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Regis University Regis University
ePublications at Regis University ePublications at Regis University
Highlander - Regis University's Student-Written Newspaper Archives and Special Collections
Winter 11-2019
2019 Highlander November 2019 2019 Highlander November 2019
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OAP Halloween Climbing Competition November 4, 2019
By: Amy Reglin, Lead Photographer
Wednesday evening, the Outdoor Adventure Program (OAP) hosted a Halloween climbing competition in the fitness
center. Participants had the option of climbing as many of the 21 routes they wanted. The routes are divided into
beginner, intermediate, and advanced with points awarded for the accuracy of the climb. Winners were selected from
each of the three categories. However, that’s not all the fun, it was also a costume contest, with the best costume
winning a prize as well.
Sophomore Doris Huguley, who started climbing about a year ago with the Regis climbing club, said her favorite
part of OAP climbing competitions, “Is the environment and community that comes together for a friendly little
climb, people who don’t climb and people who do just spending quality time together is A -one.”
2019 Trick or Treat Street Marks Another Annual Success November 4, 2019
Photo Source // Amy Reglin
By: Morgan Jacobus, Staff Writer
On Oct. 31 from 3-5 Regis’s campus was filled with joyous trick or treaters and their families as various
departments and students handed out candy. Trick or treaters could go all around campus, from inside Carrol Hall
to the steps of the Dayton Memorial Library, to the Student Center, outside of West and O’Connell Hall, and
everything in between.
On the steps of the library in between handing out candy, Kim O’Neill said, “Yes [I participate every year], its
Halloween; it’s the best. All the fun of a holiday without having to buy presents or make dinner. It’s a good
holiday. The kids have a lot of fun. They are all happy and making costumes is a fun thing.”
Only a short walk away from the library is the Student Center, where people could come for a meet-and-greet with
Regi, trick or treat, eat some cotton candy, enter a costume contest and more! Families could also venture upstairs
for more candy throughout the various offices, such as the Diversity Office.
In the Diversity Office were various Halloween decorations and lights, as well as videos of Hispanic Halloween
songs and sweet or spicy candy for the trick or treaters.
Bemar Martinez said, “For us [Diversity Office] we like being a part of it, and getting to know people, seeing the
costumes. It is such fun, it’s awesome.”
As students got out of class and walked around campus, they could feel a great sense of community.
“What good community outreach,” said Lexi Wrich as she observed the trick or treaters. “I think this was a really
good idea to bring the community onto campus.”
Though most students weren’t seen wearing costumes during the Safe Trick or Treat Street, many appreciated
Regis’ Halloween festivities.
“I think it is very adorable I love to see all the little kids’ costumes, it definitely b rings life to the campus because
no one on campus actually dressed up, me included until like 20 minutes ago,” said Shelby Plummer.
While many didn’t dress up, there were the few spirited students who wore their costumes around campus, like
Paul Weisner.
“I love Halloween. [I didn’t see a lot of college students dress up], I was disappointed. I just walked to the café
for lunch and there was like no one dressed up and everyone was looking at me weird and I was like ‘what?’” said
Weisner.
Overall, it was a good time had by all. Regis students, faculty and staff enjoyed a feeling of community and
Halloween spirit, and trick or treaters got a lot of candy. A young dragon commented towards the end of the event
that, “It’s getting heavy,” referencing his full bag of candy.
October 31st and November 1st November 6, 2019
By: Armando Covarrubias, Cartoonist, Writer
Club Feature of the Week: Q&A with Somos November 7, 2019
Photo Source // Katie Lambie
By: Carly Compesi, Staff Writer
In celebration of Dia de los Muertos, Regis’ Latinx affinity group, Somos, sat before a light -filled altar in the
chapel. Dia de los Muertos is a holiday to honor those who are no longer with us. Somos, with the help of
University Ministry, did so in a beautiful and powerful way.
