INKED UPp. 6 25 YEARS AT THE CAMPBELL CAMPUS p.38 RJ SPECIAL OLYMPICS p. 18
CAPSTONE REFLECTIONS p. 10
Effects of Marijuana On The Teenage Brain
p. 32
REGIS JESUIT | AURORA, CO Vol. 1 Issue 5 | May 2016
WHAT’S INSIDE
I I.
CAPSTONE REFLECTIONS pg. 10-13
II.
RJ NATION pg. 14-15
2 May 2016 | Issue 5
III
II
IV
III.
RJ SPECIAL OLYMPICS pg. 18-23
IV.
THE CIRCUS pg. 28-30
V
VI
V.
MENTAL ILLNESS MYTH vs. FACT pg. 24-25
VI.
VII
VIII
VII.
25 YEARS ON CAMPBELL CAMPUS pg. 38-41
HERO: FREDDIE INGHAM pg. 36-37
VIII.
SPRING SPORTS pg. 49 3
STAFF
ELEVATE MAGAZINE Colin Byrne ‘16 & Maddie Merritt ‘16............Editors In Chief Patrick Britti ‘17, Mary Emmerling ‘16............Copy Editors Jorge Paredes ‘18 ..........Art Direction / Graphic Illustrator Patrick Britti, Cole Ancell, Jack Diaz-Doherty, Fiona Murphy, Nathan Shutts, Tommy Gaessler, Anastasia Conley, Jason Lewis, Jorge Paredes, Erin Biafore, Erika Rasmussen, Maddi Emerson, Victoria Casaretto, Ryan Maxfield, Maddie Munger, Matthew Pawlowski, Casen Dunn, Liam Ireland, Austin Woosley, Erin McMahon, Claudia Leon, Jade Valenzuela, Bianca Abbott, Addi Blocher, Mary Fuselier,Ana Kistle, Miranda Krenek, Agok Mabil, Annika Mayers, Marline McKenrnan, Madison Morroni, Lauren Olczak, Erin Penleton, Katherine Phillips, Megan Preiss, Isabel Sevilla, Caroline Soro, Brynne Stevens, Heather Wilhelm, Whitney Wiser, ........... Staff Reporters
RJTODAY.ORG & SOCIAL MEDIA Anastasia Conley ‘18................... Web Editor Patrick Britti ‘17 .......................... Web, Social Media Editor
RJTV & RJ RADIO Jack Diaz-Doherty ‘16, Fiona Murphy ‘16, Patrick Britti ‘17, Matthew Bornhorst ‘19, Sam Bornhorst ‘17, Kyle Schwulst’18, Nick Sangalis’18....................RJ Radio Hosts Tyler Ballinger ‘16, Nick Sangalis ‘18, Matthew Bornhorst ‘19, Sam Bornhorst ‘17, Kyle Schwulst, Patrick Britti ‘18, Tyler Ballinger ‘16, Abok Mabil ‘19, Carly Schwulst,’18 Sam Bornhorst ‘17, .......................RJTV Sports Network Adam Dawkins ‘98 & Jason Ell ‘04 & Ryan Doyle............ Advisers Jorge Paredes ‘18................... Cover Design Casen Dunn ‘16 ‘................ ....RJ Nation Map
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RJ Media [Elevate Magazine, rjtoday.org, RJTV and RJTV Sports Network] operates as a limited-open forum for student free expression. The publications are for the students, by the students. 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. The student Editorial Board will have final say in the content of the publications. 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.
EDITORIAL POLICIES
RJ MEDIA
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 rjtoday.org/policy Read our full Editorial Policies at rjtoday.org/about
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! 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
WHAT TIME IS IT? SUMMER-TIME! It’s our vacation! With summer only two weeks away, the senioritis could not be more real; however, here in the media lab we have been hard at work. This final magazine is our last hurrah before vacation, and we cold not be more proud of the work we have accomplished and the stories we have gathered. We would just like to take time to say thank you for having us as your editors over these past two years. You have been our best audience, and we are grateful to have shared in these moments with you. This magazine should serve as a memento of some of the time spent here at Regis Jesuit, and will continue after we leave because of wonderful people like you. Thank you for all that you do, and we will be sure to come back and visit.
YOUR EDITORS, MADDIE MERRITT ‘16 AND COLIN BYRNE ‘16
5
Inked Up PULLING THE SLEEVES BACK By Austin Woosley‘16
Mr. Walsweer, a highly decorated tattoo enthusiast and teacher at Regis Jesuit, is passionate about the psychology behind the ink. Walsweer’s body is decorated with many tattoos that represent significant aspects of his life. “The skeletal phoenix and bodily phoenix on my arms represent rebirth in death and rebirth in life,” Walsweer says. He has all sorts of tattoos ranging from a dragon on his back, a hand of cards on his shoulder, a lightning bolt on his hip, and yes, even a lower back tattoo (that has since been covered up). Mr. Walsweer’s life came into question during his late 20’s when doctors found numerous tumors on his lungs. The doctors attributed the presence of these tumors to lung cancer. They only gave Walsweer a few years to live as there was nothing they could do but watch. Walsweer reached a point where he was trying to experience all aspects of life within a few years. “I wasn’t willing to buy a new pair of shoes because I thought it was a waste of money; because I thought I was going to die.” This period in his life contributed a lot to his tattoo collection. “I have a lot of ‘luck’ tattoos from before the doctors said it wasn’t lung cancer because I was appealing for luck. I also have some from after the doctors said they were wrong and I was going to live because I felt like I just had the biggest break of my life,” Walsweer says. “Luck plays an important roll in your existence, especially when you come out of something as dark as what I went through.” The largest tattoo Walsweer has is the Chinese dragon on his back. “It’s not a menacing dragon,” he says. “It’s another good luck thing.” A full back tattoo is one of the most painful tattoos a person can receive, but many recipients see it as an opportunity to test their ability to endure pain, both physically and emotionally. “When you look at something you’ve sat through, espe-
6 May 2016 | Issue 5
Chris Walsweer, history teacher at Regis Jesuit, talks about the psychology behind his tattoos.
7
Tattoos by the
Numbers 32%
claim to be addicted to inking
21,000
Tattoo Parlors in the US
45
million Americans have tattoos
17%
regret getting the tattoos
1.65
billion dollars spent on tattoos annually
According to Pew 8 May 2016 | Issue 5 Research Center
cially a full back, it’s this period of insane meditation. One wants to experience this archetype on a pain level as well as a psychological level. The pain inherent in tattooing was a means of experiencing the life I really feared was going away,” Walsweer says. Despite Mr. Walsweer’s appreciation of meaningful and psychological tattoos, not all of them are deeply rooted in psychological meanings. “I have a tattoo that’s straight up funny, “ he says.“I love racing bikes and I am incredibly scrawny, so I put the biggest engine you can possibly have on my calf. I hope people get the joke because I understand that my calves are not the equivalent of a 502 engine.” The oldest physical evidence of tattooing came from a 3,500 year old man named Ötzi who was frozen in ice. In the Māori culture, a Polynesian tribe located in New Zealand, members would enter into a tattoo tent to endure a extremely painful inking procedure. In the earliest times of tattooing, sharpened bone was used to make outlines on the skin, then a chisel was used to embed the ink. The longer somebody would stay in the tent, the higher up the person would be regarded by the tribe. Some would come out after an hour or two and others would go for days or even die. “Life is very hard, and if In addition to rich history, that’s what gets people tattooing’s Mr. Walsweer’s thesis on through it, power to the psychology behind them for finding a way. tattoos explores many possible theories as to It helped me why people feel the need to get tattooed. considerably.” One such theory is that -Mr. Walsweer modern humans, men in particular, have lost various traditions and rites of passage relating to manhood. Tattoos give people a sense of belonging whether it be to a tribe or counter culture way of life. People also use tattoos as coping mechanisms. Sitting down for hours with a needle in your side can be very therapeutic and helps people venture into previously undiscovered parts of their mind. The psychological need for belonging and being a part of a group is a strong driving force behind getting a tattoo. After visiting a Navajo reservation base, Mr. Walsweer got another tattoo because he saw the brotherhood in the tribe and envied the connection the tribe members had. “Those silly first tattoos, like the Jerry Lopez lightning bolt on my hip, were a belonging thing I think. It was a need for inclusion,” Walsweer says. After a deep analysis of his tattoos, Walsweer doesn’t regret inking most of his body. “You have to remember that these tattoos are, in some form or another, the manifestation of sub-conscious insecurities or defense mechanisms,” he says. “Life is very hard, and if that’s what gets people through it, power to them for finding a way. It helped me considerably.” With that being said, Walsweer doesn’t endorse reckless tattooing. “My advice would be to wait until you know where your life is going. I’ve made horrible tattooing mistakes and every one was from when I was young.” People across the world embed colorful ink into their skin. Whether it be a New Guinean tribe member with face tattoos to indicate family lineage, or a student at Regis Jesuit portraying their religious beliefs, each person who gets a tattoo holds it close to their heart.
What's underneath the ink Joe Jarman
Tattoos are becoming increasingly more popular as younger and younger people get inked. According to Pew Research Center, 38% of people from 18-29 years old have at least one tattoo. Senior Joe Jarman received his first tattoo in 2014, one year after his older brother Jake passed away. The tattoo was designed by Jarman himself and then traced onto the upper part of his back. “It was something I really wanted to do for a long time. I wanted a remembrance and something that would be with me for the rest of my life,” Jarman says. Most people are afraid of the pain of tattooing, but Jarman isn’t. “The expectation definitely exceeds the reality. Mine was relatively simple and I was only in there for an hour and a half,” he says. “Some people go for multiple sessions over the course of days.” Now, more than two years after getting the tattoo, Jarman is glad he did it. The placement was the hardest part of planning for Jarman he said, but the back felt right. “My brother always had my back and now watches over me,” Jarman says.
Mrs. Sherwood
Mrs. Sherwood may not be the first teacher you think of when talking about tattoos at Regis Jesuit, but just because you haven’t seen her tattoos doesn’t mean she doesn’t have any. In fact, she uses her skin as a canvas. “My tattoos make me into me” Sherwood says. “The first tattoo I ever got was on my shoulder and it is a memorial tattoo for one of my friends that died when I was 18 years old.” After her first tattoo, she got many more, mostly of her favorite bands, such as Dag Nasty and Down By Law. Yes, Mrs. Sherwood is a punk rock fan to her core. “From age 13-33 I shaved my head. I never wanted a full head of hair,” Sherwood says. With her head shaved, another tattoo is visible. “It’s my name. It says ‘Mikulich’ across the back of my head and it has a symbol of my family, my grandfather as well,” Sherwood says. Sherwood started covering her tattoos up once she became a teacher. Although Regis Jesuit has never told Sher-
Ali Timlin
wood or Walsweer to keep their tattoos covered, they do it out of respect to the establishment. Sherwood says, “Tattoos were a totally different thing 25 years ago. Especially being a woman, I knew I had to cover them up and I was fine with that.” When most people see a big biker guy with tattoos, they often times do not feel a connection. “Whenever I saw someone that was tattooed, I knew I was safe. It sounds weird but it was something I could talk to them about,” Sherwood says. “With tattoos becoming more mainstream, I don’t feel that immediate kinship anymore.” Sherwood’s tattoos aren’t as psychologically deep as others may be, but she enjoys them just the same. “I saw beauty in tattoos and I wanted beauty. I wanted to improve myself and I wanted the decoration and I wanted all of that and I still do,” Sherwood says. “It’s such an enhancement in my eyes.”
