Vape usage remains popular among teens and young adults
Like many college students who vape, Kaleb Harris ’25 started in high school.
Harris said he vaped for the first time for the same reason many middle and high school students do: “The influence of my peers,” Harris acknowledged.
Vapes are electronic cigarettes designed for inhaling and exhaling a flavored nicotine solution that is heated by a battery-operated device. E-cigarettes first entered the U.S. market in 2006, with more advanced “podmod” versions like JUUL — designed to deliver higher levels of nicotine through prefilled cartridges — arriving in 2015.
Although vapes are often marketed as tools for quitting smoking, they are rarely used for this purpose by young people.
In 2024, 1.63 million, or nearly 6% of all U.S. middle and high school students, reported using e-cigarettes, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That is the age when most tobacco use begins, the CDC report stated.
Peer influence
Eileen Bevilacqua, RN, director of the Student Health Center, said she has seen vaping become more common among students.
“Peer influence is one of the most common drivers of teen e-cigarette use according to the literature,” Bevilacqua said, adding that social settings often encourage students to try vaping without fully considering the risks.
Harris agreed vaping is socially accepted among his peers.
“It’s not looked down on. It’s low-key integrated into alcohol culture a little bit now,” Harris said. In the past, people would pair drinking with smoking cigarettes, he said, but now vapes have replaced traditional cigarettes.
Research shows that many people may seek nicotine when they drink because alcohol and nicotine trigger the same reward systems in the brain. This combination magnifies the effects of each substance, resulting in greater feelings of pleasure when alcohol and nicotine are consumed together.
Harris said he has continued to vape in college out of habit and to help manage anxiety.
“It’s like a fixation,” Harris said. “Some people fidget, some people play with their hair, but for me, it’s vaping.”
Harris said while he could go weeks without vaping, having it within reach makes it easy to slip back into the habit.
“It’s everywhere,” Harris said. “I can vape almost anywhere without people noticing or caring, and that definitely makes it tempting to use it more often.”
Vape sales
Monthly sales of e-cigarettes have risen steadily since 2020, according to a CDC study. From January 2020 to December 2022, they increased by 46.6%. The CDC attributes that increase to the availability of flavors — fruit, candy, desserts — that appeal to young people, more disposable products and an increase in the number of e-cigarette brands, which, in 2022, stood at 269. The top-selling disposable brands in December 2022 were Vuse, JUUL, Elf Bar (now EBDesign), NJOY and Breeze Smoke.
Jack Stasio ’26, an employee at Haze City Smokes & Convenience on City Avenue across from Lannon and Rashford halls, said the shop is frequented by a steady flow of college-aged customers who often prioritize quantity over quality when selecting their vaping products.
“The more puffs you can get for the least amount of money, the better,” Stasio said.
The cost of a vape can range from $5 to $10.
Stasio’s customers frequently seek out rechargeable vapes with high puff counts and fruity flavors, Stasio said.
At Haze City, customers can choose from a wide range of flavors, including blackberry, mango, apple and strawberry.
Stasio said he suspects many of his younger customers may be unaware or dismissive of the health risks associated with their purchasing habits, favoring affordability and convenience over concerns about quality
or safety.
Stasio also questioned the common assumption that vaping is a relaxing habit.
“Most use it to relax, but it’s not actually relaxing,” Stasio said. “You’re getting anxiety the entire time, and when you hit it, you get relaxed for a moment since you are addicted.”
Health risks
Despite vaping’s widespread popularity, health professionals are increasingly concerned about the risks. Bevilacqua said the health risks associated with vaping, especially for young people, extend far beyond nicotine addiction.
Vaping coats the lungs with harmful particles, including substances like diacetyl, which has been linked to a severe lung disease known as bronchiolitis obliterans or “popcorn lung.”
“Bronchiolitis obliterans, popcorn lung, results from inhaling diacetyl, which can cause inflammation and scarring in the smallest branches of the airways,” Bevilacqua said. “And vapingrelated pneumonia, also known as lipoid pneumonia, develops when oily substances are inhaled.”
Additionally, heavy metals, such as nickel, lead and cadmium, all commonly found in e-cigarette vapor, can cause lung inflammation and potentially lead to irreversible damage, Bevilacqua said. The CDC has raised similar concerns, warning of the potential for e-cigarette vapor to introduce cancer-causing chemicals deep into the lungs.
Harris acknowledged the health risks, particularly the unknown longterm effects. He said his generation tends
to downplay these risks, partly because vaping doesn’t involve traditional tobacco. But Harris said he is well aware that a single vape can contain as much nicotine as an entire pack of cigarettes. He also worries about the chemicals and lithium batteries in e-cigarettes, which add to the potential dangers.
“Even though we don’t know all the long-term effects yet, something is going to happen,” Harris said.
Harris said he has considered cutting back on vaping.
“It’s hard to get off, but my motivation is just being off of it before I graduate,” Harris said, adding that many of his friends share similar goals, hoping to quit before serious health consequences emerge.
This desire to quit is common among young people who vape. A CDC report from 2020 found that 63.9% of middle and high school students who vaped wanted to quit, and 67.4% had tried to quit within the last year.
Bevilacqua’s advice to students is direct: “Quit now. Nicotine replacement therapy can help.”
Bevilacqua encouraged students who are curious about quitting or concerned about their health to reach out to the health center or a primary care provider for additional support and resources.
Members of the St. Joe’s community seeking support are encouraged to contact the following resources:
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), 610-660-1090
Student Health Center, (610) 660-1175 (Hawk Hill) and (215) 596-8980 (UCity)
Panelists discuss navigating complex education issues
are super big issues facing families, especially in the inner city,” Hudock said.
The School of Education and Human Development (SEHD) held a panel discussion Nov. 14 in the Forum Theater, during which educators discussed ways to navigate complex subjects with students in the current political climate, including topics such as covid-19, school shootings and political polarization.
The panel consisted of five speakers from St. Joe’s and local schools in the Philadelphia area. About 75 in-person and 25 online students attended the event, titled “Complex Issues in Education During Polarizing Times.”
Saidas Hudock, one of the speakers and a sixth-grade English and social studies teacher at Samuel Gompers Elementary School, said there are multiple complex issues facing future educators.
“Some of the biggest issues facing families right now would be our political state, and also, mental health and finances
Some ways to address these issues with students are by “building relationships with families, building relationships with your students, understanding who they are, their background, and making sure they get the resources they need,” Hudock said.
Kathryn Wert ’27, one of two student moderators for the panel, said while political polarization has increased in schools over the last few years, it can lead to dialogue.
“I think a lot of the polarization, while it can be bad in and of itself, means that we are able to have conversations in our classrooms that people wouldn’t have had when we were in school,” Wert said.
Aimee Terosky, Ed.D., associate dean of the School of Education and Human Development and professor of educational leadership, counseling and social work, said aspiring educators can learn from the stories and experiences of people who are in the field.
“They’ve been learning, reflecting, reading, so they’re sharing with you a long term knowledge of what’s going on,” Terosky said. “They bring so much rich, past experience and their own evolution of thinking and reflections on what they’ve faced.”
Terosky said now is the most important time to have authentic conversations about complex issues with others, especially when people disagree.
“As educators, conversations are going to happen in your classrooms, in your offices, in your college and university settings,” Terosky said. “The goal, as educators is to help people treat each other with humanity, humility and respect. We need to be prepared, now more than ever, to be able to engage in these conversations ourselves and to facilitate it for our students.”