Father Fernando, the faculty supervisor of Somos, led the Dia de los Muertos service. During this time, he
described the purpose of each element on the altar, including the candles and paper flowers that each participant
added throughout the night. Each altar element was also connected to a part of the typical college experience.
“Part of the tradition is a mirror,” explained Father Fernando, pointing to the mirror on the altar. “For me, it’s also
the reminder to reflect and to look back, and that’s how we make sense out of life.”
This Dia de los Muertos celebration was just one of the wonderful opportunities that Somos provides for those
within and beyond the Latinx community. Their next events include a Loteria night during the second week of
November and an on-campus celebration of Las Posadas in December. Somos’ current president, Maelynn
Martinez, explained the future plans for the organization this year, as well as the importance of the organization
overall.
Below is a portion of Martinez’s Q&A wi th the Highlander.
Q: Why is Somos important to you?
A: Somos is most important to me because it provides a community of representation and cultural pride on
this campus. I believe that representation is important because it allows you to feel empowered a nd creates a
sense of belongingness by sharing a common heritage and culture with others. Minority students may feel out of
place or suffer from imposter syndrome more than others because they see a lack of representation or don’t see
others who look, act, or come from the same background as them. It can be very intimidating to feel like the only
one who stands out against others, especially in a college setting. I would argue that Somos is critical to our
identity and even success on campus because college is such an intense and new experience for many students.
The ability to relate to others and find those who understand you is helpful during college because it
provides comfort, empathy and connection. Somos provides that connection —an atmosphere where others
can share in who we are, where we come from, our cultural values and how we deal with struggles. I think
it’s important to find a community that you feel a sense of belonging in, because then you have others to help you
cope in this new and scary experience that is college.
In addition, Somos is important to me because it brings diversity and opportunities to learn about different
perspectives for others that are not of Latinx background. It is highly important that Regis students
understand that Somos is not only for those of brown skin or of Latinx ethnicity. It is a beautiful thing to
not only already be surrounded by others who are of the same culture as you, but to also be surrounded by
others who are willing to learn, respect and value your culture, even if it is different from what they are
familiar with.
In this way, I think Somos can provide act as a bridge where students can learn about each other and where
they come from and appreciate these differences instead of viewing them as negative thin gs. I believe that
this will promote an acceptance of diversity and help fight ignorance on important issues and topics that
relate to marginal groups on this campus, in this city, and in the world. It also empowers students to feel
proud of where they come from and show others what it really means to be a Latinx college student. I believe that
the thriving of Somos, as well as of other affinity groups alike, will cultivate a foundation of acceptance and
change on campus. In consequence, seeds of hope will be planted in student’s hearts and minds, supplying with
them the power to fight the growth of hatred and racism that is increasingly flourishing in this political
atmosphere. Somos is important to me because it provides an environment of growth, community and solidarity
for students.
Q: Why should one join Somos? What would someone get out of attending an event or becoming a member?
A: Somos celebrates what it is to be a Latinx student. So, I think if one would like to do that for themselves or
for a friend, this would be the perfect place to do it. It’s a place where students have a safe-space to be
authentically and truly themselves as a Latinx student, or celebrate those that are. Students in Somos will
find excitement and pride in participating in tradi tions and topics that relate to them and their background, as well
as sharing as with students of different backgrounds. Somos is also a place where students can discuss important
topics and experiences relevant to being a Latinx student. We are able to lean on each other through our college
experience, as well as through our personal experiences that pertain to the Latinx identity. Those that aren’t
Latinx students will enjoy learning about Latinx culture, traditions and topics as we put on different event s.
We encourage others to join who are not of Latinx background. It’s definitely a place that one can create
community and find friends. You’re going to find someone who has the same major, a new study group, or
people with really great taste in music, etc.
The point is that you’re building relationships that definitely help you survive finals week, long nights of
studying, and college in general. Whether you’re bringing a friend or making friends, you’ll enjoy your time with
Somos. Almost all of our events will provide food of some sort, mostly culturally inspired. Our events range
from super fun and relaxing, to thought provoking and traditionally inspired, like loteria game nights or
learning the meaning behind Dia de Los Muertos by Father Fernando. All the while you’re also able to eat
tamales from time to time or learn more about different cultural holidays. Who can complain with that?
