PHOTOS: MADELINE WILLIAMS ’26/THE HAWK, GRAPHIC: MIA MESSINA ’25/THE HAWK AND ALLY ENGELBERT ’25/THE HAWK
GRAPHIC: CARA HALLIGAN ’25/THE HAWK
COMPLIED BY: MIA MESSINA ’25/THE HAWK
Student organization holds end-of-summer cookout
Patterson said the event was partially aimed at including international students so they could try American barbecue.
The Black Student Union (BSU) at University City hosted a beach cookout event on the quad at the UCity campus Oct. 3 where students could share food, participate in games and listen to music.
TaLeah Patterson ’26, UCity BSU president, said members of the organization wanted to squeeze in one last summer event.
“Since summer is ending, we wanted to do something before it gets cold,” Patterson said. “We have a lot of internationals here, so we thought we’d bring a fun activity for them.”
Hannah Skariya ’26, public relations chair for International Society, an organization that celebrates the diversity of UCity students, attended the BSU cookout and said the event is helpful in bringing new experiences to international students.
“You get to experience other things like new food,” Skariya said. “A lot of the foreign exchange students haven’t had American food. It’s also a good way to meet other people.”
Ryan Alim ’25, who attended the cookout,
said the cookout was enlightening because it gave him a space to hang out with friends, meet new people and listen to music in an atmosphere without pressure.
“I think music has a lot of power,” Alim said. “Right now, I think we are playing a lot more laid back but still enjoyable music. Everybody feels comfortable to talk, and you can still hear the music, but it’s background noise.”
Janorie Bucknor ’26, secretary of UCity BSU, served food to students and said it takes work to prepare for an event like this.
“We had to book The Quad, make sure we had the chairs and everything in time,”
Bucknor said. “You have to be ready for anything, but it always turns out beautifully, so it’s worth it.”
Bucknor and Patterson said they used Instagram, flyers, word of mouth and an e-mail list to spread the word about events on both Hawk Hill and University City campuses.
“I just hope that everyone will feel a sense of community,” Bucknor said. “There’s rumors that the campus is getting smaller but this is a testament that there’s still people here and we can all get together and enjoy each other, take a break from all the school work.”
Event promotes awareness of domestic violence
St. Joe’s Office of Student Support & Well-being encouraged students and faculty to wear purple in support of domestic violence survivors Thursday, Oct. 12, regarded nationally as “Purple Thursday.”
The color purple has been associated with women’s suffrage movements, and is meant to give a regal quality to survivors of domestic violence. Over one in three women and one in four men have experienced a form of relationship violence, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Days like Purple Thursday, which is a larger part of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, represent action taken for
victims of violence, said Chris Morrin, sexual misconduct prevention specialist of Student Outreach and Support.
“The main goals are, let survivors know that there’s help available, and then, for everyone else, encourage them to educate themselves and others and advocate for change,” Morrin said.
Morrin said relationship violence affects different types of people, and St. Joe’s has the resources to support those affected, such as SJU Green Dot, a bystander prevention program aimed at teaching people how to stop violence from occurring.
“We know these things happen,” Morrin said. “They happen too often, but they don’t have to keep happening at the level that they are.”
St. Joe’s holds interactive trainings on bystander intervention and healthy relationships in partnership with Laurel House, an agency based in Montgomery County that offers shelter, legal support, counseling and social work to help end domestic and dating violence.
Eve Johnson, the community education supervisor at Laurel House, said women aged 16-24 are the most likely to be victims of intimate partner violence, making it particularly important to educate people on college campuses.
“College campuses are a pretty unique place in that there are communities that are mostly made up of young people who are living on their own for the first time, who are navigating all sorts of different parts of life, including figuring out relationships,” Johnson said. “It’s a really great opportunity to introduce this culture shift.”
Johnson said people can help combat the issue by starting conversations.
“We have a place to stand up and call out harmful behaviors when we see it and to have conversations to change college norms — around drinking, around what is comfortable in relationships, around the way that people talk about sex and consent,” Johnson said.
News Reporter
COMPILED BY: LUKE SANELLI ’26/THE HAWK, GRAPHIC: STEPHANIE SAVELA ’26/THE HAWK GRAPHIC:
HAILEY LIPKA ’25 Special to the Hawk
SOPHIA
News Reporter
Documentary screening sparks discussion on identity
HANNAH PAJTIS ’26
Features Editor
When Beulah Mae Mitchell, one of Mattel’s first Black employees, was growing up, she was unable to find dolls that looked like her. After decades of work, Mitchell, alongside other Black women at Mattel, designed the first Black Barbie, a journey narrated through “Black Barbie: A Documentary,” which was screened in the Forum Theatre Oct. 17.
The film screening, hosted by the Women’s Center and Center for Inclusion and Diversity (CID), was followed by a discussion where viewers shared their opinions on the film and relayed personal experiences. The documentary explored a number of themes, including a lack of representation for women of color in toys and the importance of thoughtful and accurate representation.
Baylee Fingerhut ’26, who helped coordinate the event on behalf of the Women’s Center, said one theme that especially stood out to her was the role dolls play in influencing a child’s view of themself.
“One key takeaway that I had from the film was how important representation is in young children when they’re developing and how detrimental it can be when they feel like they’re not represented in media or specifically, in imaginary play,” Fingerhut said.
Aisha Lockridge, Ph.D., associate professor of communication and media studies and facilitator of the film’s discussion, said she hopes the event informed individuals who may have not been familiar with Black Barbie about the doll and her story.
“I think a lot of people don’t know that there’s a Black Barbie, so that would be [my takeaway] for my wider audience,” Lockridge said. “And then I would say for my girls of color to realize that there have been really interesting and intense conversations about what that Black Barbie should look like.”
Lockridge said films like “Black Barbie: A Documentary” are especially important for college students to view because they help contextualize topics young people may already be talking about on social media.
“I feel like showing movies like this gives context, gives more information, gives history, gives a sociological lens, an economic lens,” Lockridge said.
