ELEVATE THE MORRISON
EXPERIENCE Part 1 of a series on RJ history for the 140th anniversary
Disaster and Recovery
RJ Students and Community Aid in Hurricane Relief
Outstanding Fall Athletes
Captains and Champions Set the Tone
Vol. 3 Issue 1 | Fall 2017 RJ MEDIA Regis Jesuit HS
Elevate Magazine
1st Place Best of Show J- Day 2017
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RJ in the early Morrison Valley
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Picking Up the Pieces Houston was left in pieces. How this affected the Jesuit community and Regis Jesuit’s response.
Behind the Lens
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Photographer Michael Grant gives a glimpse into the crazy life of a professional photographer.
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The Call to Serve Service is a part of what we do at Regis Jesuit. How do we decide where we go and how we serve?
Dreamers Face Nightmare
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DACA recipients at Regis Jesuit and across the U.S. are in fear of deportation. Why?
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Face It: We’re Addicted Technology is one of the greatest human innovations in modern history. We are advancing exponentially. But are we addicted?
Kicking Off The Year
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Look over the past two months of the 2017-2018 school year with photos showing Regis Jesuit’s fall campus life.
Fall 2017 | Vol 3 Issue 1
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RJ MEDIA
STAFF
ELEVATE MAGAZINE Connor Lyford ‘18, Anastasia Conley ‘18......Editors in Chief Maddie Munger ‘19, Leo McCabe ‘19, Nick Faber ‘18, Patrick Koenigs ‘18......Editors-at-Large Finn Barbieri ‘19.......................Head of Design Leo McCabe ‘19, Elliot Steinberg ‘18..........Photography Editors
Xaiver Ribota ‘18, Connor Hodes ‘19, Kiahn Martinez ‘19, Nolan Whitmore ‘20, Bella Scipione ‘18, Olivia Ary ‘18, Hunter Dobbs ‘20..........Editors Ruth Woldemedhine ‘21, Hewan Yoseph ’21, Xavier Brathwaite ‘20, Jose Orenday ‘21 .......... Freelance Reporters
RJMEDIANOW.COM Patrick Koenigs ‘18........Editor in Chief
RJTV & RJ RADIO Nick Faber ‘18, Erin Biafore ‘18...................RJ Radio Hosts Nick Sangalis ‘18, Matthew Bornhorst ‘19, Angela Serwaa-Marfo ‘20, Patrick Carlson ‘19, Michael Manoogian ‘17, Sam Stern ‘20, Jeron Johnson ‘20, Chalmers Powell ‘21, Cameron Crites ‘20 ......... Raider Sports Network Maddie Munger ‘19, Sydney Lindquist ‘18, Nick Sangalis ‘18, Kyle Schwulst ‘18, Kate Phillips ‘19, Caroline Soro ‘19.................. RJTV
Tony Gervasini ‘18, Sydney Swisher ‘18........ Budget Managers Mr. Adam Dawkins ‘98, Ms. Sara Hildreth, Ms. Maria Lynch, Mr. Jason Ell ‘04, Mr. Antonio Maes ‘99 ..... Advisers
We take our own photos, do our own reporting, writing and editing, and design our pages from scratch. RJ MEDIA: For students, by students.
RETRACTION The first release of this issue included a farcical story about the Regis Jesuit Rowdies which included a sentence that could be interpreted to imply the use of drugs. We sincerely apologize to the Rowdies and to our audience for this mistake. Both the students in the program and faculty advisers discussed the sentence in question during the editing process of and determined that it should not be included. However, a technological issue during the production process caused the design file to be lost. When the file was recovered, it was linked to an earlier draft of the article, which we did not notice. This meant that the final edit of the story was not the one included in the first print version of the magazine. However, this is not an excuse for us allowing this mistake to make it into the final publication. This error—which does not in any way match our mission statement as a school or as a student media program or our goals as an open-forum for student press—is unacceptable. For this, we sincerely apologize. We understand and respect the responsibility we have as student editors to operate as an open forum for student free expression. We are fully aware that we can lose our credibility in an instant, and we have already taken steps to minimize damage and improve our process. In the future, we will take extra precautions in all of our publication steps, especially in the final steps in the production of the magazine where we approve pages for our printer to ensure our links and files are current. Going forward, the head editors and our faculty adviser will use far more discretion, intense focus and professionalism in approving each individual spread for the printer. We take pride in our award-winning student media program, which should be, and is, held to very high standards. Sincerely, Anastasia Conley ’18 and Connor Lyford ’18, Editors-in-Chief Nick Faber ’18, Head Editor
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
Cover Photography and Design .... Elliot Steinberg ‘18 (which was really fun do- especially for Nick).
We’ve partnered with Publication Printers to completely offset our magazine’s paper consumption by “releafing” (replanting) trees around the globe. Six trees will be planted after the press run of this magazine.
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Going For The Win Freshman Alex Morris navigates his way around a barrier as he races an opponent in the obstacle course during the Homecoming Carnival. The carnival featured multiple inflatable games as well as free cotton candy and popcorn.
Photo by Leo McCabe ‘19
Canon EOS REBEL T5i Canon EF-S 18135mm f/3.5-5.6 ISO 400 18mm f/3.5
Fall 2017 | Vol 3 Issue 1
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Picking Up the
c s P ie e
Story by Adriana Hunter ‘20 and Hunter Dobbs ‘20 Photos by Adriana Hunter ‘20
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Hurricane Harvey destroyed thousands of homes and left even more homeless. The destruction seemed endless. There is work to do behind every corner and on every street. Trying to assemble this jigsaw puzzle will be difficult. But we need to start by picking up the pieces.
hile residents of Texas are doing everything in their power to get their great state back to the way it once was, they are not alone in relief efforts. All across the nation, Americans are unified by pitching in to help Texas recover from Hurricane Harvey. Whether it’s from individuals, churches, or large corporations, Houston is receiving immense amounts of support. Retailers like Walmart have given incredible support. The Walmart Foundation pledged $2 million to the mayor of Houston. Additionally, Walmart is matching customer donations to Harvey relief on a two to one basis, meaning Walmart will triple the quantity of the donations. Walmart has donated another $10 million to different organizations in the form of necessary items. The JJ Watt Foundation in particular has been a major help in flood relief for Houston. On August 27, the Texan defensive end started a fundraiser with a challenge for America to come together and raise $350,000 for Houston disaster relief. After a little more than a month later, the fundraiser reached over $37 million. The JJ Watt Foundation was very appreciative of all of the support and was reminded of, “how much good is out there in our world.” People in Colorado have also made efforts to help support Houston. Schools and communities such as Peace With Christ Church have collected donations to give to Texas along with our very own Regis Jesuit High School. Groups like these so have shown enormous amounts of support for the families. The communities in Texas’ “main priority was to keep their families safe,” said Lindsey Maclean, a junior at Cherokee Trail High School. She witnessed the damage done to the houses in Houston. Lindsey commented that people found, “love in the community and in helping each other and seeing God through it all.”
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The Briefing Hurricane Harvey made landfall in the United States and caused utter devastation throughout the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast. Breaking the record of the most rain in the continental United States (51.88 inches), Harvey was the longest storm on land in Texas, lasting over 117 hours. Hurricane Harvey was the first major hurricane since Wilma and Katrina, which hit in 2005. Almost all of Houston was underwater at one point during Harvey, “Everyone was just in a state of complete shock. Nobody could believe it,” said Aubrey Jones, a sophomore at Santa Fe High School, located 50 miles southwest of Houston. Her town, Santa Fe, had 24.5 inches of rain on the first day of Harvey. As the most recent numbers say, about 210,000 people have been rescued. The Regis Jesuit community is all connected, whether we know it or not.
Our Fellow Jesuits “Immediately after such devastating storms, the most important and effective way to assist is through monetary donations,” said Therese Meyerhoff, director of communications for the Jesuit’s Central and Southern Province in the United States. Meyerhoff ’s province spreads across all of the areas recently hit by hurricanes: Harvey in Texas and South Louisiana, Irma in Florida, and Maria in Puerto Rico. “Strake Jesuit has really proven to be men – and women – for others,” a statement released by Strake Jesuit read, “giving over 20,000 hours of ‘dirty’ service in just the last month.” The five Jesuit schools that have been affected by the recent hurricanes have all put the needs of their community first. All money donated has gone to those effected by the hurricanes. As for Hurricane Harvey, “More than 150 families of the two schools in Houston were flooded,” Meyerhoff said, “At this point, we don’t know yet how many of those homes will be recovered.” The damage to the two schools in Houston was relatively minor. Strake Jesuit’s theatre was flooded, telephone systems were destroyed, and the building itself needs a new roof. “They [the schools] need money more than anything at this point, to replace belongings and repair homes,” Meyerhoff said.
The Regis Jesuit Response In times of great need and devastation, the factors that divide us as a nation don’t even cross our mind, all you see is another human being in need of help. We are faced with a challenge in our school community today: how can we help? How can we come together and help complete strangers? Isn’t this is what our school is about? Isn’t this is what we stand for? Let us stand together. We have raised over $11,500 for hurricane relief efforts. $2,500 from the football game partnership between Mullen and Regis Jesuit and over $9,000 from our Cadre collection for relief efforts for Hurricane Harvey, a staggering amount of money and an above average amount collected from other Cadre collections. It is a fantastic start, so let’s keep it going. Let us help Florida and Puerto Rico. Let’s not stop here, let this be the beginning of something that could last generations. Let us serve the poor and people in need. Let us help the stranger Let us live out our mission as Regis Jesuit.
The Overview
Fall 2017 | Vol 3 Issue 1
Liam Grove ‘21 Thursday, Oct. 5, I went down to Houston to see what we could do. On the first day, my dad and I went to tear up a family’s floor due to mold growth. The family thought the floors looked fine, so they left them, but their son is allergic to mold. It took my dad and I three hours just to do a 16 square foot area. The population was so diverse that they wrote everything in Spanish and English. The food was amazing, and the look on peoples faces was even greater. But no matter what we did, people were happy to be alive. I got lost in conversation with countless strangers, which has only ever happened to me in Houston. There was constant devastation. Huge piles of garbage that were once people’s lives were being picked up by strangers and tossed away. On the final day, we worked in a food truck. We gave people quarters for laundry, fed them BBQ, and made friends. Regardless, they stuck it out. This community stuck together as one. Just one month ago, most of them felt alone. Now, for the first time in weeks, people can start to feel at home again.
Adriana Hunter ‘20 On September 1, at four o’clock in the morning, twelve students, including myself, drove to Klein, Texas. Moving trucks filled with donations traversed through New Mexico and into southern Texas. After hours on the road, we arrived to the hotel and had a good nights rest. Based on our unexpected delays, our schedule was set back the next morning. We woke up later than planned. When we arrived at Trinity Lutheran Church, we were welcomed with open arms and put right to work, unloading the trucks. After, we worked various jobs that had to be done such as collecting donations, folding clothes, cleaning up after the church service, unloading water, unloading more trucks, and helping load donations into people’s cars. Next, we went to a neighborhood and got a first-hand look at the damage. We were able to visit with families affected and heard their stories. Their faith, love, and hope stayed anchored. We were blessed with the opportunity to pray with the families. Their optimism revealed God’s intentions to families, giving them more motivation to restore what they had lost. We reflected on our day and shared where we saw God. We then went to dinner and went back to the hotel. When we woke we packed our stuff and headed back to Colorado, along with a new respect for the people of the Lone Star State.
