The Hawk News Dec. 4, 2024

Men’s basketball looks to defend Big 5 title against Atlantic 10 foe

Public trust in science inches back up after recent decline

ALLY ENGELBERT ’25

Editor-in-Chief

Americans’ trust in scientists has fluctuated in recent years, increasing this year for the first time since before the covid-19 pandemic, according to a Pew Research Center study.

The study, conducted in October 2024, found that 76% of Americans have either a great deal or a fair amount of confidence that scientists will act in the public’s best interest. While up from 73% in October 2023, that number is still down from 87% in April 2020.

This year’s 76% of Americans is a combination of 26% of Americans who have a great deal of confidence and 50% who have a fair amount of confidence. Meanwhile, 23% of Americans have not too much or no

confidence in scientists to act in the public’s best interest.

Confidence in scientists declined throughout the entire span of the covid pandemic, and the pharmacy field has felt the effects, said Edward Foote, PharmD, professor of pharmacy and dean of the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy (PCP).

“The best example is mistrust in immunization,” Foote said. “We always had an anti-vax movement, people that didn’t believe in vaccinating their children, concerns over developmental delays. During the pandemic, it just blew up, people questioning the motives of the government, of [the] pharmaceutical industry, of scientists in promoting covid vaccinations.”

“SCIENCE” CONTINUED ON PG. 4

‘Increased volatility of weather’ impacts campus HVAC

LISBETH URENA ’27 Special to the Hawk

In the first week of November, average daily high temperatures in the Philadelphia area were almost 10 degrees above normal, reaching a high of 81 degrees Fahrenheit Nov. 1. Indoor temperatures in the Athletic/Recreation Center (ARC) at the University City campus felt like the mid-80s, according to staff at the Writing Center’s UCity location.

Carly Robinson ’26, a UCity Writing Center tutor, who was working on the evening of Nov. 7, said she and her colleagues contacted their supervisor and got permission to close the center and HawkHub, which is also in the ARC, because of the uncomfortable heat.

“We did not have any [appointments] on the schedule on the night of the closure,” Robinson said. “On the other hand, HawkHub is just walk-ins. And people certainly could have missed out on that resource the night we closed.”

Ken Ogawa, associate vice president of administrative services, wrote in an email to The Hawk that in response to the high temperatures, Facilities turned off boilers “to mitigate higher interior temperatures” during the day, and opened air dampers at night to bring in cool air when temperatures dropped.

“In many buildings, including the ARC, Bellarmine, and Mandeville, Facilities is able to monitor and change temperature setpoints remotely,” Ogawa said. “However, once the heat is turned on and air conditioning

is turned off, there are limited options to further cool a space.”

Ogawa said air conditioning and heating in the ARC comes from a central utility plant.

“When we switch from air conditioning to heating, the underground piping carrying the chilled water around the entire campus is drained,” Ogawa said. “To restore air conditioning would require over a week to refill the system and manually transfer systems. This must be done in all buildings connected to the central utility plant and not just the ARC.”

Several buildings on Hawk Hill campus were also experiencing high inside temperatures.

Ogawa said because buildings have different HVAC designs once the transition begins, it cannot be switched on and off easily.

“For Bellarmine and Merion Hall, hot or cold water is distributed to the HVAC system components and rooms via a common set of pipes. That is, at any given time, we can only provide hot or cold water, not both,” Ogawa said. “Converting between heating and cooling typically takes 3-4 days and requires Facilities staff to turn off the heating, wait for the system to cool off, realign the piping, and restart the chillers.”

Students in buildings on both campuses did their best to cope with the high indoor temperatures.

“HVAC”

The Student Newspaper of Saint Joseph’s University

St. Joe’s will face La Salle in the Big 5 Championship Dec. 7. This will mark the first of three matchups between the Hawks and the Explorers, and the only one of the three to occur outside of conference play. Last year, St. Joe’s won the inaugural Big 5 Classic game over Temple and looks to defend the title at the Wells Fargo Center. PHOTO: MADELINE WILLIAMS ’26/THE HAWK

St. Joe’s basketball prepares for the Big

Classic.

Gabby O’Brien ’25 and Grace Donohue ’25 use the Bunsen burner to determine which plastics are recyclable. PHOTO: ZACH PODOLNICK ’26/THE HAWK

UCity campus athletic center reduces available hours

ALEX ANDAHAZY ’25 News Reporter

The Athletic/Recreation Center (ARC) reduced its hours for the fall 2024 semester, staying closed on Saturdays and some weekday mornings.

The ARC is currently open Monday and Wednesday mornings from 7-10 a.m., Monday through Thursday from noon to 10 p.m., Friday from noon to 8 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. This amounts to 60 hours per week, compared to the 89.5 hours per week in the spring 2024 semester.

Jack Jumper, associate athletics director for external relations, wrote in an email to The Hawk that these changes were made based on the opening of the O’Pake Fitness & Recreation Center on the Hawk Hill campus and the diminished number of students on the University City campus.

Originally, the ARC was intended to be closed entirely on weekends, but Sunday hours were added in response to survey data received from UCity students, Jumper said.

“Past usage trends have generally shown that less students visit the ARC on the weekend,” Jumper said. “… [But] of

those who would use the facility on the weekend, most said they would likely do so on Sunday. As such, Sunday hours were added to support those users.”

All areas of the ARC have seen reduced participation during the fall 2024 semester compared to spring 2024, but this is likely due to factors other than the reduced hours, Jumper wrote.

“Due to the opening of O’Pake and continued migration of undergraduate students to Hawk Hill, the ARC usage data from Spring 2024 is not a reliable predictor of future use,” Jumper said.

Jumper added that the ARC’s highest usage numbers occur Monday-Thursday between 5-7 p.m.

Physical therapy student Josh Yang, DPT ’27, said his heavy class schedule makes it difficult to work around the ARC’s new hours.

“We’re usually in class anywhere from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and there are some breaks in between those classes where we’d like to go to the ARC, but then it doesn’t even open until 12 in the afternoon,” Yang said.

“It can be a little stressful trying to work around that.”

Rachel Chan ’24, PharmD ’26, said she has not been able to use the ARC at all this semester because of the new hours.

“I’m a P3 pharmacy student, so it’s my last year in classes for grad school, and I’m so busy during the week because I work and then I have rotations to go to,” Chan said.

“The gym hours just don’t really fit in my schedule anymore.”

Jumper said no schedule changes are permanent, as usage, feedback and staffing are constantly being evaluated. There are currently no details about whether St. Joe’s will sell or lease the ARC in the future.

England Library to reopen for finals week

VINCENT KORNACKI ’25 Managing Editor

After the early closure of the Joseph W.England Library on the University City campus over the summer, the library is temporarily reopening its doors for finals week.

The first two floors of England Library will be open for students to use as a study space with limited hours, wrote Anne Krakow, EMBA ’14, St. Joe’s library director, in an email to The Hawk.

“At least the first two floors will be accessible to students from Dec. 11 to Dec. 18,” Krakow said. This space will be available in addition to the newly-created Griffith Library.

However, England Library will have no library staff — just a guard — and will be closed on Friday and Saturday (Dec. 13 and 14), Krakow said.

England Library was originally set to close at the end of the 2024-2025 academic

year but was closed early due to air conditioning failures over the summer.

Despite this closure, none of the utilities in the library were shut off, and the heating system is still functional, wrote Ken Ogawa, associate vice president of administrative services, in an email to The Hawk.

Billy Scott ’25, DPT ’27, said he would consider revisiting the England Library because of the quiet atmosphere.

“It is something I’d probably go back to, especially because they have study rooms in place, and it feels more like a library,”

Scott said.

The future of England Library is still undecided, Krakow said.

“We may not reopen the England Library in the spring. We have a lot of work to do with the collection, particularly getting ready to move it to Hawk Hill. The moving of materials and reorganizing would disrupt our students’ ability to study,” Krakow said.

Department of Public Safety reports (Nov. 22-Nov. 29)

Nov. 22

No incidents to report.

Nov. 23

Public Safety notified of an assault at LaFarge Residence Center. Incident was investigated. Community Standards was notified.

Public Safety notified of a liquor law violation at Lannon Hall. Incident was investigated. Community Standards was notified.

Nov. 24

Public Safety notified of a vandalism incident in Villiger Residence Center. Incident was investigated. Community Standards was notified.

Public Safety notified of a minor disturbance incident at the Hawks’ Landing Parking Garage. Incident was investigated.

Nov. 25 No incidents to report.

Nov. 26

Public Safety notified of a liquor law violation at Lannon Hall. Incident was investigated. Community Standards was notified.

Public Safety notified of a liquor law violation at Rashford Hall. Incident was investigated. Community Standards was notified.

Public Safety notified of a liquor law violation at LaFarge Residence Center. Incident was investigated. Community Standards was notified.

Nov. 27 No incidents to report.

Nov. 28 No incidents to report.

Nov. 29 No incidents to report.

The exterior of the Athletic/Recreation Center (ARC), Nov. 10. PHOTO: MADELINE WILLIAMS ’26/THE HAWK

A student walks past England Library, Nov. 25. PHOTO: LUKE SANELLI ’26/THE HAWK

Reduce, reuse, repurchase

Reusable water bottles caught in ‘cycle of disposability’

Reusable water bottles were supposed to solve a problem, not create a new one.

Once a symbol of sustainability, they’ve now become an accessory that consumers are quick to replace. As new styles and brands trend on social media, the push to own the latest model may be undermining their original eco-friendly purpose.

Around 60 million plastic water bottles are added to U.S. landfills and incinerators each day, according to the Container Recycling Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to limiting packaging waste. Although reusable water bottles emerged as a solution to combat this massive waste, they’re now caught in their own cycle of disposability.

Clint Springer, Ph.D., associate professor of biology, director of the Institute for Environmental Stewardship and director of the Barnes Arboretum, said obsolescence — the idea that a product should be tossed when it becomes outdated — is engineered to encourage constant consumption.

“Marketers use this idea of obsolescence to their advantage in a very intentional way,” Springer said. “We’re bombarded with advertisements that are doing this all the time. ‘What’s the next best thing?’”

