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Saint Joseph’s University

9.25.13 Top NEWS

Features, pg. 15

Volume XCI

Sports, pg. 20

Est. 1929

TOP STORY

Stirring the pot: Differing views on health care Connie Lunanouva ’16 Hawk Staff

W

hile the rise in cost for 201314 health care plans has affected all faculty and staff members of Saint Joseph University, it has especially impacted those who are on the lower end of the pay scale and those in the Jesuit community.

This unexpected increase has some university employees particularly worried because health care increases are not proportional to employee salaries. Such a dissonance means that both higher and lower paid employees will bear the same monetary hit, regardless of what amount of pay they earn.

“We are sensitive to the personal challenges this could present for some employees and have proposed a number of steps to mitigate the increased costs,” read an email from Sharon Eisenmann, vice president for human resources. Her message was sent to all faculty and staff members following a meeting with various faculty constituencies on Aug. 5th.

With the issue of personal challenges in mind, the university provided a “Benefits Fair,” in which all employees were given the opportunity to inquire about the different kinds of health care plans made available and how to move forward with this cost increase.

In addition to the fair, employees were also allotted time for private sessions with a benefits counselor to discuss every form of health care and receive information suitable to their own situations.

These university-provided services allowed faculty and staff members to voice their distress over the current financial situation regarding health care plans.

According to Catherine Murray, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology and co-chair of the Advisory Board of Faculty Compensation (ABFC), continued HEALTH, pg. 3

An outside view of the mansion.

Photo courtesy of Melissa Kelly

A $10 million welcome

Cardinal’s residence to become focal point for admissions Catharine Gaylord ’16 Special to The Hawk

S

aint Joseph’s University announced the purchase of the cardinal’s mansion last September. But it was not until very recently that the university disclosed that the property would serve as a reception hall, art gallery and administrative offices.

During convocation on Sept. 15th, university president C. Kevin Gillespie, S.J., ’72, announced upcoming plans for the newly acquired property located on the corner of City Avenue and Cardinal Avenue.

When the announcement was made about the purchase of the property last year, Gillespie was ambiguous about the plans for the 8.9-acre property, saying only that there was a possibility that the residence would be used for administrative offices in the future.

During convocation, however, Gillespie stated that the university has “…made the commitment that enrollment management will move there next summer, into the second and third floor offices.”

Exercising caution Students struggle to work out safely Lindsay Hueston ’16 Hawk Staff

As the fall semester grows busier, students struggle to safely maintain the exercise regimens that they may have upheld over the summer.

Exercising can prove to be a difficult task, as the convenience of on-campus gyms is not one that some Saint Joseph’s University students living off-campus say they can often take advantage of.

“I live on 63rd Street, and safety is defi-

Joe Lunardi, ’82, vice president of university communications, elaborated on the issue, stating that enrollment management would not only have offices there, but also a welcome center for prospective students.

With this transition, enrollment will be able to claim their own sphere of recruitment, something that is already in effect at many other universities throughout the country.

Lunardi was optimistic about the effect this new property would have on the university.

“It will allow us to show off the university in both a new and historic place,” said Lunardi.

Other offices will also move to the residence, occupying the two smaller buildings that stand on the property. It has yet to be determined which offices these will be, or when they will make the move.

nitely a concern, just being a girl and running by yourself, especially at night—we’re right outside the city, so it’s definitely something to be aware of and to be cautious of,” said Shannon Meehan, ’14. “It’s always better when you can run with people, but with timing and scheduling and stuff it’s pretty hard, so you just have to be aware of your surroundings.”

Because it can be difficult for some students to coordinate exercise with friends during the day, many choose to run on their own. However, because of St. Joe’s semi-urban, semi-suburban location, this choice poses a unique problem, especially if students can only fit in this exercise in the late afternoon or evening.

Stephanie Wysocki, ’14, is a member of the SJU Running Club, which meets multiple times a week and runs together.

“We mainly run in the afternoons—

continued CARDINAL, pg. 3

Mon-

Photo by Mary Madeline de Regnauld de Bellescize

day, Wednesday, and Friday at five—and generally run towards the Narberth/Ardmore areas,” said Wysocki. “It’s a lot less busy, and it’s also prettier with all the big houses.”

In terms of exercising in a gym, she adds, “It’s definitely harder to get to the gyms if you live off-campus.” continued CAUTION, pg. 4

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NEWS

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Department of Public Safety Reports (Sept. 13-19) September 13 Public Safety confiscated alcohol from a student entering Moore Hall.

Public Safety confiscated alcohol from a student entering the Ashwood Apartments.

September 16

Public Safety confiscated alcohol from a student entering Lancaster Courts- Weymouth.

A student reported that she had her I phone taken from the Maguire Sports Complex.

Public Safety responded to a fire alarm in Morris Quad Town Houses. Investigation revealed no signs of smoke or fire.

Public Safety was notified that the emergency phone on the fourth floor of Villiger Residence Hall was ripped off the wall. Facilities Management was also notified.

An area resident of the 5800 block of Woodbine Avenue notified Public Safety of a group of students damaging her property and uprooting her lamppost.

Public Safety responded to a power outage in Merion Gardens Apartments. Facilities Management was notified and power was restored.

September 14 An area resident of the 5800 block of Woodbine Avenue notified Public Safety of a group of students damaging her property by uprooting several of her plants.

September 15 Public Safety confiscated alcohol from a student entering the Sourin Residence Center.

Public Safety was notified that a spotlight had been pulled down from the ceiling on the second floor of the Fine Arts East building.

Public Safety was notified of an elevator malfunction in the LaFarge Residence Center. Facilities Management was notified.

Several students were evacuated from the elevator without incident.

September 17 A student reported that they had observed two juveniles remove a bicycle from the rack located at Sullivan Hall. The student contacted Public Safety. One of the juveniles was apprehended and turned over to the Lower Merion Police Department.

September 18 Public Safety confiscated alcohol from a student entering the Lannon Hall.

Public Safety confiscated a glass jar containing marijuana from a student entering the Pennbrook Apartments. The student fled the building prior to Public Safety’s arrival.

The marijuana was turned over to the Philadelphia Police.

Public Safety located a small amount of currency outside the Ashwood Apartments.

The currency was taken to Public Safety headquarters and secured.

Public Safety responded to a fire alarm in Bellarmine Hall. The building was evacuated and the Philadelphia Fire Department arrived to the scene. Investigation revealed no signs of smoke or fire.

September 19 Public Safety responded to a fire alarm in Villiger Residence Hall. The building was evacuated and the Philadelphia Fire Department arrived on the scene. Investigation revealed a student had burned some food in a microwave causing the fourth floor hallway to be filled with smoke. No injuries were reported.

S Think About Your Safety J

Exercise Sound Judgment

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Understand the Consequences for Ignoring the SJU Guidelines

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Alcohol Related Incidents

On Campus

Off Campus

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Drug Related Incidents

On Campus

Off Campus

NEWS

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Faculty voice views on health care Continued HEALTH, from Pg. 1

“The people most affected are those who could least afford such an increase.” some people are affected more so than others by this raise in cost.

“For newly hired faculty, any significant increase puts a burden on them,” said Murray. “The people most affected are those who could least afford such an increase.”

Some employees, however, have had a different reaction regarding the disparity that has occurred in the health care situation.

“I think it was something that St. Joe’s had to do and I kind of expected that we would face some change because this is the first year with Obamacare,” stated a desk attendant in Lannon Hall, who wished to remain anonymous.

The employee voiced the position held by other faculty members that some staff members weren’t upset about the unforeseen increase in the health care budget.

“Considering that this is something happening everywhere, across the nation, it was inevitable that it would happen here at St. Joe’s, too,” said the desk attendant. “So I wasn’t shocked by it.”

Some staff members mentioned that health care costs were too high to keep paying. When asked if they were considering dropping their health care plan because of the extra expense, the desk attendant said that this was not an option for their family.

“My thought is you can’t afford not to have health insurance,” said the desk attendant. “Yes it is very expensive, but with having kids I can’t afford not to.”

The expense the employee referenced is attributed to the high deductible health plan (HDHP),

which university employees are being urged to accept because it offers a premium and coverage superior to the university’s other three plans. St. Joe’s is also offering to make up half of the deductible for those employees who enroll with HDHP. “I didn’t like the idea of having to change plans, but I think it was very generous of the university offering to put up half of the deductible for the family plan,” said the desk attendant. “I do think that they are willing to help.”

Joseph Feeney, S.J., professor of English, said that he also feels secure in the university’s decisions.

When asked if he was worried about the change, Feeney stated, “I wasn’t concerned, for I knew that the Society [of Jesus] was caring for my health care, and, as always, was doing a good job.”

The Jesuit community at St. Joe’s makes health care decisions as a collective group under the direction of their rector, Brendan Lally, S.J. Because the Jesuits take a vow of poverty, their compensation regarding health care costs comes to the community in the form of one lump sum and is paid at the residency.

Jesuit members were also invited to attend the benefits fair that was offered for all university employees and were made aware of the process as it was undergone.

As a new practice, younger Jesuits are able to meet with Lally to discuss their plans.

Different faculty and staff constituencies have voiced varying concerns or agreement with university decisions regarding health care rates. The end of the open enrollment period on Sept. 24 will determine the true effects of the changes.

Melissa Kelly/ Saint Joseph’s University

Cardinal’s mansion plans announced Contintued CARDINAL, from Pg. 1 The university has also begun to make plans for the first floor of the residence, intending to craft it into an entertainment area that can be utilized by both current and prospective students.

In his speech, Gillespie revealed that alumnus David Wolfe, ’60 donated $1 million to the project.

The donation consisted of contemporary art that will be on display in the residence. According to Gillespie, some Andy Warhol originals are included in the donated collection, in addition to other similar artists. Wolfe was an art major at St. Joe’s in the 1950s and has other donated art to Post Learning Commons as well.

“We want people to come in, particularly first year students, and to wow them,” said Gillespie.

“I’m surprised that the school hasn’t done something like this sooner,” said Mary Korchak, ’16, in response to the news about the donation. “When I visited other schools, most of them had art galleries or things like that.”

The plans for this new space will begin to go into effect over the summer, with 40-50 employees moving over to the residence. The

university plans to open the offices before the start of the 2014-15 school year. In addition, Gillespie said that he hopes to have the residence functioning as a gathering place by next spring.

“It’s exciting that this will be finished before we graduate,” said Juliana Ciccozzi, ’16. “I’m really excited to be able to go over there and enjoy the art!”

The 18-room mansion that stands on the residence will be named after the donors who helped finance the $10 million property. The university, however, has yet to release the names of the donors. According to Lunardi, St. Joe’s must still decide the order in which the names will appear on the buildings.

