Adventures in Admission

Art is Freedom

When COVID shut down DU, the U.S., and the entire world, I think it is fair to say a lot of people feared being stuck inside with nothing to do. While I still had a whole quarter of my freshman year left, the time in-between classes and on the weekends still needed some sort of fun since there were no club meetings to attend, mountains to ski down, or hikes to go on. Almost desperately, I found myself thinking now is the time to restart my art hobbies.

Now, precursor, I am no artist. In fact, I am exactly the kind of kid who could mess up stick figures. Honestly, my favorite story to tell is how I, by some miracle, got an A in high school freshman art despite completing the wrong project for my final. But, despite my inability to channel my inner Frida Kahlo, I still thoroughly enjoy it. Art is a way to express emotion and make people think (cliche I know), it takes up time, and if it turns out bad you can always say it is an abstract piece. With all the local art shops closed, however, obtaining new equipment for painting (my personal favorite) was not going to happen for a while. I had two canvases at home, some purple paint, and …. some thread? Yes, this is where my old pastime took a new turn.

Looking on the good old Instagram explore page one day, I saw a post that showed someone painting a canvas then sewing over it to make a “hybrid” painting. It looked sick. I am a skilled sewer simply because I refuse to pay for a tailor which then requires me to fix all my clothes by hand. So, sewing on top of a painting felt like my worlds were colliding in the best way possible. The whole piece took me maybe two hours. All I had to do was throw some paint onto the canvas, print out a silhouette of the design (a hummingbird), poke some threading holes, and then sew. Voila! In my humble opinion, I think it turned out pretty nice, and it is kinda crazy to think I made that. Normally I get frustrated at art because I am a perfectionist, but this time it was refreshing to finally have something to take my mind off of the crazy world we live in. Creativity takes courage, and with the world as your canvas, anything can be art.

Caitlyn Aldersea - Class of 2023; Major: International Studies; Minors: Public Policy, Middle Eastern Studies, and Leadership Studies; involved in the Pioneer Leadership Program, DU Model UN, and the Alpine Club

The Neighborhood

One of the many delightful things about attending the University of Denver is our location. I’m not just talking about the fact that our campus is in Denver, but I’m talking about where exactly in Denver it is situated. We are nestled just south of the city in a lovely, peaceful, residential community. I live very close to campus because I simply loved the neighborhood. One of my favorite things to do while walking around our surrounding community has been admiring the landscaping. Even though I, myself, live in an apartment complex with no available gardening space, I get the pleasure of enjoying everyone else’s hard work and the beauty that it brings.

Our recent “shelter in place” order afforded me countless hours to walk the blocks close to campus and just take it all in. These pictures are from my strolls within a mile of campus. I also have loved enjoying the peacefulness of Observatory Park just a few blocks from campus. I know you will love it should you chose to call DU home. I hope you enjoy these pictures in the meantime!

Christy Statema - Associate Director of Admission

Student Thoughts on History in the Making

It is amazing to see change in the making and to be a part of something bigger than yourself. The last three weeks have presented emotional and eye-opening images of a nation grappling with its past and present in order to create a more just and equitable future. Across the United States, supported by individuals across the world, protestors, activists, and community leaders fearlessly, passionately, and tirelessly navigate this new reality, demand justice, and work to overhaul the systemic oppression innate to the framework of this nation. Individuals are learning to educate themselves, to listen, to understand that allyship is a continuous state of mind for the duration of our lives.

Growing up in Portland, Oregon, I am quite aware of the hypocrisy and ignorance of white people regarding racial justice. As the whitest liberal major city in America, Portland has yet to confront its past of racial injustice from redlining and busing to white supremacist groups to food deserts and environmental racism to school resource officers and our homeless crisis to inadequate social services and overly funded police budgets. I am encouraged that people have taken to the streets here to demand change, justice, and accountability. Only yesterday did our city council listen to more than 2 hours of testimony, deciding to hold a vote to decrease our policing budget by more than $50 million. People here have begun the work of committing to a lifetime of reflection of privilege and ignorance, listening to marginalized communities, and vocalizing atrocities of the city, state, and nation to bring awareness and demand reform.