Aubrey Jones ‘20 Santa Fe High Scool, TX Aubrey and her family were part of the initial evacuation efforts by government agencies. “Our cities were underwater; homes, jobs, cars, and many other things were completely destroyed right in front of our eyes,” she said, “We took our boats and lifted trucks out to the freeway, launched our boats in ditches, and took off down the freeway that we normally drive on… in a boat.” “I got absolutely no sleep for three days straight,” Jones said. Jones was lucky, however. Few of her belongings were lost due to the hurricane. Those like her came together and volunteered at local shelters to help the people who did lose everything. A lot of the donation centers, she said, “had so many donations, I couldn’t even keep track. The donation center and shelter I worked at, I stayed overnight twice just to sort donations and prepare meals and beds for those who needed a warm place to sleep and something to eat.” “The experiences I had were life changing, despite the situation. It was incredible to be part of this, even though it was negative and catastrophic.” She volunteers every weekend at shelters and donation centers to help her community and she sees, first-hand, how this event brings people together.
The Stories 9
ThetoCall SERVE
How service immersion trips inspire the community to be men and women with and for others.
Story by Connor Hodes ‘19 and Olivia Ary ‘18
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Fall 2017 | Vol 3 Issue 1
ou’ll hear it a lot at Regis Jesuit: “Ad maiorem Dei gloriam” or “For The Greater Glory of God,” but what does this really mean? For many in the Regis Jesuit community, and the Jesuit community as a whole, this is more than a conclusion to a prayer or a sign that the school day is over. Rather, it is a way of life. Regis Jesuit was founded on the importance of serving the community. By helping the poor, the marginalized, and those less fortunate than us, we live the Jesuit mission, just as St. Ignatius himself intended it. “Service is important, first and foremost. It is important for students to have experience in their own backyard, as well as the opportunity to experience that internationally, outside our borders,” Girls Division Principal Ms. Kessler said. Three major service sites that Regis Jesuit works with over the summer are located in Nicaragua, Belize, and Guatemala. Students entering their senior year are invited to apply for the opportunity to serve outside of the United States. In Nicaragua this year, the girls worked on building a cinder block house for a family and worked with a boys home. At the home, they played games and drew portraits with the boys who spend time there. Cala Renahan described the boys as “joyful” and “troublemakers.” When they weren’t working, the Nicaraguan team played soccer and admired the rolling green scenery of Nicaragua. In Belize, the girls usually work in classrooms, teaching various subjects to children.“I created the best relationships with the people I went on the trip with, and the kids I met made the most impact on my life,” Tess Inhelder said. She urged everyone who wants to go on one of these trips to go, even if it’s out of their comfort zone. In Guatemala, the boys worked on basic construction projects, did some painting, and helped out in classrooms. The task of painting seven rooms in one day was long and difficult, but it “was one of the most meaningful things we had done,” said Griffen Rollert. With all the recent tragedies in Texas, Florida, and other areas impacted by the hurricanes, the obvious question presents itself: What can we do to help? “We’ve been in constant discussion with our friends located at Cristo Rey in South Houston and at Strake,” said Mr. Mattacchione, “The intentions are, when we find out what the greatest needs are, we’re going to meet those needs.” Although Cadre donations have been extremely helpful, Regis Jesuit is looking to do more than just donate. “We would also like to meet it on the ground, kind of like we did with New Orleans,” said Mattachionne. This journey is not without complication, however, as the organization for the potential trip is no easy task. “It might be over Thanksgiving break or Christmas, or even over the summer,” said Mattacchione. This potential trip is a long-term project, and may not be available for a year or so. Nonetheless, the community is doing their best to help. Mr. Lechuga, a member of the Regis Jesuit class of ‘03, has service experience going back to his years as a student. “The only way you can learn the lessons of a service immersion trip is to go on a service immersion trip,” says Lechuga. “There is no documentary you can watch, there is no book you can read, there is no class you can take. There is nothing that can replace the experience of going and seeing for yourself.”
“Seeing how joyous the kids were with how little they had made me appreciate everything just a little bit more.” - Jon Kaiser ‘18 Photo by Max Loyola ‘18 Check out Max’s video “Guatemala 2017” on his Youtube channel “Sage Productions.
“These boys are full of the most joy and welcoming friendship I’ve ever known.” -Katie Frontz ‘18
Photo by Halle Walker ‘18
“We gave the kids one of the most important things in life, human connection. And we received that connection as well.” - Sydney Lindquist ‘18
Photo by Audrey Trainor ‘18
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LEADERS IN SERVICE
TheAlumniServiceCorpsprogramhasbeenaroundfor27years,andRegisJesuithas participatedsincethebeginning.ThemainpurposeoftheprogramistogiveformerJesuithigh schoolorcollegealumniachancetogivebacktotheirJesuiteducationandcommunity.Regis Jesuith asthreeASCsthisy earwhichinclude(from left) Kurt Thiemann, GarrettLoehr,and E vanJenkins. Story by Tony Gervasini ‘18 Photo by Spencer Fell ‘18
Kurt Thiemann
Mr. Kurt Thiemann attended SLU High School in St. Louis, Missouri. After graduating high school he continued his education at Princeton University. When deciding what to do after college, Thiemann thought back to the ASCs at his high school. Thiemann concluded that he wanted to become a part of this program. “Teaching is one of my major interests, and this would be a good way to get back to my roots of Jesuit education,” Thiemann said. He is currently teaching freshman English in the Boys Division as well as coaching both the boys and girls volleyball teams. Thiemann is also assisting in the service office, Magis, and the Regis Raffle. He is most interested by the co-divisional aspect of Regis Jesuit. “Coming from an all boys high school, I am excited to see how it works.” Thiemann is anxious to give back to the Jesuit community and use this year as a test run to see if he wants to become an educator in the future. Fall 2017 | Vol 3 Issue 1
Garrett Loehr Mr. Garrett Loehr attended Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, Missouri. During Loehr’s senior year of high school he visited RJHS to compete in the Jesuit Classic and was immediately intrigued by the community and Colorado as a whole. “When visiting I stayed with a Regis family and had the opportunity to see some of Aurora, it was really interesting,” said Loehr. Now he is teaching Spanish 1 and Honors Spanish III in the Girls Division. He is also coaching varsity boys and girls soccer as well as getting involved in pastoral opportunities. “Being involved in the community and making connections through teaching, soccer, and pastoral has been a lot of fun,” said Loehr. He also prides himself on being a classy dresser. He rocks a bow tie on a daily basis and believes it improves his professional mentality. He encourages students to introduce themselves and to “not let the beard scare you.”
Evan Jenkins Mr. Evan Jenkins attended Desmet Jesuit High School in St. Louis, Missouri and later graduated from the University of Missouri. Jenkins is currently teaching Physics in the Boys Division as well as assisting in coaching JV soccer. Jenkins has a “strong connection to the Jesuits” and loves to assist with pastoral. He is looking forward to the upcoming year. When asked about what he looks forward to as an educator, Jenkins expressed his excitement “toexperience the other side of Jesuit education as a teacher, not just as a student.” Jenkins is also excited about living in the Denver area. “Denver is much different than St. Louis, in the culture and in the atmosphere.” Jenkins is constantly searching for opportunities to grow in both faith, service, and experience as a firm believer and follower of the Jesuit message.
BLOOD Story and photo by Bella Ames ‘20
Seniors Adrian Chan and Elijah Warren and freshmen Nick Ames and Joseph Reese share their stories of overcoming a life-threatening bleeding disorder. On the outside, these four boys look just like anyone else. They do the same work, say the same things, and walk down the same halls, but these boys have a disease that makes them go through much more than their peers. This disease is called Hemophilia. Hemophilia is a genetic bleeding disorder where an individual is missing one or more of the 13 clotting factors. Without all 13 clotting factors, the individual will be unable to fully heal from both internal and external bleeding. The four Regis Jesuit boys who have Hemophilia are Adrian Chan, Nick Ames, Joseph Reese, and Elijah Warren. Their mornings, along with getting ready for school, include getting a shot with their medication nearly every day. Without their medicine, also known as the Factor, the boys wouldn't be able to do everyday activities and endure every day injuries, such as bruises. Many people think that when you have Hemophilia you can bleed to death from a paper cut. This, however,
is not true. It simply is a matter of that an injury for them would take longer to heal, and injuries occur more often when they do not take their medication. Many people with Hemophilia have also experienced people thinking less of them for having this disorder, or have had people thinking they are more weak than someone who does not have the disease. "People sometimes assume that I am weaker than them, when really I have gone through things that they could never endure," says Elijah. With their medication, kids with hemophilia are still able to lead normal lives and are able to participate in physical activities and act as normal teenagers. Adrian Chan is a varsity track and field athlete, Nick and Elijah are year-round swimmers, and Joseph is active in theatre. Despite their disease, they are able to join in these sports and activities, just as any other athlete would. They do not feel like it restricts them from having normal lives outside of
physical activities, either. Joey described having Hemophilia as something that makes him feel a "good kind of different." Hemophilia has also given these boys the opportunity to be active in the Hemophilia community. Due to his disease, Adrian feels motivated to “research and innovate a new hemophilia medication for future generations”. In the end, the people who have Hemophilia aren't much different from the people who don't. That is why they have the medicine, so they are still able to participate in the activities they want without having to worry about getting hurt. "Yes, I know that sometimes I have to be cautious with certain stuff like that," Nick said, recalling past experiences with the disease, "but what I mostly want people to know is that our bodies aren't really that different, but society these days makes it seem like we are.” GIVE THE GIFT OF LIFE. DONATE TO THE NHS BLOOD DRIVE NOV 13th 13
140
YEARS Story and Photos by Leo McCabe ‘19
It all started 140 years ago. A group of Jesuits opened a school in Las Vegas, New Mexico. From there they moved to Morrison, Colorado. We went to Morrison for a day to find out what we could about the Morrison campus. Part 1 of our 3 part series on RJ history.
Fall 2017 | Vol 3 Issue 1
Red Rocks Amphitheater is one of the greatest concert venues in the United States. It’s known for its natural beauty. Now, imagine going to Regis Jesuit and being able to go explore Red Rocks on your lunch break. It all began in 1877, when a group of Jesuit priests from Naples, Italy decided to open a school in Las Vegas, New Mexico. They named it Las Vegas College. Then, in 1884, they made a monumental decision. They decided to move the school up to a booming town in Colorado called Morrison. The decision was encouraged by Bishop Machebeuf, who wanted two schools in the Diocese of Denver, one for boys and one for girls. He persuaded the Sisters of Loretto to come up to Colorado and open a girl school as well. They founded Saint Mary’s Academy, which is still around today. He had a harder time convincing the Jesuits to start a school in Colorado. The Jesuits thought there simply wouldn’t be enough time to be open for the 18841885 school year. They were worried that they wouldn’t have enough faculty or, more importantly, students, to function as a school. Machebeuf pressed on, and in the fall of 1884, Sacred Heart College opened its doors for operation. The Diocese bought an old hotel known as The Swiss Cottage or The Evergreen Hotel in Morrison, then deeded it to the Jesuits to open the school. The building was built by George Morrison, a stone mason. Morrison built this building and many others, four of which are still standing The school was looked upon as a great institution almost instantly. People liked the school’s student-teacher ratio. Students found being in Morrison quite enjoyable. There were many different activities in this booming town for students to do. Hiking was very popular with the discovery of the Red Rocks area as an amphitheater. In 1887, with the school on the rise, the Jesuits considered a move to Colorado Springs, going as far purchasing twenty acres of land for the school. Bishop Machebeuf, however, had a different idea. He proposed that they move to Denver instead of Colorado Springs. The Jesuits agreed to this plan and moved to their new campus at 52nd and Lowell. They would be at this new campus until the 1990s, when they moved out to the new Campbell Campus in Aurora. Some details from “Regis: on the Crest of the West,” 1977. By Harold L. Stansell
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HOME IN THE EARLY MORRISON VALLEY The building that housed Regis Jesuit from 1884-1888 (large building on far left and inset below) was also home to The Evergreen Hotel and Mt. Morrison Casino. Red Rocks Amphitheater (opened 1941) is located outside the photo frame to the left. This photo hangs in the Morrison Museum today, just across the street from the original location.
