Vanessa Candito, Guest Writer from Writing for Media 

The Regis University Athletics Department has been notably more successful in the past few years. However, with this success came dramatic amounts of cut athletes from each sports team. These cuts come from the reduction of scholarship money. For teams like the men’s and women’s golf teams, this meant the immediate dismissal of players, without prior notice.  

These drastic cuts had to be done to get the financial status of The Regis University Athletics Department back on track. Within the past 3 years, women's basketball, women's volleyball, women’s softball, and women’s lacrosse have all been named RMAC tournament champions. In the 2023-2024 season, women's lacrosse was a semi-finalist in the NCAA division two tournament. Now that changes have been made, hard decisions have forced Regis athletes to reevaluate their ability to stay at and afford a Regis education, without the financial aid of athletic scholarships supporting them. The remaining coaches and athletes have witnessed the issue impact the team in practices and games.

Candi Letts, head coach of the Regis University’s softball team (reigning RMAC tournament Champions) reflects on these newfound challenges built by financial barriers. “Only in the past 15 years have I seen money being not just a big factor but the biggest factor in recruitment and where a player ends up going”. This plays a huge role in what type of players go where, and can decide the success of a school's program. 

Letts has coached at plenty of schools, all over the country and at many different levels. When comparing financial fluctuations in athletics programs, Lettis claims Regis is at an 8 on a scale of 1-10. The rating suggests that Regis University will not be able to afford any type of debt crisis. A challenge of this magnitude would cause the university to lose players, publicity, respect, and status. 

In a rebound back from the financial issues of last year, success both athletically and academically is equally important and necessary. This comeback, fueled by our community, would be impressive. It would better support the coaches, athletes, and athletic staff in many ways.

Hannah Law, Guest Writer from Writing for Media 

The Regis Ramblers (theater club at Regis University) are back in season and are putting on the amazing show, “Shrek the Musical”. With a new musical this year, it also means welcoming new and talented stage crew members. Stage crew is open for anyone to join and is volunteer based and welcomes all students, family, and alumni to help. There are plenty of options to choose from when it comes to roles in stage crew. These roles consist of set building, prop crew, costume crew, and crew that works with technology such as mics, music, and lighting to make the show amazing. This will all take place at Regis University in Denver, CO.

Anyone interested in volunteering should come to the Mountain View Room on March 1 to help build the Shrek set. This includes building and painting for those that want to get hands-on experience and crafty. The next big date for the stage crew is March 15 where they will be loading the built sets into the designated spot where the sets are usually kept, which is in the Mountain View Room at Regis. March 16 is when tech week starts and where the magic begins. Tech week is a week when both actors and stage crew come together and start the final rehearsals before the live shows start. Tech week is mandatory, so please keep this in mind before applying. Shows start on March 13 and go till March 16. After the last show, the stage crew and actors will strike down the set. This means taking apart the stage, bringing sets back to the workshop and cleaning up.

I was able to get in touch with Kristin Schad, a stage crew member for the show “Mamma Mia!”, which was done in 2024 by the Regis Ramblers, and asked about her experience with stage crew. “I was able to gain new friends when I joined last year and I decided to join again this year because my friends are there again.” When asked about things to expect when being in stage crew, Kristin emphasized that there are things that can go wrong and that those who want to join stage crew should be ready to adapt quickly. She reiterated how fun the experience was and that this experience created fond memories for her. “More positives outweigh the negatives,” she finished.

The Regis Ramblers would love to have new members join the family and are excited to meet everyone on the team. If anyone is interested or have any questions about stage crew, please contact the director of the Regis Ramblers at wkelly003@regis.edu

No application is needed and any help is wanted. Time to bring Shrek’s swamp to life with some stage crew magic!

Katherine Fragoso, Guest Writer 

Note: This article was written for Writing For Media, with Dr. Emily Stones and in collaboration with Delia Greth, Academic Success Coach at RU, and Karlett Eguiliz, Financial Aid Counselor at RU. 

Student activists at Regis University have launched a new initiative aimed at supporting immigrant students and their families.The Student & Family Immigrant Resource Center, located in Main Hall 343, officially opened Tuesday, February 4.

The Center, a project created by the student, faculty and staff-run Undocumented Student Resource Alliance + (USRA+), provides essential resources and a welcoming space for immigrant individuals, including those from mixed-status families. USRA, originally a small group that met weekly in various locations around campus or via Zoom, has officially opened up this office space. Their help to open up a resource center marks a significant milestone for the organization.