Led by brands like S’well, Hydro Flask, YETI, Stanley and, most recently, Owala, the U.S. reusable water bottle market is anticipated to expand at a compound annual growth rate of over 4% from 2023 to 2032, according to Allied Market Research. This growth is driven, in part, by increased awareness of sustainability, but also by the powerful influence of marketing that encourages consumers to upgrade unnecessarily.

Clare Joyce ’25, an environmental science major with a three-year-old Nalgene bottle, said most consumers overlook the full lifecycle of a reusable water bottle.

“I think it’s clear that we’re not thinking about everything that goes into a reusable water bottle when you can toss one to the side so easily,” Joyce said. “There’s so much energy and so many materials being used for a product to not be used to its full potential.”

Joyce’s observation points to a larger issue in sustainability: the disregard for the intended longevity of reusable products. Potential durability is rarely realized when bottles are replaced for reasons as superficial as new designs or trendy features, Springer said.

“Buying a stainless steel water bottle should last you, theoretically, for life,” Springer said.

To break free from the cycle of trend-driven consumption, consumers

can focus on making thoughtful purchases that prioritize long-term value, said Alexandria Marro ’25, president of SJU Green Fund.

Marro chose their spout-lid Takeya bottle because it’s made of stainless steel, easy to clean and comes with a rubber bottom. They emphasized the importance

of buying items that suit individual needs instead of mindlessly following trends.

“It’s very easy to have a habit of copying others’ personal tastes, and if you keep doing that, you’re going to keep going through the same cycle,” Marro said.

Group therapy fosters connection and comfort

groups, including “First Year Funk,” “Grief in Common” and “Interpersonalities.”

Although group therapy is sometimes perceived as less effective than traditional therapy, recent studies from the American Psychological Association are starting to suggest otherwise.

Group therapy has become an increasingly common offering for mental health organizations, including mental health support services on college campuses, which are managing high demand and limited budgets.

At St. Joe’s, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) currently offers three different weekly support

As mental health issues continue to rise, younger people appear to be especially vulnerable. Studies from the National Institute of Health indicate a significant increase in the number of young adults with mental health issues entering college, with over 88% of counseling center directors noting an increase in “severe psychological problems” over the last five years.

Scott Sokoloski, Ph.D., director of CAPS, said it’s not surprising mental health issues are so prevalent during college.

“College is a time of adjustment and change, which brings about excitement

and growth but also significant stress, anxiety, loneliness and isolation,” Sokoloski wrote in an email to The Hawk. “Being able to connect with others who are having similar feelings and thoughts normalizes their experience and can help to reduce the stigma that may come when they are faced with difficult challenges.”

Group therapy brings together students of different backgrounds to talk through their problems and anxieties during a difficult transition period in their lives.

St. Joe’s began offering group therapy options again in the fall of 2022 after a period of dormancy brought on by the covid-19 pandemic, Sokoloski said.

Group counseling options are offered at many Philadelphia-area schools, including Drexel University, the University of Pennsylvania, La Salle University and Temple University.

Michael McNicholas ’27, who served as the outreach co-chair for the Out of the Darkness suicide prevention walk on campus this year, participated in group therapy during high school and found the experience impactful.

“A large part of what I gained from it was hearing other people say things that I have also felt and have also thought but not necessarily explained before,” McNicholas said.

McNicholas said one of the most comforting aspects of counseling within a group is the fact that no one is required to say anything, yet it is an environment in which you can gain something from it no matter how vulnerable you choose to be.

Shea DeMarco ’25 has participated in group therapy on campus since 2023 and said the dynamic of these conversations

can push her to talk about more issues than she realized she was ready to discuss.

“Sometimes there’s things I don’t want to talk about but that are bothering me, but someone else will mention it and then we can all start discussing. It forces me to talk about even more stuff,” DeMarco said.

Sokoloski said while group therapy isn’t for everyone, those who do find it effective can gain the ability to “support each other.”

“Students in groups not only can benefit from learning how to help themselves but can also experience helping others,” Sokoloski said.

Both McNicholas and DeMarco said they believe group therapy can be utilized effectively in combination with one-on-one therapy.

“I think that element of individual [therapy] can open up your ability and comfort to talk about it, and then after having that conversation one on one you can take that and go back and maybe be involved in both to work in tandem,” McNicholas said.

Members of the St. Joe’s community seeking support are encouraged to contact the following resources:

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), 610-660-1090

Campus Ministry, 610-660-1030

The Office of Student Outreach & Support, 610-660-1149

The Jesuit community, 610-660-1400 Employee Assistance Program, 866799-2728

GRAPHIC: CARA HALLIGAN ’25/THE HAWK

Three different models of reusable water bottles: Hydro Flask, Stanley and YETI. PHOTO: MADELINE WILLIAMS ’26/THE HAWK

GRAPHIC: ALLY ENGELBERT ’25/THE HAWK

JAMIE SPRINGER ’25

Special to the Hawk

CLARE JOHNSON ’25

Special to the Hawk

Faculty respond to ‘decay of the trust in science’

The U.S. government’s handling of the pandemic sowed doubt about public health officials in many Americans, agreed Melissa Snyder, Ed.D., dean of the School of Nursing and Allied Health.

“The experience of the pandemic really shook a lot of people’s belief about our healthcare system and its ability to respond to crisis … There were many things that happened in that span of a few years that made people question whether or not the decisions people in positions of authority were making were really in the public’s best interest,” Snyder said.

Public policy

But covid is not the only reason for the public’s shifting trust in science.

Both Snyder and Foote point to another aspect of Americans’ wavering confidence: the relationship between scientists and public policy.

“The assault on science is much deeper than simply covid,” Snyder said. “It runs very deep, whether it’s through political connections or belief systems and value systems. People are questioning authority as well as the science itself.”

According to the Pew study, Americans are split on whether scientists should be involved in policymaking — 51% say they should be. But within political affiliations, a majority (64%) of Republicans oppose scientists’ involvement in policy decisions, while 67% of Democrats support it. Still, this leaves nearly a third (32%) of Democrats who also oppose it.

Foote said the “decay of the trust in science” goes beyond party lines.

“Much of [the distrust in science] is

related to what’s going on in public policy, politics, leadership in this government, government in general,” Foote said. “It’s not even partisan. It’s just that we don’t trust each other.”

Science is not a certainty

Another reason for the fluctuating trust in scientists may be a misunderstanding of science itself.

Preston Moore, Ph.D., professor of chemistry and chair of chemistry and biochemistry, offered the example of a theory. To scientists, a theory is something that is not proven but matches the available evidence. To nonscientists, a theory may be something that is simply not proven. Gravity, Moore explained, is a theory — if you hold a bowling ball over your head and let go, will it hit you in the head?

“The scientists always have a small, little caveat of, ‘It may not do it,’” Moore said. “Yes, it’s going to hit you in the head. There’s no question. But, it’s still a theory, and that language disconnect causes confusion.”

When new information prompts changes or updates to current theories, it can also contribute to confusion and mistrust, said Wendy Walsh, Ph.D., clinical associate professor and chair of occupational therapy.

“People don’t like change, so they want the answer, and then they don’t want people to say, ‘Maybe’ or ‘It depends’ or ‘It could be.’ Those are like death sentences in science,” Walsh said. “But really, science is ever evolving, so if you don’t understand that, or you don’t agree with that, you may say science is not real.”

Science’s indefinite nature may make people so distrustful because theories are often presented as if they are 100% proven, partially in an attempt to simplify complex ideas, said

Patrick Garrigan, Ph.D., professor and chair of psychology.

“Scientists might make some recommendations and sound overly confident because they’re simplifying, talking about something that is probabilistic as if it’s a certainty,” Garrigan said. “But anything that’s probabilistic is sometimes going to turn out to be wrong or not apply in a particular case, and then people might get suspicious.”

The impact of this lack of certainty is also evident in fields like environmental science.

“People often have a difficult time accepting things that they cannot observe directly,” said John Braverman, Ph.D., associate professor of biology and director of the Environmental Science and Sustainability Studies Program. “In my classes, I’ve drawn a parallel between accepting climate change and accepting the biological account of evolution because both of those things were happening very slowly and somewhat imperceptibly.”

Improving communication

clearly to the patients, ‘We’re putting alcohol to wipe off any type of infection that might be there. We’re now going to prick your finger on the side. Why on the side, not in the middle? Because it’s a greater flow of blood on the side.’ I want them to know exactly what they’re doing and what’s going to happen to them,” Clark said.

To avoid the misunderstanding that comes with simplification, Garrigan said scientists need to more clearly communicate the probabilistic nature of their results.

“I think it would be better to be more upfront with people about the certainty of recommendations that come out of science,” Garrigan said. “Then we would also have to be clear that you don’t have to be 100% certain in order to make a decision.”

Good communication — or lack thereof — is yet another potential reason for the public’s lack of trust in scientists. The Pew study found that 52% of Americans believe research scientists are not good communicators.

Many of the faculty members The Hawk spoke to agreed more should be done to enhance communication and the sharing of information between scientists and the American public.

Peter Clark, S.J., Ph.D., professor of theology and religious studies and director of the Institute of Clinical Bioethics (ICB), is building communication and transparency into the ICB’s Health Promoter Programs, which provide healthcare for underserved populations in Philadelphia. Clark emphasized the importance of “informed consent” — telling people exactly what is being done to them and why, through each step of a procedure.

“I want [the students] to explain very

Clark also added that medical professionals should take advantage of social media to better inform the public, especially to combat anti-vaccine sentiments, which were prominent on social media even before covid.

In fact, educating all people on the scientific method, not just science-focused people, can help the public better understand science, Moore said.

“The two-way street of people taking the courses in science, whether they’re scientists or not, just understanding that method, and then also the scientists engaging in the public, could decrease the miscommunication that happens,” Moore said.

Ultimately, the responsibility falls both on the American public to make sure they are consulting reliable sources and on scientists to improve how they present information to the public, Garrigan said, and he hopes confidence in scientists will continue to increase moving forward.