Anjana Mosakowski ’27, a student worker for the Women’s Center who attended the screening, said she believes events like this are important because they prompt students to consider perspectives they may have not
reflected on before.
“I think it’s a good message in general to also acknowledge there’s another side,” Mosakowski said. “[There’s] always another argument, always another point of view.”
Sophia Bertsch ’27, another student worker for the Women’s Center present at the screening, said although she personally saw herself and her experiences reflected in the 2023 film “Barbie,” “Black Barbie: A
Film sessions deconstruct AAPI stereotypes
‘It creates opportunity for everyone to grow’
KILEY O’BRIEN ’25
Assistant Features Editor
St. Joe’s sixth Day of Dialogue, hosted Oct. 22, featured 14 sessions highlighting the short film “In the Visible,” directed by Natasha Lee and produced by Lucia Tran. In the film, members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community discuss anti-AAPI racism they’ve experienced and dissemble stereotypes.
Film sessions were facilitated by members of the St. Joe’s community who submitted proposals in the months prior.
Amber Abbas, Ph.D., associate professor of history and the director of the Asian Studies Program, co-hosted a session called “Between Hypervisible and Invisible: Asians in America.” Abbas said this session aimed to build conversations surrounding the generalization of the Asian American experience.
“When we’re talking about Asian Americans, we both have to understand these histories of strategic exclusion, but then also the really substantial
contributions that Asians and Asian Americans have made to American society,” Abbas said. “Perhaps most importantly, we must get away from the idea that there is an ‘Asian American’ that has a set of predictable characteristics.”
The short film discusses the “model minority myth,” which is the misconstrued notion that Asian Americans are all successful and well-adjusted in American society.
Connor Peterson ’25, who co-hosted the session with Abbas, said this myth is harmful because it diminishes the struggles Asian Americans face.
“The issue with the model minority myth is that, by focusing on only the success stories, it minimizes the challenges of discrimination that Asian Americans face,” Peterson said.
“In The Visible” was selected for this semester’s film sessions because it features Asian Americans sharing their own stories, wrote Jill Welsh, a Day of Dialogue cochair and director of the Faith-Justice Institute, in response to written questions from The Hawk.
“For all of us who want to learn about an identity, injustice, social condition, etc., that is different from our own, we need to go to sources and people who want to share their story,” Welsh wrote. “We can’t just go to anyone and think we deserve to hear their story.”
Welsh also emphasized the importance of active participation and the creation of a space where the community can engage in discussion freely.
Documentary” allows others who may have not felt represented to “connect directly to intellectual material.”
“I think identity is not complete without intersectionality, and this event is just acknowledgement of that,” Bertsch said.
“The hope for the film session and, really, all of the Day of Dialogue sessions, allows our SJU community to better appreciate how we need to take time to listen, learn and dialogue if we want to create a community of belonging,” Welsh wrote.
Abbas said these discussions around stereotypes are especially important for students of St. Joe’s to understand engaged
Currently in Pop Culture: Victoria’s Secret
OLIVIA GASPARRO ’27
Features Columnist
The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is back in full force. The show is an annual promotional event sponsored by Victoria’s Secret, a brand of lingerie and undergarments. From 1995 to 2024, the brand used the show to market its products in high-profile settings. Featuring iconic models such as the Hadid sisters and Barbara Palvin, this show is what some people call their “Super Bowl.”
citizenship in a globalized world.
“When we learn to see people, when we learn to be curious about people as individuals instead of as objects represented by a stereotype, it creates opportunity for everyone to grow on every side of that interaction,” Abbas said.
Cancellation
In 2019, the brand canceled its show for the first time since its inception. The cancellation stemmed from criticism for their
History of Victoria’s Secret Roy Raymond, after shopping for his wife and often finding dull, old-fashioned lingerie, founded Victoria’s Secret in 1977, with the name and original stores inspired by Queen Victoria and Victorian-era boudoirs. The now-billion dollar company debuted its first Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show to the world 18 years later in 1995, changing the lingerie industry forever. This show portrayed lingerie as a fashion statement and a way of empowerment for women, but it overall lacked diversity, facing criticism for its failure to represent individuals of color, plus-size models and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
lack of inclusivity and allegations of sexual misconduct from company executives amid the #MeToo movement, a global campaign against sexual violence. These allegations resulted in the company’s lowest viewership in history at their 2018 show, leading to the six-year hiatus.
Rebrand
In 2021, Victoria’s Secret attempted to turn around its brand by making an effort to redefine not just the brand, but also the idea of what ‘sexy’ is. The lingerie brand collection featured women for their career achievements rather than their physical appearances. The list included
soccer star Megan Rapinoe and plussize model Paloma Elsesser, marking a shift in who is represented by the brand. Although the sincerity behind these efforts has been called into question, these steps reflect Victoria’s Secret plans to become, as its Chief Executive Officer Martin Waters said, an “advocate” for female empowerment.
GRAPHIC: STEPHANIE SAVELA ’25/THE HAWK
Tricia Nicoletti ’27 contributed to this article.
Documentary” in the Forum Theater Oct. 17. PHOTO: ZACH PODOLNICK ’26/THE HAWK
Education reforms promote inequality
CAROLINE TRIMBLE ’26 Hawk Columnist
Project 2025 aims to shift the control of the United States’ education system back to the states. By arguing that this approach promotes parental choice, proponents of the plan ignore its harmful effects on vulnerable students, public education and civil rights legislation.
Title I has provided higher poverty school districts with necessary funding since 1965, and is essential in ensuring public schools have the resources to educate their students. Project 2025 would convert Title I’s federal assistance into block grants, meaning states will no longer be obligated to allocate funds to the schools accustomed to receiving assistance. According to the Center for
American Progress, the end of Title I would accompany a loss of nearly 180,300 teaching positions, affecting over 2.8 million students in the U.S.