Foundations
SCHOOL IN THE 1880’s In 1874, the railroad came to town and established Morrison as a center for transportation, mining, and later paleontology. Left: The iconic shot of the Morrison location that hangs in the libraries and Tradition Hall; Workers at a local stone quarry circa 1860.
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George Morrison, who the town is named after, was an affluent stone mason in the area. He built many buildings in the areas from houses, to stores, to schools. Four of his buildings are still standing today. Morrison built the Evergreen Hotel in which later became the home of Regis Jesuit High School (called Sacred Heart at the time) from 18841888. After Regis Jesuit left, the building had several other tenants. One of these occupiers was the Mt. Morrison Casino, which briefly occupied the space. The building was torn down in the 1980s, and a retirement home was built on the site. Right: A schoolhouse bell from the 1800’s. The retirement home today which is the exact location of the school in the 1880s. The amphitheater in the distance. George and Isabella Morrison: George was the main stone mason in town.
Below: The interior of The Cliff House, one of Morrison’s buildings. Bottom: An example of Morrison’s masonry still stands in town today.
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WHEREAS, the institutions now known as Regis University and Regis Jesuit High School were founded on November 5, 1877 in Las Vegas, New Mexico and shortly thereafter relocated to Denver at the behest of the Most Rev. Joseph Machebeuf; and WHEREAS, Regis University and Regis Jesuit High School began as a preparatory school for boys and grew into a university serving men and women of all faiths in four locations on the Front Range, as well as the now separate high school, which provides a superior secondary education in Aurora; and WHEREAS, Regis University incorporated selected academic programs at Loretto Heights College, which was closing, to enrich and expand the university into the comprehensive higher education institution it now is; and WHEREAS, Regis University delivers a high-quality, liberal arts education, is an innovative pioneer in online adult learning, and provides more than 100 degree programs in fields ranging from business, education, and computer science, to the liberal arts, the humanities, and health care; and WHEREAS, Regis Jesuit High School is the only high school in the state and only Jesuit school in the country to offer an innovative single-gender instructional model for both young men and women; and WHEREAS, Regis University is one of only 28 colleges and universities in the United States grounded in the Jesuit, Catholic tradition, and the only one in the Western Rocky Mountains; and WHEREAS, Regis Jesuit High School has grown to be the largest private, and largest Catholic high school in Colorado, serving a diverse body of students coming from all along the Front Range; and WHEREAS, Regis University and Regis Jesuit High School, inspired by St. Ignatius Loyola, educate men and women to make a positive impact in a rapidly-changing global society by emphasizing academic excellence, service, and developing the whole person, as prescribed by the principles of the Society of Jesus; and WHEREAS, Regis University and Regis Jesuit High School students, faculty, staff, and alumni have made significant contributions to the betterment of society through generous service, locally and around the world, including through Jesuit Worldwide Learning, which awards Regis University diplomas to refugees enrolled in programs across the globe; Therefore, I, John W. Hickenlooper, Governor of the State of Colorado, do hereby proclaim, November 5, 2017, as
REGIS UNIVERSITY AND REGIS JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL DAY
in the State of Colorado.
GIVEN under my hand and the Executive Seal of the State of Colorado, this fifth day of November, 2017
John W. Hickenlooper Governor
Fall 2017 | Vol 3 Issue 1
140 YEARS
Next, we will take an RJ history journey to the North Denver Campus and see what we can find. Look for the story in our December issue. Would you like to join us on our visit to the old campus? Contact us and let us know. We would love to have you!
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DREAMERS FACE NIGHTMARE While most Regis Jesuit seniors are nervous about the SATs and the Common App, some are afraid their lives will be upended. After President Trump rescinded DACA, more than ten thousand students in Colorado could be deported in the next few months for being the sons and daughters of undocumented immigrants. Now, these Dreamers face their nightmare. “It’s messed up,” a student at Regis Jesuit, whose family depends on DACA, says. “A lot of Dreamers don’t know anything about where they were from. No one remembers it. A lot of us feel rejected- like we don’t belong anywhere.” While working after school until 9 o’clock most nights, the senior found time to study for 11 AP classes and maintain a GPA above 4.0 since freshman year. Still, he says, “Dreamers begin believing they’re not enough. Because you’re different, you’re less than. You don’t deserve the same respect as the people who were born in the U.S.” “When people in class reacted to the news [that DACA may be rescinded], they said that the program was a stupid waste of money,” he remembers. “The first person who read the news alert on his iPad was cussing and saying ‘Finally.’ I want to prove those kids wrong. They don’t know all the problems we face.” President Trump is stripping away legal protections for the children of undocumented immigrants by rescinding the deferment program known as DACA. Starting March 15, 2018, these kids, known as “Dreamers,” will start losing their legal status in the U.S. Some argue that it is an attempt to force the Senate to address immigration reform, while many see it as an excuse for racism and nationalism. More than 1,200 faculty members at Jesuit schools, including 25 Presidents of Jesuit universities and high schools, spoke out in support of DACA by sending a letter to the Trump administration. Regis Jesuit’s President, David Card, and several Regis Jesuit faculty members were among those who signed it. In the letter, Jesuit leaders condemned the President’s decision as a “moral and policy failure” that “undermines the best values of our nation.” They went on to support DACA, saying, “We witness the obstacles [Dreamers] overcome each day as they pursue their dream of a better life for themselves and their families.” Mr. Jim Broderick King, one of the RJ faculty members who signed the letter, said, “As a teacher I always want to maintain a line where I’m not advocating for a party or a position. But this issue is one where as a Jesuit school, we need to follow what we observe and believe in terms of Catholic social teaching and what Jesuits stand for.” Both Bishops of the Archdiocese of Denver spoke out in support of DACA. In a statement signed by Archbishop Samuel Fall 2017 | Vol 3 Issue 1
Dreamers at Regis Jesuit and across the U.S. are in fear of deportation. Why?
Story by Patrick Koenigs ‘18
Aquila and Auxiliary Bishop Re. Jorge H. Rodriguez, the two Catholic leaders wrote, “It is important to uphold the Constitution, but we must always put people first in our politics. We ask that you call now, before the Sept. 5 deadline, to ask the President to remove any threat of deportation from the 800,000 beneficiaries of DACA.” The United States Conference of Bishops released a statement calling the decision “reprehensible.” The President of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States wrote directly to Dreamers, saying, “We will continue to strive toward a fuller realization of your rights. Please know that you are in our prayers and that we continue to share in your dreams.” According to Politico, 84 percent of Democrats, 74 percent of independents, and 69 percent of Republicans say Dreamers shouldn’t lose DACA protections. Regis Jesuit alum Jorge Palacios spoke up about immigration issues at the Ignatian Family Teach-In last November. “We are called to respond to people who look, and talk, and act differently,” he said. “When we get down to it, we are all basically the same. Unless you are Native American, we are all immigrants.” For Regis Jesuit’s President Card, who was previously President of Escuela de Guadalupe, the issue is personal. “A kid I met at Escuela was a strong student, outstanding soccer player, and was being courted by one of the most prestigious high schools in the metro area but was not let in because he was not documented. That set him in a downward spiral. He started questioning who he was and he muddled through,” Mr. Card remembers. “But, after struggling, he gained some status through the DACA Program and it all turned around. The young man went to a technical college, played soccer, and is now at a construction company building important resources for Colorado,” Mr. Card said. “Knowing these kids really matters. To deny them opportunity, particularly when it was already promised to them, is in my mind the fundamentally wrong thing to do.” “We need to be responsible and compassionate when talking about immigration and security,” he says. “We need students to debate but not get caught in the mile wide and inch deep conversation that dominates our media. Trump’s indicated that he has compassion, and I think he would sign responsible legislation.” The Regis Jesuit senior whose family depends on DACA isn’t sure the President will protect him but thinks someone will. For now, he is dealing with frustration and uncertainty. When asked what he wants people to understand about Dreamers, he answered, “We aren’t a statistic. We aren’t some drain on America. We are the living, sweating, spirit of America.” Some would say, the Dream.
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It is a moral and policy failure when our government targets children and young adults who simply aspire to live the American dream.
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Jesuit leaders and educators in letter urging White House to maintain DACA
WHAT IS DACA? Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals is an executive order written by former President Barack Obama that allowed undocumented immigrants to apply for renewable two-year work permits and deportation deferments if they were under the age of 31 as of July 25, 2012 and no older than 15 when they came to the U.S. Approximately 800,000 so-called “Dreamers” were accepted into the program.
WHO ARE DREAMERS? Dreamers are anyone protected under DACA. They are between the ages of 15 and 35 and are mostly from Mexico, El Salvador, and Guatemala. They are not considered U.S. citizens and are not eligible for Obamacare or Medicaid. They’ve paid $2 billion in taxes. Dreamers are required to already have a degree or to be in school or military service.
WHAT IS TRUMP DOING? President Trump announced DACA will immediately close its application process and starting March 18, 2018, Dreamers will lose their legal status and work permits. The President suggested that he wants a legislative replacement to DACA before March 18th.
WHAT IS NEXT? It is unclear if and when 800,000 Dreamers will be asked to leave the U.S. While their deportation will not be prioritized in President Trump’s administration, many Dreamers are afraid of being found by ICE because they submitted personal information to federal agencies in their DACA applications. People are protesting and calling Senators, asking for a legislative replacement to DACA. President Trump seems to want the same, but it is unclear what that legislation will look like. 21
FACE IT: WE’RE ADDICTED Story by Hannah Smith ‘20
Photo by Elliot Steinberg ‘18
Fall 2017 | Vol 3 Issue 1
This year the Regis Jesuit community welcomes the class of 2021, making for a student body of approximately 1,700 humans and 3,400 smart devices. Of course, this does not include the laptops, iPads and smart devices owned by faculty, nor the computers in the media lab and libraries. We are outnumbered, but are we obsessed? It is not social media or technology itself that proves problematic. Rather, it is the use and abuse of such resources. Indeed, numerous campaigns to aid Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma victims have been started on media platforms, such as Twitter, and been met with an overwhelmingly positive response. In Regis Jesuit daily life, students depend on Canvas to keep track of grades, assignments, and take tests. Many colleges offer virtual campus tours and Skype interviews with admissions counselors. “What I love about the iPad is if you have an interest area, you can immediately do some research on it, and that’s what real learning is about,” said President Card. “When it’s self-motivated and when we pursue things that are built out of our own curiosity, that’s good learning; that’s deep learning; that’s the kind of education I think we want to promote.” However, as sophomore Alana Neylon knows well, social media and technology can be more absorbing and stressful than educational. “If I didn’t have social media or technology it would be relieving because I wouldn’t have the stress to maintain it. The only reason I still have social media is because- and I know this is bad to say- everyone else has it and I don’t want to feel like an outsider,” she said. “A lot of friendships, relationships in general really, rely on social media, whether you ‘like’ someone’s photo or keep a ‘streak.’ Without the media you feel disconnected,” sophomore Jake CeDebaca agreed. Navigating social media, especially with college applications and your future in mind, can be tricky. While it may be fun to post a photo of the party you and your friends went to last night, it may not be the best decision, admits college counselor Laura Hall. “In terms of what you’re posting and how you’re posting you just always have to have that extra ‘in 10 years am I going to look back on this and be embarrassed’ kind of a situation,” Hall advises, “If your account is public, colleges stumbling upon your page
can happen more frequently and more unintentionally. If your account is private and you know who’s seeing it and what’s happening with it, then certainly you are better protected.” One of the greatest concerns with online forms of communication is the potential effect on individual’s communication skills and ability to form personal relationships. “Technology is one driver of what I would call a ‘poverty of loneliness’ because it replaces a deeper level of communication,” said President Card. Girls Division Theology teacher Mr. Patrick Smith agrees. “The way social media functions currently, I actually believe it to be a detriment to the intellectual and rhetorical development of students,” he said. Information present on social media tends to be interpreted as fact or truth but, as we know, this simply is not the case. Social media can be a great source of entertainment and learning, provided that users have developed the rational thinking to discern valid information from superfluous or sensational information. Not only can technology be detrimental to our communication skills, but it can also hinder our brain development as companies continue to release apps that feature qualities of other substances proven to be addictive. “There really are two processes going on here,” argues Dr. Larry Rosen, a research psychologist at California State University, in a recent interview with The Daily Dot, an online publication covering Internet culture. “Part of it is an addiction, but what I think is really going on, and what our research is starting to show, is that we’re not trying to feel good—we are trying to get rid of neurotransmitters that make us feel bad, chemicals most closely associated with feelings of anxiety and stress.” One of the primary ways in which we seek to alleviate stress is also one of the greatest sources of stress and anxiety in students’ lives. Technology at Regis Jesuit and in our world is certainly not going away anytime soon. Addictive apps will continue to be made, social media will not cease to connect us even as platforms shift with trends. Therefore, in the best interest of our futures and our social lives, we must learn to use media responsibly.