Panelists address an audience of prospective educators to discuss complex issues facing educators and students, Nov. 13. PHOTO: ZACH PODOLNICK ’26/THE HAWK
MARILEANA PARDO ’25
Special to the Hawk
ALEX ANDAHAZY ’25 News Reporter
Haze City employees Jack Stasio ’26 and Chris Mann pose in front of the store’s selection of vapes, Nov. 18. PHOTO: MADELINE WILLIAMS ’26/THE HAWK
University to continue search for DEI provost
VINCENT KORNACKI ’25 Managing Editor
LIV BIELAWSKI ’27 News Reporter
After a nearly two-month long active search for a new associate provost for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), St. Joe’s did not make an offer to hire any of the finalists they selected, and will be continuing the search.
Aisha Lockridge, Ph.D., associate professor of communication and media studies, and Kim Allen-Stuck, Ph.D., assistant vice president of student success and educational support, led the university’s search advisory committee.
The committee reviewed 49 applications, conducted 10 phone
interviews and then invited five finalists to campus. Three finalists accepted and two declined.
After this process, the final decision would be made by Jean McGivney-Burelle, Ph.D., provost and senior vice president of academic affairs, but Lockridge said ultimately, none of the candidates were offered the position.
“We [the search committee] make recommendations to the provost; we don’t decide ultimately, in the end, who gets the job,” Lockridge said. “And so [McGivneyBurelle] went, talked to lots of stakeholders, and she determined in the end that she wanted to see what else is out there.”
Ariana Zablah Mejia ’26, a student member of the search advisory committee, said the committee evaluated the candidates’
fundraising ability, experience with utilizing grants, previous work in higher education and ability to handle bias incidents.
After the search advisory committee selected the top five applicants, they invited the candidates to campus for a luncheon and interview with student leaders, which was available to the wider St. Joe’s community in person and as a webinar.
Milton O’Brien ’25, president of University Student Senate, was one of the interviewers.
“We expressed some of what the important things for the students at St. Joe’s are, and just having a conversation with them overall, and [saw] how they would go about becoming part of the community if they were to be selected to be the new provost,” O’Brien said.
Zablah Mejia said students should be aware of this process because it directly impacts them.
“I think that it’s important for students to be aware of the impact that this position will have on us, because the DEI associate provost is somebody that is there to better serve the students and to also help students have a better experience at SJU, especially within the DEI component of our education,” Zablah Mejia said.
Currently, the search is expected to resume in January, with the goal of finding a candidate to fill the position as soon as possible. Lockridge said it is uncertain if she and Allen-Stuck will return as the co-chairs of the search committee or if the university will engage an external search committee to assist with the new search.
Speakers highlight Homelessness Awareness Month
SOPHIA GALANTE ’26 News Reporter
LIV BIELAWSKI ’27 News Reporter
The Joseph William and Madeline Eberle Klein Fund sponsored its second dinner and discussion event highlighting housing insecurity amongst college students in Mandeville Hall Nov. 18.
November is nationally recognized as Homelessness Awareness Month.
The event, titled “Homelessness Has No Place,” included speeches from Bethany Welch, Ph.D., SSJ, residential director for Depaul USA’s St. Joseph’s House, and Carmel Maranan, a current student at the Community College of Philadelphia who shared her personal experiences with housing insecurity.
Depaul USA is a community-based nonprofit organization that has been providing services to unhoused persons across the country for 15 years and is an affiliate of Depaul International, which provides services to unhoused people internationally. St. Joseph’s House is one of three Depaul houses in Philadelphia offering housing and services specifically for college students experiencing housing insecurity.
Danielle Critelli ’13, associate director of community partnerships for the FaithJustice Institute, who helped organize the
event, said learning about people’s individual stories instead of making assumptions is crucial in helping us empathize with situations we are unfamiliar with.
“I think everyone needs to have empathy for what we’re each carrying and what our experiences have been and are,” Critelli said. “And know that there’s the giving of grace or giving of benefit to people as they’re progressing through whatever space they’re at in their journey.”
According to a 2020 study by the National Center for Education Statistics, approximately 1.4 million undergraduate students reported experiencing homelessness in the last 30 days during the period of study.
Maranan, who spoke about her personal journey with housing insecurity and living at St. Joseph’s House, said she aimed to remind people that her experience is not a unique one and could happen to anyone.
“I want to challenge the listeners really to think about how quickly one could go from stable and secure to completely being unstable and insecure,” Maranan said. “It only took just a difference of two months, [and] I was homeless. It could take a bad day, or losing a job, and next thing you know, you have to think about how to pick up those pieces.”
Throughout the presentation, Welch emphasized that housing insecurity does not always point to just economic instability.
“It’s not always purely economic. There can be other social factors,” Welch said. “So, if someone’s experienced oppression and discrimination, it’s not something they might want to share publicly because then you’re saying, ‘Not only is this something I’m trying to make sense of for myself, but my family isn’t able to journey with me,’ and then that’s a lot of deep pain.”
Hearing Maranan’s story was impactful for Oscar Nama ’27, who said the speech opened his eyes to the experiences of some students his age he hadn’t considered before.
“I had this assumption that if you can go to college, then you’re not in that demographic that experiences homelessness,
Department of Public Safety reports (Oct.
Oct. 23
No incidents to report.
Oct. 24
Public Safety notified of a theft incident in the Campion Student Center. Incident under investigation.
Oct. 25
No incidents to report.
Oct. 26
Public Safety notified of a minor disturbance in Hagan Arena. Incident was investigated.
Oct. 27-Nov.1
No incidents to report.
Nov. 2
Public Safety notified of a liquor law violation at LaFarge Residence Center. Incident was investigated. Community Standards was notified.
Public Safety notified of a vandalism incident at Villiger Residence Center. Incident was investigated. Community Standards was notified.
Public Safety notified of a liquor law violation at Villiger Residence Center.
Incident was investigated. Community Standards was notified.
Public Safety notified of a liquor law violation at an off-campus location. Incident was investigated. Community Standards was notified.
Nov. 3
Public Safety notified of a vandalism incident at Rashford Hall. Incident was investigated. Community Standards was notified.
Nov. 4 No incidents to report.
Nov. 5
Public Safety notified of a liquor law violation at Villiger Residence Center. Incident was investigated. Community Standards was notified.
Nov. 6 No incidents to report.
Nov. 7
Public Safety notified of a theft incident in the O’Pake Fitness & Recreation Center. Incident under investigation.
Public Safety notified of a drug abuse
so this was really eye opening for me in that regard,” Nama said. “I think just making that connection was something that was really important for me.”
Maranan said living in St. Joseph’s House helped her improve her financial and mental health. She concluded her presentation with words of hope and redemption.
“I came into St. Joseph[’s] filled with fear, anger, and was honestly quite depressed,” Maranan said. “Now, almost two years later, I’m able to get back to the parts of me that were always important and continue fulfilling that promise I made to myself years ago to live a better life.”
23-Nov. 14)
violation at Villiger Residence Center. Incident was investigated. Community Standards was notified.
Public Safety notified of a liquor law violation at Villiger Residence Center. Incident was investigated. Community Standards was notified.
Nov. 8
Public Safety notified of a liquor law violation at Living and Learning Commons. Incident was investigated. Community Standards was notified.
Public Safety notified of a trespassing incident at Sister Thea Bowman Hall. Incident was investigated.
Nov. 9
Public Safety notified of a simple assault at Campion Student Center. Incident was investigated.
Nov. 10
Public Safety notified of a minor disturbance at Villiger Residence Center. Incident was investigated. Community Standards was notified.
Public Safety notified of a theft at Hawks’
Landing Parking Garage. Philadelphia Police responded and a report was taken.
Nov. 11
No incidents to report.
Nov. 12
Public Safety notified of a theft at Hagan Arena. Philadelphia Police responded and a report was taken. Incident under investigation.
Nov. 13
Public Safety notified of a weapons violation at LaFarge Residence Center. Incident was investigated. Community Standards was notified.