Q: What are some of the plans or goals for this year?
A: We struggled a bit at the start of th is semester because of all the technology mis-hap, so we’ve had a bit of a
slow start. For the rest of the year, we definitely have incorporated a really interesting meetings for students to
enjoy like Loteria game night and tortilla making nights. We’ve a lso planned some co-sponsored events with other
groups on campus such as Glow Night with ASA and the Hide-and-Seek club and some more events with other
affinity groups for the end of the semester. Hopefully, this includes a game night with QSA and a de -stressing
event with ASA, the Sustainability Club, and the Feminists of Regis Club. We definitely have traditional events
planned for the holidays, such as the amazing altar and explanation that Father Fernando and UMIN helped
coordinate, and the Regis’ second celebration of Posadas on campus. We really just want to have students feel
involved on campus. We also hope that these events give students a sense that they can be and should be
proud of their roots and keep them in mind as we navigate through this sta ge of our lives. We hope to
provide a lot of fun events as well as having a presence on campus that encourages learning about Latinx
culture. We want students to feel represented in as many major events as possible. We also want to celebrate
our culture and bring it in collaboration with other affinity groups in events. In this way, we hope to
promote diversity, representation and acceptance.
Q: What are some of the club’s overall goals (or what is their mission)?
A: Somos is the Latinx affinity group on campus that is for Latinx students and non-Latinx students where
students can learn about and honor Latinx heritage and culture through the offering of events, meetings and
the building of community. Our mission is to provide a safe and welcoming atmosphere for students to share
in their common backgrounds as Latinx students and the unique experiences of being such. Through doing
so, we aim to develop a campus of inclusion and diversity for all students. We also aim to produce a strong
urge in students for change and social justice as they learn about issues that many Latinx communities are
suffering through globally and across the nation.
Q: Is there any other important information that others should know about Somos?
A: Our name has a really important meaning for students as it means we are, in Spanish. I think that this
should inspire students to ponder an important question throughout their college experience: who are we?
Even more so, we should ask ourselves questions such as where do we come from? Where d o our morals, values,
and goals root from? What do we want to accomplish in life for those like us and different from us? How do we
represent our truths through our identities, how can we honor our culture through our struggles and triumphs.
Answering questions like these will empower us to give to others and ourselves in ways we never knew possible,
with outcomes that are revitalizing. Somos can be a place to help you figure that out or strengthen the answers you
already have. Right now in our country, so many are being ostracized and thrown onto the outer margins of
society to be forgotten, beaten down and left to suffer alone. Walls are being put up between people and
families simply because there is a lack of mercy and proximity. Instead of embracing eac h other’s
differences, many are closing the doors of our hearts, homes and borders. I urge students to think about how
we can find the answers in embracing who we are and in who others are. As each of us discover who we are,
may we find resilience and power in each of our identities to inspire hope and social justice in and with
others.
Interested in attending? Somos has regular meetings in the Ranger Den. Times for these meetings can be found on
Facebook, Instagram, or Snapchat under the username @somos.regis. For any questions, just reach out to Maelynn
Martinez at [email protected].
Hip Hop Event November 7, 2019
Photo Source // Amy Reglin
By: Rose Ferrie, Staff Reporter
Last Wednesday, there was a little gathering in Regis 333 where people mingled, artists performed, and students
got to learn a little something about Hip Hop. The performer Donny Blot (@donnyblot) had such a lovely presence
and students appreciated him for sharing his talent.
After that, students were invited to walk around the room where they could learn about generations of Hip Hop
and the artists that made the genre what it is. Artists like Snoop Dogg, Tupak Shakur, Nipsey Hussle, Laure n Hill,
Missy Elliot, TLC, Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Kanye West, Slim Shady, Kid Cudi, Mac Miller, Donal Glover, Kendrick
Lamar, and more were included.