Project 2025 also proposes eliminating the Head Start program, arguing it is “fraught with scandal and abuse.” This program, which served about 833,000 people in the fiscal year of 2022, provides school meals and access to free child care to those in under-resourced communities. Eliminating Head Start would result in millions of children facing food insecurity and further exacerbate the lack of affordable child care.
Project 2025’s education reforms also seek to roll back civil rights protections for LGBTQIA+ students. Currently, Title IX prohibits discrimination based on “sexual orientation and gender identity,” but the educational reforms proposed in Project 2025 liken this supposed liberal
The Florida paradox
“transgender ideology” to the “sexualization of children” and deem it pornographic. The document further states that educators who use materials that address transgender identities should be “registered as sex offenders.” Project 2025’s reforms also deny students the right to use their chosen name in school. This restriction of human rights will lead to increased legal discrimination against LGBTQ+ students, creating a hostile learning environment for many. The reforms to the Department of Education proposed by Project 2025 undermine essential funding and programs that support low income communities and strip civil rights protections away from students. These major shifts in education will be detrimental to the most vulnerable of school districts, widening the gap between resourced and underfunded schools.
How money is replacing climate change concerns
BEN VANELLI ’25 Guest Columnist
In Scott McRobert’s, Ph.D., 9 a.m. environmental science lecture, phones and laptops are placed inside of book bags, and the only things on students’ desks are pens, notebooks and, sometimes, a coffee. Dr. McRobert loves to talk about the turtles in his lab as he reads to us from his slides. At least once a week in this class that sparks unflinching climate anxiety and shows images of destroyed ecosystems, he reminds us this is all happening because of money.
Recently, Florida was ravished by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, two storms whose effects were intensified by climate change. The extremity of these storms stands in stark contrast to action taken by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in May,
when he signed a bill that not only dismisses the effects of climate change but actively enhances them.
The bill prioritizes the use of natural gas and supports nonrenewable energy sources, which will only worsen conditions in a state already ravaged by intense heat, storms and flooding. It seems almost paradoxical that DeSantis would sign bills that could contribute to worsening climate conditions, especially since 90% of Floridians believe in climate change. If sea levels continue to rise, it is projected that by 2050, over 14,620 homes in Miami-Dade County alone will be at risk and the county will suffer over $8.7 million in property damages.
It seems like an obvious pun to make, but “going green” means a much different thing to politicians backed by oil tycoons than it does to people who are actively being affected by climate change. This was especially true when DeSantis was signing
Two ears, one mouth
bills that actually protected Florida’s coast before launching his 2024 presidential campaign. On either side of the political spectrum, politicians will do anything they can to either stay in power or gain more, and this almost always depends upon who is investing money in them. In this next election cycle, let’s remember that our public servants are who we trust to protect us from danger and threats, and there’s no greater threat to humanity than climate change.
The art of L: Talking less and listening more
SAHR KARIMU ’26 Photographer
In the Jewish tradition, to hear another person’s words is a greatly important act. In the Bible, Jesus says the line, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” In fact, this sentiment appears several times throughout the Bible. I need to take a page from this book. I need to focus on hearing and on listening.
In my short life so far, I’ve learned a couple of things about myself: I love wisdom, and I love people. I enjoy sharing the wisdom I stumble upon with the people in my life whenever possible. I hold wisdom to be a treasure; how selfish would it be for me to keep it all to myself? But I’ve been thinking recently. Perhaps it may be wiser to talk less. My good friend is
like this. Let’s call her L. She’s pensive and reserved — quiet. She thinks a lot. She’s inspired me. I’m going to stop talking as much and listen more. I’m going to hear with these ears of mine.
“We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.” This proverb is mainly attributed to the stoic philosopher, Epictetus. It’s quite useful in our everyday dialogue. When we listen, we will start to realize the world is singing a quiet song. When we quiet our mouths and our minds, this song becomes louder; our empathy becomes greater. When we listen, we no longer become fountains spouting forth but basins ready to receive.
And so I will practice “the art of L.” In my walk of faith with Christ, this is especially important for me to do so — it is incredibly important for me to hear and to listen. Oftentimes, I sit and make
requests to God, but I listen to him way less than I ought to. Truly, the more I listen to the beautiful world around me, hear its people and listen to God, the more wisdom and treasure I will uncover.
GRAPHIC: CARA HALLIGAN ’25/THE HAWK
GRAPHIC: STEPHANIE SAVELA ’25/THE HAWK
GRAPHIC: STEPHANIE SAVELA ’25/THE HAWK
Editorial: Women’s basketball deserves support
Some schools have football or baseball as the “crown jewel” of their athletics program, the main team to which students’ passions and fanhood are channeled. At St. Joe’s, our area of sports pride is basketball. Legions of past and present students can attest to the unrivaled enthusiasm at St. Joe’s for basketball that transcends individual players or seasons.
Recently, there has been a profound shift occurring in the world of professional athletics, with a new outgrowth of support for women’s basketball. There is widespread enthusiasm for emergent stars such as Caitlin Clark, the standout player
“The key is to create a culture of genuine and generational enthusiasm in which the extraordinary feats of women athletes.”
who led the University of Iowa to their championship game in March Madness earlier this year, and Angel Reese, who has contributed to record-breaking attendance and meaningful coverage of women’s basketball. While there is still substantial work to be done in uplifting women’s athletics in sports traditionally associated with men, this recent progress indicates a promising
opportunity for growth — one which colleges nationwide, including the St. Joe’s community, can embrace.
As the St. Joe’s women’s basketball team seeks to build on their historic season from last year, setting the record for most wins in program history, it would be a major boost to see St. Joe’s collective pride fully manifested to support them. However, generating
interest and passion for women’s sports isn’t as simple as just telling fans to go to more games. The key is to create a culture of genuine and generational enthusiasm in which the extraordinary feats of women athletes are seen as just that, rather than as a sideshow to the men’s teams.
No single fan or team can change this disparity alone, but the St. Joe’s community can, and should, continue this momentum, demonstrating how women’s teams are just as fundamental to the college sports experience.
