Post Crossing construction, explained
Fundraiser raises thousands for student recovering from accident
A fundraiser created to support the recovery of Russell Hollister ’26, who was critically injured in a motor vehicle accident Sept. 23, has received over 870 donations as of Oct. 7 and has raised over $60,000 since its creation Sept. 26.
The GoFundMe was created by Christine Lorge, another St. Joe’s parent, to be used for medical bills, lodging and food, according to the GoFundMe’s description.
In an Oct. 6 update on the GoFundMe, Hollister’s mother, Kimberly Hollister, wrote, “Jim, Meredith, and I continue to be amazed by Russell’s strength and determination. He is fighting and making progress on this long road to recovery. Russell is now breathing on his own without any ventilator support. He also continues to respond through hand signals. We appreciate the support and prayers from friends and family near and far. Thank you all!”
Ross Radish, J.D., vice president of Student Life and dean of students, wrote in a Sept. 23 university announcement that Hollister has been receiving treatment in a local hospital.
Donations from Hollister have come from St. Joe’s students, their families and other community members. One community member touched by Hollister’s story who responded to the GoFundMe was Ian Rowe-Nicholls ’24, who was Hollister’s resistant assistant in McShain Hall during Hollister’s first year.
“He’s got a really good heart,” RoweNicholls said. “He just genuinely cares about the people around him. He wants to do the right thing. He works towards doing the right thing. And for that reason, he has an impact on people.”
Rowe-Nicholls said he first saw the GoFundMe on Instagram, and, after hearing Hollister’s story, felt compelled to donate.
“I just felt called to share it out and just do whatever little thing I could to help,”
ALLY ENGELBERT ’25 Editor-in-Chief
Post Crossing opened Sept. 26, connecting the Philadelphia and Lower Merion sides of the Hawk Hill campus with a pedestrian pathway underneath City Avenue. The underpass is 21 feet wide, 8-feet-6-inches in height and runs 87 feet from opening to opening.
The opening of the underpass is a “key development for our community,” wrote Joe Kender, MBA, senior vice president of university relations, in response to written questions from The Hawk.
“First, it represents a major milestone in our campus master plan by improving connectivity between important campus landmarks,” Kender wrote.
Construction of Post Crossing began in July 2022. The project was approved by and built according to the criteria of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT).
The total project cost of $12 million was funded by grants from PennDOT and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in addition to a naming gift from John R. Post ’60, Kender wrote.
In April 2021, Pennsylvania state representatives Mary Jo Daley, MPA, and Morgan Cephas announced $3 million for the project, issued through PennDOT’s Multimodal Transportation Funds.
The underpass also “provides a safer, more efficient route under City Avenue, facilitating active transportation options like bicycles, electric bikes, wheelchairs and walking,” Kender wrote.
Rowe-Nicholls said.
In an Oct. 1 update on the GoFundMe, Kimberly Hollister wrote that her family “continue[s] to be blessed - in the number of people praying for Russell’s recovery, offers of support, and in how hard Russell continues to fight.”
Kevin Schaffer ’26, who has been Hollister’s roommate since their first year, said he and his family felt similarly moved to contribute to the fundraiser. Schaffer called Hollister one of his “best friends” and said his family was looking for a way to show support.
“When I found out about what had happened, I talked to my parents pretty much right away,” Schaffer said. “We wanted to do something to show support for Russ, but also for his family, too. The main thing was, ‘How can we be there for them in as many ways as possible?’ The GoFundMe is very tangible. It’s able to help directly. So that was a no brainer, when deciding how [we can] offer support.”
In the current moment, the most important thing is prioritizing the care of Hollister and his family, Schaffer said.
“Russ’ health is the main focus,” Schaffer said. “His family’s well-being is also the main focus. They are what matters. They are what’s important right now.”
Schaffer said that, as a friend, it’s been motivating to see how the St. Joe’s community has united behind Hollister.
“Honestly, I was a little bit shocked when I saw how much money had been raised and how many people had donated,” Schaffer said. “But, at the same time, that’s what I expect from the St. Joe’s community. It’s really kind of encouraging to see. Not everybody knows Russ, not everybody is friends with him, but everybody has his back. There’s a group of people who don’t know him personally, [but] they’re still supporting him. It’s encouraging, as a student, to see that from your school.”
Post Crossing’s ramps are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act’s standards, said Kevin Mueller, MBA, senior director of construction and planning at St. Joe’s and project manager for Post Crossing. The underpass is fitted with ambient lights that shift in brightness throughout the day, in addition to safety features including security cameras and three blue light emergency phones.
“I think it’s very safe. I noticed that the first time I walked through,” said Ella Douris ’28, who said she uses the underpass multiple times a day. “It’s very good, especially at nighttime when people are walking back from work or labs.”
While often described as an “underpass,” Post Crossing is actually more of a bridge, Mueller said in an October 2023 interview with The Hawk.
“People think about bridges going over, and this is not going over … Basically, we’re putting in a bridge to hold City Ave to allow pedestrians and cyclists and other mobility to walk underneath,” Mueller said.
The bridge, made of precast concrete, rests on a foundation of 64 steel I-beams. Eight beams were installed to the left and the right of the openings on each side of City Avenue, for a total of 32 beams. The interior walls of the underpass are lined with 16 beams on each side below the roadway.
Each beam was installed after a hole was drilled into the rocky ground beneath City Avenue. After the beam was inserted into each hole, it was reinforced by a rebar cage. The hole was then filled with concrete, Mueller said in an October 2024 interview with The Hawk.
“The bridge is literally bolted to the rock,” Mueller said in October 2023. “From a structure standpoint, this is the most secure bridge ever.”
”CROSSING”
HANNAH PAJTIS ’26 Features Editor
GRAPHIC: CARA HALLIGAN ’25/THE HAWK
Israel-Palestine panel discusses American role in conflict
LUKE SANELLI ’26 News Editor
The second of eight lectures within “The Gaza Lecture Series,” hosted by Georgetown University, was livestreamed Oct. 1 for attendees in the North Lounge in Campion Student Center. The livestream was co-sponsored by the department of history, the department of political science, the Faith-Justice Studies Program, the International Relations Program and the department of theology and religious studies.
Nathan Thrall, winner of the 2024 Pulitzer Prize for general nonfiction, was the guest speaker of the lecture, titled “Gaza, Israel’s System of Domination and U.S. Complicity.”
Thrall was joined in conversation by Sarah Leah Witson, J.D., executive director of Democracy for the Arab World Now.
Thrall was critical of the U.S. government’s support for Israel, which he said enabled the Israeli bombing campaign in Gaza in the days after Hamas’ October 2023 attack in southern Israel.
“What I really see for Israel is total impunity this past year,” Thrall said. “I see a carte blanche from the United States as Israel is demolishing Gaza and now expanding into Lebanon, and who knows what’s coming tomorrow? I do believe that the incentive can change for Israel if we actually reach a point where there are real costs. I don’t think we’re there yet.”
Witson called the American media’s coverage of the Israel-Palestine conflict “awful” during her remarks.
