The Yassification of Regis: QSA’s Drag Show

By: Gabby Sabater, Staff Writer

As a part of Queer Weekend, Regis QSA put on their 4th annual drag show last Saturday and my, did they put their hearts and souls into it! The room was buzzing with excitement and the performers showed up and showed out.

Before the show even began, our lovely MC, Clementine, took the stage and my goodness was she stunning in her grunge number! She prefaced the show and introduced two of Denver’s very own drag performers– Felony Misdemeanor and Onyx Steele. Both folks have been involved in drag for over twenty years and shared their stories and excitement for this event to be happening on our Catholic campus. They enlightened us with their personal journeys with drag as well as what it means to them and the LGBTQ+ community, inspiring many in the audience.

After Misdemeanor and Steele took their seats, six delightful Regis students strutted down the runway in full drag and lit up the room with their contagious energy: Macklemore, Crystal Paul, Freddie Her-Cury, Justin Butt, Summers, and one of the Highlander’s very own Tyler Steersnqueers executed outstanding renditions of songs we all know and love. And when I tell you they ate, not a crumb was left on that stage.

And not to mention, they all got dolled up before the show by professional makeup artist Alice Glamoure! She was gluing down eyebrows and sketching on beards galore making our kings and queens look fabulous; I think Justin Butt even had a little pre-show workout and showed off their stunning six-pack!

As if this environment wasn’t welcoming enough, the QSA cabinet invited folks in the audience up on stage for a little lip-syncing of their own! The night went on as students lined up to take their turn in the limelight.

The evening was lively and glamorous and queer to say the very least. QSA would like to thank RUSGA, Dave Law, and the Programming Board for helping sponsor this exceptionally successful event. And I would like to give a special shoutout to Madelaine Johnson for the creation and production of the drag show – the show truly couldn’t have gone on without you. With roughly 170 folks in attendance, this was the biggest turnout for the drag show! I think I can accurately speak for everyone when I say we were all starving for community (and drag), and we satisfied this hunger last Saturday.

Photos by: Seamus Prim

Active Minds: An Innovative Mental Health Solution for College Campuses

By: Madelynn Loring, Staff Writer

As we approach the two year anniversary of the first national COVID-19 lock down, it is critical to acknowledge the effect the ongoing pandemic has had on our health, both physically and mentally. While we may know the worst we will face with the physical aspect of the virus, the impact of long stretches and anxieties on our mental health is not yet fully known, though we are certainly feeling the effect. According to the US Census Bureau, reports of depression and anxiety symptoms have increased by over 300% since pre-pandemic times and mental health care units, much like the rest of the healthcare industry, are becoming overwhelmed Even the counseling office of Regis’s OCPD is experiencing an influx of students seeking therapy, resulting in weeks-long wait lists to see a practitioner. 

To address this on campus, a new but familiar group has formed called Active Minds. Active Minds is a national nonprofit dedicated to providing mental health resources and education to students on college campuses. Regis has had an Active Minds chapter in the past, but it was dissolved in 2019. But, in the face of great community need, it has been revived to provide further support to Rangers. When asked about what inspired him to restart Active Minds, president Cooper Pahl answered, “Honestly, because I think it is needed. [The] main goal is to decrease mental health stigma and create a place where self-worth and healing is prioritized, and not just in classrooms but all across campus.” Active Minds provides training for stepping into mental health crises as well as local and national mental health resources. 

Currently, Active Minds is working alongside VAVP, the OCPD, RAs, and other community groups to put on events such as panels on eating disorders and other mental health conditions, self care goody bags, and Lofi Bob Ross event including an evening of de-stressing activities like art. To find more information about these events, visit Active Minds @activeminds_regis on Instagram. Furthermore, if you are interested in getting involved in the work of Active Minds, please reach out to Cooper Pahl at cpahl@regis.edu.

If you or someone you know is having a mental health crisis, please contact Colorado Crisis Services at 844-493-8255.

Spooky Scary Staircases

By: Sandra Vo, Staff Writer

Rich with the scenery expected of a dreamy college life, Regis University boasts a beautiful campus on its admissions brochures and for good reason. The classic, brick buildings and iconic silhouette of Main Hall is nothing short of architectural brilliance. But within certain buildings on campus hides a dark secret—some of the scariest staircases you will ever climb in your life. 

They offer the perfect setting for a Buzzfeed Unsolved episode and can cause your heart rate to shoot up so high that your Fitbit will be convinced you’re doing cardio. Below is a small guide to some of the most terrifying staircases on Regis’s Northwest campus. 

1. Carroll Hall — Just in case the desolate aura of the building isn’t terrifying enough, this staircase in Carroll Hall comes with a fun bonus: gaps between each step that’ll have you wondering whether you should’ve invested in a Life Alert necklace. At night, this staircase truly becomes the prime setting for a mysterious disappearance.

2. Desmet Hall — If the light on the first flight of stairs works, this staircase ranks number two on the list, but if it doesn’t, this definitely becomes the top contender for the scariest staircase on campus. Unfortunately, this light is as sporadic as Colorado weather. The dim lighting and creaking of every single door echoing throughout the staircase makes it truly horrifying to climb at night. And perhaps the worst thing about this staircase is the numerous stains that decorate its steps, mysterious fluids that can never quite be identified. 

