Spooky Scary Staircases

By: Sandra Vo, Staff Writer

Rich with the scenery expected of a dreamy college life, Regis University boasts a beautiful campus on its admissions brochures and for good reason. The classic, brick buildings and iconic silhouette of Main Hall is nothing short of architectural brilliance. But within certain buildings on campus hides a dark secret—some of the scariest staircases you will ever climb in your life. 

They offer the perfect setting for a Buzzfeed Unsolved episode and can cause your heart rate to shoot up so high that your Fitbit will be convinced you’re doing cardio. Below is a small guide to some of the most terrifying staircases on Regis’s Northwest campus. 

1. Carroll Hall — Just in case the desolate aura of the building isn’t terrifying enough, this staircase in Carroll Hall comes with a fun bonus: gaps between each step that’ll have you wondering whether you should’ve invested in a Life Alert necklace. At night, this staircase truly becomes the prime setting for a mysterious disappearance.

2. Desmet Hall — If the light on the first flight of stairs works, this staircase ranks number two on the list, but if it doesn’t, this definitely becomes the top contender for the scariest staircase on campus. Unfortunately, this light is as sporadic as Colorado weather. The dim lighting and creaking of every single door echoing throughout the staircase makes it truly horrifying to climb at night. And perhaps the worst thing about this staircase is the numerous stains that decorate its steps, mysterious fluids that can never quite be identified. 

3. Dayton Memorial Library — Rather than the construction that makes this staircase scary, it’s the general vibe that these stairs give off. At night, the stairs immerse themselves within an eerie silence, meaning that the only sound you can hear on these stairs is your own footsteps and breathing. Combined with the rows of bookshelves that make it easy to hide any imaginary axe murderer, it’s enough to give anyone a cold sweat.

4. Student Center’s Basement — Maybe it’s because this staircase feels a little too much like you’re walking into an enemy’s hideout, but the chipped paint and exposed pipes don’t do much to assuage your fears walking down here. In addition to the fact that some people don’t even know this staircase exists, it truly feels like you’re descending into something more sinister than just a chill basement area. 

5. Claver Hall — Without a doubt, Claver Hall is built like a serial killer has designed a sick game for victims to escape from, and this staircase is no different. These staircases occupy an unnerving amount of space and have inexplicable mirrors in front of them, like a phantom is going to appear at any minute. If Hollywood decides to make another Jigsaw movie, this would definitely be the perfect place to film.

Chasing Crisp Satisfaction: Identifying the Crunchiest Leaves

By: Sandra Vo, Staff Writer

Photo by Sandra Vo

Autumn offers a variety of seasonal festivities, including pumpkin spice lattes, jack-o-lantern carvings, and thick sweaters, but perhaps the most iconic of all, is the colorful leaves scattered across the ground. One of the greatest joys in life is walking across these leaves and hearing the satisfying crunch underneath your feet. 

But what happens when they don’t? Then you’re left disappointed, engulfed in the miseries of false hope, and with energy expended stomping for no reason. To avoid such a mishap, here are some distinct characteristics of the crispiest leaves on the ground to fulfill your autumn ASMR desires. 

By far, the number one indicator of a leaf's crunchiness is its dryness. Leaves that are visibly moist will be darker in color, often plastered across the ground, and strewn flat. On the other hand, leaves that have achieved optimal dryness will be lighter in color, raised slightly above the ground, or curled at the ends. Only dry leaves are able to produce a satisfactory crunch.

However, a leaf’s dryness is not the only factor in its crispness. A perfect leaf will not only be dry, but be in an optimal position for stomping. A dry leaf that is flat against the ground will not produce any noise. The best leaf is one that has curled so much that it is nearly cylindrical, taking on the appearance of a rolled newspaper. This provides the most favorable distance from the ground for the foot to snap the leaf and produce the crunchy noise.

Where will you find such crispy leaves though? Avoid areas with sprinklers or close to drains as these leaves will likely be moist and dissatisfying. Prime locations where crunchy leaves gather include the area between the curb and sidewalk, where wind has pushed piles of leaves together. Even better is if one of these locations is particularly sunny, which means most of the leaves will have dried due to the sunlight. 

If you’re desperate enough, you can even artificially produce crunchy leaves. Gather a pile of leaves and leave them outside long enough to dry (assuming the weather forecast does not call for rain). As long as the wind doesn’t kidnap your precious pile, you’ll have a delectably crunchy pile of leaves to revel in for a grand total of four seconds. 

And with this knowledge in mind, may all your autumn be filled with leafy delight.