“Many in the American media, certainly some of the most prominent voices, have been reckless and irresponsible,” Witson said. “If they had made these mistakes in any
other context, they would all be fired by now.”
Umeyye Isra Yazicioglu, Ph.D., associate professor of Islamic studies and organizer of the lecture series livestreams, said it was important to hold these lectures as an American-Jesuit university.
“It is not the first time human beings are killed in large numbers, but this is, perhaps, the first time we are seeing it unfold in real time,” Yazicioglu said. “It is also a responsibility for us to talk about this.”
Dominic Demarco ’26 said he came to the lecture to broaden his understanding of the Israel-Hamas war and of the situation in Palestine.
“I feel more brought in on how Israel has subjugated Palestinians to abuse and discrimination,” Demarco said. “I’ve also now realized how [the] U.S. is complicit in those actions as well, and how the U.S. media also blocks out the truth.”
Elaine Shenk, Ph.D., professor of Spanish and co-facilitator of the post-lecture Q&A along with Jenny Spinner, Ph.D., professor of English, encouraged St. Joe’s students to educate themselves on the conflict in Gaza properly and to take advantage of future lectures.
“Accurate information is the basis for understanding the true situation and what is happening there,” Shenk said.
Alex Andahazy ’25 contributed to this article.
What you should know: Covid-19 protocols
SOPHIA GALANTE ’26
News Reporter
When should I test for covid-19?
According to St. Joe’s current covid guidelines, you should get tested when you have a "fever, cough, or shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea; or contact with a known or suspected COVID-19 case … Symptoms may appear two to 14 days after exposure.”
University guidelines follow the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)’s current recommendation for respiratory viruses, and align with the low number of covid cases and deaths in recent months. In the first three weeks of September, there were only about nine deaths from covid in Philadelphia, according to the city’s covid testing data. Nationally, there were about 2,950 deaths in the same time period, according to CDC data.
What do I do when I test positive for covid?
Stay home and away from others until your symptoms get better. Then, if you feel better and are fever-free without the use of fever-reducing medication, both for 24 hours, you may return to normal activities. Take added precautions like wearing a mask or distancing from others for at least five days.
experiencing symptoms, like loss of taste and smell, Sept. 26, and immediately tested positive for covid after taking a rapid test the following day. Dickenson said she stayed home from school the first two days after testing, but wasn’t sure of the protocol once she began improving.
“I called the Student Health office, and they said that as long as I don’t have a fever within 24 hours, I can go back to class,” Dickenson said. “I didn’t have a fever, but I still just wanted to stay away from people when I was not feeling well.”
As of April 2023, “the university no
longer requires community members to report positive test results.”
What strategies can I use to stay healthy?
Get immunized, according to the CDC and St. Joe’s recommendations.
SOURCE: CDC
The CDC also provides guidelines for lowering the risk of all respiratory illnesses, including covid, the flu and respiratory syncytial virus infection (RSV). These recommendations include routine practices like regular handwashing, mindfulness about air flow, masking and social distancing.
Currently, St. Joe’s policy for all faculty, staff and students recommends, but does not require, covid and flu vaccinations.
“The number one recommendation is to get vaccinated,” Eileen Bevilacqua, RN, director of the Student Health Center, wrote in response to written questions from The Hawk. “Immunizations are available for flu, Covid, and RSV (for those who are eligible).”
The Student Health Center is sponsoring a flu vaccine clinic Oct. 10 from 1-5 p.m. in Campion Student Center’s Doyle Banquet Hall South.
Adella Dickenson ’25 said she started
GRAPHIC: STEPHANIE SAVELA ’25/THE HAWK
GRAPHIC: STEPHANIE SAVELA ’25/THE HAWK
‘We’re happy that we can deliver this for the community’
divided into three phases: City Avenue utility relocations, bridge construction and interior work and on-campus sitework.
pay those utility companies, who then pay their contractors to then relocate, and because it’s a lot of city entities, it’s less under our control.”
The average length of the beams is 4 feet, but the depth of each hole depends on multiple geological factors, Mueller said in October 2024. If the rock was breaking apart, workers drilled deeper to hit harder, more secure rock.
To account for the added height of the bridge, City Avenue had to be raised a foot over the center of the underpass. The slope of the road over the underpass is very gradual.
While the crosswalk across City Avenue above the underpass remains operational, the brick path that once led students from City Avenue to Cardinal Foley Campus Center will soon be gone for good, Mueller said.
The opening of Post Crossing comes after a full year of delays. The project schedule was
Originally, utility relocations were scheduled from July-September 2022, then bridge construction until July 2023 and finally interior work and on-campus sitework from July-December 2023.
However, utility relocations actually lasted from July 2022 to October 2023, with bridge construction from June 2023 to May 2024 and interior work and on-campus improvements from May 2024 to September 2024, Mueller said.
There are many reasons for the delays, but the 16-month utility relocation was the “crux” of the issue, Mueller said in October 2024.
“We had to relocate nine different utilities around City Ave,” Mueller said. “We have to
Public Safety Reports (Sept. 27 - Oct. 3)
Sept. 27
Public Safety notified of a liquor law violation incident at Lannon Hall. Incident was investigated. Community Standards was notified.
Sept. 28
Public Safety notified of a vandalism incident at Villiger Residence Center. Incident was investigated. Community Standards was notified.
Public Safety notified of a simple assault incident in the Campion Student Center parking lot area. Incident was investigated. Community Standards was notified.
Sept. 29 No incidents to report.
Sept. 30
Public Safety notified of a larceny/theft incident at O’Pake Recreation Center. Incident is being investigated.
Public Safety notified of a larceny/theft incident at O’Pake Recreation Center. Incident is being investigated.
Oct. 1 No incidents to report.
Oct. 2 No incidents to report.
The utilities relocated were PECO electric; PECO gas; Aqua, Lower Merion’s water; Philadelphia Water; Verizon information technology (IT) services; St. Joe’s electrical; St. Joe’s IT services; Philadelphia Water Department sewers and Lower Merion sewers, Mueller said.
Additionally, the original plan estimated that two steel beams would be installed per day, but due to the hardness of the rock in the ground, the construction team only managed one beam per day, Mueller said.
Mueller added that other delays stemmed from not being able to close lanes on City Avenue during the winter months or during the subsurface blasting for Sister Thea Bowman
Hall, as well as from St. Joe’s commitment to never fully close City Avenue.
Now that the underpass is open, students like Anthony Campo ’25 are appreciating the convenience and design.
“It’s definitely better than before,” Campo said. “It’s safer, and it’s a lot more convenient than to have to wait for traffic.”
Mueller said this was one of the most complicated projects he’s worked on, and it required balancing the many factors of building under and across a state highway.
“We’re happy that we can deliver this for the community, because it’s much needed,” Mueller said.
Allie Miller ’24 and Vincent Kornacki ’25 contributed to this story.
Editor-in-Chief
Editorial: One year after Oct. 7
Let’s continue to talk about Israel and Palestine
In the year since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attacks on Israel — which ignited a conflict between Israel and Hamas in occupied Palestinian territories — the conflict has been extensively debated and analyzed worldwide. On many college campuses, in particular, this debate has been met with protests and disagreements.