After her service trip to Nicaragua, Senior Ali Timlin sat for her first tattoo. There was a girl by the name of Fabiola that Timlin really connected with during her time down there. “As different of a world that we lived in, our experiences were very similar,” Timlin says. “It really gave me some perspective on life.” The tattoo is Fabiola’s name in her own hand writing. With Fabiola being in Nicaragua and without means of communication, it’s nearly impossible for the two to stay in touch. The summer trip to Nicaragua this year is taking down letters to maintain the relationships made on the last trip. Although she doesn’t show it off much, those who have seen her tattoo appreciate it. “People think it’s a really cool tattoo. My mom, who cried when she saw my brother’s first tattoo, said that if it helps me, then she’s OK with it,” says Timlin. Timlin really likes her tattoo and although it was annoying, she says the “idea that it’s permanent and important to me is appealing.” Timlin plans on getting more tattoos, including the coordinates of her first home. 9
THE E N O T S P CA EXPERIENCE A Look Into The Meaning Behind Six Capstones By Nathan Shutts, Tori Casaretto & Erin McMahon ‘16
“Can I have an ice cream sundae, extra fudge, with a cherry on top?” It may just sound like an order at Dairy Queen, but the last five words are used much more frequently as a representation of the “final touch” on something that is already very good. At Regis Jesuit, Capstone projects are essentially the “cherry on top” for seniors to reflect on High School as they prepare for the next step in their lives. Every capstone project shows the individuality of Regis Jesuits student body. Just like no two students are the same, no two projects are the same. Much like the retreats offered by the school, every student gets something different from creating their four year reflection. There are no limitations on
10 May 2016 | Issue 5
what can be built or created, the only guideline is what it has to represent: a Grad at Grad based reflection on how the Regis Jesuit experience has shaped each student. Throughout both divisions, the class of 2016 has shown unique new levels of creativity that truly culminate the message that Regis Jesuit intended to leave us with; being men and women with and for others. From day one as freshmen, The Grad at Grad (Graduate at Graduation) is presented to students and their families as the image of what it looks like to be a graduate of RJ: A man or woman who is Open To Growth, Intellectually Competent, Religious, Loving, and Committed To Doing Justice.
Representation: Plaster Head Matt Roark
While many High Schoolers spend all four years trying to avoid being labeled as “different”, Matt Roark embraces it. “Not having hair has made me stand out so much in my life, and I’m actually thankful for it. I’ve had opportunities that I probably wouldn’t have otherwise had if I didn’t stand out so much,” says Roark. As a final send off from Regis Jesuit, Matt wanted to embrace who he is while showing how RJ has molded him into who he has become. “The back of my head with the signatures represents ‘Loving’. It’s a demonstration of some of the friends I’ve made and people that have impacted me while I’ve been at Regis, and it’s meant to be a reminder of the love, memories, and people that I have to fall back on. They act as my safety net. The front of my head is blank, because it represents my being open to growth.”
11
Representation: Sculpture Emma Braun “My Grad at Grads were ‘Loving’ and ‘Open to Growth’. I choose these two because ‘Open to Growth’ is something that every Regis grad experiences and I recognize that I have grown a lot since I started, more than I ever thought. I chose ‘Loving’ because Regis taught me that loving other people isn’t something that just happens, but is something you have to actively choose. And I think choosing to love everyone is something amazing. Since one of my Grad at Grads was ‘Loving’, A big part of my capstone talked about how my service projects taught me how to love. Regis put me in places I may have never thought about as a place that needed service. In giving up two weeks, you really learn how to recognize that even the smallest signs of need can mean a lot once you figure out how to help. The one thing I want to say to the underclassmen is that you shouldn’t take anything for granted. Regis is a place where even the smallest of actions in day-to-day life can impact you. So, stay open and be ready for anything.”
Representation: Plaster Chest Ashton West Hard work, Leadership, Failure, Sacrifice, Openness, Commitment, and Pain all have one thing in common. They are all key pieces to senior Ashton West's path to success. "The words written on the body represent the values that have allowed me to become who I am today and aspects I focus on when attempting to reach my goals," said West. "In order to achieve anything, hard work has always been one of the most important aspects in my life. It allowed me to push myself and grow as I worked towards my objectives." 12 May 2016 | Issue 5
Representation: Rubix Cube
The Guinness World Record for fastest time to solve a Rubik’s cube is a only 4.90 seconds, but for RJ senior Brendan Erickson, it was a four year experience. Through the Graduate at Graduation ideals taught at RJ, this six sided puzzle represents the finding of ones self that Regis Jesuit has provided for Brendan. “Basically,
all but one side represents an aspect of Grad at Grad and only after each of those sides are solved I can solve the last side, representing my senior year, and I can graduate,” said Erickson.
Representation: Mosaic of stones Olivia Froelhlich “My Grad at Grad is ‘Loving’. I chose ‘Loving’ because I have been able to experience love at Regis through my sisters despite any obstacle that I have faced. Regis has allowed me to open my eyes and my heart to see the love in the world and to recognize the pure love God has for us. I want to say thank you Regis for creating a home for me over the past four years and thank you God for allowing me to have the life I have.” Revann Sirokman “My Grad at Grad was ‘Religious’. I chose to do ‘Religious’ because I felt like my faith has expanded through out my four years at Regis through the community. I associate Regis with this sense of community and how welcoming it is here. As I leave in the upcoming weeks, I just want to say thank you to all of the people that helped me grow into who I am today. I will definitely miss Regis and it will always hold a special place in my heart.”
Representation: Photo Collage
13
11 Colorado Schools
12 California Schools00
RJNATION
WHERE THE CLASS OF 2016 IS HEADED 14 May 2016 | Issue 5
116 Schools
1,980 miles
Farthest distance from home (BC)
8 Schools in New York & Ohio
2 IVY LEAGUE SCHOOLS
39
STATES
15
Do you like food? Ben surely does. Despite getting a 35 on his ACT the traditional college path was not for him. He believes that the culinary route is better for him. “My dream is to end up with my own restaurant and being the head chef there.” He cares about his education at Regis; however, Berman states, “It’s hard to be motivated in school when it isn’t very relevant to your future.” He wants to be all over billboards, the news, and media about how great his restaurant is and he wont stop making food until that comes true. Living in a big city, owning his own restaurant, that sounds like living the dream for Ben Berman.
Ben Berman
THE
ROAD
LESS
TRAVELED
By Casen Dunn ‘16
Jared Marien
16 May 2016 | Issue 5
Jared's post high school career doesn't involve him going to college, but instead, helping people. He wants to go into being a pararescue and a combat medic for the United States Air Force immediately after finishing high school. Even though 90 percent of hopeful combatants fail out of pararescue training, Jared clearly states, "I could totally fail out of pararescue like 90 percent of people that apply do, but I don't plan on it. I won't quit!" It is likely that he could get deployed right out of high school to go over seas. 2 years ago, when Marien discovered this job, and how many people he could help and rescue, he immediately knew it was the job for him. After his pararescue job (probably 10 years), he plans to go back to school and get his degree (with the help of the Air Force). Jared's aspiration is to help people, and he thinks this opportunity will put him on the path to do so. Jared will undergo Air Force Basic Military Training, Air Force Pararescue / Combat Rescue Officer Development Course, Air Force Underwater Egress Training, Army Airborne School, and Air Force Pararescue EMT-Paramedic Course.
Tommy Gaessler
Chibueze Agwu
After his two older brothers attended Santa Clara, Chibueze set the goal to leave his unique mark. He worked extremely hard throughout his high school career, taking a range of difficult classes and attaining a 4.2 GPA. Setting his sights on a top-tier college, he also involved himself in extracurricular activities like Track and Field, Select Choir, and DAG. Ultimately, he was given admission offers from U Chicago, Wash U in St. Louis, and Emory. He ultimately is choosing Wash U because it “felt like the right vibe.” He wants to major in a very unique blend of Neuroscience, Psychology, and Philosophy.
Luke spent last summer in Mexico, where he gained a new social and cultural experience and stepped far beyond his comfort zone. After all the traveling, he decided to stay in-state for college and chose CU Boulder. In reflecting upon the decision, he recalls, “I always thought I wanted to be a doctor, until I was working on a service journal and suddenly thought more about the question of social justice.” Barbier states, “Ultimately, I realized that the best way I could be God’s instrument is as an engineer.” Broadening his mind late in the game, he decided to apply to CU’s well-respected school of engineering, specifically studying electrical and computer engineering. He also was accepted to a highly selective program for “global engineers”, largely because he is now fluent in Spanish. Luke hopes to one day incorporate his passion for economics and leadership by starting a tech company. Although he does hope to make a lot of money in the process, his deep faith reminds him that he is called to give it away.
Tommy’s path after high school does not involve college. He begins his 6 month training for a program called Galvanize in June. Galvanize is a coding company in which he can learn front end and back end development and have the title “full stack developer”. After his 6 month training he will have a 97 percent chance of getting a job before Christmas and have a minimum starting salary of 77k. Gaessler’s goal is to start his own company before his peers are out of college. “I’m still a young kid, so what do I have to lose?” Tech jobs are in such high demand and you don’t need a 4 year college to get them, and Tommy is planing on capitalizing on this opportunity.
Luke Barbier
17
18 May 2016 | Issue 5
SPECIAL
A
REVIEW
OLYMPICS YEAR IN By Ryan Maxfield ‘16
“Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.” These words are simple, but incredibly encouraging. They also create the motto for all Special Olympics athletes. Special Olympics was founded in 1968 in Chicago, IL. Since then, the program has spread to all 50 states and over 170 countries. In 1969, Special Olympics began in Colorado, and has grown to the point where the organization currently serves over 20,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities. They provide over 100 events annually and operate in 166 different schools. Until recently, Regis Jesuit was not one of those schools, but Mrs. Jane Whitley helped change this.
