The RJ Voice Volume 1 issue 1, fall 2012
THE student voice of REGis jesuit The RJ Voice is a designated limited-forum* for student expression. The publications are for the students, by the students. RJ Voice news magazine, RJ Live, and the RJ Voice online are serve as mediums for student opinions and ideas.
STAFF
The content of the publications reflects only the views of the student staff and not school officials.
EDITORS -IN- CHIEF
The staff strives to produce objective, well-balanced and accurate reporting and content that features a range of students, their interests, and their viewpoints. The staff is dedicated to being fair, accurate, truthful, and responsible. The staff will seek the truth and report it, minimize harm, and act independently. We promise to be transparent, accountable, and open.
Ben Mohler ‘14 & Allie Petko ‘13
MANAGING EDITORS RJ Voice news magazine: Quincy Gholston ‘13 & Delaney Lanker ‘13
The student editors will have final say in the content of the publications.
RJ Voice website: Liam McAlveay & Emmy Earsom ‘13
School officials, administration or faculty and staff, likewise, shall not have prior review or decisionmaking influence or capabilities when it comes to the content of the publication with the exception of the following cases. *The publication is an open forum except when limited by the following three cases. In the following cases, prior review and prior restraint may be acceptable only by the school president and the divisional principals. The student editors will work closely with the divisional principals and the school president to make content decisions in these cases: 1) Obituaries; 2) Crimes and situations that are currently in the court of law ; 3) Termination of employees
RJTV: Dugan Tighe ‘13 & Ann Perchiazzi ‘13 RJ Live broadcast: Tommy Reins ‘13 & Stephen Snyder ‘13
Associate Editors Community: Emma Bohn ‘13 & Jose Chalit ‘13 Photography: Emma Bridgewater ‘14 & Jackson Burkholder ‘14 Advertising: Frank Morton ‘13 & Tanya Glick‘13 Social Media: Jose Chalit ‘13, Sean Whitley ‘ 13, Emma Bohn ‘13 & Ramya Depa‘13 Design Management: Matt Mauser ‘14 & Kellen Foster ‘13
Editors Missy Franklin ‘13; Tanya Glick ‘13 Cristian Adams ‘14; Anthony Fante ‘13; Eric Gardiner ‘14; Chambers Giblin ‘14; Brad Hektor ‘13; Chris Moreno ‘14; Alex Nemechek ‘14; Taylor Nichols ‘13; Kahle Collins ‘13; Imani Lindberg ‘16; Katelyn Schiessler ‘16; Kate Weis ‘16; Kira Zigan ‘16
REPORTERS Jorge Palacios Jr.; Kennedy Karuse; Grace Shipp; Sarah Delmonte; Nicole Berstrom; Alexa Hamilton; Matt Shanahann; Joe Quigley; Jake Lennert; Charlie Smith; Alex Arora; Alex Vasquez; Simon Barshay; Angel Bolivar; Sean Brennan; Colin Byrne; Connor Cauley; William Clawson; Jack Diaz Doherty; Brian Engh; Sammy Fox ; Carlos Gomez; Jesse Kozler; Jack O’Hollearn; Jack Puhr; Quinn Ritzdorf; Squid Schmitz; Nathan Shutts; Nicholas Stofa; Nick Arrigo; Zach Bodeau; Zander Boissé; Ryan Brown; Alec Burran; Brian Cromie; Austin Fillipi; Ethan FitzRandolph; Sam Gartner; Luis Hernandez; Jimmy Hickok; Connor Janson; Chris Kedzior; Walker Lands; Ricky Le; Tito Limas-Dominguez; Spencer Lindaman ; Patrick Mahoney; David Morroni; Matthew Sinkiewicz; Ben Steyaert; Anthony Vargas; David Voell;
ADVISERS
LEAD DESGINER: Allie Petko ‘13 LEAD photographer: Jackson Burkholder ‘14
Adam Dawkins ‘98 & Jason Ell ‘04
The following content is not authorized in any student publication in any way, shape, or form: Expression which is obscene; Expression which is libelous, slanderous, or defamatory under state law; Expression which is false as to any person who is not a public figure or involved in a matter of public concern; or Expression which creates a clear and present danger of the commission of unlawful acts (as defined by state or federal law), the violation of school regulations, or the material and substantial disruption of the orderly operation of the school or which violates the rights to others privacy or that threatens violence or property to persons. Role of the adviser: Although the student publications adviser has the authority to review a student publication, the adviser will not act as a censor or determine the content of the paper. The adviser will not pitch story ideas, make content decisions, or otherwise edit, write, or make decisions regardig the content of the publications. The adviser will offer advice and instruction, following the code of ethics set forth for advisers by the Journalism Education Association. The RJ Voice will not publish any material that is a violation of copyright. The views of columnists are not necessarily those of the staff. Opinions will be published on designated pages or otherwise marked. 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 will not be accepted if they contain any of the unauthorized content listed in items 1-4 above. Letters to the editor do not reflect the views of the 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. The RJ Voice also welcomes questions, comments, concerns, and complaints. Staff members will strive to correct any error before publication; however, if the editorial board determines a significant error is printed, a formal correction will appear in the following issue.
RJ LIVE BROADCASTING CREW
live.regisjesuit.com
Lead Play by Play: Stephen Snyder ‘13 Color: Joe Quigley ‘14, Jake Lennert ‘13 & Michael Bell ‘13, Joey Bonnel ‘15 Lead Producer: Tommy Reins ‘13 Producers: Dugan Tighe ‘13, Charlie Smith ‘16 Camera: Jorge Palacios ‘14, Tom Beasley ‘13,Joey Bonnel, Skyler Morris ‘13, Dean Hampers ‘16, Trevor Buckman ‘16, Squid Schmitz ‘16 Sideline Reporter: Charlie Smith ‘16
Submit letters to the editor, comments and inquiries to the editor-in-chief via email (voice@regisjesuit.com), or by hard copy in the box in room 166( BD) and room 207 (GD). Subscriptions may be purchased by contacting the staff. The staff can be reached anytime at voice@regisjesuit.com, in the publications rooms at the respective divisions, or by snail mail at: Attn: RJHS student newspaper, 6400 S. Lewiston Way, Aurora, CO, 80016
WANT TO BE PART OF THE ACTION? THE RJ VOICE & RJ LIVE ARE OPEN TO ALL STUDENTS
THE RJ VOICE WHAT’S INSIDE FEATURES
06 Relationships 08 Nike Sweatshops 14 Olympic Experience 18 RJ Boys & Girls 20 Decision 2012 24 RJ vs. Mullen vs. Valor 30 New RJ Building 42 Haunted Denver
BY KELLEN FOSTER & SHELBY KSIAZEK ‘13 BY RAMYA DEPA ‘13 & JOSE CHALIT ‘13 BY MISSY FRANKLIN ‘13
BY QUINCY GHOLSTON & FRANK MORTON ‘13
BY EMMY EARSOM ‘13
BY DELANEY LANKER, SEAN WOOD, BRAD HEKTOR ‘13
BY JOSE CHALIT ‘13
BY J. BURKHOLDER ‘14 AND KIRA ZIGAN ‘16
issues
STUDENT LIFE SPORTS
04 New Schedule 10 Rowdies 16 Homeless Plunge 17 Boys Hope Girls Hope 19 Senior Overalls 23 New Faces of RJ 32 MR. Sauer 33 New Vending Machines 35 Bucket List 36 RJ Day for Others 37 College Applications 39 Trends in Gaming BY BEN MOHLER & MATT MAUSER ‘14 BY SEAN WOOD & BRAD HEKTOR ‘13 BY CRISTIAN ADAMS ‘15
BY KAHLE COLLINS DANNER ‘13 BY IMANI LINDBERG ‘16 BY EMMY EARSOM ‘13 BY CHRIS MORENO ‘14
BY KATE WEIS ‘16
BY ALEX NEMECHEK ‘14
BY EMMA BOHN ‘13
BY CHRIS MORENO ‘14
BY KAHLE COLLINS DANNER ‘13 BY LIAM MCALEAVEY ‘13
BY ANN PERCHIAZZI ‘13
BY MISSY FRANKLIN ‘13
BY CRISTIAN ADAMS ‘15
BY JORGE PALACIOS JR. ‘14
BY EMMA BRIDGEWATER ‘14
BY HEBERTO LIMAS ‘14
All material in the pblication and online copyright of RJ Voice student publications 2012 | Request permission for use
BY ZANDER BOISSE ‘14 BY TANYA GLICK ‘13
COVER PHOTO BY ALLIE PETKO ‘13 COVER DESIGN BY BEN MOHLER ‘14
BY TAYLOR NICHOLS ‘13
BY ALLIE PETKO ‘13
BY CHAMBERS GIBLIN ‘13 BY TOMMY REINS ‘13
BY SEAN WHITLEY ‘13
BY NICOLE BERGSTROM , KENNEDY KRAUSE, GRACE SHIPP & SARAH DELMONTE ‘14 BY ALEX VASQUEZ ‘14
BY DUGAN TIGHE ‘13
27 28 New Marijuana Study 33 Safe 2 Tell 34 Where Does the $ Go? OPINION 36 Immigration Test 37 Letter to the Editor 44 Hookah Bars 46 Political Slandering 46 Everyone’s NOT a Winner Leave Room for Jesus? 47 Are We Safe?
05 Peyton Manning 12 Prayer Warrior 13 IronMan 38 State Golf Champs 40 Robert Long: Rowing 40 Volleyball, Field Hockey, XC 47 Football & Soccer
SPOTLIGHT
10 Club Corner: Aperture 22 RJ in Pictures 29 Profiles 35 Dual Division Teachers 40 Everybody Has a Story 41 iPhone v. Andriod 44 Club Corner: Robotics Dr. Big Love 45 BY TOMMY REINS ‘13
BY JACKSON BURKHOLDER ‘14
BY COLIN BYRNE ‘16, WILL CLAWSON ‘14 & JESSE KOZLER ‘15
BY RAMYA DEPA ‘13
BY SEAN WHITLEY ‘13
BY KATELYN SCHIESSLER ‘16
BY CHAMBERS GIBLIN ‘13
BY DR. BIG LOVE & MRS. DR. BIG LOVE
ACADEMICS
STUDENTS AND FACULTY REACT TO NEW SCHEDULE An in-depth look at the new schedule. BY BEN MOHLER and MATT MAUSER
@bemohler and @mauser14 | 2014 C Team Cross Country Captain, Link Crew Leader, FHS member, NHS member, and 4.0 student junior Evan Bolling has a lot on his to-do list. With his schedule jam packed with meetings and honors and AP classes, his day has become very hectic. “I feel very rushed this year,” Bolling said. “Ever since the schedule change, my lunch time has been filled with things to do.” This school year the schedule is very different than the previous years. With office hours shortened from 45 minutes to 20, Evans’ many activities now all meet at lunch. Usually, many of these used to meet during office hours, allowing a less chaotic day. “Usually at office hours I swap out my books, and maybe get something to eat,” he said. “But by the time I do that, it is already time to start heading to class.” The new schedule makes the day feel longer for some students. “With office hours moved to after second period, I feel tired and hungry all the way through first and second, and drained by the time I get to lunch,” junior Blake Troksa said. “When I get to lunch I have to go to meetings for clubs and see teachers.” Boys Division English teacher Mrs. Sarah Sherwood, has had a positive impression on the change. “Honestly, it makes the day go by faster,” she said. “I don’t have as many breaks, the longer breaks draw the day out.” Students argue that the new schedule does not allow enough time to meet with teachers. Mrs. Sherwood rarely sees students come in to talk about school.
04 // THE RJ VOICE // VOICE.REGISJESUIT.COM
“They are too busy doing homework they forgot to do, eating cookies, or socializing. Very rarely will students come and visit me during academic support,” she said. However, Mrs. Sherwood also thinks that the new academic support period is too short. With shorter academic support time, clubs have changed their meeting times to lunch. A lot of students don’t want to give up their lunchtime for club meetings. “I can’t be involved in as many clubs this year, because it just becomes a pain to meet and keep up with them,” Bolling said. “It was a lot better when we had a full office hours to get all of that done so we could enjoy our lunch.” Last year, students were able to eat breakfast during office hours, but this year, the shortened break just isn’t enough time for students to get anything done. Most students don’t know that it took two years to research and create the new schedule. “It was a schedule that was vetted by almost every single stakeholder including the parents advisory council, it was vetted by faculty, it was vetted by administration, it was even vetted by some students,” Boys Division Principal Alan Carruthers said. “Nobody saw on paper the concerns that are now coming forward until they lived the schedule. Almost everybody had input on the schedule and nobody pointed out its flaws.” A problem that not many students are aware of is that classes weren’t meeting the required amount of time. “Classes were lower on time than they should have been.” Carruthers said. “We need a certain amount of contact time with students, and we just weren’t hitting that mark. We needed to take time from somewhere to get the longer classes.”
FALL 2012
Since classes must remain 90 minutes long, the only way to lengthen academic support would be to take it from lunch, or extend the day. Both of which are not helping the cause.
Sports special PEYTON MANNING
However, the new schedule is still a block schedule with one class every day, unlike some other schools in the area. Cherry Creek High School has seven periods a day, which can be very rigorous.
return of a legend
“Having six classes a day and then going home and doing homework for four, five, or even all of them is so tiring,” Cherry Creek junior Audrey Dwinnell said.
After three surgeries from a neck injury Peyton is back, but for the Broncos
“I have an off period and I still find myself working late into the night almost every day. I go to practice after school and then come straight home to do my homework and study for tests.”
BY TAYLOR NICHOLS @tnichols7 | 2013
The new schedule also allows for academy days, which were a necessity.
I
n October of 2010 Peyton Manning was viciously hit in the neck by Greg Williams, defender for the Washington Redskins, in a fairly normal regular season game. Manning was forced to skip the entire 2011 season after that brutal hit, receiving multiple neck surgeries for a damaged nerve that caused his arm strength to be lackluster. After several surgeries with no results Manning finally received a single level fusion to his neck.
“I used to never know when my 2RW class would be dropped,” Mrs. Sherwood said. “Now I know every single time for the rest of the year that I won’t have class. Also now I don’t loose class with my 2RW when we have assemblies or speakers.” “I think we had too many academy days at the start of the year,” Mr. Carruthers said. “Which I think we all agreed on, both within the Boys Division and in the administration and co-divisionally. However, we needed them and I think that they are a good part of this schedule.” “We haven’t been living the schedule for that long,” Mr. Carruthers added. “With that said, there is pretty intensive discussions already on how we can improve it, and I think we are looking at doing that.”
A single level fusion consists of an incision being made in the neck providing access to all vertebras in that area. Once there, the doctor removed the herniated disc and replaced it with bone, this is called bone grafting. A steel plate is attached to the vertebras and over time the vertebra and bone graft will fuse as one. After this long process will Manning be able to come back and be the quarterback for the Broncos that he was for the Colts? Junior Evan Bolling taking AP U.S. History notes | Jake Bolling ‘16
NEW SCHEDULE pros
cons
-More class time -Shorter time to meet with teachers -Academy days -Club meetings moved to lunch -Only one class after lunch on late -Academic Support after 2nd period starts -No cookie break on academy days -Some teachers let students eat in -Longer lunch lines class on academy days -Must choose between eating and meeting FALL 2012
Director of Sports Performance and Sports Performance Coach of Steadman Hawkins Denver Clinic Loren Landow works with athletes to get them in top condition for their sport. “From an arms strength side it will be a little different, but a quarterback like Peyton can make up for that with the maturity, awareness, and experience he has had playing the position and the game for as long as he has.” Loren said. In the first few games vs. the Texans and Falcons Manning looked, well, unlike Peyton Manning throwing 50/89 in the two games and delivering three interceptions in the Falcons game alone. So what was causing this shaky start in Manning’s 2012 season? “Its lack of chemistry with the team” Loren Landow says.” He has been out of the game for over a year and is trying to put all these pieces together of his biomechanics, and doing that with a new team, new coach and new staff is a similar system but different players in those positions.” Manning seemed to have all the pieces together that next week, looking like his old self in Denver’s week four domination of the Oakland Raiders where Manning threw 30/38 with 338 yards and three touchdowns. Continued on page 32 VOICE.REGISJESUIT.COM // THE RJ VOICE // 05
High school relationships:
Allie Petko ‘13
what’s the point?
The inside track on dating at Regis Jesuit High School BY KELLEN FOSTER and SHELBY KSIAZEK @kfosss_00 and @ShelbyKsiazek | 2013
“It is A dress rehearsal for life. You figure out what things to do and what things not to do. How to act around girls,” senior Andrew Hauser said. A first date is either a hit or miss, and the outcome is laregly due to one’s behavior. According to the StatisticBrain.com, it takes the average male 15 minutes to make a soild first impression on a female, whereas it takes as long as one hour for a female to make an impression on a male. ‘Putting your best foot forward’ may be cliche, but that’s the reality. By doing this, individuals reveal the better aspects of their personality and character. They want to attract the person, not scare them away. No wonder fears and downfalls are topics to avoid while getting to know someone over breadsticks. Bad dating experiences are not uncommon. Girls Division Social Studies teacher Mr. Sean O’Dea gave insight to his prom experience. “I was driving down in my dad’s motor carriage to the Air Force Academy and I got cut off by a big 18-wheeler and I slammed on the horn. When I took my hand off the horn, it didn’t stop. We drove for 45 minutes listening to the sound of a Swedish horn. It was like we were thinking, ‘Man 06 // THE RJ VOICE // VOICE.REGISJESUIT.COM
I’m so excited for prom I’m going to honk the whole way,’” he said. The horn didn’t stop sounding when Mr. O’Dea turned off the car in the parking lot. Embarrassed, he had to go find someone to fix it. Embarrassment tends to act as the “crazy ex-girlfriend” who can’t stop obsessing over her one-time lover. In other words, embarassment is just part of the deal. Girls Division English teacher Ms. Katie Durkin shared a memorable night where a misunderstanding almost landed her boyfriend in jail. “I asked him to go back to get my purse that I left at a party. So he was running across campus with my purse under his arm as the cop stopped him and made him call me because they thought he stole it from someone and they were about to take him in,” she said. Being that it was only the second date, Ms. Durkin felt bad for him. Reminiscing about his old high school memories, Girls Division English teacher Mr. Cameron Turner chuckles. “I ended up in the emergency room after I cut open my forehead and had to get 10 stitches after I excitedly opened the door for my date. My date drove me to the E.R. with blood streaming down my face instead of [to] Applebees,” he said. What makes a good first date? Being comfortable and having a good time are two very important factors.
“I honestly have very different views from most people. I’m good going to dinner, I’m good going to see a movie, but I’m just as good throwing on some sweats chilling, eating some popcorn and playing some Xbox. As long as I enjoy the company of the person it doesn’t really matter where we are or what we’re doing,” Andrew Hauser said. Why do teenagers dive into high school relationships? Why do couples decide to go from just being friends to being “in a relationship”? “I think that a lot of people get misled to
Q&A
with
B
utterflies. Uncontrollable smiling. Shaking legs. Sweaty hands. Rapid heartbeat. Looks like someone’s in a budding relationship. The contagious love fever goes around all year long. Symptoms closely parallel those to stage fright before a theatrical performance.
the idea that it’s all fate and you’re going to be together forever, but people will realize you’re in it to make the other person happy and vice versa,” sophomore Brent Schwarz said. “To help find who you are. To have support,” sophomore Ed Meyers said. Senior Madeline Sager says it’s all about the commitment. “I think it’s a social thing where people make it look like it’s fun and it’s a choice. When I start to like a guy, I want it to turn into something more. I don’t want it to be
Ed Meyers & Elijah Sanford
Can you have a serious relationship in high school?
What does a high school relationship teach you?
“Yes. As long as you don’t let others into your relationship it should be easy.”
“Communication skills and respect. How to treat other people.”
What do you want from a relationship?
In your opinion, what makes a girl attractive?
“Someone to believe in me when I don’t believe in myself. Someone to spend time with.”
“A girl that can make me laugh, if she’s athletic and smart. No dumb girls.”
When does a relationship stop working? “When you guys can’t communicate. When one doesn’t trust the other.”
What’s the worst thing that can cause a break up? “Other people, rumors, cheating. Miscommunication is also a big one.” FALL 2012
THE STORY
OF US.
Senior Kathryn Blumhardt shares her story of her high school relationship with Senior Brian Wegner. They are one of the few couples at Regis Jesuit who have been together for three consecutive years. He asked her to be his girlfriend through a note at lunch freshman year. Her favorite date that she went on was to the Downtown Aquarium where they got to pet the stingrays. “He’s very optimistic and he makes me optimistic.” Kathryn said. “We go to D Bar Restaurant, eat food, go out to dinner and hang out with friends a lot.” Both students have made the decision to play college lacrosse and are excited to see where their future takes them. he can have me and someone else. So it’s better to put a title on it so you know he’s focused on you,” Sager said. Hauser believes there is a huge difference between what girls look for in a relationship than what boys look for. “Girls look for a fairytale relationship where a guy sweeps them off their feet and is like the perfect guy. Someone who isn’t going to break their heart. Where guys look for someone they can just hang out with and are physically attracted to. Doesn’t matter how you hang out or if you are physical or not, you can just chill and not have to worry about appearances,” Hauser said. “Look for a girl with personality, a girl that can make them laugh, that’s attractive on the outside and on the inside. I know that guys don’t just go for looks on the inside, they also go for looks on the outside,” sophomore Laura Gabrielson said. Statistics show that there is a 5% chance of
a relationship lasting beyond high school. There is a high probability that in four years or less, people who were once inseparable will never see eachother again. Senior Hayden Schwarz looks beyond high school. “I feel like it’s a lot about values. It’s not a game but at the same time you have to test it out to see what kind of father you’ll be and in a girlfriend, you can see what type of wife you want to have. I think that’s important in a relationship, being good with each other in order to create the values you want in other people the most,” Schwarz said. “I want someone who’s comfortable with my parents because they have a right to know who I’m spending a lot of time with. Someone who respects me and what I want,” Madeline Sager said. High school students stuck in the middle of the relationship dilemma could certainly benefit from hearing a teacher’s experiences and how that helped them later on in life. Girls Division English teacher Mrs. Jamie Dawkins sheds some light on what an ideal relationship looks like.
