March 22, 2017

The Student Newspaper of Saint Joseph’s University

Volume XCV | Est. 1929 | www.sjuhawknews.com

March 22, 2017

Mac Miller annouced as headliner for 2017 spring concert SAM HENRY ’19 Managing Editor

St. Joe's students install new roofing on a house in Jonesville, Va. as part of their APEX service work (Photo by Kaitlyn Patterson, ’20).

Hawks around the globe 152 students to study abroad in CHARLEY REKSTIS ’20 Assistant News Editor The Saint Joseph’s University Semester Abroad program applications closed on March 1, 2017 and the Summer Term Abroad programs came to a close on March 15, 2017.

The fall semester study abroad program includes 152 students traveling to 15 different countries and one program that includes multiple destinations.

“We have 37 approved programs at this point and those are programs that have been thoroughly reviewed,” said Kelly Gregg, assistant director for Semester Abroad. “There is also an option for a student to petition for a non-approved program.”

The application for study abroad includes four short essay questions and requires two faculty recommendations. The application also includes recording the classes students want to take while abroad and students must have a minimum 2.5 GPA, although different programs may have alternative requirements.

“They are applying for approval from St. Joe’s as a St. Joe’s student, and then they are also applying for admission into their program,” Gregg said.

The university currently offers learning opportunities in 20 different.

“I hope that students are choosing to spend the semester abroad because it can benefit them academically,” Gregg said. “We also have programs on our approved list that offer an internship opportunity abroad or a service learning course.”

The programs allow students to take classes in another country and those credits transfer back to St. Joe’s along with the earned grades.

“Ideally, students are taking courses that are going to count towards their degree requirements,” Gregg said. “It gives the oppor-

tunity to compare and contrast with something offered at St. Joe’s to something that not every school offers.”

Most students travel to Italy during the fall semester when they choose to study abroad. In fact, 55 students are going to Italy this upcoming fall.

“Italy is certainly a popular destination with our students, but we love to see students kind of think outside of the box and maybe look at some alternative destinations,” Gregg said.

Billy Flynn, ’19, is studying abroad at Florence University of the Arts (FUA)-Fairfield University where there are multiple food marketing classes.

“I wanted to study abroad because I’m actually declaring food marketing as my major this semester which is really exciting,” Flynn said. “Just the fact that it is in Italy I thought that it would be a perfect match.”

Flynn is excited to learn about the culture in Florence and how it is structured politically and economically.

Erin Davison, ’19, came to St. Joe’s because of her interest in the Brussels Internship Program.

“I have always wanted to go out of the country and do different things,” Davison said. “As an international relations major I think it is really perinent that I do so.”

RT PASSPO England: 11 Australia: 9 Denmark: 4

152 Students studying abroad Fall 2017

South Africa: 2 France: 2 Czech Republic: 2 Austria: 2

(Graphic by Kaitlyn Patterson, ’20).

CONTINUED ON PG. 3

Italy : 55 Spain: 35 Ireland: 12 Belgium: 12 Scotland: 1 New Zealand: 1 China: 1 Philippines: 1

Mult inatio Destin: 2

After months of planning and negotiating, the spring concert committee has signed a contract with the artist for the 2017 Spring Concert.

The 2017 spring concert at Saint Joseph's University will be held on April 27.

Doors will open from 7:15 until 8:30.

Mac Miller will be the headliner for the spring concert accompanied by Clockwork DJ as the opening act.

“I think Mac Miller is going to bring a lot of energy, a lot of excitement,” said Melissa Mayard, assistant director of the Office of Student Leadership and Activities.

“I think the artist is a household name, generally speaking, folks know who this artist is.”

The SJU Spring Concert Committee has been working since November to plan an artist for this year’s show, and received a bid from the artist in January. The committee made the official announcement to the university on March 21.