Additional long-term plans for the property remain uncertain. The university does not have any plans to build on the land as of yet, choosing to instead focus on other renovations that the existing campus requires.

Lunardi has asserted that the university will take the historic and holy context of the land into account, as well as any long-term needs, and balance them with the future acquisitions of the university.

Correction: In the Sept. 18 issue of The Hawk, there was an error in the article, “Heath care hike: University employees bear burden of increase.”

In this article, it was stated that, “The HDHP is what Lunardi says he considers the ‘Cadillac plan,’ because of its higher expenses and benefit offerings.” Lundardi did not say this.

Instead, he stated that the “Cadillac plans” were about the Personal Choice and Point of Services plans, which are being phased out.

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NEWS

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Setting the standard

University begins reaccreditation process Katherine Grygo ’16 Hawk Staff

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t the beginning of the last academic year, Saint Joseph’s University began the Middle States re-accreditation process.

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is a voluntary, non-governmental membership association that is recognized by the United States Secretary of Education to conduct accreditation activities for institutions of higher education in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Colleges and universities that have been previously accredited must renew their accreditation every ten years. In order to do so, the university must show that the school reflects the 14 standards that have been set as guidelines. These standards include mission and goals, student support services, and assessment of student learning.

A university can opt to either do a comprehensive study of all 14 standards or emphasize a select group of standards. Richard Sherman, Ph.D., professor of accounting, chaired the self-study and discussed why the university decided to take this path.

“We have a consultant, a liaison with Middle States, and she strongly suggested not just Saint Joseph’s but any school do a comprehensive,” said Sherman. “We’re studying from the start all 14 standards.”

Sherman explored these standards by creating six task force groups composed of university faculty, administration, and students.

According to Sherman, each person was handpicked due to his or her expertise and experience. The students were members from the student government association.

Sherman stated that task force members who have gone through the process before are especially vital.

“There is administration and faculty that has been through three different Middle State reviews, so we are relying on their expertise and their experience from past studies,” said Sherman.

Cary Anderson, Ph.D., vice president of student life, is the chair of the first task force which deals with the institutional mission and resources. One of the questions his force dealt with was, “How do we stay true to being a Catholic, Jesuit institution?”

The task forces were given a set of standards to explore. They had a set of research questions that they used, such as: “How effective is Saint Joseph’s University at accomplishing its mission as a Jesuit Catholic University? How is the effectiveness of the planning and budgeting process evaluated?”

All other schools in the area have Middle States Accreditation, and it is significant for the school’s reputation to have this status. It is a precondition for other accreditations such as the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), by which the Haub School of Business is certified.

Without being Middle States accredited, St. Joe’s would not receive federal funding.

“They are basically saying you, the accrediting bodies, have to make sure that the universities and colleges are keeping the standards of excellence that you are setting...” said Sherman. “I think there is an increased accountability if you are receiving federal grant.”

Anderson explained that the government desires this accreditation so that they know they are not wasting their money on low quality institutions.

“Every 10 years, institutions have to go through this process to demonstrate that they are functioning in a way that they are going to provide a quality education and the type of education that they set out to do,” said Anderson.

The research the focus groups are doing is important for students because it assesses the university and looks for aspects that can be changed for the betterment of the school.

In March, students will have the opportunity to see the findings and make recommendations. According to Anderson, a forum-like setting on the accreditation process will allow for student input.

“It is good for students to understand what the accreditation means and what goes into it, and it gives students the opportunity to see a big picture of the university,” said Anderson.

The work that goes into the Middle States re-accreditation has been a tedious process, but Sherman explains that it is worth the hard work.

“What the process gives us is the opportunity to reflect on the last 10 years,” said Sherman. “The good, the bad, and the ugly—everything that will help make us a better university.”

News Briefs Pope Francis:

Not dependent on doctrine On Sept. 19, Pope Francis said in an interview that the church was putting too much emphasis on abortion, gay marriage, and contraception. The pope’s comments mark a departure from his two immediate predecessors, John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, who were wholly dependent on doctrine. (NPR)

“

We have to find a new balance; otherwise even the moral edifice of the church is likely to fall like a house of cards, losing the freshness and fragrance of the Gospel.”

Cost of elderly left out of Pa. Medicaid debate Gov. Tom Corbett’s plan to extend taxpayer-paid health insurance came with warnings that it is not an expansion of Medicaid. However, Corbett failed to mention the driving force behind the cost of Pennsylvania’s Medicaid program: the elderly who need nursing home care on a long-term basis.

(NBC10)

South Jersey: Medical marijuana site prepares for opening On Oct. 15, Egg Harbor Township, N.J. plans to open South Jersey’s first medical marijuana site called Compassionate Care Foundation (CCF).

Though medical marijuana was legalized in the state about four years ago, officials have still been drafting regulations for patients. (Philly.com)

KenyaN shooting

From Sept. 21 through Sept. 22, Islamic extremist gunmen in Nairobi, Kenya threw grenades and fired assault rifles inside an upscale mall, killing at least 68 people and wounding more than 175 others. (AP)

Philadelphia

Prostitution bust Two Philadelphians, Patrick Brown, 38, and Ashley Henne, 19, were arrested on Sept. 21 in a prostitution bust by Philadelphia police. Police say they were led there because of an investigation into prostitution ads on the website “Backpage.”

(6ABC Action News)

Xbox stabbing Upper Darby police reported that a wheelchair-bound man stabbed an acquaintance five times in the leg when the man refused to buy his Xbox on Sept.

22. (Philly.com)

More than 60 killed in Iraq funeral bombing

At least 60 people were killed at a funeral in the mainly Shia Muslim Sadr City district of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on Sept. 21. No group has claimed responsibility for the bombing that has injured at least 120 people. (BBC)

Running the risk Continued CAUTION from Pg. 1 The ease of exercising on-campus greatly benefits Grace McCarron, ’16.

“I’ll work out right before a class or right after a class,” said McCarron. “If I work out before a class I can go shower before class, but if I didn’t live on campus I wouldn’t be able to so I probably wouldn’t use the gym as much as I do now.”

“...being a girl and running by yourself, especially at night —we’re right outside the city, so it’s definitely something to be aware of and to be cautious of...”

She noted that some of her friends living off-campus do take advantage of O’Pake Recreation Center, but it is markedly harder to fit into one’s schedule.

Public Safety Investigator Mark Lemon positively remarked that there have been no prior incidents of Public Safety responding to a student in distress while exercising. Lemon does, however, have advice for students looking to exercise.

“I don’t recommend running in an area that’s not familiar to you, and always make sure you stay in well-lit areas and are with someone, no matter what time of day,” said Lemon. “Students can run where they want, but it is much easier [to be assisted by Public Safety] to stay on campus if something were to happen to you physically.”

If a student chooses to run or exercise outside, Lemon suggested the track around Sweeney Field, particularly for students who prefer to run at night. It is well lit, and due to its on-campus location, is very close in proximity to any Public Safety officer.

Despite her dislike of running on a track, McCarron also agreed that it is a good option for students to use.

“I don’t like running on the track, but last year I would go running on the track at around nine o’clock at night,” said McCarron. “It’s lit up and there were a lot of families there, which is kind of cool. But I felt comfortable; I was fine.”

Choosing where to exercise depends on a person’s preferred method, his or her place of residence, and also on how much time a student has during the day to exercise. When students are unable to use on-campus resources to exercise, they must be cautious in the semi-urban atmosphere they must use to work out.

NEWS

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9 25 13

Friends oR foes?

Russia’s controversial status on the world stage Antagonistic

China After a history of tumultuous ties, a series of recent military and economic agreements between Russia and China have marked a slow, positive change in the partnership. In March, after signing a series of bilateral agreements in Moscow, China’s president, Xi Jinping, said that the current relations between the two powers are “the best in their history.”

Syria

CHINA

As many countries work to figure out the best way to ensure the end of chemical weapon use on Syrian citizens by the government, Russian diplomats have been working in cooperation with Syrian officials to prove otherwise. In the face of a drawn out civil war, Russia is Syria’s most important ally.

MONGOLIA

Georgia August marked the five-year anniversary of the 2008 five-day war between Georgia and Russia, from which tensions still reverberate today. One major point of conflict is the two breakaway republics that have stemmed from the fighting, Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Despite resuming trade, Georgia has had major problems with Russian occupation in one-fifth of the country.

United States In recent months, several events have caused Russian-United States relations to become increasingly tense. The U.S. information leaker, Edward Snowden, was granted temporary asylum in Russia after being charged with espionage and theft of government property on June 14. Since his arrival in Moscow, U.S. authorities have repeatedly requested that the Russian government turn him over to the U.S. The requests have all been denied, and this has seen a considerable cooling in the relationship between the two superpowers.

A New York Times editorial written by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sept. 11 warned that an international airstrike unsanctioned by the UN could prompt more terrorism, conflict, and American lives and money spent in war.

On Sept. 19, U.S. Senator John McCain responded by writing an editorial in the Russian publication Pravada.ru, outlining the restrictive ways that Putin has led Russia since the beginning of his presidency.

SYRIA

MONGOLIA

Iran Many world powers have their eyes turned to Iran, waiting to see if the country will continue to pursue and possibly acquire nuclear weapon technology.

Russia has shown support for these plans as the Middle Eastern country fights other nations, like the United States for this acquisition. acquisition.

IRAN

KAZAKHSTAN

NORTH KOREA

GEORGIA

RUSSIA

GEORGIA

BELARUS

TURKEY

BELARUS

UKRAINE SERBIA SERBIA

EUROPEAN UNION UNITED STATES Friendly Graphic by Weiyi (Dawn) Cai, ’15

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NEWS

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Putin’s Vision

The breakdown of democracy in Russia: top three controversies

Elections, Single-Party Dominant System On Sept. 19, Putin said that he might seek re-election for presidency in 2018.

Putin has been in power since 2000, and a successful re-election in 2018 would keep him in office until 2024. This would be almost as long as Josef Stalin’s threedecade dictatorial term.

From 2000 to 2008, Putin served two terms as president. He then served as prime minister under Dmitry Medvedev, his handpicked successor, until the 2012 elections. While president, Medvedev signed a law extending the presidential term from four to six years. In addition to legalizing the expansion of the presidential term, Medvedev signed off on a law that allows the members of the lower house of parliament, the Duma, to stay in office for five years instead of four.