“It was a middle school relationship where we were ‘dating’. He went to his ex-girlfriend’s house amd they got back together while we were still dating so that was pretty awkward,” Gabrielson said. Fortunately for Gabrielson, her story ended differently than most. “It didn’t end as bad as I thought it would. We just talked about it and now we’re good friends,” she said. One of the most frustrating parts of dating is the reality that people cheat. So why do people do it? “People cheat because they want change. At their core, something in them says ‘I don’t want the situation that I’m in right now’. Cheating is definitely an out [for] the relationship” Schwarz said. In the end, maybe it is a dress rehersal. We’re all just actors and actresses trying to make it in the limelight. As Shakespeare wrote in As You Like It, “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players; they have their exits and their entrances”.
DATE IDEAS • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Dinner and A Movie Putt Putt Driving Range Play Tennis Ice Skating Snowball Fights Frozen Yogurt Coffee Run Corn Maze Haunted Houses Concerts Film on the Rocks Outdoor Movies Hiking
Shelby Ksiazek ‘13
“No drama and you should spend more time laughing then crying, unless you laugh until you cry. The other person needs you to know there are other people in your life and other relationships are important,” Mrs. Dawkins said. A point has been made that friendship before a romantic relationship is very important and Meyer agrees. “Most of the time it’s a person [girlfriend] who you can easily get along with but that doesn’t always mean you’re in a dating relationship, because friendship is a form of relationship,” Ed Meyer said. Major issues arise when the friendship is broken. According to the Book of Odds, there is a 1 in 5 (20%) chance that a person will cheat in their lifetime. Gabrielson reflects on a dating mishap.
Diane Glick 720-891-7444 Independent Marketing diane0811@vitalityforlife.com Executive
303-596-3788 specially brewed by the
speckled hens diane glick & carin rush
Speckled Hens
2733 N Hwy 86, Elizabeth, CO 80107 FALL 2012
VOICE.REGISJESUIT.COM // THE RJ VOICE // 07
features
Regis Jesuit Reacts to Jim Keady BY RAMYA DEPA AND JOSE CHALIT @RamyaDepa and @jemiliochalit | 2013
“I
was playing professionally for the New Jersey Imperials. I was playing the best soccer of my life” Jim Keady said.
It was 1997, and Jim Keady had been offered a position to coach the Division 1 national championship soccer team at St. Johns University, where he was also studying theology. He turned it down. Why? Because Nike offered the team a 3.5 million dollar endorsement deal, and Keady couldn’t endorse Nike. It was his study of the Catholic Social Teaching that opened his eyes to the injustices behind the operations of big time companies, particularly Nike. Nike is involved in sweatshop labor practices in the production of their popular products. What Keady found was that Nike paid it’s subcontracted factory workers less that U.S $1.25 a day, which is less than a living wage. “When you go back to the beginning of how this all started, my plan wasn’t to go after anybody, I was simply writing a research paper,” Keady said. Keady left his job oppurtunity to fight for what was rightpromoting human dignity. He refused to coach a team unwilling to take a stand against the use of sweatshops internationally by saying no to Nike’s endorsement offer, especially because they came from a Catholic institution. He plans to inspire change to Nike’s practice of unfair worker wages in Indonesia first, then China, and thereafter India. Later progressing on to other companies, such as Adidas, Under Armour, GAP, J Crew, Ralph Lauren,etc. For the last 15 years, changing Nike’s practices in Indonesia has been the focus of Keady’s mission. 08 // THE RJ VOICE // VOICE.REGISJESUIT.COM
Before Keady came to speak to Regis, Mrs. Cassidy Cernanec, Girls’ Division Theology teacher, expressed the main goal of the presentation to be to educate the community which would hopefully turn into empathy and then action. She hoped for the creation of a Regis Jesuit sweat free policy which would mirror the Catholic values of human dignity, rights of workers, and a common good. On October 11, Keady made a visit to Regis Jesuit to educate students, faculty, and staff on this issue and spark a further thirst for justice within our community. October 11th was an academy day dedicated to Jim Keady’s cause. The Boys Division gym was packed with the student body and the Regis Jesuit faculty and staff. All eyes and ears were on Jim for a full hour and a half. The reactions from the student body and the faculty have been mixed. “Part of me says that for 15 years he’s been going after Nike there’s a couple of things. One, I’m surprised that he hasn’t broadened the scope a little bit, and two,it seems like a long time, and Nike has been growing and getting endorsed by more athletes. In the end, is it really working?” Girls Division athletic director, Mr. John Koslosky said. However, Mr. Koslosky found Jim Keady’s presentation eye opening and stated that Keady’s dedication to the cause was admirable. “He was very passionate, very knowledgable, and his presentation was eye-opening” Koslosky said. An appreciation for Keady’s passion for putting an end to injustice was one common response to his presentation.
“ I think Jim Keady was professional, down to earth, relatable, funny, and put together, but he was really good at provoking people” senior Breanne Williams said. As expected when discussing a controversial topic,there were also some more negative reactions. Towards the end of his presentation,Keady asked everybody to pull out their cell phones, encouraging them to tweet and email Nike executives demanding change in the way they treat their employees, especially in Indonesia. Some found this to be somewhat of a turn off, and saw Keady’s prompt as forceful and uncomfortable. Mr. Koslosky believes that when kids are forced to do something, they are going to react in an opposing way. “Here’s what I heard, I heard a lot of kids were saying to the CEO of Nike: thank you for these awesome products. I don’t know what this guy is talking about” he said. Some felt attacked by Keady’s message. “Jim Keady made me feel bad about myself because I felt like he was pointing fingers at people who wore Nike” freshman Kate Weis said. Some felt that Keady’s message needed to be heard. “I think that Keady’s presentation was good and that his message was important to hear because it directly applies to us, especially because we are a Jesuit institution” senior Nick Diab said. Mr. Keady called on the school to join his fight; to help the FALL 2012
cause is to bring publicity to this issue of human injustice and pressure Nike to change their practices. “ It really depends on the individuals and the institution... you can’t really have a cookie cutter approach for each individual, each group, each institution. I would ask, what gifts and talents can you bring to the fight? “ Keady said. For Regis Jesuit, the goal is to keep the conversation going. Boys Division Theology teacher Mr. Jason Beyer believes the important thing is asking the questions and having meaningful discussions. “Mr. Keady was not meant to bring peace but to start us in a conversation that will lead us to peace. But this peace must be achieved through effort, not through letting sleeping dogs lie, and it must be achieved through looking at the life and mission of Jesus. Not I, nor Mr. Keady, can answer that for us. We have to ask,” Mr. Beyer said.
Photos by Mrs. Charisse Broderick- King
“Jim’s presentation was informative and invited us to stop and think about how we participate in an unjust system. But I am not comfortable declaring change within the community. It is not effective for everything to come from the top down- there needs to be some level of agreement within the community. The model for leadership in the church is for things to be done in collaboration,” Fr. Steele said.
Q&a WITH JIM KEADY
For now, the topic is open to discussion, but it is too early to say whether any sweat free policy will be implemented. As Father Steele stated, action must be taken collaboratively.
Q: Why did you choose to go through with using Nike as the example instead of going straight to the government? Some may say if you went right through to the government and the government took action, placed regulations on these companies, it would be a lot faster and more efficient.
In the end, many were left with more questions than answers. What do we do now?
A: “I do think that the government has a role in reigning in these kinds of corporations, but when we look at the goverment of the U.S., it’s dysfunctional particularly in regard to how it deals with transnational corporations. Many of the elected officials that are supposedly representing the people’s interests in Washington D.C. are not representing the people’s interests at all. They’re bought and sold by big corporations like Nike. So in terms of trying to fix the problem with Nike exploiting workers and then also in a bigger picture trying to have real democratic ethos to our republic and having a government really represent us and would take these issues on, you’ve gotta start somewhere. And for me it was looking at Nike and challenging what they do and how they do it. It’s not like you just write a letter and the government moves. The first thing you have to do is educate people on the issue and that’s what I spent the majority of my time doing. If I could wave a magic wand and have Nike and/or our government take action to end this problem, I would wave it. But that magic wand doesn’t exist. It’s a long, hard journey to bring about this kind of social change.”
As the community at Regis Jesuit discerns to either take action on the issue, or step back and look at the options, President Fr. Phil Steele SJ believes the answer lies in the model the church gives us.
“If it were as simple as don’t buy Nike or just admit that my purchase involves someone else’s exploitation or suffering, the experience Mr. Keady brought to us would be too easy. Jesus didn’t offer simple do’s and don’ts, he asked what was in your heart and it was there he challenged,” Mr. Beyer said. “We don’t have to agree with his stance, but we do have to ask ourselves what we believe. I think the import thing is to ask why am I left with questions? Is it because I felt attacked? Is it because I don’t believe him? Is it because I disagree with his argument? Is it because I feel I have to defend Nike? Is it because I truly believe in a utilitarian ethos and that for people to advance, some must sacrifice and it is their turn? Is it because I fundamentally disagree with Catholic Social Teaching that the economy is to serve the individual? Is it because a picture showed my team wearing the gear and I felt defensive?” Mr. Beyer added.
“The Jesuits are the Jedi of the Church.If anyone is going to take action, it’s the Jesuits” - Jim Keady FALL 2012
Q: So are you saying that government, as of right now, has no role in any place of regulations within these companies? A: “No, I certainly think government has a role in regulating transnational corporations that are based or do business in the U.S., but I think that the role of gov. at the moment is limited by the flaws in the system. When you have a government that is bought and sold by corporations, it makes it very difficult for that same government to reign in the excesses of those corporations. So I think the first thing we need to do on the government side would be to first have publicly funded elections so that you no longer have politicians (or public servants) that have had to seek out the donations of corporations so they could effectively run for office. So, we need to have more effective, efficient, transparent, independent government before we could get to the step where that government could start to reign in these rogue corporations that are exploiting people.” Q: Have you met big time athletes sponsored by Nike and told them about your campaign? A: “ I have met with some athletes, unfortunatley none of them have decided to go out on a limb with the exception of one guy: Kevin Mcmann. Kevin is a two time olympian, Kevin also went to Georgetown University. He was a Hammer Thrower. Kevin teaches at a Jesuit High School out in California, he learned about the issue and was put in touch with me. Although Kevin didn’t take as radical of a position as I did, but he used his position as an olympian to leverage some pressure on Nikeand try to get them to do the right thing.
TO WATCH THE EXLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH KEADY, VISIT VOICE.REGISJESUIT.COM VOICE.REGISJESUIT.COM // THE RJ VOICE // 09
student life
Who are the Jackson
ROWDIES?
@Jackgriff21 | 2013
“I sound like an alarm system when I scream” -The Jackson Griffith George
C L U B
BY BRAD HEKTOR and SEAN WOOD
@Bradhektor and @Sean__Wood | 2013
Weatherbie @TotallyKyle_W | 2013
“I like rain” -The WEATHERman
@GeorgeKyriazi | 2013
“Ladies love me cause I’m Greek” -Zeus
Whitley
-The Guy in the Kilt Charlie
@CMarks17 | 2013
“Big things come in small packages” -Biggs
@SWhitley95 | 2013
“I already have all the ladies, being a rowdy is just a bonus” -Barrel Man Tom
@TomBeas1|
“My favorite food is love<3” -The Banana
Seabass “I’m a cat in a hat” -The Cat in the Hat
Luca
@Phatlucs | 2013
“Despite the kankals, im pure athletisism” - Jackie Moon Geordie
@GeordieBain1| 2013
“I am a reincarnation of Frank Sinatra” -LumberJack Jobes
Film production club focused on creating cinema type films and shorts of every genre. @tommyreins | 2013
@BVanJacobs13 | 2013
“I went to the chess nationals in the fifth grade” -Skip the Sailor
CLUB APERTURE
BY TOMMY REINS
Conor “I workout... A LOT”
Skipper
C O R N E R
Christian “A lobster when left high and dry among the rocks does not have the sense to work his way back to the sea, but waits for the sea to come to him. If it does not come, he remains where he is and dies, although the slightest effort would enable him to reach the waves. The world is full of human lobsters; people stranded on the rocks of indecision and procrastination, who, instead of putting forth their own energies are waiting for some grand billow of good fortune to set them afloat”
- The BADD Cop
Michael Bell
@Mikey_Bell23 | 2013
“I play badmittin at the highest level” -Liberty Bell
13 ROWDIES 8 JUMPING JACKS 5 BAGS OF DORITOS 3 NAPS 1 ROWDY CROWD
Aperture is the most succesful new club this year, and for good reason. Junior Chambers Giblin and sophomore Brent Schwartz, who create films and shorts together, went out looking to increase their cast and crew, and they drew a crowd. Showing a trailer for a film they intended to make at their club table during the fair this year was all they needed to draw the attention of over 100 students. “We were, and are, looking for writers, actors, directors, producers, and musicians to help us create bigger and better productions,” club co-founder Giblin said. “Anyone who can contribute to any aspect of film-making is welcome.” Club Aperture meets regularly and for different reasons. “We don’t have a set schedule when we meet, but when we do we have a lot to accomplish,” co-founder Schwartz, said. “Our meetings range from idea building, to filming, to viewing parties.” Their moderator is english teacher Mr. Katz and they use his room, 265, as their creative base. With these leaders the club has begun their first projects in October style short films, which should be coming out by the end of this month. The club looks to create proffesional looking films. Everything from the cinematography, done by Brent and Chambers, to the acting, done by all the student actors in the club. “We will leave it up to the audience,” Chambers says. “We hope they will love it, but everyone from Brent and I, to the actors, to everyone in the club, love doing what we are doing, and we will continue our attempt at entertaining you, and hopefully keep getting better at it.” Look forward to the day you get to see an Aperture Film. These students will be making movies coming to a theatre near you. They are always looking for more to join their crew. If you are interested in any aspect of filmmaking contact Mr. Katz, Giblin or Schwartz.
sports
getting here
Students share stories of family immigration
BY QUINCY GHOLSTON
T
@quincy gholston| 2013
he sunlight reflects off the libray at sunrise blinds them just like anyone else. The weight of their backpacks pains them, and in a like manner, the academic rigor of Regis Jesuit affects their sleep patterns. But they aren’t exactly like everyone else; they have a story of their own.
They are immigrants, (First, Second, or Third generation). They, or their families, have had to discover the meaning and qualifications for being an American, and balance it with their own sense of culture. Several students and faculty of this kind are at Regis Jesuit, and a few of them told their stories of their families’ experiences. Senior Peter Cal and Junior Danny Kaelin are among them. Senior Peter Cal’s grandparents fled from their respective Communist-held countries at the midpoint of the century, when the ‘Iron Curtain’ fell across Europe. “My grandmother left Poland in, what was it, ’46? But, because so many people from Eastern Europe were fleeing Socialist governments, certain immigration quotas were enacted. That’s why she first had to go to Canada. Then she married my grandfather, [who at that point was a citizen], and moved to America,” Cal said. His grandfather fled from Cuba a week after Fidel Castro took over the country. “Fun fact, my grandfather actually knew Castro in school,” he said. With this history, Cal reflected on the various influences his grandparents’experiences present in his family. Having fled from traditionally Catholic countries, he acknowledged that one of the reasons his family wanted him to attend Regis Jesuit was faith based. As for influences on political/economic views, “We would definitely identify more free market economic, some of what can be considered conservative, although, my grandparents weren’t necessarily one party or another. For them, the Democratic Party on the Eastern Coast was big on immigrants.” Cal said. “We don’t like communists, and we definitely have a personal dislike for the Castros.” Regarding personal traditions, languages, or family quirks: “We don’t really have anything like that, except for a few minor things, such as how my grandfather believes that Christopher Columbus was a Spaniard, not an Italian, stuff like that. And languages? My father is able to speak Spanish and Polish, but he doesn’t. We speak English in the home,” Cal said. The immigration process, the vigorous testing, “It wasn’t too much of a difficulty for them,”he said. “They know at
40 // THE RJ VOICE // VOICE.REGISJESUIT.COM
QUINCY’S
LIBRARY
least more than the average American about the country they live in, particularly about how America deals with foreign nations,” Cal said. Junior Danny Kaelin’s father emigrated from Switzerland twenty-five years ago. He met his wife in London, settled down in America, changed his name, (originally spelled Kalin), , learned with vigor American history and law, etc. “My dad, Brüno Kaelin was born and raised in Switzerland. He met my mom in London, fell in love, and they decided to raise a family here in America.” Junior Danny Kaelin said. The process wasn’t too difficult for him either seeing as he knew English as a second language. When asked about whether or not his father knew more about the country than the average American, “Yes, I would say he does. He liked the Pledge of Allegiance, and learning history. He frequently quotes what he’s learned, basic constitution, etc, he’s pretty well educated.” Kaelin said. “But, even after twenty-five years, he still doesn’t get some American pop culture things, like football, so I kind of missed out on that part of my life as a kid, football with my dad. But he’s a good dad, the football thing doesn’t really matter.” Regarding the question of language, oftentimes difficult for immigrants, Kaelin had this to say. “No, he doesn’t frequently speak Swiss German in the home, but I’ve picked up a little bit.” Kaelin said. The personal feelings one can have towards their home country can go from dislike, to nostalgia. Kaelin’s father, like all First Generational, has strong ties to both. “He still loves Switzerland, he loves America, he’s not overly patriotic to either one over the other.” Kaelin said. “Fun facts though, my dad served in the Swiss Army, everyone is required to; Switzerland has its own navy even though it’s landlocked. Yep, one destroyer. Also, Switzerland is the world’s only working confederation.” As far as citizenship goes, his father is an American, but Kaelin has a package deal. He is, according to Swiss law, a Swiss citizen by right of blood. That is he has dual citizenship, something which Switzerland recognizes, but America does not. “I’ll have to declare when I’m eighteen, but it doesn’t really matter. The U.S might not recognize it, but all that matters is that Switzerland does.” Kaelin said. When asked as to why that might be Kaelin said, “It’s fairly old. Probably comes back to people being worried about British sympathizers and spies. Probably made to protect from foreign influence.” Cuban, Swiss, Chinese, Polish, Russian, or Brazillian, immigrants have continued to shape the face of American culture, add to greater diversity of religion, opinion, and background.
NEWS BY QUINCY GHOLSTON @quincy gholston| 2013
For those of you who haven’t yet set foot in this year, the Library is abuzz with activity. The library has added an array of technological methods of getting students information, research, and reading pleasure. “The library is diversifying to try to make materials more readily available to kids, even if they don’t have the time or physical space to check them out.” Mr. Bruce Raymond Head Librarian said. The library has added not just added electronic versions of books. In order to keep abreast of the current technology, the library has added a whole mini library of ebooks complete with scan able “QR” codes. How it works is a tablet, (Nook, Kindle, Ipad, etc), scans the code, and they get the book on their reading device free of charge, and free of late fees. The library staff is also currently rents out devices with reading materials on them. “We currently have about eight nooks in the library. They’re storage devices for whole libraries of books. We lend them out to students to use, all of them are currently checked out, but it offers greater opportunity for students” Raymond said. In addition to the elibrary, the library online catalog offers students the ability to browse by sight, as they would in the library, from anywhere. “What they do is they log onto the catalog, and say they finished a book they really liked, they can use the arrows to look left or right at the surrounding books as they appear on the actual shelf at school.” Raymond said. Senior Peter Cal has also checked out the new materials in the libraries. “Though I often don’t use much of these new additions to the library, I think that they are a positive growth. I personally like the availability of materials, even though I’m not a fan of reading on screens,” senior Peter Cal said. Besides technology, the library has some old fashioned remedies to boredom such as the ‘What Raiders Read Contests’. A person reads, no limit on how many times, (so someone could stuff the box full and win), and they win gift cards for various businesses in the vicinity of RJ. In addition, the Library is considering bringing back the “Raiders Read signs”. “ Basically, this was two years ago last time, if you remember, teachers would have these signs up in their classroom windows, and the idea being that students would be required to bring reading material with them to class, for when they finished their work.” Raymond said. Also, the library hosts a whole, well, host of events, such as the Tedx conference and the yearly Poetry Slam contest. So, whatever your interests might be, from research papers, to historical fiction in print, from tablets to speaking events, the Library has it all. Don’t believe it, come check it out for yourself. FALL 2012
SPORTS
ferent kind of level – to pray for them,” Mrs. Heath said. Mrs. Heath prays quietly at a player’s locker during a Friday session of Prayer Warrior | Allie Petko ‘13
The power of prayer
Prayer Warrior program helps Regis Jesuit Football play for greater glory of God
BY ALLIE PETKO @lilpetko | 2013
T
he locker room is quiet aside from the monotonous buzzing of the lights. The silence here is eerie – normally this room is characterized by the anxious foot tapping and whispered prayers muttered by the players sitting in front of their lockers. The smell of sweaty pads and Febreze’s attempt to cover it up lingers—but there is no sign of life among the still damp towels or the dirty tshirts left on the floor. This room is where warriors prepare for battle, where they “ride at dawn”. But at this hour, a different type of warrior walks in. Breaking the silence, a woman in her midforties utters the last name of a player as she places her hand on the cool metal door of his locker. Next to her, Mrs. Lori Heath thumbs her Rosary, and begins to say the “Our Father”. Four years ago, head coach Mark Nolan brought Prayer Warrior to Regis Jesuit High School, a program designed to bless the players, coaches, and all those involved with the football program. In doing so, he created a community within RJ Football; a spiritual connection between the players, their families, and the coaches. “It was genius for Coach Nolan to come up with this because it builds the camaraderie within all the parents for every player on the team,” Mrs. Heath, mother of junior
12 // THE RJ VOICE // VOICE.REGISJESUIT.COM
quarterback, said. “Seasons before Coach Nolan we had never done Prayer Warrior—we’ve never come together as a group to pray for football players…we witnessed such growth, such love, and right there is such a miracle in itself because people really don’t relate prayer to football,” she said. Throughout the fall season, two volunteers from each level—freshman, junior varsity, and varsity—spend one hour a day praying for the boys, as well as for the football program in its entirety. “We get prayer requests…so we know the injuries. Based on the kind of week the boys have had, listening to Connor and some of his friends at the team dinners, you kind of pick up on how they’re feeling and get an idea of what to pray about there,” varsity Prayer Warrior coordinator Mrs. Judy Warren said.