Sadly, this is only one of many current devastating conflicts around the world. This includes conflict in Ukraine, Sudan and Yemen, to name a few places. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has affected many members of our community and adjacent communities who have personal connections in Israel and Palestine.
The very strong emotions and opinions about this conflict have made it a deeply contentious topic, one many
people may prefer to shy away from. However, it is precisely because of these emotions, opinions and continuing loss of life that our community must stay
“It is imperative that we continue to approach this topic with the care and nuance it deserves.”
engaged and informed. Out of respect for all members of the St. Joe’s community and the university’s broader commitment
to promoting social justice, it is imperative that we continue to approach this topic with the care and nuance it deserves. These discussions can happen through ongoing forums where community members can share their thoughts, ask questions and help educate each other.
College campuses are a place for uncomfortable conversations about very difficult issues. Exposure to differing points of view leads to a more informed and empowered community. These conversations are only possible if there are layers of compassion, respect and openmindedness underlying each member’s engagement with the topic, in the spirit of cura personalis.
‘Newsworthy’ exposure in Congress
Why bad behavior is rewarded over political duty in the media
BELLA PRIVITERA ’26 Opinions
Editor
In a time of faltering newsroom resources in the United States, the already “adversarial relationship” between the media and the U.S. Congress has grown even more tumultuous. The traditional function of the media as a “watchdog,” serving to expose problematic conduct in government and hold politicians accountable, has become completely lost on the American public. This is especially true because this type of coverage is becoming rarer due to limited resources including disproportionate coverage and the declining number of journalists. Instead, what we see in political media is coverage rooted in scandal, sex, lies and extreme rhetoric. But is this exposure truly “newsworthy?” Or, do we have a tendency in this country to reward bad behavior with clicks?
Despite the historically problematic relationship between media and the legislative branch, Congressional officials
(especially those striving for re-election) often seek favorable coverage from the media that conveys their party’s policy goals in a positive light, strengthening solidarity and political identity. But journalists and news organizations have to tread lightly when it comes to satisfying readers’ needs and being the “watchdog.”
The unfortunate reality is that, according to research from a 2021 study, Congressional members who are actively fulfilling their legislative duty and working to enact bills are not garnering as much media attention (at least, not for their work). Instead, it is your typical, run-of-the-mill Congressional members who are more likely to receive immense media attention due to scandal or absurd behavior.
Some would argue it might be beneficial for journalists to acknowledge this behavior since it establishes the lack of credibility in a politician and, thus, their inability to effectively serve their people. While there is truth to this, in principle, covering bad behavior merely for the sake of it goes against many of the conventions of traditional and professional journalism
and simultaneously highlights how unique our era is.
News media continue to report on these occurrences, which is not surprising in a world where media is digitizing and extreme rhetoric is becoming more normalized. It is within the power of politicians to shape news, and, more often than not, poor behavior is often rewarded with more news exposure.
GRAPHIC: CARA HALLIGAN ’25/THE HAWK
Proponents of cost-effective energy ignore costs on the environment
Despite their design to “ensure that America continues to lead the world in fundamental science,”
Project 2025’s Department of Energy reforms will make that impossible. While “fundamental science” demonstrates the severity of the climate crisis, Project 2025 sees climate change as a liberal hoax and remains “committed to unleashing all of America’s energy resources,” no matter the environmental impact.
Project 2025 is far more interested in cutting federal spending than protecting our planet. One of the document’s proposed reforms demands the Federal Energy Management Program stop purchasing “less reliable energy sources in the name of combating climate change.” This reform casts aside green energy sources in favor of “cost-effective energy,” putting our environment at risk just to save money.
Additionally, Project 2025 further politicizes the climate crisis by calling for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) to be eliminated or to have its funding reduced. This reform seeks to “end the focus on
climate change and green subsidies” by reversing the EERE’s “progressive policies,” such as funding for the “decarbonization of the economy and renewable resources.” This reform would negatively affect the environment by prioritizing cheap energy over greener, renewable energy.
Another troubling energy proposal with dire environmental impacts is to deregulate the use of natural gas pipelines. This reform to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission would make a need for natural gas the only requirement necessary to certify the use of a pipeline, disregarding the “upstream and downstream effects” of the pipeline.
The power of endorsements
dedicated fan bases in the world.
As everyone might know by now, we are currently in an election season. Even if you try your hardest to stay away from politics, you’re bound to hear something about the candidates, their policies or a crazy quote one of them might have said. For many college students, or even seniors in high school, this year will be the first time they can cast a vote in a presidential election. With increased political engagement among young people in recent years, a new generation of influential figures will have the chance to make a significant impact through endorsements.
One of the most notable endorsements of a presidential candidate, so far, came from Taylor Swift. On Sept. 10, after the presidential debate, Swift posted her endorsement of presidential candidate and current Vice President Kamala Harris to her Instagram account. While this may not immediately sound impressive or important, its significance is understood when you realize she has about 283 million followers and one of the most
After attaching a unique link to vote.gov on her Instagram story encouraging fans to register to vote, a spokesperson for the General Services Administration, that runs the site, reported the site saw an increase of 400,000 views the day after Swift’s post, deviating from the usual 30,000 visits per day.
Endorsements like Swift’s may not impact fans who have already made up their minds, but it could influence some undecided voters and drive more people to vote. Indeed, while not all 400,000 people who followed Swift’s link actually registered to vote, their attention was drawn to the election and to information on how and why to vote.
After seeing what Swift was able to do, don’t be surprised if more celebrities begin endorsing their preferred candidates, hoping to persuade young voters. Whether your favorite celebrity has spoken about the election or not, you should check to make sure you are registered to vote, and remember that while celebrity endorsements can raise significant awareness, they should not replace personal research and informed decision-making in the voting process.
However, ignoring these potential effects means the pipelines could be used regardless of their impact on the environment, leading to increased air and water pollution and the destruction of forests.
In prioritizing cost over green initiatives, Project 2025’s policies undermine progress toward addressing the climate crisis, dismissing it as a political issue rather than a real threat. These energy reforms represent a dangerous step backward from environmental protection and climate justice that will jeopardize the future of sustainable energy and greatly impact the future of our planet.
The Jewish High Holidays
Balancing reflection amid college life
JARED NACHIMSON ’27 Guest Columnist
For many Jewish college students like myself, September and October can be a period of stress independent from starting a new school year. Around the world, Jews and Jewish students face the complexities of the Jewish High Holidays — a time in which Jews must look to the prospects of reflection, renewal and seeking forgiveness. The first holiday Jews celebrate during this time is Rosh Hashanah, or the
Jewish New Year, which took place from Oct. 2-4 this year. Although the holiday is commonly a joyous celebration of the new year to come and its many optimistic endeavors, it can be just as stressful as the New Year in the Gregorian calendar, with its cultural emphasis on creating resolutions. Jewish people throughout the world come together during Rosh Hashanah to ask themselves, “How can I improve myself?” or “How can I become a better family member?” The beginning of the new year is exciting for Jews, and, similarly, college students, as they start the school year, with many seeing the future as a means of bettering themselves.