In September 2012, Medvedev suggested to the United Russia Party that Putin should be a candidate for president once again. The United Russia Party is the largest political party in Russia, currently holding 238 of the 450 seats of the State Duma in Russia. In the 2012 Russian presidential election, Putin was re-elected as a part of the United Russia Party with a 64 percent majority. (CNN)

LGBTQ rights As other nations take steps toward ensuring that the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals are upheld, Russian LGBTQ citizens have faced increasing restrictions from their government. As part of an anti-gay propaganda law signed by Putin on June 30, Russian legislature has prohibited public demonstration championing gay rights. In addition to this, the law prohibits any statements that proclaim gay relationships equal to heterosexual relationships. The UN and other regional political groups have condemned these actions. Since the passing of the law, many gay activists have been arrested for their public demonstrations. Gay activists have also called for other nations to begin protesting the February 2014 Sochi Olympics. (The Guardian)

Pussy Riot In March 2012, two members of the feminist punk rock group Pussy Riot were arrested for performing an anti-Putin song in a Moscow cathedral. Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina were convicted of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred, and were sentenced to two years imprisonment. Although their arrests garnered attention and support from other countries, most Russians sided with the Kremlin. In October 2012, Putin spoke in defense of their punishment.

“Their arrest was right and their sentence was right,” said Putin. “One must not erode moral fundamentals and undermine the country. What will be left without that?” (The Guardian)

Photo from Creative Commons

OPINIONS

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The Hawk Newspaper

Russia: Where do students stand?

Putin’s op-ed not entirely wrong

How to deal with Russia

Why you should care about Russia

Lauren Sukovich ’15

Greg Ferroni ’16

Katherine Grygo ’16

On Sept. 13th, The New York Times ran an editorial written by the president of Russia, Vladimir Putin. This short article, which lectured Americans about the importance of caution in Syria and the pitfalls of “American exceptionalism,” drew responses from politicians and numerous publications.

Putin’s utilization of America’s uncensored media is ironic when looking at the heavy media manipulation present in Russia. Other paradoxes lie in the content of the article, which highlights the importance of respecting the parameters of the United Nations and avoiding unilateral action. This admonition is a bold claim from a president that has consistently violated human rights and is criticized by the United Nations for committing fraud in supposedly democratic elections. For example, Putin has passed constitutional amendments to strengthen his executive power and lengthen his time in office. Throughout the article, Putin’s arrogant tone antagonizes Americans’ pride.

But all criticism aside, Putin makes some valid points. He reminds Americans of the League of Nations, which failed due to lack of legitimacy in enforcing its policies. He raises the question: If international organizations possess no legal teeth, what will enforce their policies? What is to stop smaller, more volatile countries from making unsavory alliances (especially in the Middle East) and acquiring weapons of mass destruction? Putin’s strategy to avoid fighting fire with fire may not be 100 percent American, but could be more effective in the long run.

If we look to that past, it is obvious that unilateral military action does not spawn democracy. Afghanistan and Iraq are still in shambles after American intervention, leaving thousands of soldiers and civilians dead.

A major argument promoting American involvement in Syria is Assad’s use of chemical weapons against his own people. These same people, however, would be caught in the crossfires of American military action. In his op­ed, Putin claims that the chemical weapons found in Syria were actually used by the rebels. He presents no evidence to support this argument, and it doesn’t appear that anyone outside of Moscow believes this claim. Nonetheless, the presence of dangerous weapons in a tumultuous political climate is never a good thing, no matter which side is using them.

It is clear that Putin is still gloating from recent successes in the international spotlight (his suggestion to put chemical weapons under international control was widely accepted by the international community). While Putin’s interjection in the Times may be distasteful, one cannot deny the validity of his arguments.

Military intervention seems to be the knee­jerk reaction of our executive branch, but it is not the only solution. It is important to be cautious, especially in a region where nothing is predictable and so much is at stake.

Reactions to Putin’s comment on American exceptionalism vary greatly. The United States remains the largest economic and military presence in the world, and American popular culture has invaded every corner of the planet. But in other categories, like education, health care, and life expectancy, we are notably mediocre. Putin’s so­called “dig” may have more truth than we think.

If we adopt the mindset that America is the “exception to the rule,” international law and order will fall apart.

Since the Russian Bolshevik Revolution in 1917, relations between Russia and the United States have been estranged.

Differences in culture, political ideology, and economical ideals have kept the countries in constant competition with one another.

After the Rosenbergs leaked the plans to the atomic bomb, both countries began an arms race that spiraled into the Cold War. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, interactions between the two countries have yet to dramatically improve. In fact, they continue to deteriorate.

As the United States debates taking military action in Syria, Russian leader Vladimir Putin has insisted on remaining active in the situation. Putin believes the U.S. should not go to war over Syria. From a moral standpoint, Putin is attempting to keep the United States out of war even more than President Barack Obama is. This input from Putin has further estranged relations between the two nations.

Historically, both World Wars began when one nation became militarily involved in a smaller nation, which caused other first-world nations to respond by declaring war. Consequently, it would not be out of the question for a potential war between the U.S. and Russia to erupt over the current conflict in Syria. Since there was never a declared war between the two nations, angst between the U.S. and Russia has accumulated and will continue to do so until both countries decide to work together.

Russia continues to be a first-world nation militarily and is certainly capable of declaring war. The built-up tension between the two nations further supports cooperation, even if it is strictly to prevent meaningless war. The U.S. does not have to become best friends with Russia, but it should at least leave the nation alone if an amicable friendship becomes impossible to further pursue. The Russian bear may be less powerful than before, but it still has claws.

The ordering of Mr. Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall may have ended the Cold War, but it did not end the social differences between the two nations. The average life expectancy and quality of life are much higher in American society than in Russia’s. The Russian government’s control of the media continues to keep its people in the dark about current situations (remember the Robert Kraft Super Bowl ring incident?). This prevents its citizens from forming true opinions free of propaganda. This further supports the case for an amicable relationship with Russia. In the event of a confrontation or war with Russia, the Russian control of the media would allow it to twist the story to gain its public’s support of any military action.

Russia cannot, and will not, be changed.

A half-century of alienation has proven Russia to be set in its ways. Admitting this, accepting Russia as it is, and attempting peaceful negotiations would prove advantageous for the U.S. It would certainly be more advantageous than war.

While Cold War antagonisms may have been relegated to history textbooks, Russia continues to play a vital role in our present.

Russia is extremely important in the international balance of power. Due to the arms race during the Cold War, Russia possesses incredibly advanced nuclear weapons that have the power to destroy the United States of America if deployed. The country is critical in preventing the breakout of nuclear war because of their advanced weaponry and military technology. Furthermore, both the United States and Russia are permanent members on the United Nations Security Council, meaning that any diplomatic efforts the United States initiates in the UN will require Russia’s aid.

Do not be led to believe that Russia and the U.S. have an absolutely fabulous relationship.

Over the years, America has desired for all countries to become free, democratic states. On many occasions Russia has promised the U.S. to become more democratic, but this promise has repeatedly been unmet, causing continuous strain on the U.S./Russia relationship. Within the international community, some believe the proper title for Vladimir Putin is not “president,” but rather “dictator.” Putin has labeled himself as a defender of Russian values against Western countries, particularly the U.S. He has repeatedly condemned the U.S.’s governance on the international scale, while disrespecting democratic norms at home.

Our relationship with Russia has always been an on-again, off-again alliance. Positive instances in the relationship have included when Russia sent aid after Hurricane Sandy and when Putin personally sent his condolences to President Barack Obama after the tragedy of the Boston Marathon Bombing. But currently, the relationship is in jeopardy over our contrasting opinions on what to do about the situation in Syria. With the U.S. in favor of military retaliation for Assad’s use of chemical weapons and Russia firmly opposed, the international community has been divided on this issue. While Russia’s plan to place Syria’s chemical weapons under international control has gained support from the U.S. and other countries, it remains to be seen if this solution will be successful.

A lot of people are naïve about the political climate of Russia. People are apathetic towards Russia and this must change, as the massive influence Russia possesses in the world can affect other countries as well. Russia remains an important source of energy to Europe and has key alliances with countries such as Iran and China. Therefore, the domestic and international politics of Russia have a large influence on the international system. Unfortunately, the 2011 Democracy Index stated that Russia is slowly regressing back to an authoritarian regime.

Authoritarian regimes threaten the stability of our world and create instability in the international community.

Russia is not going anywhere and neither is the United States of America. Both nations play significant roles in international affairs.

It is important to know about their relationship because our futures will most certainly be shaped by military, political, and social happenings that occur between these two states.

Special to The Hawk

Special to The Hawk

Hawk Staff

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Religious diversity essential on Hawk Hill

News editor Cat Coyle ’16 ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR Karen Funaro ’16 OPINIONS EDITOR Joseph Cerrone ’14 FEATURES EDITOR Shelby Miller ’14 SPORTS EDITOR Garrett Miley ’15 ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR Frank Flores ’15 LAYOUT EDITOR Weiyi (Dawn) Cai ’15 PHOTO EDITOR Shannon Adams ’16 ONLINE EDITOR Robbie Cusella ’14 Joe Lacitignola ’14 SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Jillian Gardner ’16

The Hawk Newspaper

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Editorial W Editor in Chief Marissa Marzano ’14 MANAGING EDITOR Amanda Murphy ’14 COPY CHIEF Abby Riviello ’14 Business Director Hannah Lynn ’14 Asst Business Director Nick Gianfrancesco ’16 Faculty Advisor Dan Reimold

OPINIONS

hat is the meaning of diversity? Often, our analysis of this topic covers race, age, and sexual orientation. However, rarely do we include a topic inherent to our university’s identity: religion.

Although Saint Joseph’s University is a Catholic, Jesuit institution, our campus is home to students of many religious beliefs. Our students and faculty come from a wide variety of faith traditions, including Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and a range of Christian denominations. Our administration actively supports interreligious awareness on campus, with events such as diversity week and interfaith prayer services offering students the opportunity to experience different spiritual traditions. All students are required to complete a religious difference class as a part of the General Education Program (GEP), which is instrumental in presenting us with a new worldview. Furthermore, our Jesuit values are incorporated into campus life without being foisted upon students. The holistic religious experience offered on campus is one of the strongest aspects of a St. Joe’s education.

Nevertheless, there is always room to improve the experience of non-Christian students and faculty on campus. Ensuring that students of diverse faith traditions are able to freely observe religious holidays is essential. Although this may require missing class, professors must be willing to accommodate students in this area. Additionally, increasing the amount of kosher and halal food served on campus will also demonstrate our respect for the diverse religious practices that exist on Hawk Hill.

Despite the plethora of interreligious opportunities hosted at St. Joe’s, student participation in these events seems to be lacking. Although students should make every effort to gain an interfaith experience, our level of participation in these events does not directly represent our openness to religious diversity. While studies indicate that religion is less important to our generation than previous ones, young people are exceedingly open to diverse beliefs and ways of life.

However, gaining interreligious experience widens our perspectives and allows us to gain a fuller view of the world. Living the “cura personalis” demands that we care for our spiritual development, which includes allowing a wide variety of perspectives to influence our lives.