On Fridays—game days—a group of Prayer Warriors gather in the locker room and begin with the Rosary, saying a prayer for each player. They freelance with the special intentions, and put holy water over every locker. This season, Mrs. Heath’s son, junior Zach Heath, is battling it out each week with sophomore Matt Houghtaling for the starting quarterback spot. Thus far, Houghtaling has started every game. Watching her son play his heart out his each week on the practice field, yet not prevail, could cause any mother discomfort. Given the situation, Mrs. Heath has found her strength through Prayer Warrior. “It’s so important for me as a mom to pray about it…that it helps me inside, to pray for this kid [Matt], and to lift him up, and to pray for his good arm, to pray for his dancing feet when he’s on the football field.” For Mrs. Heath, football is just a game— it’s just football.
“These kids want to play for the perishable crown, but you know what, in the game of life, you need to be playing for the crown that won’t perish – the crown that’ll get you into the gates of Heaven. And that right there is what we’re trying to teach our son,” she said. Zach takes after his mother. His deep Catholic roots and strong faith are reflected in his character. At any other school, this “quarterback duel” would be a breeding ground for turmoil and bitterness. Not at Regis Jesuit. Not on this team. “It’s never a fighting scene; we both respect each other tons. We’re good friends and will be regardless of what happens…I know that whatever happens is for the better of the team, and I have confidence
in whatever decision is made,” Zach said. Zach wears a bracelet everyday that says “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13),” and he constantly tells himself that. Tim Tebow’s spirit is still alive and well in Denver, just manifested in a 17-year-old’s body.
“I’ve witnessed with my kids, our boys becoming men with and for others just on this football team. Especially Zach though, because he’s such a silent leader and he’s teaching me things, and I think that stems from how we all pray for all of our kids and all the teammates,” Mrs. Heath said. Prayer Warrior changes people. It’s essential. It’s important. It’s life changing. With it, boys become men, become leaders, and the football program becomes family. Without it, they are just boys who throw around a pigskin every Friday night. “It has probably changed my life more than I’ve changed the lives of those I’ve been praying about. It makes me take time to think about others – about the boys. To me, it’s not about football when I’m at a game. Or it’s not about a team dinner. I’m listening for how I can help through prayer,” Mrs. Warren said. Mrs. Heath places her hand on Houghtaling’s locker, and as she closes her eyes, she offers up a prayer for him. A few lockers later, she touches Zach’s locker, breaths, then prays. As the hour comes to a close, there is a sense of holiness in the locker room. When she entered, the room was cold and deserted, but as she picked up her purse to leave, the room felt warm, cozy, and almost as if God was present. In a short amount of time, a place of preparation for battle transformed into a place of worship. A place for warriors of prayer, warriors of football, warriors of Regis Jesuit - a place of God.
Mrs. Heath places her hand on a locker, physically lifting him up in prayer | Allie Petko ‘13
The power of prayer not only touches the lives of the players, but also the parents. They are able to connect more deeply with each other, all while playing a significant role in the RJ Football family. “I relish my time praying for all the boys, and I’ve come to get to know the parents through Prayer Warrior. It’s given me an opportunity to know the players on a difFALL 2012
Sports
JP Giblin IronMan
Senior JP Giblin in a full tri and we-suit. Holding awards from winning events and equiptment needed for an ironman. | Chambers Giblin ‘14
JP’s journey to competing and completing the Iron Man Triathlon at the youngest age alowed for participants BY CHAMBERS GIBLIN @chambersgiblin
A
n alarm goes off in senior JP Giblin’s room, and while other students his age are sleeping in, JP is out the door for another day in training for the 140.6 mile race most people consider to be the epitome of athletics.
Jp Giblin is participating in the full Ironman Triathlon in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho on June 23, 2013, but one does not simply throw on a tri-suit and compete on race day. To complete the 2.4 mile swim, the 112 mile bike ride, and a 26.2 mile marathon without a break requires commitment, and to say that this senior is committed is an understatement. “Monday through Friday I do training sessions,” JP says. “Biking, running or swimming in the morning and another session later in the day.”
The Ironman Triathlon was started by Navy Commander John Collins who created the event by putting together the three longest competitive events in each respective sport of swimming, biking, and running. It was set as a competition between 15 athletes in the Navy and Collins said at the starting line,
Over 900 balanced meals Meant to refuel for training and events, and to stay on proper diet to prevent against injury.
And so the race began, and it has grown to over1500 participants each year. The race begins at 7:00 AM and most have a strict time limit of 17 hours to complete, leaving each individual until midnight to finish. JP’s goal is to finish under 12 hours and he is training accordingly.
Over 600 hours of training Building stamina and endurance for events.
“One thing people ask me,” JP says, “ Is how long I run or bike, but you don’t measure training in miles, you measure it in time.”
Over 5 Different Events Marathons, Triathlons, Half Ironmans, bike and swim races. And many more to come
At the peak of his training JP will be biking for 6 hours and transitioning into an hour run and then repairing his body with proper meals just to prepare for the next session.
“6 meals a day, absolutely no junk food, and lots of water.” is to prevent injury and prepare his body for the event and events to come.
And with all the time and hard work he puts into it it’s not hard to see how much he loves it. From the training sessions to the actual race days he has a smile on his face through every agonizing step, stroke, and pedal.. And when asked about his motivation and why he does all of this JP said,
“My Uncle has been the one to give me advice and kind of coach me through things.” JP says, “He’s shown me you have to be dedicated to the training and commitment. Tell people about it, have them support you and be a driving force behind you. You have to be confident that your training and your own drive will get you to the finish line.” 13 // THE RJ VOICE // VOICE.REGISJESUIT.COM
Since training began
“Whoever finishes first, we’ll call him the Iron Man.”
Waking up early and cutting into free time to prepare is just the beginning. Every other day JP does weight training and on the weekends he does his long bike ride and long run, which is his build up to the peak of his training, biking for 3 hours and running for 2. All that, along with an impeccable diet which consists of
The training has been paying off. So far JP has not only participated in 2 triathlons, but won first in his age group in both. Along with finishing a marathon and joining the Varsity cross country team, he tacks it on to just more training for the big day. JP will be participating in the Half Ironman, 70.3 mile event, in St. George, Utah in May and another Half 70.3 event in Boulder later this year. JP’s motivation to participate in an Ironman Triathlon came from his Uncle, a 62 year old man that finished his first ironman this year, 1 of the 10 in his age group of 60+.
JP by the Numbers
ONE Ironman Triathlon
“Fitness has become a lifestyle for me, JP says.
“One of the main slogans for an Ironman is “Nothing is Impossible” “The Ironman will drive that mentality into me and it will be with me for the rest of my life,” JP says.
‘Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they’ve been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It’s an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It’s a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing’ –Muhammad Ali
JP finishing the swim portion of his first triathlon in wetsuit gearing up to transition into the bike portion of the evert | Chambers Giblin ‘14
FALL 2012
THE
Olympic experience
An in depth look at the Olympic experience through the eyes of three high school students BY MISSY FRANKLIN @FranklinMissy | 2013
I
t is arguably one of the highest-pressure situations for any athlete. Olympic Trials. It takes four years of training and countless weeks spent in pure exhaustion. One thousand four hundred and sixty days of training, soreness, lack of sleep, stress, and sacrifice comes down to eight days. Eight days where you have to be the best you have ever been. Regis Jesuit was the only high school to be represented by three swimmers at this year’s 2012 Olympic Swimming Trials. From June 25 - July 2 in Omaha, Nebraska Clark Smith, Hennessey Stuart, and myself competed to represent our country. We sat down to talk about our experiences and reflect on the time we spent together on a world-class stage.
Q&A with the athletes Missy Franklin
Hennessey Stuart Clark Smith What was your favorite part of Olympic Trials?
Design by Allie Petko I know that’s a huge reason why I want to swim in college. The teams seems so close and it’s so much fun to watch them cheer and go crazy for every person on their team, regardless of how fast they are.
speaking of colleges, how is your recruiting process going? Well, I went to Michigan and Texas and I committed to Texas because Coach Reese is really experienced and he coached my dad when he swam at Texas. Both my mom and dad swam at UT. I’m looking at Michigan too. Michigan, Auburn, and Ohio State are some big schools that I’m talking to that I’m interested in. The recruiting process is a job! It’s so much work with all the emailing and questionnaires, it’s stressful. I’m emailing about 30 colleges. I just have to keep the options open. Well I think with 30 colleges your options are very wide open! I just committed to Cal Berkeley and I could not be happier about it. I know this is where I’m meant to be and I already feel like I am a part of the Golden Bear family!
WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT OLYMPIC SWIMMING TRIALS? All the warm up pools. There is a whole section behind the competition pool with another 50-meter warm-up and warm-down pool. And they have really good chocolate milk.
I got my first trial cut at Sectionals, a meet in Mt. Hood, Oregon. It was my 200 back and I wasn’t nervous at all before the race. I felt like I already knew I could get the cut. When I finished I didn’t have to look at board, I heard my mom and coach going crazy and I knew I had gotten my cut. I got my first trial cut in the 200 fly. I was just really happy that the race was over! I was 12 years old when I got my first trial cut. I remember that I was swimming at Junior Nationals and I had been tenths and hundredths off my cuts, and finally on day five of the meet in my last two events, I got Trials in both my 50 free and 200 Individual Medley. My experience in 2008 was so different than in 2012. I was so wide-eyed and perplexed in 2008 but this year I had a much better idea of what to expect. That’s how I felt when I first walked into the pool! It was like a deer in the headlights. I was looking around, trying to keep my cool but my heart rate was skyrocketing. And not to mention I was one of the smallest guys there so I was looking up to everyone. Clark: The pool was really big. There were so many lights; it was way brighter than I was used to. There were also a lot of people.
WHAT WERE YOU THINKING BEFORE YOUR FIRST RACE? I wish I wasn’t a butterflyer.
I really enjoyed watching finals, especially the night the Texas A&M swimmer won the women’s 100 breast [Breeja Larson]. I love the upsets and the unknown people surprising everyone and making the Olympic Team.
Their chocolate milk was so good! I couldn’t stop drinking it! I was hoarding it in my hotel room. I think another surprising thing is how many people don’t swim their best times there. Less than half of the swimmers at Olympic Trials go best times in their events.
Haha really? That’s all you thought about!?
That’s one of my favorite parts too, just the unknowns coming in and sweeping everyone off their feet! And I loved the waterfalls and the flames of course.
There were way more swimmers there then have ever been there before too.
Yeah I raced against Mark Dylla who is a past Colorado high school state champion and a NCAA champion in one of my butterfly events.
I liked the fire and waterfall too. I also liked watching the college teams cheer for their teammates. 14 // THE RJ VOICE // VOICE.REGISJESUIT.COM
WHAT WAS IT LIKE GETTING YOUR FIRST TRIALS CUT? WHAT EVENT WAS IT?
And why I am I in the last heat? But didn’t you get to race Mark Dylla?
FALL 2012
That’s really cool. I was so worried about being nervous, that all I thought about was being nervous. It was a vicious cycle. I wasn’t really happy with my races there, I was just too nervous. It is so nerve racking, it’s hard to learn how to calm yourself down and try to tell yourself it is just like any other swim meet and you’ve swam these races a hundred times.
DID YOU WATCH SWIMMING IN THE OLYMPICS? WAS IT WEIRD SEEING THE PEOPLE YOU HAD JUST COMPETED WITH ON TV? Of course I did. My favorite part was watching you get your first gold medal, Missy. Awww! You’re going to make me tear up! Haha it’s true! Clark what did you watch? I watched 100 free, 100 fly, and 200 fly, it was cool to see someone beat Michael Phelps in the event he’s won for the past 12 years. That was one of my favorite races! When Chad le Clos beat Michael the stands literally went crazy. And Chad is such a nice guy, I know everyone on the team was obviously cheering for Michael and wanted him to win but we were all still really happy for Chad.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES OR SIMILARITIES OF SWIMMING AT OLYMPIC TRIALS AND SWIMMING AT HIGH SCHOOL STATE?
then to now: MISSY FRANKLIN I started swimming when I was five years old on my summer club team the Heritage Green Gators. I have been swimming with my Coach Todd Schmitz for ten years on the Colorado Stars. I swam for Regis Jesuit High School my freshman through junior years! At Olympic Trials I competed in the 100 and 200 free, and the 100 and 200 back.
OLYMPIC TRIALS FINISHES:
100 back - Place: 1 out of 163 - Time: 59.54 200 back - Place: 1 out of 190 - Time: 2:06.12 FALL 2012
100 free - Place: 2 out of 102 - Time: 54.15 200 free - Place: 2 out of 133 - Time: 1:56.79
It’s very different. Both atmospheres are totally different, they are both electric but Trials is more about the glamour and State is just raw. There is more accountability at high school State! I was pretty stressed for Trials, but I felt way more stressed at high school State because of accountability for the team. And it’s also only two days, compared to seven. Those five days can make a huge difference. I think I was more nervous for high school State then I was for Trials too, you just want to be the best you can, not for yourself but for your team because you know how hard they have worked. High school State was better, I didn’t feel like I was all by myself and I like short course a lot better than long course.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT THE REGIS JESUIT SWIM TEAM? I like the whole thing. I really like the team aspect that you don’t really always get with club team swimming like the relays and the cheering.
Swimming has taught me how important it is to manage your time and prioritize everything that is happening. There is so much you have to do but swimming takes up so much of your time. It’s a lot of sacrifice but it is always worth it. Time management is huge with swimming, it really taught me how to manage all my time too. I’m also very competitive, and I remember when I first started swimming, my competitiveness would make me cry out of anger if I lost a chess match. I learned it’s not always about what place you get, you are always racing yourself and the clock. Beast mode. Really? That’s what swimming has taught you? Beast mode? Yep. Beast mode.
what are your goals now, after competing at such a high level meet?
The atmosphere and the competitiveness. The whole team puts in a lot of effort!
Just to finish high school and go to Texas.
Definitely how close the team is. Being on a team with your Regis Jesuit sisters who know exactly how tired and exhausted you are really helps push you through the hard days because you’re doing it together.
I really want to swim in a D1 college, like Clark will be doing at Texas, and compete in the NCAA championships. I want to swim in the Olympics, but that’s a lot of years ahead of me.
WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING SWIMMING HAS TAUGHT YOU?
I think you can do it. I can’t wait to commit to a college and swim at NCAA’s. I think it will be such an amazing experience. I also have World Championships in Barcelona coming up this summer, which I am super excited for.
HENNESSEY STUART
CLARK SMITH
Junior Hennessey Stuart started swimming when he was five years old on his summer club team the Monaco Marlins. He swam on the Colorado Stars since he was seven years old and just recently switched to Denver Swim Academy out of Regis coached by Nick Frasersmith. Hennessey will be starting his third year of swimming for the Regis Jesuit High School team. At Olympic Trials Hennessey swam the 100 and 200 back.
Senior Clark Smith started swimming lessons when he was three years old and joined the Greenwood Tiger Sharks, a year round swim team when he was nine years old. Clark is now on Denver Swim Academy with Hennessey and has swum there for three years. He is starting his fourth year swimming for the Regis Jesuit High School team and is one of the team captains! At Olympic Trials Clark competed in the 100 and 200 fly, and the 100 and 200 free!
OLYMPIC TRIALS FINISHES:
100 back - Place: 97 out of 128 - Time: 58.06 200 back - Place: 55 out of 109 - Time: 2:04.41
OLYMPIC TRIALS FINISHES:
100 fly - Place: 28 out of 124 - Time: 54.16 200 fly - Place: 25 out of 139 - Time: 2:00.87
100 free - Place: 154 out of 167 - Time: 54.15 200 free - Place: 53 out of 127 - Time: 1:51.66
VOICE.REGISJESUIT.COM // THE RJ VOICE // 15
STUDENT LIFE
Students Plunge Into Homelessness
Plunge into the story of a group of students having the eye opening experience of a lifetime. BY CHRISTIAN ADAMS @CristianAdams2 | 2014
“This is an awesome retreat you will all love it.” Senior Skipper Van Jacobs said to the new plungers as they boarded the RTD on the morning of October 17. Later that night, cold, tired, hungry, the students take their small amount of money to feed their ‘families’ for the duration of the night and the morning. They sleep outside in the freezing temperatures, but they are all happy. They share in an experience of empathy. They are experiencing the “Homeless Plunge.”
Senior Chris Mccoy and junior Alex Aurora view the faces of the homeless during The Journaling Portion | Jose Chalit ‘13
“I love Homeless Plunge, this is my second year doing it. Its a very eye opening experience for everyone,” sophomore Elijah Stanford said. Students took a trip to the 16th Street Mall to talk to some of the homeless people and see if they needed anything. They stopped and talked to them to see how they are doing, give them some socks or a hat, then move on further down the street. One moment that struck the group was when they encountered a ‘family’ of the homeless. The outreach worker knew them well. When they walked up to them, a women in the group yelled, “Hi Joy! Who are your friends?” Joy introduced the students to the group, two men and two women. One of the men had recently purchased an apartment but didn’t want to leave his friends. He stayed with them frequently to keep them company. The leader of their group was a very courteous man. He took the plungers to see where they slept and then began to tell them how they lived. “Anything we get, if it’s food, drink, or clothing, goes to the women and children first, no exceptions,” he said. The group was awestruck. A true gentleman can be found anywhere. Earlier in the day the students visited a 16 // THE RJ VOICE // VOICE.REGISJESUIT.COM
Plungers silently journal before their final prayer service | Jose Chalit’13
homeless shelter for teens called Urban Peak. The leaders of the tour groups were residents of the home. They told their stories and talked about their progress towards acquiring a job and a stable living environment. Most of them have been kicked out of their houses by their parents or had run away from an unstable home. “Urban Peak was very inspiring, I will definitely be doing service here again next year,” sophomore Jack Lazzeri said. Taking the RTD bus system from place to place made the day seem long. “I love the difference is conversations on the bus rides, on the way there its about football or school, but on the way back everyone is serious about what they just experienced,” Service Director Mr. Nick Fagnant said. The students arrived at Regis Jesuit at dusk and began their quests for food. Each family of 4-5 students was given $7 to feed their “family” that night and in the
morning. After finding the best deals they hurried back to campus to arrange their camps. Some families came together for extra security and warmth during the cold bitter night. Before the plungers went to bed, they thanked the Lord for the blessings they have in a beautiful prayer service led by Mr. Ferraro, Mr. Fagnant and Miss Vela.
HOMELESS STATS - 12605 Homeless in Denver - 44% are women - 20% are employed - 1 in 4 are children FALL 2012
student life
RJ In Pictures
PHOTOS BY JACKSON BURKHOLDER @JupitorPhoto | 2014
A Whole New World
homecoming 2012
BY KAHLE COLLINS DANNER
F
@kahlecollins | 2013
reshman, Stephanie Apdoca’s typical weekday at Boys Hope Girls Hope is as follows; go to school, get home, two hours of free time, dinner at 5:30pm, a set two hours of homework (if you don’t have two hours of homework, you read), and after that, bedtime. Sounds pretty accurate to everyone else, right? Not exactly. Boys Hope Girls Hope of Colorado helps academically capable and motivated children in need to meet their full potential and become men and women for others by providing family life homes, opportunities and education until they lead head off to college. Regis Jesuit High School supports Boys Hope Girls Hope as outreach in the community. Regis Jesuit families provide meals twice a week during the school year, Men’s Club helps with maintenance on the two homes, and Regis Jesuit students volunteer with Boys Hope Girls Hope and receive service hours depending on the work they do. Senior, Aaliyah Navarro has been apart of the Girls Hope House for almost four years. She is the first girl to ever be apart of the Girls Hope House in Colorado, which opened Jan. 3. 2010. Aaliyah is blessed and thankful to have the opportunity to be apart of the Regis Jesuit family, but struggles with the adjustment of not living with her family and forcing herself to create another. “I love it here, but I miss my family more than words can describe.” Stephanie Apdoca agrees, “I love meeting new people and living with the great scholars here, but I miss my family a lot. Don’t get me wrong, it’s very ‘homey’ and safe here, but family is always my true home.” Junior transfer, Jorge Palacios Jr., said, “one of the hardest parts about living in the Hope House is not living with my parents. It gets hard coming home from a long day at school and not having my support system there.” Palacios also said that, “we are not a foster home. We are here because of our academic merit and potential, not because someone took pity on us. Yes, we did have to work hard to get where we are now. We weren’t handed everything.” Boys Hope Girls Hope gives these scholars incredible experiences. They are blessed with new opportunities that so many of us were just handed. They hope their change in lifestyle will positively impact their future.
FALL 2012
VOICE.REGISJESUIT.COM // THE RJ VOICE // 17
FEATURES
rjhs
Photos by Jackson Burkholder ‘14
one school two divisions BY QUINCY GHOLSTON, DELANEY LANKER and FRANK MORTON @quincygholston | 2013 @delaneylanker | 2013 @frank_morton | 2013
“I was really interested in this concept, maybe because my daughter had just been born, and I wanted to be sure that she was going to have a place to go to school, like Regis Jesuit” said Mr. Jeff Howard, Girls Division Assistant Principal for Faculty and Curriculum and former Boys Division Acting Principal. The process of taking the Girls Division from concept to where it is today was not without its fair share of struggles. Amidst initial resistance, lines of demarcation were drawn, some beleived promises were made to parents and alumni while garnering funds and support for the new school that don’t quite hold with the institutional needs of the school today. Even among students, resistence to the addition of girls to the Regis Jesuit High School student-body is present even a decade after the change occurred. And yet, the creation of the Girls Division moved forward and that concept became a reality not just for Mr. Howard’s daughter, but for thousands of young women starting here in the fall of 2003. In the time since, they have come to experience a high school Jesuit education in a way no young women previously had within Colorado. “I love going to Regis because I feel like we have a super close class. The people at Regis are amazing and it really feels like a sisterhood in the Girls Division” senior Kaitlyn Stafford said. For some though, the feeling of sisterhood or brotherhood doesn’t extend across McNicholas Green. It’s a feeling that is passed down from upperclassmen and ultimately rooted in misunderstanding. The misunderstanding is substantiated with ignorant remarks such as comparisons of the Girls Division to a “Daycare”, or a class option being “AP Coloring”. Such unkind remarks do more damage to the image of the Boys Division student than to the perception of the Girls Division. The segment of the Raiders’ Digest last year, “You Know You’re a Regis Girl When”, illustrated the point with the comment, ”When you’re deathly afraid of going into the Boys Division”. Such a statement demonstrates
18 // THE RJ VOICE // VOICE.REGISJESUIT.COM
feelins some girls have when on the boys side. As a girl walks into the Boys Division, she passes the gauntlet of glaring, smelly, vocal, unwelcoming guys sitting against either wall of the hallways blocking the walkway.