A brief history lesson on St. Joe’s basketball A satire on the university’s infamous basketball record
KARPINSKI ’25
Columnist
Like all other sports, basketball was probably invented right here in Philadelphia. For a long time, it was called the “ball-in-basket” game until the term “basketball” was famously coined by Philadelphia 76ers center player Joel Embiid. The first varsity basketball team in St. Joe’s history played their inaugural season in 1909-1910. They were coached by John Dever, a man so synonymous with basketball that when you Google him, you only get results for John Denver, the singer.
The first season of St. Joe’s basketball ended with a winning record of 10-6, according to the Saint Joseph’s Men’s Basketball Record Book. Not bad, until you take a closer look at the game logs: the first ever game played by a St. Joe’s varsity basketball team ended in a 19-5 loss to a local high school called “Catholic High.” That’s right, a whole five points. To be fair, basketball in 1909-1910 looked very different from what we are used to today. There was no three-point line, shot clock, athleticism or skill required.
The NBA wouldn’t even exist for another 40 years. At this time, the only exciting thing to do was go to baseball games, eat cans of sardines and listen to the radio. It was a dark time.
The rivalry between Villanova University and St. Joe’s is talked about a lot, yet we neglect our first-ever, true rival: Catholic High. Between 1909 and 1917, we played 12 games against Catholic High and only won five. Two of those wins didn’t even have the statistics recorded, losing the truth of history to time. After our first loss to them, St. Joe’s lost the next four rematches as well. It was not until the 1911-1912 season that we seized our first win against Catholic High in a 24-22 barnburner.
The fledgling basketball program had many opponents including the Pennsylvania Institute of the Deaf, a seminary, multiple high schools, the Atlantic City YMCA, “Philadelphia Textile” (which I really hope is just a textile factory) and some place called “Temple.” We’ve truly come a long way since the beginning of our basketball journey.
CARTER
GRAPHIC: CARA HALLIGAN ’25/THE HAWK
Jared Gravely ’25, a.k.a. “the Grizz,” is a sports marketing major who started emceeing St. Joe’s men’s and women’s basketball games last season. He got the gig after Rachel Novotny, assistant athletics director for marketing, sent him an email asking to meet. “I’m like, oh boy, I’m in trouble. They heard me chirping,” Gravely remembered. But that wasn’t the case. The SJU Athletics staff wanted to give him a chance to do something he’s really good at: cheering on athletes and supporting his peers. This year, women’s soccer hired him to announce the team’s starting lineup at their home games on Sweeney Field. After graduation, the Philadelphia native hopes to remain close to home, working full-time in athletics.
Why do you think people consider you a campus celebrity? My friendly persona and my yap.
Do you have your own favorite campus celebrity? Chris Newman. He’s a junior and the new Hawk for the women’s basketball team. We pick each other’s brains every now and then.
What about a celebrity not on campus? My idol, my mentor, Eddie Murphy. I see myself in him.
Jared Gravely
Who are your heroes? My parents. They’ve sacrificed everything to get me to this point.
I work with kids. I’m a camp counselor. I coach when I can. I was glad to have a nice upbringing, I want kids to have the same
What has been your favorite memory of emceeing so far? The first time I was on the microphone was the men’s basketball team’s first game last year. Everyone was just shocked. ‘Jared is on the mic?’ That was big for me.
What is your biggest worry for the season? I like a crowd. You’ll get those crowds at the men’s games but at the women’s games, it’s a shame. Both teams are equally good. So that is my one worry.
What are you most looking forward to this upcoming basketball season? Year four, my last ride. I know the teams are gonna give it all they got, but personally, I got a few tricks up my sleeve.
CARLINA HERSHOCK ’26
Special to the Hawk
PHOTO: MADELINE WILLIAMS ’26/THE HAWK
GRAPHIC: HANNAH PAJTIS ’26/THE HAWK
Women’s Big 5 coverage lacking despite growing interest
MIA MESSINA ’25 Sports Editor
Women’s basketball came to play last March and made history. For the first time ever, the Women’s March Madness tournament drew more viewers to the televised games than the men’s tournament.
Caitlin Clark and Iowa’s championship game against South Carolina garnered an average of 18.7 million views compared to an average 14.82 million people who tuned in for the men’s championship game.
For St. Joe’s women’s basketball head coach Cindy Griffin ’91, MBA ’93, the timing could not be better. A combination of fan interest, sponsorships and media coverage make “the perfect storm” for women’s basketball to explode, she said.
“We’ve always been competitive, and we’ve always had a lot of talent. Now I think we’re getting more exposure,” Griffin said. “You see women’s basketball taking off, but we really just need the backing of media partners and sponsorship.”
But getting more media coverage of women’s basketball is easier said than done. Griffin would know. The Women’s Big 5 was less than a decade old when she began playing for St. Joe’s in 1987. She has now coached in the Big 5 for 24 years.
Men’s Big 5 basketball — made up of St. Joe’s, Villanova, La Salle, Temple, University of Pennsylvania and the recent addition of Drexel — dates back to 1955. Women’s Big 5 arrived in 1980 after Mel Greenberg, a Philadelphia Inquirer women’s basketball writer, and Jim Foster, a former St. Joe’s women’s basketball coach, came up with the idea. They talked it up with other coaches and sports information directors at a bar where they all used to hang out in Center City Philadelphia, Greenberg said.
But in the nearly 45 years that Men’s and Women’s Big 5 have co-existed, local media outlets have always paid more attention to the men.
Last season, in its coverage of all six Big 5 schools, the Philadelphia Inquirer ran roughly 150 more articles about Men’s Big 5 teams than women’s, from schedule releases in September to the closing of the transfer portal in May.
Most of the schools averaged 10 to 12 more Inquirer stories about their men’s teams, including St. Joe’s. La Salle’s men had double that, though, with about 30 stories covering men’s basketball and about 10 stories covering women’s. Villanova teams had the most disparity in coverage, with close to 130 stories on the men’s team compared to about 50 stories on the women’s.