Public Safety notified of a drug abuse violation at LaFarge Residence Center. Incident was investigated. Community Standards was notified.
Nov. 14
No incidents to report.
At Hawk Hill, there were four alcoholrelated incidents on campus and one off campus. At UCity, there was one alcoholrelated incident on campus.
At Hawk Hill, there were two drugrelated incidents on campus.
Matt Ryan-Bender ’13, Local Advisory Committee Member for DePaul USA, addresses students, faculty and staff attending a discussion on the housing crisis, Nov. 18. PHOTO: SAHR KARIMU ’26/THE HAWK
Editorial: Acknowledging history this Thanksgiving
Underneath the plethora of festivities, Thanksgiving is inherently an occasion of contradictions. It is a day for communities to gather together, punctuated by distractions of food and football. It is a holiday defined by the thankfulness for one’s current possessions, overshadowed by the gluttonous commercialism of Black Friday sales. But, most importantly, Thanksgiving is a moment for reflection on a history that is far more complicated and harmful than the simple narrative once portrayed.
The history many Americans were taught growing up regarding the origins of Thanksgiving involved a ceremony of unification between the Pilgrims and Native Americans, with a feast willingly offered by Indigenous communities to help European explorers overcome the winter and establish a thriving settlement. But this narrative is woefully incomplete, masking the very real history of tragedy brought upon
Indigenous communities by European colonizers. There is a growing realization among many non-Indigenous Americans of what Indigenous communities have always known: The arrival of European settlers in North America heralded an era not of unity, but of genocide, much of which still harbors generational trauma.
Today, we’ve come to associate Thanksgiving with reflection and gratitude for one’s blessings. The next step is to critically examine how one came to acquire those blessings. Like with conversations involving race and privilege, this doesn’t discount individual grit and sacrifice, but we must acknowledge the historical imbalances that led to the current distribution of welfare.
Land acknowledgement statements, for example, are crucial to encouraging awareness of and taking responsibility for the historical and ongoing impacts of colonialism. At St. Joe’s, there are
It’s
statements appearing in documents like class syllabi and the commencement program, recognizing that the university resides on the ancestral homeland of the Lenape people. However, St. Joe’s still does not have an official university-wide land acknowledgement statement, despite the efforts of internal groups to create one. This is a step the university must take, if it truly wants to fulfill its mission of cura personalis — for members of the St. Joe’s community and for the Indigenous people who had a community here before us.
This Thanksgiving, as we leave to celebrate with friends and family on lands across the country that historically belong to Indigenous peoples, it’s imperative we remember to not only be thankful but also mindful of the true history that has led us to where we are today.
time for Thanks Giving
TRISH SHAFER Guest Columnist
I owe my career to L. Thomas Reifsteck, long-time director of the Career Center at La Salle University. By hiring me without any direct experience in the field, he took a chance on me over 30 years ago that set me on a path of professional fulfillment and success. He saw potential in me I didn’t know I had, and it had a huge impact on my life. I’m so grateful to him, and I’m especially glad I took the time to thank him before he passed.
During this time of year when we are reminded to give thanks, think about all the acts of kindness you’ve
been shown and the people who have made a difference in your life. These may be large-scale or micro-moments that accumulated into something big. Maybe it was your middle school choir teacher who encouraged you to join the play that instilled in you the confidence to speak in public. Or maybe it was a coach who showed you the power of hard work to make progress toward your goals, one day at a time. Maybe it was a professor or teacher who recognized a special talent you have and nurtured it to make sure you reached your potential. Or maybe it was a friend or loved one who gave you the space, compassion and encouragement to be uniquely you.
These people helped shape your life, saying the exact thing you needed to hear or learn in that moment, whether
intentional or not. These are forms of “cura personalis,” and they can have an outsized impact on a life. Take a moment this month to send a note of thanks to someone (or why not several people?), letting them know the specific impact they’ve had and that you’re grateful for them. You’ll definitely make their day, and, more importantly, you’ll learn the power of giving help, support and kindness to others in the way it’s been given to you. Happy Thanks Giving.
Trish Shafer is the executive director of the Career Center.
What does sustainability
mean?
Caring for present and future generations
NICOLE BOWEN ’26 Guest Columnist
Climate action at St. Joe’s has introduced many conversations about implementing sustainable practices on campus. But what exactly does sustainability mean? The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) describes sustainability as “creat[ing] and maintain[ing] the conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony to support present and future generations.” Similarly, the United Nations says the intent of sustainable development is to “meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” The common theme between
these two sources is that sustainable actions not only fulfill our personal future needs but also those of our children and our children’s children.
Sustaining means lasting. Unsustainable systems and habits always end in collapse. Sustainability can be implemented in many areas, like resource use, development, social systems and economic approaches.
The Laudato Si’ Initiative on St. Joe’s campus is planning to identify areas where we need to incorporate more sustainable practices.
Other universities have already begun to do this. For example, one of Drexel University’s dining locations, Urban Eatery, began composting this past October. Swarthmore College is currently switching to an entirely renewable energy system powered by geoexchange techniques. At St. Joe’s, the
to be a geothermal-powered building. Moving forward, we should continue to develop a campus that will sustain our community members now and in the future.
Sister Thea Bowman Residence Hall is on track
GRAPHIC: STEPHANIE SAVELA ’25/THE HAWK
PHOTO COURTESY OF TRISH SHAFER
Loyalty over experience
How Project 2025 is still at play in Trump’s appointments
CAROLINE TRIMBLE ’26
Hawk Columnist
On Nov. 12, Donald Trump announced Elon Musk, billionaire CEO of SpaceX and Tesla and owner of X (formerly Twitter), will head the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) alongside former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. The president-elect took to social media to explain that the purpose of the DOGE is to allow his administration to “dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies.” DOGE will not function as an official government agency, leaving many unanswered questions surrounding its power and role in political affairs.
The informality of DOGE will allow Musk to retain his roles at SpaceX, Tesla and X while influencing governmental regulation policy. Running several multibillion dollar companies while being
responsible for loosening regulatory practices creates a significant conflict of interest — one Musk largely stands to benefit from. Currently, both Tesla and SpaceX are being investigated by federal agencies for various safety and legal violations. As the head of DOGE, Musk could try to lessen government regulations, thus permitting him to conduct his own businesses with limited restrictions.
Donald Trump’s decision to appoint someone without political experience to hold this position reflects a key element of the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025: the hiring of MAGA loyalists (in lieu of experienced officials) to fill federal and bureaucratic positions. Musk himself donated over $75 million to Trump’s reelection campaign and publicly endorsed him at a number of rallies, prompting the president-elect to reward him with political power.
Although Donald Trump maintains he has “no idea who is behind” Project 2025, he has demonstrated that he shares
the authors’ belief in filling government positions on the basis of loyalty rather than experience. Trump’s appointment of Elon Musk is not shocking. Rather, it affirms
what many liberal Americans believed before his victory: Donald Trump will use, at the very least, pieces of Project 2025 as a guide for his second presidential term.
‘Only’: The reality of burnout
ANASTASIA KUNICKA ’28 Guest Columnist
“Only two weeks until Fall Break.” “Only three and a half weeks until Thanksgiving break.” “Only seven weeks until Winter Break.”
I am not the only one who is guilty of grumbling over the number of days left before a much-needed break. The reality is that many of us do not wish to be away from our friends or the campus climate during break; we just long to be away from the schoolwork and the responsibility of going to class. Burnout is whispering in our heads that we are ready to be done.
Despite some perspectives that it is actually just laziness or merely the unwillingness to work, burnout is real. It can be as difficult as other emotions, like jealousy, influencing us to make bad decisions.
“Oh, it won’t be bad if I skip this class today.” Yeah, except all those absences will begin to add up.