Even those who have been through RJ the ‘old way’ are supportive of the addition. “My family goes way back with RJ people. My cousin was here when they made the change. We’re okay with it, all of us,” senior Jeremy Warren said.
Just ask senior Emma Bohn about her experience in the Boys Division, “I walked into the Boys Division freshman year, looking for the library. I asked an upperclassman where it was, and he gave me the wrong directions. He sent me to the weight room instead. I was really confused and thought for a minute that they didn’t have a library. It is funny now, but it was scary”.
However small the group, “If one guy says something off the wall about the Girls Division to seem funny, or to get attention, it spreads” Mr. Mulligan, Boys and Girls Division Science Teacher, said.
It’s no walk in the park for a boy in the Girls Division either. As a guy walks down the smaller halls, choked with perfume, hairspray, and aged carpet, they are greeted by sometimes hostile girls giving them a once over as they yell, “Boy, Boy, Boy!” Such interactions are comical at first, but they are unhealthy for the relationship between the two divisions. They are symptoms of greater interdivisional issues: unwarranted fear and lack of respect. These stereotypes and unfair biases do not define us or represent the opinions of the student bodies in either division as a whole, but they are common problems that need to be addressed. “At our best, our students support each other and know they’re in it together.” Mr. Howard said. However, Regis Jesuit students, like people everywhere, don’t always operate at their best. A lack of understanding of the Girls Division by boys, and the reverse as well, has bred a system where Regis Jesuit students sometimes make each other feel unwelcome. According to the misunderstanding, the Boys Division as a whole doesn’t want the Girls Division around, thinks less of their work load, and finds them a threat to their scholastic tradition. In reality however, only a tiny (and shrinking) minority within the Boys Division harbors any feelings like this.
“As a Freshaman and a Sophomore, the upperclassmen told me that the Girls Division didn’t do anything, because sometimes we would look outside and see classes doing nothing and we’d always hear about coloring, “ senior Zach Suter said. “[Across the way] they think that we don’t work as hard as them, “ Stafford said. Clearly, the debate between the divisions is less about tangible facts, than it is about unchecked fears, misappropriated statements, and stereotypes. But, when one gets down to it, the divisions aren’t all that different. “As I got older I started to see them sn the same. We do the same amount of goofing around, the girls just talk about it more,” Suter said. “We have a lot more in common than we have in difference and if we focus on what we have in common, we will be better off ” Mr. Craig Rogers, Boys Division Assistant Principal for Faculty & Curriculum, said. “If a house is divided against itself, that house shall not stand” (Mark 3:25). Regis Jesuit stands tall and proud today. There are conflicts between students and divisions, but the school remains united in its common goal of educating “Men and Women with and for Others.” There were days when the Peace Pole was used to divide the two schools. Such an oxymoron, a pole dedicated to peace on earth used as a divider. But RJ
FALL 2012
has moved past those times of physical divisiveness, if not all of its social divisiveness.
“We are stronger together.” “we have more in common that in difference.”
“If a house is divided against itself, that house shall not stand” (Mark 3:25).
Senior girls sport their overalls at a football game | Jackson Burkholder ‘14
As some students have remarked, the older one gets,the less likely they are to engage in the ‘party on the green’ at lunch. Many reasons explain this behavior; they grow more secure in their single-gender education, they become more self assured and care less about what others think about the division they go to, they no longer need to meet students from the other division during lunch, or they just don’t have time. Whatever the reason, the ‘party on the green’ still remains a popular, co-divisional event. The brotherhood and sisterhood in each division bring us together as a community here at Regis Jesuit. “There is a greater intentionality regarding creating community here at Regis,” Mr. Howard said. “The brotherhood and its camaraderie and the sisterhood with their community, where they talk with each other, naturally cross. Like the football games, guys don’t complain about girls sitting in the front row at their events girls don’t mind boys showing up at their, or the teams compete together, Cross country, Model U.N. etc. We are stronger together.” RJ is a place for Mr. Howard’s daughter and the daughters and sons of others as well to receive not only the educational experience of a single-gender school and social experience of a co-educational school, but the feeling of community only Regis Jesuit can offer.
The differences: Teaching While students in each division may usually have different teachers, the material they learn is much the same. “As far as content goes, the information I feed to my guy students is basically the exact same as I feed to my girls” Co-divisional Science Teacher Mr. Ian Mulligan said. “I try to use examples that each can relate to. So, for boys I might use an example from the football game Friday night. For girls, I might use an example from one of their volleyball games”.
R J
T R A D I T I O N S
senior overalls
Photo by | Jackson Burkholder ‘15
BY IMANI LINDBERG
@ImaniN1 | 2016
Senior Mandi Brown spent ten hours perfecting and carrying on the Regis Jesuit senior overalls tradition. “I definitely think senior overalls are a great tradition. It is a fun privilege that you get senior year, it also shows a lot of school spirit and the different styles of overalls show students creativity and individuality,” Brown said. Most of the seniors purchased their overalls from a store called Guiry’s. When they were purchased they were clean plain white overalls. Senior overalls really did not become a big deal until a few years ago. When Mandi was a freshmen senior overalls were not a real tradition. A few girls wore them to football games and other events but it was nothing special. “The love of traditions and being apart of something like that is what has made the tradition evolve. Each year the classes get closer as a sisterhood rather than just fellow classmates,” Brown said. Freshmen Amy Lenderink , “ I can not wait to be a senior and be able to make my own overalls”, she said. They look forward to being a part of the never ending tradition. Senior overalls are one of the few things seniors get to do since they are not able to do things such as senior pranks and other activities seniors do. in other schools. Senior overalls give the seniors a way to express themselves and show their personality. This tradition has exploded throughout the RJ community, now almost every senior participates in the tradition. The designs of overalls ranged from one girl having lights attached to her overalls to girls walking around with handprints covering every inch of their overalls. The amount of creativity within individuals’ overalls is overwhelming. Seniors have prepared their overalls within a few hours or maybe even weeks to be prepared for the first football game of the year and the back to school dance which falls on the same day. Some seniiors spent more than a month making and customizing their overalls. The tradition continues because they symbolize sisterhood and the “overall” unity of the senior class.
FALL 2012
VOICE.REGISJESUIT.COM // THE RJ VOICE // 19
FEATURES
DECISION 2012 Why we, the future of America, should care
E
OBAMA
BY EMMY EARSOM @elearsom | 2013
Design by Aliie Petko ‘13
THE BREAKDOWN T
H
E
E
OBAMA
C
In favor of cleaning up corrupt Wall Street methods and supporting small-business owners. He’s still in favor of his Stimulus plan: Obama’s “care package” to the United States economy. Within this package, a certain amount of money is divided up into different “chunks’”—some money went to tax relief, some went to unemployment, and some went to job creation. The U.S. went under-budget, spending only $770.5 billion (as of August 2012) instead of the proposed $787 billion. Obama states that the package will still need a few more years for the package to really be effective.
H
E
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OBAMA
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T
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N
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ROMNEY
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Y
In favor of the “cut, cap, and balance act”, a predominantly conservative approach, being very much supported by the “TeaParty.” Basically, it’s a cut in government spending, a cap (or restriction) on certain budget categories, and an increase of the national debt ceiling (or maximum) to $16.7 trillion (as of right now, the national debt is a little over $16 trillion)
H
Obamacare—a.k.a. the “Affordable Healthcare Act” requires all Americans to have healthcare. Insurance companies will need to sell policies to all, no matter one’s economic status nor what illnesses or injuries they have had in the past. Americans can “shop-around” for the best policy for them—kind of like an online college search that matches you to the best college for your needs. For people that are already insured, not much changes. Children under the age of 26 are allowed to stay on their parents’ plans. But insurance premiums will most certainly rise—meaning that we all pitch in for universal healthcare. The Democratic National Convention | Photo by Jared Soares/ PBS NewsHour
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C
ROMNEY
A
R
D
E
Hopes to repeal Obamacare; it’s too big and “forces an order on 100% of Americans.” Created “Romneycare” in Massachusetts, issuing that all Americans in the state of Massachusetts that did not have healthcare would be penalized with an extra tax. Each state will decide its own course of action regarding health care. Not too much information on what he wants done, but a lot on what he doesn’t want done.
U
C
A
T
I
ROMNEY
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“No Child Left Behind”--every child practiced in reading and math by 2014-- and “Race to the Top”—awarding more than $4.35 billion in grants to the states, hoping to inspire teachers and students to strive for excellence
“A Chance for Every Child”—everyone (including low-income and special needs) has a choice regarding where they want to go to school; qualified teachers
OBAMA
ROMNEY
F
O
R
E
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Set a 2014 deadline to take all of the troops out of Afghanistan. Encouraging dictators in rioting countries (like Libya, Egypt, and Syria) to resign. Successes of first term: took troops out of Iraq, ending the longest war in American history; captured Osama bin Laden, the leader of the Taliban. Rather “hands-off” approach, shying away from all-out invasions.
S
O
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OBAMA
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P
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For a strong, involved military; the U.S. should be a leader within riots and protests in the Middle East, trying our hardest to give corrupt leaders the boot; agrees with the 2014 withdrawal of Afghani troops date
I
S
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ROMNEY
U
E
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Abortion: Pro-choice and strong supporter of women’s reproductive rights. Healthcare providers should provide contraceptives.
Abortion: Pro-life but has said that he believes abortion rights should be decided individually by states. “Romneycare” does not force churches and religious institutions to supply contraceptives.
Same-sex Marriage: In favor.
Same-sex Marriage: Believes marriage should be between a man and a woman.
Immigration: Allow children (under the age of 30 and born and naturalized in the U.S.) of illegal immigrants to stay in the U.S. on an education visa granted that they graduate from high school or serve in the U.S. military
Immigration: Secure the borders by building a physical fence between Mexico and the U.S. Begin the citizenship process of immigrants who have served in the U.S. military and for children “who came here through no fault of their own.” One of the Romney grandchildren plays on stage at the Republican National Convention | Photo by Mallory Benedict/ PBS NewsHour
FALL 2012
S
enior Laurel Teal’s tell-tale enthusiasm for politics proves to be a refreshing change within a generation that puts more thought into their Facebook status’ that that of the economy. The girl practically oozes politics with her tasteful cardigan and set of pearl earrings. Laurel has a penchant for politics that’s been carefully nurtured and verbalized since the womb, what with a respected Colorado grassroots coordinator for a mother and a put-‘er-there personality that does an exceptional job of illustrating her passion for all things Washington. “I was raised by the Douglas County GOP,” Laurel shruggs, implying as if her summer campaign work for State Representative hopeful Justin Everett was no big deal, almost as if it were only a drop in the bucket for her impending political career. “I really fell in love with politics and government when I took AP government and politics as a sophomore,” she said. “Over the summer I came to school and sat for
President Obama at the Democratic National Convention | Photo by Jared Soares/ PBS NewsHour
five hours a day and learned about my country and my government. And I loved it.” In this day and age, it’s rare to find a young person as politically perceptive and inspired as Miss Teal. In fact, the majority of students at Regis Jesuit find politics highly confusing and eminently boring, what with its dense vocabulary and need-toplease politicians, constantly contradicting each other left and right. “Every time someone starts to talk about politics, I just kind of doze off,” sophomore Bethany Trantham said. Freshman Elizabeth Krusel agrees. “I don’t follow politics because it doesn’t apply to me,” she said. With all of the political slandering and harsh critiques of the candidates, it’s true that deciphering the true from the false can be very overwhelming. “This election is dirty,” Laurel asserts. “Each candidate at-
How to Politely Discuss the “Taboo” that is Politics: Discussing politics is our business. Discussing. Not pulling hair and acting like immature kindergarteners. Follow these rules in order to have a nice, intellectual conversation that will leave you feeling well-cultured and laceration-free.
1. Be as factual as possible; don’t blurt out something you feel passionate about only because you feel passionate about it. Have some solid evidence to back it up. 2. Remain open-minded; there is no right and wrong in politics. 3. Don’t try to convert the other person; chances are, if you try, you will most definitely fail. 4. If things start to get heated, just stop. It’s not worth it. Promise. 5. Drink tea and play “Rondeau” by Jean-Joseph Mouret in the background. Sure, he’s not American but, by golly if it doesn’t make you feel intelligent! FALL 2012
Governor Romney at the Republican National Convention | Photo by Mallory Benedict/ PBS NewsHour
tacks each other, saying “You’re a liar,” “No, you’re a liar.” We don’t even know which side is right anymore and even though I like to think myself to be politically savvy, I am so confused.” Mr. Tim Bauer, Girls Division AP U.S. and Comparative Government teacher and registered voter, believes that yes, the debates can be intimidating and pose even more questions than they answer, but the political muddle and mayhem are not reason to stop caring. “Your parents are affected, your community is affected, your school might even be affected but you might not feel the actual impact of anything really significant over the course of the presidency. So it’s difficult for students to feel involved in it,” he said. But in a country of over 300 million citizens, it still remains difficult to persuade young adults to even vote in their country’s elections. According to research done by the U.S. Census Bureau, only 50% of Americans aged 18-24 register to vote and of that 50%, only 81% actually make it to the polls.
a video and half the people who watch it are Whovianss and the other half are Twihards, and Twihards are the only ones that comment, then a person in the future won’t even know that the Whovians even watched. So in the future, they’ll only make videos that only relate to the Twihards.” Without young voters, the thoughts, opinions, and mindsets of Americans everywhere are underrepresented. But just as everything else in life, political opinions cannot be formed overnight. “People have come to their political ideology through a lifetime of experience and understanding,” Mr. Bauer says. And if you’re having trouble figuring out the logistics of American politics, just go chat with Laurel. She’d be more than happy to offer you her highly entertaining parodies of the average Democrat versus the average Republican. She’s just quick like that.
The parties
“We, as Americans and as humans, are incredibly privileged to live in a society where we have a voice, no matter how small that voice may be,” Mr. Bauer says. “And to have that voice is pretty incredible. And it’s our right to exercise that voice and taking advantage of that is really an important thing.” “Secondly,” he adds, “I think that voting gives you social capital, it connects you to your society. And as little of an impact it might have on a national election in which 100 million people are going to vote, you still get to participate in something that is much bigger than yourself, giving you social capital that you can use later on in your life.”
DEMOCRAT
Laurel brings up her own perspective towards utilizing the right to vote, using the words of avid YouTube vlogger, Hank Green.: “For God’s sake, vote. Voting is like the YouTube comments. If you make
•
• • •
Big government Big part in regulating business Reaching out to the impoverished
VS.
REPUBLICAN • •
Small government Lower taxes, even for wealthy Americans Big on capitalism: private investment and ownership of a company in order to make profits
VOICE.REGISJESUIT.COM // THE RJ VOICE // 21
PHOTO ESSAY
RJ In Pictures
PHOTOS BY JACKSON BURKHOLDER @JupitorPhoto | 2014
Matt Houghtaling ‘15 breaks a tackle to get a first down.
Matt Houghtaling ‘15 scrambles out of the pocket.
Natalia King ‘14 goes up for a kill, set by Kaitlyn Taggart ‘13.
Shelby Ksiazek ‘13 tips the ball into zone 4.
Shelby Ksiazek ‘13 watches as Jillian Desmond hits the ball.
Matt Houghtaling ‘15 prepares to throw the football. Santaisha Sturges ‘15, Shelby Ksiazek ‘13, and Kaitlyn Taggart stuff block an outside hitter from Chap.
Coach Mark Nolan inspires the players to improve in the next play. Quinn Vandekoppel ‘14 celebrates an interception by Shane Moody ‘13.
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FALL 2012
student life
Fresh Faces Meet the newest additions to the Regis Jesuit High School Community BY EMMY EARSOM
F
@elearsom | 2013
rom the dreadful romantic champion Cameron in 10 Things I Hate About You to the purely melodic (and unnaturally upbeat) Gabriella from High School Musical, the transition from one school to another is not nearly as glamorous as those depicted in achingly sweet Hollywood high school chronicles. Moviemakers in Tinsel Town do a magnificent job at wrongly depicting the (lack of) trials and tribulations transfer students face on a daily basis. Yes, it would be great if we could all dance around cafeteria tables and sing about our differences but, alas, we live in the real world. A world full of awkward introductions, forgotten locker combinations, and embarrassing social anxiety when it comes to choosing where to sit at lunch. These students have true grit, hardcore guts and bravery that should be admired by all. So if you see these kids in the hallway, give them a smile, a head nod, or a high-five. But, really, don’t ask them why they transferred. That’s just rude.
Audra Eakins GRADE: Junior
TRANSFERRED FROM: Smoky Hill HS INTERESTS: SADD Club, Radom Acts of Kindness Club, Swimming, and Special Olympics HOW HAS THE TRANSITION BEEN? Good; I like the nice people but not the dresss code! BIGGEST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RJ AND OLD SCHOOL: Girls and boys being separated; the dress code FAVORITE CLASSES: Yoga and English
Alain Matthews
Taylor Kallsen
TRANSFERRED FROM: Bishop Gormen HS in Las Vegas, Nevada
TRANSFERRED FROM: Forth Worth, Texas
INTERESTS: French Honors Society; Inklings; service
INTERESTS: Soccer, basketball, Arrupe Club, and, hopefully, student council
HOW HAS THE TRANSITION BEEN? Good; Colorado is really pretty, the school is nice, and the people are friendly.
HOW HAS THE TRANSITION BEEN? It’s been crazy, getting used to the new schedule and classes along with trying to make friends.
BIGGEST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RJ AND OLD SCHOOL: The attitude.
BIGGEST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RJ AND OLD SCHOOL: My old school was co-ed and I feel like it’s academically stronger here.
GRADE: Senior
FAVORITE CLASS: Religious literature
GRADE: Sophomore
FAVORITE CLASS: World History
Noelle Tomsic
Miss Cordia
GRADE: Junior
TEACHES: GD Sophomre Brit. Lit and Gen. English I
TRANSFERRED FROM: Fairview HS
INTERESTS:Key club, DAG, and Pastoral
INTERESTS: Dance and track
HOW HAS THE TRANSITION BEEN? The community at RJHS is incredible--the amount of constant support is overwhelming. There’s always someone to help with problems but I really do miss St. Louis!
HOW HAS THE TRANSITION BEEN? It’s been good; everyone is so friendly but I do miss my friends and I’m not a big fan of the dress code! BIGGEST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RJ AND OLD SCHOOL: All-girls, smaller school and class size; dress-code
IF YOU COULD GET RID OF ALL THE SONGS FROM A PARTICULAR SINGER, WHO WOULD YOU PICK AND WHY? T-Swift--I’m sorry, she’s just too much for me.
FAVORITE CLASSES: Yoga and AP Lit.
Mr. Lechuga ‘03
Justin Thaxton
MADison HAlboth GRADE: Sophomore
TEACHES: Spanish and Latin (both divisions)
TRANSFERRED FROM: Las Animas HS
TRANSFERRED FROM: Texas
INTERESTS: Wrestling and track
INTERESTS: Wiffle Ball club and varsity basketball
INTERESTS: Soccer and track
HOW HAS THE TRANSITION BEEN? Coming from a small school, there have been a lot more clubs and activities, but the work is harder and there’s more of it.
HOW HAS THE TRANSITION BEEN? Good but it has been hard transitioning from co-ed to all-girls.
HOW HAS THE TRANSITION BEEN? Pretty great; I like teaching freshman (they are very excited) and BD Kairos 90 was awesome.
GRADE: Junior
BIGGEST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RJ AND OLD SCHOOL: The size. My old school had a total of about 100 students. FAVORITE CLASS: American History/Lit. with Mr. Flynn and Mr. Taylor
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BIGGEST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RJ AND OLD SCHOOL: The all-girl environment
HOW HAS RJ CHANGED SINCE YOU WERE A STUDENT? The technology. Kids with cellphones and computers is really crazy to me. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOW AS A KID? The Simpsons
FAVORITE CLASS: British literature
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j.k. mullenvs. valor christian Behind the Rivalry between these three Christian based high schools BY DELANEY LANKER , SEAN WOOD, and BRAD HEKTOR @delaney.lanker @Sean__Wood @BradHektor | 2013
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alor Christian. J.K. Mullen. Regis Jesuit. Three schools you don’t dare put in the same sentence. But why?