Following Rosh Hashanah is Yom Kippur, or the “Day of Atonement.” Yom Kippur takes place from Oct. 11-12 this year, and, unlike Rosh Hashanah, this holiday concentrates on recognizing wrongdoings from the past year and seeking forgiveness. During this holiday, many Jews visit their local synagogue to ask forgiveness from God for their apparent misdeeds and fast as a form of atonement and redemption. Yom Kippur is more introspective and solemn than Rosh Hashanah, and places an emphasis on interconnectivity with God, which is why many Jewish scholars consider it the holiest day of the year.
Along with a few more holidays around this time, Rosh Hasanah and Yom Kippur contribute to the existence of stress for many Jewish adults, whether for students or professors. To alleviate some of that stress, it is key to have a flexible network from students, professors and administrators alike that supports the Jewish members of our St. Joe’s community.
PRESTON THOMAS ’28 Guest Columnist
GRAPHIC: STEPHANIE SAVELA ’25/THE HAWK
CAROLINE TRIMBLE ’26
Hawk Columnist
GRAPHIC: CARA HALLIGAN ’25/THE HAWK
Everyday icons: Thank you, campus celebrities
The unsung heroes of campus life
Columnist
Do you ever feel invisible? Unappreciated?
Like you don’t belong? If you’re reading this, I’m assuming you’re in college, so I’ll also assume the answer is a quiet “yes” mumbled under your breath. But here’s the good news: there’s probably someone out there appreciating you — someone you’ll likely never meet.
Everyone has their campus celebrity. Not like a player on the basketball team, just a regular, average student. You don’t know their name. To you, they are barely even real, just a concept: Scooter Girl, Jersey Man, Feet Pics Kid, Campion Dessert Demon. Maybe they insist on wearing shorts even on the coldest days. Maybe they always have two cups of milk in the Kettle. Or maybe you just like the way they dress. In college, we often stress over tests, relationship drama and the impending doom of being a real adult. Yet,
for a moment, none of that matters. There they are: the campus celebrities. They’re not special for any real reason, but that’s what makes them so special.
Despite the reputation St. Joe’s has acquired over the years, there is (surprisingly) not that much excitement at our small, private, Catholic institution. Sometimes a car winds up on Lannon Hall’s front step, but I don’t think that will be impacting many college decisions. But, there’s an unspoken excitement that comes from a brief connection with this random, celebrity stranger. I wonder who they truly are.
I ponder the mysteries of their existence. I’m sure if I just talked to them, they’d tell me, but where’s the fun in that? I give
them a life they haven’t lived and stories they can’t tell. Back in reality, I know they’re just a person in the same boat as me: eating lunch, going to class, trying to get through the day. Yet, for whatever reason, they make the monotony of life just a little less crushing. So, next time you feel down, invisible, unappreciated or whatever negative word you want to use when it’s just one of those days, remember: maybe you are someone’s campus celebrity.
Falcons fly over Hawk Hill
An
update on the birds on campus
MAGGIE STINSON ’25
Guest Columnist
Two peregrine falcons have recently been spotted frequenting different spouts on top of Barbelin Hall. First glimpsed towards the end of the spring 2024 semester, they seem to enjoy the view of students and can often be seen dining while perched in the area.
Peregrine falcons are some of the many birds affected by dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), an insecticide that causes damage to bird eggs. As such, these birds were listed as endangered for many years in Pennsylvania. Due to the efforts of conservation and environmental groups like the Peregrine Fund, as well as efforts from local communities, the population of these birds recovered. Peregrine falcons were taken off the federal endangered list in 1999 and Pennsylvania’s endangered list in 2021.
This process was greatly moved along by the use of something called “hacking.” Unlike computers, hacking in the environmental sense refers to the process of assimilating animals back into their natural habitat while limiting the amount of human interactions they have. Peregrine fledglings reintroduced into the environment through hacking typically have bands on their legs
featuring tracking numbers so data can be collected to ensure the safety and vitality of the species. Another way data can be kept on these birds is through the use of cameras in areas where they have nested. Due to the migratory nature of many peregrine falcon populations and the recent revitalization of their species,
peregrine falcons have been nesting on human-made structures in recent years, such as our very own Barbelin Hall.
Having birds nest on structures like buildings or bridges is not always ideal, as it can cause their eggs to be vulnerable to humans or diseases in the area. Luckily for our avian friends, it is not
their nesting season (mid-April to May), so they are safe to continue perching on Barbelin Hall as our very own wildlife ambassadors.
GRAPHIC: CARA HALLIGAN ’25/THE HAWK
CARTER KARPINSKI ’25
A photo of a peregrine falcon on the Hawk Hill campus. PHOTO: JOHN BRAVERMAN, PH.D., DIRECTOR OF
MAGGIE STINSON ’25
GRAPHIC: CARA HALLIGAN ’25/THE HAWK
Milton O’Brien ’25, an international business and marketing double major, is president of the University Student Senate. Originally from El Salvador, O’Brien first developed a passion for service, leadership and culture there. O’Brien said he chose to attend St. Joe’s in part because of an experience he had with St. Joe’s student volunteers who came to his town in El Salvador as part of a service immersion program run by the Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. After graduation, O’Brien plans to use his training in international business to travel, expand his knowledge of various cultures and pursue opportunities in philanthropy, especially in El Salvador and elsewhere in Latin America.
What is something about you that might surprise other people? I don’t play sports.
What is your favorite place on campus? Senate has an office, and it’s like a little lounge. I spend a lot of my time there.
If you could be a building on campus, what building would you be? Villiger.
Honestly, people may hate me because I was a resident of McShain, but I was an RA in Villiger for two years, so I got to know Villiger a little bit better.
Do you have a favorite celebrity, either on campus or otherwise? Rodney [Gould]. I’ve known Rodney for my four years at St. Joe’s. I shared meals with Rodney. He’s a really good support, too.
What do you most value in your friends?
Honesty and respect. A relationship can’t grow if you’re not honest.
Milton O’Brien
What is your most treasured possession? More philosophically, I think your heart and your mind are most precious possessions.
What do you think is your
Who is your hero? Or your My parents. I think it’s a common answer, but I feel like every time I have a little achievement, or something happens to me that’s really good, my parents have always had a lot of input.
What is your definition of happiness? Being okay with who you are and being able to enjoy the moment.
What is your biggest worry right now? Keeping up with everything that I put myself out to do.
What’s a word you hope people on campus would use to describe you? Friendly.
What’s on your bucket list to do in Philly, or on campus, before you graduate? Since freshman year, I’ve been wanting to do APEX.
Where would you most like to live after you graduate? I don’t want to settle down anywhere. I would like to work in different countries, see and explore.
What do you want to be when you grow up? I’m open to whatever comes to me, but there’s certain categories I want to hit in my career … being able to help others, using the money that I’m making to help people in El Salvador and Latin America.
Students advocate for cancer awareness on campus
‘It’s near and dear to my heart’
Students at St. Joe’s are taking a stand in the fight against cancer in their community and beyond, with the fall semester marking the beginning of St. Joe’s Hawk Hill chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS).
