RUSGA Candidate Annelise Pehr Question and Answer

By Emily Summers, Staff Writer

Here’s a Q&A with RUSGA Student Body President candidate Annelise Pehr. Voting is open now and you can find the link in your email.

Highlander: What position are you running for?

Annelise Pehr: I am running for student body president

Highlander: Tell me a little bit about yourself.

AP: I am currently finishing out my junior year and I am a double major in Sociology and Peace & Justice Studies with a minor in Spanish. I grew up in Los Angeles, California as the only daughter of a Mexican Catholic mother and Jewish father. I never imagined I would end up in Denver, Colorado let alone Regis. In the spring of my senior year my parents and I came to visit another school in Denver that I had been admitted to, but I disliked everything about it, so in an effort to not make the trip a bust, my dad remembered that there was a Catholic university in Denver. We hopped in our rental car and walked around Regis during the infamous Ranger Day blizzard that I have only heard stories about from upperclassmen. I filled out the application in our hotel room later that evening and I was admitted in May, but with not enough aid. Fast forward through two months of planning to attend my safety school, Regis was able to give me

enough aid to attend. With about three weeks notice, I packed my bags and moved to a new state where I would make a place that I am lucky enough to call my home today.

Highlander: What is the focus of your campaign?

AP: The focus of my campaign is to make all people feel that they have a home at Regis, especially those that have been underserved such as commuters and all members of affinity groups. I have spent my entire week campaigning by talking to and asking students what they want to see and overwhelmingly I have listened to students’ deep desires for wanting to belong in this space no matter how “weird” they are and that same desire goes from people that identify as conservative Catholics to queer atheists.

Highlander: What is one thing you would like to improve most at Regis?

AP: As of right now my campaign focuses on three main tenets, but one specific facet of Regis that I would like to improve most is how RUSGA represents students. This year RUSGA went through a massive renovation in an effort to make it a governing body that does effectively represent the diverse voices in our student body, but it still has a long way to go. I plan to improve RUSGA involvement by advocating for policies that train student leaders to give them the tools necessary in order to be able to make the change that they themselves deem necessary within our bureaucratic structures.

Highlander: What qualities do you possess that make you the most qualified for the position?

AP: Well, first and foremost, I am a great listener which is an incredibly important skill for a president to have. In order to be an effective president my job is not to uphold my own interests, but it is to uphold those of the student body which I can do by listening to my constituents. I am also a competent communicator in which I demonstrated this year through my championing of IgnatianQ, an effort to put Regis at the forefront of queer inclusivity on Catholic campuses. I worked to bring IgnatianQ's national movement to the Regis campus through a year long campaign to bolster allyship and education around LGBTQ+ identities. Through this work I have not only learned how to acquire administrative support on student movements, but also shown long-term dedication and commitment to projects that students care about on campus. Lastly, I am patient. I am a realist and I know that in a year long presidency a lot of empty promises can be made, but that is not who I am. I promise to have depth rather than breadth in the policies RUSGA takes on next year to represent you and to be patient in gathering student voices in our paving the path for progress.

Q: Why should students vote for you?

A: Students should vote for me because I am experienced with the workings of RUSGA, I have a successful working relationship with administrators, and I am a fierce advocate for student needs.

*The only edits to this transcript were made for punctuation. All content represents the original discussion of the reporter and candidate.

Drinking on campus? Cheers to that.

By: Emily Summers, Staff Writer

As many know, Regis University’s Student Center has recently undergone major renovations and is on its way to becoming the epicenter of student activity on campus. Adopting a sleek, modern look, the updated building has gone from “drab” to “fab" in a matter of months. Despite the project’s set completion date of 2020, many areas of the Student Center are already up and running, including the new Walker’s Pub.

Walker’s Pub, named after John Brisben Walker, the man who donated the initial 40 acres of farmland that Regis sits on today, was established in 2010. Over the last eight years, Walker’s Pub has been known as a hangout spot for students on campus and the home of RUSGA’s Thursday Thrills.

Formerly located just inside of the Student Center’s main entrance, Walker’s Pub has now moved to the furthermost south end of the building. Equipped with a new bar, fireplace, and pizza oven, this area has become a fan favorite among Regis students. Offering a wide variety of food and beverages, the newly renovated pub has become a campus hotspot for those looking to grab a beer or a quick bite to eat.

The food menu focuses on a selection of pizzas and calzones, made to order in the new fire oven. Also available are various sides, such as salads, breadsticks, and sandwiches. With new specials each week, the menu is ever-evolving and is sure to offer something that will satisfy everyone’s taste buds. In addition to dine-in services, students are able to call ahead and order entire pizzas.

There are a variety of beverages sold, including Novo coffee and local brews. With currently six beers on tap and three wines offered, the bar has similarly increased in popularity. It’s a great place to cheers the end of the week.

