I was lucky enough to interview Alyse Knorr, an assistant professor in the English Department who teaches creative writing and Women and Gender Studies, about college life and beyond. Professor Knorr expressed profound gratitude for where she is now in her career at Regis, and also for the friends, mentors, and teachers who have been there since the start of her journey.
Read MoreSpring break, much like any other holiday, serves different people in different ways. While many choose to use spring break as a time to travel, go to the beach, and party; others use it to relax and forget about the stresses of college classes and their course loads. This class-free time is a god send to students who are tired and losing motivation because it gives them time to recharge in order to power through the semester with strong grades and a good mentality. In general, spring break serves as a strong benefit to the mental health of students nationwide.
Read MoreBy: Morgan Jacobus, Editor in Chief
photo credit// Morgan Jacobus
There has been a buzz around campus about the new smoothie bar. It is downstairs in Claver Hall, at the Grill. Many students have stopped by Claver before for the market, but now there is so much more being offered. There is the Grill, which has similar items to the Grill in the caf, but with the addition of other menu items like quesadillas (which I hear are pretty good).
Be sure to get there in the afternoons though because it is only open 11am—3pm on weekdays. Don’t miss it!
There are four smoothie flavors available, or you can craft your own. I decided to give each a try. Below are my reviews, in the order that I tried them.
Strawberry Citrus
This smoothie caught my eye first, because it sounded like the Strawberry Surf Rider at Jamba Juice, aka my favorite smoothie ever. It features strawberries, pineapple, peaches, lemonade, lime juice, and Greek yogurt. However, I think my expectations may have been a bit too high. This smoothie isn’t like the smoothie I was envisioning, but it was still tasty. The one that I got mainly tasted like pineapple, which I personally think overpowers it. I am a peachy citrusy gal, and I didn’t taste those flavors, so that was a little disappointing. The yogurt in it makes it thick and creamy, which lingers on your tongue and coats your mouth.
My roommate Mikaela Taylor said it was “wangy but good,” and that it made her face pucker a bit. After trying the Berry Blast, she said she preferred this smoothie.
Overall rating: 3/5 stars, would recommend if you like pineapple and Greek yogurt
Mango Tango
This smoothie is made with mango, pineapple, strawberry, orange juice, and Greek yogurt. Overall, it is more balanced than the strawberry citrus smoothie. Though the pineapple was still a heavy hitter and had the most prominent flavor, you could taste the mango and the other ingredients. It was still smooth, but not quite as creamy as the other, though perhaps the person who made mine didn’t add as much Greek yogurt as before. It was not as tart as the other one either; it still makes you pucker a bit. It is more of a smoothie that I would expect.
I think if you are a pineapple fan, go for the ones with pineapple in it because it is definitely the main flavor that I taste in these smoothies.
Overall rating: 3.5/ 5 stars, not my favorite, but I liked it better than the strawberry because it had more well-rounded flavors.
Berry Blast
There is a story that goes along with my review for this particular smoothie. One day I went to get smoothies with my friends, and three of us chose the berry smoothie, which is made with strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, apples, and cranberry juice. My friend Lexi Wrich tasted hers, which was the first one to come out, and she said it had a little after taste of pine tree. Confused, we each tried it, and it did have a taste of “tree” in it. Then mine was ready, but it didn’t taste like a tree. We brought hers to the lady who made it, who says that she must have put the mint that was supposed to be in the green machine into the berry smoothie.
Without the aforementioned mint incident, the berry smoothie was very tasty. My friends used Mikaela’s description of “wangy” for this smoothie as well. Normally I am not a big berry fan, but this smoothie was really good. A little tart, with a nice berry flavor in addition to the taste of apples and cranberry juice. It was also sweeter than some of the other smoothies I tried, which I was a fan of. Perhaps my liking of this smoothie was because of the lack of pineapples and Greek yogurt, but either way I quite enjoyed it.
