Accessibility Day Celebrates Disability Pride and Promotes Awareness

James Ortiz, Staff Photographer 

On April 9th, 2025, Regis University hosted Accessibility Day with games, prizes, and food trucks. Festivities took place on the Quad, and served as a way to celebrate diversity pride, and to promote awareness. The event taught skills and resources to make the world more accessible to all. It was organized and sponsored by Student Disability Services, Community for Belonging, RU Student Government Association and GLOBAL Inclusive Program. 

Resources are exchanged for Accessibility Day. Photo by James Ortiz

Educators offer guidance to students, encouraging accessibility for all. Photo by James Ortiz

Accessibility Day was completed with sunny skies and gorgeous weather. Photo by James Ortiz

New Campus Office Opens Doors for Immigrant Students and Families, Offering Resources

Katherine Fragoso, Guest Writer 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

USRA+ wants to make sure that everyone, regardless of their immigration status, knows they have a place here at Regis.  For more information or to get involved, students and families can visit the center in Main Hall 343 or contact the USRA+ members directly. USRA+ also has an email which is regularly monitored. monarch@regis.edu

Trump’s Executive Orders Target Immigrants

Caleigh Montoya, Staff Writer

Upon taking office on January 20th, 2025, one of President Trump’s first orders of business was cracking down on immigration. Titling the executive order, “Protecting The American People Against Invasion”, Trump’s blatant attack on immigrants is clear. Naming immigrants as invaders, aliens, and a threat to public safety in an executive order delivered straight from the white house to all of America displays Trump’s racism seeping into our politics. Let’s dive into how he has fulfilled this executive order into his presidency thus far.

On his first day in office, he had the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrest 308 migrants to fulfill his promises to his voters and supporters. By February 3rd, 2025, Trump had 8,768 migrants arrested. This number has continued to grow rapidly under Trump’s presidency. Deporting and displacing thousands of migrants, the majority of which are undangerous, is causing many immigrants who have built their lives here, worry and fear.  

Although ICE is not legally allowed to enter your home without a warrant, detain children without their guardians, or detain you in certain areas, it seems as though their legalities have been dismissed. ICE has been targeting migrant communities, forcing themselves into their homes, arresting children, and targeting schools and hospitals. This is illegal and inhumane! 

For more information on ICE and your rights, and for guidance on how to navigate this political time, use the resources below:

Know Your Rights: If You Encounter ICE

Denver Immigrant and Refugee Resources

What To Do When Interacting with ICE

What To Do If ICE Approaches You

ICE NOT WELCOME: Verify, Document, and Report

The U.S. Withdraws from the Paris Agreement

Gabriella Sandoval, Events Liaison and Manager 

The United States initially signed into the Paris Agreement upon its formation in 2016. In 2020, following the dictation of President Trump, it withdrew. Upon the election of President Biden, the U.S. signed back into the treaty again in 2021. However, due to recent political changes, powered by the inauguration of President Trump, serving his second term as the country’s president, the U.S. has once again withdrawn from the Paris Agreement, as of 2025. Trump’s decision to retract the U.S. from the agreement has sparked criticism from environmentalists, scientists, religious organizations, neighboring countries, and the American people. The U.S. is the second largest emitter of carbon dioxide emissions. This means that Trump’s decision to separate the country from the treaty contradicts any form of positive concepts by initiating change.

What is the Paris Agreement? 

The Paris Agreement is an international treaty on climate change that was implemented in 2016, aiming to help countries adapt to climate change effects, and provide financial assistance for necessary changes. The primary goal of this treaty is to maintain the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C, and pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C. These temperatures are above pre-industrial levels. Simply put, the lower the temperature increases, the smaller the effects of climate change can be expected. 

This multilateral treaty serves as a landmark in action addressing the climate change problem. The Paris Agreement is a radical concept that is one of the first initiatives to foster widespread agreement and shared country initiatives. This is done through bringing almost all of the nations together to take effective measures and combat climate change effects. 