This does not require us to necessarily believe in certain dogmas, but it does allow us to encounter the world in a new way and appreciate the spiritual lives of others.

We may not realize it, but religious diversity on campus is an extremely important aspect of our identity. St. Joe’s has done an excellent job of making our community welcoming to all religious traditions.

Looking forward, students should increase our awareness of and appreciation for diversity on Hawk Hill.

The Hawk Staff

Letter to the Editor Dear Editor, In response to “S.U.B. Regeared” (Sept. 18 issue), I felt compelled to write a letter to the editor in order to clarify discrepancies.

Primarily, what is the Student Union Board?

Our mission involves engaging St. Joe’s students on campus and in the Philadelphia region. We believe our peers should have opportunities to explore the area, and enjoy incredible food, music, comedy, prizes, and much more, at a reasonable price. We want our fellow Hawks to immerse themselves. We understand how expensive this can be, so we slash the prices and bring the fun to you. Although we welcome freshmen in order to meet new friends and get involved, it’s essential to recognize that our events are geared to bring all levels of undergraduate students together. Hence the word “union.”

Often, we are seen as “the alternative to drinking,” which we definitely can be. If you are not in the mood for Kildare’s in Manayunk or a cramped campus party one night, S.U.B. can provide an alternative to that. On the other hand, we also offer events during the week and during the day like StuffA-Plush on Valentine’s Day and Taste of Philly. I am 21 years old and am fully enjoying my senior year by going out in addition to co-chairing the On-Campus Committee of S.U.B. This past week alone, I concluded our free fitness series with a Zumba class, ran a folk-indie concert on Villiger Lawn, and attended both dollar dog nights at the Phillies for $10 and Restaurant Week in Center City Philadelphia for $15. I’m proud to say I have taken advantage of these opportunities the past three years and I am so grateful to have had them.

We also want to explain our recent structural changes referenced in “Regeared.” Like any organization, we are constantly striving to improve. Feedback revealed students want bigger and better events.

What we actually have done is change the format of our Late-Night Committee, which previously held events on both Friday and Saturday nights and now plans only one event per weekend. They previously planned 30 events a semester, and frankly our committee was overworked and struggling to find 30 strong events. They actually took a large budget cut, but by slicing the event number in half, these board members managed their resources excellently in order to execute what the students want. They even polled the student body, inquiring which entertainment they wanted this semester. This resulted in their #SJUbyU semester-long series chosen by you featuring “The Buried Life,” Barstool-recognized DJ 5 & a Dime, and “Parks and Recreations”’ Retta.

We realize that many students have a certain attitude towards S.U.B., which is why we strive every semester to bring you what you want. Feedback is so valuable. If anyone has questions about S.U.B. or ideas for a future event, please contact me or S.U.B. at sub@sju.edu. If you want to see how our organization operates first-hand, attend one of our upcoming events or our open meetings every other Wednesday. Who knows, maybe the “alternative” isn’t what you think.

Sincerely, Natalie White ’14 SUB On-Campus Chair Spring 2013 - Fall 2013

Letter to the Editor Dear Editor, I commend The Hawk for its reporting on the university administration’s regrettable decision to force Saint Joseph’s University employees to bear exorbitant health insurance increases (“Health care hike: University employees bear burden of increase,” Sept. 18, 2013).

This “let them eat cake” decision has had immediate and deleterious effects on morale on campus among faculty and non-faculty employees. Health care insurance is such an important issue to employees and their families across the university community that it is imperative that people be given accurate information. Unfortunately, several statements in the article attributed to St. Joe’s Assistant Vice President Joe Lunardi are factually inaccurate, including the following: 1. “The six percent difference was not entirely passed onto all employees.”

Fact: Contrary to Mr. Lunardi’s claim, the entire six percent difference between the university’s budget and market reality was borne by employees—and then some.

Since the university insisted upon diverting budgeted premium increases to incentivize participation in the High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP), only 4.1 of the “budgeted” five percent was available for St. Joe’s employees’ insurance. That means that employees made up the gap of more than six percent.

In many cases, employees’ pay increases were more than wiped out by the increased premiums.

2. “...as some of it was absorbed by the revisions made by the administration and faculty advisory groups, of which the ABFC [Advisory Board of Faculty Compensation] was a part of…”

Fact: There are two problems with this statement. First, ABFC has made it clear to administration and to the entire university community that it in no way endorses or supports the benefits presented to ABFC (and not the faculty at large) for input only last month. Second, contrary to Mr. Lunardi’s claim, the

only revision suggested by ABFC adopted by the university was to give St. Joe’s employees a year’s notice that two of the plans would not be available next year. ABFC’s advice was unambiguous on the financial hardship these premiums would place on employees, and how those increases would disproportionately affect those employees least able to afford those changes.

We outlined the effects on morale that these increases would have.

We proposed a far more humane alternative, asking the university to meet us halfway and adjust their budget to eight percent. We offered to help find the money in the university’s operation to pay for the unexpected IBX [Independence Blue Cross] increase. Our advice was not heeded.

3. “Lunardi also stressed that the university is making efforts to increase the availability of health care plans and benefits to all university staff members.”

Fact: The only money the university “added” to its health care budget was due to the fact that our budget year began June 1, but the insurance premium increase takes effect on Nov. 1. The five percent increase budgeted for those five months was spent not on insurance premiums, but on doubling the incentive to employee/dependent tiers who enrolled in the HDHP. By its own account, the administration considers this variance a contingency to account for unanticipated costs.

Hmm. Thus, not only were employees short-changed this year, but the university’s lack of response to [Independence] Blue Cross’ 11 percent premium increase means future benefits will be based on increases on the lower level of funding, effectively mortgaging employees’ future benefits.

Sincerely, C. Ken Weidner, II, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Management

AWKISMS n. a term for slang used by students of Saint Joseph’s Univeristy to refer to places and spaces around campus.

Sweeney Field- noun- Refers to the main athletic field on St. Joe’s campus, which was previously known as Finnesey Field.

The field was renamed at the beginning of the 2013-14 academic year, causing angst and confusion among many upperclassmen.

Student A: Do you want to go play frisbee on Finnesey Field?

Student B: No, I’ve begun to boycott the field since they changed the name to Sweeney Field.

OPINIONS The Hawk Newspaper

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Unfiltered: {womanifesto} We asked, Hawks responded

Why can’t girls have penises?

An exploration of gender identity

What athletic facilities on campus do you use? Do they meet your needs?

Carina Ensminger ’14

So when I say “Subvert the gender binary,” I really mean that we should expand our thinking beSpecial to The Hawk yond these two boxes. Why? mentioned last week that my go-to catchphrase What if you’re born with a vagina but you don’t is “Subvert the gender binary!” If you thought, fit into the girl box? What if you identify with the boy “what the insert-expletive-here does that mean?” box instead? What if you identify with both boxes? do not fret! This week I’m going to take the time to Because the gender binary does not encompass the break down what exactly I mean by this. But first, let diverse range of gender identities and expressions we me make clear one imperative distinction: sex and see in real life, the boxes just don’t work. gender are not synonymous. They are actually two So let’s throw them out and rethink gender. distinct, albeit interconnected, aspects of identity.

Imagine a dimmer light switch. As you move Think of sex as your biological hardware. Penis. the dimmer up or down, the room will get brighter Vagina. Put simply, sex is what’s in your pants. or darker. Each point along the dimmer correIf sex is what’s in your pants, then gender is sponds with a unique combination of brightness and what’s in your head and heart. Gender is a repeated darkness. performance. It’s how we identify ourselves: what Now instead of light and dark, think female and we wear, how we interact with male. We are all a unique and people, what our hobbies are. fluid combination of feminine Note: neither gender nor sex and masculine behaviors and is the same as sexual orienwe all oscillate along their contation. Sexuality is a differtinuum. Consider clothing: ent, though related, aspect of some days I like to wear button identity, which I’ll explore in ups, boxers, and ties, and other a later article. days I like to wear tights, boots, Gender is learned rather and dresses. My gender exthan biologically determined. pression in my clothing is not We are not born thinking that static; it ebbs and flows along boys play sports and girls play this fluid continuum, called the with dolls. We learn these gender spectrum. and other gendered behaviors Though gender is a fluid from our society, family, the spectrum, there are categories Designed by Joseph Cerrone ’14, Opinions Editor media, and our laws and inwithin it with which we may stitutions. identify. This is the how-youThough gender and sex are distinct, they are feel part of the equation. You may find that you closely connected. When you were born, the doc- identify with a particular set of behaviors; you like tor looked between your legs and proclaimed, “It’s wearing skirts, having long hair, wearing makeup. a boy” or “It’s a girl!” Your parents then went home If you identify most strongly with your femininity, and probably painted your room blue or pink, and then you may identify as female. Where we selfthen gave you trucks and footballs or Barbie’s and identify along the gender spectrum is called gender play make-up. identity.

In this way, physical sex determines gender exYour gender identity is yours to determine and pectations. We place individuals who have vaginas however you identify is the truth of your existence. in the girl box and we expect them to act feminine. So if someone is born with a vagina but he identifies We place individuals who have penises in the boy as male, then he is male. If someone is born with a box and expect them to act masculine. These boxes penis but she identifies as female, then she is female. constitute the essence of the term binary. In other Who says a male can’t have a vagina? Who says a words, the gender binary simply refers to the fact female can’t have a penis? Not us! And certainly not that we tend to think of gender and sex as a single ei- the gender spectrum! ther/or identification. Boy or girl. Penis or vagina.

I

Miss America outrage

Twitter becomes nest of racist slurs Gabi Soreth ’14

Special to The Hawk The long-standing and revered, yet arguably controversial, Miss America pageant has crowned yet another woman.

Reigning from Syracuse, N.Y., Nina Davuluri, a 24-year-old Indian-American aspiring doctor, performed an energetic and upbeat Bollywood-infused dance routine, which highlighted her pageant platform, “celebrating diversity through cultural competency.”

However, minutes after being crowned Miss America, she faced a vicious and degrading backlash.

Viewers immediately took to social media outlets, most notably Twitter, to voice their outrage and disgust over Davuluri’s win. Many claimed that an individual of Indian descent is the antithesis of the Miss America pageant and the values it embodies.

Although some sources report that many of the following racist comments have been deleted due to subsequent backlash on the writers themselves, these tweets are truly astonishing: “If you’re #MissAmerica you should have to be American.” “Miss America? You mean Miss 7-11.” “More like Miss Terrorist #MissAmerica.”

Some tweets have even been geared toward equating Davuluri and her ethnicity with Al-Qaeda and terrorism, clearly a mark of remarkable ignorance and racism among American citizens. Our nation’s preoccupation and fear of the ‘Other’ is manifested through these derogatory and hateful comments.

