University of Denver Fall 2023

Fall 2023

GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND ALUMNI REFLECT ON THEIR DU EXPERIENCE

The State of Religion | Meet Kovači | Inside the Davis Gallery

The University Archives in Anderson Academic Commons contains University of Denver records and artifacts, like yearbooks, athletic programs, films and even meeting minutes from its founding in 1864 to the present day. Here, students sit in the Pastil chair designed by Eero Aarnio in 1967 while inspecting a letterman jacket. Each year the Special Collections and Archives curators and staff support up to 60 classes with their archival research expertise.

Contents Fall 2023

magazine.du.edu du-magazine@du.edu 303.871.2776 Volume 24, Issue 1

FEATURES 18 The State of Religion DU experts weigh in on America’s shifting religious landscape 24 Global Perspective

Co-Interim Vice Chancellor Shira Good Director of Communications Gretchen Pressley

Managing Editor Joy Hamilton

International students and alumni reflect on their DU experience

Art Director Jeff Lukes

30 Meet Kovači

Senior Editor Heather Hein

A DU dog’s 5,000-mile journey

Contributing Writers Nika Anschuetz Emma Atkinson Janette Ballard Matt Meyer Connor Mokrzycki Designers Kari Burns Brooke Harman Production Designer Todd Fisher Photographer Wayne Armstrong

DEPARTMENTS

6 Campus Update 10 Athletics 12 Research 14 Academics 16 Books 33 Alumni Connections

DIGITAL EXCLUSIVES @ magazine.du.edu Don’t miss: A conversation with DU law alum Adrian Fontes, Arizona’s Secretary of State

The University of Denver Magazine is published four times a year (fall, winter, spring and summer) by the University of Denver, Division of Marketing and Communications, 2199 S. University Blvd., Denver, CO 80208-4816. The University of Denver (Colorado Seminary) is an Equal Opportunity Institution.

Excerpt from “Disneyland on the Mountain: Walt, the Environmentalists, and the Ski Resort That Never Was”

Denver 101: Denver’s lost Chinatown

Printed on 10% PCW recycled paper

Photo by Wayne Armstrong

FALL 2023 • UNIVERSITY of DENVER MAGAZINE | 1

DU’s commitment to curiosity and rigor prepares students for a lifetime of learning LETTER FROM THE CHANCELLOR By Jeremy Haefner

of our faculty members. The approach these scholars use to learn more about this challenging and complex topic is a model for our students. Our faculty are curious and open to whatever they might discover. They ask hard but important questions. They know that expanding knowledge begins first with recognizing what we do not yet know or understand. This is the beating heart of a practice of intellectual inquiry, and it is what we want every DU student to be able to implement across their own lives and careers. For many students, our exceptional study abroad program is another distin guishing factor of the University. It is, undeniably, a signature DU Experience.

The rewards of studying abroad are myriad. It generates empathy and under standing. It contextualizes history and culture. It offers untold opportunities for connection, mentorship and community building. It makes the dizzying breadth and depth of all the world can teach us that much easier to grasp and internalize. Exposure to lives so like their own—but also so meaningfully distinct—prepares our students to live and work in an ever-connected world in some ways defined by its variety. And without question, our community is made stronger and more interesting by our incredible international student population. On page 24, we learn how DU attracts students the world over and what they experience once they join us on campus. The students that come to DU from across the globe bring so much value to our community. Their perspectives, ideas and creativity deeply enrich the learning experience here at DU. And, I believe, they take back with them knowledge and skills well earned from a rigorous DU education. For all our students, we hope their DU experience is just one fundamental building block supporting them for a lifetime of learning. And I think curiosity is fundamental to their success. Photo by Wayne Armstrong

One of the most powerful outcomes of education, and I think especially of higher education, is how exposure to a wide range of people, ideas, knowledge and experiences fundamentally shapes how we understand the world. To fully take advantage of the joy and wonder of a holistic education, we encourage our students to remain open and receptive to all it has to offer. We celebrate when novelty or complexity is encountered, first and foremost, with curiosity. And we reaffirm that every single member of the DU community contributes meaningfully to our collective experience. Proof of the power of this approach is easily found within this issue of University of Denver Magazine. Changing demographics, values, generational preferences and more can have profound impacts on society. The article on America’s shifting religious landscape (page 18) dives into these factors, using the expertise and research

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Did You Know? DU is ranked #23 in the Princeton Review for Best Career Services

Preparing Students for the Future

at DU have better job placement rates and higher starting salaries than students who did not have an Internship Award – funding for students who take unpaid internships – was awarded to 72 students, an increase of 50% over last year. Award Fund can help even more students take advantage of internship opportunities, increasing their job prospects post-graduation.

Hosting mentoring events for

purpose-clarifying retreats at the Kennedy Mountain Campus, providing peer and professional advising and resume reviews, hosting more than 250 employers in the last year – DU’s Career & Professional Development team’s prepare DU students for life beyond graduation. Internships are one element of that work. Students who have at least one internship during their time

Scan here to make your gift and propel our students toward career success!

