Tie-Dye Skies

Alina Hussaini, Staff Photographer 

Downtown Denver encompasses the signature style of city life. With the hustle and bustle of businesses, the constant whir of transportation, and never-ending influx of people passing through, it’s easy to get caught up in the busy world. However, the tie-dye skies of dusk in Denver reminds us to look up, and enjoy the view. 

The purple pink sky hovers over the city. Photo by Alina Hussaini

A splash of orange interrupts the cool tones of the sky. Photo by Alina Hussaini

Is this town big enough for the both of us?

(Photo: Getty Images)

By: Jack Adams, Staff Reporter

Recently, it seems as if almost everytime I’m out in Denver, I hear natives lamenting over the surfeit of citizens migrating to the city. Typically I try to ignore the local’s gripes about Denver’s population density, attributing them to misdirected frustrations over traffic on I-25. After an especially harrowing commute to Regis last week, however, I began to realize these incessant residential growth complaints may actually be justified. So I decided to conduct a bit of personal research, directing all of it toward answering one simple question: has Denver really become inundated with too many people?

Denver was one of the fastest growing cities in the United States between 2014 and 2015, and even though the city’s growth rate slightly dipped last year; Denver’s total population is quickly approaching 700,000. Although some of this population boost can be ascribed to Denver’s birthing rate (which is actually slowing), over 60 percent of the city’s growth from 2015 to 2016 came from people moving to Denver from elsewhere. Rural areas surrounding Denver are also feeling the effects of the recent population proliferation. The nearby city of Broomfield was ranked as the fifth-fastest-growing county in the nation in 2015, and recent census data also estimated the population of the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood metropolitan statistical area to be nearly 2.9 million—ranking it 15th among metro areas nationally. Although this influx of new residents is causing home values across the Denver metro area to soar, a recently imposed $450 million property tax cut (which may also sound great for current homeowners in the area) is having unintended consequences—namely via crippling rural fire departments already struggling to stay afloat.

Moreover, Regis students will no doubt feel the effects of rapid growth in the Denver metro area as well, especially when trying to find housing. With gentrification already consuming Denver neighborhoods (I’m looking at you Highlands), Regis students will continue to be tasked with trying to locate a nearby living space which is even remotely affordable. Also, as the surrounding area continues to burgeon, the University itself can certainly expect an inpouring of new students. In order to accommodate a significant amount of potential scholars, Regis will undoubtedly need to expand its current infrastructure; increasing parking near campus and creating additional classroom space.

Thus, even after examining the facts, I’m left to wonder, is Denver really becoming too big for its britches? Well, considering the city is still a few million people shy of New York City’s population, I’d say we’ll be just fine—at least, for now.

Improv Showcase with OutRegis and Phamaly

(Photo: Allison Upchurch)

By: Allison Upchurch, Staff Reporter

Last Thursday, November 2, a night of laughter and excitement took place in Walker's Pub as Regis' student improv group, OutRegis, performed with local improv performers from the Phamaly Theatre Company, a theatre group entirely made up of performers with disabilities.

The Phamaly Theatre Company's goal is to inspire people to re-envision disability through the art of theater. Along with improv, they produce full-scale professional plays and musicals year-around in the Denver Metro area.

"Being a part of Phamaly is great because it not only shows that I can live with disabilities but that I can thrive," Kimberely Jackson, one of the performers with Phamaly, said of her time with the group.

The show on Thursday played out in three parts. First, members from OutRegis performed together, doing improv exercises include translating poems of gibberish to made up English translations and performing a scene in a variety of different emotions. Most of the topics and subjects covered for these improvised scenes came from input and ideas from the audience in attendance.

The second part of this showcase came when the members from Phamaly came up and performed their improv with each other. These members decided to use the technique of tapping each other in and out to perform various scenes that derive from the topic last mentioned in the previous scene. They also took experiences from their own lives and incorporated them into their improvised scenes.

The third part of the showcase was when both improv groups came together to improvise scenes based on topics and subjects that once again came from the audience. At the end of the night, they did a Q&A panel with the audience to allow the performers from Phamaly to showcase their talent and tell their stories.

Seeing both groups perform together became a strong reinforcement of how people who are passionate about performing can come together to bring laughter and inspiration to their community through the performing arts.

To learn more about the Phamaly Theatre Company and their shows, visit their website at http://www.phamaly.org/.

To get involved with OutRegis, follow their Facebook page, or participate in their rehearsals every Wednesday and Friday from 5-7p.m. in the Student Center Basement.