But is the lack of media coverage due to disinterest in women’s basketball? Or does the lack of coverage feed disinterest?
“It’s almost a little bit like the chicken or the egg question,” said Christy Selagy ’15, M.A. ’17, a former sports editor for The Hawk. “It’s sort of cyclical. I think that you need that interest, but you also need to bolster it with coverage.”
Selagy, now a communications specialist at the University of Delaware and senior contributor for City of Basketball Love, an online publication that covers high school and college basketball in the Philadelphia area, said she believes that in “a basketball city” like Philadelphia, there is already a baseline interest there for the media to capitalize on.
“This isn’t some really niche thing where only five people care,” Selagy said. “There’s probably thousands of people just in this metro area that really care about women’s basketball, but you can definitely build that up, build up more of a community and find new fans when you expand coverage.”
Josh Verlin, editor-in-chief for City of Basketball Love, started the publication in 2012, the same year he graduated from Temple. Eight years later, in 2020, City of Basketball Love added coverage of women’s and girl’s basketball. Verlin said while he wanted to cover women’s basketball from the start, he initially didn’t have the bandwidth or the resources. So, rather than doing a few token stories each year, he waited until the publication could fully support women’s coverage.
Verlin said while women’s basketball is now “coming of age, entering the mainstream,” local coverage has not necessarily followed.
“It feels like the Philadelphia media is generally largely ignoring it,” Verlin said. “But that’s partly because of a larger trend where the Philadelphia media is largely ignoring the Big 5, even on the men’s side.”
One of the problems, he said, is budget cuts. At a moment when women’s basketball is primed for more press, the press is not there.
“A lot of the local news outlets that previously covered the Big 5 have been significantly cutting back on their resources,” Verlin said.
For many years, Philadelphia Inquirer sports writer Mike Jensen focused primarily on Philadelphia’s college scene. Jensen held this position for three decades before retiring in 2023. Jeff Neiburg took over the role but divides his attention between
college hoops and the Philadelphia Eagles. Now, the bulk of the Inquirer’s college coverage comes from interns.
Villanova junior Katie Lewis, co-sports editor of The Villanovan and an intern for the Inquirer, said since becoming The Villanovan’s sports editor last year, she has made efforts to highlight the Villanova women’s team.
“Not only were they doing better than the men’s team late this season, but I just love covering the team,” Lewis said. “I thought it was really fun and important to highlight women’s sports.”
Lewis, who included a women’s preview in the printed paper each week last season, is in charge of writing about the women’s team for The Villanovan. Her co-sports editor, senior Owen Hewitt, writes about the men. Lewis said this is one of the ways The Villanovan “made sure that both the teams got equal coverage.”
“That was one of my main things I wanted to do as sports editor, because I think both the teams get a lot of attention from Villanova fans,” Lewis said. “It wouldn’t really be fair to have twice as much men’s coverage, especially when there are a lot of things happening with the women’s team.”
Despite her efforts, the men’s articles usually generated more traffic on The Villanovan website, Lewis said, particularly
with events such as the Big 5 Classic.
This season, the Women’s Big 5 will follow the new format of the Men’s Big 5, which was implemented last year. The six schools in the Big 5 are divided into pods of three, facing off with each of the teams before a final triple-header classic at Villanova’s Finneran Pavilion.
Griffin said the new format will help garner more interest in the women’s games as well. In the past, the teams each faced off, and the title was based on record, sometimes leading to two or more of the universities finishing on top. Now, the pods and tournament structure make it more of an official title, held by only one program.
Griffin is confident that Philadelphia fans loyal to their college teams will continue to support the growth of women’s Big 5 basketball in the city.
“This area is hungry for college basketball, but also now women’s basketball,” Griffin said.
Mia Messina ’25 is part of the Philadelphia Inquirer’s College Correspondence Program.
This article is the first story in a series focused on women in college sports media and the issues they are facing.
GRAPHIC: MIA MESSINA ’25/THE HAWK
GRAPHIC: MIA MESSINA ’25/THE HAWK
Cindy Griffin ’91, MBA ’93 is entering her 24th season as the head coach for the Hawks.
CineHawk: ‘Air’
JAYLEN DOTSON ’21 Hawk Staff
Dramatizing the true story of Nike’s partnership with Michael Jordan, “Air” is a 2023 sports biopic written by Alex Convery and directed by Ben Affleck. The film stars Matt Damon, Affleck, Chris Messina, Jason Bateman, Damian Delano Young and Viola Davis. It is currently streaming exclusively on Amazon Prime.
The story centers on Damon’s Sonny Vaccaro, a basketball talent scout employed by Nike in 1984. Faced with the imminent closure of his division due to declining sales, Vaccaro and his co-workers are desperate to find an NBA star to endorse the shoe line. Vaccaro’s prayers are answered when he glimpses the generation-defining talent of Michael Jordan, played by Young, putting his career on the line to recruit the rising star.
At first glance, the story of how Nike executives recruited Michael Jordan reeks of creative bankruptcy and corporate propaganda. Yet, Convery’s script adeptly humanizes these characters, emphasizing their love of the game and their personal stakes in seeing this deal go through. As devoted as this film is to the intricacies of an athletic endorsement deal, it is still comprehensible to audiences who may lack in-depth knowledge of the industry.
The film’s compelling story is elevated by Ben Affleck’s direction, which makes last-minute business deals as exciting as a championship game. The pacing is quick and urgent as the executives scramble to iron out their pitch, but is capable of slowing down for moments of introspection that further connect viewers to the characters. Affleck also makes the unintuitive but inspired
choice to keep “His Airness” — Jordan — out of focus and only seen from behind to effectively communicate his mythical status to the audience.
Bringing these legendary figures of basketball history to life is an all-star cast with talent to match their fame. Damon makes Vaccaro easy to root for as viewers watch him gamble his livelihood on an impossible deal. Doubling as an actor, Affleck brings comedic relief in his portrayal of Phil Knight as an eccentric CEO who, nevertheless, proves his worth when it’s necessary. Viola Davis is a commanding
CROSSWORD: Slam dunk
presence as Deloris Jordan, and Chris Messina steals every scene as the foulmouthed David Falk.