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Tips for Responsible Technology Usage 1. Adhere to rules of logic and rhetoric. Do not use media to “stir-up” or to “attack”. It is one thing to use social media to post opinions; it is another thing to use social media to denigrate or harm another person or a person’s character because one simply disagrees with their belief.
2. Keep your accounts private. You are better protected when you can control who sees your page.
3. Think before you post. Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary? Will I regret this later? How would I feel if my employer saw this?
4. Charge your phone in a separate room or keep it in your backpack when you are doing homework. This prevents potential distraction, helping you get your homework done faster.
5. Turn off social media notifications on your iPad during class time and when working on homework.
Fall 2017 | Vol 3 Issue 1
I Gave Up My Phone for a Weekend
AND SURVIVED Story by Sydney Essler ‘20
If you were walking down the hallways of Regis Jesuit High School 10 years ago, you would’ve seen friendly conversations and students interacting. Now you can still see the same thing… only the conversations are on their phones. Whenever you look around, it’s clear to see that everyone has their phone glued to their hand. I’m guilty of this, too, so I decided to give up my phone for a weekend.
Saturday morning. I immediately noticed how hard it is to get information to someone without a phone. I quickly realized that I probably should have thought this through since it was going to be a pretty busy weekend, but it was too late. Normally, I would be able to easily text my friends and parents to let them know what was going on. Now, I wasn’t able to. I never noticed how much I took texting for granted. During the cleanse I had to actually communicate face to face and set up times and places to meet beforehand.
Saturday night.
I ended up doing things I hadn’t done in a while. I got my homework done early and caught up on the TV shows I used to watch but hadn’t had time to recently. I realized that once I stopped scrolling through social media, I could start doing the things I really needed to and had been wanting to do.
Sunday morning. On Sunday morning, I woke up and found myself reaching for my phone immediately. But then I realized I had another whole day to go without turning on my phone. My phone was normally my go-to so that I didn’t have experience awkward situations when I waited in lines or walked down streets. I had to make use of what was around me. I found myself noticing more posters and other things I’d never seen before.
Sunday night. On Sunday night, I had the best dessert. All I wanted to do was take a picture and put it on my Snapchat story. However, by the end of Sunday night, I was more accustomed to not having my phone. It actually felt like a little bit of weight was off my shoulders since I didn’t have to constantly worry about making sure my phone was on me and about responding to texts. At this point, checking my phone and going through social media is more of a habit than anything else.
Monday morning. When I opened up the desk drawer on Monday morning I was so happy. It’s almost sad to admit that it was like reuniting with my other half. I turned on my phone to see 351 texts. I didn’t go through them all, but it was nice to be able to hold the device in my hands. Long story short, I gave up my phone for a weekend. For some people it would have been a piece of cake. For me, that wasn’t quite the story. But guess what? I survived.
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RealEYES
You’re not getting enough sleep
Story and art by Annie Oberlies ‘20
There’s a vicious cycle with teens of staying up past midnight, attempting to finish homework, pushing through the fatigue, and waking up early just to drift off in class, harnessing just enough energy to do their after school activities, and arriving home to a massive homework load. The cycle continues every day, building up the feelings of stress and sleep deprivation that we know all too well here at Regis Jesuit. Studies show that the recommended amount of sleep for teenagers is 8 to 10 hours a night. Despite “this, two-thirds of American high school students get less than seven hours of sleep a night. By the end of the week this adds up to almost a full night’s worth of sleep not received. Not getting enough sleep has countless effects on teens, including stress, higher rates of suicidal thoughts and mental illness, sickness, acne, inability to learn new material or concentrate, memory loss, moody behavior, auto accidents, and substance use and abuse. The circadian rhythm is the human body’s inner clock that tells us when to wake up and go to sleep; a teenager’s rhythm tells them go to bed and wake up later. Electronic distractions further contribute to this, tricking users into thinking it’s daytime rather than bedtime. In 2014, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a strong policy statement thats said middle and high schools in the United States should begin school no earlier than 8:30am for the health and well-being of the youth. However, many
schools in Colorado, including Regis Jesuit, start before 8:30am. Sophomores and juniors at Regis Jesuit blamed large amounts of homework and a lack of understanding by teachers of the academic rigor and extracurriculars at school. Some said instructors can be judgmental of requests for extensions, even when the reasons for non-completion are legitimate. Many students mentioned that the lack of sleep and stress just lead to more of both, damaging their health in the long-run. “I’m super spaced out sometimes when I am in class because I am just too tired to even focus,” said junior Lauren Winston, “If I ever get too stressed about homework, I’ll do a very bad job on it... [or] fall asleep without doing it and then I’ll fall asleep anxious or not be able to sleep at all.” “I wish I could say I receive more sleep than I prefer,” said sophomore Andy Soechtig, “I haven’t gotten more than maybe 6 hours in the past 5 weeks. I have been having horrible fatigue, my doctor is prescribing me to some medicine to help me fall asleep.” Despite their complaints, no student interviewed could come up with a feasible solution, besides getting less homework and starting school far later. One thing is for sure: if we at Regis Jesuit really care about learning, we need to wake up to the facts about sleep.
“If I get enough sleep, I can stay concentrated and do what I need to get done.” -Adriana Hunter’20
Fall 2017 | Vol 3 Issue 1
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ways to end the vicious sleep cycle 1. Just go to bed You are losing more by staying up later. 2. Take time to chill Sort through your thoughts and take a break from the stress. Going to bed worried decreases sleep quality. 3. Keep your room cool A study found you fall asleep faster when your room is around 68°F. 4. Put the phone away The light tricks your brain that it is daytime, making it to be harder to fall asleep. 5. Take a nap A 20- to 30-minute nap increases alertness and helps to “delete” unimportant information (aka synaptic connections) in your brain. 6. Try setting the alarm not during the REM cycle Studies have shown it’s difficult and unhealthy to wake up during the Rapid Eye Movement cycle of sleep when you are “pruning” your synaptic connections and dreaming. Instead, use an app like Sleep Cycle that will wake you up gently outside of your REM cycle. You’ll wake up refreshed with increased cognitive ability.
How much is too much? Story and photo by Nolan Whitmore ‘20
For many students, the marathon to finish homework begins with a slam of books and a shrug. The issue of too much homework has been talked about since the start of the schooling system. At Regis Jesuit, this discussion occurs everyday. “I think the amount of homework we get is too much. It’s difficult to juggle it with soccer” said Freshman Will Seme. Extracurricular activities ranging from football to robotics have been in conflict with homework, crunching time and creating stress for students. Some members of the student body, such as senior Nick Faber, believe that these clubs and sports are more important than meeting a deadline. “I think extracurriculars are more important, because they let you be yourself,”said Nick. However, sleep and stress are undeniable problems. “It’s made soccer a whole lot more stressful, and I hardly get any sleep,” said Sophomore Evan Mullen. With many students enrolled in after school activities, it can be hard to get a healthy amount of sleep when homework becomes a factor. According to a poll directed by the Nationwide Children’s Hospital, students get only seven hours of sleep, when they should be receiving at least nine.
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BEHIND
THE LENS Professional photographer Michael Grant explains the mentality it takes to rise to the top-and takes some photos along the way. Story by Connor Lyford ‘18 Michael Grant walks down the busy streets of New York City, the honks of car horns and bustle of people filling the space around him. Everyday New Yorkers may despise the chaos which unfolds around them, but Mike embraces it. He is constantly ready for the right moment to present itself. Mike is a freelance photographer with a passion, a vision, and a handful of cameras. His entire business philosophy is modeled on a constantly changing world, and it allows for more personal connections with his clients. “I am one of those people that believes your character speaks louder than your work or your service that you offer. I feel like people are really down with me as a person, and I just happen to be good at photography, so they give me different opportunities,” said Mike. Mike is making quite the name for himself in areas across the world, and he continues to make connections with the various people he encounters. Mike has collaborated with big names like Chance the Rapper, Rick Ross, Von Miller, Kayvon Webster, Shaq Lawson, Teddy Bridgewater, Kawhi Leanord, Lupe Fiasco, Outkast, OFFSET, and many more notable public figures and groups. “People don’t care about the work you can do, there’s a million people that can take pictures. They remember you by what you bring to their life, or how you interact with them. Can they grow with you? Can they learn some things from you? I’m kind of like a mirror, how I react to them makes them check themselves,” Mike said. The key for Mike is not to add another client, another paycheck. Instead, Mike strives to make new connections with new people and he constantly challenges himself to go outside his comfort zone and try new things as he adventures around the world (he finds himself on a plane 5 or 6 times every month). “Persistence and Consistency” is how he puts it. “If you know that you have what it takes to do something, do it. It doesn’t matter what obstacles are in front of you, you just get that sh** done. There’s no way around it,” Mike said, “it’s a fifty-fifty. People are worried about going outside their comfort zones because they think they’ll lose. But just like you can take a really big loss, you can have a really big win. You just gotta put yourself in the situation and do it,” Mike said. Did Mike just happen to catch a lucky break and come into photography? Yes and No. “I’m not some dude who happened to take pictures, and then was in the right place at the right time, and blew up. That may be part of the story, but that’s not my story. I went to college, graduated, worked at a corporation, worked for the government. Life is trial and error. You win some, and you learn some. There is no right or wrong, it’s all perspective.”
Follow Mike on Instagram
@24bucks Fall 2017 | Vol 3 Issue 1
However, Mike did fall into one opportunity when he first started out as a photographer. Being an adventurous thinker, Mike decided it was time to move on to new things and go pursue his passion of photography. Mike quit his job and drove to Atlanta with $30 in his pocket, determined to take photos at a Rick Ross concert. After a long night of taking photos, Mike drove past a car with its hazards on, and a man who needed help jumping his car. Being the extroverted and helpful guy that Mike is, he stopped to help the man get his car up and running. They had a long conversation, and Mike mentioned that he was a freelance photographer that was out taking photos of the Rick Ross concert, and he showed the man some of his pictures. As luck would have it, this man turned out to be a member of Rick Ross’ PR team. He invited Mike to follow Ross at more concerts, and one of his photos ended up on World Star Hip Hop, a popular social media outlet. “Rick Ross is what put me on the platform to move and be seen in the way I am now. It’s ultimately about having the right energy and the right mindset with everything you do. The only way a person doesn’t win is when they allow them self not to win. The higher I go up, and the more people I meet, I realize there is one thing in common, it’s a mindset. They’re all humans just like us, they do the same stuff we do. It’s all about execution,” Mike said. Mike has had many very different adventures throughout his prolific photography career. He describes running into Kawhi Leonard in a parking garage, trading a dollar for a photo of homeless people on the streets of Nicaragua, and many other stories of the time Mike has spent with an ambition and a camera.