“[Trust in science] wasn’t just going down. It was varying over time,” Garrigan said. “Hopefully that means that we’re at a low point now, but we’re heading into a more trustworthy future.”

Facilities challenged by impacts of climate change

Janyah Sessoms ’25 said she found it hard to focus during her 75-minute class in Bellarmine Hall.

“I noticed myself stopping every two seconds to fan myself,” Sessoms said. “All I could feel [was] the classroom getting warmer and warmer the longer we sat there.”

According to Ogawa, St. Joes follows the City of Philadelphia code that requires heat to be available when outside temperatures drop to below 60F.

“Due to the increased volatility of weather, we wait until we have three or more days with forecast low temperatures of 60 or lower and a trend indicating that will continue,” Ogawa said.

According to the World Meteorological Organization, 2024 is on track to being the hottest year in recorded history, breaking the record set in 2023. October and

November were the warmest on record for Philadelphia.

Clint Springer, Ph.D., associate professor of biology, director of the Institute for Environmental Stewardship and director of the Barnes Arboretum, said the high temperatures are likely due to warming trends on the earth’s surface.

“That’s the sea surface and land surface,” Springer said. “Atmospheric temperatures will rise, too, but really the surface temperatures are what’s important, and coupled with that are also regional shifts and precipitation patterns.”

Springer said the concerns about higher temperatures go deeper than just the impact on the environment.

“Heat-related illnesses go up by about 500% when the summer nighttime temperature stays above 75 degrees,” Springer said. “So that’s an enormous problem for Philly, a city that has a relatively impoverished population that

lacks access to things like air conditioned spaces. Young people, infants and children and senior citizens are especially susceptible to heat-related illnesses, so it’s a public health crisis, too.”

would work with key stakeholders to mitigate any overheating situations.

Ogawa said that Facilities will continue to monitor building temperatures and

A worker wheels a wooden pallet outside the Athletic/Recreation Center (ARC), Nov. 25.

PHOTO: LUKE SANELLI ’26/THE HAWK

“HVAC“ FROM PG. 1

Kimberly Johnson ’25, Lauren Merlino ’25, Jessica Rago ’25 and Camille Bertin ’25 record observations about how plastics are made. PHOTO: ZACH PODOLNICK ’26/THE HAWK

SOURCE: PEW RESEARCH CENTER GRAPHIC: CARA HALLIGAN ’25/THE HAWK

Editorial: Don’t demonize expertise

There’s a natural tendency among the general populace to question authority. The emergence of social media and internet forums, in particular, has provided a platform for misinformation and conspiracies to thrive. But make no mistake: from politics to science, the growing inclination of inexperienced onlookers to question, demean and even vilify field experts is a concerning trend that threatens our collective safety and wellbeing.

To be sure, no expert is infallible. Unquestioning belief of authority figures, in any capacity, incentivizes stagnancy and inaction among those authority figures. At the same time, we must acknowledge our own inexperience. There is a reason we depend on professionals with years of

training and extensive expertise to provide public guidance in their specific fields, in government and commercial capacities.

When it comes to public health, the need for widespread trust in authority figures isn’t just a matter of personal preference; it’s a civic responsibility. As covid-19 fades into a distant yet acute memory for many Americans, the lessons learned from the pandemic should provide guidance for a future one, should it arise. Collective crises require collective action. The entire point of mask guidelines and vaccine requirements is that everybody should follow them, to protect each other and for efficiency’s sake. Noncompliance — motivated by internet trolls and illogical conspiracy theories — with this expert guidance needlessly cost lives, even among those who went out of their way

to trust the science. We don’t need to wait for the next crisis that requires a collective response. For example, the overwhelming consensus among climate scientists and experts is that we need widespread action now to prevent irreversible and calamitous disruptions to human livelihood. We shouldn’t ignore their expertise. Climate change isn’t a controversial or theoretical possibility — it exists whether you acknowledge it or not. Inaction is very much a choice, one that will have profound global and generational ramifications should we continue to ignore science. We must recognize and respect the experts who provide informed guidance on navigating the complex challenges defining our shared future.

Overconsumption: Naughty or nice?

Opt for homemade gifts this holiday season

SOPHIA MARTINO ’25 Guest Columnist

As the holiday season begins, there is often a lot of pressure to find the perfect gifts for everyone in your life. This becomes even more difficult when — with just one scroll through any social media platform — there are hundreds of influencers telling you, “Run, don’t walk to [insert store here]! You don’t want to miss this!” When November rolls around, suddenly the world seems to be filled with deals that are “the best gifts to get your family” and decorations you “can’t live without!” Even just one trip to the grocery store has turned my head towards holiday-themed throw blankets I definitely don’t need.

This celebration of overconsumption (or simply put, the idea of consuming more than we really need) is one of the biggest issues our environment faces today. Consumer spending is up a staggering 400% from 1970 to now, meaning more products are being made. Resource extraction, production, transportation of goods and end of life — all of these stages in the life cycle of products have immense impacts on the planet, including greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation and biodiversity loss. Overconsumption has been fueled by a “You NEED this!” marketing style, especially during consumer-driven holidays like Christmas.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. This year, when it comes time to get gifts for family and friends or decorate your house for the holidays, don’t fall

prey to these marketing gimmicks. Sometimes, the most meaningful gifts are the homemade ones — anything from handwritten cards to baked goods. And when you do buy something, remember to be mindful of all the steps that item went through before it landed in your shopping cart. This holiday season, I will be making homemade gifts for my friends and family, and I hope you will join me.

The climate clock is ticking

Can we wake up in time?

BIANCA TALARICO ’27 Guest Columnist

Tick. Tock. The ticking of the climate clock is real and growing louder every day. The climate clock is a countdown of how long we have left — less than five years — to prevent the Earth from reaching 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. When this clock runs out, we lose the chance of reversing the damage we have done to this beautiful Earth. Yet we continue our daily lives as usual, acting like time is still on our side.

This visual reminder of our fragile future is publicly exhibited in places such as New York, U.S. and Berlin, Germany. More concerningly, the clock’s countdown is based on the present trajectory of carbon emissions. At current rates, we are on track for a future filled with catastrophic storms, wildfires and droughts. We have the tools to prevent this. So, why are we dilly-dallying as catastrophes approach?

My guess is when the issue is out of sight, it’s also out of mind. Yet, we have recently seen wildfires starting in locations near us in Pennsylvania,

bringing the threat to our immediate attention, and still we take no action.

This is a real and ongoing issue that we need to stop before it becomes irreversible. If existing climate policies and social behaviors do not significantly change, we may exceed that critical threshold of 1.5 C within approximately the next 15 years. Already, in the short-term, individual months and years have already exceeded 1.5 C. The crisis isn’t some distant future occurrence; it’s happening now. While there is a growing understanding that

bold and quick action is required, the political climate worldwide remains divided. Despite pledges made in the 2015 Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, carbon emissions have only continued to rise. At this point, it’s evident that we need more than just pledges. We must take severe and binding actions to decrease emissions, transition to renewable energy and invest in green infrastructure. Time is running out, but we can still act before it’s too late. The clock is ticking, and every second counts.

GRAPHIC: CARA HALLIGAN ’25/THE HAWK

GRAPHIC: CARA HALLIGAN ’25/THE HAWK

KATHERINE A. S. SIBLEY Guest Columnist

As a historian, I am always interested in significant dates — and we are now a century removed from the death of Florence Harding (Nov. 21, 1924), as well as 15 years from the publication of my biography about her (2009). She lives on, however, as a wax mannequin in my office, should you like to visit!

So, who was Florence Harding? She and her husband, Warren Harding, entered the White House as the 29th first lady and president of the U.S. in 1921, running on a “return to normalcy” ticket

following World War I. But the Hardings were hardly “normal.” Florence was the first first lady to vote for her husband in 1920 following the ratification of the 19th amendment and encouraged other women to vote. She pursued causes such as helping veterans, spurring the creation of a women’s prison and supporting animal welfare — indeed, she made the cracks in the mold that Eleanor Roosevelt broke! She also used the new cultural medium of Hollywood to showcase the White House, seeking out photo-ops as she and Warren became celebrities, before she grew deathly ill with nephritis, a chronic kidney ailment. She invited the public to pray for her recovery (which they did), but the disease eventually

realizing it! The risk management process includes these steps:

You don’t have to be a risk management and insurance (RMI) or actuarial science major to realize that the “business of risk” — understanding it, predicting it and estimating its costs, including the level of risk that’s acceptable to achieve your goals — surrounds us these days. Why not use the same framework for managing risk and uncertainty in our everyday lives that Fortune 500 businesses use? It’s called “the risk management process,” and many of us may already be excelling at risk management without

1.Identify risks

Select an area of focus (a particular class, your studies, campus life, your part-time job). Identify the risks associated with each (remain mindful that risks can have both downsides and upsides).

2.Measure and analyze risks

What’s your “cost” of risk? What’s the risk of achieving a good grade on a quiz (or not) versus chilling on social media, grabbing a slice with friends to recharge or watching a basketball game? Both can have their time and place. It’s all about the risk analysis.

On Nov. 19, the world marked 1,000 days of Russia’s war against Ukraine. However, this war did not simply start Feb. 24, 2022, with Russia’s most recent large-scale invasion. As the American Historical Association tells us, “Everything Has a History.” Ukraine is an independent and sovereign nation. It has a history. It deserves to exist.

Ukraine’s story often begins in the ninth century with the creation of Kyivan Rus, the first major state of the eastern

About that not-quitelife-sized mannequin in my office…

killed her following Warren’s death on a trip to Alaska.

Florence’s life also affected me personally. I was once a historian of Soviet-American relations and espionage during World War II, fascinated with Russian spies and FBI investigations, and arrived at St. Joe’s to teach and publish in that field. But I have since turned into a different kind of scholar — focused on the history of first ladies, their roles and their influence on American politics. That would never have happened without my teaching of women’s history here, starting 30 years ago in 1994 when no one was teaching it, least of all me! But I learned about it alongside my students, and for that reason, among so many others, I

continue to be so grateful for teaching here, where my classes allow me to develop new passions in history.