“Air” is an exciting and inspirational tribute to the enduring legacy of Michael Jordan.
Across 6.An uncontested shot awarded to the team struck by a foul.
7.A Congolese-American center who is the first and only player to win the NBA’s J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award twice.
8.A Philadelphia-born NBA center who stood at 7’1” and played in the NBA for 14 seasons.
9.A rising WNBA star credited with generating a newfound interest in the sport after her 2024 debut for the Indiana Fever.
10.Home of the Globetrotters, an NBA parody team that incorporates slapstick comedy into the sport.
Down
1.An illegal move involving the use of two hands. 2.“__________ is my favorite sport. I like the way they dribble up and down the court” (Kurtis Blow lyric).
3.Nickname for Ann McGraw, a St. Joe’s alumna who went on to coach the Notre Dame women’s basketball team for 33 years.
4.Film series in which Michael Jordan and LeBron James got the chance to star alongside Bugs Bunny.
5.A YMCA educator and coach credited with the invention of basketball.
Basketball season
TESS MARGIS ’26 Features Reporter
It’s almost basketball season on Hawk Hill! Soon, fans will pour into Hagan Arena to root for their beloved team. After seeing the men’s team go 14-3 at home and the women’s team appear at the Women’s Basketball Invitational Tournament last year, fans have high hopes for this season. Get into the basketball spirit with these tunes.
“Seven Nation Army” – The White Stripes In the fall of 2003, fans of Club Brugge KV, a Belgian professional soccer league, started chanting the riff of “Seven Nation Army” during a Champions League match against AC Milan. Since then, it’s spread like wildfire to every sporting event imaginable. Two decades later, the now-iconic riff can get any crowd’s head in the game.
“Just Wanna Rock” – Lil Uzi Vert
Philadelphia native Lil Uzi Vert’s viral hit “Just Wanna Rock” peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and is 4x RIAA Platinum certified. Since its release in 2023, it’s become a crowd favorite at parties and sporting events. The fast, energetic beat of the song will have fans on their toes as they watch the Hawks.
“The Thrill” – Wiz Khalifa and Empire of the Sun
If you want a song that reflects the crowd’s good mood when their team is winning, look no further than “The Thrill.” Wiz Khalifa’s voice over Empire Of The Sun’s instrumentals and backing vocals is a go-to for a good time, perfectly fitting the scene of a celebrating audience. It’ll be impossible not to dance along to this song after a Hawks win.
“Heart of Glass” – Blondie
The signature guitar riffs and fast drums of “Heart of Glass” are sure to energize any basketball fan before entering Hagan. The song’s nostalgic melody and upbeat pace, alongside Debbie Harry’s powerful voice, will make old and new basketball fans alike get on their feet and cheer our team to victory.
GRAPHIC: STEPHANIE SAVELA ’25/THE HAWK
GRAPHIC: CARA HALLIGAN ’25/THE HAWK
GAVIN KUEBLER ’25 Assistant Features Editor
Men’s top five games to watch
Villanova (Tuesday, Nov. 12, 5 p.m.)
The “Holy War” is a must-watch game any year, but coming off a St. Joe’s victory last season, the excitement is even more palpable as the Hawks look to do it again. This time, St. Joe’s will have home-court advantage as the Wildcats come to Hagan Arena. In addition to securing bragging rights in a bitter rivalry, this game is also going to be essential in helping the Hawks return to the title game of the Men’s Big 5 Classic Dec. 7 at the Wells Fargo Center, with the hopes of defending last year’s title.
VCU (Friday, Jan. 17, 7 p.m.)
Princeton (Tuesday, Dec. 3, 7 p.m.)
Last season, St. Joe’s topped Princeton 74-70 in what was one of the most exciting non-conference games of the season for the Hawks. Princeton came in undefeated in last season’s game before St. Joe’s handed them their first loss. This season, Princeton is top of the Ivy League preseason poll, so expectations for the Tigers are just as high. If the last faceoff between St. Joe’s and Princeton is any indication of what’s to come this year, be prepared not just for a highly competitive mid-major showdown but also for an electricity in Hagan that is second to none.
After losing to VCU in the semi-finals of the Atlantic-10 tournament last year, the Hawks will get their rematch early in their conference slate. St. Joe’s has lost their last seven games against the Rams, who are atop the A-10 preseason standings. If the Hawks hope to build upon last season, finally snapping their unlucky streak against VCU is a key to doing so. With this game being an important A-10 matchup for St. Joe’s, it’s also a must-watch for any Hawks fan.
Dayton (Friday, Jan. 24, 7:30 p.m.)
Dayton is another conference team that has high expectations going into this season, and another team the Hawks have not had much recent success against. Last season’s faceoff resulted in a 94-79 loss, marking the fourth consecutive loss in the Hawk’s history with the Flyers. Just as with VCU, the Hawks must look to win this season as they hope to improve their conference record from last year’s .500 conference slate. Fans should be watching to see how the Hawks pull this off.
Richmond (Saturday, Feb. 22, 12:30 p.m.)
After dropping a game to Richmond in the regular season, the Hawks beat the Spiders 66-61 in the quarterfinals of the A-10 tournament last year. Richmond was the top seed going into the tournament and were upset by the ninth seed St. Joe’s. The regular season A-10 champions will make their way to Hagan Arena for a Saturday matinee game where the Hawks will hope to continue their success against the Spiders in the new season.
Women’s top five games to watch
Utah (Friday, Nov. 22, 9 p.m.)
The Utes and the Hawks met for the first time last season when St. Joe’s received its first loss after an 8-0 start. While St. Joe’s trailed from tip-off and Utah pulled away in the fourth quarter to secure the 74-48 win, the Hawks hung in for a little against their nationally ranked opponent. The Utes’ season ended after a second-round exit in the NCAA tournament last year. If the Hawks hope to find themselves dancing in March, they’ll have to prove themselves against opponents like Utah. Fans will have to tune in to see how they fare.