How can we, as citizens of the United States, claim to be a part of a nation deemed to be the land of the free that welcomes all individuals and still allow these atrocious beliefs to become pervasive in society?

See PAGEANT, Pg. 10

Russell Hawkins, ’17

Joshua Lewis ’13

Brooke Severe, ’14

El Hyder, ’14

Jon Mazzio, GS

Chris Turner, ’15

“I use O’Pake and it does meet my needs and expectations. I like to play basketball so there’s a basketball gym after I work out and it’s normally crowded, but not too crowded.”

“I use O’Pake when it’s cold, but I run outside because I used to be the president of running club. I do think they meet my needs, but I live off campus now and I wish I could still use the Merion Gardens one.”

“I’m on the cross country track team so I use [ Hagan], but I have used McGuire before to play basketball and do recreational stuff. I think this gym is pretty good and I think it serves our needs pretty well, but the hours are a little tricky….restrictive. Because some sports teams need to be in there at certain times and you can’t get in there, but also, the upstairs gym is really cool as well.”

“I use the one over on McGuire campus. I think it definitely meets my needs and expectations. I can drop over there at any time. It closes at 10 p.m., so I can workout at night.”

“I use O’Pake and Merion Gardens gym. Out of all the gyms on campus, those two are my favorites and I think O’Pake is really nice because it has a lot of different machines that you can work on and Merion is small, but the equipment works really well.”

“I use O’Pake. I don’t like when there’s other things going on, like when intermural volleyball is happening. I can’t play basketball because they have the nets set up and no one is ever there to change them. And then, sometimes the floors aren’t swept, so it’s real dangerous.”

What do you think?

Share your answer to this week’s Unfiltered question on Twitter!

Tweet us @sjuhawknews

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OPINIONS The Hawk Newspaper

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Pageant outrage For freshmen eyes only: Continued MISS, from Pg. 9 We must stop, reflect, and remind ourselves who we are truly hurting when we allow racist comments and ideas such as these to invade American beliefs and define us as a nation. Some may take up the opposing side of this controversy and classify Davuluri’s win as proof that the United States does not endorse nor practice racial judgments. Should we now be congratulating ourselves on this ‘win’ and endorsement of ethnic equality? Certainly not. An inflated sense of American pride may be partially to blame.

The color of one’s skin or heritage is not, by any means, an effective predictor of the American values and beliefs that one possesses.

Another relevant issue at hand is the fact that a contestant’s ethnic or racial background is being focused on so intently in the

first place. Instead of celebrating one’s diversity, isn’t it arguable that pageants essentially place these ethnicities on a pedestal through emphasis on equal beauty, thus contributing to the problem?

Who cares if Davuluri is Indian?

Afghan? White? Blue? Green?

The color of one’s skin or heritage is not, by any means, an effective predictor of the American values and beliefs that one possesses. In fact, can’t those individuals who had tweeted the hateful remarks be said to be the ones failing to live the American belief in freedom and equality for all?

The newly-crowned Miss America herself made a statement earlier last week addressing the cruel backlash: “I have to rise above that. I always viewed myself as first and foremost American.”

So, let’s do ourselves a favor and not solely view her as the first Indian Miss America, but a beautiful, promising young woman who proudly celebrates her ethnic diversity and refuses to allow statements so barbaric as these to be even taken seriously.

Is there hope that our nation will eventually overcome the racial stigma that threatens to define our society? You decide.

Get involved!

Catharine Gaylord ’16

S

Special to The Hawk

o, you’ve been on campus for a while now, gotten adjusted for the most part, and have a grip on your classes. Now what?

You might be tempted to leave things the way they are, maybe focus all your energy on school work, or devote the majority of your free time to watching TV. But none of that is going to benefit you as much as joining a club will. So if you’ve ever wanted to DJ for the radio, write for the paper, or act in a play, now is the time to start!

Clubs are an amazing way to meet new people around campus. If you haven’t exactly clicked with a group of people yet, joining a club would be a great place to find students who have the same types of interests as you. Even if you have already found a great group of people that you hang out with all the time, you can never have too many friends!

Plus, you might end up with some valuable connections for the future.

Even though you just started college and graduation seems incredibly far away, time flies and before you know it, you’ll be looking for jobs or even just for internships. Just like when you were applying for college, being active around campus can help to boost your resume and give you that edge over other applicants. Some clubs even give you some really marketable skills that you can brag about to future employers, such as event

planning or professional writing. Even if the clubs you join have no connection to your major or professional skills, they can still be useful in showing off your passion and the fact that you can work well in a team.

As cheesy as it sounds, probably the biggest benefit of joining clubs is that they force you to grow as a person by putting you in a lot of situations that you probably wouldn’t have ended up in otherwise. Shy? You might have to interview strangers. Disorganized? You might have to organize an event. Procrastinate? You might be put on a team with others who need to get things done ahead of time. Even if you don’t fall into one of these situations, there is sure to be something that you will confront that makes you better for it. Or, even better, you may discover that you love something that you never thought to try before. Either way, college is about learning and discovering new things about yourself, and clubs are definitely the way to do it.

With all these benefits to clubs, it may be tempting to try and overdo it. We’ve all been or known the person who goes to the activities fair and signs up for everything, and there’s nothing wrong with that!

But eventually you need to choose a couple things that you really want to do and drop the rest. There are only 24 hours in a day! But feel free to experiment your freshmen year—you don’t need to decide on anything just yet.

As long as you get involved, you’re golden!

If you haven’t exactly clicked with a group of people yet, joining a club would be a great place to find students who have the same types of interests as you.

Bitter tea: Finding coalition in Congress Joseph Cerrone ’14 Opinions Editor

Washington is broken, and no one knows how to fix it.

Partisan gridlock and political posturing have replaced compromise and consensus, leading to complete dysfunction in the capitol. While Republicans and Democrats will point fingers at each other, there is one place where the blame should clearly fall: the Tea Party.

Since the Republican victory in the 2010 midterm elections, the House of Representatives has functioned less like a two-party legislature and more like a three-party parliament. Although they caucus with the Republicans, Tea Party politicians have spared no expense in trampling the party line and causing mayhem in the chamber. This encroachment has created extreme uncertainty for Speaker John Boehner, who has struggled to hold together his fragile, majority-wielding coalition.

The tenuous state of affairs on Capitol Hill became evident only months after the GOP victory, when conservative foot soldiers balked at the “grand bargain” debt reduction deal brokered by Boehner and President Barack Obama in 2011. Like a row of dominoes, this first drop was quickly followed by nearly defaulting on the national debt, the fiscal cliff, and continued opposition to routine pieces of legislation, including a renewal of the Violence Against Women Act. The madness seemed to reach a fever pitch during the 2012 presidential election and many hoped the president’s reelection would put an end to the Tea Party’s antics. However, the election results seem to have added fuel to the fire.

While moderate Republicans like Senator John McCain have attempted to compromise with their Democratic colleagues,

right-wing extremists show no sign of backing down.

Time and again, Tea Party stalwarts have forced Boehner to backtrack on plans to pass moderate pieces of legislation. They caused embarrassment to the Republican leadership when they voted against the farm bill in early July, only passing it when all funding for food stamps had been removed. While action on the bipartisan immigration reform bill was postponed until after the August recess, the

Designed by Joseph Cerrone ’14, Opinions Editor

House did manage to squeeze in their 40th vote to repeal “Obamacare.” With right-wing extremists demanding that any resolution to continue financing the government must also defund the Affordable Care Act, the Republican leadership finds itself in a lose-lose situation.

What is Washington to do? Divided government requires compromise in which each side must be willing to cede some of their principles in the pursuit of progress.

When one side views its position as absolute and dismisses

compromise as heresy, there are few ways to move forward.

Nevertheless, there is one solution for Boehner that could save his reputation and return sanity to Washington: establish a new coalition. Instead of tilting at windmills in his attempts to placate the Tea Party, he could dump the extremist members of his caucus and offer an olive branch to moderate Democrats. Up to this point, Boehner has insisted that any bills brought to the floor of the House have the support of a majority of the majority (a.k.a. a majority of Republicans), but this practice has led him nowhere.

Although agreement on the most contentious areas may not be possible, this new coalition would control the vast majority of seats in Congress and could develop bipartisan solutions to the nation’s problems.

It seems so simple, but such a scenario would never be possible in today’s highly charged political sphere. The conservative base of the Republican Party would revolt at such a suggestion, and Tea Party organizations would offer challenges to every sitting Republican representative (as they have already done for Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell). Furthermore, it is not clear that Democrats would accept such an offer, as the Tea Party’s bad conduct has severely weakened the GOP. In what seems to be the norm, governing is increasingly motivated by fear of losing power in the next election. For now, it seems that the status quo will stand.

The Tea Party has led the country to the brink of disaster too many times. Its reckless behavior is the core of the dysfunction in Washington, and sanity will only return once its members are voted out of office. Until that time, it seems that America will continue to be force-fed their bitter tea.

OPINIONS The Hawk Newspaper

Relationships 101 Finding love on Hawk Hill Casey McBride ’16 Hawk Staff

A new semester can mean a whole new world of relationship opportunities. Whether you are a freshman venturing out into the mysterious world of college dating, an old pro when it comes to understanding the ups and downs of relationships, or a hopeless romantic looking for your Hawk Mate, here are some pointers so you can have your best dating semester yet. With these basic tips on how to navigate the St. Joe’s dating scene, you’ll be an expert in no time!

Don’t jump in too quickly It’s easy to get wrapped up in the idea of a new crush or budding romance, but don’t dive in head first without knowing the other person’s intentions.

Exchanging numbers at a party doesn’t guarantee that the connection is going to go somewhere. If you’re actively seeking a relationship and the other person is not, it can freak some people out. On the other hand, if you found someone genuine during the first few weeks of school, consider yourself one of the lucky ones!

DTR: Define the Relationship Defining the relationship goes hand in hand with knowing the other person’s intentions. It might be an awkward topic to bring up, but it could be even worse if there is miscommunication. Being straightforward and talking about what you want from the

Make sure to branch out A relationship might be a wonderful addition to your life, but it shouldn’t be the only thing you have.

St. Joe’s has so many opportunities to meet new people, and you would be missing out on a gigantic portion of your social life by putting all your eggs in one basket. A post-breakup mood can be cured by some Ben and Jerry’s and wallowing, but it’s not going to help your GPA if you lose focus on your priorities. It’s always nice to have someone there as a support system, but make sure your independence is a priority too.

Respect yourself The way you present yourself across campus is going to mirror how others treat you. If you’re going to parties every weekend and hooking up with someone new every night, you’re not going to be taken seriously when you’re looking for a relationship. If you exude confidence, stand by your morals, and shape yourself into a person you would admire, others will follow in your footsteps and treat you accordingly.