“I guess we are really big rivals so we aren’t big fans of you guys,” Valor senior Sam Baldwin said. “ I think some Regis students are overly proud of the fact that they attend Regis,” Mullen sophomore Nia Araya said. “I see kids at Valor, like all they want to do is have fun,” Mullen senior Collin Albershardt said. “I view students at Valor and Mullen as copycats of us,” Regis Jesuit junior Wendy Dyer said. “Mullen is stuck up and Valor is rich and in love with themselves,” Regis Jesuit senior Christopher Clayton said. RIVALS. The rivalry between these three schools is something that goes back many years. Skip Jensen is a Regis Jesuit Girl’s Division teacher who attended Mullen when he was in high school.“They (RJ) were the other guys, the bad
guys, they were our rivals in every sport, every year. The Regis Jesuit game was the big game that we would build toward,” Mr. Skip Jensen said.But why are Regis Jesuit and Mullen and now Valor such big rivals? Because they are so similar. “We were one of two Catholic schools in town and when you have two of anything there is competition,” Girl’s Division teacher and former RJ student, Mr. Cameron Turner said. Regis Jesuit, Mullen, and Valor are all private Christian schools that pride themselves in guiding their students to academic and extracurricular excellence as well as being active members of the community under God’s guidance. Three schools that are all very similar in about a 20 mile radius of each other are bound for competition, fighting to be the best. Regis Jesuit, JK. Mullen and Valor Christian students all gather together periodically to take step back from their busy schedules, and praise God for all of the wonderful things in their lives. Each school has their own unique way of worship but it brings the school community together to put life in perspective. Valor has a chapel service once a week where, “The student body gathers in the gym and we pray or someone tells a
Design by Allie Petko ‘13 testimony or we sing worship songs but we don’t actually have mass. It’s really nice and really relaxed,” Baldwin said. Just like Regis Jesuit, Mullen has many different mass setups throughout the year. “On mass days we dress up and we have all school masses, twin masses where we split the school up depending on who your teacher is, and level masses where you have mass with your grade,” Araya said. Prayer, theology classes, and retreats are also a very important dynamic of each school. At Valor Christian three and a half credits of bible classes are required to graduate and Christianity is a major part of their school day. “We have bible classes, and morning prayer group on late starts and in some classes we will pray before, during or as class ends, depending on the teacher,” Valor senior Rachael Fehn said. Retreats are also a part of Valor’s student life, “We have our senior retreat every year and then all of the sports teams usually go on their individual retreats. And then this year we had the senior lock in where all the seniors get to have a sleepover in the school,” Baldwin said. At Mullen they offer a numerous amount of theology electives and they begin each class with a prayer and, “Catholicism is put into our school through athletics, the classroom,
Valor and Regis Jesuit preparing for an extra point attempt| Allie Petko ‘13
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A J.K. Mullen and Regis Jesuit football player collision | Allie Petko ‘13
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Student Count: 779 President: Carl Unrein Principal: Janell Kloosterman Established: 1931 Mascot: Mustangs Dress Code: • and especially through our current classes coming together and showing that with God, all may be achieved,” Albershardt said. Retreats at Mullen are very similar to RJ’s. “We have freshman retreat, sophomore retreat, Kairos, and senior retreat leadership,” Araya said. Freshman retreat and Kairos are separated by gender and sophomore and senior retreat is combined boys and girls. Seniors also have retreat leadership opportunities. Regis Jesuit requires four credits of theology to graduate and we have prayer periodically throughout the day; before school, before lunch and before class ends. One unique aspect Regis Jesuit has is the Examine. The Examine gives us a dedicated time to meditate and think about and appreciate or work on the way we are living our lives. All three of the high schools are much more similar than most of the students at each believe and the stereotypes are the same no matter who you talk to, like how each school is full of snotty rich kids. However there are many students on financial aid at all three schools. We are constantly accusing each other of the same, mostly false stereotypes. The schools share many things but they also are unique in different ways. Whenever you have more than one of anything competition is destined to arise. The competition rivalry between these three schools is healthy but each school is more than just it’s logo. The students, teachers and Christianity stand behind them all.
The girl’s division chapel | Jose Chalit 13
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Short and long sleeve polos with Mullen logo- 5 shirt colors- navy blue, light blue, yellow, grey 2 skort/ pants/ shorts color optionskhaki, navy blue, white Sweater vests and sweaters with school logo Scarves Any shoes except flip flops Any accessories
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Valor christian Student Count: 1600
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Predident: Fr. Phil Steele Principal: Alan Carruthers (BD) Gretchen Kessler (GD) Established: 1877 Mascot: Raiders Dress Code: RJ Girl’s Division: • Professionally printed RJ polo • All pants must have a button on the waistband or a zipper • All shoes with a back, no flip flops , slippers, boot s • Sweaters • Skirts one inch above the knee RJ Boys Division: • Polo or button up shirt with a collar, no Hawaiian Print • No cargo shorts or pants • Offically printed RJ sweatshirt of pullover, no hoodies • Socks above the shoe • Tucked in shirt and a belt • Shoes with laces
Student Count: 800 Head of School: Kurt Unruh Established: 2007 Mascot: Eagles Dress code: • • • • •
Jeans with no holes No sweats Skirts no shorter than three inches above the knees T shirts but if they have a logo they have to be college, Christian, Valor, professional sports or plain Tank tops have to cover shoulders
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Regis Jesuit High School: A Jesuit Catholic college preparatory high school, named after St. John Francis Regis. Founded in 1877 by a group of Italian Jesuits in Las Vegas, New Mexico. It first came to the state of Colorado in 1888 when it moved to Denver as Regis College. in 1921 the college was split into a college and a high school, Regis University and Regis Jesuit High School. The college and high school co-existed on one campus until 1984, when they were donated the land that the two campuses are on now. The Girls Division opened up in 2003.
Mullen is named for John Kernan Mullen founder of the Colorado Milling and Elevator Company. Together John and his wife Catherine opened a high school for orphaned boys with the help of Bishop Henry Tihen.
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Mission statement: Regis Jesuit High School, a Catholic educational community, affirms the uniqueness and dignity of individuals, inspires the pursuit of excellence, and strives to develop a connection to the world community.
Valor christian H I G H
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Valor is a Christian high school in Highlands Ranch that opened in 2007 to freshman and sophomores. Now the school serves grades 9-12 on the campus 35 acres with three buildings. Mission statement: Our Vision is to prepare tomorrow’s leaders to transform the world for Christ.
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There are four main stages Mullen high school has gone through: • 1931–1950: the school was conducted for orphan boys only, who attended school and worked in Shirley’s Farm Dairy. • 1950–1965: paying boarders and day students joined the orphans as students, the school’s farm operations ended and its name was changed to from J.K. Mullen Home for Boys to J.K. Mullen High School • 1966-1989: after the last of the orphans graduated, the boarding section was closed, and the school became a four-year college preparatory high school for boys • 1989–present: the school became a co-educational high school and modernized its facilities and programs Mission statement: In the tradition of St. John Baptist de La Salle and the Brothers of the Christian Schools, Mullen High School is a Catholic college preparatory high school whose graduates embrace God’s gift of learning, devote their lives to seeking ceaselessly for His learning, and commit themselves to using His learning in the service of others. Mullen’s hallmarks are its exemplary teaching, its community of faith, its scholastic rigor,and its care and vigilance for each student. Crucifix inside GD chapel | Jose Chalit ‘13
regis Jesuit J.K. mullen and
Canned food drive
BY EMMA BOHN Though there are differences between Mullen and Regis, we both showed our @thebohnfire | 2013 Christian virtues by working togetger to raise food for those in need. Boxes overflowed with cans in Tradition Halls in both divisions during the Jk Mullen High School and Regis Jesuit High School canned food drive the week before the football game show that we are truly Men and Women with and for Others, and in this case “with Others” took on a whole new meaning. Ask any alumni or freshman who our school rival is and they will both tell it is Mullen. This Catholic school rivalry was put aside for one week before the football game on Friday September 14, as the alliances changed sides to work together for a good cause. The Boys Division Student Council came up with the idea to have a canned food drive with Mullen but make the rivalry between the upperclassmen and underclassmen of Regis Jesuit and Mullen. “Competition is always a fun way to see school rivals working to better our community,” says Julia Neppel ’13 “I hope this is a start of a new tradition.”
the two schools. “We will definitely do this again next year, and maybe the upperclassmen will play to win next year!” Mr. Turner, Girls Student Council moderator said. In the end it was really St. Andrew’s Center that was the real winners receiving over 3,100 cans. When doing this both schools became Men and Women with and for Others, even if “with Others” was a school working with a school we look forward to battling on the field. “The canned food drive was a great way to pause the rivalry and work together, until the football game that is!” Mr. Turner, a former Regis Jesuit student exclaimed.
Totals: Upperclassmen: 1,271 underclassmen:1,898
In the end it was the underclassmen that were able to come out on top with over 1,800 cans raised between 26 // THE RJ VOICE // VOICE.REGISJESUIT.COM
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news
Are We
Girls Division Quad | Matt Mauser ‘14
Safe? Security and safety at Regis Jesuit
BY ERIC GARDINER and KATE WEIS @ericgardiner9 | 2014 @kate_jayhawk | 2016
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hen Stephanie Xavier sits down at lunch in the quad with her friends, she has no doubt in her mind that she is safe. She laughs along with her friends instead of living in fear that her life could be changed forever.
“Safety has never really been an issue at Regis Jesuit before. It seems like the administration is doing what is necessary to keep it a safe environment,” Xavier said. RJ has many security measures set in place. “[Security is] making progress and improving every year,” RJ security attendant Mr. Brian Normile said. On campus there are security guards, locked doors, and trained staff. There are many plans for every type of incidents that could occur at the school. Unfortunately the world is not always safe and recent school violence and the Aurora theatre shootings have brought the issue close to home. What used to be a state with low security issues, Colorado has transformed into a state of many tragedies that hurt the entire community. From the Columbine shooting to the Aurora Theater shooting, to the abduction of Jessica Ridgeway, security has grown and molded to keep citizens safe. Mr. Robert Arellano, who has been a police officer for ten years, stated exactly how it has changed. “There is absolutely zero tolerance of threats in schools. Students that threaten security in school are now criminally charged instead of being punished by the school. Police officers now carry automatic rifles and train for active shooters,” Arellano said.
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In other words, police officers are now more highly trained for security threats in schools and in public places. This report is beneficial because no one can ever be sure of anything. Even going to the movies has become a security threat. So, like after Columbine, going to school every day is becoming thought of as a risk. “Yeah it scared me a little. It made me realize that we have to pay attention to when things don’t seem right and to follow our instincts,” Xavier said after being asked about the shooting. Xavier has been more careful when she goes out because of the tragedies like Jessica Ridgeway’s and the theater shooting.
“Regis Jesuit is a place where I can come and I feel safe 100% of the time.” - Aaron Archuleta
RJ junior Aaron Archuleta often went to the Aurora Century 16 movie complex until the horrific tragedy. “I never thought anything like that would ever happen at that theater, it was a nice theater, pretty much just like every other one that I had ever been to. This shooting frightened me because it showed how vulnerable we all are in public places. Whenever I go out now, I always look around and make sure I can escape if anything like that ever broke out again,” Archuleta said. Xavier never thought about school shootings or school security threats. “Regis Jesuit is a place I can look forward to going every day knowing that I am going to be in a loving community with my friends, teammates, and classmates,” she said.
Girls Division second floor hallway. | Matt Mauser ‘14
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news
Marijuana New Studies. New Laws. New Questions. Photo of a medicinal marijuana dispensary off of Colorado Boulevard. By Alex Nemechek ‘14
New marijuana study shows long-term effects on teenage brain. BY SEAN WHITLEY and ALEX NEMECHEK @swhitley95 | 2013 @alexnemechek | 2014
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arijuana is increasingly available for patients who have glaucoma, nausea, spasticity, and other disorders. But medicinal marijuana is not the only way it is used. According to NORML.org, is the third most popular recreational drug used in America behind alcohol and tobacco. Marijuana can be found in many forms. The term cannabis or marijuana refers to the actual flower with the dried leaves and stems of the female cannabis plant. The actual addicting part is the THC that is contained in the plant. Marijuana is the most commonly abused illicit drug in America with 7.2% of 8th graders, 17.6% of 10th graders, and 22.6% of 12th graders using according to NIDA’s 2011 Monitoring and Future Study. “They think it is harmless because it takes them away from all of their troubles in school and they do not even consider the long term effects that it can cause,” science teacher and coach Dr. Jake Herman said. According to NORML.org, it has been found that marijuana can be one of the worst habit-forming drugs. It mainly affects intelligence, memory, and respiratory functions. There also may exist a link between cannabis and mental disorders. A new study shows that the use of marijuana over a period of time can reduce the I.Q. of habitual users from ages 13 to 38 by over eight points. After people have quit using marijuana, it was found that their I.Q. did not reverse from the time that they were using. The most intersting thing about the study is that it shows a drop in IQ only for those users who smoked during their teenage years. “Smoking pot will make you stupid,” Dr. Herman said. “It is scientifically proven to lower your I.Q.” The legalization of marijuana is a very hot topic right now
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in Congress. According to a 2010 Gallup poll, for the first time in history more people are for legalization than are against it. Amendment 64 (Also known as the Colorado Marijuana Legalization Amendment) will be on the November 6, 2012 ballot that will allow, if passed, the legalization of marijuana. “If I were to vote right now, I would say no,” Boys Division counselor Mrs. Marsha Caldwell said. “I’m just not there yet.” The major support of the legalization of marijuana comes from mostly people ages 18-29. Men are more likely to favor the legalization than women. Those in support state that the use of marijuana is still going to be the same whether it is legalized or not. The argument against it is that there are many long term effects of the use of marijuana that most people do not consider. “The legalization is sending very mixed messages,” Dean Doherty said. “There are more dispensaries than Starbucks.” “The legalization of marijuana is not a smart idea because it can lead to other and worse types of drugs,” senior Arletta Lerew said. There are new theories about how marijuana is a gateway drug. According to web.archive.org, assumptions since the 1950’s have been that the use of cannabis increases the probability that the user will eventually use more serious drugs or alcohol. Many studies are not widely respected, however, because they have not 100% proven that it is a gateway drug.
2011 National Institute on Drug Abuse SURVEY of 8th, 10th, and 12th graders
ALCOHOL USE: Lowest since 1970 . (40% reported drinking in the previous 30 days). CIGARETTE SMOKING: Continues steady decline. (11.7% reported smoking in the previous 30 days). MARIJUANA USE: Highest rate since 1981. 1 out of 15 hs seniors smokes pot on a daily or near daily basis.
support of legalizing the use of marijuana: democrats 57% independents 57% republicans 35%
Come November 6th, the people will decide. But no amount of leagalization will change the fact that marijuana is harmful to long term heatlh. FALL 2012
ProfileS
Joining The Regis Family
John Jackson BY COLIN BYRNE @ColinBynre14 | 2016
After spending 28 years in the financial world, Mr. John Jackson has come to use his skill and passion to help Regis Jesuit. The new Director of Advancement, Mr. Jackson comes to the school everyday to help raise funds and help families with financial aid. “I had three children graduate from Regis and one is a sophomore and we all love Regis very much,” he said. Having the family love for Regis surround him all day make work easy for him. He knows this is a true passion. He is married to Boys Division school nurse Mrs. Charlotte Jackson. Before coming to Regis Jesuit Mr. Jackson spent 28 years representing insurance companies to employers for their health care and other needs. He majored in finance at LSU then on to his first real job at Prudential in the representation of insurance. Although he brings many skills from the financial world, it is his leadership and relationship-building that exceed the required obligations of the job. “He definitely has a collaborative spirit and he brings his business background and managing the team. He helps us to think about some new things. So he brings some experience, but he is also interesting to know,” Associate Director of Advancement Mr. Jon Kraus said. Using his love of family and passion for Regis Jesuit, Mr. Jackson is excited to join the RJ community and work with the students, faculty, and staff.
The Kid Who Does It All
Jake Lennert
BY WILL CLAWSON @wumbologytoday| 2014
On the Mat With
Josh Redman BY JESSE KOZLER @jessekozler | 2015
Everyday on the announcements, students hear that different clubs are meeting today, tomorrow, or next week. Some listen. Some don’t. But chances are that senior Jake Lennert will be there hanging on every word.
Standing at only 5’6’’ and weighing just under 130 pounds, Senior Josh Redman isn’t the definition of imposing. However, he walks around the halls of Regis Jesuit with a visible confidence, a confidence that he claims he wouldn’t have if it wasn’t for the school wrestling team.
Jake can be heard describing sporting events for the RJ Live broadcast team. After dabbling with the idea sophomore year, Jake became one of the stats guys as a junior. This year, he is the lead color commentator for the football broadcasts.
“It’s changed me believing in myself. You have to want to succeed in wrestling,” he said.
Jake also participates in the school’s Model UN club. He has been in the club all four years at Regis. “I actually was in the Model UN class with Mr. Kosena freshman year,” Jake said. Mr. Kosena taught Jake for both his freshman and sophomore year. “The way he could take the different age groups and teach them the same way made him a great teacher,” Jake said of Mr. Kosena. As president of the National Honors Society, Jake has been truly “humbled” to receive this honor. “This is a privilege to be the head of this club. I will try to do my best as president,” he said. Also part of math club Mu Alpha Theta, Jake has shown how far his brain can really stretch. His sophomore year, his team took second place in the Metro State competition. But having such a balanced social and academic life can be difficult. “Basically, my time with clubs is my social life, and it does take up a lot of time. I manage to keep my priorities straight,” he said. Jake was not always as involved as he is today. As a freshman, he came in as the only kid from his middle school. But by junior year, Jake was more involved than ever. “I just became more comfortable with being here and wanted to become more involved,” he said.
It’s no surprise, considering the extreme individual aspects of wrestling. When it’s just you and your opponent, face to face on the mat, the difference between victory and defeat often comes down to how bad you want it. Josh experienced intensity plenty when he qualified for the 5A State Championships his sophomore year. He considers that experience without a doubt to be the highlight of his wrestling career so far. “It was by far the coolest thing I’ve done wrestling. You could hear the entire crowd behind you. It was so amazing,” he said. What made his trip to state even more extraordinary was the fact that he was the underdog almost the entire time, and admittedly he wouldn’t have been able to get there without the boost of confidence that wrestling gave him. “No one guessed on paper that I was going to go to state. Every match I was supposed to lose. I just told myself that I’d trained the whole season for this and I just got it done,” he said. Josh is looking forward to the upcoming season. He is hoping that his experience will help inspire his teammates to be better wrestlers, and give them the confidence that may be missing. The other wrestlers often look to Josh for guidance and see him as a real leader on the team. “Redman being out there everyday, every practice, it really means something. He pushes us to our limits and gets us to where we need to be. He’s the heart and soul of this team,” sophomore wrestler Jackson Kochevar said. Josh has seen other students grow as a result of wrestling too. “The biggest improvements I see are when really small or shy freshman are afraid because they don’t think they can play football or rugby so they try out for wrestling. And by senior year you can’t even recognize them. They are confident, you can tell,” Josh said.
A CENTER FOR
Photo by Jose Chalit ‘13
UNITY
The Performing Arts Center & Student Commons Analyzed
BY JOSE CHALIT @jemiliochalit | 2013
Mr. Sauer is also an alumni of Regis Jesuit who graduated in 1997 from what is now the Girls Division and has been directly involved in the planning of this project. There is no doubt, however, that the new facility will have a strong impact on the theater and musical program here at Regis Jesuit. The theatre seems to be the highlight of this new building, while some may stress that it is not, but how exactly will our current theatre program benefit or enhance because these new facilities being built? “From a small ‘crack’ that’s only 8 feet wide to fit 12 musicians to a deep 40-person orchestra pit with acoustic augmenting paneling, I’d say ‘enhance.’ From a fire-code breaking, tightly-squeezed 174 audience capacity to a 500, multi-leveled audience capacity with leg room, I’d say ‘enhance.’ From dusty amplifiers and lighting built in 1990 to state of the art surround sound and double the lighting fixtures and quality, I’d say ‘enhance’,” Mr. Sauer said. Our current theatre is installed in the Girls Division and as merely a “black box” outdated garage that can seat 174 people for a school of over a thousand, our new Performing Arts Center will do a definite job of innovating that.
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will create a better atmosphere of being more like one school, but I think the classrooms will definitely stay separate,” said senior and head of Activities Chair for Student Council, Brendan ‘Skipper’ Van Jacobs, regarding the building of the new Performing Arts Center & Student Commons Facility. • What’s this all about? Skipper ’13 will be long gone after the new Performing Arts Center (P.A.C.) is completed but has high hopes for a stronger, more unified community as a result of the building. Many students, and hopefully all of the faculty and administration at our school, would agree that this building is promoting a general unity between the two divisions of Regis Jesuit High School and a stronger sense of community, as Skipper said. And yes, “Create a better atmosphere of being more like one school”. A common response to this idea of unity from both divisions has always been the discussion of a co-educational school. The question of a co-educational institution has always been on the minds of students and faculty at some point or another, whether those thoughts may be positive or negative is merely relatable though. A huge building being plotted between the two divisions is similar to simply asking students to share their thoughts on becoming a coed school.
“No, I definitely don’t think so. I think this is more so of keeping it co-divisional rather than co-educational. I think it’ll keep us divided, but put something in the middle where we can have a common place of meeting,” Skipper said. Many different opinions are at stake here, but that does not detract from Regis Jesuit’s ultimate goal of creating a community as is mentioned in our own mission statement. Mr. Rick Sullivan, the Vice President of Operations at Regis Jesuit and Project Coordinator for the P.A.C., also believes that this building will be a great area for kids of both divisions to meet, gather, and further unite the two divisions. “On the first floor is the student commons, so that whole area is exciting because it’s a great gathering place for kids. The eating area is not going to be like a normal cafeteria, it’ll be more kind of a cyber-café that will draw people because it’s going to be there, they’ll want to hang out there,” said Mr. Sullivan. “It puts some things in there that we’ve never had before which is exciting to see Regis grow in those areas.” • Let’s get specific. How will all this ‘unity’ occur, really? Some would jump to conclusions and say that the Performing Arts Center is something that should have come after building perhaps a new swimming pool, installing more locker rooms for the sports teams, or even revamping Lou Kellogg stadium as a whole. Mr. Bernie Sauer, Vocal and Instrumental Music teacher at the Girls Division, would beg to differ though. “For more than 22 years, the Regis Jesuit musical theatre, drama, and music departments have resorted to performing their quality work in a brick box room that looks like and could actually be a 3-car garage. That might be one reason to start the thought process for a performing complex,” Mr. Sauer said.
Senior ‘Skipper’ Van Jacobs strikes a leadership pose for the camera | Jose Chalit ‘13
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“A bricked in ‘storage room’ and a trailer unit that also works as a rabbit shelter. Yes, that’s it. That’s literally all we have right now.”