Quavo from Migos
Tyler, The Creator
From Left to Right (Next page): Chance the Rapper, Von Miller, Rick Ross, Fatboy SSE, Teddy Bridgewater, Kawhi Leonard
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Flower Boy
Tyler, the Creator Tyler the Creator released his fourth album, Flower Boy on July 21st of 2017. ‘Who Dat Boy’ featuring A$AP Rocky was the first song that I heard from this album. The music video for ‘Who Dat Boy’ came out a month before the album was released, giving the fans a taste of Tyler’s upcoming vibe. Tyler has done collabs with famous artists like Frank Ocean, Jaden Smith, Kali Uchis, etc. Each song on the album, like Tyler’s usual songs, have in-depth verses that tell stories and relate to his past. The structure for most of the songs tend to have a catchy chorus from the featured artists, then Tyler’s verses. Frank Ocean has been This is the third of Tyler’s album that Frank Ocean has been featured on three of his albums, with their first collaboration ‘She’ gives a soulful type of chorus that coincides well with Tyler the Creator’s distinct voice.
Top Songs: Where this Flower Blooms ft. Frank Ocean 911/Mr. Lonely ft. Frank Ocean, Steve Lacy See you Again ft. Kali Uchis Reviewed by Erin Biafore ‘18
Cozy AAB TapesVol. 2 Joey B. A$AP Mob
ASAP Mob’s newest album, the sequel to their coveted debut album: Cozy Tapes Vol.2: Too Cozy is something nobody expected. Coming from New York, A$AP Mob reminds me of the old school Wu-Tang Clan through their fast paced switch on and off verses to the tantalizing ad libs between verses putting us in the gritty Big Apple environment. Not new to adding tons of features to their songs, A$AP Mob utilizes the likes of Lil Uzi Vert, Joey Bada$$, and Frank Ocean to enhance a lot of their songs. Not to mention the new additions like Playboy Carti who is heard on nearly every song on the album bringing his trademark, “What” ad libs to Rocky’s flow, and a new protégé, Smooky MarGielaa, who adds a young, auto-tuned voice to the rhymes. Sadly, the repetitiveness of most of the songs brings the overall rating of this album down. The beats were great and features were fitting but the group itself had lazy and (sometimes forced) lyrics which changed the flow too much. Many bars weren’t able to be filled, and the ad libs were used too infrequently to make up in lack of rhymes. Just like from what we saw in Vol.1: Cozy Tapes the majority of songs were sub-par with only a couple being somewhat strong to carry the rest. More selectivity in what songs make their albums would go to help this group step out of the underground and not be known for a few select hits. Top Songs: Blowin’ Minds(Skateboard) Get the Bag RAF Reviewed by Kolondja Thillot’18
Fall 2017 | Vol 3 Issue 1
Debuting at number five on the Billboard 200 in the US, this album is deliciously controversial. The album cover sets the stage perfectly for his message, complete with a bandana stitched American flag. Joey’s statements about major social justice issues like police brutality and racial profiling as well as the criticizing of prominent political figures paints a picture. While Joey isn’t giving us answers to the problems, he is opening up a conversation. Talking about racial injustice in this generation of rap isn’t new, just listen to Kendrick Lamar’ or J. Cole’s ‘4 Your Eyez Only’. But rather than taking only one or several people’s narratives, Joey takes the whole picture and simplifies. This is perfectly exemplified in the album’s second single Land of the Free in which not-so-subtle references to white privilege and non-white oppression are made in lines like “In the land of the free, it’s full of free loaders/ Leave us dead in the street to be their organ donors/ They disorganized my people, made us all loners/ Still got the last names of our slave owners.” These slap in the face statements, paired with a well produced beat, opens up another important dialogue in American culture that is used to identify and define the social and political disparities many Americans face daily. Top Songs: TEMPTATION LAND OF THE FREE Reviewed by Maxine Fuselier‘19
ALBUMS: Odesza, ‘A Moment Apart’
Seattle producer/DJ Odesza released his new album on September 8, 2017.
Thomas Rhett, ‘Life Changes’
Country star Thomas Rhett released his new album mid-2017. It debuted number one of the Billboard Top 200 selling 120,000+ copies.
September and October, 2017
MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT Jack Schiavone’s Music Quote: “Music is a world within itself, with a language we all understand, with an equal opprotunity for all to sing, dance, and clap their hands.” -Stevie Wonder Sir Duke
Ringo Starr, ‘Give More Love’
Former Beatle Ringo Starr returns from 2015 to further his solo career with ‘Give More Love.’
Macklemore, ‘Gemini’ After splitting from producer Ryan Lewis, Macklemore released his new album ‘Gemini’. Lil Yatchy, Skylar Grey, and Offset are all featured artists.
Marilyn Manson, ‘Heaven Upside Down’
Marilyn Manson’s latest album was released on October 6 with generally positive reviews.
CTRL (June 9, 2017) Top Dawg Entertainment signee SZA released her debut studio album in the middle of 2017. Throughout the 50 minute run-time, SZA displays her impressive voice over modern R&B/trap beats.
FÉNIX (January 20, 2017)
Reggaeton super-star Nicky Jam comes back from the shadows for his seventh studio album, giving us even more hit songs, solidfying him as one of the best latin singers in the modern era.
NEW ARTIST:
Born Sampha Lahai Sisay is an English singer/song writer/ producer who recently released his album ‘Process.’ He was featured on Drake’s ‘More Life.’
WE TALK ABOUT MUSIC. rjmedianow.com
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The Regis Jesuit High School Premiere of...
3 MORE SHOWS!
Fiddler
Roof On The
www.regisjesuit.com/boxoffice
Fall 2017 | Vol 3 Issue 1
November 10 & 11 7:00 pm November 12 2:00 pm
RJMEDIANOW.COM YOUR HOME FOR STUDENT MEDIA 33
WE ARE REGIS JESUIT DAILY MASS LUNCHTIME M-Th ROTATES CHAPELS
FRIDAY MORNING MASS BD CHAPEL & FIRST FRIDAY OF MONTH COMMUNITY MASS IN GD CHAPEL
PRAYER JOURNEY & RECONCILIATION TALK TO ONE OF YOUR JESUITS
Fall 2017 | Vol 3 Issue 1
35 Photo by: Elliot Steinberg ‘18
SPORTS
Annika Mayers First head female football manager Story by Brianna Hanks ‘20 Photo by Leo McCabe‘19
In the 140 years of Regis Jesuit history, there has not once been a head female football manager. However, junior Annika Mayers has changed that. Annika approached the Head Coach, Danny Filleman, with a proposal. He had no problem with her being the manager as long as she was willing to commit all of her time and effort. Annika attends all of the varsity practices and games. “Annika is a jack of all trades. During practice she flies the drone, gets water for the players, helps with the practice clock and helps Mr. Bloom, our equipment manager,” said Head Coach Filleman. “Practices are from 3:30- 6:30,” Annika said, “Sometimes practices get really long or it is really hot outside, but once practice is over I’m happy that I’m doing it.” Annika has nothing but a positive attitude about the long practices, though. She said that being at all the practices has allowed her to see the amount of work necessary to improve from game to game. Annika loves the game of football and hopes to work for the NFL in her future. Not only has she changed history, she has opened a new door for others in the future. Fall 2017 | Vol 3 Issue 1
Pierce
Thrasher SENIOR KICKER Story by Xavier Ribota ‘18 Photo by: Elliot Steinberg ‘18
55 yards?
No big deal. The new starting kicker for Regis Jesuit High School, Pierce Thrasher, is ready to help lead his team to the championship. 2017, being Pierce’s first year playing, is sure to provide many challenges and pressure on and off of the field. “I was pushed by my friends to at least try out for the team,” he said, “I had no idea I’d actually make it.” Senior wide receiver Max Ronyak had a few words to say about Thrasher. “I think he is a great addition to the team. I’m sure that he’ll get used to putting in the work that everyone else does in order to make this a good team.” Before a game, Thrasher puts on his headphones and blasts Frank Sinatra to cancel out the background noise and focus on his technique. Thrasher’s first experience of pressure, nervousness, and relief came to him during the first practice. The moment came for him to show the coaches what he had to offer. Thrasher kicked a field goal completing 55 yards. Pressure also arose during his first game against Cherry Creek High School. “I didn’t know what to expect. There were so many people, I couldn’t think straight.” Regis Jesuit High School went on to win 24-20 against Cherry Creek High School, thanks to Thrasher’s additional points. “When it came down to it, I was able to come through for my team.” There are dozens of games ahead, but Thrasher isn’t afraid. “I’m confident that my team and I will do our best to secure more victories.” To this day Thrasher has attempted six field goals and out of those he’s made three. The future is bright for Thrasher and his powerful leg, he intends to face any challenge which meets him, and put it right between the uprights.
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Poms & Cheer
5 things you should know about the spirit sports Story by Bella Scipione ‘18 and Krissy Rael ‘21 Photos by Elliot Steinberg ‘18
1. Equally Demanding Poms is a very hard sport to do. It takes time and dedication to master the sport. Freshman Sarah Wagner has been dancing various styles since she was three years old and she started poms when she was eight years old. Her time and dedication put her on the varsity poms team. Cheer is equally hard and challenging. After senior Isabel Bordewyk comes off the field from her cheer routine, she is very tired from yelling, tumbling and stunting. Isabel understands both sports very well because she has done both, “I am much more tired after doing a cheer routine rather than a poms routine. However, I would say they are pretty equal on the physical tolls; just in different ways,” she said. Fall 2017 | Vol 3 Issue 1
2. Differences In Routines “To me, cheer is a sport just like any other sport. It involves hard work and dedication in practices. Technically, cheer consists of stunting, dancing, tumbling, and jumps,” said senior Audrey Fischer, “it’s frustrating sometimes. I find that especially people at Regis don’t really know the difference because there are things that are very similar. But, we definitely do a lot of things different.” Senior Clancy Erickson, on the other hand, has different emotions. Clancy says, “I don’t get frustrated when people don’t know the difference because the sports do look similar from afar. I make sure to inform people of the difference if they do not know.” Clancy tells people that cheer is on the field or court, and they are the ones leading the student section through cheering, and tumbling. She then says that poms are the dancers who stand in the student section and come out during halftime to perform either a Pom, jazz or hip-hop dance routine.
3. Shared Seasons
4. Similar Uniforms
5. Unbreakable Bonds
According to CHSSA, the two spirit teams are considered winter sports. However, the time and dedication put into poms and cheer is a year round commitment. With competition season beginning in November, the sweat and tears enhance and both teams work endlessly to perfect their routine. Isabel, a dancer who made the decision to become a cheerleader explains that “Competitions I would say are the same, they are run similarly. We prepare for them in different ways, but they both occur during the same time of year.” Both teams also are given the opportunity to compete at nationals in Orlando, Florida. Poms has been grateful enough to go the past 5 years and hope to continue placing well this coming February.
When either team comes out onto a field or a gym court, it may be difficult to distinguish the difference between the two. Audrey says that, “I find that especially people at Regis don’t really know the difference because our uniforms are very similar”. However, when the performance starts and the music blasts through the speakers, the members on the teams do their best to show what they love. Junior Connor Blue knows the difference when “cheer throws people, and poms dances.”