“We provided the school with a list of different artist names in the fall and based off the students vote, we go through the list, starting from number one, and we see if they are available, if we are willing to perform for the price we are paying; there is a lot of different factors that go into it,” said Sabrina Schielein, '18, co-chair of Spring Concert committee. “That is how we start and then we work our way down until we find a match.”

The committee works with a middle agent, which connects with the agents of artists who are willing to perform at college shows.

“The thing that a lot of people don’t understand is not every artist is even willing to do a college show because there are different factors that go into a doing college shows,” Mayard said. “There are a lot more guidelines, rules and regulations, especially if it is a Catholic Jesuit school. So content is something a lot of artists have to be willing to adjust to when they do college shows.”

When finalizing an artist to perform at the spring concert, the committee must find an artist who is willing to do a college show, is available and in the area, is going to do well at the institution and is able to perform for the price.

“We get $112,000 of the student activity fee,” Mayard said. “So the $112,000 subsidized most of the cost from the concert and then from there, putting production aside, we say ok, we can spend anywhere up to about $85,000 on an artist.”

Past spring concerts at St. Joe’s have included Panic! at the Disco, Ludacris, Macklemore and Lupe Fiasco.

“It [hip-hop] is definitely a genre that will connect with St. Joe’s more than Panic! at the Disco did,” said Ross McDaniel, '18, co-chair of the spring concert committee.

CONTINUED ON PG. 4

2

News

March 22, 2017

Department of Public Safety reports (March 3 – March 16)

March 3

Public Safety was notified of a fire alarm activation inside the Michael J. Morris Quad Townhouses. Public Safety Officers responded. Preliminary investigation revealed a student cooking. Facilities Management was notified.

March 4

Public Safety was notified by an area resident of a loud party involving St. Joe’s students taking place in the 2400 block of N. 54th Street. Public Safety and Philadelphia Police were notified and responded. Community Standards was notified.

March 5 Public Safety was notified in regards to person(s) unknown damaging a water fountain on the first floor of the McShain Residence Center. Facilities Management and Community Standards were notified. The incident is under investigation.

March 6

Public Safety was notified of a fire alarm activatation inside Hagan Arena. Public Safety Officers responded. Preliminary investigation revealed the alarm was activated from steam in the laundry room. Facilities Management was notified.

March 7 Public Safety was notified by Residence Life regarding an odor of marijuana coming from a room on the second floor of Lannon Hall.

Public Safety Officers responded to the room with Residence Life. A search of the room revealed no drugs or drug paraphernalia. Community Standards was notified.

Public Safety was notified by two St. Joe’s students in regards to person(s) unknown removing their baseball cap and hooded sweatshirt from unsecured lockers in the O’Pake Recreational Center. The incident is under investigation.

Public Safety was notified by the Lower Merion Police in regards to person(s) unknown shooting BB pellets at store windows across the street from Rashford Hall. Residence Life and Community Standards were notified. The incident is under investigation.

ALCOHOL RELATED INCIDENTS

5

On campus

0

Off campus

DRUG RELATED INCIDENTS

3

On campus

0

Off campus

Call Public Safety:

610-660-1111

THE FIRST 100 DAYS healthcare

The House Budget Committee has passed the proposed Republican American Health Care Act with a 19–17 vote. While House Republicans are working on changes to the bill, they plan to put it up for vote this week.

CABINET

President Trump recently held his first Cabinet meeting. The Senate has yet to confirm the three remaining nominees for the Department of Labor, the Department of Agriculture and the United States Trade Representative. The Senate recently confirmed Dan Coats as Director of National Security.

diplomacy

German Chancellor Angela Merkel visited the White House, and a joint press conference was held with Merkel and President Trump. The two leaders discussed NATO, trade, Russia, and immigration. Trump restated the claim that both he and Merkel were wiretapped during the Obama administration. He also refuted the perception that he was an isolationist, stating that he only believed in fair trade policies.

President Trump also met with Ireland's prime minister, Enda Kenney, on St. Patrick's Day and met with Iraq's prime minister, Haider al-Abadi, this week to discuss how to combat the Islamic State.

regulation

President Trump announced in a visit to Michigan that his administration will work to review the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards in order to stimulate economic growth to benefit of the automotive industry.