Founded in 1949, LLS works to raise funds and awareness for those suffering from leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Leukemia is cancer attacking blood cells, lymphoma is cancer attacking cells in the lymph system and myeloma is cancer attacking plasma cells. These diseases together form a wider range of cancers which all attack the circulatory system.
The St. Joe’s chapter on Hawk Hill seeks to connect interested individuals with the resources and mission of LLS.
Sierra Fretz ’25, chair of the chapter’s executive board, said her support of this cause is focused on improving standards of care.
“A big thing with LLS is patient quality and improving healthcare quality,” Fretz said. “That’s one of the things that I’ve really been interested in, especially with my family and some of the things that we’ve experienced, not with cancer but with other illnesses. Patient quality is something that really needs to be focused on within the healthcare field. That needs to be a main driver of how to treat patients and their families with respect.”
Maggie Jones ’25, PharmD ’27, executive chair for the University City campus’ chapter of LLS, has helped Fretz establish a connection with the larger operation and set up their presence on the Hawk Hill campus.
Jones cited St. Joe’s merger with the University of the Sciences as a challenge for the UCity chapter, but also as a great opportunity to spread the message of LLS to a new group of students.
“It hasn’t been easy,” Jones said. “The process has been hard, especially when we were in the middle of the merger … It’s tough. But, ultimately, I pushed it up to the Hawk Hill campus because we’re really trying to target undergraduate students to recruit for LLS on campus, and then we can work on expanding it more.”
Bridget Carter ’26, a member of the Hawk Hill’s chapter of LLS, got involved through the club’s interest meeting. She said some of the organization’s goals are to spread awareness about blood cancers and to be a voice for children with blood cancer.
“We have the Dare to Dream [Project], and this is specifically focused on pediatric cancer patients and working on advocating for them because, most of the time, these pediatric patients can’t advocate for themselves.”
Jones said that a great motivator for many people to get involved, herself included, was being personally affected
by leukemia and lymphoma.
“This disease is really, truly near and dear to some people’s hearts,” said Jones.
“It’s near and dear to my heart as a future pharmacist. My late grandmother, who I never got to meet, died of lymphoma. And then I have a father figure who’s like a second father to me. He currently has leukemia as well. It’s certainly a worthy cause.”
Carter, who has also been personally impacted by blood cancers, reinforced this.
“I have family, friends and family members that have been diagnosed with blood cancers,” Carter said. “And I think that being involved in this on campus is [a] great way to not only spread awareness, but also meet other people with like-minded goals to further different fundraising and different volunteer opportunities, both at St. Joe’s and for LLS in the general Philadelphia area.”
CLARE YEATMAN ’26 Special to the Hawk
GRAPHIC: STEPHANIE SAVELA ’25/THE HAWK
GAVIN KUEBLER ’25 Assistant Features Editor
PHOTO: MADELINE WILLIAMS ’26/THE HAWK
GRAPHIC: HANNAH PAJTIS ’26/THE HAWK
The rise of true crime
Features Columnist
The interest in true crime amongst Gen Z seems to be ever-increasing these days, with countless podcasts, TV show adaptations of real crime stories, and an abundance of documentaries covering many true crime cases. Social media, particularly TikTok, has played a significant role in this trend. Many of the platform’s creators speak about true crime stories, pulling in Gen Z along with other social media users with the emotional and often gruesome details of these narratives. Listed below are three adaptations of true crimes that have captured the attention of true crime fanatics.
“Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” – Erik and Lyle Menendez
The most recent case catching the eyes of many is the Menendez brothers case. “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,” the latest adaptation of the case created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan for Netflix, explores the story of Lyle and Erik Menendez, who were convicted for killing their parents, Mary Louise “Kitty” and Josè Menendez, Aug. 20, 1989. The brothers have served over three decades in prison, with most of that time being apart until they were reunited in the same prison in April 2018. From inside these walls, the brothers have tried to turn their lives around by providing help and change for fellow prisoners. Erik has worked with terminally ill inmates, taken classes in meditation and taught about religion. As for Lyle, he has worked on prison reform and has been a person of guidance and support for individuals who have also experienced childhood trauma and sexual abuse. Their story continues to grab the attention of many, and their future may change after new evidence has come to light.
“Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” – Jeffery Dahmer
The first season of Murphy and Brennan’s true crime Netflix series adapts the life of Jeffrey Dahmer, an American serial killer and sex offender. Dahmer killed 17 men and boys between the years of 1978 and 1991 and was sentenced to 16 consecutive life terms in 1992. He was later killed by an inmate in 1994. The Netflix portrayal of his life grabbed the attention of social media users through their TV screens. The show, which became one of Netflix’s biggest commercial successes, follows Dahmer from his thoughts and pursuits to his eventual downfall. This series was released around when interest in true crime went viral, taking advantage of the recent resurgence of true crime fascination.
“The Act” – Gypsy Rose Blanchard Gypsy Rose Blanchard was sentenced to 10 years in prison for facilitating the killing of her mother, Clauddine “Dee Dee” Blanchard, in 2015 after years of abuse. Blanchard was released on parole three years early, serving 85% of her sentence. Her story is portrayed in a true crime limited series called “The Act” on Hulu, created by Nick Antosca and Michelle Dean, which shows the abuse Gypsy Rose Blanchard went through at the hands of her mother. Since her release, Gypsy Rose Blanchard has brought her life to social media, grabbing the attention of young people. She shares her story online, providing insight into her experiences and journey toward healing.
Archives Unboxed: St. Joe’s College 1973 campus map
VICTORIA MIKATARIAN ’26
Special to the Hawk
A St. Joe’s campus map from 1973 is a trip back in time.
Now located in the St. Joe’s Archives Collection in Drexel Library, the paper map was originally located at the entrance to St. Thomas Hall, which housed the College Relations and Public Information offices in 1973. A red-lettered “YOU ARE HERE” label in the top right directs the reader to follow a long red arrow to St. Thomas.
The otherwise black-and-white map, titled “Saint Joseph’s College Campus Map,” contains a drawing of the Hawk Hill campus, with numbered buildings identified in a legend below. It also has streets and other areas of the map directly labeled on the drawing of the campus and surrounding streets: Samuel Gompers Elementary School, Tennis Courts, Finnesey Field (now Sweeney Field) and the Barnes Foundation. The university’s seal serves as the compass, with directional arrows pointing from it.
The legend identifies the names of 28 buildings as well as the location of academic departments. Some of the building names are familiar: Barbelin/ Lonergan, Bellarmine Building, Campion Center, Science Center. Others are not: Villiger Building later became Post Hall. The new-at-the-time Student Residence Center, which opened in 1970, later became Rider Hall and then LaFarge Hall. Three houses across Overbrook Avenue from the Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse (now Hagan Arena) were named Fortier Hall, Breen Hall and Lawler Hall. All three were residence halls.
There was no Post Learning Commons addition to Drexel Library, no McShain Hall, no Sourin Hall, no Maguire Campus — or University City campus or Lancaster campus, for that matter.