Want to learn more by phone? Call DU Advancement at 303.871.2311

FALL 2023 • UNIVERSITY of DENVER MAGAZINE | 3

A time of transition LETTER FROM THE EDITORIAL STAFF

Photo by Wayne Armstrong Top row: Joy Hamilton, Managing Editor; Amy Miller, Director of Creative and Brand Management; Todd Fisher, Production Designer; Heather Hein, Senior Editor; Jeff Lukes, Art Director; Will Colner, Distribution Coordinator; Wayne Armstrong, Photographer Bottom row: Matt Meyer, Writer; Gretchen Pressley, Director of Communications; Connor Mokrzycki, Writer; Shira Good, Interim Co-Vice Chancellor

the magazine’s strengths and opportunities for growth. Using insights from that study as a starting point, we now want to learn more from our readers. That’s why we’re asking you to fill out a brief survey with questions about your favorite type of stories and what you want to see more of in future issues of the magazine. As we move into this new phase of the magazine’s legacy, we are grateful for all those who previously contributed to the success of this publication and eager to see where your feedback will lead us going forward.

This fall represents the 24th year of publication for DU Magazine. Although it’s commonplace to call upon the Greek philosopher Heraclitus’ idea that the only constant in life is change, that wasn’t quite the case for our editorial team these past few decades. While DU has transformed with new buildings, programs and faces, DU Magazine’s managing editor, Tamara Chapman, was a constant at the helm for most of the magazine’s history. With her discerning editorial eye—or, in the words of one staff writer, her “mighty red pen”—and her knack for storytelling, her impact on the magazine and DU Community at large cannot be overstated. With Tamara’s well-deserved retirement, it is time for DU Magazine to embrace change. As we welcome new members of our editorial staff amidst an evolving Division of Marketing and Communications, our team is leading a re-design process that will shape the magazine for years to come. We are thankful to have partnered with the Consumer Insights & Business Innovation Center at the Daniels School of Business last year to conduct a reader study to determine

Please take a moment to complete our reader survey and share what you love most about DU Magazine. du.edu/shareyourthoughts

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Celebrating Two Years of the James C. Kennedy Mountain Campus—

For the Difference. introduced DU students to Colorado’s stunning Roosevelt National Forest and created opportunities for contemplation and community building. Here, students set the stage for lives of purpose. For two years, the University of Denver’s Kennedy Mountain Campus has

Learn more about the Kennedy Mountain Campus

du.edu/KMC2023

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Emergent Digital Practices (EDP) student Park Depper (left) visits with Caroline Kirchberg (BA ‘23) in her installation artwork, “Good Morning Starshine,” at the annual EDP Expo in May. Kirchberg described the piece as “a multimedia, participatory art installation that invites the audience into a dreamy, faux outdoor environment to engage with joyful, frightening and nostalgic memories.”

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ARTS The Davis Gallery provides real-world experience for students and community members

“You don’t just hang art,” Headrick says. “You have to help the audience. [Curators] measure everything. They think about the vertical as well as horizontal space.” For Eli Bucksbaum (BA ‘22), the gallery gave him power and legitimacy, breathing life into a dream he once shared with his sophomore year roommate, Jack Nathan. Bucksbaum and Nathan vowed to both become art majors and looked forward to taking an oil painting class together, a milestone that signified the beginning of their artistic careers. “In our eyes, oil painting was the pinnacle of being an artist,” Bucksbaum says. However, during the summer of 2020, after returning home due to the coronavirus pandemic, Nathan passed away unexpectedly. Making good on a promise, Bucks baum switched his major from hospitality to art, a way to honor Nathan’s memory. In fall of 2021, he took the Introduction to Oil Painting class. Before he even picked up a brush, Bucksbaum says his outlook changed, thanks in part to encouraging words from a professor. Bucksbaum wasn’t a student studying art. He was already an artist. “It completely altered everything for me,” Bucksbaum says. At the opening event of the Davis Gallery in January 2022, Bucksbaum debuted his piece, an oil painting aptly named, “Potty Trained,” a full-circle moment of his journey to become an artist. Standing next to Helen Davis, talking about his piece, Bucksbaum felt the power of the student- centered gallery. “To have that in a student space, a donated space, was really quite beautiful,” Bucksbaum says. “I couldn’t have thought of a better piece, a better time, a better moment to unveil a piece like that than in the Davis Gallery.” And now in his gallery Studio MAXIMA in Los Angeles, “Potty Trained” hangs opposite a portrait of Jack. The works of art—designed to look at each other—serve as a reminder to keep pursuing his passion. The Davis Gallery puts out calls for proposals on a quarterly basis, aiming for six shows each academic year. Community members, faculty, staff, students and alumni are encouraged to apply. “Let your passion be the guide,” MacInnes says.

Through the double doors of the University of Denver’s Shwayder Art Building, adjacent to the bustling lobby, lies the Davis Gallery, a space dedicated to empowering and celebrating student and community artists. “It’s the place where people arrive. They start there. It’s beautiful. It’s visual,” says Annabeth Headrick, director of the School of Art and Art History. The gallery, which opened in 2022, was made possible by a generous gift from Helen Davis, a longtime supporter of DU and the School of Art and Art History and LinkAGES: Colorado, a collaborative group aimed at creating connec tions across generations. At the intersection of student learning and real-world experience, the gallery serves as a blank canvas, transporting gallery-goers to new realms, sparking conversation, intro spection and appreciation for the creative process.