While protesting has been the most visible manner to display solidarity with marginalized communities and the numerous families who have lost loved ones to racial injustices - specifically police brutality - myself and others have also shown our support in different manners. Medical volunteers are setting up tents at protests, handing out water, and tending to immediate needs. Social media activists are dispersing information to educate countless individuals. Everyday individuals like you and me are stepping up to create petitions, send mass emails, call our representatives, donate money, and support local and national Black-owned businesses. At home, families including my own are learning to be comfortable with discomfort, understanding we will never understand, cultivating conversations on privilege and the intersectional nature of racial justice.

We are witnessing a time of historic change. What I hope for is this moment does not remain here - rather it develops a systemic revolution to make America truly the home of the free. At the end of the day, we can only hold ourselves accountable to how we react and continue to call for reform. But, remember, if we all do that, then society will continue to be an unstoppable force for goodwill, justice, and change.

Caitlyn Aldersea - Class of 2023; Major: International Studies; Minors: Public Policy, Middle Eastern Studies, and Leadership Studies; Involvement in the Pioneer Leadership Program, DU Model UN, and the Alpine Club

Keep Calm and Wash Your Hands

My name is Olivia McCrackin, I’m from rural Western Colorado and I’m about to be a third year at DU. I am majoring in International Studies and French and minoring in Political Science. On campus I run DU Francoscope (the French Club), participate in CRU, play drums in the Pioneer Pep band, swim for the DU Club Swim team, and am a part of Team 1864 in Undergraduate Admission.

I see my experience in quarantine as a transition period. When I heard that I had to move home for Spring Quarter, I was so disappointed. My roommate and I spent the last days of March sitting around our room, packing, reading the news, and saying goodbye to our friends. The reality of moving back to my hometown and leaving the excitement of college and the city hit me hard on the trip home. I was not looking forward to a quarter of online classes and an unknown amount of time before I could leave my house again.

Despite fear of the virus and a constant homesickness for my friends, I was surprised by how good quarantine was for me. I didn’t realize that I needed so much family time, time away from the bustle of college life. At DU we tend to be constantly busy, we are praised on how many activities we do, involvement can consume our lives. Going home to a small town where nothing happened, even before COVID, gave me a chance to prioritize my family and be more intentional about how I spent my time. Many of the friends I stayed in touch with through quarantine are some of the people I am closest to now.

When study abroad was cancelled for the Fall it gave me a chance to put down more permanent roots in Denver; find an apartment, get a job. It was a positive outcome for an otherwise bleak situation. This crisis separated so many people, but it brought some closer together. I am so very grateful that something good came from this because there was so much loss. My grandfather passed away from COVID, and while it has taken a toll on my family, I am grateful that we could be together during that time. Though the pandemic has been and continues to be extremely prevalent in our lives, appreciating the good days and taking time to plan for the future is something that has helped me through this season.

Olivia McCrackin - Class of 2022

Discussing Juneteenth

It is now Monday, June 22nd, and the times we are currently living have been - how would you say it - interesting in addressing COVID-19, Black Lives Matter, as well as finally recognizing Juneteenth on a national scale! I was at a restaurant earlier in the week and our server proceeded to ask “what is Juneteenth” and its historical meaning? He was nervous out of fear of offending us, but also wanted to be more culturally aware as he never heard of this day nor was this ever talked about throughout his high school and college education. We had a great chat and he walked away upset that he is just now understanding the significant meaning of Juneteenth, and said he would do more research to fully grasp the historical meaning - especially since an important chain of events occurred in Galveston, not too far from my home here in TX. So in light of this, I figured that I would give you some sense of what Juneteenth is and the significant meaning it holds here in the United States of America.

Juneteenth is the oldest nationally recognized symbol commemorating the end of slavery, going all the way back to 1865. It was June 19^th when the Union soldiers descended upon Galveston, TX with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved  were now free. Unfortunately, this was 2 ½ years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which was an executive order. Why so long for this new law to go into effect? One assessment was that the news was deliberately withheld by the enslavers to maintain the labor force on plantations. However, with the surrender of General Lee and the arrival of a new regiment, they were able to implement and overcome the resistance. So enslaved people were already emancipated - they just didn’t know it. Although free, liberation was still a daunting task as many of the slaves that were “Free” were beaten, lynched or murdered whenever they tried to leave. Although talking about this is painful, this was a long, slow and tedious march to progression no matter how dire it appeared at the time. I reside in Houston, TX, and TX actually blazed the way in that they were the first state to declare Juneteenth a State Holiday.