If you have any relationship questions that you would like answered in an upcoming issue of The Hawk, contact us at hawk.editorial@gmail.com.

Dealing with our image-obsessed culture Editor in Chief

Last weekend, I ran my first half marathon. It was exhausting and exhilarating, and crossing the finish line was an amazing feeling of accomplishment. I was lucky to have a supportive system of family, friends, and roommates all there to cheer me on.

After the race, these friends started to post and upload pictures and videos to the Holy Trinity of social media: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. And with each one, I cringed. Why were my eyes so squinty? My arm looked like it was suctioned to my body in one photo, and don’t even get me started on the one where I’m laughing and my extra chin comes out to play.

I had completely lost sight of the fact that I had just completed an incredible accomplishment, and instead I was solely focused on the less-flattering pictures that resulted. At least I’m in good company—who can forget when Queen Beyonce herself tried to get less-than-stellar photos from her Superbowl performance removed from the Internet? And

How can Egypt avoid being the next Syria?

relationship is key. Whether you’re looking for a partner or just someone to casually hang out with, make sure you’re on the same page before anything gets out of hand.

Do you like the way you look?

Marissa Marzano ’14

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I’m pretty sure it’s impossible to go a weekend without a friend bemoaning how “fat” she looks in a picture and quickly untagging herself.

Why are our accomplishments only good and valid if we look good doing them? No one is immune. Hillary Clinton’s looks are debated along with her politics; Anne Hathaway’s Oscar win was marred by conversation cen-

We need to realize that we are more than just our most recently tagged photos.

We are smart, we are successful, and we should be proud of our accomplishments tered around her nipple-revealing dress; and Miss America winner Nina Davuluri was immediately engulfed in controversy regarding her race.

People tell us our image-ob-

sessed culture isn’t our fault and blame everything around us, from the media to celebrities to fashion designers. While I agree with this assessment, the “we didn’t start the fire” mentality has got to go.

At the end of the day, we must become responsible for changing how we think about perfection. Though the general media has and will continue to take small steps toward a better dialogue regarding body image (this summer’s coup on Abercrombie comes to mind), the media will never completely change the way they talk about body image.

Therefore, I believe we have a responsibility to change the dialogue for ourselves. Blaming outside sources for our unhappiness, while understandable, needs to end. We are the only ones who can control our own self-image, and until we realize that, we will all be struggling.

We need to realize that we are more than just our most recently tagged photos. We are smart, we are successful, and we should be proud of our accomplishments – squinty eyes, double chins, and all.

Obtained from wikimedia.org

Kevin Black ’15

Special to The Hawk

A

lmost three years after the start of the Arab Spring, protesters remain in the streets.

On July 3, 2013, the Egyptian military responded to the demonstrations of Egyptians and ousted Mohammad Morsi from office. Morsi, the first democratically elected president of Egypt, failed to quickly reform the country and as a result was removed only a little more than a year after taking office.

So, why did the people revolt?

According to Peruvian economist Hernando de Soto, from the start the Arab Spring was a manifestation against economic injustice by people with no hopes of being able to escape.

Tunisian citizen Mohamed Bouazizi actually lit himself on fire after local authorities expropriated his fruit stand in Tunis.

This action left him with no way to support himself, and in desperation, Bouazizi chose death.

His choice sparked the revolutions across the Middle East and North Africa, as he became a rallying cry for all those who felt the economic repression of an unjust system. The central problem in the Middle East and North Africa is the lack of legal protection afforded to ordinary people through their court systems and the assurance of their property rights.

In the United States, the Constitution affords citizens the right to own property and guarantees the rule of law, which means that everyone will be treated equally under the law.

These basic ideas are so ingrained into American everyday life that sometimes the American people fail to understand how fortunate we are. Egypt and other regimes throughout the Middle East and North Africa have denied these rights for decades.

The Egyptian court system has been a tool for the wealthy, not the economically disadvantaged. The socio-economic

marginalization led the region to chaos, with rampant bribery, embezzlement, and nepotism.

In order to amend this situation, the new government must assure the implementation of property rights and the rule of law.

Egypt’s informal economy, which operates outside of legal parameters, is the primary market for the Egyptian people.

Incorporating the astounding number of Egyptians who work in the informal economy into the formal economy will help Egypt rise from the ashes. By encouraging legal entrepreneurship, ridding the country of “dead capital,” and awarding clear property rights, Egypt will modernize their economy, allowing the poor to have hope.

Without a hope that things will improve, not only will this new administration fail, but a Syria-like conflict would be likely.

In a region of the world already prone to religious conflict, we are seeing Islamist supporters and extremists massacring Christians and destroying churches.

The government has opened fire on protestors in Cairo and the budding signs of armed conflict are evident. By installing the economic reforms advocated for by de Soto, Egypt will spark economic reform while simultaneously quelling violence and religious conflicts, as the marginalized members of society will once again have hope.

As hope fades, the probability of conflict rises. Bringing economic freedom, rule of law, and the hope for a better life to the table will deter civil war from breaking out. De Soto characterizes the systems in Egypt and other Arab Spring states as “economic apartheid,” where a privileged few reap the benefits of the courts and property rights. Extending these rights to the disadvantaged Egyptians, which is the majority of society, would help improve their lives through economic freedom and would avoid a full-scale civil war.

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A Day in the Life

Herb Hayes is ready for his close-up

Amanda Leithead ’17

A

Special to The Hawk

s the official weekend start time of 9:20 a.m. drew near, Herb Hayes prepared for the start of his day.

He slid on his sunglasses with a declaration of readiness and started up the roaring engine of his bus. Cranking the radio just beyond a whisper, Hayes smiled at the other shuttles driving past.

Before he proceeded to his first pick-up spot, the West shuttle slowly pulled up next to him. Hayes pulled open the squeaky door of his bus just as the other driver slid open his window. The two shared a light, airy chat and a series of contagious laughs before heading down their separate routes.

Hayes has been a dedicated shuttle bus driver at Saint Joseph’s University for the past six years. He works the weekend shifts on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5

p.m., typically driving the East shuttle that circulates from Mandeville Hall to the Target on City Avenue.

His eyes focused intently on the road, Hayes tilted his head towards the back of his seat, so to be heard over the hum of the shifting gears, and said, “We congregate right at Mandeville and communicate, have a few words, a few laughs, and then we proceed on our scheduled runs.”

Shuttle drivers, like Hayes, spend their shifts on either the East shuttle route toward shopping centers or the West shuttle route towards the upperclassmen apartments and Overbrook train station. Shuttles arrive at each stop at a designated time, and then repeat the route throughout the day.

At each red light, Hayes glanced down at the hustle and bustle outside his shuttle and talked casually about the routine of his day. Even as the buzz of accelerating car engines moved him past the green lights, he noted, “I like the East shuttle because it’s quiet.”

For a brief moment, he peeped in his rearview mirror, surveying the empty seats of the bus—something not too unexpected for an early Saturday morning. Despite the absence of student passengers, Hayes had a beaming smile across his face. He was happy and in his element.

“Yes, it gets boring—it gets tiresome… going around in this circle for eight hours a day,” stated Hayes. “But the job is a nice work environment. I truly enjoy being here.”

As Hayes headed east on City Ave., he adjusted the volume of the radio so it could be heard playing in the background, like a soothing soundtrack to the ride. In a raised tone, to trump the volume of the music, Hayes remarked, “I like old music—like old school, and then I listen to KYW news.”

He tapped his thumb on the steering wheel to the rhythm of the classic radio tunes and continued, “And then on Sunday I tune into the Eagles game. Philadelphia born and raised!”

Some students may either enjoy or complain about the music and sports selections of the shuttle drivers. So the question then becomes, does Hayes take radio requests?

“Whatever my riders like to listen to, I don’t mind

changing the channel,” said Hayes. “They normally like to hear 93.3, and then I find 106.1 is a pretty good station, also.”

However, Hayes does not typically receive a lot of requests. He added, “For the most part, [students] have their iPods in, so it doesn’t really matter what we listen to.”

Whether or not students talk to Hayes, talk to each other, or use headphones to drown out the ride, it’s definitely a different environment than Hayes’ other job as an elementary school bus driver during the week.

Sometimes his days get so busy, however, that it’s hard to differentiate between the screams of college students and elementary school students. It’s also equally as difficult to always cater to and satisfy the exact schedules of both groups, particularly St. Joe’s students.

Despite popular usage of the new shuttle app, Transloc, which can be used to track shuttle times and destinations, Hayes has noticed that students still have trouble making it to the shuttle on time.

“The shuttle bus leaves at a certain time on the hour,” said Hayes. “But I leave a few minutes later than that time for the simple fact that people—my students—will call up and say that they missed the shuttle because I left early.”

He laughed, “And I find that funny, because I purposely leave later to avoid that.”

Regardless, Hayes works hard to help all of the students get to their destinations on time.

After circling around his route a few times, Hayes pulled into Mandeville and put his shuttle in park. When asked if there was anything that he would change about his job, Hayes smiled and paused for a few moments.

Finally, he remarked, “During the summer, I would like an air-conditioned bus, but other than that I really have nothing bad to say about the employment here at St. Joe’s.”

He hopped off his bus for a quick break and walked confidently over to the front of his shuttle.

Hayes then turned around and chuckled, “Are you going to snap a picture now?”

To the wizarding world we go Angela Christaldi ’17 Special to The Hawk “Back to witches and wizards and magical beasts! To goblins, to ghosts, and to magical feasts!”

Many “Harry Potter” fans echoed the lyrics of Starkid’s “Gotta Get Back to Hogwarts” when it was announced that J.K. Rowling would be penning a screenplay set in the universe of her wildly popular “Harry Potter” series.

In a statement released by Warner Brothers, Rowling will be writing a film based on one of her previously released titles, “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.”

Written in 2001 in support of British charity Comic Relief, the book is formatted as one of the Hogwarts school textbooks. Written by the fictitious Newt Scamander, it is an encyclopedia of various creatures that can be found throughout the magical world.

This may not seem like the typical basis for a film, but with Rowling herself at the helm, it’s not likely to be anything less than fantastic. It has been revealed that the narrative of the alleged series will focus on Scamander and his travels around the world in search of these so-called fantastic beasts.

The films will take place approximately 70 years before the events of the “Harry Potter” series, so it is unlikely that many of the beloved characters will make an appearance.

In a public statement to the press, Rowling said, “‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ is neither a prequel nor a sequel to the ‘Harry Potter’ series, but an extension of the wizarding world.”

Although the films will feature unfamiliar characters, it is still great news for “Harry Potter” fans who have had no new material since the release of Rowling’s interactive website, Pottermore, in 2011. The website, which has acquired a large following, allows users to create an account and follow Harry Potter on his journeys through the sev-

en novels, while revealing new information about the wizarding world along the way.