3. Dayton Memorial Library — Rather than the construction that makes this staircase scary, it’s the general vibe that these stairs give off. At night, the stairs immerse themselves within an eerie silence, meaning that the only sound you can hear on these stairs is your own footsteps and breathing. Combined with the rows of bookshelves that make it easy to hide any imaginary axe murderer, it’s enough to give anyone a cold sweat.

4. Student Center’s Basement — Maybe it’s because this staircase feels a little too much like you’re walking into an enemy’s hideout, but the chipped paint and exposed pipes don’t do much to assuage your fears walking down here. In addition to the fact that some people don’t even know this staircase exists, it truly feels like you’re descending into something more sinister than just a chill basement area. 

5. Claver Hall — Without a doubt, Claver Hall is built like a serial killer has designed a sick game for victims to escape from, and this staircase is no different. These staircases occupy an unnerving amount of space and have inexplicable mirrors in front of them, like a phantom is going to appear at any minute. If Hollywood decides to make another Jigsaw movie, this would definitely be the perfect place to film.

Christmas Tree Lighting Event

By: Vivian Pham, Staff Writer

Christmas tree lighting is an established event at Regis University. Despite the fact that it’s only mid-November, the Christmas atmosphere is everywhere on campus. Since students are going to leave campus after finals to celebrate Christmas with their family and won’t be back until after New Year, Regis decided to host a Christmas event that gathers people around and wish each other the best for the upcoming holiday season.

It’s only 5 in the afternoon, and the sky has started to darken in a blink of an eye. The quad quickly filled up with students, faculty members, and even families with small children from the area. Everyone seemed excited about the event. The air was filled with laughter and chatter. The children played around, giggling and chasing each other. All created a perfect picture of a holiday season. 

The event officially started at 5:15 PM when Fr. Fitzgibbons began his speech. The speech ended shortly, followed by the most important and awaited part of the event: lighting the Christmas tree. Provost Karen Riley decided to give the honor to the youngest among the crowd, the little children, to light up the Christmas tree as a sign of the beginning of the Christmas season. The moment the tree was lit up, everyone was in awe for a split second, but soon bursted into joy and rejoice. It was truly a magical night full of joyfulness and happiness.

After the lighting, people gathered around and sang some Christmas carols to bring back the Christmas spirit that has been hiding away for a year. A long line of people waiting to be served hot beverages and waffles quickly formed right after the lighting event. They even put up an ice skating area in the Parking Lot next to the Student Center.

This event has so far been the most memorable on-campus experience. May peace and joy be with you all this holiday season and I hope you’ll have a good time with family and friends. Merry Christmas everyone!

Fall Essential: 3 Best Photo Spots On-Campus

By: Vivian Pham, Staff Writer

Are you looking for perfect spots to take those cozy crunchy pumpkin spicy photos to post on Instagram? Allow me to introduce you to the wonder of Regis University campus. It is one of the most beautiful places to take fall pictures and here’s my top three spots that will literally transform your fall vibe.

1.The Quad in front of Main Hall – This is one of the prettiest photoshoot spots I've ever been on. All you need is some aesthetic fall clothes, a good phone/cameras, and a bit of luck for a sunny day (sunlight is the best natural light). Finally, let the camera does its magic.

photo by// Vivian Pham

2. Red tree clusters across West Hall – You know it’s fall when the trees start to turn red and everything just fell like a scene from When Harry Met Sally. So go out there, put on your best outfit, and turn this season into your own “main character” movie.

photo by// Vivian Pham

3.     The street between Chapel and Claver Hall – Mountains are a specialty in our fall photoshoot here in Colorado. With that being said, you don’t have to actually go to the mountains to take your fall pictures, you can literally do it right here on campus! My usual morning walk to class will not be complete without taking that downhill route between the Chapel and Claver Hall. The best time to take it though is in the morning when the sky is clear, the slight breeze sliding on your skin and the early morning light shining on your face.

Recording Courses Available at Regis

By Morgan Jacobus, Editor in Chief

Do you have an interest in producing music? For Spring 2022 there is a music production course, the first of a sequence of recording courses at Regis that ultimately teach students to record, mix, master, release, and promote their own recordings as artists and/ or producers.

The professor teaching the course is Cory Cullinan, who wrote, “I have spent my entire career doing just that for both myself and other artists – last month, for example, I produced tracks with multiple Grammy-winners, one of which opened a United Nations General Assembly meeting and two others that charted on two different national charts.”

The course takes place on Fridays 11:00-1:30, and is worth 3 credits. Below is the official class code (as you would find on WebAdvisor) as well as course description:

FAMT 432E Live/ Studio Digital Recording: Students master basic recording arts; sound, acoustics & design; microphones; digital audio & digital audio workstations; ProTools; and operation of the Regis Recording Studio & Claver Recital Hall. Students make a live recording in Claver Recital Hall & a Studio Recording in Regis Recording Studio. We’ll mix projects as a class. Required reading: Modern Recording Techniques (9th Edition).

Cullinan continued, “By the first day of the spring semester, we’ll not only have an amazing performance hall (Claver) ready to make top-notch recordings, we’ll also have an amazing and revitalized multi-room recording studio ready to make top-notch recordings. All we need now… is YOU!”

If you are interested in more information about this course, reach out to Cory Cullinan at ccullinan@regis.edu