The space, now brimming with bright gallery style lighting, is a stark contrast to what lay there before—a darkroom for photography. “It was large, designed for 1970s era photography, when you needed a lot of darkroom,” says Roddy MacInnes, pro fessor of photography in the School of Art and Art History. MacInnes took his first photo at 11 years old in 1964. With the first click of the shutter, he says he felt magic. In the decades since, MacInnes has used various lenses to capture communities. And a few years ago, he decided he wanted to repurpose some of the darkroom space to showcase community and student art. “It activated the space,” he says. “We formed a committee to review proposals for exhibitions, not only from art students but students across campus.” Since its initial opening, the Davis Gallery has hosted eight exhibitions, with plans to host six more during the 2023-2024 academic year. On the surface, the Davis Gallery provides a space for student artists and community creators. But behind the scenes, the Davis Gallery also provides opportunities for students to get experience in art curation. While galleries are designed to look effortlessly elegant, art curators must intentionally think about every minute detail in a show.

Photos by Wayne Armstrong

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GIVING BACK Commencement 2023 focuses on resilience, giving back

This fall, for example, they’re offering everything from a class on the 20th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq and “Putin and His Wars” to “The Art of Paella” and “Finding Your Fun: How Play Can Save Your Life and More.” Because they plan the curriculum six months in advance, they have to be quite forward-thinking. That was never more apparent than during the COVID-19 pandemic, when they had to pivot their entire schedule online practically overnight—and demand skyrocketed. They held a series of daily lectures in the summer of 2020 that each drew 300+ people, not only from Denver but from around the country and the world. The program has returned to in-person classes, but about half of its curriculum is still online. They have added the R1 Lecture Series to highlight faculty research and morphed the popular daily COVID lectures into a free series called Feed Your Curiosity, which gives a taste of what the Enrichment Program has to offer: learning for anyone, anywhere, and a fun way to keep up with what’s happening at DU and around the world. Matthew Logan, (pictured, right, with grad Eli Locke) a political science major from Canon City, Colorado, went to work after graduation as an intern for Congresswoman Yadira Caraveo from Colorado’s 8th Congressional District. He used the money to purchase birthday gifts for his brother and father and to invest in his financial future. What’s left, he says, will be spent on DU hockey tickets and future business ventures. “Mr. Hamill’s gift served as an extraordinary reminder to think of others,” Logan says. “Whether directly investing in others or investing in ourselves so that we can contribute to others more effectively in the future, it is important that we give back and help one another succeed collectively.” Hundreds were on hand as the University awarded philanthropist Carrie Morgridge an honorary Doctor of Education as the ceremony’s commencement speaker. Morgridge, who has served on DU’s Board of Trustees for more than 10 years and heads up the Morgridge Family Foundation, is also the benefactor, along with her husband John, of the Morgridge College of Education. “[Carrie’s] drive, generosity and vision are truly inspiring, and I’m thrilled she is here to celebrate you all—the next generation of DU alumni committed to serving the public good,” said Chancellor Haefner. DU Magazine followed up with some undergraduates to see how they’ve used their $500 gifts.

On June 10, thousands gathered in Magness Arena to celebrate the undergraduate class of 2023—a gathering that seemed impossible just three years earlier, as the then-first year students grappled with the disruption of the coronavirus pandemic. In his remarks, Chancellor Jeremy Haefner commended the graduates for their resilience. “I know it took hard work and dedication to earn your degrees … but you persevered,” he said. When commencement speaker Pat Hamill, Daniels College of Business alumnus and CEO of Oakwood Homes, took the stage, the focus shifted to the graduates’ future

and the importance of giving. “There is something I need each of you to do,” he said. “Today, I want you to practice giving back.” He went on to announce that he was giving each graduate a gift of $500. As the stunned crowd cheered,

Hamill said, “Keep it if you really need it. Give it to someone who needs it if you don’t. Or combine it with your friends and do something together. … Keep it real and do something that matters.” Gifts and giving was also a theme at the 2023 graduate commencement ceremony held the day before, on June 9.

LIFELONG LEARNING Enrichment Program celebrates 20 years of lifelong learning

For 20 years, the Enrichment Program at DU’s Univer sity College has been serving up a smorgasbord of classes for the community that celebrates lifelong learning and showcases the best of DU—from the first-class facilities to the expert faculty and their cutting-edge research. With more than 50 multi-week classes and one-time lectures, this fall’s offerings continue the thought-provoking and accessible programming that former DU Chancellor Dan Ritchie, former Dean of University College, Jim Davis and others had in mind two decades ago when they launched the program as a series of free lectures. The series was so popular that Davis decided to turn it into a full-fledged program for adult learners—and the Enrichment Program was born. “The program has always been a bridge to the communi ty,” says Lynn Wells, the program’s director. “People know DU is here, in the middle of the city, but they don’t really know all the great things that are happening on this campus.” Each term, Wells and her team start from scratch to create an ambitious curriculum that offers something for everyone. Classes, which are taught by faculty and industry experts, come from modified DU classes but also from current events, milestones, anniversaries of historic events—basically, Wells says, “what’s on people’s minds.”