In the past, I have enjoyed marching in the Juneteenth Parade along with other colleagues from the University of Denver community while residing in Denver, CO. It was amazing seeing the community, and individuals from all walks of life, come together in celebration of justice and equality. I hope we continue to  be progressive in creating awareness regarding Black history - we need to be informed about Juneteenth, The Civil Rights Movement, The Devastation of Black Wall Street, etc... Although it’s a painful past, I believe if we educate our younger generation, they will start to have a better understanding of our dark past and the progress we’ve made while also understanding we still have a long way to go. In my life, I’ve always approached things from a position of empathy, kindness and understanding, and I believe by infusing this type of cultural learning in the school system at an early age, it could allow for others to learn about race issues, police brutality, voter suppression, etc. in a way that helps them be more understanding regarding the current climate we live in today.

Thanks for reading this, and I pray that everyone is safe and in good health & spirits!

Wahhab Carter - Southwest Regional Director, Undergraduate Admission

Making a Film During a Pandemic

Writing, directing and shooting a film isn’t something you throw together overnight. It takes a lot of planning, storyboarding, and rehearsal to pull it off. And that’s when we’re not in a global pandemic that’s keeping everybody indoors for months on end.

My final project as a DU Theatre Major was supposed to be a ten-minute play. I’d spent the year working with designers to create the set, lights, and costume that would bring my script, In Loving Memory, to life. When DU announced its transition to online learning, I was devastated. What was gonna happen to my project? Had all my work been for nothing?

Thankfully, the actor I cast in my play was a budding filmmaker who had directed lots of short films in high school. I showed him all the designs my team and I had put together throughout the year, and together, we brainstormed how we could bring this thing to the big screen. (Or, “little screen,” I suppose.)

My actor Elijah and I worked together to adapt the play into a film. The play was a one-man show about a guy putting on a funeral for his best friend in the world… a squirrel. We tweaked the script so that the main character, Andrew, was actually livestreaming the funeral to his friends and family. We would film at a park near Elijah’s house – an outdoor location meant that I could drive up and film with him on the day of the film shoot.

Rehearsing on Zoom was a mess. The WiFi at my house was spotty, and we couldn’t get through the whole script without one of his siblings knocking on his door and asking if everything was alright. To compensate for these tricky rehearsals, I drove up to Colorado Springs to rehearse with Elijah at the park, where we wouldn’t have to worry about his family. We stayed six feet apart as we worked through the show. But the drive was long, and a long day of rehearsal led to a really bad sunburn. (I’ve still got the farmer’s tan to prove it.)

Through Zoom rehearsals and socially-distant film shoots, I wasn’t sure how the final product was going to end up. But as Elijah and I edited together over Zoom screen-sharing, I realized that things were falling into place.

The DU Theatre Capstones aired from May 27-31, and over 200 people tuned in to watch over the five-day period. I watched the premiere on the front porch with my friends, each of us sitting six feet apart as we celebrated each other’s projects.

Do I wish we’d been in a theater, watching our plays together from backstage? Totally. But despite the world on shut-down, each Theatre senior got creative and figured out how to bring their stories to life virtually. I’m proud of the work my peers and I did this Spring, and I’m glad I’ll be able to have this film for years to come as a memento of one the most bizarre artistic endeavors I’ve ever taken on.

Link to film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH-mPVFKvvk

Kevin Douglas - Class of 2020 (will be pursuing a master's degree in Business Management at DU's Daniels College of Business); Majors: Theatre & English; Minor: Leadership Studies; president of the DU Drama Ensemble and a tour guide for Undergraduate Admission

The Campus Quiet Places

I have missed DU immensely while taking this past spring quarter online at my house in Tennessee. I already knew at the start that I would miss my friends and all of the fun things to do around campus, but there were some things that I didn’t realize I would miss until a couple weeks into the quarter. I came to realize that one of the biggest things I missed was a quiet place to study and do homework. I found that it was difficult to take my classes in my bedroom at home because I was surrounded by distractions and could always hear my family being, well, not quiet.

So this prompted me to think: What are some of my favorite quiet study spots at DU?