Spending hours, days, weeks, and years with girls over the years turns into something so special and unbreakable. It’s not difficult to be best friends with someone who shares the same interests as you and spends so much time with you. Isabel Bordewyk and Audrey Fischer, as well as Clancy Erickson and Bella Scipione can testify to this. Isabel put into words how important her and Audrey’s bond through cheer is. “It’s the best part of cheer. It’s fun because I always have someone to go to and talk about problems and work together. We are always helping each other improve and giving each other corrections with nobody getting hurt”. A sport that requires synchronized moves and everyone working together has to include a bond off of the cheer mat or dance floor. It is not a team, but a family and that is the most important thing in the world. 39
TOUGH
MENTORSHIP Story by Kiahn Martinez ‘19
Harald Hasselbach was born in Amsterdam, Netherlands. He played his high school career at South Delta Secondary School in Canada. After high school he received a scholarship offer and attended the University of Washington. He went undrafted and played four seasons in the CFL for the Calgary Stampeders. Has-
selbach’s main success was starting for the Denver Broncos from 1994 to 2000, in that time he won two Super Bowls. After playing in the NFL, Hasslebach began coaching, and has helped produce many great athletes at Regis Jesuit.
Q & A With Hasselbach KIAHN: How has your experience coaching at Regis Jesuit been? HASSELBACH: “Coaching football at Regis has re-ignited my love of the
game of football. Teaching young men what I know about the game has been incredibly rewarding. I learn as much from them as they do from me.”
KIAHN: You have coached many great players! Who are some of the best that you have coached here at Regis Jesuit or even outside of Regis Jesuit?
HASSELBACH: “Although my goal is always to treat all players equally
there inevitably some who stand out... it is hard to single out just a few since many have gone on to play college football. Some names that come to mind are Ross Heath, Chase Conkel, Connor Sinks, Eddie Gonzales, Terran Hasselbach, Mike Lies, Isaiah Ross, Ace Escobedo, Max Coates - many of these players had never played the position before and some had never played football before. If I can instill the love of the game in these young men then I have succeeded.”
KIAHN: Your son Terran Hasselbach attended Regis Jesuit. How was that experience for you as a parent?
HASSELBACH: “Coaching my son gave me some of the proudest mo-
ments of my life. Terran faced a lot of adversity, he was unable to play sport until his sophomore year due to an injury sustained in a car accident. He came back as a junior and suffered another season ending injury. When he came back to play as a senior he was extremely determined and had one of the best seasons any of my players had ever had. Enough to garner 10 Division 1 scholarships... after only one season. He has been the pride of my life.”
KIAHN: What is a mentality that you try and build within a team? HASSELBACH: “My goal is to install passion in my players. I have been
coached as a player for the majority of my adult life... often badly and other times extremely well. I have taken what I feel is the right approach, and applied it to my coaching style. If I get these young men to love playing defensive line, then I feel I have done my job well... the stats and the degree Fall 2017 | Vol 3 Issue 1 of success is secondary to that.”
KIAHN: What is your main goal for the team this season?
HASSELBACH: “I would like to win state, off course, but more than that I
would like to see the players bond with each other. The best teams I have been a part of had no racial or social barriers - everyone bonded and was playing for each other. If we can achieve that then success will automatically follow.” KIAHN: Other than coaching do you have any hobbies or activities that you’re interesting in? HASSELBACH: “I like to travel to beautiful locations and shoot videos with my drone. This is a hobby I have applied to our team in the video of every practice that we take. It has changed how we are able to view the game because we can place the drone exactly where we want. It has been a game changer.” KIAHN: How long do you plan on staying and leaving your legacy at Regis Jesuit? HASSELBACH: “I always said I would stay at Regis until my son graduated... that was 4 years ago and I am still here... I love coaching and I love the boys under my mentorship, I feel it is the most important thing I can do for society. It has made me a better man.”
“He is an amazing coach who will get on you at times, but will also hear your thoughts on issues and be able to talk it out as a group. Coach Hass has influenced my football career with how he has helped me over the years to become the player that I am. He also influenced my career by convincing me to stay with football and helped me fall back in love with the sport.” Jake Heimlicher ’18 (Defensive End)
Photo by Elliot Steinberg ‘18
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Equestrians Emma Ciafone ‘18
At RJ
Story by Cameron Collins ‘21
Emma Ciafone, a senior, does three-day eventing, a discipline where you compete in dressage, cross country, and show jumping. Emma says being an equestrian is more about a bond and connection with the horse. “After rides I always make sure to say ‘thank you’ by giving him the best care possible. I think being an equestrian is really being able to love the horse more than anything.” She said that she doesn’t really talk about her being an equestrian because there’s a lot of preconceived notions about it. “When I talk about it people don’t really take it seriously or understand what I do,” Emma said. “Most people think that the only thing you can do on horses is race them, which is not true!” Her favorite horse memory was hard for her to choose, but she said, “I’d probably say when my horse and I moved up to 1*, which is the first international level in eventing.” One of the hardest part about being an equestrian to Emma is the time commitment. “It’s an all season sport, especially since I’m competing at the international levels and my horse has got stay fit I have to go out to the barn and ride when it’s below zero while other people are having a snow day.”
Ellie Turner ‘21 Freshman Ellie Turner is the embodies riding for the love of it. “People say things like ‘Riding isn’t a sport,’ or ‘The horse does all the work,” she said, “I think it’s important to just laugh it off and remember why you love what you do.” For Ellie, being an equestrian is something that has taught her so much and quitting was never an option.“I have always loved to ride. It is my full time sport, job, and lifestyle,” she said. One of her favorite memories is riding her first pony. His name was Chocho, and she started falling in love with the sport almost instantly. She has learned so much since then and now she is more happy with her riding than ever. “My riding has been at its highest point the last few years. I have had some truly amazing people and horses come into my life and I have truly experienced what it means to be an equestrian.”
Audrey Bruening ‘21 Freshman Audrey Bruening competes in equitation and the hunters. Equitation is when the judges judge the rider’s position (equitation) and hunters is where they judge the horse’s movement. Audrey believes being an equestrian has taught her compassion and responsibility. “Being an equestrian means creating a bond with an amazing animal and being a great horseman.” Audrey said. “I’m not sure yet, I’m still learning a lot and have never really experienced a “high or low” point,” Audrey said, “I don’t think I ever will. I mean, I have really good days and good shows but it’s really the bad days that matter. That’s when you learn the most.”
Fall 2017 | Vol 3 Issue 1
Olivia
Ary Rodeo Queen
Story and photo by Audrey Bruening ‘21
O
livia Ary is not only an ambitious 12th grader, but also an outstanding equestrian. Olivia is a fantastic rider, but more importantly an amazing horseman; she takes great care of her animals and always thinks about what’s best for them. Olivia grew up riding. “I’ve been riding and showing my whole life. My grandma worked at the New Mexico state fair in the horse show, and she’s the one that really got me hooked,” said Olivia. Most people work their whole riding career to become Rodeo Queen, but Olivia didn’t realize that this is what she wanted to do until just recently. “I actually didn’t know I wanted to be a rodeo queen until last spring,” Olivia has been around the Douglas County fair for as long as she can remember and explains why being Rodeo Queen is important to her. “I love the Douglas County fair and rodeo, I’ve grown up going to it and participating in it, and why would I not want to represent it?” She explained, “This year is extra special, because it’s the 100th anniversary of our fair, and there’s a lot of exciting things coming up throughout the year because of that.” People from all around love and enjoy going to the rodeo, especially little kids. They have someone to look up to. “I’ve wanted to meet the rodeo queen, I think it would be an amazing experience,” said Melissa Caid, age 13. The rodeo queen travels to different rodeos all over the state representing their county. They make speeches and preform difficult, handy courses. Being rodeo queen involves a lot of hard work, traveling every weekend to a different rodeo anywhere in the state and training almost every day in preparation. Olivia is balancing all of her rodeo queen responsibilities with maintaining her grades and filling out college applications. She is a very talented and dedicated senior girl who is also a great role model for children and even adults all across the state.
“I think that a lot of people hear the phrase ‘I ride horses’ and think about a little kid who goes and goofs around with her pony. They don’t realize the time and effort and dedication it takes to do what we do. “ -Olivia Ary ‘18
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Meet the Girls Division Story and photo by Shay Zilvitis ‘20 & Cate Lord ‘21
Clancy Erikson & Samantha Arrigo Poms Senior Poms captain Clancy Erikson has been involved in dance nearly her whole life. Her second year as a captain, she is excited and ready to be taking on this leadership role again in her final year at Regis Jesuit. Erikson is the upbringing and authoritative presence that the team needs. Samantha Arrigo, a new captain, is finalizing her last year at Regis Jesuit. Eager, she hopes to lead her team to success and push them to be great dancers and great individuals as well.
Caitlyn Burke Rugby
“It’s not as painful as it looks,” Caitlyn says. Rugby is an uncommon sport for girls, but Caitlyn Burke is proud to be representing the team. She has been part of an “amazing team with an bond on and off the field.” She hopes to demonstrate outstanding leadership to and help carry her team to victory.
Audrey Fischer & Taylor Nichols Cheer
In the 2015 state finals, Audrey Fischer and the rest of the Regis Jesuit Cheer team placed 7th. Audrey has been on varsity since freshman year, so it is no surprise she is the new captain for cheer. A schedule consuming nearly 50 hours is nothing to take lightly, but Taylor Nichols completes the challenge head on with a smile on her face. Nichols has an extremely diligent work ethic. Nichols and Fischer are hoping to finish it a strong year and return to state to beat there 2015 record.
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Sydney Lindquist & Kelly Grubaugh Cross Country Running has been Sydney’s passion for 7 years. As captain and four year varsity captain, she hopes to “help people love it the same way that I do.” “Running has really taught me how to work hard, and persevere through hard times and I think that is something I will take with me for the rest of my life,” said Kelly Grubaugh.
Fall Captains Anna Bonner, Reagan Cadieux, Elizabeth Dewey, Sarah Tartell
Veronica Lennert Volleyball
Veronica Lennert’s past three years on varsity have been filled with many fun memories and strong relationships. Her determination and love for the sport has brought her to be not only a great player, but an even better captain. She leads her team, “to be confident in themselves,” and them to be as affected as she was by the captains she had. “Improvement doesn’t come from a night of hard work,” and Veronica’s six dedicated years have proven the growth an even already great player can make.
Field Hockey
The field hockey team made it to the state semifinal behind their amazing captains. Reagan Cadiuex, who finished last season as the top scorer in the state, stacked up goals once again this year. Junior captains Sarah Tartell and Elizabeth Dewey continued to support their team. The key is, “to work as a team so that we all don’t feel that we are individuals but we are part of a team,” said Anna Bonner. She encourages her whole team to “always stay positive even when it’s hard to and just go the extra mile whenever you can.”
Our Captains Poms: Clancy Erickson and Samantha Arrigo Rugby: Caitlyn Burke Field Hockey: Anna Bonner, Regan Cadieux, Elizabeth Dewey, Sarah Tartell Cross Country: Sydney Lindquist and Kelly Grubaugh Cheer: Audrey Fischer and Taylor Nichols Volleyball: Veronica Lennert
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Meet the Boys Meet Division the Boys Divis Story and Photo by Connor Lyford ‘18 and Elliot Steinberg ‘18
Soccer Cole Blake, Grayson Lombardo, Dean Maloney
Tennis Matthew McCarthy, Will Dennen
Golf Cal McCoy, Cameron Kirke, Drew Anderson Check out these Captains on page 52
Matthew McCarthy Tennis
Florenzo Bauer Cross Country
“I have to be able to be trusted, I have to be there for my team, and I have to let them be able to lean on me. I am a role model and everything I do reflects the team. It’s like Peyton Manning at quarterback, he got the rewards but when things went wrong, everything fell onto him, and he was the one who took the brunt of the blame.”