IMMIGRATION

The revised travel ban was scheduled to go into effect on March 16 but a federal judge in Hawaii issued an order to halt the ban nationwide. A federal judge in Maryland also ruled to block a crucial section of the executive order.

trade

The Group of Twenty (G-20), finance ministers and central bank governors from the world’s 19 largest economies plus the European Union, held meetings this year in Baden-Baden, Germany. The participants failed to reach a consensus to endorse global free trade and reject protectionism. The group also dropped their pledge to finance the fight against climate change, as the United States delegation did not yield on the issue. United States Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin stated that the Trump administration did not want the U.S. to get involved in any trade wars, but that trade relationships needed to be re-examined and made more fair for U.S. workers.

budget

The White House Office of Management and Budget released the federal budget blueprint that highlights an increase in military and defense spending and a decrease in domestic spending. The plan proposes to cut funding from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the State Department. It also seeks to defund programs, such as Meals on Wheels, the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The full and balanced budget will be released in May.

Supreme court

The Senate confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch begin this week. If Gorsuch is confirmed, he will make-up a 5-4 conservative majority on the Supreme Court. The process of the hearings include statements from committee members, Gorsuch being questioned and outside witnesses testifying.

Compiled by Mark De Leon '17.

Information from BBC News and Reuters.

Graphic by Kaitlyn Patterson '20.

News

March 22, 2017

3

Exposure and understanding

APEX participants spend Spring Break in community MARK DE LEON ’17 News Editor Over 500 Saint Joseph’s University students have returned from 17 separate trips to the Appalachian region over spring break.

This year’s Appalachian Experience (APEX) brought St. Joe’s students face-to-face with communities affected by systemic injustice that are looking forward to changes from the Trump administration.

Tuesday’s Return Ceremony not only brought an atmosphere of love and strength but also one of reflection on the people, whose stories they strive to share from an area that believes it is forgotten by most of America.

“You see smiling faces, emotional expressions and reflections on the past week,” said Jackie Pignataro, ’17, one of the student coordinators for APEX and co-leader for the Guyan Valley, VA trip this year. “That can be derived from day one [when the leaders first met together last semester], an expression of the passion and love for the program, the common denominator of all the individuals coming together.”

Matt Fullmer, campus minister and program director, attributes the blissful atmosphere to the dedication and spirit that the 34 student-leaders brought throughout planning and participation in the program.

Working together, they secured a solid foundation and spirit that trickled down.

“It’s about fun but also about education, being in solidarity, and being reflective, coming together as a community,” Fullmer said.

The spring break immersion program

works to cultivate a sense of community among St. Joe’s students, yet it also highlights a commitment to serve and learn about the Appalachian region. The program allows all of its participants to grasp the concepts of solidarity and social injustices that affect the people in the area. Participants enter the homes of whom they’re serving and have conversations, asking about their lives, being witness to what’s happening in Appalachia.

“A beautiful thing about APEX is that everyone is coming from different parts of their lives, whether or not they have a true, strong sense of understanding, of what social justice, what solidarity means,” Pignataro said. “One week is such a small time period but it does so much to everyone. At the end of it, we grow in understanding about others, about ourselves. We come to understand how we are together in all of this.”

First-time APEX leader, Sean Rigau, ’18, enjoyed planning the weekly meetings with his co-leader since he thought it was important for their group to prepare and get as much information as possible before arriving in Lantz Farm, WV. “We talked a lot about social justice, compared with service and charity and also about the region in general,” Rigau said. “It’s important for the participants to understand what they’re getting into. As long as you have an air of trust and love, everything falls into place.”

The APEX program found itself in an interesting position when the date of reveal happened on the Tuesday following the 2016 Election.

Fullmer believed that the program did not have to find a way to solve the issues of discomfort presented follows the election, but needed to recognize it.