“I’ll do the homework tomorrow.” Hint: You’ll never get that homework done. Procrastination and burnout are a duo like Batman and Robin, except they don’t save Gotham City; they work together to trap you in your own hesitation. It’s hard to fight through this, especially when we are tired. Procrastination is the first murmur in one’s head that creeps in like poison and once it’s settled, burnout pulls us another step back from doing our work.
While I’m as guilty as anyone of feeling burnout and succumbing to procrastination, it’s how we fight and cope with it that will get us through the remainder of the semester.
Fight it. Resist it. First, try to make it to Thanksgiving break. Remember, there’s only about four weeks left in the semester.
Dialogue is fundamental to our democracy Don’t disengage with those
you disagree
with
On the morning of Nov. 6, after President-elect Donald Trump’s victory was declared, I saw messages across social media with a similar sentiment shared en masse: “If you voted for Trump, do not associate with me.” These types of statements are not just implausible, as 76 million people voted for the president-elect, but also dangerous to democracy and our society.
I am not a Trump supporter. In fact, I am far from one. I find many of his policies detrimental to our country’s future, his character even more so. I am very disappointed and worried that the majority of voters chose him as our next
president. Still, despite my frustrations, I choose to continue to interact with those who voted differently from me.
It is true there are some people who are outwardly hateful to the groups targeted by Trump’s policies. However, if we truly want to combat this hatred and bigotry, we cannot disengage from the political spheres where these beliefs often take root. Otherwise, how can we ever expect to undo and prevent these mindsets or push for improvements in our country?
We must continue to talk to those with whom we disagree. Differences in thinking allow us to challenge each other’s beliefs, leading to nuances in our own understanding. They also prevent us from being divided into two huge echo chambers, in which everyone has the same beliefs and agreeable ideas become increasingly extreme. Isolating
people based on who they voted for will just deepen the divisions in our country. Not only that, but a large part of democracy is about finding those few issues where compromises can be built. These compromises require continued dialogue from all voices across the political spectrum.
A bigger issue, though, is that by taking this approach, we begin to lose touch with one another and fracture as a society, no longer being able to relate to each other’s experiences and perspectives. It is, therefore, in the vital interest of American democracy and society that we continue to talk to each other. Otherwise, we will jeopardize everything we’ve built as a nation.
GRAPHIC: STEPHANIE SAVELA ’25/THE HAWK
GRAPHIC: STEPHANIE SAVELA ’25/THE HAWK
JAKE RICHFIELD ’27
Copy Editor
GRAPHIC: STEPHANIE SAVELA ’25/THE HAWK
The crisis of misrepresentation in media
Addressing diversity and accuracy in American newsrooms
BELLA PRIVITERA ’26
Opinions Editor
In 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson’s National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders published the Kerner Report, which concluded that America was “moving toward two societies, one black, one white — separate and unequal.” Almost six decades later, newsrooms across America still lack the diversity that reflects American society. This lack of diversity has had a significant impact on how news stories are told with regard to race, ethnicity, class, sex and gender identity. As a result, the media often fails to adequately represent the public.
While underrepresentation of American society in the media is problematic, so is misrepresentation. According to a Pew Research Center survey, 58% of Black and 55% of Hispanic Americans say the media doesn’t understand or reflect them. It is critical to recognize that misrepresentation of marginalized and minority groups is detrimental to external perceptions,
especially in the U.S., where countless individuals base their worldviews on mass media. For instance, further studies have shown negative stereotypes in media homogenize minority groups rather than authentically depict the variety among them, resulting in measurable and long-lasting impacts.
Academics, advocates and journalists alike have been concerned by the lack of diversity in newsrooms, especially because traditional newsrooms are largely composed of white men. Researchers have found it difficult to establish an empirical relationship between newsroom diversity and content patterns, but some theories include an increased competition among newsrooms, declining media credibility and smaller budgets, which make it difficult for organizations to invest the time, effort and resources necessary to diversify their staffs.
According to the Nieman Report, in an effort to systematically diversify their staffs and talent acquisition, there are a multitude of American newsrooms and university journalism schools (such as Columbia University, The Wall Street Journal,
To observe is to impact
Grow your perspective
SAHR KARIMU ’26 Photographer
Because of my newfound faith as a Christian, I’ve recently been more and more interested in physics, and as a result, I’ve been able to appreciate more deeply the intricacies of God I find in the natural world. In the realm of quantum mechanics, there is a principle known as the “observer effect.” This principle states an observer will, by necessity, change a situation or a phenomenon simply through their interaction with it. This especially rings true when considering our interactions with one another. By listening, observing and speaking
with each other, our states of being and perspective change our experiences, as well as the reality of what we are facing. While this may sound obvious on the surface, I think the crux of this claim has to do with the fundamental nature of the “observer effect.” What it comes down to is what it means to have a perspective. The perspective of the observer, by necessity, changes the situation. It changes the phenomena, even if only in a minute way.
In our day-to-day lives, our perspectives can change our entire realities. Our understanding, beliefs, preconceptions or dispositions towards particular things, people and events can shift our entire frameworks of understanding. Our understandings shift our actions, and our actions shift the world itself. This is
“How do I prepare for post-grad?” — Ben Awesome
Hi, Ben Awesome!
Thinking about life after graduation can feel pretty daunting because we’re currently at an age where the pressure is extremely high to set yourself up for the rest of your life. To start, try making a list of goals, both longand short-term. These can be life and career goals but also smaller, fun goals like trying a new food. Shrinking down the question from “How do I prepare for the rest of my life?” to “What’s something I want to experience?” can alleviate some of the pressure, while simultaneously giving yourself more immediate goals you can achieve in the next year.
It would be wrong for me to give advice on this as a student also asking myself the
NBC News, Politico and more) enacting “targeted fellowships, apprenticeships, and internships” for young, aspiring POC and Indigenous journalists.
Because of the great responsibility and influence the media holds on the
same question without providing different perspectives, so here’s some advice from St. Joe’s graduates who were once in the same place as us!
From Nick Filardo ’21: “Strive to grow by having a baseline daily routine to build off of and not feel stagnant. This sets you up for the responsibility of a career while feeling fulfilled now. And don’t gamble.”
Nick Milando ’21, in addition, says, “I don’t know what I’m doing, and I graduated four years ago. Ask ChatGPT and slap my name on it.”
Besides, by 2050, five billion people will face water scarcity due to the combined effects of climate change and poor water management practices. None of this matters, post-grad will be a matter of surviving the impending water wars. Networking is super important, though!
So, Ben Awesome, you can do a lot to prepare: make a strong resume, talk to the Career Center and build connections. But, more often than not, life’s going to be about preparing for a Plan B.
American public, diversity in newsrooms is critical to democracy. At the end of the day, an informed public is an informed electorate — and representation should be fair and equitable across the board.
true, and this is clear. So what?
This fundamental truth that is embedded into the very reality of matter beckons us to expand our perspectives. It beckons us to grow. It calls us to know more and broaden our horizons. Socially, it calls us to know those who we call “they,” so that they are no longer a “they” and are only an “us.” Perhaps that is idyllic. In fact, this won’t happen in this world, but to truly know each other and live in communion, isn’t that what it means to be a person?
How do I prepare for post-grad life?
So, the best way to prepare might just be staying open-minded. Develop skills that are transferable, like communication, problem-solving and resilience. Most importantly, be kind to yourself — post-grad life is a journey, and it’s OK to figure things
out as you go. You might not know what you’re doing now or in five years, or even ever, and that’s OK because nobody really does.
