Nogales, Arizona Student Trip: Seeking Answers for the Border Crisis
By Danny Gonzales-Hyde, Staff Writer
Over the course of the past few years, the tension surrounding the United States' shared border with Mexico has been the center of much dispute. With this in mind, a group of Regis students organized a trip to Nogales, Arizona to learn more about immigration from Mexico and the issues surrounding the border. Along with these intentions, the trip was in memory of Jose Antonio, a 16-year-old boy shot 10 times by a border patrol agent. Jose was waiting for his brother on the Mexican side of the wall when he was shot by this border patrol agent who fired his weapon 17 times at Jose who was unarmed. During the trip, the group of students attended a vigil held by Jose's mother and grandmother for the 10th anniversary of his murder, who are fighting in the US courts in hope of getting justice for Jose. This was one of the many experiences that the group experienced over the course of the three-day trip. Other activities included going to a local market where artists sold their work, attending community events protesting the border, and a variety of other educational experiences centered around the border.
Community Cats: The Strays Living in Southern France
By: Madelynn Loring, Staff Writer
On August 31, I boarded a plane to the Paris Orly Airport to start my study abroad adventure. After almost 14 hours of travel and layover time, I finally reached my destination, Montpellier, a coastal city in the south of France. The weather, at least for the present moment, is almost tropical (brutally so, because very few buildings here have any air conditioning.) One in every five people in the city is a student, many of whom are international, much like myself. The city is easily navigable by public transport, and the plethora of mixing cultures makes it a perfect place to explore as a student.
When reflecting upon how I would continue to contribute to the Highlander, and the Regis community as a whole, I figured I would write articles documenting the study abroad experience with my tips, tricks, and insights into the journey of studying abroad. However, since arriving in Montpellier, the subject of the first article has shifted from what I had initially planned. So, rest assured, I will be writing What I wish I knew before I Studied Abroad: Part 1 of 803 shortly, but, for the time being, I am going to focus on the aspect of Montpellier culture that I have come into the closest and most frequent contact with, the savvy strays I have dubbed Community Cats.