A 490-seat theatre, this portion of the facility will also include a scene shop and an array of dressing rooms.The current facilities for Regis Jesuit’s music departments are installed in the BD as a bricked in storage room and a trailer unit between the two school that Mr. Sauer describe as “rabbit shelters”. The new Performing Arts Center will include three new band/ensemble/chorus classrooms to further expand the music facilities, if not replace the current ones entirely. “It’s creating a long awaited home for all the fine arts to be in one place and give them facilities where they can adequately practice and perform, which I think will also allow them to improve what they’re doing and expand so the growth of fine arts at Regis could take a big leap here in the next five years because of the facility,” said Mr. Sullivan. College counseling center, student communications center, alumni office, communications office, kitchen with café seating, new Raider Shop, main lobby/dining area, and WiFi hotspot connectivity in the common areas are among other of the many amenities that the new P.A.C. will offer to everybody. These amenities, which can be found online, are all under the tab named “Performing Arts Center & Student Commons”. Notice there is no emphasis neither on the ‘Performing Arts Center’ or the ‘Student Commons’ portions of this title. “I don’t want students or faculty thinking, ‘Oh, it’s this theater, so it’s for theater things’. No! We could really even use it for a mass if we wanted to. We could use it for certain class assemblies. Heck, bring the football team over here to go over their film of last game, watch it in the theater!” Mr. Sauer said. There is no way to look into the future without first contextualizing the present and the past, however. For 22 years, the school has needed a new theater and for 22 years we have continued to add other facilities to our school that weren’t part of the Campus Master Plan. The Campus Master Plan, which can be found online on the Regis website, encompasses what Regis Jesuit plans on innovating in what Mr. Sullivan hopes to be the next 15-20 years, but that all depends on the Board of Trustees. The FALL 2012
Board of Trustees, which can also be researched on the Regis website, is the governing body in approving these construction projects that the master plan includes, which was developed by the Planning and Major Projects Committee (found online on the Regis website). This Campus Master Plan does not only encompass future plans for the P.A.C., but also includes plans to expand Lou Kellogg stadium, replace the artificial turf, build a new pool with a diving well along with expanded seating, build new locker rooms, dance/yoga studio, science classrooms for the GD, art classrooms in both divisions and include Central Administration Offices amidst all these hopes that seem so distant. The need for this new building has been heavily analyzed by all who were involved in planning this new facility including the Board of Trustees, the Planning and Major Projects Committee along with parts of the administration, student representatives, alumni, and faculty and has therefore made this such an extensive project.The plans for this facility were revealed to the student body earlier this semester and all the information for this project has been on the website for most of this 2012 school year, yet actual planning for this facility has been in place for about seven years now. If there is anyone to attribute the progression of these decisions to though, it would be the Board of Trustees.Mr. Sullivan had commented that if the school had $50 million to spare, we would complete everything that the Campus Master Plan calls for now. That excessive amount of money Regis Jesuit doesn’t have though, and so it is essentially up to the Board of Trustees (with the help of their committees such as the Planning and Major Projects Committee), to prioritize these plans and decide what will be acted upon when. All the innovation may seem overwhelming at times and almost excessive, but Regis Jesuit’s philosophy may be summarized in Fr. Steele’s aphorism, “Excellence without Excess.” Thus, the construction of the P.A.C. and the Campus Master Plan both represent a major part of Regis Jesuit’s morale and its mission of being a college preparatory school. • In relation to Regis Jesuit Of the many purposes that the Performing Arts Center will provide, human interaction, balance, and progress encompass part of the philosophies that have gone behind the planning of this master plan along with the P.A.C. In 2003, with the building of the current Boys Division facility, Regis Jesuit’s moral philosophy came into question yet again as it has every time the campus has been relocated or innovated. It is in the Foundations For Excellence (F.F.E.) Campaign video that Fr. Steele mentions the phrase “Excellence without Excess”. He goes on to say in the video, “We’re not trying to build the most elaborate and most exotic facilities that we can build. But just solid, good, serviceable, and beautiful facilities for our kids”. “When we built the Boys Division building, I think the total cost was about $127 per square foot. We could’ve easily spent 180$ per square foot- from carpet, to types of bricks we used, to electronics- but we cut some of those out and we provided a really cool looking building but its not super elegant. So it’s a great facility, but it’s not too much,” Mr. Sullivan said. “That’s what we’re doing with this new Performing Arts Center. I think it’s going to look really cool FALL 2012
Mr. Sauer teaching a Canta Belles class in one of the current music mansions (aka “Rabbit shelters”) | Jose Chalit ‘13
but we’re going to do it for a really good price. The next phase, whatever it is that we may do, is going to have to be the same.” A clear focus on Fr. Steele’s doctrine “Excellence without Excess”. This is nevertheless a clear reflection of Regis Jesuit’s focus on their students, their development and the integration of this philosophy unto the progress of its facilities and in the current and future master plan. Lou Kellogg stadium was built even before the new Boys Division campus and still stands today as one of Regis Jesuit’s most impressive physical features. It was built with a plan to adequately accommodate the football teams and the fans that the games would attract and it’s done an incredible job of that thus far. However, the stadium now overflows with fans at football games and many are calling for an innovation of the stadium holistically as a result of that in addition the locker rooms, lights, and turf field, and so the Campus Master Plan calls for an innovation of these things. “We are painfully short of locker rooms,” Mr. Sullivan said. It is clear that one of Regis Jesuit’s main concerns is in accommodating its facilities for the students. The more students that RJ attracts, the bigger facilities we’ll need. Similarly, the better talent that RJ contains, the better facilities we will need to accommodate that talent. According to Mr. Sullivan, this building is the one area that lives in a modular unit in a room that was originally meant for storage in the BD and the music and theater department don’t really have a good space for them to practice or to perform their work, so it will really complement the Jesuit mission of a balanced education. •How will we make it HAPPEN The night of Sept. 12, specifically, there was a Campaign Celebration & Kick-Off where the Foundation For Excellence campaign was released to the public and the project surpassed the “silent phase” as Mr. Sauer describes it. “This is when we make the kind of quiet negotiations with alumni, and we see, those who have donated before, how much they’re willing to give; people who have the money basically. Now we’re at that public stage where we are asking everyone involved: students, faculty, alumni again,” said Mr. Sauer. The F.F.E. campaign plans to fund three major projects right
now: Endowment for Tuition Assistance, Endowment for Faculty Compensation, and finally, the new construction of the P.A.C.E. The original plan is to begin construction in Mar. of 2013, but that will only be possible if the Board of Trustees approves the plan and the funding in early 2013 to move forward. As of now, the funding vs. plan is tight. The estimated cost for the new facility is listed on the website as approx. $13 million. The funding is unfortunately short about $3-4 million for the building though. Thus, it is important to give now more than ever because the set dates for approval from the Board of Trustees are getting closer, and I for one would like to come back to this building after I graduate and watch plays and musicals in the new theater in two years rather than ten. • Regis Jesuit Unity “I would definitely come back and visit as many times as I could. I think Regis has obviously been such a strong place for me to grow and develop and I’m really excited to see what it becomes and everything it can grow into and all the potential it has. I’ll definitely be coming back to see plays, to see musicals. Everything I can really do to stay involved in the Regis community because I love it so much,” Skipper said. “Right now the alumni office is in the BD and I think it’d be good to move it into the P.A.C.E. because it creates unity for everyone. This is a place where everyone can go, whether it’s alumni, current students, boys, girls, faculty, or parents. It’ll be a good place for everybody; a center for the school.” The possibilities for the new Performing Arts Center & Student Commons, as cliché as may sound, are endless. This building is being created as a multi-purpose venue and its new facilities intend to add a whole new dimension to the Community of Regis Jesuit. All innovations that have been made to Regis Jesuit from the moment this place was established have been expanding on our mission statement and its goal to build a community. Ultimately, it is our continued progess and evolution that tells the story of Regis Jesuit.
For any further questions, comments, and information visit: http://www.regisjesuit.com/performingartscenter VOICE.REGISJESUIT.COM // THE RJ VOICE // 31
return of a legend (Continued From Page 5) Manning is a quarterback that can get the job done and as the past has shown can take a team to a Super bowl, but football is a team sport and even though the Broncos as a team have the pieces to be a Super Bowl contender, how long will it take to put those pieces together? In the 2011 season the Broncos made it to the second round of the playoffs with Tim Tebow at the helm. So when you have a quarterback like Tim Tebow who runs an average speed offense being replaced by a quarterback who is known for the no huddle, it makes you wonder how wide receivers such as Eric Decker and Deymarius Thomas are adjusting. “The tempo is completely different” Sports Performance Coach for Steadman Hawkins Denver Clinic Eric Telly says, “The leadership qualities are absolutely different, yes you have a veteran quarterback coming in to help but its not the same tempo that you’re used to, so the style of play and philosophies are different, the Broncos have the tools
but they have to be able to utilize them correctly when their supposed too and if they don’t then that’s not going to put them in the position that they want to be in.” So with Von Miller and Champ Bailey leading the defense and Willis McGahee and Deymarius Thomas behind Peyton Manning on the offense, there is only one question to be asked. Can the new and improved Broncos put the pieces together in time to be able to bring the 47th Lombardi trophy back to Denver? Two years after the hit, on October 15, 2012, Manning attempted to answer that very question by hosting the biggest comeback in his career. Trailing 24-0 to the San Diego Chargers at half time, Manning and the Broncos came out of the locker room a new team, scoring 35 unanswered points to win the game. Manning threw for 309 yards and 3 touchdowns in the 35-24 win, and completed an astonishing 13 of 14 passes in the second half.
Broncos Remaining Schedule Week 9, 11/04- Cincinnati Bengals Week 10, 11/11- Carolina Panthers Week 11, 11/18- San Diego Chargers Week 12, 11/25- Kansas City Chiefs Week 13, 12/02- Tampa Bay Buccaneers Week 14, 12/06- Oakland Raiders Week 15, 12/16- Baltimore Ravens Week 16, 12/23- Cleveland Browns Week 17, 12/30- Kansas City Chiefs 32 // THE RJ VOICE // VOICE.REGISJESUIT.COM
mr. sauer deemed band director of the year BY CHRISTIAN MORENO @morenochris18 | 2014
O
ur own Mr. Bernie Sauer has been voted the Best Band Director of the Year. This award recognizes one outstanding band director for his or her dedication to reaching students through music education.
Mr. Sauer has had a love for music since he was a young boy. He remembers fondly when he began taking piano lessons along with his two younger brothers and waking up very early to practice every day. It was at Regis Jesuit High School where it became apparent that Bernie Sauer knew that music would play a very important role in his life. Promptly after receiving a degree in music education from Gonzaga University, Mr. Sauer was offered a job at the girls division. “I called it an opportunity from heaven,” Mr. Sauer said. “They said I could start the program from the ground up and we started with a choir of just twelve girls and an orchestra with just six girls.” Now the program has multiplied and now contains three progressive choirs, a string orchestra, and a concert band. “I’m lucky to be here at Regis because we just foster dreams,” said Mr. Sauer. “We inspire you to go as far as you can in your little high school career.” “I’m extremely happy that he got that award,” said his brother Tim Sauer. “I’m so proud of him for it. It was a long time coming.” Mr. Sauer is humbled by receiving the award by doing what he enjoys. The words of his brother convey the feelings of the whole Regis Jesuit community: “Congratulations Mr. Sauer”. FALL 2012
student life
New vending
machines
BY ANN PERCHIAZZI
“I
@ann_perchiazzi | 2013
t is very special to me,” said senior Kassie Petko “it saved my friends life and got him the help that he needed. Without safe2tell my friend wouldn’t be here.”
Students react to the new vending machines placed in the Boys and Girls Divisons BY DUGAN TIGHE
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@dtighe | 2013
enior Luca Evangelista has a problem. “Two dollars for a slice of beef jerky!?” Luca said. Luca is having a hard time adapting to the new vending machines. These vending machines were added this year and they came with a little bit of controversy. “This new machine costs way too much” . The machines bring a healthier look to Regis Jesuit that some say was much needed. “If I forget my lunch, I want the ability to have something healthy, not just cookies and hot pockets” said senior Sam Clouse. “It’s important to have healthier options available for everyone, especially since the new trend is to eat healthy” said Sam. Many of the complaints about the vending machines last year were coming from athletes and coaches. “I forgot my lunch one day and all I could get was gummy worms or Doritos. I just wanted some healthy options but this new vending machines takes it a little far” said Luca who is a starting offensive lineman for the football team.
to ask to get some Sour Patch Kids? I do not like these new healthy vending machines… at all” said Senior Sam Hardin. So where did these new vending machines come from and why do they talk? The new vending machines are called H.U.M.A.N. and they are not ran by a giant corporation but rather someone local. Ensuring that local Colorado products are filling the shelves. By someone local owning it, fresher products are in the machines and students won’t have to worry if the milk inside is over 3 weeks old or not. “I do like that you can buy milk or chocolate milk from the machines, I can just go get a chocolate milk from the vending machines if I forget my protein shake after weightlifting” said Sam. Back at the vending machines Luca stood with $1.50 in his hand looking disappointed “I appreciate the school making an effort to become healthier but I just want some Doritos.”
At the start of every school year the student body assembles in the gym to listen to a very important presentation. A representative from safe2tell gets up and talks about the value of the service and all that it provides. This service started with retired policemen that wanted to provide an anonymous with the goal of creating an easy and fast way to get help. The point of this service is to allow teens to seek help on confidential information that otherwise would not be comfortable sharing with teachers, students or coaches. When someone calls the proper procedure is to ask for the nature of the call and the level of importance. The person on the other end of the phone decides what to do with the call from there. “safe2tell is a great program that enables students to help those who may need it,” said senior Brad Hektor. “it’s truly life saving.”
The lack of healthy options has been a very popular topic at Regis, but it seems once Regis Jesuit finally took action the students didn’t want the new options. “Is it too much
fantasy football podcast on the voice Tune in to listen to fantasy football talk with Brad Hektor, Taylor Nichols, and Dugan Tighe Go to RJ Voice at voice.regisjesuit.com to listen to an update on WEEK 8 in the NFL!
FALL 2012
YOUR HOME FOR STUDENT NEWS AND BROADCASTS VOICE.REGISJESUIT.COM// THE RJ VOICE // 33
Where does the money go? A look at where the student tuition goes and where RJ spends it
Regis Jesuit’s Expenses for the 2011-2012 School Year
BY MISSY FRANKLIN @FranklinMissy | 2013
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t is one of the many things that separates Regis Jesuit High School from the other high schools in our state. We have a dress code, a Boys Division and a Girls Division, rowdies, but we also pay $12,075 a year to come to school. We often just thank our parents and donors for paying so much for us to come to school, and file away the thought of where their money goes. But where does it go? St. Ignatius of Loyola never thought of forming schools for Jesuit education but when the first school was started it was located in Sicily and local civilians asked to send their kids there and St. Ignatius insisted that it be free. Today, that is no longer possible. “It costs money to provide the service we do to families, to pay our teachers and staff, to upkeep the programs, the library, athletics, retreats, to provide tuition assistance to those who need help covering their tuition, and so much more. Tuition ultimately covers the expense of educating a student,” President Father Philip J. Steele SJ said. Okay. So we all pay tuition to have an amazing education at Regis Jesuit, but who decides where it all goes when there are roughly 1,600 students writing $12,075 checks? This is where Mrs. Carol Mendlik comes in. Mrs. Mendlik is the chief financial officer and she creates a proposed budget for each school year. She has a great amount of input from the management team, consisting of the principles of both divisions, the vice presidents of operations and advancement, and, of course, Father Steele. Employees who have budgets also prepare their own requests for the next year. The management team gathers and reviews their collaborated budget plan. The pie graph displays Regis Jesuit’s expenses for the 2011-2012 school year. Our tuition and fees only make up 70.5% of the money we spend on our expenses. Regis Jesuit has to rely on auxiliary activities, long term gifts, current gifts, and special events to help with the other 25.5% to cover expenses. These gifts and events can be things like Lark, where last year we raised $313,000, or the Fall Classic Golf Tournament when $156,000 was raised. Regis Jesuit also received $318,000 solely based off scholarship money donations. “Almost 25% of students are granted scholarships to Regis Jesuit. The average grant is about $6,000, which is almost half of tuition and a significant amount of money,” Mrs. Mendlik says. “About 2.5 million awarded this year in scholarship money and 2.2 million last year.”
34 // THE RJ VOICE // VOICE.REGISJESUIT.COM
As the students walked the halls in the first Ignatian school roughly five centuries ago, the idea of such a large tuition would have been almost unbelievable. But seeing how far Jesuit schools have come since that first school in Sicily, with the facilities, the faculty, athletics, and programs we have here at Regis Jesuit, that would have been unbelievable too.
Tuition FAQ‘s FAQ’s about Tuition: Q: Will our tuition continue to increase per year? A: Our tuition will continue to raise roughly $85 for the next seven years (it is apart of a ten year plan of which we are currently in year three). The ten year plan includes increasing teacher’s salaries to be at a benchmark the school has set based on a comparison with salaries from three public school districts, Aurora, Douglas Country, and Littleton. “We would like to find a way to get there [the benchmark for teacher salaries] but we have to be careful about tuition and finding the right balance between treating the faculty right and making ourselves to available to families,” Father Steele said Q: Is the tuition the same for the Boys Division and the Girls Division? A: Every student at Regis Jesuit has to pay the exact same tuition, regardless of what division he or she is in. However more of the money that comes in must go to the Boys Division because they have more faculty members then the girl’s school, but all funds are pooled together.
Explanation of Expenses Graph... Salaries and Benefits: Salaries for all teachers, coaches and staff (including support staff ). It also includes benefits for all Regis Jesuit staff. Education and Student Services: Covers all the needs for each academic department, retreats, technology costs, libraries, admissions, service, ongoing education for our employees, and the costs of making copies and counseling. Maintenance and Utilities: This is the money we spend to maintain our buildings such as custodial services, repairs, inside and outside water, heating and air conditioning, and the costs to maintain our sports fields, trees and lawns. We have over 60 acres here! Tuition Assistance: The tuition help given to over 325 families each year, based on financial needs. Planning and Admin: This group of expenses covers things like security, banking and audit costs, telephone, publications, consulting, liability insurance, postage, costs for the President’s office, office supplies, business office and human resource office costs. Depreciation: Is not a cash expense, but is the amount of “wear and tear” that we account for each year on our major pieces of equipment and our buildings. Debt Service Expense: This is the money we spend for interest on our loan which we incurred when we built the new boys division and opened the girls division. Advancement: This department plans and hosts our various fundraising events such as Lark and the annual golf tournament. They also raise money for scholarships and the annual PACE campaign. It costs money to raise these funds, but the costs are very small compared to the amount we receive from our very generous donors.
FALL 2012
Dual-Division Teachers BY RAMYA DEPA
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@RamyaDepa | 2013
hey see us all. At our best. At our worst. They cross the green daily to educate young men and young women. They are dual division teachers, and they took time from their doubly busy day to share with us some of their experiences with teaching girls and boys. Mr. Jim Broderick King, is a former dual-division Latin teacher, and Mr. Ian Mulligan, is a current science dualdivision teacher.
Kelly Hodes ‘14 and Meghan MacDonald ‘13 hug in the hall way while planning adventures. I Emma Bohn ‘13
Whats on your bucket list? BY EMMA BOHN @thebohnfire | 2013
A bucket list is list of activities that you want to do in your life before you “kick the bucket”
Kelly Hodes ‘14 “I would love to become a school teacher, just so that I could give a huge 100 multiple choice question test and have every answer on the test be C and just watch all of the kids in the room freak out thinking they were doing them all wrong.” “I would like to go to random houses around town and put Hogwarts acceptance letters in the mail boxes. That would make some eleven year old’s day!”
meghan macdonald ‘13 “I want to go backpacking through Europe. I would love to get away for a summer with a few people and see a beautiful part of the world.” “Its not something a lot of people get to do and it sounds so fun!”
What is on your list? FALL 2012
Mr. Broderick King ‘87 Q: How is it different teaching girls v. boys? A:“ Teaching in the two buildings is very different, regardless of what gender we are talking about there is just kind of a different culture between the two buildings. Part of that is the size, the Boys Division is a lot bigger than the Girls Division. When it comes to teaching girls and teaching boys, I think there are meaningful differences, but a lot of times we make a much bigger deal out of it than it really is. Teaching teenagers is teaching teenagers. Teaching sophomores is teaching sophomores. When it comes down to it, teaching fifteen years olds, maybe Catholic, maybe not, maybe smart maybe not, are teenagers. Q: What do you like about teaching girls? A:“ I’m going to come right out with it and say it, girls are more mature. They are more concerned about their interpersonal relationships with each other. They are not as competitive with each other, they want to succeed. They also want to talk a lot, they tend to say what comes to their ,mind. Q: What do you like about teaching boys? A:“Sophomoric energy, that doesn’t mean I don’t like teaching juniors and seniors; but there is something about the 15 year old boy that is fun. It’s just pure unadulterated. They put aside all the pretense, there’s no pretense. If they are going to fart they are going to fart, if they are going to do something stupid they are going to do something stupid, and there’s really no overwhelming self consciousness about it. They are animals”
Mr. Mulligan Q: How does being a dual division teacher affect your relationships with faculty? A:“ I think it’s great because I can share my experiences with the girls division to boys division faculty who may have inaccurate ideas about the girls division. And I think its great for me to get to know the girls division faculty better.” Q: What do you dislike about teaching girls? A:“ I can’t relate to them as well as I relate to the boys. That’s not to say I can’t relate to them, but finding where and how to connect with them just takes a little more effort and focus from me.” Q: What do you like and dislike about boys? A:“ I like that I can relate to them. I have a brother who is a senior in highschool right now, so in a way I see them as my brothers, which makes me truly want to help them because I can see my own brother going through what they are going to. I dislike that some boys just don’t care. Trying to get them to understand that if they want to do well on the tests they have to do their homework is the down side.” Q: Which division do you like better? A:“ Thats so unfair, you know I don’t... I honestly can say I don’t prefer one over the other. It’s just different. I like the different aspects of both divisions. The only thing I don’t like about being a dual division teacher is hauling my stuff back and forth. I would be lying if I said I prefer one gender over the other, I think the boys are just easier in the sense of location more than anything.
visit voice.regisjesuit.com for the rest of the interview with Mr. Broderick king VOICE.REGISJESUIT.COM // THE RJ VOICE // 35
AMERICA’S IMMIGRATION TEST
CAN YOU PASS?