Katherine A. S. Sibley, Ph.D., is a professor of history and the Dirk Warren ’50 Sesquicentennial Chair in Social and Health Sciences.

Slavic peoples. It was centered in Ukraine’s capital city of Kyiv.

After the Mongol Empire destroyed Kyivan Rus in the 13th century, numerous states competed for Ukraine’s territory. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the Zaporozhian Host, an independent state, grew in central Ukraine. It was destroyed by the Russian Empire.

In Forging the Modern World, St. Joe’s students learn empires are created by violent conquest. They are characterized by autocracy and oppression. Elites often cruelly rule over a vast, multi-ethnic majority with few rights.

In the 19th century, the Russian Empire was the third-largest empire the world had ever known (behind the

A risk management plan for navigating daily life

What’s the likelihood (frequency) and impact (severity) of your risks? For instance, the chances of achieving good grades consistently without putting in the time required to study and complete assignments are low. And the impact is severe.

3.Select the appropriate techniques to treat the risks

Techniques to treat risks in your life (or in a Fortune 500 company) are fairly basic, but can be powerful in the results they yield:

-Avoid: Don’t engage in the activity.

-Prevent: Keep the frequency of risk low.

-Reduce: Keep the severity of risk low.

-Duplicate: Have backups! -Separate: Literally, “don’t put all your eggs in one basket.”

4.Implement, monitor and revise “Just DO it!” Get buy-in and support where you need it (and make sure your friends know your prime study times). Stay agile! Are you achieving the results you set for yourself in your risk management plan? If not, revise it! Don’t stay committed to a plan that’s outdated or ineffective. YOU are your own life’s risk manager!

Mary Ann Cook, Ed.D., MBA, is an adjunct professor of finance and the executive director of the Maguire Academy of Insurance and Risk Management.

Ukraine deserves our support

Mongols and British). It conquered lands in East Asia, Central Asia, the Caucasus, Europe and North America. Its monarchs ruled with iron fists. They brutally suppressed opposition and imposed cultural Russification.

When the Russian Empire collapsed in 1917, Ukrainians declared a new, independent Ukrainian People’s Republic. The rising Soviet state crushed it, but with the fall of the USSR in 1991, Ukrainians successfully gained an independent state. Sadly, admirers of empires have not disappeared. Not long ago, they included the likes of Mussolini, Hitler and Stalin. In the early 2000s, Putin joined them by launching a plan to rebuild a Russian-dominated Eurasian empire.

In 2014, Russia invaded Ukraine. It seized territory and started a war. In 2019, I visited Kyiv. Everywhere I went, there were posters, billboards and memorials to those fighting and dying. This war escalated to an extreme level when Russia invaded again in 2022.

At St. Joe’s, there are students, staff and faculty with loved ones in Ukraine. They deserve our support. Ukraine deserves our support.

Melissa Chakars, Ph.D., is a professor of history and chair of the history department.

MELISSA CHAKARS

Guest Columnist

MARY ANN COOK Guest Columnist

CARTER KARPINSKI ’25 Columnist

“Do you have any advice on what to get my dad for Christmas?” — Anonymous

Hello, Anonymous! The holidays are bound to bring up existential questions like: “What makes a good gift?” or “How is one candle $20?” or “Does the thought REALLY count?” Christmas shopping for anyone can feel impossible. I can’t shop for myself, much less a total stranger like my father. He’s been in my life since before I was born. In all that time, I’ve learned he likes…the color green? It’s hard to shop around the concept of green. Maybe I could get him grapes? No, he says men don’t eat fruit. The point is: Buying a gift for your dad might be the hardest thing to do (besides remembering his birthday). I’m realizing now I might just be a bad son, but you also had to ask me what to get your dad, so we’re in this together.

Some guy once said, “All men are created equal,” which is especially true for middle-aged dads. They like eating, sports, hopefully their children and probably not much else. So three ideas immediately jump out. First, try tickets to a sporting event, dinner with you or just any activity you both can do together. That time spent will be better than any gift you could buy him. Just don’t go on your phone. Dads hate that.

If you don’t feel like doing the bare minimum of spending time with him, there are also the universal gifts all dads will enjoy. Slippers are an all-time classic. Did you know they make fuzzy Crocs now? Or how about one of those aprons that have abs — what dad doesn’t want that? And, of course, a staple: socks. Now, if you have absolutely no money, print out a photo of an ultrasound and put it in a card. When he thinks you’re pregnant, or you got someone pregnant, he will likely be super stressed out until you tell him it was all a joke. He’ll be so relieved afterward that he won’t even

What do I get my dad for Christmas?

realize you didn’t get him an actual gift.

That’s Plan Z, though, so try the other ideas first. Happy holidays!

‘Watchdogs’ under siege

The media’s fight for trust

BELLA PRIVITERA ’26 Opinions Editor

The media — historically coined as the “watchdog” of the government, tasked with ensuring political accountability — is currently under siege.

Veteran journalists Marty Baron, former executive editor of The Washington Post, and David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker, recently went on an NPR podcast to comment on the emergence of media as a target, as well as how the press harbors the brunt of politically-charged attacks.

Baron and Remnick label President-elect Donald Trump’s negative rhetoric toward the press as an effort to suppress free expression, undermining American democracy. They say Trump, with the vigor of his political base, has the ability to shape public opinion of the media. As president, he will also have executive powers to subdue the media

by pressuring companies, owners and advertisers; denying funding to public radios and other journalistic outlets; and limiting journalists’ access to political spaces.

Reporters have already planned for such actions, as evidenced by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (RCFP), a nonprofit organization prioritizing the safety of journalists and protecting journalists’ right to access governmental information. The irony, Baron and Remnick point out, is organizations like the RCFP have historically protected journalists from foreign attacks, not domestic ones from our government.

Trump, Baron and Remnick say, bragged about undermining media trust during his first term, leading to increased media polarization, reduced viewership and greater mistrust. They argue that, to regain trust, journalists should strive to be “independent arbiter[s] of facts,” otherwise journalism is “a practice in confirmation bias.” The goal is to be as

honest and transparent as possible, and encourage readers to fact-check stories by hyperlinking substantial evidence. They also say the media is missing topics that bring people together rather than divide them, like sports and community events.

In addition to governmental figures, audiences across America have found ways to universally blame “the media” for polarization and hatred toward politicians. But one journalist or organization cannot account for all media outlets. This blanket statement not only attacks journalism as a field; it also compromises the integrity of democratic ideals as a whole.

Ulysses S. Grant and Donald Trump

Connections across centuries

President-elect Donald Trump has been compared to many historical figures, but perhaps the closest comparison is to one rarely cited: Ulysses S. Grant, 18th president of the U.S.

After his inauguration in 1869, Grant wanted to appoint Alexander Stewart, the richest man in America at the time, to be secretary of the treasury, though this nomination was not successful. Stewart had achieved large federal contracts during the Civil War and bought Grant an estate during his campaign, leading many to view this pick as corrupt.

Elon Musk, the richest man in the

world, is estimated to have raised his net worth significantly due to government contracts and credits. Musk pumped approximately $119 million into the 2024 Trump campaign and will co-chair the new Department of Government Efficiency during Trump’s second term. Grant picked Stewart and others who contributed to corruption in his cabinet as a result of choosing independently. Why did Trump pick Musk and initially propose Matt Gaetz as attorney general? He picked himself. In 1875, Grant signed the Page Act, an immigration policy allowing federal agents to interrogate any citizen of an “Oriental” country to determine if they came involuntarily as a laborer or for “immoral purposes.” The legislation portrayed most immigrant Chinese

women as “prostitutes” who were a threat to marital institutions and immigrant Chinese men as taking away the jobs of white working-class citizens.

In 2015, Trump said, regarding Mexican immigrants, “A lot of them come here, take the money, and go back into Mexico…” Nine years later, he considers the number of undocumented immigrants substantive of a national emergency and approves of using the military to deport undocumented immigrants.

After the Civil War, Grant was tasked with assessing whether southern states were willing to comply with non-discriminatory legislation. He incorrectly estimated Southern racial attitudes, and racist laws referred to as “Black Codes” were legislated in Southern states. In 1975, Trump Management company settled an

injunction in a discrimination lawsuit concerning anti-discrimination policies.

The Department of Justice (created under Grant’s watch) investigated Donald Trump until he clinched the 2024 presidential election. Finally, a proper comparison?

GRAPHIC: CARA HALLIGAN ’25/THE HAWK

GRAPHIC: STEPHANIE SAVELA ’25/THE HAWK

ISAAC SCHWARTZ ’25 Guest Columnist

GRAPHIC: STEPHANIE SAVELA ’25/THE HAWK

GRAPHIC: CARA HALLIGAN ’25/THE HAWK

Radicalized, alt-right content in today’s culture

The online influence of being ‘red-pilled’

BRYAN BALMORES-JUMARANG ’27 Guest Columnist

In today’s digital climate, there’s been a surplus of social media users who promote alt-right imagery and hypermasculinity. No matter the platform, it can be easy to fall down a rabbit hole of content creators who indulge in this alt-right, red-pill ideology, especially among young men. According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, the term red pill refers to something that makes someone “become aware of … the truth or facts” and is often used on the internet “by and about followers of ultra-conservative or extremist ideologies to refer to the adoption of such ideologies.” Those who hold these extreme beliefs see themselves as the ones who know the “truth” about the world.

Embarrassingly, I used to watch a lot of red pill content on topics such as

self-improvement, gym culture, male oppression and other things that delve into personal philosophy for men. While I now disagree with the alt-right ideology, I understand why young men are attracted to it. To an extent, it provides guidance and assurance to a lot of young men who are struggling to find themselves and how they fit in the world around them.

However, this content meant to guide many men is doing exactly the opposite. Influencers are, instead, preying on their audiences’ insecurities. They are creating entire online communities built upon the struggles of men who are coming of age and are negatively distorting these struggles. Unsurprisingly, these men are drawn into a pipeline of becoming more radicalized and politicized, resulting in many influencers choosing to endorse President-elect Donald Trump this past election season.