Despite the periodic releases of new information on the site, fans have still been hungry for more. When Warner Brothers released the statement, the Internet community exploded with excitement, prompting comments and speculation about the plot and potential casting.

However, some people were less enthusiastic, claiming that Rowling simply wanted the money that would come from another “Potter”-related film.

The announcement of the series was unexpected, especially because Rowling herself did not initiate the idea.

She was actually approached by Warner Brothers, who broached the prospect of another franchise.

In the release statement, Rowling said, “It all started when Warner Brothers came to me with the idea of turning ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ into a film.

I thought it was a fun idea, but seeing Newt Scamander, the supposed author of ‘Fantastic Beasts’ realized by another writer was difficult. Having lived for so long in my fictional universe, I feel very protective of it, and I already knew a lot about Newt…As I considered Warners’ proposal, an idea took shape that I couldn’t dislodge. That is how I ended up pitching my own idea for a film to Warner Brothers.”

A majority of the fans are extremely excited about the film, and many had been hoping there would be a return to the magical world. There was an air of finality with the last film, as well as a sense of loss. However, as beloved character Luna Lovegood philosophized, “…the things we lose have a way of coming back to us in the end.”

Hopefully this film series will inspire a whole new generation to discover the magic of Rowling’s writing, as well as allow the older fans to relive their experiences.

“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” is currently in the early stages of pre-production with no announcement yet of an official release date.

Photo from Creative Commons

FEATURES

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The Hawk Newspaper

The apple of my eye Kristen Pilkington ’14

3. Weight management. Apples satisfy hunger with fewer calories than most other snacks, and help maintain a steady metabolism throughout the day.

4. Protect the body. People who eat apples may be less likely to suffer from metabolic syndrome, a cluster of symptoms linked to an increased risk of heart An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” This saying has become an easy way disease and diabetes.

5. Exercise extender. Apples provide an antioxidant called “quercetin” that for parents to get their kids to indulge in the sweet, crunchy treat. But is it true? In the Food Column of The New York Times, Nicholas Bakalar ex- helps make oxygen more available to your lungs. Apples are also a great source of energy. Eating one apple 30 minutes before a run will help keep you going. plains the numerous benefits of incorporating more fruit into your diet.

Hawk Staff

“

With the arrival of fall comes the season for all kinds of juicy, crunchy, and sweet apples. The different varieties, from Red Delicious to Granny Smith, can be 1. Powerhouse for nutrition. A medium-sized apple is a filling energy source found at any of the grocery stores around campus. that’s only 95 calories. It contains 14 percent of daily recommended fibers needed Snacking on an apple with peanut butter or caramel dip is a fall favorite for for digestion, as well as immune-boosting Vitamin C. sure. But they’re even more fun and tasty to bake with. The spices you can add to 2. Healthy heart. The rich antioxidants help prevent cholesterol from oxidizthe dish will bring out the richest aromas and flavors of the fall. ing and inhibit inflammation.

Five reasons to eat apples

Apple Crisp Recipe

Apple Cinnamon Spice Muffin

Ingredients:

6 Granny Smith apples 1/4 cup sugar or Stevia 4 Tablespoons cinnamon 1 teaspoon nutmeg 1 teaspoon cloves 1/2 cup oats 1 Tablespoon butter

Directions:

1. Core the apples.

2. Cut them into chunks and place into a medium-sized bowl.

Add in the nutmeg, cloves, sugar/Stevia, and 3 tablespoons of cinnamon. Blend well.

3. Pour in a 9x13 pan.

4. In a small bowl, cut the butter into the oats and add in the remaining cinnamon.

5. Bake in the oven for 40 minutes at 350 degrees.

Ingredients:

1 cup dry old-fashioned oats 1 cup unsweetened applesauce 1/2 cup almond milk 2 egg whites, beaten 1 packet ground flaxseed (optional) 1 Tablespoon baking Powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1 Tablespoon cinnamon 3/4 cup whole wheat flour (all-purpose may also be used)

2 Tablespoon honey 1 fresh apple (Granny Smith or McIntosh work best)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Mix together applesauce, almond milk, and honey in a large bowl.

3. Beat the egg whites together and then mix them into the large bowl.

4. Add in your flaxseed, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon.

Mix until smooth.

5. Slowly blend in the flour.

6. Fold in oats.

7. Skin 1 apple and cut into chunks.

You can make the chunks are small or large as you like. Add into the batter.

8. Spoon batter into 12 muffin holders and place into the oven.

9. Bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees or until golden brown at the top.

Place of the week:

Oops! It’s Frozen Yogurt Denise Sciasci ’15 Hawk Staff

W

ith the growing trend of frozen yogurt stores stealing the thunder of regular ice cream, it’s no surprise to see one popping up on the Saint Joseph’s University campus. Oops!

It’s Frozen Yogurt made its debut on Sept. 10, just in time for to kick off the fall semester.

For those of you who have not yet paid Oops! a visit, it is located on 54th Street, right next to Larry’s Steaks and directly across from Hagan Arena. This is a prime location for St. Joe’s students, faculty, and the surrounding community.

Walking into Oops! is a visual treat on par with the frozen treats they sell. The wall colors are vibrant with distinctive pink and blue ceilings. Equipped with both indoor and outdoor seating, luxurious leather couches, a flat

screen TV, a chandelier, and even a fireplace, the comfortable and fun atmosphere sets Oops! apart from other frozen yogurt chains in the area.

Oops! is a self serve establishment and gives costumers a choice between 20 different flavors of frozen yogurt. The unique flavors vary from Strawberry Banana to Cake Batter to a fan favorite called Cable Car Chocolate.

After choosing one or two (or 10) different flavors, customers have a wide selection of toppings to sprinkle (or pile) onto their yogurt. Ranging from fresh fruit to sweet candy, there are over 40 different options. Oops! also offers bottom toppings—much like ice cream cake and pie crusts—to put in the cups underneath the yogurt.

There is also a lineup of sauces before the cash registers, including hot fudge and hot caramel.

The large serving cups pro-

vided allow customers to load up as many combinations of yogurt flavors and toppings as they could possibly desire.

In addition, Oops! sells drinks behind the counter to quench any yogurt-induced thirst.

And music to students’ ears?

Oops! is open late-night. Unlike many frozen yogurt shops, the doors remain open until 12 a.m. on weeknights, and 2 a.m. on weekends, which is ideal for Hawks who enjoy a late night treat.

Oops! also accepts Hawk Cash, regular cash, and credit cards, and is equipped with free Wi-Fi. With its convenient location, late-night hours, and variety of special flavors, Oops! It’s Frozen Yogurt caters to all the needs and cravings of the St. Joe’s community, and is sure to be a hit.

Photos by Shannon Adams. ’16

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FEATURES

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The Hawk Newspaper

Where’s the faith?

Religious diversity across campus

#

Emily Marussich ’15

Lizy Pa @lizypa The Perch-noun-…Students often frequent it as a place to hang out,’ Except no one does… Awk #HawkTalk #LIES Daniel Ezzo @leggomydezzo About to fall asleep in campion #yolo

Vicky G @vickygavs

It looks like they’re filming a men’s warehouse commercial on campus #careerfair #SJU

Davíd @TrustMeImASaint Midnight pancakes in LaFarge might be the best idea of all time. I’m a pancake fiend.

Ian @ianklinger2314 S/o to @KinneyCenter and the sju volunteers. Was great to be a part of what these amazing people do weekly with some incredible kids #THWND! Jamie Fedder @JamieFedder

It’s simply amazing seeing a hawk in a tree outside the library #thwnd

Kate Molloy @88kate93 Outside beautiful day inside wintertime #THATSTHEMAGIS #campion #freeperiod

Hawk Staff aint Joseph’s University is one of 28 Jesuit universities in the United States, with its foundation deeply rooted in Jesuit tradition. Although tradition is essential to the university, there’s a question of importance to those who attend: How many different religions span across the university community?

Although Catholicism is the most prominent religion on campus, many students who affiliate themselves with other religions and spiritual beliefs are present throughout the community.

One student who represents the growing trend of religious diversity on campus is Halil Kanacevic, ’14.

A well-known St. Joe’s basketball player, Kanacevic brings more than just athletic talent to Hawk Hill.

As a Muslim, Kanacevic represents one part of St. Joe’s diversity that often goes unnoticed. While explaining his experience at a Catholic university, Kanacevic opened up about the notable concern of profiling and assumptions.

He remarked, “[Students] have a preconceived notion that I’m Catholic because I’m white.”

While this notion extends beyond St. Joe’s campus, it signifies how diversity on campus expands beyond race and gender, to the aspects of both students’ and faculties’ lives that are not expressed physically, but maintained internally.

With Kanacevic’s family native to Montenegro in southeastern Europe, he reflected on how strictly his grandmother follows the religion—pulling out her rug for prayer five times a day and complying with the rituals of hand, face, and feet washing. However, it’s different for Kanacevic; his foundational beliefs remain intact, but some rituals have been customized to fit his lifestyle.

Kanacevic points out how St. Joe’s actively engages students in other religions and cultures through its courses in religious difference. He admitted, however,

S

that sometimes he feels that his religious custom-related needs are not always met, particularly in the university dining areas.

But overall, Kanacevic feels that attending a Jesuit institution has significantly increased his pride in his Muslim religion and the diversity he contributes to the St. Joe’s community.

Samantha Weiner, ’15, who has a Catholic mother and Jewish father, also represents religious diversity on campus.

Weiner explained how just by marrying outside their respective religions, her parents demonstrate the leniencies in their faith. Her mother and father have maintained certain aspects of their different religions, but have altered their own practices to accommodate those of the other.

Weiner proudly wears a “hand of God” bracelet and necklace to keep her faith close.

“Freshman year was a little tough being a different religion on campus,” said Weiner. “But I’ve never felt left out or felt like [Catholicism] was being forced on me.

However, Weiner pointed out that there’s little awareness or real consideration for other religious holidays. In addition, Weiner remarked that many make the assumption that because she isn’t outwardly Jewish, she must be Catholic.

But during her time at St. Joe’s, Weiner has acknowledged that she has grown more and more comfortable with her Jewish background even at a Jesuit university.

These two students and their experiences suggest that there is, in fact, more religious diversity among St. Joe’s students and faculty than the community is readily aware of.

Considering this week, Sept. 23-27, is St. Joe’s fourth annual Diversity Awareness Week, there’s no better time for the community to participate in events and activities to raise awareness about multiculturalism on campus.

This was my

first job

3

promotions ago – Helena Johnson Director

See how you can grow your own career at pwc.com/campus © 2013 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, a Delaware limited liability partnership. All rights reserved.