VCU (Sunday, Dec. 29, 2 p.m.)
Villanova (Sunday, Dec. 1, 2 p.m.)
After a seven-game losing streak against Villanova, St. Joe’s defeated the Wildcats 73-67 in the regular season. This win secured them at least a share of the Big 5 title. When the two teams met again in the quarter-finals of the WBIT, it was Villanova who came out on top. This season, the game between the two schools will mean more than just the Wildcats defending their win or the Hawks finding redemption. Now that the women’s Big 5 has adopted the same pod format the men’s team implemented last year, this game will affect standings for the Women’s Big 5 Classic Dec. 6 at Finneran Pavilion.
The Hawks open their conference slate at home when they host A-10 foe VCU for a redemption game. St. Joe’s saw their 11-game win streak snapped at the hands of the Rams last season in what was only their second conference loss at the time. When the two teams met last season, VCU had the second-scoring defense in the country, while St. Joe’s had the third. This win for VCU also gave them the tiebreaker at the end of the season to secure them the two seed going into the A-10 tournament over the three seed St. Joe’s.
George Mason (Thursday, Jan. 2, 12 p.m.)
Following VCU, St. Joe’s will be hosting George Mason for what’s sure to be a high-intensity game as the Hawks face off with another team that was one of the top in the A-10 last year. Last season, the Hawks came out victorious in a battle against the Patriots for the top of the A-10. While St. Joe’s entered the game undefeated on the road, George Mason was undefeated at home. Both were on an eight-game winning streak. If this season’s game comes anywhere close to the energy and excitement of that one, it’s certain to be a can’t-miss game.
Richmond (Thursday, Feb. 13, 8 p.m.)
The Hawks will be heading down to Virginia to face the reigning A-10 Champions for one of their last few games in conference play before welcoming them to Hagan Arena two weeks later for their final game of the regular season. While history is in favor of the Hawks when these two teams play, the last two games between Richmond and St. Joe’s have gone in favor of the Spiders. These two teams that sat among the top of the A-10 for much of last season are sure to put on a show when they see each other this year.
BY:
SJU Cheerleading’s first competition
In 1998, former SJU Cheerleading head coach Lisa Moroski ’85 took both the co-ed and women’s teams to Daytona Beach, Florida, to compete at the National Cheerleading Association (NCA) College Championship for the first time.
In a St. Joe’s yearbook from 1998 found in the St. Joe’s Archives Collection, a page dedicated to cheerleading features photos of these two historic teams, including action shots of team members practicing and cheering at basketball games. A roster also lists the two teams’ total 32 players, with 27 women and five men across the two teams.
There have been cheerleaders at St. Joe’s since at least the early 1930s, based on a search of St. Joe’s yearbooks in the archives. Back then, cheerleaders were all men, as the university did not admit women until 1971. Over the years, St. Joe’s cheerleading program has grown along with the sport nationally.
Moroski said the St. Joe’s cheerleading program worked tirelessly to compete at the
national level in 1998.
“Neither team made it to finals this first year, but as a program, having the opportunity to go down there to compete and represent the university was an accomplishment of its own,” Moroski wrote in response to questions from the Hawk.
Renee Poupard ’99, a member of the 1998 coed team, wrote that being on the first competitive team was a surreal experience.
“We went in wide-eyed, not knowing what to expect,” Poupard wrote in response to written questions from The Hawk. She added that “you can never quite recapture that first feeling of awe and excitement.”
After she graduated, Poupard came back to coach with Moroski until 2012.
“It was amazing to see the team grow and develop as I went from competitor to coach,” Poupard wrote.
Eleven years after their first attempt, the team made history again. In 2019, they returned to Daytona Beach, winning the NCA title under current head coach Lauren Hanos ’04.
Carlina Hershock is a member of the 2024-2025 SJU Cheerleading Team.
CARLINA HERSHOCK ’26 Guest Columnist
St. Joe’s 1997-98 cheerleading teams featured in the 1998 yearbook. PHOTO COURTESY OF LESLEY CAREY, ARCHIVIST
COMPILED
MONICA SOWINSKI ’26/THE HAWK PHOTOS COURTESY OF SJU ATHLETICS
GRAPHIC: STEPHANIE SAVELA ’25/THE HAWK
GRAPHIC: CARA HALLIGAN ’25/THE HAWK
High hopes for Hawk hoops: A fan’s perspective
Like many kids, I grew up habitually watching March Madness every year. I would stay up late watching game after game, upset after upset. There is a magic to college basketball that is wholly unique. Nothing compares to the anxieties and joys of the conference and NCAA tournaments in the spring.
Once again, it is time for us fans to feel those same emotions on Hawk Hill. It is a thrilling time to be a basketball fan here. Both our men’s and women’s programs are set up to have fantastic years and have real shots at making March Madness. It is rare to see both teams at the same school play so competitively at the same time. It is even rarer for this success to come from roster continuity and internal development. Yet, both teams are among the Atlantic 10 (A-10) preseason favorites, thanks to key players returning.
The two squads are each coming off incredible seasons. Both won over Villanova, both won a Big 5 title, and both made unforgettable postseason runs last year. This year is set up to be even better.
The women’s team is ranked second in the A-10 preseason rankings, and it is easy to see why. Senior forward Talya Brugler and junior forward Laura Ziegler are one of
the deadliest post duos in the conference. Senior guard Mackenzie Smith is a lights-out three-point shooter and relentless defender. This team plays cohesive, intelligent basketball. The attention to detail on both ends is astounding, from their flawless execution of defensive coverages to their high-octane offense. What makes them even more fun to watch is their energy. You feel the intensity from every player and coach for all 60 minutes of every game. It never wavers.