“We were the first big gathering of students after the election,” Fullmer said.

“We have to address this. It comes down to being human beings, welcoming people as who they are, not with any political affiliation. We’re going to the Appalachian region. There are beauty and struggles, just like in our neighborhood.’ Ultimately the goal is to get to know everyone at the core of who they are.”

Instead of holding individual trip group meetings the last week in January, the program decided to invite Tom Breiding, a songwriter originally from Wheeling, WV and a coordinator for immersion trips for Wheeling Jesuit University to play for APEX participants in the chapel. That Tuesday evening, Breiding used his music as a vehicle to explain the hardships and the beauty of the Appalachian region, ac-

Students who went to Jonesville, VA. dig holes in preperation to put in a wheelchair ramp (Photos by Kaitlyn Patterson '20).

cording to Fullmer.

“He [Tom] would take time between songs to explain its meaning and context, the reality of the situation the Appalachian people are in, the history of the region,” Rigau said.

Once in Guyan Valley, Pignataro’s group was exposed to perspectives participants never personally thought of. They were challenged to participate in conversations about their different views.

“Seeing the meaning of what the election has brought to the people in the Appalachian region, you grow in understanding,” Pignataro said. “Our goal as civic engaged citizens is to understand each perspective without judgment and to be open to each perspective and understand why it is [so].”

One of the key points of the APEX mission statement is recognizing the human dignity in all creation. Rigau emphasized to his group to break the perception of speration and truly recognize the similarities between the groups of people.

“You’re able to look at these people who are affected by systematic injustices due to business and certain industries in the area,” Rigau said.

Rigau was proud that his group was able to understand the concept of giving service of presence during the week.

“Even though they weren’t building a house [doing] and hard manual labor [at times], they made an impact in a different way,” Rigau said. “I was lucky enough to see participants dive into the community and meeting people, no reservations about going with an open mind and heart,” he said.

Now back from the impactful experience, Fullmer hopes that the Return ceremony will bring the participants’ energy home and serve as a powerful reflection of the past week.

“The hope is that we bring everyone back together and it’s up to us to make sure that energy is brought back and that it wasn’t fluff for a week,” Fullmer said.

Rigau also shares this sentiment.

“Obviously people take back stuff [as affirmation gifts] from the sites, but it’s the story behind everything that’s huge,” Rigau said. “Sharing those moments that spoke to you throughout the trip, are you doing what you just did [on APEX] justice? Being able to share those moments and stories does the program justice.”

St. Joe’s students take advantage of semester abroad CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 Gregg wants students to benefit from the opportunity and gain more than just credits from studying abroad.

“Taking the opportunity for some of our programs to do an internship or a service learning component is really encouraged,” Gregg said. “If students can make it work for them, it enhances the experiences; something beyond just taking classes.”

Specifically, the Brussels Internship Pro-

gram consists of students living at the Leuven Institute for Ireland in Europe, located in Leuven, Belgium, where classes are taken two days of the week at the institute and the students intern with the European Parliament in Brussels two other days of the week.

“I would love to live outside of the United States after graduation, whether it be with an institution like the European Union or something else,” Davison said.

“The program really gives you hands on experience.”

Davison also looks forward to being able to travel to different places in Europe on the weekends.

“Brussels is in the middle of Europe and you can get everywhere from Brussels and we have Fridays off so I plan on using my weekends to travel,” Davison said.

When Davison goes abroad she will take

five classes, with the internship counting as one. Her other classes include European Law, European Economics, European History and European Art History.

“Whenever I think of it, I get very scared because I don’t speak French or German, but I also get very excited because I think it is a once in a lifetime experience just being immersed in a new culture,” Davison said.

4

News

March 22, 2017

Clockwork DJ revealed as opening act for St. Joe's Spring Concert CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 McDaniel explained how much planning is involved up until the day of the show now that the artist is confirmed.

“We have wanted to do more than we have done in the past here at St. Joe’s in terms of the concert and the experience of the concert,” McDaniel said. “We are doing a theme this year, it is going to be a glow show.”