Regis Jesuit students had been assisting with Special Olympics events, but there was no formal club. Whitley was approached with the task becoming the moderator of the club, and her background was influential on her decision. “My sister was really, really involved with working with special needs kids and my dad was on the board of several different organizations for special needs kids, so it’s just always been a big part of my life,” says Whitley, who has been the moderator of the club ever since. Under Whitley’s supervision, the club has blossomed into the biggest club at Regis Jesuit, with 259 members. This year, members have helped to run
flag football, golf, and bowling events. They also have coached and played as partners on the Unified basketball team, which was formed four years ago, and the Unified soccer team that began this spring. Mile High Regional Manager of Special Olympics Sam Miller has seen the work that the RJ club has done first hand. “It isn’t your typical group of high school kids, and there is something different about them,” says Miller. “The RJ Special Olympics Club is a group of extraordinary people that have such big hearts for Special Olympics athletes.” The impact of the RJ Special Olympics club has been felt well beyond just the RJ 19
SPECIAL OLYMPICS BY THE
NUMBERS
259
MEMBERS 2015 DANCE MARATHON RAISED
$8,300 2016 DANCE MARATHON
$11,600 TOTAL AMOUNT OF MONEY RAISED OVER THE LAST 3 YEARS
$21,000+
20 May 2016 | Issue 5
community. The club has become a model for other schools seeking to create a program. 7NEWS Denver recently did a piece about the money raised during the Dance Marathon hosted at RJ by the club. The turnout was large and the event raised $11,600 for Special Olympics. In the last three years the club has raised over $21,000. The Unified teams have been a great experience for Regis Jesuit students and Special Olympics athletes alike. RJ
that Special Olympics is always a highlight of her day. “No matter what kind of mood you’re in or they’re in, they’re always going to have a smile on their face, and they’re always going to put a smile on your face. It just makes your world a little brighter,” Buehler says. One of the new things that Special Olympics has incorporated this year is including the teams in more than just sports. Last fall, the Unified teams worked with the RCLC
“Special Olympics has definitely changed my life. I can’t tell you how much the athletes and partners mean to me. They’ve taught me to enjoy the little things in life and to never let anything keep you from chasing your dreams.” -Ryan Vottiero senior Taylor Bottom has played as a partner and coached for the Unified basketball team for 4 years. “This program isn’t like athletes and partners. It’s combined, and I think with the relationships we’ve created that’s been evident,” she says. Special Olympics athlete Mike Bush has played with the RJ Unified team since its beginning. The outspoken team leader supported Bottom’s statement, saying, “For a lot of the partner athletes, this has been a really good experience because this kind of bridges the social gap between kids with disabilities and kids without.” This year, the unified soccer team has been created as another Unified sports team. Senior Morgan Buehler has played a huge role in the inaugural team and is one of the coaches. She has found
club during a food drive with St. Joe’s parish. Before they delivered food, they met in the Boys Division chapel and shared Mass together. “We weren’t just playing sports with them and having meals but now we started celebrating mass with them and doing service with them and that was really, really awesome,” says Whitley. “It’s been great incorporating the athletes into all that we do here at Regis.” The amount of people joining the club continues to climb, as this year had almost 60 more members. Mike Bush has a message for all students who are considering joining: “I encourage more general Ed kids to get involved with Special Olympics because it’s just a great opportunity.”
“Special Olympics is really humbling to see how fortunate you are to have all the opportunities you have, but at the same time you understand that they don’t take anything for granted and enjoy so much of life even though they don’t have all that we have.” -Ace Escobedo ‘16
“Special Olympics creates a family where there is no competition; only support, acceptance, and love.” -Mary Emmerling ‘16
“The athletes in Special Olympics have taught me to look at life with joy no matter the circumstances. I am beyond thankful for special Olympics and the experiences it has given me.” -Haylee Blach ‘16
“Special Olympics has changed my life in so many different ways and all for the better. I can’t thank God enough for each and everyone one of the partners and athletes, they’re such amazing people. I learned more about myself than I ever have before and was manifest to the truly important things in life.” -AJ Fell ‘16
“Special Olympics is more than just a club. It becomes a family.” Kate McDonald ‘17
21
MEET THE CLUB MOTHER
By: Heather Wilhelm & Megan Preiss ‘18
Mrs. Jane Whitley
Mrs. Whitley is beloved by all students who are blessed with meeting her. From her quirky humor, to the beautiful stories and life experiences she has to offer, it is no wonder Mrs. Whitley is such an important part of our community. She has worked at Regis Jesuit High School for the past ten years while also being the moderator for the Special Olympics Club. Every morning Mrs. Whitley gets to school early and polishes the digital and verbal announcement plans. It is her hard work every morning that gives us our announcements over the intercom and on the flat screen outside of the library. So many people don’t realize how she touches each school day in so many different ways. There are so many things that she does for us that we don’t even think about, from ordering and cataloging the books to working behind the scenes in the library and setting up all of the displays. Even with her busy schedule, she always makes time for others. She is always ready to help a student with a problem, or just have a conversation. She has three sons who have all graduated from Regis. The elder two are fraternal twins and the youngest looks like a perfect mix of his big brothers. Mrs. Whitley has enjoyed seeing them, along with thousands of other students, graduate from Regis Jesuit, as they grow in their faith and service to others. Mrs. Whitley has been serving at Regis Jesuit for over ten year, but it feels much longer than that.
“I feel like I have been a part of the Regis community for well over 18 years,” Whitley says. Even before working here, Mrs. Whitley was already impacting the community through her countless hours of volunteering. Her heart for others and her loving presence impacts everyone she meets, and leaves a lasting impression on every one who knows her. Most of her time and energy, however, is spent giving to the Special Olympics of Colorado community, leading the club at Regis Jesuit to supply volunteers and tirelessly organize fundraising opportunities. Mrs. Whitley has been the moderator of Special Olympics for nine years. Since she first started with it, the club has been improved and has more people joining every year and raises tens of thousands of dollars for Special Olympics. Mrs. Whitley is extraordinarily proud of how the club has expanded. “When we first started, it was just about ten, fifteen girls and a few boys, and now we’re into one club and have over two hundred members... It’s crazy!” There have been many times that Mrs. Whitley has felt the love from the Regis Jesuit family in her time here. Two years ago she shared with the seniors in the Girl’s Division that her daughter, Caitlyn, died at an early age. On her daughter’s birthday the seniors came to Mrs.Whitley, brought flowers and a cake, and sang Happy Birthday to the daughter that she had lost. “It was the most filled moment with love I have ever seen,” she recalls. “It was just really awesome.”
“When we first started, it was just about ten, fifteen girls and a few boys, and now we’re into one club and have over two hundred members. It’s crazy!” -Mrs. Whitley
GOLF TOURNAMENT July
What
happened
RCLC FOOD DRIVE September
this year?
RJ Special Olympics Timeline
22 May 2016 | Issue 5
BOWLING TOURNAMENTS September
FLAG FOOTBALL October
From the Top: Mrs. Whitley at her desk in the library where she lovingly greets every student that walks through the doors; Whitley shoots video of her beloved club members at the Dance Marathon; the Special Olympics club leaders honor Mrs. Whitley for all of her hard work and leadership.
UNIFIED BASKETBALL
December- February
POLAR PLUNGE January
SPREAD THE WORD RALLY March
UNIFIED SOCCER April
Dance Marathon March 23
MYTH
Anyone with autism cannot be a functioning part of society, and you will certainly know when an individual has autism. They’re all really weird and they don’t fit into regular life like the rest of us.
FACTS
TRUTH
The affects of ASD on an individual can vary. They can be significant, making their life a lot harder than it has to be, or the effects can be almost invisible unless you pay close attention to the individual. In fact, it can be a good thing in certain scenarios. Those with ASD are generally really good at things like mathematics and chemistry.
ASD costs a family $60,000 annually on average. Boys are nearly five times more likely to have ASD than girls. Autism is more common than childhood cancer, diabetes, and AIDS all combined.
STIGMATIZED: MYTH
Understanding the Truth behind Mental Illness
All of those people who have depression are either looking for attention or crazy and suicidal. They don’t see how much they have and are selfish enough to think that they deserve more.
FACTS
TRUTH
Depression actually has almost nothing to do with either selfishness or suicide. Suicidal thoughts or actions can be a side affect of depression, but not all of those with this illness are suicidal. It can be situational depression, which is kind of like trauma. It’s just the way your body reacts to a certain situation. Other times it can be hereditary, and so if your parents are or have been depressed, your disposition to suffering from it can be increased. Depression is just a chemical imbalance in your brain–nothing to do with personality or character.
One in four young adults will have experienced a depressive episode before the age of 24. People with depression are more prone to contract illnesses such as colds than those without it.
24 May 2016 | Issue 5
MYTH
The truth is that people with ADHD don’t have issues paying attention. They just have problems paying attention to the right things. To be honest, people with ADHD are much more than hyper freaks. ADHD can be a lot of work. Once you have ADHD, it’s a life long disorder. It never goes away, and there is no permanent fix. The best analogy that can be given would be a plane. Imagine a simple plane: It can fly fine, it doesn’t take a lot of experience to work, and it’s absolutely functional. Now imagine a more complicated plane: It would need a lot more work to be able to control it, but when you can harness its power, you can go places and do things that you couldn’t with the normal plane. Now think of the two planes as people without ADHD and those with it. The ADHD brain is harder to control and more complicated, but the power behind the mind works in your favor if you can learn to control its power.
FACTS
TRUTH
People with ADHD are often seen in the public eye as one of two things: someone who can’t control themselves and have no attention to pay to anything, or fakes.
Males are almost four times more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than females. Many people with ADHD also struggle with having a healthy diet.
MYTH
Story & Graphics By: Addi Blocher ‘19
TRUTH
Those with OCD are just obsessed with organization. They want everything to be clean and have to make sure that everything is always clean. Their life is spent organizing and cleaning.
Yes, individuals with OCD can sometimes be concerned with organization, but that isn’t all that the disorder represents. When something isn’t the way they want it, for example something is out of order, they obsess over it. It often causes anxiety and leads to severe panic attacks.
FACTS
On average, individuals are diagnosed with OCD when they are nineteen years old. In the U.S. One of every forty adults and one of every hundred children face OCD. It is not uncommon for individuals with OCD to have anxiety, panic attacks, or both along with OCD.