The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change indicates that crossing the 1.5°C line bears risks including: far more severe climate change impacts such as more frequent and severe droughts, heatwaves, and rainfall. Moreso, 2024 was the hottest year on record, with a global average temperature above 1.5 °C. 

To stay below a temperature of 1.5 °C, emissions need to be cut by roughly 50% by 2030 according to the United Nations Climate Change. All active countries partaking in the treaty are required to determine, plan, and report transparently on actions taken to progress in climate change mitigation, as well as explanation of adaptive measures and support provided or received. This is to ensure that effective measures are taking place and that they’re making an impact. 

The Importance of the Paris Agreement

The importance of this treaty signifies contribution, consistency, and coordination; but above all, this treaty recognizes the need for deliberate effort from all parties involved to combat disastrous climate change effects. Although climate change action needs to be massively increased to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement, the years since its inception have already launched low-carbon solutions and new markets. More and more countries, regions, cities and companies are establishing carbon neutrality targets and zero-carbon solutions which represent 25% of emissions. By 2030, zero-carbon solutions could be competitive throughout all sectors, representing over 70% of global emissions according to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

While some may argue that climate change is inevitable due to human evolution, the conduction of further research is necessary to show the impact human life has on the environment. Data collected from various scientific sites such as the United Nations Climate Change Panel conclude that:

• Climate change and its effects could be irreversible by 2030

• Greenhouse gas levels are at an all-time high 

• Humans utilize more of the earth’s resources than it can renew

• This past decade has been recorded as the hottest period in the last 125,000 years

There’s no argument that varying opinions can’t exist, however as inhabitants of our one and only earth, it would make more sense to be alarmed about our current state of climate. Although we may feel powerless at times in regards to how we can assist and care for our earth, the first and most important step is educating yourself on current issues and possible solutions.

Israel Cuts Relations with UNRWA

Caleigh Montoya, Staff Writer

Israel has officially cut ties with the U.N. agency that assists Palestinian refugees, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East,  (UNRWA) the agency that provides help and services for Palestinian refugees. UNRWA has also been helping different organizations to help Gaza. 

Recently, legislation declared UNRWA to be infiltrated by Hamas. However, the supporting evidence seems faulty and UNRWA strongly denied this. UNRWA’s main ways of transport to support Gaza go through Israel. With this choice to cut relations, Gaza will continue to have fewer and fewer resources.

A few key points to understand the situation Gaza and Palestinians are in: 

1. More than 42,000 Palestinians have been killed.

2. An estimated 9.17 million Palestinians have been displaced globally.

3. The majority of Palestinian refugees live in impoverished limbo in refugee camps.

4. 93% of the population of Gaza is facing extremely high levels of food insecurity and starvation.

Cutting relations with UNRWA, the only agency attempting to protect and aid Gaza displays a pure refusal on Israel’s part to try to end this war, or at least end the killings, starvation, and mass displacement of Palestinians.

Native American Heritage Month

Caleigh Montoya, Staff Writer 

November is Native American Heritage Month. This was first declared in 1990 to recognize and shed light on the Native American experience in America. November calls attention to Native American culture, achievements, power, and their history of discovering America first. 

Heritage months are important as they provide moments to celebrate, support, educate, unite, gain perspective, and learn all about America’s intersectional identity. Native American Heritage Month is a month to learn and understand the fact that there were people on this land before not only us, but before colonizers as well. Recognizing the history of Native Americans allows us to recognize America’s ugly but truthful past and without this acknowledgment, we fail to learn from the mistakes made in the name of white supremacy.  

To support Native American Heritage Month, you can learn more about the Indigenous people who lived on the land you currently inhabit. You can also spread awareness and support of Native peoples, by continuing to educate yourself and others about the power that togetherness holds. By acknowledging the past, we can lead to a better future.