The politicization of these young men is explicitly shown through the results of the 2024 presidential election, in which

Resist hatred

63% of white men ages 18-29 voted for Trump. It’s no secret that the alt-right, red-pilled communities made Trump a focal point. I fear for the young men who fall victim to this pipeline, resulting in a

lack of empathy. If I could say anything to anyone in my age range who is struggling internally: having empathy for yourself and others is necessary. There is no way to live without it.

Prioritize education over the ‘blame game’

LIAM RILEY ’26 Guest Columnist

“It is always easier to fight for one’s principles than to live up to them.” — Alfred Adler

Following the 2024 election, the “blame game” has begun on many college campuses nationwide, honing in on those responsible for Donald Trump’s win. It is commonplace to hear Trump voters labeled as “stupid” and “uneducated,” or hear assertions that they live in a completely different world from us. While I oppose the President-elect’s divisive ideology, this sentiment toward voters is alarming.

Reducing individuals with such labels implies they are somehow irredeemable. Right-wing bigotry must be condemned, but is the appropriate reaction to fire back with dehumanization? Writing off an individual — or worse, an entire group — based on the belief that “they” are irrevocably different from “us” is not only misguided, but deeply harmful. Isn’t that, after all, the very foundation of bigotry? When we blame the “uneducated” for a Trump victory, we perpetuate the same exclusionary mindset we claim to oppose: the idea that certain groups are so fundamentally different from us that they are to blame for the problems we see. If one of higher education’s goals is to elevate us to a higher societal position, shouldn’t we seek to educate others rather

than degrade them?

Many students view education as essential for personal growth, but we must be cautious about equating it with an individual’s inherent worth. Instead, we should use education to foster our understanding of those whose perspectives we deem inconceivable. Ostracism, in any form, has failed to provide a viable solution to the complex challenges we collectively face as a nation. How, then, can this practice be justified or deemed constructive within the context of higher education institutions, such as our own? Do we value claims of righteousness over solutions?

Data from the Pew Research Center has shown party lines are diverging on the axis of higher education,

Stop using ‘woke’ wrong Anti-wokeness is ignorance

PRESTON THOMAS ’28 Guest Columnist

During this past election season, a word many people have probably heard thrown around is “woke.”

Personally, I hear the word a lot in the context of conservative media and “ending wokeness.” But I believe that people who try to make the idea of being woke a bad thing are blissfully ignorant. What does it mean to be woke?

The word originated from African American communities, with one of the earliest uses believed to be around the 1930s in a protest song advising Black listeners to “stay woke” after nine Black men were wrongly accused of raping two white women in Alabama. The general consensus is that to be woke is to be aware of social and political issues that negatively impact Black and other marginalized communities. To

be woke is to be conscious of the social justice issues around you and the history of how discriminatory systems were instilled into society. The term picked up steam in the early 2010s, used within the Black Lives Matter movement to combat police violence.

Over the past decade, the word has been stripped of its original meaning as many conservative talking heads demonize it as some type of propaganda. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis introduced his “Stop WOKE” bill alongside his “Don’t Say Gay” bill in 2022 in an attempt to censor dialogues about race, gender, sexual orientation and discrimination within schools. This censoring included banning books that discussed certain concepts related to race, gender, racism and privilege.

“Woke” is used as a political dog whistle among the right, and they see “wokeness” as some sort of attack, specifically on children. However, when used in its original and correct sense,

“wokeness” promotes education, protects marginalized groups and combats discrimination not only in America but worldwide. Those who aim to “end wokeness” are aiming to limit access to knowledge of racist and discriminatory

with four-year bachelor’s degree holders leaning Democratic and those without trending Republican. With a college degree becoming an ever-increasing indicator of economic standing and social mobility, it is incumbent upon all of us to stop this cycle of reciprocal demonization and work to create a world where there is no division along the lines of educational attainment.

practices that negatively impact people of color and members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Before using a word, make sure you know what it means. Stay woke.

GRAPHIC: STEPHANIE SAVELA ’25/THE HAWK

GRAPHIC: CARA HALLIGAN ’25/THE HAWK

Community fridges embrace mutual aid to fight food insecurity

‘This is how we can collaborate and work towards that justice’

HANNAH PAJTIS ’26 Features

Editor

The white household fridge located through a stone brick arch at the Unitarian Universalists church in Mount Airy might just look like an ordinary fridge, filled with an assortment of produce from ripe tomatoes to multicolored apples. But to Nicole Williams, co-founder of Mt. Airy Community Fridge & Pantry, and to the Philadelphia community, it is a lifeline representing solidarity and connectedness.

In November 2022, Williams was asked by a former colleague if she’d be interested in starting a community fridge. A few months later, in January 2023, the Mt. Airy Community Fridge & Pantry joined Philadelphia’s large network of community fridges. In Philadelphia, there are over 30 community fridges currently active, according to Share Food Program, a hunger relief organization in the Philadelphia area.

Williams said running a community fridge has connected her with her community in lasting, meaningful ways.

“Just to see that these individuals can come here and get excited over items and be able to say, ‘Oh, I’m also a teacher, and I can share this with my classroom,’ and having conversations with these individuals is, frankly, just a beautiful thing,” Williams said.

Background

Community fridges, often located in residential areas in cities like Philadelphia, are public refrigerators and pantries stocked with food available to community members, free of charge.

As of 2023, Philadelphia’s rate of food insecurity is at 18.6%, over 5% higher than the 11.8% national average, according to the BMC Public Health journal.

Many of Philly’s fridges were started during the covid-19 pandemic when community members mobilized in response to an increase in food insecurity as access to healthy, fresh food declined.

Sonam Parikh, executive director of The People’s Fridge in West Philadelphia, said she decided to start the fridge after she saw covid-19 damaging her community.

“A lot of supermarkets closed down in our area, and it increased the level of food apartheid that was occurring within West Philadelphia,” Parikh said. “Having experienced personal, devastating losses from covid and being in lockdown … the fridge became a project.”

Susan Bloch became involved with a community fridge in Germantown during the pandemic, assisting with cleaning and maintenance.

“During the pandemic, I think a lot of us got more aware of food insecurity, and I was looking for something I could do outside because we were still being outside and not inside with other people,” Bloch said. “And just by really some weird coincidences, I

found out about the Germantown fridge.”

Victoria Jayne, a four-year volunteer for South Philadelphia Community Fridge, also got involved with a community fridge during the pandemic. Jayne first heard about the South Philadelphia Community Fridge, which operates fridges throughout South Philly, through Instagram, where she saw a post about the organization needing volunteers with vehicles, which she had.

“It seemed like a really good opportunity to continue to be engaged in the community without having to spend time in people’s homes,” Jayne said.

Collaboration

Philly’s community fridges are volunteer-run and managed. Benji Aaron, Jayne’s partner and another longterm volunteer for South Philadelphia Community Fridge, said South Philadelphia Community Fridge is “horizontally structured,” meaning there is no strict hierarchy of roles.

“We do have a nonprofit status through fiscal sponsorship, but we don’t have a board or an executive team,” Aaron said. “We do have some members, like us, who maybe do a little more sometimes, handle some of the admin stuff and logistics, but that can change from time to time.”

The Germantown and Mount Airy fridges are similarly kept running through the group efforts of community volunteers. Williams said Philadelphia’s community fridges embrace collaboration and supporting each other in times of need.

“We collaborate behind the scenes with each other so that we can make sure to share resources. Or if there’s a pickup someone at another fridge can’t do, they’ll let us know so we can grab that,” Williams said. “It is a great network of people all over Philadelphia who sincerely care.”

Sourcing and mutual aid

The food stocked in community fridges comes from a variety of sources. Some food comes directly from community members, who leave food in the fridge for their neighbors to take. This food could be items an individual shopped for, a meal a family cooked in their kitchen or produce grown in a home garden.

Other food sources for community fridges include donation drives and nonprofits like Northwest Mutual Aid Collective and Sharing Excess — which has a chapter at St. Joe’s — that are dedicated to addressing food insecurity and reducing food waste.

Bloch said that at the Germantown fridge, food rescue, or the process of collecting food from grocery stores and restaurants that would have otherwise been thrown away, makes “what [they] do possible.”

Parikh said the winter is the most difficult time of year for her community of

West Philadelphia, making donations go “the longest and farthest during this time.”

“The next time you’re thinking about what you can do for your community members, approaching your local pantry or community fridge would be a really great idea,” Parikh said.

The staff at all four fridges The Hawk spoke to embrace mutual aid, a model of community support rooted in the voluntary exchange of resources and services.

“The idea behind it is that with mutual aid, we’re not enforcing barriers or creating separate classes of people where there’s someone who gives and someone who takes,” Jayne said. “It’s a big circle.”

Parikh distinguished mutual aid from charity, which insinuates a hierarchy.

“Charity denotes a sense of being in a position to give somebody else something, whereas mutual aid equalizes us and puts us all on the same platform,” Parikh said.

Williams said the collaborative community aspect of food donation is essential to building community and giving agency to individuals who use the fridge.

“It’s a great opportunity to bring agency but also shared collaboration,” Williams said. “When you have community members who might rely on services, they might feel outside of the cycle in terms of community building and community service. But by saying ‘No, you are part of that donation, and we will take your donations,’ they’re very much part of this process.”

Mutual aid, Williams said, is also critical to restorative justice and the justice-seeking process as a whole.

“This is how we can collaborate and work towards that justice, whatever justice is,” Williams said. “Whether it’s economic, food justice, racial justice, inequality or just the overall concept of justice.”

Impact

Although community fridges are incredibly beneficial, they are not

permanent solutions, Bloch said. Rather, they function more as “Band-Aids.”

“What we do is a Band-Aid on a really broken economy and food system where there are people who can’t afford to buy food, and they have to choose between rent and food,” Bloch said.

Jayne said she has witnessed firsthand the painful reality of hunger, seeing community members open up the fridges and fall to their knees in tears.

“We hear from people all the time,” Jayne said. “Just the other week, a volunteer told us she was at our pantry at Mifflin Square [Park], and she was talking to someone who had just gotten out of prison, and he said that he wouldn’t have been able to eat over the last week if the pantry wasn’t there.”