It is designed to help students navigate the challenges of their immigration status while fostering a sense of community and belonging. The center offers a variety of services and resources to support students, including academic assistance, mental health services, legal referrals, and assistance with finding and applying for scholarships.

“We want to make sure undocumented, DACA, refugee, immigrant, and ESL students have a voice here at Regis,” said Karlett Eguiluz, a USRA member. “The center is a place where these students can find support, guidance, and resources, and where faculty and staff can learn how to better serve them.”

Eguiluz emphasized that, while the center is small, its impact is powerful. The team behind the project is made up of dedicated students, faculty and staff who are committed to helping immigrants and displaced students and families during difficult times.

“Each person at the center comes from different areas of campus,” Eguiluz explained. “We bring our diverse skills and knowledge to make sure students have the help they need. And if we don’t have the answers, we will look in our networks to find resources for them.”

The center’s soft launch on February 4 featured a community gathering designed to provide comfort and support for students who faced difficulties due to their status. The event showed an empathetic campus environment and support, while being sociable and welcoming. They advised no one should have to go through these issues alone. The event was informative but also exciting. They provided snacks and desserts at no cost plus plenty of creative activities. 

As the national climate surrounding immigration policy remains tense, the Student & Family Immigrant Resource Center has become even more crucial for the Regis community. With many individuals in the community facing uncertain futures regarding their status, the Center is dedicated to providing a safe space where students and their families can find the support they need.

The Center's launch is part of a larger movement at Regis University to offer solidarity and resources for marginalized populations. As the program continues to grow, members of USRA+ are hopeful that it will make a lasting difference for students and their families.

USRA+ wants to make sure that everyone, regardless of their immigration status, knows they have a place here at Regis. 

For more information or to get involved, students and families can visit the center in Main Hall 343 or contact the USRA+ members directly. USRA+ also has an email which is regularly monitored. monarch@regis.edu

Mallory Wilson, Guest Writer from Writing for Media 

Denver, Colorado’s Regis University, long known for its deep involvement with Hispanic culture, officially earned national recognition for this identity in March 2023. Regis University is officially the second Jesuit Institute in the country to be declared an official Hispanic Serving Institute. The requirement for being an Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) includes being an eligible institute of higher education, offering at least a two-year academic program that leads to a degree, and the student body must have a Hispanic population of 25% or more. Through diverse student activities, courses centered around Latin American history, and Ignatian spirituality coming directly from Spain, Regis puts a lot of value in their Hispanic roots.

Regis University being declared a Nationally Hispanic Serving Institute, a title only 10% of universities in America qualify for, is a huge honor for the entire community. The relatively small university is located in the Northern part of Denver, attracting many minority students, especially those of Hispanic descent. Regis’ official enrollment statistics as of 2023, deemed 43% of their student population Hispanic. This almost doubles the required percentage to receive this honorable title, but what does this designation really mean for the Regis community?

I sat down with Dr. Erin Winterrowd, Academic Dean and Associate Professor in Psychology at Regis University. Winterrowd identifies the two main impacts of this award: social justice and financial stability. She emphasized the significance of the prestigious declaration of the University and used terms such as, “diverse”, and “multicultural” when describing the impact of this award. These are words that encapsulate the diversity of the Jesuit Institute, and makes it a more appealing place to not only attend, but also to work. This title is putting a necessary focus on the centeredness of any students who have been historically excluded from higher education opportunities. Identifying as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)“identifies the stereotypes and microaggressions and gives us permission to make addressing them a priority” (Winterrowd). The declaration of a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) is not simply a title for the University, but a mission to reduce structural and historical inequalities.

Winterrowd not only addresses how this award focuses on social justice, but also makes Regis eligible for dire funding and grants that benefit many of the offered academic programs at the University. As a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), there is a heavy focus on the Hispanic community, but also on the financially unstable students. The title evens the playing field for financially underserved students. One example of this is the biology department at Regis. The program received a grant that allowed research over the summer and ensured students didn’t have to work while completing said research. Winterrowd states, “It means we get to try and fund outside and beyond, not just inside, which serves more students in the long run” (Winterrowd). According to Winterrowd, the title of Hispanic Serving Institute better represents the student body and is beneficial for not only the Hispanic community at Regis, but for everyone who attends or works at the university.

Angel Pedroza, Guest Writer from Writing for Media 

Rising Roots is an all-new podcast, set to release later this year. It is produced and hosted by Regis University professor, Dr. Camilo Perez, and Regis University students, Magdalena Tapia and Angel Pedroza.