25
CLASSROOM CINEMA Learning From Movies and Videos By Jack Diaz Doherty ‘16 & Cole Ancell ‘16
The first motion picture was of a horse galloping, created by a man named Edward Muybridge in 1878. Since then, film has taken over pop culture and helped to shape society as we know it. Often overlooked, cinema helps educate and inspire students. Usually when a student hears a teacher say “movie”, they hear “break time.” The reason students are stuck with this idea that a movie isn’t something they should study carefully, like a book or essay, is because they have gotten used to teachers using movies as a time filler. “A lot of movies are made for the purpose of entertainment, but if we could somehow manage to flip that around and make the initial exposure of film in an educational setting, kind of how books typically are, then 26 May 2016 | Issue 5
that could potentially flip the script,” says Mr. Ryan Doyle, current ASC in both the Boys and Girls Divisions. The problem is not that students don’t appreciate films, but how they view them. The average student, apart from those with a passion for film, don’t often analyze a movie in a critical and academic way. An essential part of how film should be taught is the way teachers prep for the film. Movies, while entertainment, can often include highly educational moments, and sometimes gives the students a better representation of the material. Sometimes the key is to not even show the entire movie, but rather clips and scenes from movies related to the subject. A perfect example is James Cameron’s ‘Titanic’. The climatic
ending is a beautifully shot sequence, rich with historical visuals for the students. So, while the main story about Jack and Rose may not be helpful when talking about the famous ship sinking, the film, in only 15 minutes offers a better visual representation of that event than any other medium. Movies also affect each student in a different way. Some students find reading complex and tiresome, so film can often excite their brain when it comes to the source material or future books. Beyond just read-
CINEMA ESSENTIALS FOR THE CLASSROOM The Tree Of Life “It is just a genius way to show the juxtaposition of nature and humanity. There is no true coherent story line, so it’s captivating to see how the students analyze and engage with a movie with so many layers.” - Bruno
Shutter Island “Considering some of the courses that we teach here like theology or psychology, I think Shutter Island would be a good film to do because of the psychological ramifications that occur. There are tons of different ways you could go about it and it would encourage the students to think outside of the box and make their own opinions instead of just what the teacher is lecturing. And I feel like that film within itself isn’t appreciated enough in the academic world.”- Doyle
ing, movies have shown to increase student’s comprehension when learning. A large part of that increase is due to the visual stimulation that students receive from film. “There’s a clip that I use from the film ‘Somewhere’, that’s worked wonders with my Sophomores,” says Boys Division English teacher Mr. Bryan Bruno. “In the opening scene the character drives his car around in a circle for about 5 minutes and it’s just one shot, very alone, very desolate. Then I pause it. Say nothing, and I make them tell me what they think the scene means, and it’s fascinating to see by the end that they all get exactly what [Sophia] Coppola was going for.” Through this visual experience, students are often introduced to more diverse cultures through more than just words. This gives students a more immerse interaction by way of connecting what they’re seeing with the subject at hand. For instance, showing the 2002 Steven Spielberg film “Catch Me If You Can” for the senior forensics class gives the students a broader perspective on what they learned. While a slightly fictionalized version of the story of master forger Frank Abagnale Jr., the film still gives the students an in depth look into how the material they’re studying effects the real world. Film is an essential piece of culture all around the world. Students are being groomed to think that movies offer nothing more than a break from class time, and that films are only made for their entertainment. But, in reality, film is a beautiful and timeless art form with endless possibilities to educate and enrich the lives of student all over the world.
The Best Movies to show in class Science- 2001: A Space Odyssey Often considered the greatest science fiction movie of all time, this is a perfect film to show how nature and progression and a deep look into humanity.
Math- Pi Famed director Darren Aronofsky’s breakthrough picture, “Pi” is a heart racing film, that uses math and religion as a way to make the audience question everything they know.
History- 12 Years a Slave A look into the darkest time in America’s history, this best picture winner portrays the incredible true story of Solomon Northup, a man who survived and lived to tell the horrors of Slavery.
English- Dead Poets Society Starring Robin Williams in what may be his most legendary performance of his career, this story of how one teacher shook the foundations of an all boys school, through nothing more than poetry and individuality, is a film that resonates with students today.
PsychologyEternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind While Jim Carrey is often known for his loud and obnoxious humor, he completely transforms in this 2004 indie film. A heartbreaking look at love, the movie brilliantly shows the way our minds handle sorrow.
27
THE CIRCUS Breaking Down the 2016 Presidential Election By Mary Emmerling ‘16 and Brynne Stevens ‘18
HILLARY CLINTON
DONALD TRUMP
Favors more comprehensive background checks before purchasing a gun
Harsher punishment for violent criminals No regulation on types of guns sold
People have the right to buy guns with sensible regulations
“Making the United States the clean energy superpower of the 21st century”
The concept of climate change is not a pressing concern and does not need to be funded
Move away from coal and oil End fracking
Pro-choice Funding for family planning
Pro-life Against the funding of Planned Parenthood
Supports a woman’s right to choose Supports safe, legal abortion
Comprehensive immigration reform Try to keep families together
Plans to build a wall on the U.S. and Mexico border to prevent illegal immigrants from entering U.S.
Keep families together Against guest worker programs
Strengthen alliances Defeat ISIS
Enhance interrogation Bring back water boarding
Supports taking in Syrian refugees Spend more to defeat ISIS
Defend Affordable Care Act Protect women’s access to reproductive health care
Full repeal of the Affordable Care Act
Reduce debt for 4 year colleges Refinance student loan debt at current rates
Drop common core Work on local schooling
28 May 2016 | Issue 5
BERNIE SANDERS
More healthcare coverage for those with higher taxes Supports universal health care Low income kids deserve free education (including college) Relieve pressure of student debt
WHAT IS A SUPER DELEGATE?
? Democratic Party only
? People in high positions (I.e. Lawmakers, party officials)
? They can turn the tide between one
candidate and another if the votes of regular delegates are too close ? Their vote isn’t tied down by the primaries, unlike the votes of the delegates
HOW DOES ANYONE GET THE NOMINATION?
? Each state has a primary, and the more
primaries a candidate wins, the more delegate votes they receive at the convention ? The candidate with the most delegate votes receives the nomination ? If the delegate votes are contested, there is a second vote, and the delegates aren’t tied to any candidate ? If the votes still don’t give a clear answer, they keep voting until there’s a majority.
WHAT IS OBAMACARE?
FA Q? PRIMARIES
? Paid for by state government ? Organized poll ? Whoever is chosen by majority
in the primaries floats up to the delegates ? The candidate that wins the most primaries and gets the majority of delegate votes receives the nomination
VS. CAUCUS ? Informal
? Paid for by campaigns
? Each party gets together and polls which candidate they are backing
? Candidates try to convince people to support them
? Expands Medicaid to all adults in many
states ? Improving Medicare for seniors and those with long-term disabilities ? Introduced new taxes and tax breaks ? “Obamacare” is the nickname for the Affordable Care Act that President Obama signed in 2010. ? People with higher incomes have to pay more in taxes so that people who can’t pay as much can afford healthcare.
VIDEO EXTRA!
Mary Emmerling ‘16 & Brynne Stevens ‘18 take a look at the presidential process and talk to Social Studies teacher Mr. Skip Jensen. - Visit rjtoday.org
29
VERY CLOSELY 188 30.4%
OTHER * 75 12.1%
NOT VERY CLOSELY 115 18.6%
SOMEWHAT CLOSELY 315 50.9%
VERY INFORMED 47 7.6%
NOT INFORMED 336 54.4%
SOMEWHAT INFORMED 235 38.0%
EDUCATION 90 14.6%
STUDENT OPINIONS U.S. PRESIDENTIAL RACE WE CONDUCTED AN ANONYMOUS EMAIL SURVEY OF THE ENTIRE STUDENT BODY.
618
I DO NOT THINK IT’S THE SCHOOL’S JOB 164 26.5.%
IMMIGRATION 90 14.6.% TERRORISM 168 27.2.%
YOUR FRIENDS 27 4.4%
SCHOOL 12 1.9%
SOCIAL MEDIA 183 30%
NEWSPAPERS& MAGAZINES 97 15.7%
TV 209 33.8%
Here is what you said.
IT’S THE SCHOOL’S JOB TO GIVE US BASIC INFORMATION, YES 360 58.3% YES 190 30.7%
I CANNOT SUPPORT ANY OF THE CANDIDATES 110 17.8% A THIRD PARTY CANDIDATE 47 7.6%
30 May 2016 | Issue 5
* ECONOMY, LGBT RIGHTS, RACE RELATIONS, FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS, RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
YOUR PARENTS 90 14.6%
AT THIS POINT I REALLY DON’T KNOW 129 20.9%
NO 428 69.3%
ABORTION 67 10.9%
HEALTH CARE 36 5.8%
OF YOU REPLIED. THE SCHOOL SHOULD KEEP US VERY INFORMED 94 15.2%
GUN REGULATION 63 10.2% CLIMATE CHANGE 29 4.7%
HILLARY CLINTON 61 9.9%
DONALD TRUMP 169 27.3%
BERNIE SANDERS 102 16.5%
AROUND THE COMMUNITY
Matthew Zimmerman ‘17 (center), along with the help of friends and family, completed instillation of The Blessed Mary prayer space near the west entrance to the stadium. Zimmerman planned and executed the project as part of his Eagle Scout candidacy.
Remembering Coach Herman By: Austin Woosley ‘16 Jake Herman touched the hearts of many athletes, students, friends, and family members across the nation in his time spent here with us. Jake passed away on January 18th and his memorial service the next week drew almost 1,000 family members and friends to St. Andrew United Methodist Church.
Alexa DeSanctis ‘16 along with her sister Jessica and friend Mehraud Razzaghi started a charity organization that works with Jewell Elementary and Highline Community Elementary to provide kids books to read at home.
This celebration of life was touching and emotional as everybody in the building grieved the loss of such a prominent man in the community. Jake was a science teacher and lacrosse coach at Regis Jesuit High School starting in 2005. He continued to coach and teach after leaving Regis Jesuit in 2012 to go to Mountain Vista High School. Herman’s best friend and current teacher at Regis Jesuit, Antonio Maes, spoke at the memorial. He shared stories of Jake that everyone in the crowd could relate to, especially when he talked about Jake’s booming laugh and radiant energy.
Justin Markel ‘17 played 72 holes of golf in a row on Saturday May 7th, walking close to 25 miles in gusting winds and raising $6,000 in pledges for Boys Hope Girls Hope. Every dollar will be matched, so Justin brought in $12,000 in one day. Justin has been tutoring three eighth grade Boys Hope students in math for the past year, and is committed to helping the organization in any way he can.