Austin Layne Cross Country
“The best way to lead is by example and to lead the pack in workouts. If I push as hard as I can, usually the rest of the team does also. To make sure that the program is strong next year, I want to make sure that our team is solid and wanting to compete in the years to come. I am also a huge role model for younger runners. I have been pretty successful in the sport/ school and kids want to model that. I am responsible for making sure that the team is healthy and excited, even though not everybody likes running.”
Fall 2017 | Vol 3 Issue 1
“I want the team to continue to bond and grow close together. I think that if we all have one another’s backs and support each other, we can beat any team in the state. As a captain, the primary action that I need to take in order for my team goals to be met is to lead by example, keep the team focused, and be positive with my teammates.”
Will Dennen Tennis
“A big part of being a captain is being an example for the team. Another big part is attitude. Having a good attitude amidst a hard match or practice can go a long way. Being able to discipline kids who are jacking around, setting a good example in both attitude and effort, and making sure all the logistics go smoothly are the big picture roles. As far as day to day things, making sure everyone’s at practice on time, determining a classic uniform combo, and playing well in all circumstances are some big ones.”
“
ev s p m i y th
Fall Captains
ivision Fall Captains
e
Cross Country Florenzo Bauer, Austin Layne, Tyler Tomlin
Cole Blake Soccer
“ Our goal is to become a family and,
ultimately, win state. I, as a captain, need to play my best and make sure everyone’s voices are heard. You have to set an example, sometimes the examples arent the best, but everyone makes mistakes. Players need to know that it is okay to mess up. but you can’t keep your head down forever. It isnt about the get down, it is all about the get up. “
Football
Grayson Lombardo
Changes each week
Soccer
“My goals for this season are to see our team find the success in winning a soccer trophy for our school. I’d love to look back and see that everyone gave it their best and that we are fully dedicated to being the best program we can be. As a captain, I help the team through warm-ups, and assist in leading practices. The real point of being a captain is being someone for the younger boys to look up to. Cheering on the rest of our team in a win or lose situation is the focus of my job, and keeping us motivated to reach our season goals.”
Tama Tuitele Football
“We have a lot of younger guys trying to step up and fill roles. I’m just exited to see them develop into great players, and more importantly, great young men. As senior leaders, we have to collectively set the standard for what the younger guys are supposed to do. I know a lot of the younger guys who haven’t played on Varsity or don’t know much about football look up to us for answers. So by playing hard and giving it our all, it shows them what they need to do in order to succeed.”
Jake Heimlicher Football
“My goal for the team this year is obviously to make it to the state championship game and win it, because last year we fell one game short in the semi-finals, and it was heartbreaking. I have to work as a leader on and off the field. Holding players accountable on the field with giving it all their effort to help make the team better. Off the field, with not letting players do stupid things that might hurt the team.”
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t i i h J p t e fi l o a s o
Fall 2017 | Vol 3 Issue 1
OUTSTANDING ATHLETES
Cole Blake
Soccer Captain
Fantastic athletes are made out of blood and sweat, but outstanding athletes have something more: an unending integrity. Story and Photo by Elliot Steinberg ‘18
R
egis Jesuit means everything to senior Cole Blake. Whether it be in class or on the field, Regis Jesuit is his true home away from home. He has quite literally put his blood and sweat into this Regis Jesuit team. From the many hard practices and laps around the field, to the minor ankle injuries he’s endured putting his heart onto the field, Cole has truly contributed his life to this team. Cole could have had an opportunity of a lifetime to play for a team that guaranteed a Division 1 scholarship. Most would take that opportunity.
Not Cole. He followed his heart and devoted his high school career to fighting for the Raiders. “He’s an incredible athlete and he’s gonna get a scholarship to any team he chooses,” said Cole’s Coach and Regis Jesuit theology teacher Rick Wolf. But to be willing to choose the opportunity that he did is one of the reasons that Cole is a twotime captain. Sticking with Regis Jesuit was a hard decision no doubt, but Cole says, “I owe it to my school and my coaches because they are so good to me.” And it seems as if it will pay off. “If there is any year we are going to win state, it is going to
be this year,” said Cole. Cole’s training at Regis has made him excel to a new level, but he has gained a family that is not blood. “I think the whole point of any team is to be there for each other,” said Cole. With lots of team bonding, the team has become the friends and team mates they are today. With the integrity that Cole has, he will receive the privilege of Division 1 athletics, with nothing more than the family of Regis Jesuit Athletics.
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OUTSTANDING ATHLETES
Regan Cadieux Field Hockey Captain Senior Regan Cadieux, two-time Field Hockey
captain, finished last season as the highest scoring player in the state with 21 Goals and 500+ points.
Story and Photo by Elliot Steinberg ‘18
W
ith the stats of a pro,
Regan still says that it’s “always been just fun for me. It was never anything more.” Regan started playing during the summer of eighth grade in a camp, because her mother played and thought it would be fun for her to try. Even from the first day, Coach Spencer Wagner saw her talent. “She has natural aggression which is hard to train,” he said. “But she has grown as a team player and figured out how to fit the role in a open space, and when it comes to battle, she leads the team.” Aggression sounds like
Fall 2017 | Vol 3 Issue 1
other than athletics it is, but Regan’s natural aggression during the game is what gives her the ability to lead her team to victory as well as her overwhelmingly kind spirit to support and love her team mates. These all mix to make her the outstanding player and teammate she is. The team means everything to Regan, on and off the field. “We are a group of friends, we are a family, and we know each other very well so we are able to work through problems together. This team has helped me become a leader,” said Regan. With support like that there is nothing that can stand between
them and a victory. As any other athlete would say, sports have their down falls. “Transitioning from JV freshman year to varsity sophomore year and being the one of the two sophomores on the team was very hard. My first two games my coach would pull me out and say that I had to work harder,” she said. Her responsibilities as a captain and many awards are important, but nothing will ever matter more to her then the fun of the game and the lessons she has learned from it. All of these factors have lead Regan to become the outstanding athlete she is today.
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Fall 2017 | Vol 3 Issue 1
Drew Anderson Score: 76-75-151
State 2017
CHAMPS 3-Peat
5A
Boys Golf
Walker Fuller Score: 78-80-158
Cameron Kirke Score: 71-76-147
Cal McCoy Score: 70-74-144
Photo by: Elliot Steinberg ‘18
5A
Boys Tennis
CHAMPS 1 & 2 Doubles State 2017
Evan Nuss and Emilio Gonzalez-Cruz #2 Doubles 6-4, 6-1
Will Dennen and Patrick Seby #1 Doubles 2-6, 7-6, 6-4
Photo by: Leo McCabe ‘19
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The Debate On Kneeling Leo McCabe ‘19
In the past few weeks, racism Has been brought to the attention to almost every American. It’s uncomfortable to talk about. It’s something everyone knows is there but no one wants to talk about, but we have to talk about it. It all started with Colin Kaepernick sitting during the national anthem to protest police brutality a little over a year ago. Since then, Kaepernick opted out of his contract with the 49ers and still hasn’t landed another roster spot in the NFL. He didn’t do this to be disrespectful to the flag, he did it to raise awareness for police brutality. This debate was bolstered by President Trump’s remarks made while campaigning for hopeful congressman Luther Strange in Alabama. In his speech, he said that NFL owners should say “Get that son-of-a-b**** out of here! He’s fired!” when a player kneels during the anthem. Athletes took to Twitter right away. Then, Omar Bolden said what everyone was thinking, “All NFL players should take a knee tomorrow!” NFL players did exactly that.
When it came time for the anthem, many players did just that, with over 150 players league wide kneeling. Others stood and locked arms with their owners right next to them. It has long been said that players should “stick to sports” and not use their platform to support any political issues. The time for that has passed. Protest has never been comfortable. Doing it before an NFL game, with millions of viewers watching is the right time to call attention to racism. Fans, and those who didn’t support the kneeling, quickly took to social media to voice their opinions, saying it was disrespectful to the military, who fought to protect the flag. Others disagreed saying the kneeling was disrespectful. Then, veterans started responding on Twitter. Many voiced their support of the kneeling players, including a 97-year-old WWII Vet whose photo of him kneeling went viral. Some could say that the NFL is worried about disrespecting the flag.
However, according to US Flag Code: Chapter 10.176C “The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.” Displaying a flag like this is a common practice at every NFL game. And, in this code, there is nothing that says you must stand, only that you “should.” This is now something we cannot ignore. It’s uncomfortable. Racism is a problem in this country. Recent events in Charlottesville illustrated this as well. We can no longer say it is a problem that exists from time to time or only in certain areas. Everyone is entitled to the First Amendment right of free speech, no matter what. We can never forget this. Even in times like these, everyone is entitled to voice their opinion. So, using my first amendment right, I want to say that I support those who take a knee during the national anthem, and those who speak out against racism. This is a problem we can’t ignore anymore.
dress code. Regis Jesuit decided to revoke this freedom of expression on campus to better the academic environment. In a similar way, I call on the NFL to revoke the players’ freedom to protest during the National Anthem. I have no right to control what players do in public, but as a patron of the NFL, I have every right to petition the company to enforce its policy (they already have a rule that requires players to stand, but are not enforcing it). The NBA has already prohibited kneeling, and I believe that it is time for the NFL to follow suit. Racism is a problem in our nation. And NFL players’ outrage with this social issue is well justified. But I certainly don’t think that kneeling during our National Anthem is the solution. I take personal offense to this response, as I’m sure many other American citizens do. It is insulting to the men and women who have lost their lives defending our country and our freedom. Here’s a quote from Taya Kyle, widow of former Navy Seal Chris Kyle, in an open letter to the NFL:
“...Your desire to focus on division and anger has shattered what many people loved most about the sport. Football was really a metaphor for our ideal world -- different backgrounds, talents, political beliefs and histories as one big team with one big goal -- to do well, to win, TOGETHER. You are asking us to abandon what we loved about togetherness and make choices of division. Will we stand with you? Will we stand with our flag? What does it mean? What does it mean if we buy a ticket or NFL gear? What does it mean if we don’t? It is the polar opposite of the easy togetherness we once loved in football.” The flag and our Anthem are symbols for the unity of our country. We are ONE Nation, under God, INDIVISIBLE, with liberty and justice for all. Instead of kneeling during the National Anthem, which accomplishes nothing except insulting our great nation and its heroes, let’s actually get to work on fixing our country’s problems.