Jayne said the food taken from community fridges is also sometimes redistributed to others in the community, broadening the circle of people who benefit from the fridges’ resources.

“We have a neighbor who’s a real regular who comes by all the time, and he’s always taking a bunch of food,” Jayne said. “And some people, if they see that, they might be like, ‘Why is this one person taking so much food?’ [But] when we get into conversation with him, we found out that he transports food himself on his bicycle to an encampment of unhoused people.”

Williams said amid the business of life, it can be easy for people to walk by those in need and “not really see them.” Working with the fridge, Williams said, helped her connect more deeply with her community members.

“It’s created the ability and the opportunity for us to see each other,” Williams said.

“I’ve lived in Mount Airy almost all my life, and these are individuals who, otherwise, if I wasn’t engaged in this work, I could very easily pass by on the street or drive by and just not pay attention. But I’m actually able to hear their stories, learn about them and just see them.”

Nicole Williams (center) with Mt. Airy Fridge and Pantry volunteers at the fridge and pantry, located at the Unitarian Univeralists church in Mount Airy. PHOTO COURTESY OF NICOLE WILLIAMS

Victoria Jayne and Benji Aaron at South Philadelphia Community Fridge’s 1840 Ellsworth St. location. PHOTO COURTESY OF BENJI AARON

Five study spots you’ll want to keep to yourself

Finding a suitable study area on the Hawk Hill campus can be challenging. Drexel Library is often packed, and the lounges can be noisy. Some people just aren’t sensitive to the fact that quiet places are supposed to be quiet. But the places on this list are quiet — and not as many people know about them. Just don’t tell too many of your friends.

1.Wolfington Hall (Campus Ministry) Rooms – The Hidden Sanctuary The Campus Ministry rooms in Wolfington Hall are a hidden gem. Located on the second and third floors, they offer a cozy and quiet space for students. Inside each one, you’ll find a few comfortable couches, chairs and a coffee table, perfect for spreading out your study materials. Large windows let in natural light, and you can open or close them depending on the weather, creating the temperature you desire. These areas are ideal for settling into your study zone. They’re comfortable, and the tranquil environment makes it easy to concentrate. You don’t even have to go there to study. It’s also a terrific place to relax or take a little nap when you need it.

Kylie Tang ’26, a front desk student worker in Wolfington, said she likes to study in Wolfington because of how quiet it is compared to the library.

“For students who need to focus, the library can be distracting and loud. Here, it’s quiet and private, just for you,” Tang said.

Why it’s awesome: Not many people think to study here because it’s primarily

utilized for ministry activities, so you’ll generally have it all to yourself.

The best time to hit it : Any time that fits your schedule. Wolfington is open Monday-Thursday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m

2. Third floor of Mandeville Hall – The Business Student’s Hideaway

While the lower levels of Mandeville Hall are constantly crowded, its hallways filled with students heading to class, the third floor remains quiet and ideal for studying. 12 spacious tables fill one end of the third floor, near windows looking out towards Sweeney Field and the stairs to Barbelin Hall. The circular tables are each large enough for both group work or solo studying. On the opposite side of the floor near the elevators, you’ll find two additional tables, offering an even quieter spot for those seeking extra solace.

Why it’s awesome: You get to study in a calm spot without distractions, and the large windows offer a great view for a little break.

The best time to hit it: Midday or early evening, when most students are in classes and you can claim the space.

3.Third floor of Campion Student Center – Not What You’d Expect

Most people associate Campion Student Center with socializing, but if you head to the third floor, you’ll find a quieter space. Enter through the doors by the side of The Perch, go up the stairs in front of you, and you’ll arrive at a small

desk in front of Forum Theater. Behind the desk is another set of stairs leading to an area with tables and chairs open to all students.

The tables and chairs are suitable for individual or group study sessions. You can even grab lunch downstairs and bring it up there to eat while studying or simply enjoy your food in peace without having to engage with anyone.

Why it’s awesome : It’s part of Campion but without the noise. You can always go there if you need to study between classes, and it’s never as crowded as downstairs.

The best time to hit it: Afternoons or evenings. You’ll still hear a little background noise, but it’s way more manageable than down in the dining areas.

4.The Perch – A Social Spot with Secret Study Corners

The Perch is best known as a hangout spot for friends, but it may also be an ideal spot to study if timed well. There are always a few tables and chairs available, and it is mostly empty except for when individuals come in to pick up their mail or play table tennis. Plus, it’s right in front of Campion, so you can have lunch and then head over to The Perch to work.

Why it’s awesome: You get the best of both worlds: a quiet place to study and snacks nearby. And if you need a break, you’re already in a social spot.

Best time to hit it : Early mornings or late afternoons are when it’s the most chill. Just avoid late at night if you want

to focus, and check the University Events calendar in case The Perch has an activity going on.

Teagan Twum-Ampofo ’25, an information desk worker at The Perch, agreed mornings and late afternoons are the sweet spot.

“I’d say in the mornings, before 11 a.m., and after 3 p.m. because by then, everybody’s done with classes, and they’re either home or doing extracurricular activities,” Twum-Ampofo said.

5.Fat Tuna Sushi & Ramen – The Unknown Study Spot Near Campus

If you walk past Starbucks on 54th Street and continue past Larry’s Steaks, you’ll come across Fat Tuna Sushi & Ramen, an unassuming Japanese restaurant that serves reasonably priced meals. It’s primarily a delivery and pickup location, although they do have a few tables where you can dine and work. It’s usually very quiet because most people come for takeout, and there are usually only two employees, so there won’t be too much commotion.

Why it’s awesome: You can order some good, affordable food and study at the same time. It’s laid back, and the chances of it being too crowded are slim.

Best time to hit it: Pretty much anytime during the day works. There might be a little chatter if people are picking up orders, but it’s usually calm.

MARILEANA PARDO ’25

Special to the Hawk

Jenna Russo ’28 studies in one of the Campus Ministry rooms in Wolfington Hall, Nov. 25.

Maeve Muldoon ’25 and Caroline O’Neill ’25 study on the third floor of Mandeville Hall, Nov. 25.

The third floor of Campion Student Center.

A St. Joe’s student studies at The Perch, Nov. 25. PHOTOS: SAHR KARIMU ’26/THE HAWK

Fat Tuna Sushi & Ramen, located on 54th street.

In the mid-nineteenth century, if a scientist was in a pharmacy lab and accidentally ingested a poison, they might have reached for a can of emetine.

William Procter Jr., one of the founders of the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy (PCOP), had such a can. A small black metal canister filled with a powdered emetic agent is located on a display shelf at the Marvin Sampson Museum for the History of Pharmacy on the University City campus. A curator’s handwritten note, wrapped around the canister and attached by a paper string, reads “1864.”

The purpose of substances like powdered emetine, or ipecac root, is to cause nausea and vomiting to treat poisons that have been swallowed. Today, emetic agents are discouraged due to side effects, including severe heartburn or even death.

Stephen Hall, former director of the Coit Museum of Pharmacy & Health Sciences at the University of Arizona and now a computer science and engineering librarian at the University of Pennsylvania, said there was not a lot of distinction between the fields of pharmacy and medicine before World War II. Pharmacists and physicians overlapped frequently because anyone who wanted to practice pharmacy could. With any credentials, people could

William Procter Jr.’s metal medicine canister

dispense medicine.

“The truth is, pharmacists used lots of poisons,” Hall said. “They weren’t typically for internal use, but mercury bichloride, for instance, was used as an antiseptic. Arsenic was used to make rat poison, and still others might have been used in lotions, creams, etcetera.”

Emma Gunuey-Marrs, assistant curator of the Marvin Samson Museum, said Procter brought the canister back to the U.S. from Europe in 1867.

“Likely he went through the trouble of transporting this medicine back on the long journey from Europe with him in order to share it as a knowledge resource with the pharmacy and/or college community,” Gunuey-Marrs said.

Billy Scott ’25, DPT ’27, works as a lead tutor at the Writing Center’s University City location and is a peer tutor in anatomy and physiology for the Learning Resource Center. He’s passionate about being on the executive board for the St. Joe’s chapter of the Circle K International Foundation, as well as the Student Physical Therapy Association and the BIPOC Physical Therapy Club. Scott loved growing up in Silver Spring, Maryland, and always saw himself returning there after college, but after being in Philadelphia for the past few years, he said he’s no longer so sure. “I think I’m a little bit more open to other things,” Scott said.

What are you really good at? I’m good at meeting new people and making connections with new people, and I hope that one day I’m good at being a physical therapist.

Who is your favorite person at St. Joe’s? Friends aside, my professor, Dr. Eric Pelletier. He’s always cracking jokes

and keeping it light and making sure people aren’t feeling too stressed out. And he’s created a very welcoming and warm learning environment.

you the happiest?

2022. I was on vacation with my family in the Pacific Northwest, and it was just a really awesome experience. We did a lot of hiking, spent quality time together and admired all the natural beauty out there. I really value my family vacations because that’s really the only time we all get to see each other. I’m the youngest of four, so everyone’s moved out, doing their own thing now.

you that might surprise people? make enough time to do it, but when I do it, I really enjoy

Procter, an 1837 alumnus of PCOP, opened a drug store at Ninth and Lombard streets in 1844, a few years after his graduation. He operated the store until his death in 1874 at the age of 56.

A professor at PCOP from 1846 to 1866, Procter was the first to hold many significant positions in pharmaceutical organizations. In 1852, he became one of the founders of the American Pharmaceutical Association (APA), eventually becoming president. Procter, known for his detailed writing, also served as the editor for the American Journal of Pharmacy for 20 years and edited the first pharmacy textbook published in the U.S. called “Practical Pharmacy.”

just being in the zone and being creative in

What do you most value in friends?

Someone who’s willing to just be themselves, and someone who is honest

What do you consider your greatest My junior and senior year of high school, I was in a program where I got to take all of my classes at my local community college, Montgomery [County Community] College. I graduated from there with an associate’s degree a couple days before my high

After resigning from the PCOP in 1866, Procter toured Europe. During the trip, Procter kept a journal filled with positive observations and personal thoughts about the countries visited. He took note of the culture of universities, which he brought back to American medical universities and pharmacists. Procter also attended the meeting of the International Pharmaceutical Congress in Paris.