SPORTS

Men’s soccer fell to Cornell University on Sept. 21 by a final score of 1-0, after a rocket off the foot of the Big Red’s Peter Chodas in the 64th minute found the back of net. The Hawks had a good chance late in regulation to tie things up on a free kick from a few yards beyond the box, but it sailed into the hands of the Cornell goalkeeper and the Big Red held on for the 1-0 victory.

Women’s Soccer

Hofstra hounds Hawks Immediately following the conclusion to the men’s game, the women took the field against Hofstra University. The Pride struck first in the 42nd minute on a goal from Sam Scolarici and continued their offensive attack through halftime. Shortly after kickoff in the second half, Hofstra capitalized on a breakaway opportunity finished by Leah Galton, and the Hawks were unable to put a dent in the Hofstra lead. The Hawks lost the corner kick battle with Hofstra 3-0, and were outshot by a wide margin of 16-3.

Interviews conducted by Anthony Panvini ’16, Special to The Hawk

Men’s Soccer

Late tally drops men’s soccer

New hawks on the hill

SPORTS BRIEFS

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Photo by Sideline Photos, LLC

Sam Bliss Men’s Soccer Hometown: Upper Darby, Pa. | Major: Business Q: “How’s it been adjusting to college, on and off the field?”

A: “On the field, it is a faster pace game and you have to think a lot faster. Off the field, the main thing is time management trying to balance soccer and school.”

Q: “What’s your favorite thing to eat?”

A: “I love Caribbean food. My favorite

thing to eat is Peri Chicken Roti. It’s potatoes, chicken, beans, and sauce.”

Q: “Did you play any other sports growing up?”

A: “I played basketball up until my junior year in high school, then I began to focus on soccer. I played tennis for a year and ran track my senior year.”

Men’s Tennis

Home court advantage Men’s tennis hosted the fifth annual SJU Invitational on Sept.

20 as they kicked off their 2013-14 season. The Hawks had some success out of the gate as Kyle Chalmers, ’17, took down his teammate Tristan Boustany, ’17, in the in the third flight singles final.

A strong showing was also made by Jose Sierra, ’14, who defeated University of Delaware’s Adam Lawton in the first flight semifinal, before being forced to withdraw before the final match. The Hawks are next in action this Friday, Sept. 27 at the Penn Invitational.

Field Hockey

Field Hockey frustrations After losing a heartbreaking double overtime affair with Pacific University on Sept. 19, the Saint Joseph’s University field hockey team lost a road game with Quinnipiac University on Sept.

22. Against Pacific, the Hawks battled back after falling behind 2-0. With 3:12 remaining in regulation, Nicole Gerdes, ’15, got the Hawks on the board, and then with under a minute remaining in regulation Gerdes tallied her second goal of the game to tie things up and send the game into overtime. The Hawks continued to apply pressure in the second half, but conceded a goal to Pacific’s Paige Counsman with 5:13 left in the second overtime session to fall to the Tigers. Against Quinnipiac, the Hawks fell behind early, trailing 4-0 at the half, and were unable to mount a comeback on the road. They will host Villanova University at home on Oct. 4 at 3:30 p.m.

Photo by Shannon Adams, ’16

Melanie Colozzi Field Hockey

Hometown: Reading, Pa. | Major: Early Childhood Education Q: “What are your expectations for the team this year?”

A: “We all have the expectation of going to the Atlantic 10 playoffs. Once we get there we all think we can win. We just need to have the heart to do it—and do it.”

Q: “What is your favorite food to eat?”

A: “My favorite food is chocolate chip

cookies because they are hard to mess up and they make you feel like you’re home!”

Q: “How are you adjusting to college on and off the field?”

A: “The first week we had a road trip, so I already missed class. I learned that if you just get ahead in all of your classes everything goes smoothly.”

Men’s Cross Country

Senior strides to top finish Captain Aaron Leskow, ’14, finished in fourth place in a pool of 210 runners this weekend at Iona’s Meet of Champions held at Van Cortlandt Park in Bronx, N.Y. Leskow finished the 8K in a time of 25:35.46. Logan Mohn, ’15, crossed the line next for the Hawks in 13th place with a time of 25:56.81, and the Hawks finished in fourth place overall at the meet. Men’s cross-country is in action next weekend at the Paul Short Open at Lehigh University.

Photo by Sideline Photos, LLC

Women’s Cross Country

Top ten times for Hawks

James (Jimmy) Daniels Men’s Cross Country

The women’s cross-country team took home a 10th place finish at Iona’s Meet of Champions led by their senior captain. Elizabeth Barrett, ’14, who finished the 6K with a time of 22:30.87 and took home third place overall out of 190 runners. Maureen O’Donnell, GS, finished in the top 30 for the Hawks with a time of 23:45.69, narrowly missing the top 20 by 10 seconds.

Q: “How’s it been adapting to college, in athletics and in general?”

A: “It has been good. The training has been difficult and it’s hard to get used to after a while.” Academics-wise, college is way different than high school.”

Q: “How long have you been running?”

A: “I started my freshman year of high

Hometown: Somerdale, N.J. | Major: Biology school.”

Q: “Favorite sport other than running? Do you have an athlete that you look up to?”

A: “I really like baseball and I am gonna go with Larry Bird.”

Q: “What is your favorite food to eat?”

A: “I love omelets. You can throw anything in them.”

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SPORTS The Hawk Newspaper

Hawk on the rise

Freshman Melanie Colozzi is already turning heads on the turf

Photos by Shanno Adams, ’16

Frank Flores ’15

T

Assistant Sports Editor

he beginning of the season has been rough for the Saint Joseph’s University’s women’s field hockey team, as they have started off just 1-6.

Many of the games have been hard-fought, low scoring games where just a few plays made the difference between a “W” and an “L” for the team.

The Hawks lost three games by only one goal and lost another in a shootout, showing just how close the team is to breaking through and becoming a consistent winner. One of the toughest losses was a 3-2 loss in double overtime against Pacific University on Sept. 19.

Even though the beginning of the season hasn’t been the easiest for the Hawks, the development of young talent has been a bright spot. Melanie Colozzi , ’17 has started to emerge as not only a solid individual player, but also as a great team player.

In the Hawks’ lone win of the sea-

son against Towson University on Sept. 15, Colozzi ended up scoring what became the game-winning goal off of a rebounded shot from Nicole Gerdes, ’15. It was also the first goal of her young career as a Hawk.

Head coach Michelle Finegan had high praise for Colozzi’s play thus far, as the freshman has logged starters’ minutes and had a major impact in the team’s play.

“Mel’s such a team player,” Finegan said.

“Even though she’s a freshman and it was her first goal of the year, she was so excited to get that goal for the team more than for herself. That’s the kind of player she is.”

Colozzi appears to have had little issue transitioning her play to the next level. Usually, it takes some time for a freshman athlete to adjust to the rigors of Division I athletics, but Colozzi has been putting it all together for the Hawks up to this point in the season.

“It is a lot more intense and practicing is really different,” Colozzi said.

“In high school, you have one routine, go to school, practice and do your homework. In college, you might have class before practice or practice before class. Time management is so much different.

Once you get used to it,

you’re okay.”

“She’s very composed and a mature player, she’s very strong,” Finegan said. “I was hoping she would be one of our stronger players and I think she is turning out to be one of our stronger players so I’m really happy.”

Colozzi’s strong play could be the beginning of a bright future for the Hawks. Katja Hansen, ’17, has also played major minutes in the back for coach Finegan, and should continue to grow and develop with the rest of the team, as 10 of the 23 players on the roster are freshmen.

Colozzi is perhaps just scratching the surface of what she can do as a player. Maximizing her potential will become a task for both Finegan and Colozzi herself to work on.

SPORTS The Hawk Newspaper

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Coming up in Hawk Athletics…

SJU Women’s Tennis: SJU Invitational Friday, September 27th – Sunday, September 29th All Day – SJU Tennis Complex SJU Women’s Soccer vs. Massachusetts Sunday, September 29th 1:00pm – Sweeney Field

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SPORTS The Hawk Newspaper

Hawks combating cancer

“

Hawks vs. Cancer has transcended women’s soccer and has drawn the rest of the St. Joe’s athletic community.”

Garrett Miley ’15 Sports Editor

A

fter leaving its mark on the entire Saint Joseph’s University community last year with various fundraising events that raised over $14,000, Hawks vs. Cancer is looking to top that mark during the 2013-14 year.

Black and teal outfitted volunteers encapsulated the perimeter of the Sweeney Field bleachers on Sept. 21 as the first fundraising event of the year kicked off at the men’s and women’s soccer games against Cornell University and Hofstra University, respectively.

The organization was founded by former women’s soccer player Taylor Mallory, ’13, after her sister passed away from cervical cancer last September. On the first anniversary of her sister’s passing, her former teammates carried on the legacy that Mallory and her family started.

“This year we wanted to do the same thing, and we ended up making [Hawks vs. Cancer] a student organization,” said organization president Lindsey King, ’14.

“There are more ties with St. Joe’s and we can get other groups involved.”

Hawks vs. Cancer has transcended women’s soccer and has drawn the rest of the St. Joe’s athletic community. Men’s and women’s basketball, men’s lacrosse, baseball, and softball have gotten involved with fundraising this year and plan to hold their own events to support the cause.

“I was at the Lehigh game the day of her [Mallory’s] passing,” said women’s basketball player Natasha Cloud, ’15. “It started immediately after. Maybe a week or so went by, and we went through our ideas and decided that we wanted to dedicate a game. Everyone was on board and was really supportive of it.”

As the president of Hawks vs. Cancer, King plans on expanding the outreach on campus this year in hopes of achieving even larger goals.

“Our goal for this year is to work with Greek life, campus ministry, the athletic teams, and do all different activities and things on campus to raise money for research,” King said. “We picked [to support] cervical cancer because we have the close ties, but other groups picked other organizations because they, unfortunately, have a tie to that type of cancer. We just started this year and we are seeing what we can do.”

In addition to what current Hawks are doing to further cancer research and combat the force that bleeds its way into almost everyone’s lives, the support of alumni has begun to play a big role in the success and growth of Hawks vs. Cancer.

“Taylor graduated last May, but her and her family are still helping out,” King said. “It’s easy for us to contact our alumni from our team. We are just trying to get word of mouth through our alumni for each game to come back. We are going to have our first Hawks vs. Cancer organization meeting so we can start brainstorming ideas.”

Hawks vs. Cancer is currently working toward planning a fundraiser in mid-October for leukemia in honor of Casey Doolin, ’12, who passed away this summer.

“We want to dedicate something to her,” King said, though no further events are definite.

Photos by Shannon Adams, ’16

Men’s soccer huddles together before kickoff of their Hawks vs. Cancer dedication game.