Their lyrics and biographies were also exhibited, showing their lyrical gifts and enlightening people to their
beautiful music.
Arte Migrante photo essay November 11, 2019
By: Katie Lambie, Staff Writer
Arte Migrante Denver Chapter event in the O’Sullivan Art Gallery on November 5th.
RUSGA President Addresses Campus After Shelter in Place November 13, 2019
Dear Regis University students,
You never think it is going to be your school. You never think it is going to be your friends that aren’t responding
to your frantic texts. We are lucky that we did not lose a single life last night and that it was just some fluke that a
man with an AK-47 walked in the vicinity of our campus.
While many people take the threat of gun violence as an everyday run of the mill situation in the United States of
America, we also know that so many others have not been as lucky. But the mere threat sent shockwaves through
our Regis University community. Today, I am addressing you a bit dazed. However, more than my surprise is my
gratitude; I am wildly thankful to know that our students, faculty, and staff are safe and cared for a nd by our
community.
After speaking to many people about the events of last night the reactions were mixed, ranging from terrified to
apathetic to upset that they didn’t receive a text alert.
I will say it again, we are lucky. The fact that someone was in the area of our campus with an AK-47 should arise
concern. Instead, our university has remained silent and professors have carried on as if it was just another
day. But fear of the worst remains in the hearts of many students.
I am writing this with anger in my heart that we as a collective are not taking a stand on the injustice that is gun
violence. I implore you to take a stand. Here is my stand: we as a community need a publized active shooter
protocol. We need to make ourselves heard--what do we want to change in lieu of this event?
This issue and incident has nothing to do with your political affiliation, but everything to do with cura personalis.
An AK-47 can shoot 600 rounds per minute. There are somewhere between 75 and 100 million AK-47s worldwide
— or one for every 60 people on earth. 1 in 4 of all active shooter incidents have been at an educational
institution. Let that sink in. There is a need for everyone to be educated about guns and the pervasive violence
they cause in our country. I encourage you to do your research, but also remember to take care of one another as
many have been triggered by this event due to past experiences, whether they be military, refugee status, or
personal experience with gun violence.
If you are in need of a confidential resource please use the resources we have available such as the counseling
office which is located in the Coors Life Direction Center and is open from 8am to 5pm Monday through Friday. If
you are in need after hours and weekends please call the crisis hotline at (303)-458-3507. To subscribe to RU text
alerts text “Join RUAlert” to 30890. If you wish to discuss this further with me, I can be reached at
Sincerely,
Annelise Pehr
Student Body President
Rangers fall in the RMAC Championship November 18, 2019
By: Amy Reglin, Lead Photographer
Friday night, the men’s soccer team played the Colorado School of Mines for the Rocky Mountain Athletic
Conference Championship title. In a thrilling, hard fought game the rangers forced overtime with a goal late in the
second half. Going into overtime tied at 1-1. Following two periods of overtime, the game was still tied, forcing a
shootout. It was nine rounds of nail biting shoutouts in which Mines ultimately took the victory. Good job to our
Rangers for a hard fought game. and a great season.
Seventh Annual Drag Show Triumphs Despite Delay November 18, 2019
Photo Source // Matt Faas, QSA Social Media Director
By: Morgan Jacobus, Staff Writer
*warning: story contains profanity*
After 12 days of waiting, the Seventh Annual Regis Drag Show was finally here after having been rescheduled due to
weather (like many other events the week of Halloween). The host even addressed the peculia rity of having a
Halloween themed drag show in November.
“It’s weird…12 days into November, but we don’t give a f ---,” said QSA Co-President and drag performer Isaiah
Pramuk whose alias for the night was Izzy Adams.
However, though the event was rescheduled, you couldn’t tell by the size of the crowd. There were so many people
that came to the event that even after getting more chairs there was still a standing audience.
“This is the biggest crowd we have ever had,” said Regis professor Alyse Knorr.