BY CRISTIAN ADAMS @CristianAdams2 | 2015
Regis Jesuit is known for our stellar athletics, close community, and, especially, our academics. Each year, students recieve merit scholorships for their stellar test scores and grade point averages. Their are high expectations and tough demands. But what happens when one of the most notoriously difficult tests in the nation comes their way? We went to find out. The United States Immigrant Naturalization Test is known for its high level of difficulty and long hours of studying needed to pass. Even so, according to U.S. News, more than 97% of immigrants pass the test. Here is what we learned after testing some of our very own in a controlled environment. One, when you challenge Mr. Matt Best he performs. So does Mr. Brian Kosena. Mr. Best and Mr. Kosena both scored a 96 out of 100 on the test. Mr. Kyle Flynn came in with a 92. and Mr. Bill Kehrman a 90. Not bad at all. The social studies department knows their stuff. The top two student scores came from Jackson Fox and Brenden “Skipper” Van Jacobs. Jackson scored a 83 out of 100 and Skipper came in just behind with a 80 of 100. Junior Jackson Burkholder came in with a 79 out of 100. Sophomore Jesse Kozler scored well with a 76 and an enthusiastic Zach Vixk came in with a 63, just barely passing. Does Regis Jesuit pass? We say yes. “Study of the American Dream,” a 2012 survey from Xavier University found that one out of three U.S. citizens fails the civics portion on the immigrant naturalization test. The survey of more than 1,000 voting-age Americans asked 10 random questions from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services civics exam. 35 percent answered five or less questions correctly 85 percent could not define “the rule of law.” 75 percent did not know function of the judicial branch 71 percent were unable to identify the Constitution as the “supreme law of the land.” 63 percent could not name one of their state’s Senators. 62 percent did not know the name the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. 62 percent could not identify the Governor of their state. 57 percent could not define an “amendment.” FALL 2012
A group of volunteers including Fr. Phil Steele SJ ‘66 and Mrs. Carol Mendlik at the Excelsior Youth Center for Girls in Aurora | Sean Whitley ‘13
Rj day for others: More than just service BY CHRISTIAN MORENO @morenochris18 | 2014
R
J Day for Others provided a service opportunity for the entire Regis Jesuit community—students, alumni, parents, faculty, friends—to come together in the spirit of helping our neighbors.
There were 39 sites in which anyone can help. More than 600 people came to the inaugural event on September 8, making it the largest service event ever sponsored by the school in its’ history. The day would not have been possible without the help of the DFO Core Team and the DFO Support Team led by Mrs. Kristen Kraus. “As a community, we grow closer through challenges and success,” senior Brian Musco said. “These service opportunities force us to go outside of our boundaries that we create in order to experience the tribulations of others.” When a larger number of people give their time and talents to the community, a larger number of people are impacted and benefit from it. “You get a warm, fuzzy feeling when you know you’ve made a difference in someone’s life,” junior Andrew Musco said. At sites arcoss the Denver metro area, participants worked alongside their sisters, brothers, teachers, family, and friends to serve. “You can’t help but feel a connection with the people around you,” Musco said.
Service Sites: • • • • • • • • • • • • •
ARC Thriftstore Bessie’s Hope Boys Hope Girls Hope Denver Rescue Mission Habitat for Humanity Mercy Housing Parker Task Force Ronald McDonald House SaddleUp! Foundation Samaritan House St. Therese Catholic School Urban Peak World Vision VOICE.REGISJESUIT.COM// THE RJ VOICE // 01
student life
College Applications BY KAHLE COLLINS DANNER
S
@kahlecollins | 2013
letter.
taring at a blank word document searching for words to write that perfect essay, countless hours searching the web for common applications and scholarships, and most importantly, waiting anxiously at the mailbox, waiting for an acceptance
Senior Paige Gunning said “Naviance has been my best friend through the college process. Because of Naviance, I have kept myself very organized.” The best advice during the college application process is to not procrastinate. Like teachers say at the end of junior year, get started on applications during the summer. Know where to apply, know what application the college requires, be aware of due dates, and most important, start them. “By completing my college applications early, I have definitely taken a lot of stress off my shoulders. Through the college process, I have to make sure I am balancing my life; especially with school work, my family and my friends,” Gunning said. “I’ve tried to fill out one application at a time, so I don’t feel overwhelmed. The best thing to do is space everything out,” senior Megan Sandhagen said. Some seniors wait until the last minute when their applications are due. These seniors are seen running around the school frantically, ripping their hair out, and having mental breakdowns. The process isn’t easy, everyone knows that. After junior year, don’t relax just yet. Spend a few weeks deciding. Make a decision and prepare for the ride.
letter to the editor
FROM JORGE PALACIOS JR. @JPthePalacios | 2014
Being a Junior transfer student at Regis Jesuit High School has been ... rough. Coming from a background in which the last ten years of my education (12 if you count Pre-School and Kindergarten) have been in public school is very unique, and the differences are noticeable right away. Obviously, I’m in school with all guys, but that isn’t all that’s different. A stricter dress code, higher education standards, and a Catholic message are things I quite frankly haven’t been through before. The change, I’m happy to say, has been a very positive change, though. The “Regis community members” (students, parents, staff, alumni, etc.) have been very warm and welcoming. I have felt the power and magnitude of “The Brotherhood” here, and I’m glad to say I have made really good friends so far. The Brotherhood and “The Sisterhood” are what really makes this school special. But this isn’t something that is all inclusive to itself only. Our job is to be men and women for others by helping our fellow community members, friends, family, and all those around us, as well as the “poor and the marginalized”. Within this realm, I found others who are going through similar things. Whether it be freshman, other transfer students, others who went to public school before they came here, and new faculty (Mr. Carruthers and Coach Barnett, to name a few), any are are experiencing or have experienced what I’m going through now to some extent. That’s what’s great about coming here to Regis. I have met so many people with so many different stories and backgrounds different from my own. I also get to share my stories and background with others. Don’t get me wrong. This transition has not been the easiest, but the reason I have made the best out of it and enjoyed it so far is because of what Regis Jesuit High School is, and what it stands for. People, at the end of the day, care. Whether it be their education, their school, or others, here at RJHS everyone is welcome. So if you see me in the halls, say “Hi.” I’ll say “Hey” back, and we’ll probably start talking, whether I know you or not. And that’s the beauty of Regis.
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FALL 2012
VOICE.REGISJESUIT.COM // THE RJ VOICE // 37
sports
Golf Team Does it again
Seniors Nick Miller, Cody Leis, Cole Cunningham, John Hadfield, and Sean Curtis pose for a quick pic.
BY TOMMY REINS @tommyreins | 2013
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hree years. Three state titles. Three consecutive top ten appearances. The Raiders have cer tainly proved their dominance in 5A state golf.
“ The team did great and we won state by a lot,” senior varsity member Nick Miller said. “ The greens separated the okay players with the great players.” At 20 over par, the Raiders posted 446 strokes after two days at Rolling Hills Countr y Club. They lead Ralston Valley by 8 strokes and Cherr y Creek by 18. “Our level of integrity sets Regis apar t from other schools,” said Nick, “Some schools just don’t want to win with class. Regis has a good attitude on the course by not getting overly excited because it’s only golf. It isn’t the end of the world. We tr y to live life and play a little game.” Senior Cole Cunningham reflec ted on his last season at Regis, as well. “I’ve taken more out of the team aspec t this year by being less of an individual and more of a leader. I would think of other people and help them through a tournament if they ’re struggling. It really helps people to talk through problems and help them believe in themselves.” Cole, who has placed in the top ten the last three years in state set a new Colo rado record for most consecutive top ten appearances. “ The best advice for young players is be lieving in yourself at an ex tremely high level, even if you aren’t the best, just think that you are. You can’t play at the 38 // THE RJ VOICE // VOICE.REGISJESUIT.COM
best possible level if you don’t believe in yourself,” Cole said. Just like the tough greens at Rolling Hills Countr y Club, life can have ups and downs. “Regis has helped me understand what my priorities are in life. It’s good to take a step back and put family, friends, and God in front of golf. That gives balance to what’s really impor tant in life,” Cole said.
Regis Jesuit Leaderboard NAME
First Second Final Total Position Round Round
In that sense, Golf can be a difficult spor t to play at Regis. The season begins so early in the year and the players can easily miss eight days of class to play. Sophomore Zach Anderson who plays on junior varsit y, transferred to Regis this Spencer Painton 75 year from Rock Canyon. “I was welcomed to a friendly team, tried my best, had confidence, and did well,” Zach said. With players like Cole and Nick leaving to college nex t year, there will be a new era of state contenders from Regis. “Look Cole Cunningham 77 for Pierce Aichinger, Chris Cour tesy, Jake Kelley, Spencer Peyton, and Jack Lazzeri,” Nick said. “It’s good to know that my hard work is paying off and that my dreams are star ting to come true,” Cole, who recently com- Chris Korte mitted to Grand Canyon Universit y, said, “After the second or third year, I’ll know if I want to. I might go on some mini-tours and tr y to go pro, but if that doesn’t hap pen, working hard in golf has taught me in general how to be a better man in life.”
Jake Kelley
71 146 T2
73 150 T6
75
75 150 T6
78
78 156 T17 FALL 2012
Kickin’ it with
Sean Barton Regis Jesuit grounds worker & soccer start BY Jack Puhr
@JackdaddyP | 2014
Its 6 o’clock in the morning and he’s the first one at Regis. The cool morning breeze hits his face as he enjoys the peace that comes with the silence of the morning. As he works in silence, he examines his life and all of the change that has occurred in the last 2 years. To the untrained eye, Sean Barton is just your average grounds worker and friendly face here at Regis Jesuit, but just two years ago, Sean was doing something that many of us can only dream of as athletes. Two years ago he was participating in an international soccer tournament in Europe. “It was awesome and eye opening. It was incredible to see that soccer was the main thing, it was everywhere. We didn’t see any baseball or football fields out there it was just all about soccer,” Sean said. His team, Rush, finished 6th out of 14 teams in the tournament, but after this, Sean’s soccer career came to an end. “After Italy I just kind of…let it go, and to this day I’m still not sure why,” he said. However, Sean is still looking to get back into soccer with some indoor recreational leagues this summer. Most athletes dream of taking part in something similar to Sean’s experience and spend their entire careers looking to accomplish this goal. “If I had any advice to give to student athletes, it would be to stick with it, and constantly try to improve yourself.”, he said.
FALL 2012
Left: Captain Hammerlock welcomes you to the experience of Borderlands 2 in the trailer “An Introduction by Sir Hammerlock.” Photo taken from www.youtube.com Right: The Vault Hunter’s Symbol. Photo taken from www.facepunch.com
lIAM’S game corner BORDERLANDS 2: “VAULT HUNTERS WANTED” BY LIAM McALEAVEY @LiamMcAleavey | 2013
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orderlands 2 is addictive. It’s not hard to start playing at 8:00 in the morning and suddenly find it 8:00 at night, and be loving it even more than you did the previous day. Why? Does it hypnotize you into playing for hundreds of hours? No, the reason Borderlands 2 has already sold 1.8 million copies worldwide since Sept. 18, is that it’s innovative, captivating, very well written, and, frankly, hilarious. When the original Borderlands was released in late 2009, it quickly became a staple, and earned many awards for thinking outside the box. Titles like Fallout 3 and Mass Effect had already tried the combination of shooter and role playing, but Borderlands took it and ran with it. Where the former two titles relied heavily on very meaty plots to carry them forward, Borderlands relied on its massive amounts of customization and humor. There wasn’t just a list of skills to pick from, there were three completely different skill sets for each character depending on where the player wanted to go with it, and with four completely different characters, each with their own skills, it felt like there were twelve different characters to choose from instead of just one. And of course, that doesn’t even begin to cover the massive amounts of ridiculous guns that could be found throughout the game, and because of that, no two players ever got the same experience. For example, why have a rocket launcher that shoots missiles, when you can have one that fires fifteen acid filled rockets at once? But Gearbox Software didn’t stop there. To add just that much more to their game, they created a very unique comic book art style that hadn’t been seen anywhere before or since. And it was because of all this that Borderlands sold a whopping 6 million copies since its release. And Gearbox Software used this exact same formula for Borderlands 2, except this time they employed excellent writers, tweaked this and that to improve game flow, added even more random guns, and created a perfect blend of gutter humor and biting wit, with the same comic-book-style graphics that made the first game so unique. Everything about it is a wake up call from many of the more generic titles that have been released in the last year with games such as Modern Warfare 3. “What it comes down to is a game that sets the standard for a plot that is fun and intriguing and so interesting that it keeps
you playing. When you’ve got a game like Borderlands 2 where you want to find out the story, and you’re begging your friends not to tell you, it’s rivaling a book,” senior Tommy Reins said. “It’s a sixty dollar game that’s worth well over a hundred.” Of course, Borderlands didn’t just invent its own style and gaming humor. “Companies like Id Software and 3D Realms have been doing that kind of ridiculous humor since 1991, so it’s not exactly something that’s really all that new,” said senior Skyler Morris, “Gearbox just revived that kind of over the top ridiculous humor.” However, with a new generation of gamers on the rise, it’s nice to see that that style of humor isn’t dead yet, and with technology advancing like it is, games like Borderlands 2 have become much more than a passtime, turning into an artistic medium. Looking Forward – The Late October and Early November Releases Borderlands 2 is not the end all be all. With winter coming fast, it’s high time for gaming season, and the lineup this year is stellar. Just this last week, Bethesda Softworks released Dishonored, a very dark game about assassination and political turmoil, and in less than two weeks Assassin’s Creed III will be hitting the shelves, shortly followed by Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, Halo 4, and Medal of Honor: Warfighter, as well as a whole slew of new DLC that all trend towards the dark side of human nature, and comprehensive advances to multiplayer. As senior Zach Roffe said, “What I’m most excited about is the ability to have much more competitive gameplay instead of an unfair blowout.” All of these promise great things, and the showcase next issue will be Assassin’s Creed III.
The Assassin’s Creed III logo. The excitement is palpable. Photo taken from www.gamerant.com
VOICE.REGISJESUIT.COM // THE RJ VOICE // 39
sports
SPOTLIGHT:
CLAIRE STROHM Strohm overcomes shoulder injury to start on varsity volleyball team BY NICOLE BERGSTROM @nebergstrom | 2014
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fter eight straight hours of volleyball in one day, junior Claire Strohm, a starting right hitter, pulled herself off the court.
Over the summer, the Regis Jesuit Varsity team traveled to the University of Northern Colorado, in Greeley.
field hockey’s
#1 fan An unusual fan supports the team through and through
BY KENNEDY KRAUSE and GRACE SHIPP
@kckrause1 and @graceshippster | 2014
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ay in and day out, through the wins and the losses, the Regis Jesuit girls varsity field hockey team had a loyal supporter always on their sidelines.
Claire and her teammates worked hard practicing, running drills, and competing in games. Throughout these two weeks, Claire noticed pain and soreness in her shoulder. Being the dedicated athlete she has committed to being, she continued to play. On the aching last day of camp, Claire felt an intensified pain and knew she couldn’t go any longer. Upon returning from camp, Claire was told by her doctor she tore her Teres major and minor muscles and continued to have painful muscle spasms. Claire became a great cheerleader for her team for the month she was out. Luckily, her recovery was quick and made it in time to play her junior year on the Regis Jesuit Varsity volleyball team. Claire still goes to physical therapy and continues gets sore after she plays but she says, “It’s so worth it!” Claire hopes to have many more successful seasons in the future.
SO ROOKIE,
ROOKIE Owen Brown: Way too good to be a rookie BY SARAH DELMONTE
C
@sarahdel123 | 2014
ontrary to popular belief, cross-country is more than just brutal, lengthy runs. Owen Brown, Regis Jesuit junior, has a different view of the support. When asked how he felt about
40 // THE RJ VOICE // VOICE.REGISJESUIT.COM
EVERYBODY HAS A STORY
Robert Long:
How did this four-legged friend come to be in the first place?
Rowing
Junior Kat Law describes how they ended up buying it.
BY SEAN WHITLEY
pet hermit crab, named Flick.
“We went to Petsmart on a Friday night and tried to purchase a crab. Little did we know we had to be 18. We became shortly depressed until we had the idea to ask a teammates dad to purchase it for us. He gladly agreed and brought it to the game the next day. Let me tell you, he made a great first impression with his pig colored shell,” Law said. After much consideration, the team named him Flick after a tricky field hockey maneuver used to score goals. At every home and away game, Flick was there not only on the sidelines, but also in their hearts.
A person? No. This mascot and fan was the team’s
YOU’RE NOT
Robert Long and his team mate are dominating the water while they race for the finish. | Mr. Fred Long
the 2012 season, stated that it was “wonderful; absolutely wonderful.” Many may believe that running anywhere from three to ten miles can be “wonderful”, but for many cross-country participants, it is a great fall sport to be a part of. Brown began his RJ running career this year, his first year of cross-country. His his first run with the RJ open-team was his first relatively long-distance runs. He picked it up quickly though, began to be one of the leaders in the open-team’s pack, and a month later was moved to the varsity-squad. “It was a big leap,” Brown said. He explained how he had to begin to run much longer distances and it was a hard transition, but worth it. Brown encourages any RJ student to be a part of the cross-country team, whether it be open, JV, or varsity. “It is a great way to connect with nature and spend time, just you and the earth,” Brown said. “We love when people come and support cross-country at our meets! It really helps us to keep going”.
@swhitley95 | 2013
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enior Robert Long has suffered six concussions that took him out of all contact sports. Long needed to stay active so he would not become a 3 o’clock bus bomber. So Long found out about rowing through friends at Regis Jesuit.
“I am very good at what I do; I have been involved since sophomore year in rowing. I have been looking at colleges to row,” Long said. Long and his coach have high expectations for him to go to the Olympics, but that will come after college. “Jesus is my big inspiration. But other than that, Henrik Stephansen is my inspiration. He is a monster on the water; he has a 5 minute 58.5 second 2,000 meter race time. That’s the world record, and I am striving to be the best,” Long said. Long had a race in Tulsa, where he won two gold medals and one bronze medal. His gold medals were in the Varsity four boat and the lightweight double, his two favorite boats to row in. His bronze was in varsity eight. The varsity eight, is a boat that consists of 8 men rowing, the varsity four is 4 men rowing with a person conducting them, and the lightweight double is two men that are in the lightweight weight class. “I am very proud of Robert and what he has accomplished in rowing. He helped bring in three medals for the program. These are the first medals any of our guy boats have received in a while. It’s nice to see that he will go above and beyond most of his friends here,” Coach Grace Malacrida said. Rowing is a very exerting sport. But Long is still able to manage school in with this intense sport. “I take all regular classes, so my workload isn’t as hard as those taking AP classes,” Long said. Robert closes his eyes, opens the yearbook, and points to… Sophomore Anthony Gerken. Anthony what’s your story? FALL 2012
THIS VS. THAT
Broadcasting With
Joe Quigley Junior finds passion for broadcasting BY NICK STOFA @nstofarj | 2014
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he receiver turns and holds up his hands to receive the catch that will change the game for the Raiders. As he runs in and scores, the huge home crowd cheers in celebration. However, Joe Quigley does more than cheer as he looks down upon the game from his press box alongside his broadcasting team. Joe’s job as a broadcaster is crucial to the dedicated fanbase that the Raiders have, since both students and alumni alike listen to the broadcast. The athletics at Regis are top notch and the fans are the backbone of that excellence, however life happens, and sometimes people can’t make it to the games. That’s where Joe comes in. “Broadcasting is some of the most fun I have had at Regis in a long time. You get to go every event, and get in for free, and you get to talk about that event with your buddies,” Joe said. Indeed, Joe’s job is of the utmost importance. He and his team provide the broadcast that keeps the Raider fans in the loop, but also offer behind-the-scenes insight that some people may not know. Joe and his team broadcastsevery sport too; not just football, so every broadcaster must have information on each sport at Regis - boys and girls. But Joe isn’t phazed by the enormous task of broadcasting the games. “Broadcasting is moderately challenging, but not hard to learn; it’s important to understand the games, and that I offer insights about the game so I can explain things most people might not know about the game,” he said. Joe and the rest of the broadcasting team are the tireless champions who bridge the gap between the fan and the game. Without Joe and his team, the loyal fans wouldn’t be able to see the drive that ties up the game, or one of the Rowdie’s famous dance parties during half time. No matter where the game is, count on Joe and his team to be in the press box providing viewers with all the action. FALL 2012
E n t r e p r e n e u r, G a m e r, K i d
Max Creager By BRIAN ENGH @TheBrainEngh | 2013
If not for the teenage sounding voice, senior Max Creager would come off as the Executive of a wellrun business. At first glance, he looks like nothing more than a baby-faced kid with a big body, a big smile, and a laptop. But under the surface, he is so much more. Max came to Regis his freshman year with a little bit of skepticism. “My initial reaction was that if I got in, I would go and try it out, try it on for size if you will. But I have liked it ever since my first day,” Max said. Regis is a place where students can hone their skills, but for Max, it is just another office. He is the Head of a YouTube channel and network going by the name of Dare Sniping, which specializes in Call of Duty trick shot videos.
Android vs. IPHONE Android vs. iPhone side by side BY KATELYN SCHIESSLER @Momo66539 | 2016
Retail Consultant and Business Specialist Donnie Ranta and Retail Consultant Sergey Mikhailov walk around the quiet and somewhat secluded Sprint Store on Arapahoe Road waiting for the next eager customer. As Donnie sits back Sergey greets the customers with a broad grin spreading across his face ready to sell the next item. This begins the Android vs. iPhone conflict. The customer could choose either the iPhone or an Android and if they choose either one that one purchase will give either iPhone or Android “popularity points”. “I prefer Android more than iPhone because the Android is more personalized,” Mr.Mikhailov said. Mr.Mikhailov also said that they were sold out of the iPhone 5 at the time.
“I find content, and post it onto YouTube. I also look for partners on YouTube so they can get advertisements on their channel, which makes us money,” Max explains.
“I actually broke the glass case on the back of my iPhone twice,” Mr.Ranta said.
Making money from playing video games? That sounds like a dream job for most teenagers. For him though, it is more than just a side job. “In a perfect world, this would turn into a booming business and I wouldn’t have to go to college, so we will see where we are a few months from now,” he says.
“If you use the iPhone every second of every day your battery will only last a day or less but if you use it normally it will last 2 to 3 days,” Crystal said.
His passion for one thing that most people use for fun, turned into a business opportunity, and Max was sure to take full advantage. “He is so well-versed in business and economics that anyone talking to him would have to do a double take to make sure they weren’t talking to Donald Trump,” says junior Ryan Tapp, a friend of Max’s. But underneath the intellectual mind of Max Creager, is still the sarcastic, witty kid.
South High School ninth grader Crystal hfahfadhf has had similar issues.