Below I have compiled a few of my favorite places to get work done on campus. Now since I have only been at DU for one year, this isn’t as large of a list as I’m sure many of the upperclassmen might have. But my excellent LLC (Living and Learning Community) coordinator introduced me to a number of these places, and I feel like that knowledge greatly helped me out my freshman year. Not only did I get some great studying done in these places, but I also was thrilled to get to explore campus!

5th Floor of the SIE Complex

The SIE Complex is a very cool building, and it has an excellent view of campus, the city, and the mountains beyond from its 5th floor. This floor not only has a large room that can be used for studies, it also has some tables and chairs on its outdoor patio. A great option if you want to get your work done outside while maintaining a nice view and some peace!

A picture I took from the SIE Complex 5th floor patio. You can witness some pretty skies and sunsets from this spot!

5th Floor Rotunda of the Engineering Building

The Engineering Building’s 5th floor rotunda is large and open, but usually pretty quiet and not too crowded. But if that room isn’t quiet enough, you can easily step outside onto the 5th floor patio. The outdoor patio of the 5th floor was one of the first places I visited with friends during Orientation Week, and even though it looks southward, you still get a nice mountain view from up there!

Mary Reed Renaissance Room

The Renaissance Room inside of Mary Reed is probably my favorite spot on this list. It’s a medium-sized room with tables and chairs, with plenty of books to add to the old aesthetic of the building. It even has a piano in it! I’ve always found it to be very quiet and not crowded. The one drawback I’ve found with this room is that sometimes it’s locked, but you can always go check again on another day!

My LLC having a group study hall in the Renaissance Room. It’s not a very good picture, but it at least shows some of the room!

Residence Hall Classrooms

The classrooms inside the residence halls are often used for classes and meetings, but not all of the time. If you can talk to the residence hall desk attendant and see if it is open and free to use, it will most likely be empty and silent, at least in my experience. This one might not bring you as much luck, but if you live in a building with a classroom in it, it might be worth checking out!

Fair warning: none of these places are extra, super secret. They all are mostly available to everyone and not hidden, so sometimes there will be other people there. And there are plenty of other quiet places to study on campus such as anywhere in the Anderson Academic Commons or Sturm College of Law libraries. These suggestions might just be a little less crowded and might come in handy for any people looking for new places. They certainly helped me!

Grant Stansbury - Class of 2023; Majors: Criminology, Psychology; Minor: Geography; Involved in the Environmental Sustainability LLC, backpacking club, and intramural broomball

Building a Community at DU

Cam Simmons’s chat today on @duadmission about acceptance and community couldn’t come at a more relevant time. It is important to the University of Denver that each student receives a quality education while feeling belonging and comfort on campus. The transition from high school to college can be life-altering, but DU does a good job of providing platforms and a community for students to find a footing in a new adult world.

I moved from Washington State to attend the University of Denver. I had no family or friends in the city or on campus, so I knew I had a challenge ahead as I faced the unknown. For the first time, I had to navigate being an adult without the support system of my parents or childhood friends. However, within a month of my freshman year, I felt like campus was home. I attended all the orientation week events, recreation night which showcased all the sports available on campus, and participated in the proud hockey culture. I joined an intramural soccer team my first quarter and went to the hockey camp out (an opportunity to camp in line for season tickets). While I did enjoy the activities I did,  I wish I had taken a chance on a few more. During Orientation week, a club fair is hosted for new students. It's a great place to get free swag and check out the huge array of clubs on campus. In the future, I will definitely check out the Game board club or the improv group.

My golden ticket (season pass) after sleeping outside the Ritchie Center all night. Worth it!

I broke away from my family’s religious connections during high school so I wasn’t looking for faith at school, but through my friends and Julia Chun’s experience recounted on the @duadmission live chat, I know DU offers flexibility for those wanting a religious experience. Our chapel on campus is non-denominational, meaning any religion is free to practice in that space. There are religious clubs on campus, like the Campus Ambassadors, that deepen religious identities and duties. Professors and staff are very accommodating to all religious holidays and will provide accommodations for schoolwork during those times. 

I know creating a new community all on your own sounds daunting, but the rewards far outweigh the fears you may have. If you do find yourself uncomfortable with trying out a new club or event by yourself, bring a buddy. You don’t need to know them well - just being in the same space doing the same thing can bring people closer. If nothing seems to be clicking with you, you always have the chance to start a new club or event. There is a great possibility that if you feel something is missing from our campus, so does someone else. I want to start a 24 hour musical! Auditions, practice, and the performance are held all in the span of 24 hours so the show ends up being more of a comedy. 