GRAPHIC: CARA HALLIGAN ’25/THE HAWK
GRAPHIC: STEPHANIE SAVELA ’25/THE HAWK
CARTER KARPINSKI ’25 Columnist
GRAPHIC: CARA HALLIGAN ’25/THE HAWK
GRAPHIC: CARA HALLIGAN ’25/THE HAWK
Art club collaboration supports children battling illnesses
‘It’s really important to help them gain a sense of control’
GAVIN KUEBLER ’25
Assistant Features Editor
A chance to join children and teens in the fight against chronic illness is available for a short time at St. Joe’s. Until Nov. 26, Art Club on the Hawk Hill campus is providing an opportunity for students to collaborate with Beads of Courage, a nonprofit organization focused on using art as a means of providing support and comfort for children and teens battling cancer or other serious illnesses.
Upon enrollment with Beads of Courage, every child and teen is given a string with beads that spell out their first name. Throughout their treatment, their healthcare provider gives them additional colorful beads that represent courage. As more beads are added to their string, they can use them to “RECORD, TELL, and OWN their stories of COURAGE,” according to their website.
Through the partnership between Art Club and Beads of Courage, students can pay $5 to carry two beads — one for them and one for a child or teen undergoing treatment for a serious illness.
After one week, the student returns one of their beads with an attached note for a child or teen who will receive it on a tough treatment day. The beads symbolize solidarity between the student and the recipient of the bead throughout the treatment.
The partnership first came about when Megan Eastman ’26, historian of Art Club, reached out to Beads of Courage to request help from the group in bringing their service to St. Joe’s. Eastman has participated in the project on her own in the past and wanted to share it with her peers.
“It’s really important to help them gain a sense of control to document their journey,” Eastman said. “A lot of times, when you have thousands of doctors appointments, thousands of surgeries, procedures, therapy, it can cause a lot of trauma for children, and being able to create a record of that is really helpful in processing. This program that we’re doing in collaboration with Beads of Courage just provides them a little piece that they can look back on.”
Having carried beads in the past, Eastman takes pride in offering hope to children by being someone they can relate to.
“I really enjoyed the idea of getting to give a child who’s going through something similar to myself a little glimpse at what it looks like when you get older,” said Eastman.
Monty Ojo ’27, treasurer of Art Club, said as a member of the executive board, she feels events like this show the strength of the St. Joe’s community.
“Doing this for our club just shows that not only do we want to work with others to help children, but it shows how diverse we are as a community and how much we care about our community,” said Ojo.
Brooke Lovelace ’26, vice president of Art Club, signed up to participate and to carry a bead and encouraged students to engage in the program, especially if they want to show support in a special way.
Sheridan Leak ’25 is a biology major from Burlington, New Jersey. As president of the Black Student Union, Leak spends a lot of her time in the Center for Inclusion and Diversity (CID) office in Campion Student Center. Leak said the people in the CID office, in particular, Natalie Walker Brown, director of inclusion and diversity educational achievement, make her feel welcome. “There’s always people that are in the CID that are so cool. There’s a big TV where we watch movies, and sometimes we’ll just be doing homework. The vibes always switch around. I like the people that are there all of the time, and it’s a very comfortable space to be in,” Leak said.
What’s your favorite class you’ve ever taken at St. Joe’s? Anthropology and Philosophy of the Body, an honors class that I took last year. I’m a bio major, so I love science classes, obviously, but it was such a cool blend of science, sociology, psychology, anthropology and philosophy … The professors were awesome — Dr. Samuel Talcott and Dr. Michelle Ramirez. They really loved me because I loved it so much.
Who is someone on campus you look up to? Natalie Walker Brown … I can talk to her about serious things and about fun things and always get a good, healthy, balanced response.
What talent would you most like to have? I want to play the piano.
What is something about you that might surprise other people? When I drive, especially for longer drives, I always listen to podcasts instead of music.
If you could be any building on campus, which one would you be? Hall, because so much character development happens there.
Who is your favorite celebrity? Issa Rae, the creator of the show, “Insecure.” It’s so funny but also so relatable. It speaks to the experience of being a Black woman in this time. I think the way she represents that through comedy is brilliant. She’s so smart.
“It’s a unique program that is really exciting to work with, and I think it’s going to be a great way for people to do something different and outside of themselves,” Lovelace said. Each bead order costs $5 and must be submitted via Venmo to Art Club by Nov. 26.
Sheridan Leak
What is your most treasured possession? My grandpa used to work for USPS, and when he passed away in 2020, we had to fly out to Arizona and help my grandma pack up the house.
My mom gave me his USPS jacket. When I have a bad day, I put that jacket on and feel a little hug
What is your biggest worry right now? All the [BSU] presidents that came before me have been role models. A lot of the students, especially when I was a freshman, look up to whoever the BSU president is. They were always good people to talk to. My biggest worry is that if I am so busy and running all over the place, I don’t have the space to be that person that someone
What’s a word you hope people on campus would use to describe you? Conscientious.
What is your definition of happiness? Being in a space where I have full support for my ambitions and goals.
Who are your heroes in real life? I am lucky enough to have two really awesome parents that love each other a lot and love their kids a lot.
What’s on your bucket list to do in Philly or on campus before you graduate? I actually just checked this off my list, but it was to go to fifth floor McShain because it was always so mysterious. When I lived in McShain, I saw someone go up there while I was in the elevator. I popped my head out, and it looked so cool, but I never had the opportunity to actually go up there. I just went up there to interview someone, and now I can graduate in peace.
What do you want to be when you grow up? A biostatistician. I want to get my Ph.D. in biostatistics.
GRAPHIC: STEPHANIE SAVELA ’25/THE HAWK
HELENA SIMS ’25 Special to the Hawk
PHOTO: MADELINE WILLIAMS ’26/THE HAWK
GRAPHIC: HANNAH PAJTIS ’26/THE HAWK
Archives Unboxed: ‘A Mechanical Account of Poisons’
In 1702 prominent English physician Dr. Richard Mead published “A Mechanical Account of Poisons in Several Essays,” a book that laid the groundwork for the future of the field of toxicology.
“A Mechanical Account of Poisons in Several Essays” contributed to the Enlightenment era’s growing knowledge and interest in medicine.
The copy currently held in the Special Collections of the St. Joe’s Archives is the fourth edition, printed in 1747. It is visibly old, with fading yellow pages that are, in some cases, falling off the spine.
In the preface to the book, Mead offers his work as a scientific anecdote to one of the intellectual poisons of his time: superstition. He promises “short Hints of Natural History, and Rude Strokes of Reasoning; which, if put together, and rightly Improved, may perhaps serve to furnish out a more tolerable SPECIMEN of the DOCTRINE of POISONS, than has yet been Published.”
After graduating from the University of Padua in 1695 with a medical degree, Mead returned to his hometown of London, where he dedicated his time to studying toxins and their effects on the human body. He specifically studied tarantulas, vipers,
rabid dogs, poisonous minerals and plants, poisonous air and water, and opium. He compiled his findings into essays, which were bound together in book form.
Mead seemed particularly fascinated by snake bites, listing the symptoms that can occur after a viper “fastens either one or both its greater Teeth in any Part of the Body”: “Swelling at first Red, but afterwards Livid,” and “a Quick, tho’ Low, and sometimes Interrupted Pulse, great Sickness at the Stomach, with Bilious, Convulsive Vomitings, Cold Sweats, and sometimes Pains about the Navel; and if the
Cure be not speedy, Death it self.”
Fred Gibbs, Ph.D., associate professor of history at the University of New Mexico and author of “Poison, Medicine, and Disease in Late Medieval and Early Modern Europe,” said physicians like Mead were interested in whether poisons were inherently harmful or could have therapeutic value.
“That attitude (that there was no such thing as an ‘absolute’ poison) was relatively new at the time, and researchers are still today investigating the nature of venom and other known toxins to see how they could be useful in medicine,” Gibbs said.