Academic departments have shifted around since 1973 as well. The Academy of Food Marketing (now in Mandeville) and the economics department (now in Barbelin Hall) were both in Villiger Building, though Bluett Theatre is still in its original location in that building. There was a Barber Shop on the first floor of Campion Center and a Coffee House on the ground floor of Barbelin.
In 1973, St. Joe’s had a student population of 5,764 students. It was the start of a decade of transition for St. Joe’s. David Burton, Ph.D., and Frank Gerrity, professors emeriti of history at St. Joe’s and authors of “Saint Joseph’s College: A Family Portrait 1851-1976,” describe 1970 as a “watershed year” for the university.
Women were admitted for the first time in 1970, and new residence halls had to be built to accommodate them, changing the campus’s physical profile. The Science Center would also be built in 1971.
The university was also in the midst of transitioning from a largely commuter school to a more residential one.
“Saint Joseph’s became a seven-day-aweek college,” Burton and Gerrity wrote. “Students were more likely to call it home, as they now came from more distant places. The light burned brightly from Cardinal Avenue to 54th Street.”
Carmen Croce ’71, director of the university press, attended St. Joe’s in those defining years.
“Everything changed when the campus went co-ed,” Croce said. “Many of us were very happy because it changed the whole tenor of the campus. The Jesuits were much easier to deal with. They were kind of thrown off their track because most of them had never taught women before and probably hadn’t had a whole lot of dealings with them.”
Black Student Union hosts Greek life event
“I think that Divine 9 Greek life is a really important part of Black culture and Black college culture, so I think it’s kind of imperative and just really, really important for our students to have the opportunity.”
-Sheridan Leak ’25, president of Black Student Union
Saint Joseph’s College campus map from 1973. PHOTO COURTESY OF DEBORAH LENERT
Taylor Ball ’25 and La Salle University student Mariatu Kebbay provide information about their sorority, Delta Sigma Theta, to La Salle University student Naomi Michel at the Black Student Union’s Meet the Greeks event Oct. 4. PHOTO AND REPORTING: ZACH PODOLNICK ’26/THE HAWK
OLIVIA GASPARRO ’27
Students play field games at the Black Student Union’s Meet the Greeks event, Oct 4.
PHOTO: MACKENZIE ROSS ’28/THE HAWK
On The Beat: ‘SOPHIE’
PARKER HAYDEN ’25
Special to the Hawk
There are a lot of mixed opinions on posthumous albums. While I try to be as open with my views as possible, I often fall into the camp of disliking posthumous releases. In recent memory, I’ve thought almost all albums released after an artist’s death have been either downright terrible or unmemorable. With no surprise, this is because when an artist dies, the work they leave behind is often unfinished. It’s almost as if you started a painting, completed half of the canvas and then went to someone else and asked them to finish the painting for you. Hypothetically, they could, but then that piece of art would not be the same as when you started.
This is all to say today’s review is on a posthumous release of the selftitled album “SOPHIE” by SOPHIE. It’s been three years since the tragic death of producer and songwriter SOPHIE, and the pop and electronic music scenes have not been the same since. The influence SOPHIE had over albums in the past decade was crucial and highlighted the reemerging hyperpop and dance scene in popular culture today. She’s probably best known for her work as a producer with Charli XCX, and the two were an unstoppable force. However, that force died three years ago, and looking at a year filled with arguably great pop, including what many consider the best pop album this year — Charli XCX’s “BRAT” — there were big shoes to fill for this release.
Unfortunately, those expectations just did not reach any heights at all. This album is 67 minutes long and has
almost no focus. Take the second track of the album, “RAWWWWWW,” as an example. The beat is degrading, and the vocal mixing is poor. Or, how about “Reason Why,” a song that, on paper, should work? But, it falls flat because of the Kim Petras feature, which is short and repetitive after the first two minutes of listening.
There were times before its release when many listeners assumed the album was only finished because money could be made, and they weren’t wrong. If you wanted to buy the vinyl for this album alone, it would set you back $40 in-store.
CROSSWORD: Oktoberfest
Even so, not everything is negative about this album, and there are some silver linings. The album picks up during its last quarter with songs like “My Forever” and “Love Me Off Earth.” But the question often remains: Is that saving anything? The answer is up for debate, and as a listener, you may love the sounds the album explores and may even want to have a conversation about them. That’s the great thing about music discourse, and it is through these discussions that SOPHIE’s impact on pop and electronic music lives on.
Across 3. Popular German sausage served at Oktoberfest
6. Foldable musical instrument with metal reeds and keys 7. A type of rhythmic brass music commonly played at Oktoberfest
8. German word for “cheers,” exclaimed during toasts
9. A thin pastry, often filled with fruit or cheese
Tunes for Red October
TESS MARGIS ’26 Features Reporter
There’s a chill in the air. The leaves are turning brown. Red October is back.
The Philadelphia Phillies are once again on the hunt for a World Series championship, this time as National League East champs. While this playlist may not rival Garrett Stubbs’ aux after a postseason win, fans can listen to these tracks as they tune into their TVs with the hope that this month will end with a parade down Broad Street.
“Winners Win” – Armentani Brothers (Philadelphia Phillies’ 2024 Official Post Game Mix)
After being the clubhouse DJ for the past two years, Stubbs was looking for something fresh to commemorate this year’s postseason. He found his solution when Northeast Philly natives and DJs George, Jimmie and John Armentani reached out to him. The brothers created a 50-minute-long mix that the Phillies have played in celebration after wins, which includes remixes of songs from Lil Uzi Vert, Meek Mill, The Weeknd and more.
“Flower” – Moby
Whether it’s sending his team to the World Series with a go-ahead two-run bomb or walking off a regular season game with a grand slam, Bryce Harper has proved to be a clutch player in big moments. Opposing pitchers can feel the intense excitement of the crowd when this song plays through the speakers as Harper walks up to the plate.
“Came Out Swinging” – The Wonder Years
When Ryan Howard tore his Achilles tendon during game five of the 2011 National League Division Series, fans knew the successful 2000s era of Phillies baseball had come to an end. The decade that followed was a dark age in the team’s history, until 2022, when they literally came out swinging. While it may not be about baseball, this song by Philly’s own The Wonder Years mirrors the years of heartbreak followed by newfound hope felt by Phillies fans.
“Dancing On My Own” – Calum Scott (Tiësto Remix)
After the results of the past two postseasons, this song has become a bit controversial. For some, it’s a postseason staple and a celebration of the team’s success after 10 years of missed playoffs. For others, it’s a reminder of a World Series loss followed by a choke in the National League Championship Series a year later. No matter what you think of it, it is undeniably a part of Phillies history.
GRAPHIC: STEPHANIE SAVELA ’25/THE HAWK
GRAPHIC: CARA HALLIGAN ’25/THE HAWK
KILEY O’BRIEN ’25 Assistant Features Editor
The Michkov Years
Flyers enter a new era in the 2024-25 season
MIA MESSINA ’25 Sports Editor
The rumors started May 19. Sport-Express, a Russian sports newspaper, was the first to start the conversation. All signs were pointing to Matvei Michkov being a Philadelphia Flyer in the 2024-25 season.