I want to end by reiterating Julia Chun’s (one of our academic advisors) excellent advice. Firstly, as a new college student she suggests speaking up if you need help. Every staff member is trained to answer your questions best, or if you don’t feel comfortable with approaching staff, always ask an older student. In my freshman year, every person I talked to was more than willing to give their expert advice. Secondly, explore. This is the time in your life to step out of your previous image and into a new one. Try things with those that have the same interests as you. Lastly, be gentle with yourself. Making mistakes is the best way to learn and often make the best stories to tell your grandchildren. 

Me and my friend on an Alpine Club Trip at Cave of the Winds in Colorado Springs

Allison Owen - Class of 2022; Major: Journalism Studies; Involved with Intramural Soccer, Alpine Club, and I work in the Ritchie Center

My Time Abroad

My name is Maddie Greene, and looking back on my 4 years at the University of Denver, I am so thankful for all of the experiences I am now able to carry with me into the next stage of my life. One of the most influential experiences that I have in my pocket is my semester abroad, because it was one of the major reasons why I chose to attend DU in the first place. Going abroad is a staple for so many students on DU’s campus, and for me it was nothing short of life-changing.

I spent a semester at IAU: Aix-en-Provence, an American university nestled at the base of Mont Sainte Victoire and in the heartland of impressionism. Aix is a city straight out of a fairytale, and as anyone who has ever traveled there will tell you, the light that floats through the trees and off the storefront windows has a golden quality that is completely its own. I still miss my daily walks into town, and I miss grabbing a coffee before class or a glass of wine with my friends before dinner. Time seemed to slow down, and I found that every experience-- whether it was visiting an art museum, or trying to figure out how to navigate the bust station-- was an immersive and incredibly important experience. I feel so lucky that I had the chance to complete a semester abroad through a school like DU, because I was able to take classes that were in my graduation plan...along with studio art and French classes that I never would have had the chance to take. I will never forget my time abroad, and I will always look back on that chapter of my college years with so much joy and gratitude.

Madison Greene - Class of 2020; Double major in Psychology and Communication Studies; Minor in French; member of Delta Zeta, and a member of the Field Experiences in Psychology cohort through DU's Psychology department 

Science and Engineering Center

The Anderson Academic Commons (AAC) is one of my favorite places at DU. It has everything a student could need: a café with tasty treats, comfy chairs to lounge on, large windows to let in light, and quiet rooms for students to study in. The AAC also has a variety of resource centers: the Writing Center, the Research Center, the Digital Media Center, and many more! As a chemistry minor, I spend a lot of time in the Science and Engineering Center and it has been one of the most valuable resources to me during my time at DU so far.

The Science and Engineering Center (SEC) is located in the northwest corner of the library, right next to the Writing Center. It is surrounded by large glass windows that overlook Evans Avenue and the center of campus. In the SEC, there are many large tables separated by subject. Students are able to work with undergraduate and graduate learning assistants, laboratory teaching assistants, and even professors. The hours of operation of the SEC differ by subject, but they are all posted and easy to access at http://portfolio.du.edu/SEC/page/52141. Even when the SEC is not technically open, students are still able to use this space to gather and study together. I have many fond memories of gathering with my classmates on nights before big chemistry exams. Studying alone can often be frustrating, but we were able to work together, keep each other in good spirits, and help each other learn.

While the SEC is not one-on-one tutoring, it is an incredibly accessible resource for students and it is, similar to the other resources in the AAC, completely free! In my experience, the learning assistants in the SEC have always been helpful and enthusiastic. They not only help me with my homework or study for an exam, but they often go above and beyond to make sure that I am actually understanding the concepts. I can thank the hard-working learning assistants, TAs, and professors in the SEC for helping me truly succeed in chemistry this year.

The Science and Engineering Center is not just for chemistry, however! There are learning assistants for Biology, Physics, Astronomy, Engineering, and Computer Science as well. Sunday through Friday the center is bustling with students both teaching and learning, and the SEC is just one of the many resource centers that are built to create a community environment in which students are encouraged to help their peers.

Katherine Miromonti - Class of 2022; Major: Pre-Art Conservation; Minors: Chemistry, Italian