Emma Gunuey-Marrs, assistant curator of the Marvin Samson Museum for the History of Pharmacy, located on the University City campus, said books like Mead’s likely influenced early physicians in the U.S.
“Colonial apothecaries were looking to England for a lot of their educational material,” Gunuey-Marrs said. “It’s very possible that a colonial apothecary would have been referencing this book.”
Gibbs said the fact that scientific thinking has changed so much from Mead’s time makes it challenging to compare 18th century medicine to modern medicine.
“But one thing remains true and will always be true,” Gibbs said, “scientists are always doing everything they can to understand how to have more effective treatments, no matter how weird we might think their conclusions are when looking back in time. Surely future physicians are going to look [at] what we now think of as cutting-edge medicine and wonder how we went so wrong.”
Mead’s book is part of a large collection of over 1,400 historical pharmacology books that the SJU Archives acquired in the wake of St. Joe’s 2022 merger with the University of the Sciences.
Four Philly breweries that are first-draft picks
years and is an avid fan of being able to try their array of beers.
For the avid beer enthusiast who appreciates the fine art and craft behind a perfect glass, Philadelphia’s neighborhoods are rich with local breweries unique to the city. In fact, Philly is home to over a hundred breweries. Not sure where to start? Here are some great spots to enjoy a fresh pint (if you’re 21 or over, of course).
Victory Brewing Company
Address: 1776 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: 445-223-1130
Instagram: @victorybeer
Founders Bill Covaleski and Ron Barchet have created a beer-drinking experience and culture in the heart of Philadelphia that invites guests to sit down, socialize and enjoy the views of the city. Victory Brewing Company is the second-largest craft brand family in Pennsylvania.
Their drink menu includes lagers, ales, sours, hop-forwards, darks, Belgians and more. At the Center City location, customers can choose from a variety of 30 draft beers. The price starts at $8 for a glass.
Pamela Jeng, a waiter at this location, said she has been working there for three
“My favorite draft beer is the Liberty Bell Ringer, a special release that dropped on Father’s Day,” Jeng said.
You should try: Golden Monkey, a Belgian-style beer that tastes of banana and fruits. Its light touch creates a smooth and easy taste with hints of sweetness. This beer pours a golden liquid with a foamy layer at the top. This brew is offered year-round.
Love City Brewing
Address: 1023 Hamilton St., Philadelphia, PA 19123
Phone: 215-398-1900
Instagram: @lovecitybrewing
Love City Brewing owners Kevin and Melissa Walter started their business based on their mutual love for good beer.
Their taproom list of draft beers ranges from $5 to $9. For a bargain, draft beers are $2 off during Happy Hour, which is from 4-6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
You should try: The Love City Lager draft beer’s yellowish-brown color catches the eye as the liquid pours smoothly from the tap. After the first sip, a malty sensation emerges. Lingering orange hints appear all within a clean-tasting beer. It offers a very versatile taste anyone would enjoy.
Manayunk Brewing Company
Address: 4120 Main St., Philadelphia, PA 19127
Phone: 215-482-8220
Instagram: @manayunkbrewingco
With a perfect location alongside the Schuylkill River, Manayunk Brewing Company offers customers a scenic view of the Manayunk Canal. Entrepreneur Harry Renner IV started the company and restaurant in 1996, and it’s going strong today.
On the current drinks menu, 16 tap beers are available to taste. Outside on the deck at the Tiki Bar, you can choose from deck drafts and cans. They offer their own drafts, such as Krooks Mill and Schuylkill Punch, in addition to other local drafts from the Philadelphia area, such as Flying Fish Brewing Company’s Go Birds and New Belgium Brewing Company’s Voodoo Ranger IPA.
During Happy Hour, every Tuesday through Friday 4-6 p.m., all drafts except Guinness are $5. No other prices are available at Manayunk Brewing Company’s website.
You should try: The Flying Fish Go Birds beer is known for its fruity, mango mouthful. This twist on a traditional light beer gives beer lovers an option for a sweeter tang, and the froth-to-liquid ratio makes for a perfect relaxing pint.
Wissahickon Brewing Company
Address: 3705 W. School House Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19129
Phone: 215-483-8833
Instagram: @wissahickonbrewingcompany
The Wissahickon Brewing Company started with the Gill family homebrewing in their mother’s kitchen. It officially opened in 2017, and in 2019, was awarded Philadelphia Magazine’s Best Brew Pub of the Year. In the seven years that the Wissahickon Brewing Company has existed, it has also acquired a coffee shop and kombucha company. In addition, it partners with other small businesses, like local food trucks, throughout the year. Taproom drafts start at $4 and are $1 off on weekdays from 4-6 p.m. Kendall Bryers, bartender and shift lead, has been working with the company for over four years. Bryers recommended the Gazebo: Chai and the Frūx: Mango Calamansi. You should try: The Frūx: Mango Calamansi is a sensation of sour and sweet that provides the best combination of flavors. Its smooth finish makes it easy to go down, and the taste resembles a dessert.
KAITLYN TRAN ’25
Special to the Hawk
A beverage at Victory Brewing Company.
The inside cover of the book, “A Mechanical Account of Poisons in Several Essays,” located in the St. Joe’s Archives. PHOTO: MADELINE WILLIAMS ’26/THE HAWK
TESS MARGIS ’26 Features Reporter
The interior of Love City Brewing.
The bar at Manayunk Brewing Company.
A beverage at Wissahickon Brewing Company. PHOTOS: KAITLYN TRAN ’25
On The Beat: ‘The Crossroads’
PARKER HAYDEN ’25 Hawk Staff
Rap has experienced an interesting release radar this year. While huge names in the scene have dropped albums, it seems to me that the substance of their work is starting to fly out the window. Some may be quick to cite “Vultures 1” by Ye (formerly Kanye West) and Ty Dolla $ign as one of the worst albums of the year, and I’ll disagree, only because I think it may be one of the worst rap releases ever. Other artists have dropped albums severely lacking in what drove them to the music industry in the first place. Take J. Cole’s tired and boring “Might Delete Later,” or 21 Savage’s trope-filled “American Dream.”
This is all to say the mainstream rap artists have been, in my opinion, on a steady decline for the past half a decade. This has left an open zone where some mainstream rappers have fought the lack of excitement with experimentation, and underground rappers have started to fill the void.
Cordae’s “The Crossroads” is one of these albums where mainstream rappers have been experimenting with their music. This album is special in a few different ways, but its most prominent feature is that it feels like care has been taken in its release. This is not to say that it’s a perfect album. There are tropes scattered throughout and some puzzling additions, but like in every genre of music, this is to be expected. One highlight of the album is the song “Summer Drop,” which features Anderson .Paak and is a perfect blend of Cordae’s flow and Paak’s harmony. The beat is great and soulful, and the lyrics are powerful. Funnily enough, J. Cole produced the track, which shows the artist in him is still there somewhere.
The next track, “Nothings Promised,” samples “Heard ’Em Say” by Kanye
West (Ye), which is a soulful track filled with a backing choir that harkens back to the early 2000s rap scene. However, rather unfortunately, this moment of remembrance is shattered later in the album’s track cycle when a washed-up and barely engaged Ye shows up on “No Bad News.” Luckily, one feature doesn’t ruin the rest of the album, but Ye’s inclusion does leave a sour taste in my mouth and the mouths of many others due to his hate-filled tirades the past few years.
The song “Now You Know” wraps up the album and feels like a solid goodbye to the project. Cordae delivers a heartfelt message about loss over a gospel sample. It’s a good conclusion to the themes present throughout the album before he
transitions into the bonus track at the end of the album, “Two Tens,” also featuring Anderson .Paak.