On the 50th anniversary of the Flyers’ 1974 Stanley Cup win, it looked like the “New Era of Orange” was officially underway.
Michkov signed an entry-level contract July 1 and officially landed on American soil July 23.
It was finally time. The season Flyers fans have been waiting for since the franchise drafted the Russian forward seventh overall in the 2023 draft was near.
During the preseason, Michkov put up seven points across four games (three goals, four assists). While the 19-year-old skater won’t be the solution to every issue the Flyers are looking to fix, he does seem to be the master key to unlocking multiple doors in problem areas for Philadelphia.
One area that Michkov can’t fix: goaltending.
Samuel Ersson went 23-19-7 for the Flyers last season, with a 2.82 goals against average and a .890 save percentage. Ivan Fedotov arrived in Philadelphia from the
Kontinental Hockey League in late March, playing in just three games. While both have the makings of what the Flyers need from a starting goalie, the two also have to prove themselves between the pipes and have to step up if the Flyers hope to improve on last season’s unexpected success as a team.
Jamie Drysdale, the 22-year-old blueliner the Flyers acquired from the Anaheim Ducks Jan. 8 as part of the Cutter Gauthier trade drama, is another member of the Flyers roster hoping to improve upon last season.
Drysdale played through 24 games last season with a sports hernia, a soft tissue injury in the lower abdomen. Drysdale underwent surgery in the summer to repair it. Now healthy, the sixth overall pick in the 2020 draft is expected to be a big contributor to the Flyers 2024-25 season.
Some other off-season moves by the Flyers included a number of contract extensions, including an eight-year, $70 million contract for alternate captain Travis Konecny, the team leader in points for the past three seasons.
Along with Konecny’s contract extension came a one-year extension for defenseman Erik Johnson, a trade deadline acquisition for the Flyers last season. The 36-year-old veteran brings championship experience to a rather young Flyers roster.
The Flyers’ core features a large number of players under 25, including the 18-yearold Jett Luchanko, the Flyers’ top prospect of the 2024 draft. With the roster now down to 24 players, Luchanko’s name has remained, a move that has garnered mixed reactions from fans but a unanimous sense of surprise. How this shakes out and whether Luchanko is just on a nine-game trial run or a new face on the Flyers roster remains to
be seen. While this still isn’t going to be “the year” for the Flyers, it certainly marks an important moment in their rebuilding timeline. They aren’t going to be Stanley Cup contenders this year, but the Flyers are going to be fun to watch again as they enter a season that is going to mark a significant part of Flyers history: the Michkov years.
GRAPHIC: MINDY CHOI ’25/THE HAWK
GRAPHIC: MIA MESSINA ’25/THE HAWK
Taking a shot against mental health stigmas
Field Hockey hosts Morgan’s Message game
MAXIMUS FISHER ’25 Sports Reporter
Simone Biles. Michael Phelps. Kevin Love. Naomi Osaka.
These are some of the professional athletes who have openly talked about their struggles with mental health. However, other athletes, whose names are often forgotten, do not have this same chance or platform, and some are only found to be struggling with mental health when it is too late.
In conjunction with Morgan’s Message, a non-profit organization that strives to create greater conversation around mental health within the athletic community, the St. Joe’s women’s field hockey team is utilizing their platform to continue this work on our own campus.
“I think, as athletes, you have a platform at your school,” said Maggie Dickman, an assistant coach for the St. Joe’s field hockey team. “You can use that for good. I think that’s what our players are trying to do with Morgan’s Message.”
Morgan’s Message was founded in 2020 after Morgan Rodgers, a collegiate lacrosse player at Duke University, lost her battle against her mental health and died by suicide in 2019 at the age of 22. The organization was founded by Rodgers’ closest friends and family so that student-athletes and others would not have to experience the same pain Rodgers did.
The organization aims to “amplify stories, resources and expertise to strengthen student-athlete mental health, build a community by and for athletes through peer-to-peer conversations and provide a platform for advocacy,” according to its website.
“I think it makes the greater public aware that athletes are more than just athletes,” said Caroline Brickley, a junior midfielder on the field hockey team and organizer of the Morgan’s Message game. “We’re people, we’re
students, we go to class, we all have friends outside of the team. So understanding that we’re more than just the people on the field and the people between the lines.”
Around 5% to 35% of all elite athletes struggle with a form of mental health disorder, according to the International Olympic Committee’s 2019 consensus statement. Of college athletes, around 10% to 25% are reported to have depression or eating disorders.
“A student-athlete carries multiple responsibilities that can make it more difficult to maintain a sense of health and well-being,” wrote Scott Sokoloski, Ph.D., director of St. Joe’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), in response to written questions from The Hawk.
Student-athletes face the pressures of performing both academically and athletically, in addition to societal stigma that exist surrounding mental health, Sokoloski wrote.
“There can also be a stigma involved that acknowledging mental health concerns is a sign of weakness, and one that they do not have time to deal with because their coaches and teammates (and sometimes what feels like the entire university) are counting on them,” Sokoloski wrote.
At St. Joe’s, the men’s and women’s lacrosse teams, the women’s soccer team and the field hockey team have all dedicated games to Morgan’s Message, as have many schools across the country, including Drexel University, Temple University and Bryn Mawr College.
“I think Morgan’s Message provides a connection between different schools that do the Morgan’s Message game,” Dickman said. “It provides an outlet outside of St. Joe’s.”
This connection across campuses allows for greater conversations, Dickman said. It also fosters relationships of trust between teammates and athletes at various colleges, which is pertinent for learning about and
destigmatizing mental illness.
“Educating ourselves does not only come from taking a class or reading an article,” Sokoloski wrote. “It is most powerful when it comes from someone we trust, who may be similar to us in some way, and their open conversation about their experiences. Peer to peer support is crucial in helping others overcome stigma.”
For the field hockey team, the Morgan’s Message game served as a reminder to check on their own mental health.
“We have a really long season that’s really demanding and takes a lot out of us,” Brickley said. “It’s really important for us to check back in with our mental health and know that we’re there for each other, and also that it’s not something that we should be afraid to talk about with each other.”
Mental well-being is a pillar of the field hockey team’s camaraderie, instilled by their coaches, Dickman said.
“We do a lot of check-in meetings with our team and our players,” Dickman said. “Every two weeks or so, we’ll have check-in meetings with them, just one-on-one with
the coach to make sure that they’re doing well in school and hockey, and just in life.”
With the dedication of their game to Morgan’s Message, the field hockey team looks to do what athletes do best: push those around them to get better, not only in athletics but in life, Brickley said.
“A lot of athletes and people who’ve been around sports just have that kind of internal feeling of motivation to just help people get better and help the people around them feel comfortable and support them,” Brickley 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, 866-799-2728
GRAPHIC: STEPHANIE SAVELA ’25/THE HAWK
Field Hockey wore special “Morgan’s Message” warmup shirts prior to their dedication game against Lock Haven, Oct. 4. PHOTO: MIA MESSINA ’25/THE HAWK
Women’s golf looks to ‘make a pathway’ for future Hawks
MIA MESSINA ’25 Sports Editor
Theresa Luu’s parents put her in a golf camp at seven years old. The two things she noticed were: She was the only girl there, and she was a lot better than most of the boys around her.