With a variety of food and beverages, along with frequent entertainment, Walker’s Pub has something for everyone. Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. during weekdays and 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. on the weekends, Walker’s Pub holds opportunity for the Regis community to better connect. Grab beer with your friends, or meet with your professor over coffee. The new pub is incredibly versatile and provides the perfect meeting spot on campus.

As for the future of Walker’s Pub, Regis currently has no plans to expand it, but we can bet this isn’t the last of improvements. With the growing student population, additional improvements and renovations are sure to come.

For those who haven’t had the pleasure of visiting the new and improved Walker’s Pub: You’re missing out.

Fire on the Mountain: They’ve got the sauce

By: Emily Summers, Practicum Reporter

 3.5 stars (out of 4)   

With homemade sauces, down-to-earth employees, and a casual atmosphere, Fire on the Mountain has quickly become a growing hotspot in the Highlands area. The menu ranges from traditional wings and hand-breaded mozzarella wheels to house-made vegan seitan strips –

there is something on the menu for everyone. The restaurant has an “order at the counter” style, so there is no rush in the menu selection. 

 Vibe:The unique lighting, vibrantly colored walls and artwork from local artists creates an edgy, casual vibe throughout the restaurant. Above the bar hangs more than 100 different beer tap handles (those that aren’t currently in use), each belonging to a uniquely crafted brew. The bathroom walls are covered in stickers from various bands, shops and campaigns. Overall, Fire on the Mountain creates an edgy, relaxed atmosphere that draws in customers from all walks of life. 

Hits:Fire on the Mountain serves a dozen different wing sauces, all made in-house. Each sauce has its own unique flavor and is created to pair perfectly with a variety of items on the menu other than wings. The hormone-free, antibiotic-free, cage-free wings are fried to a perfect crispiness on the outside, while remaining tender and juicy in the middle. They are smothered in the sauce of your choice and served with house-made ranch or blue cheese. 

 Although this restaurant is popular among wing lovers, there are many gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options on the menu. Try the cauliflower wings covered in your choice of vegan sauce, or give the house salad a taste. There is a variety of options for those who choose not to eat our feathered friends. 

Misses:Fire on the Mountain needs to expand. The wait time comes not from the laziness of employees, but from the popularity of the restaurant and its crazy long lines. If the goal is a quick bite to eat, Fire on the Mountain is not the right choice. If it's not a weekday lunch, then a wait is guaranteed. 

Service:With its relaxed, casual vibe, Fire on the Mountain has become a weekend hotspot for anyone looking to grab a bite to eat. Despite its growth in popularity, the restaurant has yet to catch up. On a typical Friday or Saturday night, the minimum wait time for a table is around 45 minutes. Once inside the restaurant, the wait for food isn’t much shorter. Although the wait time isn’t ideal, the friendly, welcoming staff make up for it. Immediately inside the door, customers are greeted with a smile and helped instantly. There’s no need to stand around and wait for a hostess, as they are always prompt and the place is plenty staffed.

Bottom Line:It’s worth the wait. Despite the wait time, your taste buds will thank you. From the classic traditional wings to the perfectly crisp fries – and even the “Asian Persuasion” salad, there is no wrong choice on the menu. 

Price:Wings (about $1 each); Sandwiches ($12 to $13); Salads ($6 to $12); Appetizers ($5 to $12); Dessert ($7)

Fun Fact:Fire on the Mountain is the first restaurant in the Highlands area to be certified green by Certifiably Green Denver, meaning they compost and recycle a significant amount more than they throw away. Along with composting and recycling, they also send in fryer oil to be turned into biodiesel, creating renewable fuel. In an effort to encourage sustainability, Fire on the Mountain offers a 5 percent discount to customers who utilize some alternative method of transportation.

 Fire on the Mountain

3801 W. 32 Ave; 303.480.WING; www.fotmdenver.com

Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday 

Reservations: Not accepted

Parking: Street

With DACA in Limbo, Students Fear Deportation

By Emily Summers, Practicum Reporter

Denise Maes, public policy director at the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado, visited Regis University in November to discuss the current issue of immigration in our country. Maes addressed Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), as well as the Zero Tolerance Policy, with hundreds of students, faculty, and community members in the St. John Francis Regis Chapel. 

Maes first shared the stories and experiences of a few DACA students, and explained the situation many students of similar circumstances are facing: the fear of deportation. She discussed the changes the United States has faced under the current administration and described DACA as “in limbo.” Maes stated that she is not confident that the Supreme Court will rule in favor of DACA. 

She went on to further discuss immigration, specifically surrounding the Family Separation Policy in the U.S. After Trump’s executive order for a Zero Tolerance Policy, about three thousand children who had crossed the border into the United States were separated from their families. Maes explained the effects this separation had on these children.

“Every single child advocacy group … agrees that we have caused irreparable harm and trauma to these kids,” Maes said.