The men’s team is just as talented. Senior Erik Reynolds II is one of the most electric guards in college basketball. He has stretches where he goes unconscious, nailing three after three. Sophomore guard Xzayvier Brown had a stellar rookie year and will be a problem for opposing defenses. Junior Rasheer Fleming is a do-it-all power forward who will dunk on anyone in sight. Add in transfers junior guard Derek Simpson and fifth-year center Justice Ajogbor, and you have one of the strongest starting lineups in the conference. The bench is loaded with young talent, too.
What makes these teams so easy to root for is their continuity. Give credit to women’s basketball head coach Cindy Griffin, men’s basketball head coach Billy Lange and their coaching staffs: the lack of turnover on these rosters over the last few seasons has resulted in steady progress. It is not easy
to keep elite talent in one place thanks to the transfer portal and Name, Image and Likeness opportunities, which often drive players to leave mid-major programs for bigger schools in search of better sporting and financial opportunities.
Yet, both programs managed to maintain large portions of their rosters. The same faces we saw succeed last year are set to lead us to victory again. We cannot take that for granted. The love that the players feel for us and that we feel for them makes
54th Airborne is ready to get to work
section last season, hard hats have become a student section staple.
At least a half hour before each home basketball game, the members of 54th Airborne head over to Hagan Arena to start up the student section. The atmosphere is filled with nostalgic and upbeat music as chatter and chants between fans and players grow.
54th Airborne, the official student section of SJU Athletics, has been leading the student section at St. Joe’s since it was founded in 2010. Made up of students from all grades, the club leads the student section through games both on and off campus.
John Henry Walters ’25 has attended St. Joe’s basketball games since his first year on campus. Now, as a senior, he is in his second year as president of 54th Airborne, embracing the “overpowering” energy the student section brings to St. Joe’s athletics, especially basketball.
“The school spirit and pride just takes over everyone for this hour and a half,” Walters said.
That spirit takes the form of classic fan enthusiasm — high fives, fist bumps and enthusiastic cheers — in addition to the establishment of brand-new traditions. After Walters wore a construction worker costume for a Halloween-themed student
“This year we’re trying to get some funding for more hard hats so we can hand them out before the games. The goal is having a sea of hard hats,” Walters said.
54th Airborne has also shown up for away games. Walters said his favorite away game was the men’s basketball victory at Villanova in fall 2023.
“Seeing how much pride everyone was having and us winning, and all the alumni coming up after the game, saying, ‘Oh, you guys did such a great job. I’m Class of ’97’ or ‘I can’t wait to see you guys at the other games.’ It was a cool thing to be able to connect with older people, while also our own grades, and have such a connection to the school,” Walters said.
Forming connections and meeting new people is the best part of 54th Airborne, said Surya Vaddadi ’27, who has been a member of 54th Airborne since last fall.
“It was just the tradition of getting together to go watch a game, not worry about other stuff, that was my favorite part last season,” Vaddadi said.
James Kemp ’27 joined the club through the email list and got more involved after going to more games.
“I started going to games with my friends, and I would sit in the student
this a special place for basketball. It is a phenomenal time to be a basketball fan on Hawk Hill. The excitement for this season is palpable. I feel it. I am sure that you do too. Both the teams are stacked. Both will be among the best in the A-10. Both have a real chance to make it to March Madness. The bar is set high but is well within reach. These teams thrive off our energy — they deserve and need our support. Let’s show up for them, Hawk Hill.
section and some of the leaders, like JH [Walters], would talk to me, and they had their yellow hard hats on. It was all really cool,” Kemp said.
Kemp said the camaraderie extends to students and athletes at the basketball games.
“That’s what’s cool about going to a smaller school, a lot of the players can recognize who we are. I’m sure they don’t know our names, they recognize us as the guys who sit in the front cheering really loud,” Kemp said. “After every game, all the players and the coaches come by, and they shake our hands and talk to us as they’re going to the locker room.”
54th Airborne also helps hand out food and giveaways during games. At last year’s men’s basketball Big 5 game, they distributed red and white streamers, big heads of the players and cut outs of the Hawk throughout the student section. The athletic department helps provide props.
54th Airborne also cohesively plans out chants and rollouts, which are long, hand-drawn banners stretching across the student section, prior to games. The rollouts often feature messages aimed at the
opposing team, and are brainstormed by members and approved by SJU Athletics.
These traditions bring students together, said member Aidan Driscoll ’25, who said he is excited for what this season will bring.
“I think it will be a special year, not just for basketball. The field hockey team is amazing, and our athletics are one of the most underrated parts of our campus,” Driscoll said. “I love when I get there and there are people that I wouldn’t necessarily expect to see at the games, or someone who comes up to me and is like, ‘Oh, this is my first game.’ It’s always a great way for people to connect and enjoy the game.”
Walters said the overall goal of 54th Airborne is to connect the student body with all of St. Joe’s athletics.
“We go to the other games as well, like soccer, rugby, field hockey,” Walters said. “We’re trying to get more visibility, to not only go to the men’s and women’s basketball games, but also the other things on campus and showing that we’re more than a one-sport school.”
MONICA SOWINSKI ’26
Sports Reporter
St. Joe’s student section attempts to distract Dayton forward Nate Santos during a free throw, Feb. 6. PHOTOS: MADELINE WILLIAMS ’26/THE HAWK
Members of the student section boo the Dayton men’s basketball team during warm ups, Feb. 6.
Fans cheer for St. Joe’s women’s basketball team during the 2024 Women's Basketball Invitational Tournament quarterfinal game against Villanova, March 28. PHOTO: MADELINE WILLIAMS ’26/THE HAWK
CHRISTOPHER SLETVOLD ’26
Columnist
COMPILED BY: MIA MESSINA ’25/THE HAWK
GRAPHIC: CARA HALLIGAN ’25/THE HAWK
PHOTOS COURTESY OF SJU ATHLETICS
BASKETBALL PREVIEW
PHOTOS: MADELINE WILLIAMS ’26/THE HAWK, GRAPHIC: MIA MESSINA ’25/THE HAWK AND ALLY ENGELBERT ’25/THE HAWK