Jake Herman will forever be missed and remembered. Below is a link to Jake Herman’s GoFundMe page. The money raised will help Jake’s wife, Erin, set up an educational fund for their two children, Paul (5) and Tobi (3). https://www.gofundme.com/jtk5fayk
31
new research shows damaging effects of marijuana on THE TEENAGE BRAIN
By: Caroline Soro ‘19, Kate Phillips ‘19, Liam Ireland ‘18, Graphic Illustration: Jorge Paredes ‘18
Since the legalization of Marijuana in Colorado in 2014, more and more studies have been funded to test the drug and the effects it has on the brain. A 2014 study by Jodi Gilman, PhD, and her colleagues at the Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Center looked at MRI scans done on young adults from ages 18-25 who smoked Marijuana at least one time in the previous week. This study proved changes in the brain’s shape and in the volume and density of its gray matter. A second study was performed on heavy marijuana users around the age of sixteen. Staci Gruber, PhD looked at subjects who were considered heavy users and who had smoked at least five of the previous seven days. The study revealed that Marijuana causes damage to the brain’s white matter, which causes higher impulsivity in teens younger than sixteen. The brain’s white matter is also involved in communications between neurons. Since, several studies have shown a correlation with long term damage to developing brains. For boys, this is usually until around age twenty-four and girls up to around age nineteen. The same studies are showing that long-term effects of marijuana cannot be found in adult brains - the brains of those who began using the drug after their brains were fully developed. Gina Carbone is a co-founder of “Smart Colorado”, and works to protect youth from the effects of Marijuana. Smart Colorado is a non-profit organization that travels around and appears on television to try and protect teens from the legalization of the drug. In a phone interview, Carbone expressed concern that many teens think because marijuana is legal for those over the age of twenty-one, it does not have harmful effects. “Marijuana interrupts connections being made by your brain,” Carbone said. “It clings to the cannabinoids.” The cannabinoid receptors in your brain influence memory, senses of pleasure and reward, thinking,
32 May 2016 | Issue 5
sensory and time perception, and coordinated movement. These receptors are part of the Endocannabinoid System, which deals with development, emotional control, and cell communication. Smoking Marijuana triggers excessive activity in this system, which causes the release of Dopamine. Dopamine is what creates the sensation of being “high” in the brain’s reward centers. Regular use of marijuana is considered to be once a week. The more frequently THC gets into your body, the more you become dependent on the drug to trigger your senses of pleasure and emotion. A study conducted by Jordan Bechtold, Theresa Simpson, Helene R. White, and Dustin Pardini supports the idea that the teenage brain is especially sensitive to marijuana. Their study examined teenage males to see if adversity affected how marijuana impacted the subjects’ health in the long run based on genetics and developmental patterns. Some of the reported effects included respiratory cancers, cardiac issues, metabolic issues, depression, anxiety, and psychosis. These tests were performed on those specifically around the age of 20. Carbone says that what we have to remember is as teenagers, our brains are still developing. The most effected, undeveloped parts of the brain include the Hippocampus, Cerebellum, Basal Ganglia, Cerebral Cortex, and lastly, the Frontal Cortex. These sections of the brain control learning, memory, coordination, and judgment. Marijuana weakens these parts of the brain, causing effects such as short-term memory loss, issues with walking and slurring sentences, and a lack of judgment and decision making. Terrie Moffitt, PhD, and her colleagues, took a closer at the Dunedin Multi-Disciplinary Health and Development Study from 1972. In this study, the participants were observed from birth until the age of 38. When Moffitt studied the findings from this experiment, she found that persistent adolescent users in particular had a distinctive neuropsychological decline. She looked
EFFECTS ON THE DEVELOPING BRAIN
at mainly those between ages 18, 21, 26, 32, and 38. The impairments from marijuana Hippocampus: Affects use included cognitive issues, Memory and Learning neurotoxic effects on the Influences decision brain, and up to a six point Increase in gray drop in I.Q. making density Carbone says that, Parietal Lobe matter which affects “Adolescents and young adults who regularly use pleasure and marijuana are more likely reward than non users to develop psychotic symptoms.” These psychotic symptoms include disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and borderline personality disorder. “Use of marijuana in high quantities,” said pediatrician, Jody Mathie of Cherry Creek Pediatrics in a phone interview,”Can cause a psychotic episode to occur and force that person into having Damages white matter and affects that mental illness.” Psychotic episodes communication can also result in mood between neurons Affects coordination swings from those using Average loss of 6-8 and balance marijuana who can turn into IQ points an emotional roller coaster. Smoking the drug can cause users to become angry, irritated, tired, upset, etc. What is there are four servings in that specific edshe continues to eat the substance until most concerning, however, is ible, you do not know how high the THC they feel any kind of effect. By that time, the evidence that is mountlevel in that serving is. they have already consumed too much for ing from these newly funded Marijuana edibles can come in all their body to handle. studies that shows that the shapes and sizes. Many of their pack The evidence is clear. Marijuana undeveloped, teenage brain agings look almost identical to those of is only legal in a few states for those 21 is at risk for developing longregular “Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups” or and over. Studies are confirming that term side effects from even “KitKats.” those under the age of 21 are being efmoderate marijuana use. Carbone and her Smart Colorado fected in ways that those over 21 are not. Another issue that team petitioned for a law to be passed Because the adolescent brain is not finhas been magnified by legalsaying that marijuana edible packaging ished growing, the effects of this drug ization is the opportunity should be clearly different from that of can be life-changing - starting first with users have to eat marijuanormal candy bar packagings. This law is your brain development, and second with na-infused edibles rather going to pass in Colorado in October of the decisions you make while intoxicated. than smoking it, which can 2016. “The younger you are, the more be even more dangerous to Eating these edibles intentionally frequently you use it and the stronger the your health. or not can cause extremely damaging potency,” according to Carbone, “Those In Colorado alone, consequences. Unlike smoking marijuaare the determining factors that will deaverage THC levels are over na, the effects of edibles do not set in cide how this is going to affect you.” 17% and can get up to 90%. immediately. It can take up to 2-3 hours On the edible’s packaging, for the user to feel any side effects. Since there will be a serving size, the user cannot feel that they are intoximuch like the “Nutrition cated for that long amount of time, he or Facts” box on any packaged food. One serving is equal to 10 mg of Marijuana. While the package may say that
Frontal Lobe
Occipital Lobe
Temporal Lobe
Cerebellum
33
1
2
3 34 May 2016 | Issue 5
The Winners Circle RJ Competitors Doing Big Things On Big Stages
1 SPEECH & DEBATE District Champion (Emma Braun) Nationals (Jaylem Allen-Durousseau) Presiding Officer of Senate (Morgan Stevens)
6
2 MU ALPHA THETA MATH CLUB
First Place - Algebra & Analysis
3 INVESTMENT CLUB First Place- Junior Achievement Stock Market Challenge
4 POETRY SLAM WINNERS
4
1st - Joi Harvey ‘19 (middle) 2nd -Lily Reich ‘19 (right) 3rd - Amaya Rios ‘19 (left)
5 MOCK TRIAL State Final Qualifier Mock Trial A - #2 in State
6 RJ ROBOTICS Most complicated build to date Made it through 3 qualification matches
5 Reporting by Joshua Barber ‘16. Poetry Slam Photos by: Marline McKernan ‘17; All other photos courtesy of the teams.
35
The
FIRE
that destroyed a home
BUT NOT A
FAMILY
By Maxine Fuselier & Bianca Abbott ‘19, Matthew Pawlowski ‘18
“There was nothing we could’ve done...” Close your eyes, and imagine this: It’s a typical Saturday night and you’re chilling out, just watching TV. You’re home alone with your little brother and his friend, who are playing in another room. Suddenly, you feel an incredible warmth coming up from the floor, and a faint smoky smell creeps into the room. The haze covering the TV screen snaps you out of your daze and you jump up to look out of your window. What you see is terrifying. Flames are climbing the side of your house from the mouth of the garage. You grab your brother, his friend, as many pets as you can hold, and bolt. Before you know it your childhood home, the place you’ve lived your whole life, has been swallowed by flames. As you watch your possessions subdued to ashes, you wish that there was something you could have done. Freddie the Hero This was a very real story for freshman Freddie Ingham and his family. On the night of November 21st, 2015, a lithium battery inside Charlie Ingham’s toy truck caught fire. The moment Freddie realized the fire had started it was already too late. “I smelled smoke and got up to 36 May 2016 | Issue 5
look around the upstairs floor and went back into my room, and I felt warmth underneath my feet,”Freddie said. “I looked outside and there was a giant flame that just came right up through my window.” Within minutes the garage was engulfed in flames. Freddie took action and got the two younger boys, two dogs, and a cat to safety. The boys father, Fred Ingham was out at a RJ Boys Swimming Function at the time of the event and Mrs. Ann Ingham was away in the mountains. When Fred arrived at the scene he went into shock. “He was in tears, he seemed really mad, not so much sad,” Freddie said. Upon hearing the news, the boys mother rushed back from her vacation to console her family and attempt to start picking up the pieces of their suddenly shattered life. “Looking back,” Freddie says, “I couldn’t have stopped the fire anyway because we really didn’t have anything to stop it with. It was too big.” While he admits the accident comes with a lot of guilt, his family and friends continue to call him a hero.  Rebuilding the Future The week following the event, Thanksgiving weekend, was very hard.
“We were all kind of in a shock,” says Freddie. Loss of sleep and paranoia continued to plague the family weeks later. Getting back into school was difficult for both Freddie and his brother. “I couldn’t sit in a place that was silent because my mind would start thinking about the worst things that could happen,” Freddie said. Charlie also admits that he was paranoid at first. “I would get up and look out the window to make sure that everything was okay,” he said. The family now lives in a rental house, which they say they are very fortunate to have found as their old home is being rebuilt. But it isn’t the same, and the process of rebuilding has become, according to Freddie, ”more stress than anything.” The family has struggled with insurance, claiming and recording lost items, repurchasing those items, and dealing with rebuilding. But through the struggle has also come support. Friends and relationships at Regis Jesuit have helped tremendously. “It’s just been awesome,” Freddie says, “everyone’s been there for me.” People he does not even know well are reaching out to him and his family. “I think what helped me the most was that people didn’t want to see me as the kid whose house burned down. They saw me as who I was before the fire,” he said. While the rental house gives them some peace of mind for now, Mr. Ingham says, “you don’t just replace a home. We lived in that home for fourteen years.” They can’t just replace the past and it’s very difficult to leave it behind, but the family has found solace in perspective. “We thought more about the memories instead of the possessions,” Freddie says. “Just because your life turns upside down and you’re trying to put the pieces back together, doesn’t mean your life doesn’t go on,” Mr. Ingham says. “Things don’t matter,” Charlie says. “It’s the people who matter.”
HERO: Freshman Freddie Ingham (seen above with a shaved head for swimming finals) saved his brother, brother’s friend, and four out of the six family pets in a devastating house fire.
MORE ON RJTV RJTV reporter Matthew Pawlowski ‘18 sits down with Freddie, his brother, and his dad to talk about that fateful day.
VISIT RJTODAY.ORG
37
25 Years at the 25 Years at the Campbell Campus Campbell Campus
A look at how the move to Aurora changed Regis Jesuit and its community A look at how the move to Aurora changed Regis Jesuit and its community By Patrick Britti ‘17 A chapter of Regis Jesuit history began when the Class of 1991 graduated. They became the first students to graduate at the Campbell Campus, the fourth and current site of Regis Jesuit High School. In the quarter century since the high school moved from north Denver, the Aurora site has grown from what is now the Girls Division to the sprawling complex seen today. With the development of the land has come development of the community, along with adaption for the 21st century. Reflecting back on these years shows not only how much the school has evolved, but how it has stayed the same.
A New School
“High schools with religious affiliations were considered primarily religious institutions,” Ralph Taylor, a teacher at Regis Jesuit for over 50 years, remembers. “Whereas a college or university was considered a primary education institution,” he continues. This meant that government funds available for dorms and class buildings could not be given to an facility incorporating a high school. With the governmental aid constraints, Regis College—now Regis University—was forced to part ways with the high school. Upon the separation, what was then Regis High School left the “Pink Palace”, a building that had been home to both the college and high school for almost 80 years. The high school was given a donation to move to an on-campus site. For the six years on the North Side, Regis College and High School shared a campus, but were different educational corporations. This new building was a step in separating the two schools, but it quickly became problematic for the high school. The building had been designed to facilitate high school students, yet lacked many of the amenities one would expect. For example, many students lacked desks, there were few elective options, and the athletic facilities were poor. “I was coaching freshman baseball, and we had basically a weed patch that we played on,” said Charlie Saulino, who has taught at Regis Jesuit since 1981, “The guys would grab the ball and hurt their hands because the stickers were on the ball.” At this new site, the Regis High School faced declining enrollment numbers and serious budgetary constraints. “The numbers were going down dramatically,” said Mr. Saulino. To further separate the school from Regis College, the high school decided to rebrand. After considering “Regis Prep,” the name “Regis Jesuit” was settled upon. But it became clear this was not enough, and some proposed a move from the north side. “The discussion began in the early ‘80s,” said Mr. Taylor. It was then that a donor, Dick Campbell, came to offer them a plot of land in what was then unincorporated Arapahoe County.
