been so similar to the last semester of senior year, it has yet to register in my mind that I’m in college at all. I’ll be sure to document when my Regis University experience begins, but for the time being, Zoom will have to suffice. The Class of 2024 has four years ahead of us, hopefully, one will be what we have been waiting for.

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Student Voices

RV Students Speak about Quarantine

By Morgan Jacobus Last week, Residence Village residents were sent shocking news: that all of them were being forced into quarantine. Such a decision impacted 137 students. This event carried so much magnitude that it was even covered by local news stations like The Denver Post, KDVR, and 9 News.

Due to the high levels of frustration coming from the students affected, we at the Highlander decided to send out a form to welcome responses from the RV residents themselves. When filling out the form, students had the option to remain anonymous, and many chose to take advantage of that option, which was anticipated due to the controversial nature of the situation at hand.

The email announcement was sent Tuesday 9/15 at 7:10pm. Many students felt that there were communication problems with how the announcement was made and how some further questions were not answered.

“I also didn't appreciate the email coming to us after hours. It felt like they didn’t want to answer questions or want to talk to us. There was some limited information and it was confusing. Communication is so important even now and it’s not fair that we weren’t given proper nor respectful communication the day we were notified,” wrote anonymous.

“I wanted to know why no one else had to quarantine, and I have yet to get a good answer,” wrote anonymous.

There were also disagreements about provisions about the quarantine. Some of the guidelines were expected, such as: no guests; not gathering in common spaces without masks and social distancing; not being allowed to go to an on-campus job, the library, the gym, and other buildings on campus excluding the dining hall.

However, while there were several guidelines that made sense to the residents, there were some that they struggled to agree with.

For instance, the email mentioned that students were allowed to visit the dining facilities in the Student Center or Claver Hall on a “grab and go basis” while wearing masks and practicing social distancing. However, once the quarantine was put in place, there were questions of how effective this guideline was, and how well the enforcement was of students leaving their RVs. One anonymous student wrote, “I also don’t understand what the point of ‘quarantine’ is when we can go to the caf and can leave to go off campus and there are such loose rules on regulating us going anywhere.”

According to the email, the RA’s would “be entering common spaces at least once every evening and documenting any violations.”

However, another aspect of the quarantine that was questioned in the responses was the role of the RA’s and how well they were upholding their responsibilities.

“People are being selfish and ignorant and some even neglecting their responsibilities that give them free [room] and free meal plans and even a small scholarship,” wrote an anonymous student.

However, the most objection in the responses came in related to the requirement to get tested, but “testing negative will not expedite release from quarantine,” according to the email.

Out of the 19 responses, 13 responses included frustrations about being in quarantine even if their entire RV tests negative.

Other grievances about the quarantine include how it is punishing the mass for the mistakes of the few. Many students commented on how they believe that this action was the result of a few people choosing to not follow COVID guidelines for the entire campus, leading to the entire Residence Village being placed under quarantine.

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Student Voices - 17

Student Voices

Triumph over Turmoil

By Alaina Valdespino Maybe It's just me, but some days I wake up feeling like it's the same old story. That minutes become hours, hours become days and somewhere along the way the leaves turn and the calendar changes. Maybe it’s the uncertainty. The dysfunction perhaps? Either way, it’s like I'm stuck in this cycle of not knowing when things will start to be normal again.

And sure, I could blame the elephant in the room that is COVID-19. Or pin it on 2020 like most Gen Z Twitter users. But at the end of the day, what good does that do?

Does it really make a difference to know that the trajectory of my life is being altered because of things I can’t change?

Again, maybe it's just me, but some days I wake up feeling like it’s not going to be a great day.

That things aren’t perfect. And you know what, that’s ok. It’s the circle of life. One day is sunshine and rainbows and then next is just a feedback loop of turmoil and struggle. That might be the anxiety talking, or the fear of not being as in control as I may want to be, but regardless of what it may be, that’s how things are right now and at the end of the day, that’s valid.

If there is one thing this COVID

18 - Student Voices

stricken semester has taught me, it’s that having these feelings of uncertainty is merely human. Some days we wake up dysfunctional and that’s valid. Our feelings are valid and despite the absurdity of these times, we always have the opportunity to see the light at the end of the tunnel. So, rather than exhausting my efforts looking for someone or something to blame for the craziness and adversities in my life, why not try to overcome them? Instead of letting the clock tick and the days pass by, why not use this time to my advantage. To use it as an opportunity to better understand myself and to grow from all of the turmoil that this pandemic-centered era has thrown at me?

COVID has caused a lot of change, more specifically, a lot of unwanted change. I wasn’t ready to completely adjust my life to wearing masks and not hugging my friends, but that’s how things are. Sure, I could see it as my glass being half empty, but wouldn’t that also mean that my glass is half full?

Perspective.

We’ve all been given the opportunity to see the good in this unprecedented situation

and to rise above it. To see these obstacles not just as something to get over, but as something to learn from. We have that capability. To turn our adversity into triumph. To not only adapt to the adversity, but to come up with new ways to see things in a brighter perspective. We’ve all had this curve ball that we call COVID-19 thrown at us. We’ve all been dealing with the insanities that have accumulated in 2020.

It’s impacting all aspects of our lives.

So whether it’s one of those days where you wake up 5 minutes before your Zoom lecture and leave your camera off because you’re wearing pajamas, or when you wake up ready to be the most productive version of yourself possible, know that it’s your decision to see things better than they are, to be as grateful as you can for the opportunity of growth that this year has given you, and to be ready to get up each day and continue to triumph over your turmoil.

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Student Voices

graphic by Hannah Ury

Travel Guide to Colorado With our campus being in such a beautiful state, we thought that we should share some of our favorite places to go in Colorado. You might want to add these places to your Colorado bucket list.

Sarah Gomez: A personal summer favorite of mine is Breckenridge, it's an hour and a half drive from campus but it is absolutely amazing. This is an autumn must see for the changing leaves, and if you're looking for a fun Halloween activity, there are ghost tours offered both during the day and evening.

Amy Reglin: If you are looking for a weekend getaway or a quick day trip then Leadville is the place for you. Once an old mining town, the feel is still there. I love Leadville for the fact that it is just over 2 hours from campus, and an easy drive. Mountain High Pies has some of the best pizza and wings I have ever had. Leadville is also home to the world's largest saloon. Check AirBnB for some super cute tiny homes, too.

Carly Compesi: One of my favorite hikes that I did this year was Sky Pond, which is part of Rocky Mountain National Park. We arrived early enough to see some amazing stars in the morning and watch the sunrise while on the trail, which I highly recommend for those of you with headlamps. To get to the very top, you have to climb up the side of a waterfall, but even as someone with a fear of heights, I consider the view to be worth the climb.

Photo top right by Carly Compesi Morgan Jacobus: A fun place my roommate and I went to is the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. It is a beautiful area, and there are different trails and hikes you can go on depending on how far you want to hike and what you want to see. It was about an hour and a half from campus, so it is not too far, but makes for a fun day adventure. Bring some water and snacks, and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Photo middle and bottom right by Morgan Jacobus

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Student Voices - 19

JOIN THE HIGHLANDER We are calling all writers, photographers, designers, artists, poets, reviewers, opinionated people, social media gurus, and everyone in between! If you are interested in sharing your creativity and having your voice heard, email Morgan Jacobus about joining the Highlander at mjacobus001@regis.edu

Follow us on Instagram @ruhighlander Check out our website ruhighlander.org

Cover and back cover photos by Jacob Garcia