The Android phone is almost the same. If you use it all day the battery will only last a day or so but if you barely use it , it will last 2 days. The apps on both phones are also similar. “We actually have to send people to Apple to fix their iPhones because we can’t do that for them.” The Sprint Store is not allowed to fix the iPhone because Apple won’t let them. It seems that people who have Android love their Androids but people with iPhones want the next best thing, the iPhone 5. VOICE.REGISJESUIT.COM // THE RJ VOICE // 41
FEATURES
Denver’s Haunted Places Photos and Captions By: Jackson Burkholder
@JupiterPhoto | 2014
Flossy McGrew’s The outside of Flossy McGrew’s is covered with silver-painted Halloween decorations, but the real ghosts live inside this south Broadway costume shop. “It’s like walking through a cemetery, either you’re creeped out or at peace”, owner Sue Gustafson said. Many weird things happen here, especially the piano which sometimes plays one single note. Evan Craney a customer, said that he was in there recently and a decorative object fell off the ceiling into another customer’s arms. Jonny Bones has worked at Flosy’s for three months. “When we’re closing up it will sound like people are walking around in the back, but no one’s ever there. You can never be too sure what’s in there.” He added that ghostly events include cell phones go out, wind chimes ringing on their own, and clothing hangers rattling.
3635 South Cherokee Street, Englewood, CO Now a parking lot for an apartment complex, this spot used to hold a very haunted house. Victoria Evans, who grew up there, still remembers how haunted it was. “Both my sister and I saw an apparition in the house…some sort of dark figure definitely saw me and moved,” Evans said.
Peabody-Whitehead Mansion
Rumored to be one of the most haunted buildings in Colorado, the Peabody-Whitehead Mansion was built for Dr. William R. Whitehead, a doctor who served both in the Crimean war and the American Civil war. It is believed the house is haunted by some of his many dead patients. Later it was bought by Governor James H. Peabody, hence the name.
Ghost Voices
Other paranormal events include stuff being thrown, electrical trouble, and people being locked out.
Oxford Hotel Many ghosts have checked into the Oxford Hotel, seconds away from Union Station, since its opening in October of 1891. Frank E. Edbrooke, architect of the Brown Palace, also designed the hotel. The most haunted room in the Oxford is room 320.
When I got home from taking pictures there, I found an extra voice on my digital recorder that I didn’t remember. It featured a mechanical female voice saying “A list” and sighing. After doing some research, I believe this spirit is referring to the waiting list for room 320, the only room that has a waiting list. The most haunted room there, it is said to be still inhabited by a young woman who was killed there on her wedding night.
02 // THE RJ VOICE // VOICE.REGISJESUIT.COM
FALL 2012
Halloween
Paranormal Experiences Stories from beyond By Kira Zigan @kaye0126 2016
Alejandra Pineda Photo by Katelyn Schiessler
Tobie Cloe
Tobie Cloe has had several paranormal experiences. walker. And she is slow and unsteady. I am convinced that When she was just fourteen, she started to notice things her dad carried her there.” missing from her bedroom and other things were being moved. The circle stayed there for about fifteen seconds then disappeared. “I would plug my curling iron in, and then come back and it would be unplugged,” she says. While all these experiences affected her, there is one that is much more personal than some of her other other exOnce, she was sitting in her basement playing Nintendo periances. and she saw a man standing on her stairs. They looked at Tobie’s sister, Jodie Renzelman, was killed in a car accieach other for a few seconds and then he disappeared. dent 7 years ago. “He was in 1800s clothing. He was actual very dapper!” “She hit black ice and ended up on the opposite side of Cloe said. traffic coming on to her. She was hit by two cars.” By the time Jodie arrived at the hospital, the brain damShe decribes him as a young man, possibly late twenties age was irreversible. with a top had. “They couldn’t get the swelling in her brain to come down “I wish he would have shown himself again as clear as he and she was in the ICU for six days. Then she ended up did the first time, but he never did,” she explains. passing away.” She pauses for a moment, the continues with her story. As an adult, she started to see things out of the corner of her eye at work. Tobie works for the State of Colorado tak- “We go out there [Fairmont Cemetery] on her birthday ing care of developmentally disabled adults. and release balloons every year. We released six balloons and all six balloons got stuck up in a tree, to the left of During a third shift (11:00pm to 11:00am), she started to where she is buried. We turned around and went to go notice unusual things happening. say good-bye to Jodie and then went to go look at the balloons stuck in the tree again and all of them where gone.” “Things fly off shelves and we can see people running down hallways,”she says in a casual tone, like it is just part This was Jodie saying that she was there with them in of the daily routine at work. the cemetery. Once, while she was in a bedroom with a resident, the “My parents see her all the time at the house. There is closet door opened and a little girl screamed from inside a blue light in the hallway that doesn’t glow unless she the closet. is there.” Another time, after she had put a resident to bed, she When she is driving on Parker Road (the road on which found the same resident down the hall sitting in a chair Jodie was killed), Tobie often feels Jodie’s presence in the with a large bright circle of light above her head. car with her. The resident’s father had just passed away and they had “I feel her next to me in my car, like I could have a converbeen seeing orbs all over the house since. sation with her.” “She shuffles when she walks, it’s not like she is a quiet
FALL 2012
Alejandra Pindea is an average freshmen at Regis. She enjoys books, music, and doodling. She’s quiet, polite and gives off a feeling a warmness instantly upon talking to her. She’s the kind of person that is uninterested in talking about herself unless you were to ask but if you ask, she’ll happily give you all the details. The Pindea family was visiting Chihuahua, Mexico. Chihuahua is a city on the border of The United States and Mexico. It is rich in culture and, just like anywhere else in Mexico, full of little places to buy handmade crafts. On the side of a road was a vendor that the Pindea family decided to stop by and check out. The vendor was selling porcelain angel statues. “There were about a this long,” she gestures about 12 inches long, “And standing on a little pedestal.” They decided to but two and brought them home from their trip. Soon after they arrived home from their trip, they noticed strange things around their house. “One time, we were all getting ready in my mom’s bathroom and my brother’s drum set started playing. When my mom yelled at my brother to stop, he (brother) said he wasn’t even in there.” They went to go see what was making the noise, but as soon as they entered the room, it stopped and they saw a figure running down the hall. Another time, late at night when her little brother was sleeping, he felt something grab onto his foot. “We decided to give the angles away to a church close to the border. A few months after we gave them away, we heard that the priest had died of a heart attack.” Her family links the angels they gave away to the church to the death of the priest. After they gave away the angels the strange things stopped and their life returned back to normal. VOICE.REGISJESUIT.COM// THE RJ VOICE // 01
Hookah
Hazzards
Students flock to hookah bars for the social scene, but at what cost? BY EMMA BRIDGEWATER @EmmaBridgeH2O 2014
A summer day with
Nick Claton Summer is a time for relaxation and for Nick a lot of fishing BY Sam Gartner
I
@GartnerSam2211 | 2016
t was an average day in the middle of summer. Freshman Nick Claton decided to wake up before 8 in the morning. What may seem crazy to some, is completely normal to Nick and his best friend, also named Nick.
The best friends, Nick and Nick had a summer routine. Three to four times a week the two best friends would wake up by 8am and leave for Bingham Lake in the Pinery area. On an average day, the two best friends would combine for a total of 20 fish. They usually did this in a span of 6 hours. But one day stood out in particular. This was no ordinary day. In fact, it was quite extraordinary. Combined they caught 300 fish. “It was insanity,” Nick said. Most people fish for relaxation or to become more “ zenfull” he says. Now that his neighbor is gone off to college at Northestern Junior College in Sterling, Nick spends more time fishing by himself. And, his perspective has somewhat matured. Now he often goes fishing to just think.
W
ho. Are. You? With each word, the oversized caterpillar blows a thick breath into the face of little Alice. The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland is a childhood classic, delighting kids everywhere with whimsy, tea parties, and a giant hookah smoking cartoon bug. But, it turns out that hookahs aren’t just for caterpillars. Teenagers are flocking to hookah bars in search of a social escape.
He has no dreams to become a professional fisherman. For now he will stick with his Shakespeare fishing rod and Bingham Lake. It is a lake that Nick knows so well that he could be a fishing guide. He isn’t only a fishing guy. He is also a family man. Next summer, he will be in Arkansas helping his grandparents with the yard work and pretty much anything else. Even though his priorities are family, school, speech and debate, friends, then fishing, fishing will always have a special place in his heart. 44 // THE RJ VOICE // VOICE.REGISJESUIT.COM
If somehow caught, students could face any number if repercussions from administration.
While we would discuss it case by case, repercussions could range from a jug to off campus consequences, such as community service to suspension.” says Girls Division Dean of students Ms. Lotito. “It’s good that it’s not illegal, but we don’t tolerate smoking here at Regis.”
A hookah is a Middle Eastern smoking device. Tobacco or a herbal alternative is heated and pulled down the neck of the hookah, where the smoke is cooled in a water bowl below. The cooled smoke is then pulled through the hose, producing a thick while smoke that teens find appealing. Since the law states that possession or smoking of tobacco is illegal for minors, an “herbal” alternative is smoked instead. This consists of either tea leaves or sugar cane coated in a flavored molasses. And since the herbal shisha does not contain any of the toxins in tobacco, such as nicotine or tar, it is becoming more and more popular with smokers of all ages. However, there is always a concern with smoking, as burning anything produces a harmful carcinogen that could lead to health problems such as emphysema. And while health is a concern for some, there is more of an appeal to the lack of legality issues associated with hookah for others.
He thinks about everything. “It is more of a meditation for me, now that he is gone.” Nick explained that fishing helps him to deal with the average teenage problems like girls, family, and school grades because he always knows he can just hitch a ride down to the lake and move into his zen state of mind.
While teens can smoke without fear of repercussion from the police, repercussions from school are another story.
A PERSONAL HOOKH SITS ERADY TO SMOKE Emma Bridgewatder ‘14
“I don’t see it as harmful since you don’t get anything from it [like nicotine]” one RJ junior said. “Plus it isn’t illegal and it’s fun to play with the smoke.” The thick smoke produced is almost perfect for tricks such as smoke rings. However, there is more of an appeal for hookah bars other than just the smoke. Students are drawn to hookah bars in promise of a social escape. “I heard about it through friends my sophomore year,” remembers another RJ junior. “ It was the cool thing to do. I went with my friend at 9:30 or 10:00 at night. We danced and talked, enjoying the moment. “ “There’s a thrill about being there, she adds. “ You’re smoking, but it’s not illegal.”
Facts About Hookah •
The first hookahs were made from coconuts.
•
Hookah started as a social pastime for the elite.
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It’s an insult in some cultures for a host not to offer Hookah
Smoking anything is dangerous, even tobaccoless shisha FALL 2012
the last laugh
Dr.& Big Love Dr. Little Love Your place forrelationship tips and tricks By: Dr. Big Love and Dr. Little Love Dr Big love has spent the years giving the boys relationship advice, but with the inagural issue of the RJ Voice we have more questions and more help answering them. Meet Dr. Little Love, the female friend come to help Dr. Big Love solve your love problems. “What is the proper way to ask a girl to a dance?” -Alex Nemechek ‘13 Well let me tell you, if you want to impress a girl make it creative and awesome! But so your friends won’t make fun of you make sure it is direct. Have your mama help you if you need ideas go to her good friends. Those two sources are really to go to, because if you just think of an idea by yourself and your good guy friends it won’t end up well. Don’t ask in any kind of suit! Here are a few things that if incorporated in the right way will be a recipe for success! First off her friends MUST be involved! They are a key part of planning, logistics, and making sure that everything come together smoothly! Flowers! No girl has ever said “He asked me out with flowers, it was terrible.” Puns, If you can think of a great homecoming pun she will say yes for sure! Good luck! “Who should text first: the girl or the guy?” -Anonymous Well it depends, usually the guy should text first. But sometimes the girl just needs to text the guy first because he might need like a little motivation. Ladies hold your ground! It is the guys’ job to text you and you just play hard to get until he does! However, if you happen to accidentally text him “Hey” and then say “Oh sorry that was for someone else but what’s up?!” that is always a great way to start a conversation!
“Is it appropriate to ask my best friend’s little sister out?” -Anonymous I’m gonna have to go with no on this one, Bro Code clearly states that you can not date a bro’s little sister no way no how. Your friendship with your bestfriend means a lot more than a high school relationship with his sister ever could. When making this decision you need to ask yourself “Is it love?!” and if you find yourself saying yes then go for it! Your buddy will always be there for you but you can’t miss out on a chance to find love! “Is buying her flowers a cheap way out or being in trouble?” -Anonymous Not at all! That is totally fine. Sometimes you just can’t remember what the day is, so get some flowers and she will be happy. YES!! Even though flowers are a great way to ask a girl to homecoming they are not a quick fix for something you did wrong! Trust me shes a girls, she can hold a grudge FOREVER, the flowers may be a nice distraction, but once the flowers die Its back to the problem she had in the first place. “He liked 3 of my statuses, liked my profile picture, and messaged me saying ‘Hey’..Is he in love with me?!” - Facebook Flirt I’m sorry, but probably not. He might think you’re attractive, but he doesn’t love you. If he asks you on a date, then he wants to get to know you a little better. Better luck next time. Oh girl you have fallen for the triple F (Facebook Flirt Fakeout). Don’t worry it happens to the best of us! He is sending all the right signs but just over facebook. If he in person had said “Hey you look nice!” that would be one thing but because its online the true meaning is lost. “I just met him and this is crazy, but I gave him my number will he call me?” -Carly Rae Jepsen Maybe.
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FALL 2012
VOICE.REGISJESUIT.COM // THE RJ VOICE // 45
IT’s time for a
REAL ELECTION
EDITORIALS BY HEBERTO LIMAS
@TitoLimasDominguez | 2014
According to a recent Gallup poll, nearly 46% of Americans are in favor of a third party. Only 60% of eligible voters even bothered to register and to vote. Voter turnout is lower than it has been since 1968 . In the Republic of France, voter turnout is at nearly 80% . One of the reasons our turnout is so low? We are sick of these two extreme and outdated parties. Our fathers and mothers, when they voted, thought to themselves, “Which candidate will be the best?” Now we are now saying, “Which candidate is not so bad?” Our pessimism allows the extremists to dominate the polls on election day and to destroy the parties that Americans value and cherish. The Republicans have been hijacked by Right-Wing extremists who want an unrealistic return to the Cold War days and their “cherished values”. The Democrats are unsure whether they are a Clinton-era liberals or “Occupy” liberals and that is dividing them as much as the Republicans. The sad part is that we do not stop it or denounce it. While we are either extreme, indifferent or ignorant, these parties continue to destroy America’s economy and divide its people. Simpson-Bowles, a bill created by a Democrat and a Republican that offered to reduce the deficit by introducing new tax plans, involved both moderates compromising their party values. They aimed to at least cut the enormous deficit while returning to the days of a budget surplus under Clinton. Since both parties were represented, it should have passed right? Wrong. Turns out that no one supported Simpson-Bowles becasue both partieswere mired in their extremist ideologies. That could be the most expensive decision they made. The solution is a simple one: vote. But do not vote on party lines or by ideology; vote for a candidate that understands that compromise is necessary. The more we are aware of these issues, the better prepared we will be to elect a president who is not so easily corrupted by power, and who cares about the people. We may not have that choice this year, but remember that the pen is always mightier because the pen always marks the box.
NOT everyone is a winner
BY ZANDER BOISSE @zanderboisse | 2014
“The Blue Ribbon Generation” is a term I’ve heard used many times, tinged with disdain, by the members of older generations to describe those of us born during the 1990’s and onward. They are referring to the idea that our generation, as a whole, has it significantly easier than they did. No one loses anymore. Everyone gets a blue ribbon. They’re right. I have seen it happen more times than I can count. Our society is centered on everything being fair to everyone, without any conditions. Now every kid on every sports team gets a trophy. This doesn’t make games better for everyone, it just makes it worse for the winners. What is the point of winning anything when the people you beat get rewarded just as much as you do? The only thing kids are learning from this mentality is they can be lazy and don’t need to win as long as they’re “trying their hardest”. Unfortunately, that’s not how the world works. Yes, there will be some young people that learn being mediocre will lead them to mediocre lives, but we haven’t had the knowledge that being the best at what we do leading us to successful lives impressed on our minds like the generations before us have. It’s going to hurt us. If I have any advice to offer to my peers, it would be to never settle for second place. If you want to have the best opportunities in life you need to be the best at what you do. If you’re not giving your best effort at what you do you’re going to fall behind, it’s as simple as that. It’s tempting to say, “Well if that’s how our whole generation is being raised I don’t have anything to worry about; everyone will act the same,” and that is partially accurate. The problem is the rest of the world doesn’t think this way. If we’re going to have international competition for jobs, we need to prepare ourselves as well as possible. We need to toughen up and get ready for the future; we certainly have our work cut out for us. And in the words of all of our fathers, we can start by “ walking ten miles in the snow every day to get to school.” Who is with me?
sports special
editorial
Football BY ALEX VASQUEZ @alexvas28 | 2014
Each week, the entire student body puts aside its differences and comes together as one to cheer on their team. Football season provides Friday night spirit. Although the football team has yet to win a state championship, it does not eliminate the fact that playing football at Regis Jesuit is without question one of the most grueling things any teenager can ever do. Year around, the team is hard at work in the weight room in hopes of gaining size and strength to hold a true advantage over their opponents. Waking up at five in the morning to be set and ready to work at six, off season training is one of the biggest mental challenges any man must face. “Lifting heavy at 6am is a little too early for me, junior offensive linemen Mason Thompson says. “It’s tough, but it definitely beats having to go in after school or during the summer when the sun is hottest at noon.” It is very difficult waking up early to lift, but there are few players who take on the task with open arms and a smile, such as junior tight end AJ Shaw. “I love showing up for morning sessions. It’s probably the best time for me to just focus and get better at my sport,” Shaw said. “Off season is probably the most difficult times during a players season, but we manage to power through it to get prepared for the season.” Football, although an exhilarating sport, is probably best known by some for the brotherhood and lessons the player’s experience. Although here at Regis Jesuit we already get a taste of brotherhood just from going to the same school, playing on the football team is just an added bonus. “I feel so much closer to my teammates more than anyone else in this school” running back Sophomore Chukwuma Obinnah said. “I’m spending practically every moment during the on and off season with them.” Mason Thompson agrees stating that although the guys on the team have friends elsewhere, you truly feel a sense of brotherhood and respect among each other on the team simply from spending so much time together. So, why do they put themselves through such “torture”? “We just love football. We can learn life skills from just participating in the program,” junior running back Jalen Williams says. Chukwuma says, “Success never comes easy, it’s not just handed to you.” And as Mason Thompson puts it, “You can’t give up when things get rough, it’s not an option. You just have to fight through the tough parts because it pays off in the end.”
Soccer BY ALEX VASQUEZ @alexvas28 | 2014
Soccer is the most popular sport in the world, with nearly every country having a national team and uniting every four years to compete in the most watched event on television, the FIFA World Cup. Being dubbed, “The Beautiful Game”, it has entranced many with its simplicity and its excitement. Although soccer has not gained the same amount of popularity as sports like football and baseball here in the United States, it has still managed to get the attention of many people and cause them to enjoy the sport just as much as other countries throughout the world. Regis Jesuit, along with many other high schools across the state, has a soccer team that strives for success. With the season beginning immediately at the end of the school year in June, many of the aspiring players come to the Regis Jesuit campus to play in “kick arounds” throughout the summer in hopes of improving their skills. “I love coming to kick arounds during the summer,” says Junior Raymond Boyd, “I get to leave my house and play some soccer for a couple of hours twice a week.”
Mr. Finuncane getting ready to cut some wristbands | Photo By Jackson Burkholder ‘14
LEAVEforROOM
JESUS Let us dance. The infamous wristband too harsh BY TANYA GLICK ‘13 @tan_glick | 2013
S
chool dances are a memorable part of the high school experience, but what will we remember years from now when we look back at them? Of course you’ll remember the slow dance to a Journey song or the awkward moment when you spill water all over you and your date at dinner, but what about the memories of hiding from the teachers with scissors and flashlights in fear of the dreaded wristband cut? Honestly, I don’t think I even danced at my junior year Homecoming. The lights were on, so it was easier for teachers to find our “inappropriate” dancing. It may be inappropriate to the older generations, but unfortunately, our generation doesn’t know how to dance any other way, nor does our music allow us to. This puts us in a bit of a predicament. I understand that the administration is trying to teach us to respect ourselves and others, but there is no intentional disrespect intended. I do appreciate that my little brother, along with his freshman classmates, were given a presentation in Theology on how to treat their Homecoming date. That’s fantastic and much needed, but times have changed. How we dance isn’t inappropriate or disrespectful. Now that’s not to say that it can’t cross the line. We do a pretty good job keeping it in check. Wristbands are a little harsh considering the situation; we are just trying to dance the only way we know how for our generation’s music. I mean come on, they all can’t be slow dances to Journey.
Getting out to play the sport they love is without question the best part of the game. How else does the entire soccer program manage to prepare for the season? “We do a lot of running to improve our endurance,” says Raymond. Watching the numerous games, it is evident that a player must be in top physical condition to run for nearly 90 minutes at a time. “It’s pretty tiring, a lot of our practices consisted of aerobic conditioning, but it pays off in the end,” adds Raymond. With eight varsity wins this past season, it was a successful season for the team. Under new head coach Mr. Rick Wolf, the team held its own and fought on. FALL 2012
VOICE.REGISJESUIT.COM// THE RJ VOICE // 01
Whats New on & editorial
Feature videos News videos
Homecoming Week Video By: Matt Shanahan ‘16
Informative videos By: Chambers giblin ‘14
See the parade again. Highlights from the Pep Rally and clips from the homecoming football game.
Investigative videos exploring the red bull stratos jump and history of presidential debates.
slideshows
live sports
RJ Voice ON twitter LIVE TWEETS & UPDATES FROM Regis jesuit events
Slideshows & captions by: jackson burkholder ‘14 EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY
RJ Live (Live.regisJesuit.com) live coverage and commentary
@RJ_Voice (Twitter) @RJ_Voice (Instagram)
football games homecoming pep rally
RJ Day for Others becomes a testament to true brotherhood By: Alex Arora ‘14 Alex’s personal experience during the RJ Day for Others.
02 // THE RJ VOICE // VOICE.REGISJESUIT.COM
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FALL 2012