Leaving Denver
The donation came with a catch, though. “The stipulation on it was that it had to be used for educational purposes,” said Mr. Taylor. “There were a number of people that wanted to sell the land and use the money to refurbish the north campus.” The school debated whether a move to Aurora would be worth it. The high school hired research companies and determined that the enrollment at the high school would remain stable if the school remained in Denver. The community, in the south metro area, however, showed promise for growth. 38 May 2016 | Issue 5
Promotional architectural depiction of the campus, 1989. With Graphic Illustration by Patrick Britti ‘17
The land donation would help offset the cost of the move, but building a new campus from scratch would require more money than was available. Fortunately, Regis College was looking to expand and after years of negotiating they bought the high school’s North Side Campus. With the money from the sale, the high school approached Tryba Architects to design the new building. What the designers came back with was described as a combination of “classicism” and “pragmatism.” Architect David Owen Tryba utilized designs from town squares that St. Ignatius might have been familiar with to create a 94,000 square foot educational space. The hill where the area surrounding the campus was barren– the homes to the east and Arapahoe Crossings to the west had yet to be built. There was nothing as far as the eye could see–earning it the moniker named by students “Saudi Auroria.” The groundbreaking ceremony Regis isn’t bricks and for the Campbell Campus took place September 16, 1989, with the appearmortar, but people, of Archbishop Stafford and Aurora attitudes, and students. ance Mayor Paul Tauer. The cornerstone laid We’ll still be Regis.– that day is located in the present day Mr. Charlie Saulino, 1990 Girls Division, and can be found outside the east cafeteria entrance. Also present at the ground breaking was Regis Jesuit’s first president, Fr. Ralph Houlihan, and principal Fr. James Knapp, both of whom played a significant role in the separation from the college and the move to Aurora. Fr. Houlihan remembers the event, saying “[The Archbishop] turned to me and said ‘You Jesuits’ and shook his head, laughing. What he meant was ‘This is a great spot.’” Fr. Houlihan left Regis Jesuit a few years later, but recently visited to take part in the 2016 Mass of Thanksgiving and bless the 25th graduating class from this campus.
A Change of Face
As the new campus was under construction, Regis Jesuit undertook yet another branding campaign. By changing the mascot from a Native-American Raider to a Raider portrayed by a knight on horseback and promoting the new name, the school hoped to begin a new chapter in the school’s history. The move and the rebranding were not without their critics, though. Fr. Houlihan, speaking to The Denver Post in 1990, said that the enrollment of Regis Jesuit went from 660 to 500 after the announcement of If we can convince the the move. majority of our students that The school’s population changed can largely be attributed to at least part of [their career] the different demographics around the decision...is “Can I really help campuses. “The community we serve others?” That is why Regis now is a little more affluent. On the exists.– Mr. Ralph Taylor North Side, it was that was more of a blue-collar community,” said Mr. Taylor. For some families, the transit became too long. To combat this, discussions were held with RTD, and a busing system was established. Others voiced opposition to the tuition hike. Despite that, more freshman were entering the school. “[O]ur incoming class has gone from 125 two years ago to 155 last year to 180 for this fall, and that’s encouraging,” said Fr. Houlihan in May 1990. The wage increase was justified as a to retain teachers. “We would get good teachers. We’d keep them two years and then they’d leave to make $10,000, $20,000 dollars more teaching at Cherry Creek,” said Mr. Taylor, and, paraphrasing former Regis Jesuit President Fr. Wally Sidney. “You want to retain good teachers.”
Finding the Funding
With a limited fundraising apparatus, Regis Jesuit’s administration worked overtime to bring steady endowments in. To raise money, the school had began 40 May 2016 | Issue 5
Top: A promotional document from the time of the move. Center: Archbishop Stafford (left, shovel) and former RJ President Fr. Houlihan (right, shovel). Bottom: Fr. Knapp (right) with Fr. Houlihan on the new campus. (Denver Catholic)
Fr. Ralph Houlihan, S.J. (left) and Dick Campbell sat for an interview with Fr. Tom Rochford, S.J. in the RJ Media studio in March. Mr. Campbell, the donor of the Campbell Campus land and long-time supporter of Regis Jesuit, said “You really have to be thankful for what the Jesuits have contributed to this city” and called Regis Jesuit “a school for the whole city.”
an auction, called the LARK, which faced a rough beginning. “I recall going to a gift-gathering party, and I was the only one who showed up,” said Fr. Houlihan, commenting on the early LARK’s. Adding to tensions was that, as the construction began, a recession–the “worst economy to hit Denver in a long time,” Mr. Campbell said–began. Fear regarding the student population and the viability of the school was questioned. But by the last year on North Side, the LARK was raising $100,000 a year, and the first LARK after the move took in over $250,000. “The people of Southeast Denver, they supported this school in huge numbers and I think that’s something for which we should always feel grateful and appreciative,” said Mr. Houlihan.
Original interpretation of the current Regis Jesuit Raider, designed around the time of the move.
Legacy
Since the beginning of classes in 1990, Regis Jesuit’s Campbell Campus has undergone many evolutions. The addition of the Girls Division in 2003, the move of the Boys Division to its current building in 2004, and the completion of the Steele Center in 2014 have all dramatically altered the Regis Jesuit landscape. Yet there is a sense of unity between the past and present that is felt by those who have been with the school long enough. In 1990, Mr. Saulino commented on his belief that there was a continuity, saying “Regis isn’t bricks and mortar, but people, attitudes, and students.” More than 25 years on, he feels the same. “The college and the high school came together for the Mass of Holy Spirit. We still have that tradition,” said Mr. Saulino. “Nothing has really changed. We’re bigger, we have different facilities, there’s more of us, there are more students. But we are the same.” Even as surroundings change, the goals of a Jesuit education do not change. “If we can convince the majority of our students that at least part of [their career] decision is ‘can I really help others?’ That is why Regis exists,” said Mr. Taylor. “You want to hang on to the essentials.”
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ON THE GRIND Four students dedicated to sports outside of Regis Jesuit By: Jade Valenzuela ‘17, Claudia Leon ‘16, and Miranda Krenek ‘17
It’s 10 o’clock at night and Ansley Mater is soaking her feet in a cold bath with Epsom salt to help with her soreness after a long practice/ competition. She is a senior at Regis Jesuit that truly invests all her time to dancing outside of school. She dances for Classic Dance Academy in Centennial. For her, school can become a challenge. Ansley comes home around 10 and begins to work on her homework. “Senior year itself is stressful. And with dance, you can already imagine how hard it is trying to get all my work done.” Ansley practices between 20 and 25 hours a week. Usually on an average school night she does not get home until 9:15 to 10 o’clock at night. However, if there is a competition coming up she stays up until 1 in the morning at her studio practicing. Ansley dedicates her free time to dancing because she hopes to dance in college. Dance is very important to her. Being able to manage both school and an outside school sport can be very challenging. Despite staying up late at night practicing and continuously competing in her free time, she manages to keep her GPA a 3.8. She still is very involved with Regis events. Ansley has found a balance between her outside school sport and her academics. “Dance is my passion and I am willing to do anything to make sure I am out there on the floor dancing.”
At 1 in the morning Shelby stares blankly at her iPad under the fluorescent light of her desktop lamp. Shelby Wiggs, a sophomore at Regis Jesuit, is not an athlete for an RJ team. Shelby’s outside sport is cheerleading and she is an all-star cheerleader at Cheer Central Suns. Shelby has been cheering for nine years. There are 5 levels of cheerleading and Shelby is on level 4. Even though she doesn’t do an RJ school sport, she puts in the time and dedication every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday. On school days Shelby does not get home until 10 each night. With a physical and emotional practice, coming home and trying to do homework could be very difficult. Every night that she has has cheer she is up until 1/1:30 in the morning doing homework with one honor and one AP class. She expresses how much she loves cheer by how many chances she is willing to take with school by doing a sport. Shelby states “When I travel I usually miss up to 3-4 days of school which really gets me behind with my school work, I have to work twice as hard and stay up even longer on school days when I get back from traveling trips” Shelby does homework in between breaks at practices to help her keep up and hold a GPA of 3.7. “Practicing and competing on tore ligaments for the last 3 months, I am finally finishing up the season with having to get surgery in 2 weeks.”
42 May 2016 | Issue 5
ANSLEY MATER ‘16
SHELBY WIGGS ‘18
It’s 6 in the morning and Mikaela West is driving out on I-25 towards her volleyball competition. A junior at Regis Jesuit spends her free time playing club volleyball. She plays for a club called Relentless Volleyball and has been playing ever since she was five years old. She plays for two teams called 17 hustle and 18 grind which means she is practicing late every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. “Lately playing an outside sport has affected my work, I find myself trying to do my homework before practice and end up getting home late. For my 17 hustle, I practice around 2 hours and for my 18 grind team, around another 2 hours. Although volleyball has taken up both my social and school life, in the end it will be all worth it.”
MIKAELA WEST ‘16
ABBY STEVENS ‘18
It’s a Tuesday night and Abby Stevens stares down her opponent while forcibly strapping around her waist, the hard to achieve, black belt. This sophomore at Regis has done Taekwondo for 12 years and counting. She is a 4th degree black belt and received her first belt 6 years ago at the age of 11. Abby has practices on Tuesdays and Thursday’s for about 2 hours each night. She try’s to manage her time by doing as much of her homework before she has to go to practice. Every year she competes in Colorado Springs and has learned many combinations featuring the power breaking side back kick, creative form and breaking, traditional forms, group forms, and team forms. She manages her homework and studying very well by doing her work on Mondays to ensure she has none on Tuesday, which helps her focus more of her time on Taekwondo. “It’s better to try your hardest and get the bronze than to not try at all and get the gold.”
43
NEW ON RJTV
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FRESHMAN ON VARSITY
JOURNEY TO BECOMING A JESUIT
MORE THAN A SNACK: RJ COOKIES
John Dancy & Luke Keefe ‘19 look at freshman swing players on varsity baseball.
Eric Shin & Daniel Silk ‘19 talk to Mr. Chris Kellerman and Fr. Tom Rochford, S.J. about what it takes to complete Jesuit formation.
Drew Bergeon & Lee Allen ‘19 go behind the scenes to show that the warmth & sweetness is about more than just a cookie.