After switching to private lessons, Luu ’22 competed in the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour, the American Junior Golf Association Tour and at New Jersey and Philadelphia Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) events.
When it came time to make a college decision, Luu chose St. Joe’s, a university without a varsity women’s golf team.
“I played on the club team here, and then from coaching summer camp at my local golf course, Town & Country Golf Links, I realized, ‘Wait, I really like coaching,’” Luu said.
So, last October, when St. Joe’s announced the addition of a varsity women’s golf program that would start the following fall, Luu’s friends started sending her articles about it. Now, two years after graduation, Luu is at the helm of the Hawks’ first varsity women’s golf team.
“I emailed Jill [Bodensteiner, vice president and] director of athletics, and I said if there’s any way I can get involved — I wasn’t even sure if there was a head coach position yet — and she brought me in and explained how excited she was and how the whole athletics department was really excited,” Luu said. “After that, she asked if I was interested in head coaching, and I said yes, and here we are.”
Growing the game
The team is comprised of five women — three first-years, a junior and sophomore Olivia Cooper. The Hawks competed in their first NCAA Division I event Sept. 6-8 at the Bucknell Invitational.
When Cooper’s parents heard St. Joe’s was starting a women’s golf team, they were quick to encourage her to get involved. She was on the fence about joining, but Cooper said her parents reminded her the team would “be making history.”
“[I was] a little scared at first, of course, but I thought it would be a great opportunity for me,” Cooper said. “I made the decision to be a part of history.”
After being a part of the first girls’ golf team at her high school in Guilderland Center, New York, first-year Hanna Mitchell had similar sentiments.
“We’re trying to make a pathway for the future girls of women’s golf,” Mitchell said. “It’s a growing sport. It’s something great to be involved in. There’s a couple bumps in the road, but that’s how it’s going to go. I think what’s most important is we’re setting up a good foundation for a good program for years to come.”
Luu is focused on growing the women’s game, too.
“Since it’s a male-dominated sport, it can be very intimidating for young girls to get involved in it,” Luu said.
Luu, a Ladies Professional Golf Association-certified instructor, believes her history with the game and her experience as an active competitor allows her to connect with the women more.
“It’s really cool to be able to coach and also play at the same time,” Luu said.
“I think it’s really important to have a coach that understands the game, not just fundamentally in terms of technique, but also out on the course playing the mental side of it, because it is very challenging.”
Mitchell said the team also can talk with Luu about being Hawks.
“We’ll talk about the professors that we had; she’ll talk about her stories. So it’s a lot of fun,” Mitchell said. “Any questions that we have about the campus or the area around
campus, she knows that. She’s right there. She’s our biggest help on the course and off the course.”
Cooper said there is strength in having a small number of players on the team. It has allowed them to more easily become closer through meeting at the dining hall or finding other ways to spend time together.
“There’s a lot of, ‘Let’s meet at Campion,’ or ‘Who wants to meet at the swing room?’ or ‘Is anyone doing anything tonight? Does anyone need help?’ and just doing the little things together,” Cooper said.
‘Trial and error’
Luu said building this bond is helping teach “what being a competitive teammate [means] in the collegiate world of athletics.” It’s just one part of the learning process for all involved in the program.
“There are a lot of questions that I always have, and I’m unsure of where to go about it, or just even double checking if I’m doing this correctly,” Luu said. “The men’s coach, Terry [Scollin], has been a great help, too, since he’s played on the team and had
assistant coached for two years. Now, he’s the head coach. Him and I are really figuring it all out.”
She added: “It’s all trial and error. I don’t have a perfect program yet, and I’m figuring it out as we go. So really, just having the girls be patient has been really helpful.”
As the program begins to take shape, Luu said one of the areas she thought she’d struggle with, recruiting players, has been a pleasant surprise.
“Honestly, my emails have been flooded with a bunch of recruits. I get … four to five emails a day with new recruits, and it’s just been amazing,” Luu said. “I think St Joe’s is a really, really strong school academically and athletically, and I think a lot of girls are excited to see that there’s a women’s team started, and a lot of them want to be part of making history.”
An earlier version of this article was first published by the Philadelphia Inquirer Sept. 30 as part of the Inquirer’s college correspondent program.
Women’s golf head coach Theresa Luu on her time as a Hawk
Theresa Luu ’22 was announced as the head coach of the new St. Joe’s women’s golf team in January. At St. Joe’s, Luu earned a bachelor’s in marketing with a minor in communication studies. Luu was the social chair and pledge educator in Alpha Kappa Si, club golf president, a member of the Dean’s Leadership Program and a sister in Alpha Gamma Delta. The Hawk sat down with Luu to learn more about her time at St. Joe’s.
What was your favorite class you took at St. Joe’s? All of my marketing classes, specifically with Donna Falgiatore [MBA, adjunct professor of marketing]. We did a really fun project with her class.
What were your go-to meals on campus? When I would eat at DB [Food Court], I would get the chicken fingers. My Campion [Dining Hall] go-to was [the] salad bar or the omelet station.
What is the best dorm on campus? McShain [Hall] hands down. You get a
walk-in closet and laundry is on your floor. Shoutout McShain second floor.
What was your favorite memory on the second floor of McShain?
Oh, I have so many memories. One of our favorite memories was taking over the common room. We would do all sorts of games in there and hang out.
What was your favorite spot on Hawk Hill? Second floor, new side, [Drexel] Library. All the chitter chatter. Second floor new side was the best.
What was your favorite on-campus event you attended? Out of the Darkness walk, hosted by Dean’s Leadership. It was very meaningful because people from the community also joined,
it wasn’t just St. Joe’s students. You walk around and then you see all the names of the people on the bags, memorials of who you’re walking for. I really liked that because it was a campus event but also brought together the
Do you have any fun memories from your first-year orientation?
I loved orientation. I love meeting new people. I really liked getting to know my leaders. One of the girls I roomed with at orientation, we ended up being good friends in college, and we would always talk about, “Oh my gosh, remember we roomed together at orientation?”
What sports were your favorite to watch on Men’s lacrosse was fun because they did tailgating.
We were drawn to watch because of all the camaraderie. Men’s basketball was really fun, too. Watching the dance team perform was so fun. They were amazing, it’s so cool how they all move together in sync.
What slang or phrases were trending when you were at St. Joe’s? Swipe. “Where’s my swipe?” or “I lost my swipe.”
What is a song that reminds you of your college experience? Jason Derulo would always play ... “In My Head,” that’s the one.
What is one piece of advice you would give to current St. Joe’s students? Always say yes to new opportunities, whether they’re scary or they’re comfortable, always say yes. You never know what can come from them. Networking is your net worth. Always seek networking opportunities because after graduation, there’s always a Hawk everywhere you go, always.
MONICA SOWINSKI ’26 Sports Reporter
Sophomore Olivia Cooper at the 2024 Bucknell Invitational, Sept. 6-8. PHOTO COURTESY OF SJU ATHLETICS