14 students make up the Spring Concert team that helps in planning every aspect of the concert.

“We have four different committees on our team,” Schielein said. “There is publicity, hospitality, safety and security, and production.”

The four committee do everything from getting the word out and getting the university excited, ordering the food for the artist and their team to working with outside security firm to make sure everybody is safe and setting up the stage the day of the show.

Spring concert tickets are $5 for all seniors. From March 21–26, tickets are $12, $15 from March 27–April 16 and $20

Poster courtesy of SJU Spring Concert.

from April 17 until the day of the concert at 5 p.m. Students can purchase up to four guest tickets for $30 each.

Seniors must purchase their tickets from

the information desk on the second floor of the Campion Student Center. The rest of the students can purchase them on sjutickets.com.

“Whether it be $5, $10, $15, or $20 and

if it is Panic!, Ludacris, or Macklemore, you are not going to be able to go to any of those concerts for $5 or even $20,” McDaniel said.

In addition to the artist and opening act, there will also be a student opener.

“I think it really gives a great opportunity to get people involved in the concert in different ways,” Schielein said. “It could also bring more people to go to the show if the opener’s friends all come and people want to support, so not just for the artist but for your classmates as well.”

Schielein believes that as a university, St. Joe's is fortunate to have a spring concert.

“There are also other schools, like Philadelphia University, that don’t have a spring concert,” Schielein said. “I think it could be taken for granted sometimes, like not every school gets to have one and it is really a privilege that we get this budget and have the ability to put on something like this for the students. It is something different that really stands out and brings everyone together.”

Beginning Friday March 24, 2017 You can order your Cap and Gown here.

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Opinions

March 22, 2017

5

No limits, just a ticket

The Hawk staff think globally and consider ‘what if’

EDITOR IN CHIEF Ana Faguy ’19 MANAGING EDITOR Sam Henry ’19 COPY CHIEF Vivian Milan ’18 FACULTY ADVISER Shenid Bhayroo NEWS EDITOR Mark De Leon ’17 ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR Charley Rekstis ’20 OPINIONS EDITOR Victoria Tralies ’18 ASSISTANT OPINIONS EDITOR Brittany Swift ’20 LIFESTYLE EDITOR Rose Weldon ’19 ASSISTANT LIFESTYLE EDITOR Franki Rudnesky ’18 SPORTS EDITOR Nick Mandarano ’18 ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR Alex Hargrave ’20 ASSISTANT COPY Becky Hartman ’18 CREATIVE DIRECTOR Kaitlyn Patterson ’20 PHOTO EDITOR Luke Malanga ’20 SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Kellie O’Brien ’19 ASSISTANT SOCIAL MEDIA Madsion Auer ‘20 DIGITAL PHOTO EDITOR Joey Toczylowski ’19 BUSINESS MANAGER Alexis Hewish ’17 ADVERTISING MANAGER Michael Zito ’18 ASSISTANT BUSINESS Amy Ferrigno ’20 ASSISTANT ADVERTISING Jarrett Hurms ’18 The Hawk welcomes letters to the editor (400 words maximum).

They can be emailed to hawk.editorial@gmail.com.

Study abroad is one of the best opportunities to see the world, all while earning a valuable education to enrich your mind. Fortunately, here at Saint Joseph’s University, Hawks are nothing if not open-minded and curious creatures ready to explore their surroundings. In this issue of The Hawk, our News section is featuring “Hawks Around the Globe”, which considers how students continue to broaden their world view to become #globalhawks. En lieu of this, the Hawk staff decided to answered the question “If you could go anywhere in the world, where you go?” Part of traveling is daring to do more and think broader and that is exactly what each of us considered in our individual reflections. We hope you enjoy our answers:

“...Santiago, Chile. I’ve never been to South America and have always wanted to explore the diverse climates.” -Ana Faguy “...Acadia National Park. One of my goals is to visit all of the National Parks in the United States and visiting Acadia would be a great place to start my journey.” -Sam Henry “...California because I’ve always wanted to see the redwoods and the sequoia trees. I feel like I should want to see the Hollywood sign or the walk of fame, but I’d rather see the more natural parts of the state.” -Vivian Milan “...Japan. Taking advantage of the cultural opportunities in both the urban and the rural environments there would be amazing.” -Mark De Leon “...Venice because I want to travel the streets in a gondola and enjoy the scenery that is beautiful Venice.” -Charley Rekstis “...back to Paris to see my friend Audrey.