Learn more about the Enrichment Program and explore its catalog at https://universitycollege. du.edu/enrichment

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Newman Center brings ‘special sauce’ to audiences in 2023–2024 THIS SEASON

From the “Love

Newman Center Presents launched its 21st season in September, offering audiences a mix of the world-class jazz, dance and classical music performances it’s known for and a slate of diverse international acts that can’t be found anywhere else in Denver. This ambitious combination is what Executive Director Aisha Ahmad-Post calls the Newman Center’s “special sauce.” “People know that what they’re going to see here, even if it’s not [their cup of tea], is going to be something of excellent artistic quality,” says Ahmad-Post. “But our audiences have also told us, ‘We want to be challenged, we want to know what’s out there. We don’t just want to see the same thing over and over.’” And this season

in Exile” trio of vocalist Arooj Aftab, pianist Vijay Iyer and multi instrumentalist Shahzad Ismaily, who all have South Asian roots, to Compagnie Hervé Koubi, a troupe of Algerian, Moroccan, Bulgarian, Italian and French dancers whose work

Photo by Nathalie Sternalski Photos by Wayne Armstrong

answers the call, showcasing top performers—such as vocalist Samara Joy, who won Best Album at the 2023 Grammy Awards, 10-time Grammy Award-nominated saxophonist Joshua Redman and his quintet, and the beloved Martha Graham Dance Company—while also welcoming more international musicians and dancers than ever before. New Artist and Best Jazz Vocal

Compagnie Hervé Koubi

explores the historical mix of cultures and religions in the Mediterranean, audiences will be treated to dynamic and thought-provoking performances. Ahmad-Post, who attends hundreds of performances a year all over the world, says she is always thinking about what will connect with Denver audiences. “If I’m bringing a performance from the Middle East, for example, what is that performance going to speak to in our community? Will our audiences ‘get it’ even though it’s not in their language?” Audiences seem to trust that they will. Ahmad-Post says they sold more subscriptions by the middle of 2023 than they did in all of 2022. “We’re really bucking a larger trend— our audiences are coming back in much higher numbers than we’re seeing elsewhere in the arts community. We’re seeing younger audiences and many folks coming for the first time, which I think speaks a lot to the desire for these kinds of performances and the impact that they have.”

Learn more about this season’s performances and how to get tickets at https://newmancenterpresents. com/performances/newman-center-presents

Samara Joy

RadioEd and its hosts, Matt Meyer and Emma Atkinson, have returned for season four, bringing a fresh perspective on current events through conversations with DU faculty experts, industry insiders, journalists and other thought leaders. The new season premiered on Sept. 19, kicking off monthly podcast episodes running through May. GOOD LISTENING RadioEd sheds light on DU expertise, current events

You can subscribe to RadioEd wherever you get your podcasts or access it online at du.edu/news/radioed.

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New women’s soccer coach Julianne Sitch brings a culture of winning to DU ATHLETICS By Matt Meyer

high-level student athletes. It was built during her years playing and working in Chicago, from a prep star and college All-American to playing professionally before settling into the elite coaching ranks. That journey, prior to coming to DU, culminated with

College coaching may move between teams, but a winning culture is built on consistency. At the heart of newly appointed University of Denver women’s soccer coach Julianne Sitch’s philosophy is a focus on building connections, setting expectations and guiding

Photo by Wayne Armstrong

winning their fifth consecutive regular-season league championship. The Pioneers’ season ended on penalty kicks, however, falling to Oral Roberts in the semifinals of the league tournament after scoreless regulation and overtime periods. “With the rich history of DU’s success, especially in conference, we want to continue to push into postseason play,” Sitch says. “We want to make it into the first, second, third rounds of the [NCAA] tournament so we can continue to attract great student-athletes.” Over the course of the 2022 season, the Pioneers surrendered less than one goal per game, allowing just 16 tallies in 19 contests. They surrendered only 7.1 shots per game, less than 40% of which were on net. The defense was so stifling that DU goalies dished out only 35 saves over the course of the season. The existing framework is something that Sitch says she’s excited to work with in the 2023 season. “I think this team is going to be hard-nosed, they’re going to be gritty and they’re going to be resilient,” the coach says. “So, yes, I think we’re going to have a sound defense, but I also think we’re going to be strong in the attack. We really want to be sound on both sides. “We want to have that sound defense and continue adding layers on the offensive end. We want them to continue being the team they’ve been, but I think we have another gear, another level, that we can continue to push to get at.” In the early portion of this season, the Pioneers saw quick success, dropping only one of their first nine games and finishing their nonleague schedule with a record of 4-1-4. In that span, they allowed only 1.33 goals per game and doubled opponents shot totals. Liv Moritz, a freshman from Vail, led DU with five goals, while graduate student Kaitlyn Glover had four. Freshman goalkeeper Molly Wissman had three shutouts heading into Summit League play. Beyond the pitch, three members of her Chicago team were named Academic All-Americans and Sitch says, above all, she understands the importance of academic and holistic development of athletes at the collegiate level. “That’s one thing that I enjoyed about U of Chicago and really drew me to DU,” Sitch says. “You’re working with really driven student-athletes. They want to be the best they can be on the field and turn around and be the best in the classroom. You want to coach and attract the student athletes who build that culture.”