Rising Roots offers a platform for local non-profits, community leaders, and advocacy groups to share their stories. Through in-depth conversations, the podcast aims to amplify the voices of marginalized communities and foster awareness. Dr. Perez notes how he believes this podcast could help fight against negative stereotypes and dominant narratives in the media about migrants and minority communities. 

“Rising Roots was born off an idea to give life to a space, in which we could explore the work of different organizations that are working toward social justice,” says Rising Roots host and producer, Dr. Camilo Perez. “A lot of these organizations are doing such important work. They are really focused on the work and what they are doing with their communities. But they are not communicating what they are doing.”

The podcast offers listeners several unique features. Some episodes are recorded completely in Spanish, and are accompanied by English subtitles. Other episodes are recorded completely in English, and are accompanied by Spanish subtitles.

“As a Hispanic Serving Institution, one of the things we want to do is not only to vouch for the preservation of language and promotion of bilingual spaces, but also, to create opportunities to know more about what the Hispanic community is doing,” says Dr. Perez. 

The Rising Roots crew plan to launch their first season this semester, most likely sometime during late February or early March. Listeners can stream episodes on music platforms like Spotify. The Rising Roots crew is also trying to partner with local community organizations to share the podcast through local media outlets, boosting collaborative opportunities with benefits on both sides. 

Rising Roots is a podcast developed under the Peaks Co-Lab. According to Dr. Perez, “It is a space of collaborative work in which we engage in research and creative work to talk about social justice, and the role that communication can play in social change processes.” Rising Roots recognizes the efforts of local organizations and fights against dominant narratives, while also engaging the Regis community.

Jameson Johnson, Guest Writer from Writing for Media

Gabriel Espinoza, captain of the Regis Rugby Club team, was awarded the Scholastic All-American award for his accomplishments in academics and in rugby.

Serving three years of dedication to the Regis University rugby program, Gabe is immersed in the rugby community of Denver. He has played matches with the Littleton Scots and the Harlequins. Gabe’s coaches, Matt Huff (Regis alum), Jason Burbach, and Sean Lanoza (Regis alum), have been heavily involved in the successes of not only Garbriel but three other members of the Regis Rugby team. All three players received the Scholastic All-American Awards this year. 

Gabe claims that being awarded recognition from the prestigious Scholastic All-American Awards is about more than just the award. To him, the honor highlights the balance of athletic and academic excellence, reinforcing the importance of discipline both on and off the rugby pitch.

The Scholastic All-American Awards through the College Rugby Association of America (CRAA) have recognized the dedication of college rugby athletes since 1984. The program has since expanded to Division I, Division I-AA, Division II, and lastly, Small College (Regis meets this qualification). Any awards granted to college rugby players now come through the National Collegiate Rugby Association (NCR), which was founded in 2007.

This recognition also serves as a reminder that continuous improvement is always within reach. With the rugby sevens season beginning, the team's captain is eager to return to training, and looks to strengthen the bonds that make rugby more than just a game. Gabe emphasizes the camaraderie and commitment required to succeed, stressing that anyone looking to get involved can do so by attending practices and embracing the team’s culture of perseverance and mutual support. Gabe has also been involved in the Rocky Mountain Rugby Association, and has been responsible for planning DII and Small College tournaments at Regis University as the club’s president. To learn more about the rugby team, follow @regisrugby on Instagram.

Lucy Hackley, Guest Writer from Writing for Media

To kick off the spring athletic season, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee is looking to hold a Gatorade Pong Tournament at the home opener for the Regis Women’s Lacrosse team at the beginning of March. Thomas Gilhooly, the Athletic Director of Regis University, urges students to attend the event, and to keep an eye out for the spring athletics schedule as the pong tournament is one of many student engagement events.

The lacrosse team made a tenacious final four last season, and brought in their sixth consecutive RMAC Championship. Despite Regis’ athletic accolades, student attendance remains low at sporting events. Empty stands continue to plague the teams, and with the winter season coming to a close and the spring season ramping up, the athletic department hopes to increase student engagement at the upcoming home games.

Gilhooly, spoke of his goal to create a “singular mission-based community” and that everyone needs to buy in for the campus to reach this goal. Gilhooly is looking at “creating a community and not just two communities”, nodding to the lack of unity between student-athletes and the student body. Gilhooly strongly believes that to get the most out of a Jesuit education we all must participate in all the communities on campus which is “the real gold of coming to a Jesuit institution”.

When asked why he believes that students have yet to buy in, he explained that there were communication issues between the athletic department and student engagement in advertising the freshman athletic pep rally during the first week of classes. “Nobody has come along and made it a deliberate action,” he says.