The show began with a brief introduction from faculty advisers of QSA, in which they spoke about the origins and
history of drag and the purpose behind it, explaining that they are here in celebration.
“This is an evening of celebration of community,” said Assistant Dean Geoffrey Bateman. “Gender is a result of an
effect, the things we do, the actions we take, the way we interact in the world. We get to see the effects tonight. It’s
a way for everyone to inhabit and express gender.”
Knorr also spoke of celebration, saying, “We are here to celebrate our bodies… drag gives us a way to question
social norms around gender.”
Following the introductory speeches came the introduction of Izzy Adams, the emcee of the show, who built upon
the discussion of how this event is a celebration in more ways than one.
“We are here to celebrate what makes life worth living: being yourself,” said Pramuk.
Overall there were seven drag performers, including Izzy Adams, though there were a few that were planning on
participating in the show but couldn’t because of the rescheduling. Nevertheless, it was still a great show with loud
cheers, rounds of applause, and standing ovations from the audience.
Each performer had their own reasons for participating and how they chose to perfo rm. All the performances were
expression, though some of them appeared as a form of social commentary, particularly the drag kings, through the
props and references they chose to use in their performances. For instance, Vivian Gatte who performed as Bill N ye
the Bi-ence guy ripped up a picture of Donald Trump during their lip -sync of “Rich, White, Straight Men” by
Kesha.
Caroline Conrad, who performed as Dick Van Dyke, put together a particularly significant performance rich with
references to the struggle of the LGBTQ community. In the beginning of the performance, they came in and
dramatically shrugged off their suit jacket and pulled off their tie, which I interpreted as exhaustion of adhering to
gender performance roles, or even exhaustion with the state of society in relation to this community. Further along in
the song “This Is Gospel” by Panic! at the Disco Van Dyke points to the sky during the lyric, “I never was yours,”
and then threw a bible on the ground, alluding to the battle that many queer peo ple have with religion. As the song
progresses, they grab the LGBTQ flag, waving it and wrapping themself in it, ending in celebration.
Though not all the performances meant to convey a certain message, they all had personal significance.
“I chose to participate because for a long time I have been very interested in drag and always wanted a chance to
perform, and when I did, I took it,” said first year student Paul Weisner, who performed as Luna Eclipse. “Drag
means so much to me, it’s a way for me to escape reality and just do what I love. I was in a bad place with my
sexuality, and when I discovered drag it changed my life and made me so happy.”
Not only was this show an opportunity for students to perform drag and express themselves, it was also an
opportunity for the rest of the Regis community. There were several people in the audience who had never seen a
drag show, so it was an occasion to learn more and better understand the society they live in (as well as see an
entertaining show of course).
“I believe many people are curious about queer culture,” said first year student Payton Donahue. “The drag show was
something many had never seen before and getting that experience helps people better understand the way society is
changing. I believe this is also why the drag show and queer events are so important. More people need to be
familiarized with the culture in order to understand and accept. Education is key to a safe environment.”
The drag show is another step in the effort of building an inclusive community at Regis, but Regis isn’t the only one.
Knorr pointed out that there are several other Jesuit colleges that are also hosting drag shows, like Georgetown
University and Seattle University. As more colleges follow suit and the annual tradition of a drag show continues it
is only going to build momentum and strengthen the endeavor of inclusion and acceptance.
The Peace Market November 21, 2019
Photo Source // Amy Reglin
By: Rose Ferrie, Staff Reporter
For those of you who didn’t know, last week was social justice week, a time for education and fun events
surrounding topics like sexuality, race, expression, intersectionality, and so much more. One of these lovely
events was the peace market which was toward the end of the week. Though it was a chilly evening, people came
out to listen to poetry and shop around at booths like Earth Links, Regis’ own crochet club, and more. Students
were also invited to make their own essential oil blend and many people participated in the Unity Project, which
was the beautiful yarn display up all week.