her leading the University of Chicago men’s soccer team to its first national championship in program history, with the team finishing the campaign with a 22-0-1 record. Now, she’s looking to take the DU team deeper into the postseason after its years of success in Summit League play. The transitions might seem

steep on paper—going from the DIII to DI level, moving from men’s soccer back to the women’s game and trading out her longtime home for a city in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains—but Sitch says the only adjustment that matters is implementing her standards and culture with a team that’s already had plenty of success. That confidence stems from a well-built trail of coaching prowess. Sitch played professionally overseas and for the Chicago Red Stars before moving into coaching. She had stops as an assistant with the Red Stars, the U-16 U.S. Women’s National Team and the UC women’s team prior to her stint as the Maroons’ men’s head coach. “I’m just coaching student athletes,” she says. “I’m coaching them to be the best they can be on and off the field. My culture doesn’t change. My style doesn’t change. My expectations don’t change, whether I’m coaching men or women, or whatever level they’re at.” That coaching has brought about some stellar defensive soccer. In her season helming the University of Chicago Maroons, the team had 13 shutouts and allowed only 11 goals across 23 games. At Denver, Stitch is looking to build on a strong returning defense and midfield while refilling an attack that was led by now-departed seniors and graduate students. The Pioneers finished 11-4-4 last season with an 8-0-1 run through the Summit League,

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RESEARCH

DU partners with local nonprofit to tackle Denver homelessness crisis By Emma Atkinson

says. “Do folks in payment Group A or B have substantially better outcomes because of the larger cash distribution? Maybe. We’ll test that hypothesis.” CHHR is also conducting a qualitative analysis of the DBIP project, having chosen eight participants from each cash distribution group to talk to over the course of the year-long study. At the six-month mark, these participants filled out surveys and answered questions about their quality of life, including indicators of health, financial and housing stability, child welfare and more. The Center released a mid-term report in June. It found that participants used the distributed cash to prioritize their hierarchy of needs, covering transportation and hygiene costs as well as catching up on bills and using the additional funds to make bigger life changes like purchasing a car. “I have gotten into some housing, and it’s helped me a lot with doing that to help me pay off a lot of my debt,” one Group B participant said. Stephanie Locke is a doctoral social work student and a research assistant with CHHR. She contributed to the mid term report and was pleased with the results of the surveys. “I think there’s an expectation that people who are experiencing homelessness, if they aren’t monitored with their spending, they may be frivolous with it,” Locke says. “But I was happy to see that our data showed that they are using it to thrive and meet their basic needs.” Locke says a big part of the work that she does in gathering data and talking to people involved in CHHR’s research is using inclusive language. “I prefer to use the terms ‘people experiencing home lessness’ and ‘people who are unhoused’ with a people-first perspective; not labeling this person as being homeless or unhoused, but acknowledging that they are a person first, and they are in these circumstances,” she says. “‘Homeless ness’ has a lot of stigma attached to it. We’re moving more towards acknowledging this population as being ‘unhoused’ because it separates them from some of that stigma.” At the end of the day, Brisson says, he believes that the housing crisis and homelessness is an issue of humanity. “I’m not okay with members of my community sleeping outside in 20-degree weather, or sleeping in an emergency shelter where they don’t feel safe, or sleeping in their cars so they can go to work the next day and having a police officer shine a light at three in the morning into their car and say, ‘I’m sorry, you can’t sleep here or park here, you need to move on,’” Brisson reflects. “And this person goes to work the next day drowsy and uncomfortable because they had no place to sleep.”

Homelessness in Denver is rising. According to the Metro Denver Homeless Initiative’s annual point-in-time count, the number of unhoused people in the area increased by 31.7% from January 2022 to January 2023. Denver’s new mayor, Mike Johnston, has said that sweeps of homeless camps aren’t a solution to the problem. But his administration conducted its first camp sweep in early August, displacing dozens of people. So, what can be done to aid the rising population of those experiencing home lessness in Colorado’s largest metro area? Professor Daniel Brisson, director of the Center on Housing and Homelessness Research (CHHR), is working to answer that question. Brisson’s work is one piece of a growing effort by DU faculty across disciplines to address the full cycle of housing in the Mountain West. “People should be paying attention, because it’s just too expensive to afford housing in Denver right now, and as a result of it, we’re treating people that we care about inhu manely,” says Brisson, a professor in DU’s Graduate School of Social Work. Brisson says the Center is similar to a modestly sized research think tank, providing research, evaluation, training and technical assistance to entities looking for information about poverty, housing and homelessness. The Center also partners with students in the school of social work, allowing them to volunteer or work with CHHR in a social work or research capacity while obtaining their degrees. “I often think about it as a medical school model on a large university campus,” Brisson says. “People are in med school there, and while they’re doing some of the work, they’re also getting training on how to be a doctor. I think we’re doing something similar with researchers and social work.” The CHHR is working with the Denver Basic Income Project (DBIP) on a two-part research initiative, studying the qualitative and quantitative impact of different levels of mon etary distribution on the lives of unhoused people in Denver. The program randomly sorts each of the 807 participants into one of three groups. Based on the group they’re sorted into, each participant receives one of three distributions of money: Group A receives 12 monthly cash payments of $1,000 over the span of a year, totaling $12,000; Group B receives an initial deposit of $6,500 and 11 monthly cash payments of $500, totaling $12,000; and Group C receives 12 monthly cash payments of $50, totaling $600. “One of the main things our research is going to uncover is, ‘Are there differences in the impact of different types of payments for people experiencing homelessness?’” Brisson

Photo by Wayne Armstrong

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DU’s stand on freedom of expression ACADEMICS By Janette Ballard

As an institution of higher learning, the University of Denver historically has supported a culture of robust debate and open dialogue. DU’s commitment to free speech came into sharper focus in 2017 when the University prepared a Statement of Policy and Principles on Freedom of Expression. This document was written the same year DU endorsed the Chicago Statement, a model free speech policy statement by the University of Chicago. Rather than replicate the Chicago Statement, DU created a statement of its own—drafted, discussed and debated by the DU community. “The University of Denver remains deeply committed to our freedom of expression policy,” says University of Denver Chancellor Jeremy Haefner. “We do this for our students, who come to this institution to learn, hear new and diverse viewpoints, and share their own perspectives. We do it for our faculty, who must be free to expand knowledge while they also educate—and for democracy, where the freedom of expression is a central promise.” DU Magazine sat down with Darrin Hicks (pictured below), a professor in the Department of Communication Studies and member of the committee that drafted the freedom of expression statement, to discuss the significance of the policy and the importance of free speech on campus. This interview has been edited for brevity.