That journal, as well as the can of emetine, are one of Procter’s many legacies, including his eyeglasses, now housed in the museum.

What is one word you hope people on campus would use to describe you? Welcoming or approachable.

Which talent would you most like to have? Play the guitar.

Which person do you admire the most? My mom. She is a nurse, so she is one of my first inspirations to pursue a job in healthcare.

Billy Scott

MONICA SOWINSKI ’26

Sports Reporter

William Procter Jr.’s metal medicine canister, located in the Marvin Samson Museum for the History of Pharmacy.

PHOTO: MADELINE WILLIAMS ’26/ THE HAWK

ERIN RYAN ’25 Special to the Hawk

GRAPHIC: HANNAH PAJTIS ’26/THE HAWK

PHOTO: COURTESY OF BILLY SCOTT ’25, DPT ’27/ THE HAWK

CineHawk: ‘Wicked’

HANNAH PAJTIS ’26

Features Editor

The cast interviews fill up your Instagram Explore Page. The soundtrack keeps popping up in your TikTok algorithm. Your theater friends keep making niche references. Over the past few weeks, it’s been hard to ignore the chokehold that the 2024 movie adaptation of the hit Broadway musical “Wicked” has on the film and performing arts world. But why is the film so popular? And does it have deeper implications?

Brimming with powerful vocals and intricate musical numbers, “Wicked” — which is actually only part one of two films — tells the origin story of Elphaba Thropp, known in the 1939 movie “The Wizard of Oz” as the Wicked Witch of the West. The film tells the story of Elphaba’s antagonistic relationship turned unlikely friendship with Galinda Upland, known in other adaptations as Glinda the Good Witch. The movie features big-name stars like Ariana Grande, who plays Galinda, and Cynthia Erivo, who plays Elphaba.

The multiple conflicts of the film show the characters facing prejudice, challenging propaganda and learning how one’s privilege can influence their decisions. Many of Elphaba’s struggles come from the judgment she receives for her green skin, which outcasts her. Her feelings of ostracization and strong sense of justice lead her to connect with others treated like outcasts, particularly Oz’s talking animals who are being forced from their jobs, mysteriously disappearing and shoved into cages by humans who hope they lose their ability

to speak. While Elphaba is ultimately willing to lose everything to stand up for justice, Galinda chooses the silent path, despite loving her friend.

Although it’s set in a fictional world, the film’s commentary on privilege and power is relevant to real life, with Erivo herself saying her Black and queer identities shaped how she portrayed Elphaba. Full of twists, the film will keep even superfans of the Broadway musical on the edge of their seats, drawing out both laughter and tears.

Overall, “Wicked” is a must-watch, especially before part two of the movie, which covers the second act of the Broadway musical, releases in November 2025.

CROSSWORD: Winter wonderland

OLIVIA GASPARRO ’27

Features Columnist

On The Beat: Top 50 albums of 2024

It’s that time of the year again: the time for another top 50 albums list. But, dear reader, this isn’t just any list. While 50 incredible albums made the cut, only the top five will take center stage here. These will have you sitting at the edge of your seat, waiting to see what comes next. So, without further ado,Ipresentthetopfivealbumsfrommy2024list.

1.“The New S ound” – Geordie Greep Hot off the heels of the rock band Black Midi’s breakup, lead vocalist and guitarist Geordie Greep announced his new album, “The New Sound.” The album was announced with a single titled “Holy, Holy” in August. If the single wasn’t enough proof that this album would be boundary-shaking, the rest of the album very well proved that. Styles of progressive rock, free jazz and salsa make the album as complex as it is digestible. At several points, I was floored that this was Greep’s debut album, even given his previous output with Black Midi. “The Magician,” the final track of the album, is one of the best rock songs I’ve heard in a very long time. Every song is memorable and calls you back in to discover something new upon each listen. For these very condensed reasons and hundreds more, “The New Sound” is my undeniable pick for the best album of 2024, and I implore you to check it out, even if you end up hating it (but you’ll love it).

2.“Brat” – Charli XCX

What can I say about this album that hasn’t already been said? I’ve been following Charli’s work since 2019, and it seems that with every release, she’s tried to push the boundaries of whatever genre she’s touched, even if it didn’t always pan out. “Brat” is fun, chaotic and meaningful in every single way. It is a pop album that dares you to let loose through its club-centric sound, but, most importantly, it is an album that, against all odds, saw mainstream acclaim and sparked a summerlong movement behind it. It would be my album of the year if “The New Sound” did not exist.

3.“Wild God” – Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds

Nick Cave and “joy” aren’t often synonymous, yet for his 2024 output with The Bad Seeds, a sense of overwhelming joy surrounds the lyrics and instrumentation. This album teaches the listener that even in moments of immense grief where everything seems hopeless, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Not only is this album one of Cave’s best in the 21st century, it is also one of the most powerful and transformative releases this year.

4.“No Title as of 13 February 2024 28,340 Dead” – Godspeed You! Black Emperor Emotionally charged yet somberly peaceful, this album does a great job of highlighting the conflict between Israel and Palestine without using words. If you’re unaware of Godspeed’s previous output, this may not be the place to begin, but it’s such a powerful album that I recommend it nonetheless.

Across

2.Sweet treats left out for Santa to enjoy.

3.The shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.

7.A game of luck featuring a four-sided spinning toy.

8.Eight days and nights of joy and light celebrating the recovery and rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem.

10.A week-long celebration of African American community, culture and history.

5. “I Lay Down My Life For You” – JPEGMAFIA This album delivers on almost all fronts. It’s not just a great experimental rap album, it’s also a great leap in JPEGMAFIA’s sound. Don’t believe me? Check out the song “Exmilitary.” It’s one of the best songs of the year.

GRAPHIC: STEPHANIE SAVELA ’25/THE HAWK

PARKER HAYDEN ’25 Hawk Staff

GRAPHIC: STEPHANIE SAVELA ’25/THE HAWK

Game, set, match

Pickleball becomes the fastest growing sport in America

ROMITO ’26

Special to the Hawk

Here’s the thing: There are no pickles involved in pickleball.

There is a ball, yes, plastic and with holes, slightly bigger than a tennis ball. There are two to four players and rackets for each. Players use their paddles to hit the ball over a net with the hope their opponent is unable to send the ball back.

Now the fastest-growing sport in America, according to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, pickleball is a combination of tennis, badminton and table tennis.

Even though it’s only really taken off in the last few years, pickleball has been around since 1965 when Joel Pritchard, a U.S. representative from Washington state, and a friend repurposed an old badminton court in Pritchard’s backyard to create a game their whole family could play together. The first permanent pickleball court was later built in the backyard of Pritchard’s friend and neighbor, Bob O’Brian.

Prichard’s wife, Joan Pritchard, named the game after “pickle boats,” rowing boats that are thrown together with leftover non-starters of crew races, according to pickleball lore.

Brian Wagner, chief administrative officer at Heyday Athletic in Philadelphia, said Heyday Athletic began offering a pickleball league in the spring of 2022 after he saw pickleball “starting to take the country by storm.”

“We saw how popular pickleball was throughout the country,” Wagner said. Heyday Athletic has since opened four courts in Philadelphia.

As of March 2023, an estimated 48.3 million adult Americans have played pickleball in the past 12 months, according to the Association of Pickleball Professionals. There are now over 11,000 locations to play pickleball and over 40,000 courts across the U.S., according to USA Pickleball. A number of those courts have replaced old tennis courts.

Pickleball has many qualities that draw people to it. It is accessible, easy to learn and can be played at all ages and skill levels. The sport is also inexpensive. A paddle and a ball will set you back about $20.

Abbey Chan ’26 has been playing for five years now and thinks the sport will continue to grow with more places to play. She was introduced to the game by her family. She, her cousins and some neighbors all played together at a court near her cousins’ house.

“It’s a fun sport, and it’s not super taxing,” Chan said. “It’s pretty low impact, and the rules aren’t that difficult. You can play it both indoor and outdoor. Anybody can do it.”

Chan plays in St. Joe’s intramural pickleball league, which started this past fall and has 68 participants, wrote Daniel Yen, campus recreation specialist, in an email to The Hawk. Campus Recreation offers a Men’s Doubles Pickleball League, a Mixed Doubles Pickleball League and a Women’s Doubles Pickleball League, all on Hawk Hill.

The newly renovated O’Pake Fitness and Recreation Center now includes three multi-sport courts behind the front desk, which are netted and painted for pickleball play, Yen said.

Caroline Sendi ’26, who participates in the St. Joe’s league, said she enjoys being able to play a sport that is easy to pick up with her friends.

“I thought that would be fun to sign up because it’s basically like tennis and you get to play with your best friends,” Sendi said. Sendi was also introduced to the game by her family.

“It’s not just meant for one specific generation,” Sendi said. “I know my mom does clinics. She’s not even the oldest person or the youngest person, so it’s just nice to see that everyone likes to play it.”

Matteo Reina ’28, who plays in the St. Joe’s league, is a newcomer to pickleball. He only started playing towards the end

of October.

“It’s honestly an easy game to learn, easy to keep developing,” Reina said.

Wagner said he sees no end to the pickleball craze.

“I don’t know if it’s reached its peak. It might not even reach its final form,” Wagner said. “There’s more professional leagues starting. You’re seeing a lot of pretty influential people starting to play it, starting to get involved in it. I think we’re going to see pickleball continue this type of upward trend.”

REBECCA

Bridget Carter ’25 returns a serve in a pickleball game, Dec. 2 PHOTO: ZACH PODOLNICK ’26/THE HAWK GRAPHIC:

A photograph of a track meet at St. Joe’s offers a glimpse of track in the 1970s, showing five runners racing toward a chest-high white string stretched across the track.

It’s not clear who won the 1975 race at Finnesey Field — now Sweeney Field — but a St. Joe’s track team member is in the lead. All the runners are men. The women’s track team wouldn’t be established as a varsity sport for another seven years.

In the photo, located in the St. Joe’s Archives Collections, the lines on the dirt track appear freshly painted.