Social Justice Week 2019 Built on History with Unity Project,
Dear World November 21, 2019
Photo Source // Amy Reglin
By: Morgan Jacobus, Staff Writer
This year’s social justice week is one of the most successful in recent memory due to the new unity project and
increased attendance at events. Social justice week is an annual Regis tradition that began in the early 2000s, then
hosted by the Social Justice and Spirituality Committee, which is now the Social Justice and Diversity Council.
“What they did was around the deaths of American and non-American soldiers in a war in the Middle East, so they
camped on the quad and that was… the first social justice week. That was how it started, and it was definitely
more focused, I think, on our Jesuit spir ituality,” said RUSGA Vice President of Social Justice and Diversity Regi
Worles.
For this year’s Social Justice and Diversity week the programming committee was headed by Emma Menchaca -
Chavez and Regi Worles, with Malia Olson as the project manager along with contributors Alex Rucker,
Guillermo Barbella, and Eleanor Ruth.
“They wanted to have events every day that basically involved everybody so anybody could interact – [the unity
project] is like an interactive art exhibit and anybody on campus could ge t involved,” said Rucker.
There’s around 15 people on the Social Justice and Diversity Council, and they’ve been working on Social Justice
week since mid-October.
“That has pretty much been the bulk of our work, getting permission to do things like stake 33 things in the
ground. I wasn’t expecting [Mike Redman, campus management] to say yes too easily,” said Worles.
Since it was Worles’ last social justice week, he did more research this year, which led to the involvement of Dear
World as well as the unity project.
“I did a lot of research on what other schools do… so Dear World and the unity project are things that are
national, and different campuses and different community organizations use those tools to talk about justice, but I
kind of wanted to put them in conversation with some of our home-grown programming in order to have a more
full and rich discussion of identity. I wanted these things to be able to speak to one another,” said Worles.
The main goal of this year’s social justice week was connection, with the theme being “The Strings That Connect
Us.”
“We just want people to realize that we are not that different, we are all humans, even though we have labels and
identities we are not just one thing, we are many things,” said Rucker.
It’s not just about coming together as a community, it’s also about gaining better understanding of your own
identities. Social justice week also explored what unity, solidarity, and the fight for justice looks like when
everyone has their own experiences and differences.
“What I really wanted it to be was simultaneously around exploring your identity and who you are, the things that
make you you, and then also… the things about yourself that start to layer up on each other that then forms deep
communities of understanding,” said Worles.
When it came to the unity project itself, it drew a considerable amount of attention from those around campus. By
the center pole was a table with yarn and instructions, prompting people around campus to contribute to the
project as they passed by. As more people contributed their string, the web grew and became more connected.
After social justice week, the Regis University Instagram posted pictures of the unity project describing it as “a
tapestry of stories.”
“[It] just makes you very cognizant of how connected we actually are. You interact with people every day that you
don’t know things about. I think especially somewhere where it is easy to feel tied to one group or siloed in one
group it’s nice to have a visual representation that this many people are experiencing what I’ve experienced,” said
Assistant Director of Fitness and Wellness, Sarah Wilkinson, who participated in the unity project.
The unity project contributed to the high attendance and participation in this year’s s ocial justice week. Worles
explained that they bought about 60-70 balls of yarn, and nearly all of them were used in the unity project. In
addition to the unity project, another prominent feature of the week was the Dear World event that occurred,
where 60 people came to the closed shoot, and there were about 260 photographs taken at the open shoot. Further,
the Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday events all had around 50 -75 people at them.
“This social justice week is the most attended social justice week… I know we were able to come in contact with
more people than we have ever been able to come in contact with,” said Worles.
Not only was this social justice week more innovative and widely participated in, it also demonstrated how much
it has grown and how far it has come.
“It felt really special in a way that it doesn’t necessarily flow every year. I have been a part of [it] since I was a
first-year, and this was the year that I saw people that weren’t just my friends there… It was really affirming in so
many different ways… At my heart, the reason I do the work is to do meaningful community building and it
definitely feels like meaningful community building when different people from diff erent backgrounds and with
different beliefs are coming together to create something that I think so many people got to touch,” said Worles.