What was happening on college campuses at that time? Probably the most prevalent was the controversy over invited speakers. It could be a commencement address, or it could be a presidential candidate, and some students would find that speaker to be expressing ideas they’ve vehemently disagreed with. There were some political groups who started seeing a really good opportunity for news coverage by sending very provocative speakers to campuses with the hope of generating a great deal of controversy. That had started to become a prominent political thing that was happening, and it certainly happened to DU.

Why did DU sign on to the Chicago Statement in 2017? I think it was a response to what people had been seeing going on around the country. And though it had not hap pened explicitly at DU—for instance, very controversial invited speakers drawing large protests—[it was clear that universities] are going to have to recommit or clarify their commitments to free expression. It came out as the strongest statement to date on the value of the freedom of expression. Certainly, in response to a lot that had been going on college campuses, especially elite private college campuses.

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Would DU need to approve a controversial speaker on campus? No, that was one of the things we were really careful to make sure wasn’t the case. There is no approval process. I think a lot of people at first thought that’s what the policy would be. The committee was like, no, let’s make up prin ciples that we hope are respected. This was more like: These events can become conten tious. If you want it to be the best event possible—that is, people hearing the message of the person you’re inviting and, at the same time, full opportunities for other people to express their opinion about the speech—then there are ways to do that where everyone’s freedom of expression is respected, and everyone is safe. I think they’re learning that a university is a unique environment that is centered on free inquiry and critical discussion, and that it is not designed to be like every other environment. It’s not the public square. It’s not the mall. It’s not even the congressional debate chamber. A university is unique, and it has certain cardinal values—the pursuit of truth, the idea that one should be open enough to risk discomfort in the service of learning and becoming a better person. How does this policy benefit students? What are they learning?

The second lesson is that it’s always worth it to try to talk it out, because most people don’t have the extreme views that may be ascribed to others. You may vote for a certain presidential candidate, but you are not that presidential candidate. You’re a much more complex person who could be appealed to. So, you just don’t assume a person is an idea. You treat them as a person, and when you do that, you don’t have to see them as enemies. And third, it teaches that as much as you would like certain ideas just to go away and be changed, that can only happen through a process of dialogue, debate and persuasion. None of us really want a completely coercive state or administration to decide for us what we say and what we hear. We really want to be able to make those decisions ourselves.

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Photo by Wayne Armstrong

New titles transport readers to mountains, rivers and the middle school classroom BOOKS By Joy Hamilton

Disney’s ski resort dream ignites environmental activism There’s no shortage of lore when it comes to Walt Disney and his cultural empire of movies and theme parks. But did you know that he once dreamt of building a ski resort with DU’s former legendary ski coach, Willy Schaeffler? Writer duo Greg Glasgow and Kathryn Mayer (BA ’07, MLS ’10) revisit this failed venture in “Disneyland on the Mountain: Walt,

Disney’s passion both for the project and for nature and wildlife and his death in the middle of planning the project to the rise of environmentalism and the case going to the Supreme Court,” says Mayer. Walt’s vision would require a complete re-envisioning of the Mineral King valley in California, complete with heavy infrastructure and crowds—much to the ire of the Sierra Club. “Disneyland on the Mountain” was and is an appealing concept to Disney fans (even though the ambitious plan ultimately failed, ideas for the ski resort are visible in other Disney resorts and hotels), but what sets this story apart is how the 15-year conflict between Disney and environmentalists “lit a fire for the environmental movement and inspired other activism,” says Mayer.

the Environmentalists, and the Ski Resort That Never Was” (Rowman & Littlefield, 2023) in eyebrow-raising style. Imagine a 64-year-old Walt clambering up a Sierra Nevada mountainside in a “sweater vest, heavy camping jacket, and wool trousers,” reporters in tow, to share his dream with the world, just as his health is beginning to decline. For Glasgow and Mayer, what started as a fun fact spotted at the Walt Disney Family Museum turned into a

Read an excerpt featuring Walt’s right-hand man in the project, DU’s decorated ski coach, Willy Schaeffler, at magazine.du.edu

A western thriller set on a snowy mountainside

Novelist C.J. Box (BA ’81) is a familiar name in the Rocky Mountain Region, as a #1 New York Times bestselling author of award-winning crime novels with a distinctive Western flare. “Storm Watch,” (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2023), the 23rd book in his Joe Pickett series, follows the

journalistic calling. “We

quickly realized there was a much bigger story to tell—from Walt

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ultra-marathoner and volunteer ranger assistant in Fort Collins. His decade-long journey to publish the collection is dedicated to his Appalachian family, his community and anyone seeking belonging. “I’d love if this book sparks awareness and empathy not just for Appalachian folks but for all who may seem ‘different,’” says Meadows. “We’re always more complicated than we appear, and I think most—if not all—of us are looking for community and love.”