Following Maes, Regis faculty member Allison Peters read an anonymous story on behalf of a current Regis student. This student’s story depicted her life as an undocumented student in the United States. Growing up, this student explained her life, as an undocumented immigrant was full of fear and uncertainty. During her time at Regis, the student had received multiple threats, including death threats. Despite these obstacles, she has remained fairly optimistic.

“My story is one of thousands, but we are here, working for a better life, allies for those who stand for what is right. I, too, am a Regis student,” said Peters, reading the student’s remarks. 

Two Regis alumni also spoke to the group about their experiences as undocumented students. Each person had a unique story.

The event soon turned toward questions and answers between the speakers and the audience. 

The event, which was part of Social Justice Week on campus, stimulated conversation within the Regis community. Hearing the true, first-person stories from former undocumented immigrants themselves shed light on an incredibly relevant issue in our world today.

Vartabedian, the Kindly Philosopher Professor

 By: Emily Summers, Practicum Reporter

Beginning in kindergarten, Becky Vartabedian attended 59 consecutive semesters of schooling, culminating in a Ph.D. from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. This was no easy feat, and stands as an accomplishment not shared with many others. Among Vartabedian’s many schools and universities is Regis University, where she is currently an assistant professor. 

Vartabedian teaches in the Philosophy department, the Honors Program, and the Integrative and Foundational Cores. In both attending school and teaching at Regis, Vartabedian has been well respected, according to students and colleagues.

Vartabedian found her love for philosophy while attending Regis. In high school, it hadn’t been a subject she particularly enjoyed, but during her time at Regis, things unexpectedly changed. 

As a first-year student, Vartabedian took a philosophy class from Professor Karen Atkins, Ph.D., also her adviser. 

Vartabedian recalls it was in Atkins’ classroom that “it just started to make sense.” 

After graduating from Regis, Vartabedian attended Denver Seminary and the University of Colorado Denver before earning her Ph.D. at Duquesne University. She then taught at several universities as an adjunct faculty member before coming to Regis in 2012. 

For four years, Vartabedian served as a term instructor before becoming an assistant professor, the title she currently holds. She teaches many subjects, such as philosophy and peace and justice, saying she has no particular favorite. As a professor, Vartabedian enjoys learning with her students versus merely lecturing in front of a class. 

“As a teacher, I want to learn with my students and a lot of what we’re able to teach here at Regis gives us that opportunity,” Vartabedian says.  

Vartabedian is well liked among her students, who used the following words to describe her: “engaging, intelligent and inspiring.” She focuses her classes on a more dialogic approach, rather than lecture-based, which has proven to be an effective and engaging method. 

“I feel as though Dr. Vartabedian’s class opened my eyes to other perspectives and worldviews. Her class really showed me what Regis is all about,” says Paul Lenz, a third-year Regis student. 

Although Vartabedian’s class was requirement for the third-year business major, Lenz explains that he would take the, Writing for Social Justice, class again. Despite the fact that the class had nothing to do with his major, Lenz found Vartabedian engaging. 

Vartabedian’s colleagues also speak highly of her. Professor Eric Fretz, Ph.D., department chair of the Peace and Justice Studies, has taught alongside Vartabedian for several years and describes her as “brilliant, yet humble.” He explains that despite her exceptional intelligence, she carries herself with a deep level of humility, which he called rare. 

“Every time I talk to Becky, I learn something I didn’t know. In addition, she just makes me feel good as a friend; I never feel talked down to,” says Fretz. 

Vartabedian’s reputation extends beyond Regis’ Northwest Denver campus. She belongs to several professional organizations, including the American Philosophical Association and the Society for Philosophy in the Contemporary World. Through these and other organizations, she speaks at conferences and contributes to literary journals. 

 Vartabedian enjoys writing; her first book was released last year. The book, “Multiplicity and Ontology in Deleuze and Badiou,” is about “a dispute in contemporary French philosophy about the nature of being.” 

 She explains that the book developed from her dissertation and took about 18 months to complete. Following the release of her book, the American Philosophical Association featured her work in their “Early Career Scholar Spotlight.” 

 Beyond Vartabedian’s professional life, she enjoys weight lifting, baseball, and spending time with her husband, Andrew, whom she met when they were students at Regis. She met her husband while visiting a classroom for a school project. He was student teaching in that classroom.

 Her husband is her greatest inspiration, Vartabedian says. He’s an artist – working in photography and ceramics – as well as an art teacher at Northglenn High School. Their relationship is full of curiosity and excitement, she says.

 “He is the most interesting person and also the most curious person,” Vartabedian said. “That’s what really inspires me – curiosity.”

 Another of Vartabedian’s inspirations is French philosopher Maurice Merleau-Ponty, whose work is the basis of her master’s thesis. Merleau-Ponty’s work focuses on the meaning of human experience. Vartabedian explains that her philosophical thought, along with her worldview, closely aligns with Merleau-Ponty’s philosophy. In a similar way, Vartabedian provides inspiration to her own students.