ELEVATE THE MORRISON
EXPERIENCE Part 1 of a series on RJ history for the 140th anniversary
Disaster and Recovery
RJ Students, 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
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
3
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 After President Trump rescinded DACA, more than ten thousand students in Colorado could be deported in the next few months for being the sons and daughters of undocumented immigrants.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the same respect as the people who were born in the U.S.” “When people in class reacted to the news [that DACA may be rescinded], they said that the program was a stupid waste of money,” he remembers.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
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.
“
It is a moral and policy failure when our government targets children and young adults who simply aspire to live the American dream.
”
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. 5
ThetoCall SERVE
“Being able to experience and appreciate the beauty of the land and the culture of the people we are serving is important in understanding our relationship to the country and our responsibility as global citizens.” - Jon Kaiser ‘18
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
Y
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,” senior 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 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 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.”
Photo by Max Loyola ‘18
“These boys are full of the most joy and welcoming friendship I’ve ever known.” -Katie Frontz ‘18 Photo by Sydney Lindquist ‘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 Olivia Ary ‘18
7
2017-2018 Rowdies
The Samoan Outlaw (Dom Mata)
Born out of Mount Matavanu on the island of Savai’i in the Samoan Islands, the Samoan Outlaw is possibly the biggest threat to evil-doers in the present times. Raised as a prince, he sought to escape his trivial life on the island in search of an fresh life. He was forced to stay for many years. Then one day, he felt the ocean pulling him and he left. The Outlaw mastered the seas, the winds, and the storms and (miraculously) landed in Regis Jesuit. He now controls the Raider Red Sea with thunder in his roars.
‘The Band of Justice’ (Ryan Walls & Jack Schiavone)
George With-and-ForeMen (Jon Kaiser)
Photos by Elliot Steinberg ‘18 and Leo McCabe ‘19
In May of 2009, as the clouds loomed, so did the impending catastrophe. At a barbeque, Kaiser’s father stepped away to grab a soda and told lil Jon to keep watch of the grill. While brainstorming his newest catchphrase, Kaiser forgot his duties. His father came running towards the grill screaming, “Jon! Watch the grill!” Jon realized his mistake immediately. The assorted foods, once perfectly browned, were now charred. Jon fell to his knees, vowing to be the best griller this world has ever experienced. He is at tailgates around the country, saving the taste and the experience on his own Foreman grill.
The Rowdy Dawn
The Roadman and Starlet (respectively) are two brothers who were inspired to fight evil and boredom. One day, the ‘funk’, about the size of a medicine ball, came crashing into their house on a boot. They wondered in awe at the sight of ‘the funk.’ Immediately after, they had the sudden urge to pick up a bass guitar and play. Soon after taking the world by storm, many other artists started to cash in on the new phenomenon. On July 2, 1979, however, the funk died. Both heroes lost motivation and went into retirement. 34 years later, Pharrell came together with Daft Punk to create the song ‘Get Lucky,’ Once heard by Schiavone and Walls, they came out of retirement, to fight injustice, picking the strings of justice and beating the drums of evil.
Story by Nick Faber ‘18
Behind the costumes, behind the crazy accessories, behind the wild on-field personas, are citizens. Citizens who crutch on the stick of justice and lawlessness. The typical day for the group of 12, or, rather, the typical night, begins with a guzzle of an energy drink. One consisting of excessive amounts of sugar, caffeine, and other mind-altering and personality-shifting chemicals. Contrary to popular belief, though, these chemicals only enhance one’s ability to get crazy.
This is the story of their inspiration, the driving force as to why they get up each day and perform the unimaginable, the preposterous: rowdiness.
“I was in the parking lot and it hit me... I was about to do this.”
Note from the author: I have been given full permission (and my own moral obligation) to release each of the names, along with their corresponding hidden identity. Some facts and stories have been altered.
An energy drink is not what inspires them to do what they do- to save each Friday night under the lights.
-Ryan Walls ‘18
The Samoan Outlaw
9
‘Garbagemann’
‘The Fowl’
(Austin Mann)
Growing up as a child, Mann lived in a hole. He was, in the whole sense of the word, garbage. He lived on his own, scrounging for food. His roof was the streets through which normal citizens walked. During one of his normal dumpster dives, he came across a shirt that had just been thrown out. He put it on, and the feeling of freedom engulfed him. Mann became awakened. He found a trash bag, threw it over his shirt, and forever called himself Garbagemann.
(Brooks Hauge)
‘The ProTeens’
(Seth Mellon & Griffen Rollert) Although they may not resemble each other in appearance, both of the ProTeens grew together. Although not much is known about their infancy years, we do know that they had an unseeded passion for nutrition, especially protein. They have one goal: to get the American society to be the biggest it’s ever been. They roam Regis Jesuit lifting the spirits and motivation of everybody.
‘The King’ (Devon Llorente)
With a bloodline stretching as far back as the Farquaads, Llorente knew what royalty meant to his family. He and his parents eventually landed in the United States, only to find that a president ruled over the land, not any form of royalty. Devon became angered over the fact that he would never be the king, so he dedicated his life to the fight against royal monarchy.
“If
you can keep on bringing the intensity, people are going to feed off of that. ...
”
-Devon Llorente‘18
Born and raised on board of an airplane, the Hauge developed a deep appreciation for life in the sky. Both his father and mother subsisted on airplanes. As a youth, he dreamt of following in their footsteps. His plans, however, were radically shaken up. A non-fatal crash in the forests of the Rocky Mountains split up the hero and his parents. He was forced to live among the wildlife, growing an interest in birds and their ability of flight. He eventually ventured back to society, and came to Regis Jesuit to mark his territory and to protect from any potential threats, as harmless as the mustangs may be.
‘Road Hog’ (JP Evans)
JP Evans was no mere bicycle rider. He was a competitor. At the age of 2, John Paul decided he was done with training wheels (metaphorically speaking). At the age of three, he competed in his first race, finishing last. It was not due to a lack of skill or his age, it was simply due to the fact that he treasures his personal space. Instead of darting to try and be ahead of the other racers, he stayed behind, trying to get the optimal amount of arm room and leg room. He has finished last in every race since. There is still hope. He practices every day, faithful in his ability to finish first in a race at least once in his life. Riders have nicknamed him “Road Hog.”
‘The Limb’ (Gabe Wolpert)
An original member of the Band of Justice, Gabe Wolpert is no stranger to fame. He was a man of talent. Growing up, he was skilled in rubik’s cubes and track. But he excelled most in the art of autograph signing. Gabe became the one of the biggest stars of our generation, signing hundreds every day. These eventually took a toll on his signing arm. On June 13, 1977, his right arm fell off. He was forced to retire three years before his other bandmates. This plucked at his heart strings. He fell into a deep depression, only coming out of his house every full moon. But little by little, his arm grew back. He came back in disguise as one of the members of Daft Punk, surprising the world. He now embodies one of the pillars of Regis Jesuit: Open to Growth. 11