Wyoming game warden as he looks for a missing University of Wyoming professor. As readers journey through a late spring snowstorm, they encounter falconry, local militant activists and a crypto-mining financier—the kind of contentious topics that are familiar to modern Western communities and are a cornerstone of Box’s work that keeps

readers coming back for more. When he was recently awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from DU’s College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences, Box advised students, “One never knows what path the journey will take, but it helps to decide on a goal. With that goal in mind, everything you do will help get you there.”

The fictional son of a Denver Broncos player competes out of his comfort zone The spirit of competition in a fictional Colorado college prep school is as present as the air students breathe in “Control Freaks” (Levine Querido, 2023) by alumna J.E. Thomas (BA ’80, MA ’81). The young adult novel follows what happens when seventh grader

A recent PhD graduate revisits childhood in Appalachia Despite the many places that one might live in a lifetime, the setting of your childhood leaves an imprint on your life unlike any other. For Lucien Darjeun Meadows (PhD ’23), the Appalachian Mountains—where he spent his childhood as a queer boy of Cherokee and European descent— serve as a powerful muse, allowing him to highlight the relationship

Frederick Douglass Zezzmer’s obsession to become “The World’s Greatest Inventor” collides with a school-wide competition focusing on—gulp—sports. What’s more, Doug must compete with a team of science-obsessed misfits. Will they find a way to work together and win the golden B-B trophy? Told through the eyes of multiple characters, the novel explores timely topics like identity, blended families and the pressure of STEAMS (science, technology, engineering, arts, math and sports). Prior to writing the novel, Thomas

between human and environmental identities. “In the Hands of the River” (Hub City Press, 2022) is a poetry collection that takes “a deep look at some

worked as an administrator at a Colorado school and, during that time, immersed herself in articles about adolescent psychology and noticed reports of “a disturbing increase in suicide by children, with a disproportionate number occurring by Black tweens and teens.” Inspired

struggles of Appalachian life, from poverty to mental health issues—but also, more so, is an open-armed love letter to the lands, waters and peoples who raised me,” says Meadows. With an acute awareness of his

surroundings—a skill he refined in Dr. Joanna Howard’s (PhD ’04) sentient ecologies seminar, Meadows says that writing or thinking through a place one should “listen,” and “return, again and again, in witness and openness to all the quiet voices of the land.” “Give us clover for remembrance, alfalfa For thought, oniongrass to hide where Where once was mountain, now dust—” – (First stanza, “Buffalo Creek”)

to respond to what she learned, Thomas says, “I couldn’t solve the issues that overwhelm children to the point they become hopeless, but I could write a book that centers well intentioned humans.” Born in Colorado, Thomas weaves in familiar aspects of the state into the storyline, including its unique weather and historic Park Hill neighborhood. Reflecting on her time at DU, Thomas says the book “recognizes and celebrates the dedicated teachers who may never know the lasting impact they have on students’ lives,” like Dr. Harry Spetnagle (former chair of mass communication), who supported Thomas as she mapped out her future as a sophomore at DU. Whether one is a mentor, parent or friend to young people, Thomas hopes readers use the book to “spark important conversation[s] about school, family or social pressures.”

Currently, Meadows is the managing editor for the National Association for Interpretation’s Legacy magazine, and attends to the northern flickers and blue jays as an

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DU Experts Weigh In on the State of Religion in America RELIGIOUS LANDSCAPE AMERICA’S SHIFTING

By Janette Ballard

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“If people don’t trust that religious congregations are authentic and live their values, they won’t go into those spaces.”

– Marquisha Lawrence Scott, Assistant Professor, GSSW

America’s religious landscape is shifting. Large numbers of Americans have left the most prevalent religion in the U.S., Christianity, to join the growing ranks of those who describe themselves as atheist, agnostic or religious “nones,” according to the Pew Research Center. In 2020, Pew Research

grown, partly due to immigration. Currently, 6% of the U.S. population adheres to other religions, including Jews, Muslims, Hindus

At the same time, many people are participating in online or individual religious practice rather than attending houses of worship.

In fact, according to a 2020 Gallup survey, Americans’ membership in houses of worship dropped below 50% for the first time in Gallup’s eight-decade study. The story of religion in America is multifaceted and complex. To learn more, we reached out to DU’s community of expert faculty

reported that 64% of Americans identify as Christian, down from

of Americans identify as Christian, d own from 90% in 1972

90% in 1972. This reflects a growing trend in religious disaffiliation over the past few decades.

and Buddhists, but that number is expected to grow. Atheists, agnostics and religious “nones” or “nothing in particular” now represent 30% of the population.

and alumni in religious studies, social work, psychology and Judaic studies about what they’re observing and their theories on what is contributing to these changes.