The St. Joe’s track and field program began in the 1920-21 season with the men’s first relay team competing at Penn Relays, the oldest track and field competition in the United States. The women’s team was introduced as a varsity sport in 1982.

According to the archives’ description of the photo, head coach Kevin Quinn ’62 stands on the sideline along with Emory Ross, S.J., former men’s basketball team chaplain. Quinn, a team member from 1960-62, is one of the most recognizable names in St. Joe’s track history. After graduating, he returned to

Archives Unboxed: 1970s track photo

St. Joe’s to coach the men’s program for 22 years beginning in 1966 and was head coach of the women’s program from 1985-2015. During his time as head coach across both programs, Quinn coached 40 NCAA qualifiers, nine NCAA All-Americans and 10 ECAC/IC4A champions. In 2017, the track was named the Kevin Quinn ’62 Track in his honor.

The photo is a look at what campus once was: Barbelin Hall, the Science Center, Drexel Library and Bellarmine Hall all reside in the background of the photo. Spectators are gathered throughout the center and outside of the track and on the hills below Barbelin Tower.

In 2013, the Sweeney Field expansion project included an addition of 2,300 seats, a stone facade featuring bronze hawk statues, protective netting, a full-service press box and an enhanced sound system to the track area.

Even 100 years after their first season and nearly 50 years since the photo was taken, St. Joe’s track team members still race for the finish at the track, which hosts daily practices of the track and cross country teams and schoolwide events.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ST. JOE’S ARCHIVES

KIERA DONOHUE ’25

Special to the Hawk

Field hockey’s historic season comes to heartbreaking end

‘We made history’

MIA MESSINA ’25 Sports

Editor

St. Joe’s field hockey reaching the NCAA Championship game might have felt like a dream to some at the beginning of the season, but head coach Hannah Prince knew her team was capable of making it there.

“I knew it would take an insane amount of work, and I knew that it wasn’t going to be easy, but I did, from the beginning of the season, truly believe that this was something that our group was capable of,” Prince said.

Goal after goal became a reality as the months went on: finishing the season ranked third in the country with a record of 20-4, winning a fourth consecutive Atlantic 10 title, setting a program record for most wins in the season, hosting the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history and becoming the first St. Joe’s team to make it to a national championship game. The dreams seemed surreal, but never impossible.

Until they were.

St. Joe’s fell to Northwestern University 5-0 in the NCAA title game Nov. 24.

“Not coming out on top today, it stings and it hurts, but just being able to be on this field today speaks for itself,” Prince said.

Even after the heartbreaking loss, Prince saw the bigger picture of what a season like this means in the grand scheme of things for the players and the program.

“It honestly teaches you so much, and those lessons are things that they’ll carry with them the rest of their lives,” Prince said. “This will be a memory that they have forever, and they can say they played in the national championship. Even me saying that out loud right now, I’m still in a ‘pinch me’ mode.”

St. Joe’s gave up five goals across the first two quarters in the title game. Despite holding off the Wildcats in the second half, the Hawks were unable to find the back of the cage down the other side of the field, tying the record for the fewest shots allowed in a national championship game.

The only shot on goal came from fifth-year midfielder Celeste Smits in the first quarter.

The win also marked the second-highest margin of victory in a national championship game, giving Northwestern their second national championship. The first came in 2021 when the current seniors were in their first year with the program.

“Obviously couldn’t be more excited today to have eight or nine seniors out there in a great surrounding cast and bring home a second national championship in field hockey to Northwestern,” said head coach Tracey Fuchs. “St. Joe’s had an amazing season. You always want to bring your best when you come to a Final Four. I think we did that today and saved our best for the last, so really excited for us but want to congratulate them on a great season as well.”

While the seniors from Northwestern went out on top, the nine fifth-years and two seniors from St. Joe’s faced a more bitter reality as they came to terms with the end of their collegiate careers.

“They had an amazing career. The

program has continued to grow over the last few years, and they have to hold their heads high,” Prince said. “They have to know they did everything in their power to put this program and themselves and each other in the best position possible. Our goal at the beginning of the season was to have a legendary one, and I can walk off the field saying we did just that.”

But with this chapter now closed, Prince is looking to what history the Hawks can write in future seasons.

“Everyone keeps saying we made history this year, and that’s incredible,” Prince said. “And I love having the mentality of: Let’s continue on that path. Let’s keep trying to make history and doing everything in our power as coaches, as support staff, as players, as even recruits who are committed to the program, just being extremely bought in to what we’re trying to achieve, and have some fun with it and stay as humble and hungry as possible.”

St. Joe’s field hockey players console each other following a 5-0 loss to Northwestern University in the national championship Nov. 24 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

St. Joe’s men’s soccer players lead a “Let’s go Hawks” chant in the bleachers during the field hockey NCAA championship game against Northwestern Nov. 24 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

PHOTOS: MIA MESSINA ’25/THE HAWK

St. Joe’s field hockey fell in the NCAA title game with a 5-0 loss to Northwestern Nov. 24 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

54th Airborne’s Big 5 Classic Predictions

Q: How

do you feel about

the Big 5 matchup for both the women’s and men’s teams?

Nicole Caldwell ’25

I’m super, super, super excited for [the men’s game], and I’m very hopeful that we will win. Our [women’s] team is really strong this year. They were super strong last year, and I think this year, they’re even stronger than they were. Despite losing to Villanova, I think they’ve had a good start to their season and that they’re going to beat Drexel.

Final score prediction

Men: St. Joe’s 78-71

Women: St. Joe's 72-63

Nate Cannizzo ’25

For the men, I think we’re gonna be playing La Salle at least three times this year, which is exciting. Last year, we played Temple in one, but it’s exciting to be in the championship and be able to play La Salle this many times. Hopefully we could sweep them this year. For the women’s, playing Drexel is also great because that’s a great rivalry.

Final score prediction

Men: St. Joe’s 85-63

Women: St. Joe’s 75-65

Q: Who do you think will win both matchups?

Duke Hodlofski ’27

I think we got it. It’ll be a lot closer than people think. I’ve talked to a few people, a few of my friends on campus. They think it’s going to be a blowout. I don’t see it being like that, but I think we’ll win a close game. [For the women], I think St. Joe’s will win. When it comes to the whole Big 5 championship [for the men’s team], I think Villanova’s got it.

Final score prediction

Men: St. Joe’s 78-71

Women: St. Joe’s 81-68

MIA MESSINA ’25

What is the Big 5?

Tess Collins ’25

The men coming off the win last year, I think any team should be nervous to play us, a little intimidated, because we are those defending champs. They’re pretty evenly matched, and I’m very excited to see, especially our women coming off [a loss]. I think they’re going to be more fired up going into the Big 5 matchup.

Final score prediction

Men: St. Joe’s 72-65

Women: St. Joe’s 58-51

Shannon O’Malley ’27

I think St. Joe’s is going to win both games. The men won last year, and they had that momentum going into it. The women have been playing really well as a cohesive unit, and they have a lot of key spirit that’s going to carry them through.

Final score prediction

Men: St. Joe’s 84-80

Women: St. Joe’s 76-64

When is the Big 5 Classic?

The Big 5 is an informal league of six colleges, originally consisting of St. Joe’s, Villanova, Temple, University of Pennsylvania and La Salle, founded in 1955. The recent addition of Drexel last season rounds out the six schools with a storied tradition in the city’s unique basketball rivalry.

The women’s inaugural Big 5 Classic will be held Dec. 6 at Finneran Pavilion in a triple-header, matching the new format the men’s side adopted last season. The men’s second annual Big 5 Classic will be

John Henry Walters ’25

St. Joe’s will win because we have more experience playing the championship game, like last year, and I think we have a better team than La Salle, and I’m excited to see us play in Wells Fargo again. That was cool last year. I haven’t seen Drexel women play. It’s a new matchup, and it’ll be, hopefully, a good game, and I think we’re gonna win in the end. It should be good.

Final score prediction

Men: St. Joe’s 89-72

Women: St. Joe’s 78-52

COMPILED BY: MONICA SOWINSKI ’26/THE HAWK

GRAPHIC:

Classic

held the following day, Dec. 7, at the Wells Fargo Center.

Who is St. Joe’s playing?

The St. Joe’s women’s team will face Big 5 newcomers, the Drexel Dragons, in a 5:45 p.m. game, playing for third place. The men’s team will take on the La Salle Explorers in the 7 p.m. championship game, meaning the neighboring Atlantic 10 conference rivals will face each other three times this season: once in this city matchup outside conference play and twice during their A-10 Conference slate.

The other men’s games see Temple battling Villanova for third place and Drexel facing Penn for fifth place. On the women’s side, Temple will face Villanova in the championship game while Penn and La Salle play for fifth place.

Who are the reigning title holders?

St. Joe’s currently holds the Big 5 title on both the men’s and women’s side. The men’s team will play in the championship game once again for a chance to defend their title, while the women’s team will play in the third-place game in their first taste of the new format.

Which teams have the most titles?

Villanova has the most Big 5 titles on the men’s side, earning a piece of the title 29 times, with 17 of those times being an outright win. On the women’s side, Villanova has 17 Big 5 titles, with 10 of them being outright wins. When the title was based on teams’ records, it was common to see ties for the title, prior to the pod format the Big 5 now takes.

How do I get tickets?

Students can sign up for their free student tickets for both the men’s and women’s games throughout the week from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. in Campion or 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the box office at Hagan Arena. For non-students, limited tickets are still available for the women’s games and can be purchased through Villanova’s website for $25. Tickets for the men’s games are available through the Wells Fargo Center website for $45. Tickets on both the men’s and women’s sides offer guaranteed admission to all three games of the triple-header.

Sports Editor

GRAPHIC: STEPHANIE SAVELA ’25/THE HAWK

PHOTOS COURTESY OF NICOLE CALDWELL ’25, NATE CANNIZZO ’25, TESS COLLINS ’25, DUKE HODLOFSKI ’27, SHANNON O’MALLEY ’27 AND JOHN HENRY WALTERS ’25

MIA MESSINA ’25/THE HAWK