THE JESUIT WALL OF FAME
DENVER BRONCOS BEHIND THE SCENES 25th ANNIVERSARY OF CAMPBELL CAMPUS
Kevin Toole & Evan Schwarz ‘18 talk to Alumni Director Mr. Paul Miller ‘04 about raising scholarship money by honoring Jesuits of the past.
Nick Schultz ‘19 & Max Harlan ‘18 visit Broncos broadcast manager Pat Jordan at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.
Chris Long & Bohdan O’Shaughnessy ‘19 take a look back at the move that changed the course of Regis Jesuit history.
FROM THE FIELD TO THE CLASSROOM
GEOFF LORD: POLE VAULTER
MURPHY GIELOW HOCKEY
Josh Van Bramer ‘19 & Phillip Bortz ‘18 take a look at how coaching translates to teaching with Mr. Ptolemy & Mr. Fenoglio ‘07.
Nick Faber ‘18 goes behind the scenes with state bound athlete Geoffrey Lord and his coach to talk about what it takes to clear the bar.
Luke Mitchell ‘19 & Will Taylor ‘17 talk to junior Murphy Gielow about leaving RJ for Lawrence Academy to pursue his hockey dreams.
TJ MILLER & ELIJAH WARREN
WHAT RJ MEANS TO ME: MR. SAULINO PRE GAME RITUALS
Finn McHugh & Sam Bannec ‘18 sit down with the sophomore elite swimmers to talk about carrying on the RJ Swim & Dive legacy.
True Potter & Brody McGah ‘19 talk to longtime teacher Mr. Charlie Saulino about teaching and the impact of RJ on his life.
44 May 2016 | Issue 5
Alec Mingle & Cale Woodley ‘16 go beyond the ice with Sam Gartner to talk about the importance of preparation.
By Whitney Wiser & Isabel Sevilla ‘19
3:00am. It’s before the world has even woken up but, Ms. Katie Diaz has already started her day. By 5am she is in the BD cafeteria hard at work. Ms. Diaz and Ms. Hamburg, her trusted assistant of five years, have started preparation for lunch. And that’s how Ms. Diaz begins every school day for the last 22 years. “My favorite part is definitely the kids and volunteers,” she says. “I can count on one hand the amount of problems I have had with the boys. They are really great.” The community she’s built around her is special to her. “Everyone is very happy when they come in to volunteer. It is a great group of men and women, and when they are here they are here because they want to be here.” Being the cafeteria manger is no easy job. Ms. Diaz is on her feet for nine hours a day. “Each day is a continuous process of set up, serving, and clean up,” she says. Luckily, she doesn’t have to do it all alone. Ms. Hamburg is always by her side. Ms. Hamburg knows Ms. Diaz pretty well, not only have they worked together for eight years, but they have known each other since Ms.Hamburg was 12 years old.
MS. DIAZ
Hamburg says of Diaz, “she puts the boys and the food first. She is loyal to the school and the boys, and is here for the right reasons.” Diaz cares about her kitchen. Each year, she makes improvements. “When moved from what is now the Girls Division into the new Boys Division, the new kitchen was so big and wonderful that vendors and guest are always amazed,” she said. “At first I didn’t like the big kitchen because it was more space to cover, but now I really enjoy it.” Through her 22 years at RJ, Ms. Diaz has seen many changes,but great food, friends, and fun with the boys always remains.
CARING
KITCHENS W
THE HARDEST WORKING CAFETERIA MANAGERS. EVER.
W
W
“The best part of the job is getting to know the students and working with all the parents who give their time to come in to help,” says Reed. “Every day is enjoyable and different. The girls are great to be around.” Though many seniors plan off-campus lunch, the majority of students rely on the cafeteria for their food. “Not being able to go off campus for lunch as underclassmen is made so much better because of the amazing work of our lunch ladies and their warming smiles given along with delicious food,” sophomore Erin Templeton explains. The diligence and kindness of each volunteer and employee makes eating in the cafeteria a positive experience. As for the food, Mrs. Reed likes selling a variety, especially when it comes to providing fresh produce. Mrs. Reed says that she and the staff “try to keep everything fresh.” In the future, she hopes to continue to provide lots of fruits and vegetables in the cafeterias and “extend our healthy choices.” Mrs. Reed, as well as her coworkers, are always open to suggestions and feedback, so make sure to stop and say hello while eating in the cafeteria!
MRS. REED
It’s 12:25 on a school day and the Girls Division cafeteria is packed; all four classes rush to squeeze into one of the lengthy lines that reaches a register. Cookies, salads, and sandwiches are lined up, ready to be sold every single day. But there’s much more to the Regis Jesuit cafeteria than handing the girls their food— the staff is working day in and day out to plan and prepare meals with manager Mrs. Reed at the front of all the action. “I volunteered in both cafeterias when my two children attended Regis,” Reed explains, “I had the opportunity to become an employee when my daughter was a senior.” Mrs. Reed has been working ever since—it’s been ten years now, and she continues to appreciate the many aspects of the opportunities presented to her.
By Lauren Olczak ‘18
45
The
WriteWAY By: Lauren Olczak ‘18
A Q&A WITH THREE WRITERS OF RJ: Fingers typing on a keyboard, the scribbling of pencils on paper, the sigh heaved from the mouth of the person behind it all—I can promise you, this is what it is like in the life of a writer. But for most of us, being a writer is a process—it develops us, forms us into who we are today, and keeps us motivated to be observers of the outside world. “Everything that is around me influences me,” says Girls Division teacher Mr. Sean O’Dea. “I kind of subscribe to the theory that writers, if they aren’t writing, are thinking about writing. Through that lens, every single interaction I have with people, or things or events during the day influences me.” O’Dea has published two books, Peacemakers, and its sequel, Warmongers, which are both available on Amazon.com. Sophomore Kelli Maroney is an aspiring author, looking to pursue her dreams in publishing her first novel. In sitting down with O’Dea and Maroney, I got to see two very
46 May 2016 | Issue 5
different stories, yet a common theme—writing is one of the most important tools that we can have in our lives. Q: When did you first know you wanted to write? O’Dea: Second grade. I remember in elementary school we would do little creative stories—they would give you a picture and you would have to write a couple sentences, and I remember loving that creative process. I remember entering a little competition, and the winner got to go to a young writer’s workshop, and I won it. I was probably the only kid who actually tried out, but I ended up going to that little writer’s workshop and you got to meet the local authors, and I thought that was really neat, and I always thought that was pretty influential. Kelli: I really first started writing in the fifth grade, because that’s when
I was getting into more advanced novels with reading. I liked how you could take an average plot and twist it into so many different ways, and I wanted to do that for myself. Q: Who inspires/helps develop your writing? O’Dea: I’ve always liked telling stories. In my family, there’s a lot of storytellers and jokesters, so dinners were always fun. Kelli: A lot of my friends read and write as well, so they have been a really big help and a great support system. I like to have the input from them, because I know they want to help me get better and will give me an unbiased opinion on it, and their support really helps. Q: When you begin your writing process, is there any rituals that you have?
How I Published My First Book: Lauren Olczak ‘18
Kelli Maroney ‘18, Lauren Olczak ‘18 & Mr. Sean O’Dea
O’Dea: I do—I try to write in the most bare-bones, boring places. I have a card table in my basement I set up, and I try to write somewhere that is not super comfy. I kind of have a habit of lighting a candle, kind of like, I don’t know…the flame of creation and knowledge. I do it when I can, and it’s kind of cheesy. Also, it’s kind of cold in my basement, so I can warm my hands over the candle. Kelli: A lot of times I’ll have an idea hit me randomly, and I’ll write it down on a note, and when I find I have time I’ll go and write about it. Sometimes I like to go and sit on my beanbag chair in my bedroom, and just think and write. With high school, it’s harder to find time to do it, so over weekends or long breaks I’ll find myself having periods of remission because I don’t have any schoolwork to do, and that’s a re-
My process was a little unconventional, for I did not apply to many publishing companies and seek the funds necessary to have other authors and publishers approve my work. I began the process by researching self-publishing companies that were credible, and could reach a wider network of companies (such as Amazon and Barnes and Noble). I began on one website, but ended up switching to another when the process was nearing an end. My final decision was to go with a website called lulu.com, and through their step by step process, I have produced my first book called the not so late night thoughts of missing
you. This website allows you to immediately promote your book to a wider network, and after a couple weeks, are able to be published on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Last week, my book reached these wider networks—and I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity. For any aspiring author, I highly recommend this process. Even if it seems long and even a little scary, in the end, holding your book in your hands for the very first time is worth it. lulu.com has been an incredible part of this process—and I promise, if this is your passion, you will be able to share your works with the world.
ally good time to put my thoughts down, and work on stuff and get a lot of things done.
Q: What is the one thing you want your audience to know, or any advice you have?
Q: What is one of the thematic elements you enjoy the most, and try to incorporate into your own writing?
O’Dea: Don’t stop writing ever. Most writers I know don’t write anything, most writers that write something never finish something, most people that finish something never publish something, and most people that publish something will never publish anything else again. So, the only way to win at this business is to write, write, write… and never stop. So maybe you hit it when your 15, or maybe you hit it when you’re 65—but you’ll never hit it if you stop.
O’Dea: I love the hero’s journey, and I love mythological themes. Greek mythology is one of my favorite things on the planet, but in terms of the hero’s journey, that’s usually what I follow. I like Homeric formulas a lot too. Kelli: My writing is mostly plotbased, and I like writing a lot of adventure type stories because I think they’re exciting and it’s not the whole cliche romance thing going on. Sometimes with poems it’s conscious thought though, just putting down ideas and getting them to string together.
Kelli: I guess I just really liked how authors could create a world in just words and didn’t have to have a camera in order to make it, and I wanted to do that for myself. I also think that writing is just a really good release. Even though I don’t know if it’ll go anywhere, it’s something that brings me joy, and hopefully in the future will bring somebody else happiness too.
47
RJ TO
ST. LOUIS By Annika Mayers ‘19
“When she walks into a room you know she’s someone special,” says Mary Emmerling, a friend of Kateri’s. Kateri Sheber Howard is definitely someone special. The Class of 2016 Valedictorian has received a full ride scholarship to St.Louis University. The scholarship is a four-year full tuition scholarship. It also includes a grant to study over the summer to do research. Kateri plans to use the grant to study medicine. Right away, Kateri knew that St.Louis University was the best school for her. “Saint Louis felt really homey when I visited and I liked it from the start,” she said. She wants to study science and medicine, both of which St.Louis University excel in. Kateri feels fully prepared for the transition to college both spiritually and mentally. “I think academically Regis is one of the best high schools in the state so that I am ready to go into those science classes ,and I’m ready to go into my English classes and math classes,” she says. She also credits Regis Jesuit for her deep faith. She applied to exclusively Jesuit schools and is looking forward to continuing to expand her faith in St.Louis. Kateri thanks RJ for getting her to the point she’s at now. The study tips she’s learned and guidance from her teachers and peers will stick with her forever. She knows the relationships that she formed here will last forever. Her biggest influences? Her parents. “More then anyone else, my parents,” she says.”My parents have always shown me how to work hard but still have fun, so they’re my biggest role models.”