Overall, “The Crossroads” is an album that not only switches up Cordae’s status quo but also serves as a beacon of hope in an era where the rap game is going through a drought. Featuring elements of the old guard of hip-hop, this album shows a nice dichotomy between present and past, and the beats across the album’s songs represent the broad style of hiphop that has existed throughout the past 20 years. “The Crossroads” is not flawless, but it doesn’t need to be, and where it does shine, it promises a relatively adventurous career for Cordae going forward.
CROSSWORD: Season of thanks
Across
6.A blend of bread, herbs and spices that can serve as turkey filling.
8.A Thanksgiving celebration with non-relatives.
9.Gobble gobble.
10.Holiday classic red condiment or side dish.
Down
1.The food remaining after the feast.
2.Sweet orange dessert popular on Thanksgiving.
3.A warm, autumnal drink made with fruit.
4.Goat horn full of fruits and vegetables.
5.A feeling of appreciation, often expressed on Thanksgiving.
7.A fall sport traditionally watched on Thanksgiving.
Taking off the training wheels
OLIVIA GASPARRO ’27 Features Columnist
The years can seem like they go by in a blink of an eye. As we navigate through life, the training wheels that once held us upright are slowly removed, putting us face-to-face with the world around us. The transition from childhood innocence to adult responsibility comes with a sense of excitement, fright and, sometimes, feeling overwhelmed. These five songs embody the emotions that come with shedding old layers as you step into a new phase of life.
“Unwritten” – Natasha Bedingfield Through the song “Unwritten,” Natasha Bedingfield beautifully embraces taking control of her narrative and stepping into the unknown. The message embedded throughout this song is clear — the future is an open book, and it is up to you to write your own story. Leaving behind the security of what we know and entering a world of the unknown is the reality of growing up. The upbeat, optimistic tone in this song serves as a reminder that, although the future can be intimidating, it is full of opportunity and excitement.
“Forever Young” – Bob Dylan Bob Dylan’s “Forever Young” captures the importance of holding onto the spirit of being young, no matter where life takes you. Throughout this timeless anthem, Dylan reminds us that we can retain the qualities of our younger selves. His lyrics discuss wishing for wisdom, strength and joy as we grow older and encourage listeners to remain true to themselves and their dreams. This song serves as a reminder that while there are going to be barriers along the journey of life, it is also possible to hold onto the essence of our youth.
“Castle on the Hill” – Ed Sheeran Ed Sheeran’s “Castle on the Hill” is a reflection of the journey from adolescence to adulthood. It shows how the memories, people and places from throughout our journeys help shape us into who we are today. As we come into contact with the adult world, this nostalgic song reminds us of the importance of our roots and the experiences we face in defining who we are. This song embodies the bittersweet feeling of leaving behind what we know and celebrating what the future holds.
“Nostalgia” – Chance the Rapper “Nostalgia” by Chance the Rapper embodies the feeling of reminiscing on your younger years. Chance expresses a deep connection to his past, acknowledging how time has changed his perspective on life. As we grow older, those simpler times of childhood slowly fade away. This emotional song is a celebration of our youthful moments and a reminder to continue carrying the lessons we’ve learned into our future.
GRAPHIC: STEPHANIE SAVELA ’25/THE HAWK
GRAPHIC: CARA HALLIGAN ’25/THE HAWK
KILEY O’BRIEN ’25
Assistant Features Editor
A farewell to my first love Defending the title
beautiful game and never turned back.
From the moment I was brought into this world, there has been a soccer ball at my feet. In fact, on the day I was born, it was one of my father’s players who drove my mother to the hospital as she was going into labor. Since it was the beginning of July, my father’s annual summer camp was in full swing, and with a name like “Doug Nevins Soccer Camp,” Doug Nevins obviously had to be there.
The day my mother gave birth to me, I visited Lincoln Field at West Orange High School. All swaddled and freshly born, I was brought to the place I would fulfill my last name’s legacy. It was the very same field where my father had won over 300 games throughout his 25-year career as head coach, and the very same field where I would go on to play and make history 14 short years later.
For as long as I can remember, my second home has been the soccer field, more specifically, Lincoln Field. Being a head coach’s daughter meant endless practices and games, as well as a precedent to strive for greatness and to want to be the best. While other kids were learning how to walk, I was learning how to kick, and I spent countless days with my father perfecting that craft. Together, we have spent the past 17 years of our lives committed to making me the best soccer player I could be.
But all good things must come to an end, and as of Nov. 6, that good thing was my soccer career.
Seventeen years and, somehow, it still was not enough time. I fell in love with this
After finally finishing my fifth and final season of soccer as a center midfielder for St. Joe’s, I have officially exhausted all of my eligibility. Eighty-four games started, 86 games played, 12 career goals, 15 career assists and 39 career points. Not many people get to say they played five years of college athletics, but I am one of the lucky ones to have done so at a place I adore with all my heart and with three coaches who have believed in me every step of the way.
None of this would have been possible without my undying love for and the countless hours I have poured into this sport. The days and nights at the field with my dad working my ass off to get better in every facet of the game all paid off, and I hope I have made you proud.
I am so grateful to my parents for all the hours, miles and energy they have put into making my dreams a reality and for missing only two games in five years, no matter where the game was played.
I was a junior in high school when St. Joe’s head coach Jess Mannella called and offered me the opportunity to play for her program. I would say yes again every time. St. Joe’s women’s soccer has permanently changed my life for the better.
Soccer has also introduced me to my lifelong friends and sisters who have become an integral part of my world. They are truly worth more than any accolade or championship I could have won within my five years here.
As I sit here in the 90th minute of my journey, I know soccer will forever be ingrained in who I was and who I will become.
No. 10 has left the game, but the game will never leave her.
It’s time to start working on the rollouts.
St. Joe’s men’s basketball is heading back to The Big 5 Classic title game after its two Big 5 pod wins last week.
The Hawks defeated Villanova at home in an 83-76 statement win Nov. 12 before traveling to The Palestra to rout University of Pennsylvania in an 86-69 victory Nov. 15.
After last year’s reformatting of the Big 5, now each of the six teams compete in a pod of three teams prior to the title game. Pod one consists of La Salle, Drexel and Temple. Pod two is St. Joe’s, Villanova and Penn.
Both La Salle and Temple have a win over Drexel, meaning the winner of their Nov. 30 matchup will face St. Joe’s in the championship game at the Wells Fargo Center Dec. 7.
If Temple wins, it will be a rematch of last year’s game between the Owls and St. Joe’s, where St. Joe’s came out on top, 74-65. If the Explorers win, it will be a battle of not just the Big 5 but also the Atlantic 10 if the local conference rivals meet in South Philadelphia.
But, rather than looking to a yet-to-bedetermined future, here’s a recap of how the Hawks secured the opportunity to defend their title.
St. Joe’s vs. Villanova (83-76)
St. Joe’s defeated Villanova at Hagan Arena for the first time since 2011, giving Villanova its first road loss of the season. A few momentum swings left Villanova up at the half, but the second half told a different tale, with the Hawks taking the lead after a 15-0 run. Holding on to their lead, St. Joe’s was able to secure their second consecutive
win over the Wildcats. St. Joe’s also had 20 assists on 26 field goals, moving the ball efficiently with a number of open looks in the second half to contribute to their lead and, ultimately, their win.
Stat Stars: Villanova star fifth-year forward Eric Dixon put up a game-high 24 points, followed by teammate fifth-year guard Jhamir Brickus with 22. For St. Joe’s, junior forward Rasheer Fleming put up 19 points in his 21 minutes of play. Sophomore guard Xzayvier Brown followed with 18 points after only making one three from the field in the first half. He also put up a career-high 13 assists. Fifth-year center Justice Ajogbor had three blocks for the Hawks.