Gilhooly entertains forming a mandatory new athletes pep rally during move-in week, to engage the freshmen and their parents in Regis athletics early on. First impressions are invaluable in successfully getting people interested in school events. With the future collaboration between Regis University and student engagement events, the Regis Athletic Department hopes to see an increase in athletic attendance and an overall boost in school spirit!

Alex Walker, Guest Writer from Writing for Media 

Regis University is actively searching for a new Director of Student Engagement and Leadership (SEAL), with plans to fill the position by the end of February. The search follows the departure of Dave Law, who served as director for 22 years before transitioning to the office of Alumni Engagement. His legacy of leadership and engagement on campus left a significant impact. The university hired a new director last year, but they left the position after approximately one year. 

If our next director does the job well, they will be, “connecting students’ academic lives to their engagement outside of the classroom and then helping students find meaning in the things that they’re doing outside of the classroom and how that can move them beyond their time at Regis,” said Quinn Waller, Academic Program Coordinator for the Academic Internship Program and head of the search committee. She emphasized that the position is “pivotal” because it connects so many of the offices on campus to each other and to students.

A dedicated search committee, which includes various members from across the university community, leads this search. This committee consists of Quinn Waller, Dr. Erica Ingalls, Gretchen Weber, Adi Espinoza, Hailee Stamps, and Alex Walker, all of whom have strong ties to the Student Engagement and Leadership office and extensive experience at Regis.

The interview process includes revising and screening applications followed by multiple rounds of interviews involving various stakeholders to ensure a quality candidate. The first round took place in late January, with second-round interviews scheduled for the first week of February. The committee plans to make a final decision by the end of the month. It is widely acknowledged that the Director of SEAL is a critical role on campus, as it is not just about student activities and new student orientation, but most importantly about creating a vibrant campus culture and fostering student leadership.

As Regis looks for a candidate to carry forward the legacy of Dave Law, the campus community is hopeful the new director will bring fresh energy and continue to build on the foundation he established in student engagement and leadership.

Eamon Lujan, Guest Writer from Writing for Media

Rehearsals have begun for the Regis Ramblers’ production of Shrek the Musical, with performances slated to start on March 20. Ramblers are hard at work rehearsing choreography, singing, and blocking every Thursday from 7:30 to 10 p.m. and every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The choir room and recital hall will be in use during these times until March 15th, when the production begins setting up the stage in the Mountain View Room. Time is of the essence for a show that begins performances in seven weeks, with little time to dedicate to reviewing material. Rehearsals introduce new material that students are expected to review and practice outside of rehearsal time, which has ended up cultivating quite the group of dedicated thespians.

The Ramblers, the creation of computer science professor Dr. Dennis Steele and his daughter Shannan Steele, will celebrate its 30-year anniversary in fall of this year. Dr. Steele worked at Regis and his daughter is a Regis alum who still works as an actress in the Denver area. The program is now run by Tanner Kelly and Dallas Slankard, with Daniel Zil and Chi Nnanna serving as student co-presidents.

This is Tanner’s seventh year as the head of the Ramblers, responsible for music and direction. His favorite thing about the Ramblers is “that it is a program that has kids from many different majors, including the Global Inclusive Program.” He’s excited to do a show that features such a large cast, saying “There’s a lot of roles and opportunities for students to shine and have their moment in the show.” Dallas serves as the Ramblers’ choreographer and has been with the program for two years. “It’s low pressure and everyone’s here to have fun!”, she said while preparing for a Thursday night rehearsal. When asked what she’s most excited about in

Shrek, she said “Honestly, Joey, to see his Farquaad, because dancing on his knees will be hilarious.”

If you are interested in joining the Ramblers, they are still looking for actors to fill in some gaps in the cast. The Ramblers encourage people to show up for a rehearsal so they can meet everyone and make an informed decision.

For more information, email Tanner at wkelly003@regis.edu

Emily Garcia-Munoz, Guest Writer from Writing for Media 

Regis University kicked off an art exhibit at the Dayton Memorial Library from Dec. 4, 2024, to Jan. 24, 2025, centered on the theme of Decolonizing African Art. The exhibit had a diverse collection of African artifacts, each offering a unique story about culture, history, and artistry. The goal was to provide an experience that helped visitors connect with Africa’s vibrant traditions and past.

Frank Miller, a senior at Regis University and an advisor involved in curating the exhibit, explained, “The ultimate goal was to have people learn about each object individually and understand the practice it was related to. We wanted visitors to contextualize these pieces to see their true meaning.” Miller also participated in the Decolonizing African Art class by Dr. Montes that inspired the exhibit. Miller explained how the project aimed to challenge misconceptions about African art shaped by colonial views. 