48 May 2016 | Issue 5
SPRING SPORTS SHORTS
Raiders achieve big things as season nears end
GIRLS GOLF
LEAGUE CHAMPS CENTRAL REGION TITLE STATE BOUND For senior Mary Weinstein the game is much more than a pastime. “Golf is a way for me to express my talent, my God given talent, because God blesses every single one of us with very many blessings in life,” Weinstein says. On Wednesday, April 26th, during the Continental League tournament, Weinstein scored one stroke better than fellow teammate Jacklyn Murray, and both scored at least four strokes better than Rock Canyon’s Tabitha Diehl to win. On May 9th the team captured the Central Region title with Murray shooting a 74, followed by Weinstein who got fourth place with an 80, and teammates Ali Timlin in eighth place with 83 and Brooke Pulver with a 90. The team, under direction from new head coach Eric Ptolemy ‘07, qualified for state where they look to take their third state championship in a row. The tournament will be held at CommonGround Golf Course on May 23 to the 24th.
Story by Agok Mabil & Ana Kistle ‘19
GIRLS LACROSSE
BOYS LACROSSE
TRACK & FIELD
TOP 10 TEAM
LEAGUE CHAMPS
#7 PLAYOFF SEED
#1 SEED IN PLAYOFFS
JAVON LANIER AUSTIN CAMPBELL RYAN CORNELL DANIEL HOGAN JACK DAVIDSON JASON LEWIS GEOFFREY LORD KYLIE DAVIS 4 x 1 RELAY TEAM
GIRLS SOCCER
RUGBY
CONTINENTAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONS
First time in RJ History!
BD SWIM & DIVE 6-0 BEAT CREEK HEADED TO A-LEAGUES & STATE
#1 TEAM #1 SEED IN PLAYOFFS
BD VOLLEYBALL
ALWAYS KILLING IT
STATE QUALIFIERS
GIRLS TENNIS
STATE QUALIFIERS CLARE QUINN MIKKI ERICKSON SKYLER MYDLER FRANCESCA BELIBI/ MACKENZY PEDRIE
BASEBALL
LEAGUE CHAMPS #2 SEED IN PLAYOFFS 49
OP-ED
A Letter of Complaint By Maddie Merritt ‘16  Dear annoying customer, Thank you for reminding me that the customer is always right. I keep forgetting that you know more about the restaurant than I do. Without you, how would I ever remember to bring out the Tabasco sauce along with people’s orders of rigatoni, minestrone soup, and garlic knots? Oh, that’s right, we don’t have Tabasco sauce, seeing as this is an Italian restaurant. We should anyway? Okay, I will tell the owner. Thank you, graciously paying customer. Although all of these things that you do are simply stupendous, I would kindly ask that you bestow upon us more of your goodwill by providing us with a slightly larger tip. While it is your prestigious right to deny us tip on account of horrendous service, we take pride in the fact that we only take 0.2 seconds to respond to a problem (usually). A twenty percent tip may seem like an unreasonable amount, because after all, we only stayed with you all night until you left, cleaned up your mess, and answered your whimsical/ outlandish requests, but it is not an impossible feat. In fact, seeing how generous you were with the alcohol, it should not be a problem. You may think that you do not need to tip because the waiters are already being paid, but for people like me - the busser - we rely on the waiters tips. Show some love for the underlings. Hopefully this little overview lets you know where we feel this relationship is right now, and what you can do to make it even better. Don’t forget to keep being awesome. Come Again, Your Friendly Neighborhood Restaurant Busser
50 May 2016 | Issue 5
Dear Mr. Trump, By Mary Emmerling ‘16
Can I just begin by saying thank you for choosing to try to become the President of the United States of America, land of the free, home of the brave! I have always believed this country to be the greatest country on the face of the earth, exquisitely woven with different cultures, patches of far away traditions and perspectives. We are the melting pot, after all, and I’ve always admired that about us. But recently, we’ve fallen from greatness. Our country has been trampled upon by those cultures that we used to embrace, and that used to embrace us. Now, we are searching for a way to return to our glory, to climb up to where we used to be. Mr. Trump, thank you, for letting your illuminating ideas light up the darkness we’ve been suffocating in. Who cares about the economy when there is an immigration crisis on our border with Mexico. We have to build a wall! Because historically, walls on the border of countries have a soaring success rate. The Great Wall of China, for a small example, was built to protect China from underdeveloped tribes in the North looting the riches of their Southern neighbor. It worked like a charm, and it increased nationalism within the country, as every brave man who gave his life building the wall was given a quick burial inside the wall, while his co-builders continued on like nothing ever happened. What a way to honor a country! The Wall gained so much fame for its success that many of the guards of the wall would graciously allow those tribes from the North into China to see its grandeur from both sides. I mean, Mr. Trump, your grandfather immigrated here from Germany, and so you must understand why it was so generous of the Chinese to let the northern tribes come into their country and admire
its greatness. That’s all I hope for our country—that every other country will see our wall and think, “Wow. President Trump truly made America great again.” The global economy doesn’t really mean anything, anyway, does it? I mean, the Mexican government has loads of money stashed away, and I’m sure the Mexican citizens can sacrifice some of their luxuries to help contribute to our greatness. Plus, European countries will probably see our ability to bring out the most generous and self-giving qualities in others and just give successions to us. President Vladmir Putin will probably join forces with us, and Iran and the Islamic States will adopt a democratic-republic as well, since ours works so well. Mr. Trump, your ideas will propel us into a new age. We will know the true meaning of hard work, knowing that success can only be built on a strong basis of money and business, and that if someone threatens our authority or tries to block our future, what do we do? Well, we resort to violence, of course! I mean, people in the 60s didn’t protest wars for peace—no, no, they protested because there wasn’t enough fighting. Why did we lose in Vietnam? We fought too fairly! We gave them too much slack. We should have kicked them when they were down—we should have burned the entire country and let them rebuild it the way they wanted it. We should have demolished their entire culture, and then stepped back so as not to interfere with their traditions. Mr. Trump, you are a visionary. Thank you for vowing to bring us back to greatness. Truly, from the bottom of my heart, your Presidency is what we need. Sincerely, A high school student
A Day in the Life of Me: A Poem By Jewell Humphrey ‘16 The word ghetto is automatically assigned by the melanin deprived to the melanin divine It didn’t start with me and I know it wont end with me, but Who decided that a 17 year old girl could be the spokeswoman of an entire race, being judged for a contest she never agreed to enter? Being born with black skin is a blessing until you realize every other person sees it a curse. For just one hour I want switch lives with you. You’d hear “Wow you talk proper for a black girl” People will wonder if your hair is real, or if you burn in the sun, or if you can jump high or sing or run Seeing your mother they will question why she is not your color then conclude that it must not be weave. I just want to hear someone say my black is okay. We live in a country that doesn’t value civil rights. And you wonder why we’re divided. There’s black and there’s white We’ve been falling behind while the world keeps moving faster That’s why everyday we have to scream Black Lives MATTER. I just wanna hear someone say my black is okay. My black is important They could say, My black is powerful They could say, My black is beautiful They could say, But all I can see all I can believe. Is the sight from being white in an all white world I can’t seem to fit in with my wild black curls and as I get older I seem to feel more sure that I don’t wanna be black in a white girl world.
A day in the life of me: You will see that you have to not only do great but twice as great and then someWhy is black a synonym for dumb? Why when I fail it is expected, but when I succeed it is not because of me? I don’t expect you all to understand my life. I don’t expect you to understand because you don’t know the feeling of hearing monkey sounds while you aren’t at the zoo. I don’t expect you to understand because you’ve never had a friend send you home just based on your skin’s hue, I don’t expect you to understand because being called the “n word” is never something you’ll go through, I don’t expect you to understand. I don’t expect you to understand, but I do expect you to listen, listen to the angry aggressive black girl ranting on about race “yet again.” If I was white I would be “passionate” and “artistically speaking out on the unfairness of society,” but guess what? I’m black. Took me 16 years to say that but revolution is here, so I guess that makes black my shot heard round the world. Hashtag black excellence hashtag black girl magic hashtag if my Twitter is too real for you - that’s tragic. I know some of you may feel uncomfortable, I know you might not all agree, some may feel mad and some may feel offended, but just imagine how you’d feel if you were me.
I Know I’m Not the Only One By Megan Preiss ‘18 Both of my grandmothers have had cancer. One had breast cancer, as many others have had. Luckily, it was caught early enough and she is still thankfully here today. She will be 90 this summer. My other grandmother was also diagnosed with cancer but was not as fortunate. Although she passed away when I was eight, she was strong and lived two years beyond what the doctors expected. Two of my great uncles died from cancer before I was born. Currently, my last great uncle is suffering from cancer that has spread all over his body. He is fighting it night and day yet is still enjoying his life as much as he can. He loves it when my family comes and visits him, and he is still laughing and making jokes. I know that I am not the only one.There are millions of people who have had loved ones suffer from cancer. About 1 in 8 women in the U.S. will develop invasive breast cancer sometime in their lifetime. There are more than 100 different kinds of cancer that can affect any part of the body. Often it isn’t something that we normally think about, only if we hear or see someone raising money or the pink ribbon, but cancer has affected everyone in some way or another whether it is indirectly or directly. It is a force that can bring us together and tear us apart. What can we do? We can love. We can cherish. We can fight. Let’s raise more awareness. Let’s raise more money for research. Let’s volunteer. Let’s start a club. Let’s race and read and live. Cancer does touch all of our lives in some way. Let’s keep touching back- no, punching back. Together.
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Chris Ireland ‘16 visits Galvanize, a coding school, to talk to senior Tommy Gaessler about becoming a ninja coder.
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Matt McCarron & Matt Rielly ‘16 take an inside look at what goes on to make the annual diversity conference happen.
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THE PHANTOM ARTIST OF RJ
STIGMA: MENTAL HEALTH
CREATIVE SPARK - A SHORT FILM
Mike Schonebaum & Alex Restivo ‘17 go undercover to find a mysterious artist who has been leaving his mark in the art room.
Jennifer Menjivar ‘18 talks to students about mental health and breaks down stigmas associated with common feelings.
By: Alejandra Pineda, Matthew Pawlowski, Ethan Dwyre, Jack Diaz-Doherty, Mathison Davis, Jason Lewis, MacKenzie Fisher, Ben Taylor, Erin McMahon, Lila Smith
HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS
THE CAMPBELL CAMPUS THROUGH TIME MARCH MADNESS
Sydney Lindquist & Molly Moran ‘18 talk with Holocaust survivors Eric Cahn and Jack Adler about “living by the Golden Rule.”
Connor Lyford & Tyler Kellam ‘18 look at how the RJ campus has evolved over the years.
52 May 2016 | Issue 5
Kate Clawson & Claire D’Costa ‘17 head downtown during the basketball tournament to talk to fans.