St. Joe’s vs. UPenn (86-69) St. Joe’s game against the Quakers was different, with the Hawks holding onto a double-digit lead for most of the first half, even leading by as much as 32 points halfway through the second half. Not nearly the nailbiter the Nova game was, the Hawks finished with a 17-point margin of victory. Of their 86 points, 24 came off of turnovers, while only giving up seven points off of turnovers down the other end. St. Joe’s also finished with 25 second-chance points, rebounding the ball more than they did against the Wildcats.
Stat Stars: St. Joe’s had three players finish with 15 points apiece: Fleming, senior guard Erik Reynolds II and junior guard Derek Simpson. Brown finished with seven rebounds for the Hawks. Penn senior forward Nick Spinoso paced the Quakers with 14 points.
With their Big 5 games behind them and their championship opponent still up in the air, all that’s left to do for Hawk fans is wait and start purchasing streamers.
Natalie Nevins ’24, M.A. ’25 runs out after being announced for the starting lineup for St. Joe’s women’s soccer game against Lafayette, Aug. 22. PHOTO COURTESY OF NATALIE NEVINS ’24, M.A. ’25/THE HAWK
NATALIE NEVINS ’24, M.A. ’25
Copy Editor
MIA MESSINA ’25 Sports Editor
Sophomore guard Xzayvier Brown celebrates with 54th Airborne, the official student section of SJU Athletics, after defeating Villanova, Nov. 12. PHOTO: MADELINE WILLIAMS ’26/THE HAWK
GRAPHIC: STEPHANIE SAVELA ’25/THE HAWK
Up at the half
Eagles carry momentum midway through the season
CHRIS SLETVOLD ’26 Columnist
The Philadelphia Eagles improved to 8-2 with a 26-18 home win against the Washington Commanders Nov. 14. They have won six straight games and sit in control of the NFC East.
The Eagles are winning in the face of major changes. Kellen Moore and Vic Fangio replaced Brian Johnson and Sean Desai as offensive and defensive coordinators, respectively. Jason Kelce’s retirement forced changes across the offensive line. General manager Howie Roseman made a series of moves to fix a shaky defense. These adjustments, among others, have helped the Eagles recover from a disappointing 2023 season.
The Eagles’ two rookie defensive backs, Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, have bolstered the pass defense. Opposing quarterbacks are only completing 55% of passes thrown to receivers whom Mitchell is covering. DeJean, meanwhile, has transformed Fangio’s coverage strategy. He has excelled as a nickelback, the defensive back who replaces a linebacker to cover slot receivers. His versatility caused Fangio to adopt the nickel as his primary package. Factor in veterans C.J. GardnerJohnson and Darius Slay Jr., and it is no surprise why the Eagles are second in the
NFL in passing yards allowed.
The rest of the Eagles’ defense has been solid, too. Defensive tackle Jalen Carter has excelled at stopping the run. The linebacker corps is much improved; freeagent-signing Zack Baun and third-year Nakobe Dean lead the team in tackles. The only area that needs improvement is the pass rush. The edge rushers have struggled to generate pressure, a problem in a Fangio scheme that is light on blitzes. Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins, who is not very mobile, exposed this in week two when he carved up the Eagles’ defense on a game-winning drive.
By far the most transformative change the Eagles made was signing running back Saquon Barkley. His explosiveness adds a big play factor to the Eagles’ offense. Every game, he will burst free for large gains or make highlight-reel plays, like his backward hurdle against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He rushed for 146 yards and two touchdowns against the Commanders, and he has already surpassed 1,000 rushing yards for the year.
Barkley’s play is opening up opportunities for quarterback Jalen Hurts. Since star receiver A.J. Brown returned from injury in week six, Hurts completed 70% of his passes, threw for eight touchdowns and rushed for another nine. His consistency is key to the Eagles’ success. If an opposing defense slows down Barkley, Hurts will need to carry
the offense.
The Eagles’ biggest struggles have resulted from in-game management. Head coach Nick Sirianni employs an aggressive style. He often attempts fourth-down conversions at the expense of easy field goals. His most controversial decisions include going for a fourth-andone with 15 seconds left in the first half while in field goal range against the New Orleans Saints and failing twice on twopoint conversions against Jacksonville. These decisions, while consistent with Sirianni’s philosophy, have left points on the board and allowed opponents to stay
competitive. The Eagles need to figure out the balance between taking easy points and manageable risks.
Regardless, the Eagles are in the driver’s seat of the NFC East. They hold a two-game lead over Washington. The rest of the schedule has some tricky games, including against the Baltimore Ravens, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Commanders again. However, with eight wins already under their belt, the Birds are set up to compete for an NFC Title.
GRAPHIC: STEPHANIE SAVELA ’25/THE HAWK
GRAPHIC: STEPHANIE SAVELA ’25/THE HAWK
Field hockey looks to ‘fight to the end’
Hawks advance to NCAA Final Four
MIA MESSINA ’25 Sports Editor
At the beginning of the season, St. Joe’s field hockey team returned to the newly-renovated Ellen Ryan Field, complete with a new playing turf. It took less than four months for the Hawks to make history on their new field.
St. Joe’s secured its spot in the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament with a 1-0 win over Princeton on Ellen Ryan Field Nov. 17, marking the first time in program history the Hawks will be playing in the NCAA semifinal. The Hawks also set a new program record with their 19th win of the season.
“Everybody always says we’re so small. I said in my pregame speech, nobody believed in us, nobody,” said fifth-year back Kate Crist. “Everybody counted us out. We went in here as the four seed, and we were still, somehow, the underdogs. We will take that, and we’ll wear that proudly.”
Another advantage the Hawks had was hosting, something head coach Hannah Prince said spoke to “the hard work the girls have put in building up to this moment.”
“I think that we’ll fight to the end, and doing it on your home turf is a huge advantage,” Crist said. “I mean, the crowd, you know how the surface plays, it was awesome.”
At both their game against Lafayette in the first round and against Princeton in the quarter-finals, a sea of St. Joe’s fans, humans and canines alike, lined the sidelines and the bleachers. Even Mother Nature seemed to be rooting for the Hawks with two high 50-degree days. However, one of the largest sources of support was from the student-athlete community, something fifth-year back Julia Duffhuis said she believed helped the team.
“It’s amazing. I’ve been hearing around that coaches are not canceling practice but letting players go early, or even professors as well, because it’s a very big thing on campus,” Duffhuis said. “I think everybody is very excited for us, and they want to share that joy. They want us to succeed.”
After scoring the only goal of the game against Lafayette Nov. 15, junior forward Alison Buffington said not just making it to this point but doing so at Ellen Ryan Field has been “such a unique experience.”
“It’s definitely a surreal experience being able to play on our home turf in front of our home fans at our school, having all our sports team coming, knowing that this is the NCAA Championship, and we are hosting it,” Buffington said.
Fifth-year midfielder Celeste Smits, who put up a fight defensively against Princeton while also being the only goal scorer of the game, said it was the fans who
“We always are so dedicated to what we do and our scout report,” Prince said. “It’s just something that, as coaches, we take great passion in, and my staff does an
As for the lack of belief Crist said surrounded the Hawks, Prince said they will rely on their belief in each other and carry it with them into their
“I just am so and the belief that they’ve had this been incredible,” Prince said. “That’s the same belief we have to have going into our Final Four
St. Joe s field hockey poses with the NCAA Regional trophy following a 1-0 win over Princeton, Nov. 17.
St. Joe’s field hockey exchanges emotional embraces after a 1-0 win over Princeton, Nov. 17.
PHOTOS: MIA MESSINA ’25/THE HAWK
St. Joe’s celebrates junior forward Alison Buffington’s goal against Lafayette, Nov. 15.
Junior forward Alison Buffington was the lone goal-scorer in the Hawks’ game against Lafayette, Nov. 15.