When asked what his favorite part of the week was, he said all of it. This week was such a success in more ways
than one. The campus was able to come together as a community, explore their individual and collective identities,
have meaningful conversations, and the council was able to revel in what they had created as well as the
relationships that were built.
Annual Tree Lighting Festivities November 25, 2019
Photo Source // Amy Reglin
By: Morgan Jacoubs, Staff Writer
On a night of merriment and cheer, the Regis community gathered around the tree sipp ing hot chocolate, taking
pictures with Santa, and much more at this year’s annual tree lighting.
Several families came on campus to join in on the festivities, which included taking train rides around the quad as
well as decorating gingerbread men and writing letters to Santa in the Student Center.
As part of RUSGA’s introduction to the tree lighting, they invited Regis President Father John Fitzgibbons to
speak.
“They say that Easter is the holiest day, but I say there ain’t no Easter without Christmas … We started with a very
challenging semester, but I could not be more proud… With all my heart the best Christmas present I ever
received is to be here with you,” said Fr. Fitzgibbons.
After Fr. Fitzgibbons’ introduction, Regi Worles and Tricia Charfauros sung “How Great Thou Art” and another
resident Jesuit Father Bill Oulvey lead a prayer.
“Bless all of us here, bless this tree as a reminder of the gift of your son to this world,” said Fr. Oulvey.
Though a very festive night, some students wished for more as far as the music went.
“I mean I thought it was cute, I just wish the concert choir would have sang at it. I feel like that would have been
[really] cool, but Regi and [Tricia] were really good,” said first year student, Alaina Valdespino.
Though there are some possible considerations for next year’s tree lighting, it was a good night had by all, and
now the Regis campus is more festive with a big tree entwined in blue and yellow lights, with Main Hall also
showing its festive side with a green and red illumination of its façade.
Club Feature of the Week: Hooked on Regis Hooks November 25, 2019
Photo Source // Katie Lambie
By: Carly Compesi, Staff Writer
Looking for a “yarn” good time? Regis Hooks is a knitting and crocheting club that combines crafting with
community service. All levels of experience are welcome, including those who have never picked up a pair of
needles. New member, Jamie Bronson, started crocheting only a few months ago.
“I joined Regis Hooks because it seemed like a great opportunity to meet friends and learn a craft that can help
many,” says Bronson.
Meanwhile, one of the founding members, Beth Rouse, has quite a few years of yarn craf ting under her belt.
“I started knitting ten years ago to help with learning how to focus and started crocheting three years ago because I
found a crochet pattern that I wanted to do so I taught myself how,” says Rouse. “I became a part of Regis Hooks to
meet more people who liked yarn crafts; mainly so I could get tips and also see other people's talents. For me, it’s a
stress release, so I feel like other people may like it for that reason.”
Risa Davis, a fellow knitter, also joined for the people. “I wan ted a safe place where others thought it was cool to
craft too,” she explained. Davis started knitting back in high school so she could make blankets instead of buying,
and she hasn’t stopped since.
Blankets are just one of the possible options for students, faculty, and community members who want to join the
Regis Hooks. Their projects range from coasters to Christmas ornaments and stuffed animals (or “amigurumi” in
crochet language). Items made by the club are meant for giveaways and donations, as is the money raised through
fundraising. This year, they’re working to partner with Father Woody’s as well.
“Crocheting and knitting are probably some of my favorite pastimes,” says current Regis Hooks president, Berenice
Aldecoa. “It’s something I can do with my friends—it’s such a nice way to bond with them. I want to make a
bonding space for other people, too, and I think Regis Hooks is perfect for that.”
Interested in attending? Regis Hooks will be handing out handmade stress balls during the week before fina ls. The
meeting time for next semester has yet to be determined. For any questions, reach out to Berenice Aldecoa at