My overall rating would be 4/5 stars. Out of the four smoothies, this would be my favorite. Lexi’s rating is 5/5 for color (it was a beautiful magenta/ purple), and 4/5 for flavor. She commented that it has a good apple flavor.
Green Machine
Featuring all things green, it includes kale, spinach, apples, honeydew, mint, apple juice, and chia. In my experience, people either really like or really don’t like green smoothies. My friend Shelby Plummer is someone who likes this kind of smoothie and tried it. Though I am not a very big green smoothie person, this smoothie was not bad. However, this smoothie didn’t have the mint (because of the mix-up where it ended up in my friend’s berry smoothie), so I cannot accurately represent what it would taste like with that in it. I would caution people of the affect of the mint on the overall taste, since when it was in Lexi’s berry smoothie it made it taste “like a tree.”
“I like this one. It is sweeter and more delicious than I thought it would be. I don’t mind the taste of the kale. I am happy with it. One downside is that you have to stir it up a lot so it isn’t grainy,” said Shelby.
My roommate Mikaela tried it and said to her it “tasted like a salad in a cup,” and Lexi said it is a “good way to get your greens.”
For me, I would give it a 2.5/5 stars just because of my personal preferences, but Shelby, who enjoys green smoothies, gave it 6/5 stars.
My Concoction:
In addition to the four smoothies on the menu, there is also the option of building your own smoothie. After trying the smoothies on the menu, I wanted to see if I could modify the strawberry citrus to be more of what I wanted it to taste like, so I decided to include: peaches, strawberries, lemonade, and lime juice. It was my favorite! The taste is definitely reminiscent of the Strawberry Surf Rider at Jamba Juice. I definitely recommend trying the menu smoothies and finding what you like.
Rating: 4.5/5 stars (not quite Jamba, but still really good)
Overall thoughts:
I will definitely be stopping by Claver more often to grab a smoothie, because it is a nice, sweet treat or a healthy snack between classes. You get a nice big boba straw, which lends itself too easy sipping. The lady who made my smoothies would thank me and express how she appreciated me after I thanked her for her smoothie. I would recommend to any Regis student or community member to give these smoothies a try!
Over the course of the past week rumors have been swirling about concerns over changes to work study for the upcoming year.
“There isn’t going to be any work study next year”
“They’re only giving work study to freshmen next year”
“People who have never had work study will have priority next year”
“Regis is going to take our federal funds”
I am sure many students have heard one variation of the rumor or another, however there is no need to panic.
Read MoreBio: Hi! My name is Lauren Alvarez I’m a junior this year majoring in Communication with an emphasis in Public Relations and minoring in Environmental Studies. I’m from San Mateo, California. I enjoy reading books from Tiktok, going to Trader Joe’s and ominously staring out my window. Fun fact: I often tell people I’m 5’12 instead of 6’0 and 95% of people don’t notice.
photo credit// Malia Olson
I stroll into the pub on campus at 5:25. I wanted to be here early, but of course she’s sitting at our usual table working on some homework. Crap. Malia Olson has her reusable water bottle, recycled materials phone case, and half a dozen rings on her fingers. She is engulfed in her bio homework when I sit down. She’s not nervous, nor should she be. This doesn’t feel much different than our thrice a week dinner at The Caf. The only difference is that Malia Olson is running for Regis Student Body President, and I’ve got the scoop.
I’m approaching this interview through the bias of a good friendship and my sincere belief she brings something brilliant to the table. The table we are chatting at, our conversation is slightly dulled by the roar of the dinner crowd.
“So, Malia, would you rather have teeth for toes or toes for teeth?” She laughs—I’m hilarious.
“Teeth for toes.”
Ah. A woman of culture. Though the interview is supposed to be formal, we ebb and flow through the conversation, mixing in her glimpses of her personality while discussing some ideas Malia has for the future of Regis.