While Christianity is in decline, other religious affiliations have

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Professor Daniel McIntosh Daniel McIntosh is a professor in the Department

talked about more openly than perhaps they had been. And that led to some rejection of organizations in general,” McIntosh says. Churches began to be aligned, to different degrees, with some of the political parties and movements. Polarization began to happen, and people began leaving because they no longer felt comfortable with the realignment. But what happened over 50 years ago doesn’t explain the growing disaffiliation in recent decades. McIntosh describes it

kids are ‘nones,’ they never were part of [a religious organization], and that begins to accelerate.” Assistant Professor Marquisha Lawrence Scott Marquisha Lawrence Scott is an assistant professor in the Graduate School of Social Work. Her work focuses on religious congregations and other commu nity-based organizations and how they impact community outcomes. Scott also has theological training, with a master’s degree in divinity. She studies

of Psychology who studies religion. He believes that the U.S. is following the path taken by a more secular Western Europe. “The U.S. has often been an outlier among Western industrialized countries in terms of how unusually religious we’ve been, compared with trends in other countries,” says McIntosh. “So, one way of looking at it is that we are following the pattern that other Western, industrial,

both theological and social perspectives and how the two relate to each other. Scott says there is a growing trend in congregations to address social justice issues. For example, she says, many congregations are now focused on climate change. “Congregations feel like there’s a theological requirement—coming from a Christian perspective— this kind of ‘stewards of the earth’ idea.” In a Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) survey released earlier this year, seven in 10

educated democracies have been following.” McIntosh adds that the roots of disaffiliation in the U.S. can be found in social movements in the 1960s and 1970s. “I think the story in

“People left the church. Now you have a set of people who are religious ‘dones.’ They were raised in a religious organization, but they’ve left.”

the U.S. starts with all the changes that happened … with the baby boomers and the hippies and the anti-Vietnam movement, and the social changes that were occurring from the civil rights movement to the pill, to gay and lesbian awareness and rights movements,” he says. “All of that coalescing around that time began to raise some questions.” Although Christian churches in the 1950s may have seemed homogeneous, they weren’t. Within those organizations, there was a lot of diversity among a lot of issues, he adds. “Part of what happened in the 60s and 70s is that you begin to have this questioning of those organizations. Some of these issues began to be

– Daniel McIntosh, professor, Dept. of Psychology

churchgoers (71%) agreed that providing a faith perspective on pressing social concerns is an important part of a church’s role. However, less than half (45%) agreed with the statement that “congregations should get involved in social issues, even if that means having challenging conversations about politics.” Nonetheless, Scott finds that many aging congregations are

as a snowball effect within what Pew calls “intergenerational transmission,” or the passing of religious identity (or lack thereof) from parents to children. “I think it’s a self-accelerating process,” he says. “People left the church. Now you have a set of people who are religious ‘dones.’ They were raised in a religious organization, but they’ve left. They begin having kids, and their

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ways. People want their relation ships to add substance. They seek meaningful relationships with the clergy. They desire to be seen, known and heard for who they truly are,” he says. “People may shy away from specific aspects of religious affiliation, yet they desire to cultivate personal growth and transformation, enliven major life events and select holidays with vibrant celebrations, forge meaningful connections, and amplify life’s joys while receiving support through its challenges,” Knight adds. “And they want to be comfortable expressing doubts, which is embraced within our community.”

feel apprehensive about stepping through our doors,” he says. “There is a strong yearning for a sense of community—where people can learn, pray and enjoy life together. We have put significant effort into making our large congregation feel intimate by helping individuals discover their own tribe within the community.” Knight acknowledges that faith institutions in the U.S. tend to skew older, not because the institutions themselves are old, but because the people who can either afford or have the time to be involved are often older. “Many Americans are stretched thin financially,” says Knight. “As they work harder for less income,

being called to social justice when, to them, churches are essentially social spaces. “They’re not justice spaces. They grew up in these traditions for the social connection, for the community,” she says. But many young people, on the other hand, think congregations should be addressing social justice issues. “Young people are saying all these years, we’ve been giving money, we’ve been giving to charity, but nothing has really changed in our community.” This attitude appears to be supported by the PRRI survey, which found four in 10 (38%) of Americans aged 18-29 are religiously unaffiliated. Scott says what she sees, in general, is

their ability to engage with social and faith institutions is often compromised.” He’s concerned that if faith institutions shrink, so will support for social services. “In our county a signif icant portion of essential social services relies on the support of nonprofits and faith organizations,” he adds.

younger Americans are less trusting of institutions and more focused on social outcomes. “If people don’t

trust that religious congregations are

authentic and live their values, they won’t go into those spaces,” she says. But that doesn’t mean they are less moral, Scott says. “I see them being highly motivated and focused on how to care for folks and how to ensure that our words match actions.”

of Americans aged 18–29 are religiously unaffiliated

Knight has also seen a national decrease in synagogue participation over the years, although his congregation continues to grow. He says that faith organizations that are institutionally focused need to be more people focused to attract members. His synagogue, for example, has been doing this by developing smaller groups within the large congregation. “We count around a thousand households as part of our community, and we’ve noticed that individuals who were raised Jewish but have been away from synagogue life for a while often

“If these institutions falter due to lack of support, the repercussions for the broader society could be severe.” Associate Professor Andrea Stanton While attendance at houses of worship has decreased generally, the picture looks somewhat different for Muslims. According to a recent U.S. mosque survey, the percentage of Muslims who attended mosque for Eid prayers following Ramadan increased 16% between 2010 and 2020, and the number of mosques

Rabbi Asher Knight, Alumnus Asher Knight (BA ’01) is the senior rabbi at Temple

Beth El in Charlotte, North Carolina. He believes there is a trend towards “meaning making,” and says that people want to add depth and meaning to their lives. “We’re seeing it in a variety of

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