POINT/COUNTERPOINT
Steven Bruening ‘18
Allow me to preface this statement with an assertion of our rights, especially those granted to us by the First Amendment. I am a Libertarian - the very foundation of my political ideology lies in the natural and unalienable rights of all citizens. When I see people in the streets burning flags and shouting cruel words towards our nation, like during a recent Antifa protest in Minnesota, I am deeply pained and disgusted. However much these kinds of actions upset me, I firmly believe in a cause greater than those actions - the peoples’ right to perform them. With that being said, self-expression on private property is different than on public property. Citizens have the right to express themselves freely on their own property and on public property. However, on the private property of others, these rights change. For instance, we have the right to freely express ourselves in the clothes we wear. But during school hours on Regis Jesuit property, because we are students, we are contractually bound to a
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C
OP-ED SECTION How Do we Help Puerto Rico? Nick Faber ‘18
Olivia Ary ‘18 gallons of water, thousands of pounds of food, back up generators, and more. He also signed a declaration stating that the U.S. government will pay for 75% of the damage done in Puerto Rico. But where is the other 25% going to come from? (Puerto Rico itself is close to 75 billion dollars in debt.) That’s where we come in. I am calling for a delegation of students to be sent to Puerto Rico in the coming months to help the rebuilding process. Remember, those people stranded on an island with no power and a limited supply of food and water are still US citizens just like the victims of Hurricane Harvey in Texas. Of course, no disaster is “better” or “more important” than any other disaster, but Puerto Rico is still not socially recognized as “one of us.” We as a country have rallied behind the victims of Texas, as we should. We have rallied behind the victims of Florida, as we should. Yet we are slow to rally behind those who have needed help even before Hurricane Maria hit. We fail to recognize Puerto Ricans as socially equal. Sure, they may not be politically due to their status as a providence and not a state, but they are still U.S. citizens. The situation has been brewing for awhile now. With growing debt and a failing infrastructure, Puerto Rico needs a helping hand. I can’t help thinking about the two teenagers who presented in front of me only one year ago. They discussed how they felt about the social inequality between their home and the 50 states. If we won’t help pay them back financially for damage that is out of their hands, why aren’t we using our own hands to help? “Love is shown more in deeds than in words.” -Ignatius of Loyola
Cartoon by Cameron Lynott ‘18
STEE
“12:40 P.M., Regis Jesuit High School”
LE & FISH
CO.
On November 13, 2016, I was crowded into a small room on one of the many floors of a hotel in Washington D.C. I was given a small sandwich and shown to my seat. Eager, I was about to hear some of my Jesuit brothers from a Jesuit high school in Puerto Rico give a speech about their lives and the Puerto Rican culture. It’s September 26, 2017 and Hurricane Maria, one of the many devastating hurricanes that has hit the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean in the past 2 weeks, is currently hitting Puerto Rico with 130-156 mph wind speeds and many inches of rainfall, which in turn has caused catastrophic flooding. Puerto Rico is a U.S. Province, therefore the people living on the island are U.S. citizens. Yet the residents couldn’t vote in the presidential election of 2012, they have one single representative in congress (her name is Jennifer González-Colón) and she has limited voting privileges. The only “say” they have in U.S. politics is their vote in Democratic and Republican primaries. Yet each resident on the island is getting taxed the same as any other resident living in any one of the 50 states. President Trump has had a bit of a delayed reaction due to many other controversies that he seems to get himself wrapped up in. But the current situation in Puerto Rico shouldn’t be a secondary issue on his list. This is not a piece whether Trump has failed to do anything, he has actually done a lot for the natural disaster and the rebuilding process in Puerto Rico. He has sent the Coast Guard with almost 2 million
Do We Have Time For God? Get up. Eat breakfast. Go to school. Doctors appointment. Do homework. Go to practice. Study. Repeat. When do we take time to stop and breathe? For most of us, the answer is simple. We don’t. We get caught up in our responsibilities, thinking about we have to get done and what we know is rapidly approaching in our busy schedules. In the midst of all of the craziness of life, our relationship with God often gets put on hold. After all, if we can’t find time to stop and breathe for ourselves, how could we possibly find time to talk to God? At Regis Jesuit, we are given a perfect opportunity every day to pray and focus on God for a brief moment amongst the business of life. The Examen is prayed right after lunch. Though it’s commonly confused as a time to sleep or stare thoughtlessly at the wall, it can be so much more. It gives us time to relax, and reflect on ourselves, our day, and where we see God in our lives. The great thing about the Examen is that it can be done at any time, and at any place that is convenient for us. It is a fast, simple, and open ended way to practice and improve our relationship with God. The traditional Examen consists of five parts: thanksgiving, asking for God to be present with us, reviewing where we weren’t our best selves, asking for healing and comfort, and praying for the rest of our day or the next day. Sometimes, however, we realize that we need more than a five minute prayer, and lucky for us, Regis Jesuit offers a lot of other ways to find that spiritual aspect that we desire. Whether that be a lunchtime mass, first Friday mass, reconciliation appointments with our priests, or just a plain and simple conversation with anyone on the pastoral team, we have plenty of opportunities to pray at Regis Jesuit.
RJ MEDIA. For students, by students. Read our full editorial policies at rjmedianow.com/about
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Time For Change Nathan Tolva ‘20
Before I begin this article, I would like to preface this by saying I understand this is both a hot-button issue and a rather controversial one in that. Your opinion may conflict with mine; that’s okay. I write this not for the purpose of one-upmanship, but rather for the pursuit of change. Change for the better so tragedies that have plagued our nation cease to even be a thought in the back of our minds. After events like Las Vegas, San Bernardino, and Aurora, people in defense of guns will often say that directly following these events is the time to unite as a country, which it is, granted. But they will follow that by stating now is not the time to talk about policy change because now is the time for mourning. If not now, when? How many more acts of violence will we just sit back and ignore as long as we are sending “thoughts and prayers”? Thoughts and prayers are good, and they are what unites this nation, but action speaks louder than both could ever muster. The time for mourning is now, but what it is really time for is movement that will make it so thoughts and prayers are no longer a necessity. The right to bear arms is the second Constitutional right, but that doesn’t intrinsically make it appropriate for our modern America. You must keep in mind that this document that people cling to is more than 200 years old, thus some portions may be outdated. For reference, at the same time the Constitution was being drafted, slavery was a socially accepted practice. Now I am by no means rejecting the entire document as a whole, I am instead attempting to point out a rather glaring flaw in our nation’s foundation. Every day I enjoy many of the freedoms the Constitution grants me. I wouldn’t be able to speak freely in this article without the Constitution. The Constitution isn’t perfect my any means, but also isn’t completely flawed. I believe that the only way change is possible is through a ban on guns either completely or partially enough to where guns are not as easily accessible. I think
recent movements against bump fire stocks, modification accessories that allow for near automatic firing, are a step in the right direction as far as legislation. But at the same time I also feel as a nation we are worlds off from complete prevention of gun violence. To this I reference legislation passed in Australia in 1996 in where a nation wide buy-back of guns was issued. A few things stand out about this. For one, there hasn’t been a mass shooting in Australia since the law passed, whereas in the years leading up to the law there was a shooting every 2 or 3 years. Simon Chapman, lead researcher from the University of Sydney who conducted a study on these gun laws, concluded very simply, “If you take away the means of committing a mass killing with firearms, you don’t have mass killings for the next 20 years.” It seems so redundant to say that, yet still the argument that “guns don’t kill people, people kill people” reigns ever prevalent. If we can conclude anything at all from Australia’s lead: gun laws work. I am frequently baffled by the unceasing and unwilling stubbornness of some people to accept the effectiveness of gun control legislation. If I was approached at this moment and asked about how I, personally, would legislate guns in our country, I wouldn’t be able to deliver a clear answer. Of course an outright ban, like demonstrated in Australia, would seemingly be most effective. But, that isn’t realistic for America, at least not yet. Gradual bans like the bump fire stock ban are hopefully a great start, but nowhere near where we need to be as a nation. I understand there will be some negativity or unwillingness to change regarding this article, and that’s okay. As stated earlier this is not meant to be some sort of political piece as an attempt to show one person’s views are better than one another, but rather a call to action for us as a nation to advocate for change. Gun violence is an issue, no matter how you address it, but it is up to us to come together to come up with a solution.
STAFF EDITORIAL We the editors of Elevate Magazine strive to tell the stories of the student body and allow for an open forum for student free expression and opinion. We value discourse and discussion, however uncomfortable a subject or discussion may be. This op-ed section is for any student, regardless of their beliefs, to openly express their opinion eloquently and fairly. We want you to know that our doors are always open. We meet Tuesdays after school and you can also reach us at rjmedia@regisjesuit.com. Fall 2017 | Vol 3 Issue 1
OP-ED Helping Refugees Ruth Woldemedhine ’21 and Hewan Yoseph ’21 More than 501,000 Rohingya people have fled their home country of Myanmar within the last two months and yet majority of the US doesn’t know about the problem these people are facing. The Rohingya people have had a quite stark difference in the way they have been treated since a military coup in 1962. After 1962, The Myanmar people were required to obtain national registration cards. The Rohingya people were only given foreign identity cards, which limited them jobs and educational opportunities to pursue. As of 1982, a new citizenship law was passed. These laws didn’t recognize the Rohingya people as 1 of the the 135 country’s ethnic groups. To become a citizen in 1982, you had to have proof your family lived in Myanmar before 1948 and a fluency of the national language of Myanmar, Burmese. This is only a basic citizenship and renders you unable to vote. With the basic citizenship, the Rohingya people were also restricted on their jobs, travel, marriage, their studies and the ability to have access to health services. The Rohingya people live a life of limitation. Many officials in the UN have accused Myanmar government officials of ethnic cleansing. Ethnic cleansing is defined by Merriam Dictionary as “the expulsion, imprisonment, or killing of an ethnic minority by a dominant majority in order to achieve ethnic homogeneity.”
According to the Foreign minister of Bangladesh, Ah Mahmood Ali, Myanmar proposes to take back the half a million plus refugees that have fled into Bangladesh since August 25. To put into perspective how many people have fled into Bangladesh, in the last month and a half, Syria a country ravaged by civil war for the last six years, has only had 250,000 refugees within three months. It seems that every way we look to solve the conflict, another one arises. 40,000 refugees have fled to India within the last decade. But now these refugees are under threat of deportation from the Indian government. Though the Rohingya might not have any choice in returning to Myanmar, it wouldn’t be in their best interest. They have been persecuted by the government since 1948, when they gained independence from Britain, have been denied citizenship as of 1982, have been forced to live in the ghettos, and many other misfortunes. There is no real evidence that the government will be any better. Chances are the government will become stricter to the Rohingya people than before. The fleeing of the Rohingya people is a major problem, but many don’t know what is happening. The people of Rohingya are suffering through a ethnic cleansing and we aren’t doing anything as a nation, and even as a world. As a nation, we need to help these innocent lives being endangered and spread awareness to the growing problem this ethnic group is facing.
COME WRITE FOR US!
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
RJ Media meets every Tuesday after school in the RJ Media lab (PAC 102). We are always looking for freelance writers, reporters, photographers, or anyone with fresh ideas. RJMedia is an open forum for all students.
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 RJ Media at rjmedia@regisjesuit.com or in the RJ Media Lab (PAC-102). You can also find us on Twitter and Instagram @RJ_Media.
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
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KICKING OFF THE YEAR Photos by Leo McCabe ‘19 and Elliot Steinberg ‘18
Fall 2017 | Vol 3 Issue 1
Clockwise from top left: RJ Cheer performs at the pep rally; Senior Ryan Walls points to the camera as he gets hyped for the game; Elisse Bergstrom, Vinny Mullen, Kilian Ridder, Kenzie Martinez, and Grace Stoll get rowdy at the Creek game; Keleigh Andrus, Angie Sekrieh, Tony Gervasini, and Troy Steiss cheer on the Raiders; Father Ramirez prepares to say mass; Freshmen take part in the annual painting on the green; RJ coaches celebrate a late touchdown during the Creek game; Two girls go up against each other during the carnival; Juniors Alec Breeden and Harkins Lord hold a quick conversation before the Mass of the Holy Spirit; Junior Joe Vaeth thinks that RJ is ready for the next level; Seniors Jon Kaiser and Devin Llorente get ready to hype up the crowd. Mr. O’Dea and Ms. Diedrich look up as they watch the eclipse. Kiahn Martinez and Aubrey Marschel-Parker celebrate during the game against Creek. Coach DeSonte Cole takes a break from coaching.
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WE TALK ABOUT MUSIC.
Fall 2017 | Vol 3 Issue 1