Ms. Olson has a background at Regis as a Violence Prevention Educator. This work not only prevents stalking, intimate partner violence, and sexual assault on campus but also trains athletes as well as classes and facilitates programs like V-Day and Denim Day. When asked how her work as a VPE affects the way she hopes to lead Malia responds, “Since I am a survivor of sexual assault, that really motivates me to make campus feel like a safe space for students. I know it’s not always easy being a student here and that shitty things can happen.” She continues, sharing some questions that are not only incredibly important to her campaign but to her values as a Regis student, “How do we create space for students who’ve had rough experiences to feel safe and feel heard, and give opportunities to tell their stories?”
When asked about reinstating the soft-serve machine from our freshman year—if you weren’t here before The Caf remodel, I’m sorry—Olson laughs, “I could certainly try. [I’m] not sure if RUSGA necessarily has a lot of control over what Bon-Appetit decides to do.” Although this is not the answer I was hoping for, it does lead into a bigger conversation about Regis as a school.
Malia is candid in her admiration for Regis. Of course, we all know the appeal of a smaller school, its prime location between downtown and the breathtaking Rocky Mountains, but Malia emphasizes that it’s a Catholic school. While this is slightly unexpected—both of us are non-practicing—she explains that the Jesuits add that, “Social justice focuses on all of these classes.” She goes on to say, “Even science classes ask how this matters and how it affects us?” Looking through the lens of intersectionality between science and social justice is something Malia is quite comfortable doing, as she is majoring in Bio with an emphasis in Molecular Biology & Genetics with a Psychology minor.
Malia is not afraid to criticize Regis too. Talking about the administration’s handling of the tech hack of Fall 2019 and their response to COVID-19 when it started last March, (can you believe it's been a year!?!) Malia uses the shortcoming of our school to emphasize how valuable what the students are saying is, “There are really powerful instances when students really made a change.” We, as students, were outspoken about our disapproval of their actions and they made changes because of our demands.
Beyond the confines of running for Student Body President, Malia is also a student during the time of COVID-19. These are difficult times. Meeting new people is hard enough, not even considering the restrictions we all must make to stop the spread of the virus. She talks about the idea of “missing out” on the college experience, “Regis sometimes lacks that sense of pride… pride in your school. RUSGA is a really good place to address those things because that's the [students’] money going towards programming… they can go to their Senators, they can go to their representatives and be like, ‘hey I want to do this thing where I hand out utensils’ or whatever.”
I then ask her the most intimidating question of all time: how would you describe yourself? Usually this question brings instant panic, but Malia doesn’t hesitate, “I’m very introverted and I’m a helper.” This intrigued me, as you often don’t see introverts holding a lot of power. I pick her brain and I’m pleasantly surprised when she says, “Any sort of government is built and structured so that it benefits extroverted people. So, when you have somebody holding a leadership position that is an introvert, that is so important because…[you] notice when other introverts are not in the conversation or their voices aren’t being heard.”
As we are wrapping up, I realized that I forgot to ask her some basic questions. So, for the audience: her favorite color is a teal blue, her favorite movie is The Princess Diaries, and her Spotify top artists are Queen, Yolk Lore, and Alexander23. She’s from Crested Butte, Colorado, a lovely little ski town. She has an incredible tea collection and loves matcha. She’s about 5’2, her hair is insanely healthy (genetics). And most importantly she is incredibly genuine and someone I get excited to see every time she walks into the Student Center.
When the interview is over, I press the stop button on the recording app on my phone. We both sigh a breath of relief and I ask her, “You wanna go get some dinner?”
She giggles, “Yeah, I’m starving.”
**RUSGA has pushed all elections to the fall
For the College Classics
McCoy’s Diner - McCoy’s Diner quickly became a staple of my collegiate experience upon my arrival to Regis University. This diner is on Federal just a block away from the school, which made it easy to walk there with my friends at night. It’s a classic diner menu, but their cinnamon rolls are uniquely gigantic. Though McCoy’s is no longer open 24 hours, they are offering limited indoor dining for those who want to give it a try.