Decolonizing African art involves reclaiming and reinterpreting artifacts that have often been stripped of their cultural significance. “African motifs were used but stripped from their original contexts,” Miller said, noting how colonialism changed the true meaning of these objects. The goal of decolonization is not only to remove colonial influences but the ability of African art and cultural artifacts to convey their original meanings, histories, and purposes on their own terms. Students played an essential role in curating the exhibit, researching and rewriting descriptions for each artifact to correct outdated or offensive interpretations. “Many descriptions were simply wrong,” Miller said. The students worked hard to create accurate, concise cards that restored the objects true value and meaning.

The exhibit also received significant support from generous donors, with three to four individuals contributing pieces to the Regis collection. Without their donations, this exhibit would not have been possible. The opening featured a Q&A session with donors like Paul Hamilton, sparking rich discussions about the global importance of African art and its ability to connect cultures worldwide.

Curating the exhibit presented several challenges, especially in representing the diversity of African cultures. “There was a lot of diversity in the collection, with each piece coming from a different cultural background,” Miller explained. “The challenge was ensuring each object stood out on its own while blending with the others.” Students carefully arranged the artifacts to respect their cultural significance while making sure the exhibit was aesthetically appealing.

The Decolonizing African Art exhibit at Regis University was a powerful start that highlighted the importance of reinterpreting and appreciating African art. Through student involvement and generous donor support, the exhibit successfully engaged visitors with Africa’s rich artistic heritage. It also sparked important conversations about decolonization, cultural identity, and the role of art in shaping our understanding of history.

• Genre/Topic/Writing Interests: Philanthropic Perspective, Internally Driven, Dark

• Author’s Statement: “I intentionally try to write about dark topics. It is an outlet for me, and I want to invite readers into a conversation about the things that we don’t always talk about”.  

• Coming Soon: The Wizard, a dark, dystopian story.

• Get in Contact: Connect with Ryan on Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn

• Genre/Topic/Writing Interests: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Creative Nonfiction

• Author’s Statement: “At first, my writing began as an attempt to become like my favorite writers and tell cool stories. Then, writing became a method of therapy for me; using art and creating thematic literature analogous to my personal experiences. Now, the point in my writing is a combination of the two, glued together with abstractions of socio-economic and political commentary."

• Coming Soon: Currently working on a dark fantasy series and seeking publishers for his creative nonfiction short story anthology.

• Get in Contact: Connect with Jeff on BlueSky at @jefferycurry.bsky.social.

• Genre/Topic/Writing Interests: Motherhood, Feminism

• Author’s Statement: “I have to write to get the matter between my ears on paper. If I don’t, it will ramble around endlessly. I am compelled by communicating and reaching readers and connecting to people.”  

• Coming Soon: Breakthrough Bleeding, a hybrid memoir about PMDD, Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder 

• Get in Contact: Connect with Lauren on LinkedIn

• Genre/Topic/Writing Interests: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction  

• Author’s Statement: “My purpose in writing is to craft work that explores life’s complexities and relationships, offering readers hope and reflection.” 

• Coming Soon: Room 2: A Novella in Stories, and The Cost of Living: A Novel

• Read Now: Toubab in the Middle, available for purchase on Amazon

• Get in Contact: Connect with Johnny on Instagram, Facebook, or Medium

• Genre/Topic/Writing Interests: Drama, Sports, Screenplay 

• Author’s Statement: "I believe in the power of storytelling to connect with others, highlight experiences and promote understanding across various backgrounds". 

• Coming Soon: A short story, Chasing Summer, that has been presented at a public reading and was released in the 2024 Spring catalogue of the North American Review.

• Get in Contact: Connect with Cyrus on X or LinkedIn.

• Genre/Topic/Writing Interests: Outdoor, Adventure, Nature, Law, Personal Narrative, Personal Growth, Non-Fiction

• Author’s Statement: “As I wound down my legal career after 40 plus years, I decided it was time to pursue writing… entailing outdoor activities like fishing and reflections of my legal career…cherishing values of integrity, resilience, and the dignity of human experience. I hope each story contains some emotional truth or implied lesson that may be useful in considering obstacles and challenges in life.”

• Coming Soon: Searching for a Spark Bird, a creative nonfiction novel, Muskie Drift with a Friend, a personal narrative, and Unfinished Business, Howard’s memoir.

• Get in Contact: Connect with Howard on LinkedIn, or through his page on Schwabe.