Brooklyn’s Finest Pizza - Brooklyn’s Finest Pizza is just across the street from Regis University and makes for an easy lunch, dinner, or late-night snack. Regis University students can also receive a discount with their student ID. In my opinion, it beats out a few of the pizza chains, but I guess you’ll have to taste it to find out for yourself. Dine in, pick-up, and delivery options are available.
Las Tortugas - According to my friends, you cannot go wrong at Las Tortugas. They serve a wide variety of sandwiches and each one sounds amazing. They also have horchata and aguas frescas available. It’s a bit longer of a drive for Regis students compared to the other restaurants listed but they have delivery options as well as pick-up.
For Something a Little Classier
Sushi Hai - One of my friends’ favorite dinner spots is Sushi Hai, which is located on 32nd and Lowell. This restaurant offers both variety and affordability, making it perfect for a college student. My friends recommend the rocket roll, which has tuna, spicy mayo, cucumber, avocado, tempura flakes, eel sauce, and sriracha. Sushi Hai currently offers pick-up via online ordering.
The Noshery - The Noshery’s convenient location at the corner of Lowell and Regis Boulevard makes it an easy spot for Regis students to grab a morning latte or a fresh slice of banana bread. I especially like their lemon poppyseed bread and chai tea latte. The magic of this little cafe continues on their back wall, which displays products from local artists and business. The “Nosh” is currently open for indoor and outdoor dining, pick-up, and to-go options.
Atomic Cowboy (Denver Biscuit Company and Fat Sully’s) - Atomic Cowboy has already gained the attention of national television networks, and of course, the local college population. For an inexpensive, extra-large, and extra delicious slice of Fat Sully’s pizza, stop at the window near the storefront. For savory and sweet dishes on biscuits, enter Denver Biscuit Company. My personal favorite is the Dahlia sandwich. Dine in, delivery, and pick-up options are available.
For the Sweet Tooth
Little Man Ice Cream - Little Man Ice Cream has become an iconic Denver landmark, making the parking difficult but the ice cream worth the wait. I’m grateful for their dairy free options, but I may be even more grateful for their milkshakes. Little Man Ice Cream is surrounded by other great restaurants and overlooks LoDo, which makes this place even more fun.
Sweet Cow - Once you’ve had dinner at Sushi Hai, walk across the street to pick up some ice cream from Sweet Cow. They have flavors that you won’t see elsewhere, and those flavors change regularly, so you might just have to go more than once. Sweet Cow also has a wide range of dairy free options, making it even better. I’d recommend a flavor, but you can’t go wrong. Pick-up and delivery options are available.
The Bardo Coffee House - This coffee house is a perfect late-night study spot for anyone who needs to break out of their dorm or apartment. I tend to ask for the baristas to “surprise me” and I haven’t been disappointed yet, although I have yet to figure out what “secret ingredients” they claim to include. The Bardo Coffee House is currently open for indoor and outdoor dining, pick-up, to-go, and delivery options.
For the Legal Drinkers (+21)
Goldspot Brewing Company - Goldspot Brewing Company is located inside a little brick building near 50th and Lowell. I know this brewery to be a student and professor favorite, and while I’ve never tried it for myself, I’ve passed it enough to catch a glimpse of their fun, Colorado-proud atmosphere. Goldspot is now open at limited capacity for those who want to taste what is on tap.
Rocky Top Tavern - This is another student favorite given that it is close to the Regis University campus. Rocky Top Tavern is highly regarded by Regis Rangers because of their drinks and their deals, but don’t forget about their food—especially their tater tots. Rocky Top currently offers indoor and outdoor dining options.
Book Bar - As an English major and a book lover, the Book Bar holds a special place in my heart. I used to study there after ordering a mug of hot chocolate and one of their book-themed snacks. While the independent bookstore and wine bar combo is now restricted to curbside pick-up, I still recommend stopping by next time you find yourself on Tennyson Street.