We could walk along the Seine and go back to the Strand bookstore, gossiping about the best pastry shops and rudest suitors for our hearts.”

-Victoria Tralies “...Bruges, Belgium. Its a picturesque town that I would love to explore. I would spend the day admiring the medieval architecture and

HOT

trying new foods.” -Brittany Swift “...New Zealand. What other country is so breathtaking and majestic that it’s the real-life stand in for “The Lord of the Rings””? -Rose Weldon “...Italy, because my minor is Italian and I’d love to spend some time there further immersing myself into the culture and language!”

-Franki Rudensky “...the Galapagos Islands for the weather and exotic animals.” -Nick Mandarano “...London, because I think it would be cool to go there and study British literature. I’d also like to see the 1975, Ed Sheeran, and other English artists play in their home country.”

-Alex Hargrave “...Ireland because of the lush landscapes, rich history and of course, the beloved Guinness factory.” -Becky Hartman “...Iceland. There are a lot of musicians I listen to who come from there and I find the culture fascinating.” -Kaitlyn Patterson

“...Bora Bora so that I can sleep in a hut on the top of the crystal blue water. Laying in a hammock on a beach and basking in the sun sounds magnificent right now.” -Kellie O’Brien “...Bali, Indonesia. My cousins live in Bali and owns a section of villas in the Uluwatu village. My mom and I decided that a trip to Bali is on our bucket list for after I graduate from St. Joe’s. I can’t wait to visit, especially since the furthest place I have traveled/flown to is Florida.” -Madison Auer “...Japan, because of its authentic culture.”

-Joey Toczylowski “...Amsterdam because I want to see the Anne Frank museum.” -Mike Zito “...Tokyo, Japan because I love big cities, the culture and the cuisine.” -Amy Ferrigno “...Johannesburg, South Africa. Especially their Apartheid Museum. It’s always been a point in history I’ve always wanted to learn more about and not just through history books.” -Jarrett Hurms

“...Cuba because of its unique culture and the distinct colorful architecture.” -Luke Malanga

or

did some one say mosh pit

Spring brings lots of new and wonderful St. Joe’s events, but one of our favorites is the spring concert. Get your party clothes ready and prepare to have the time of your life.

Best part? The spring concert reveal. If done right, we’re all surprised and delighted. But if you’re dissapointed by the concert pick, well then, it’s another night to snuggle in with friends. Just make sure either way you stay safe the night of April 27th and make sure to hydrate!

a new neighbor on sesame street

St. Joe’s is renowned for its support of persons with autism. On a related note, the wellknown PBS children’s show Sesame Street recently created a new character and Muppet, Julia, who is also on the autism spectrum. The new and thoughtful plot device is an innovative way of introducing children to other kids on the spectrum while also teaching them to practice empathy towards all persons. We applaud this effort to not only teach the ABC’s but also the language of human dignity and love.

that much closer to summer loving

At first glance, you may not believe that this is a hot - but it sure is! Even though it was hard for all of us to head back to St. Joe’s after seeing our parents, the end of spring break also means we are that much closer to reaching the end of the school year, and for seniors, that also brings graduation day. By the beginning of April, we will only have a month of regular classes and that is something to be happy about. So don’t fret, students, it’s nearly time to shred your tests and be lost in the beauty of a new season.

-The Hawk Staff

NOT construction out of control

Recent construction has shut down the path between the Lower Merion and Philadelphia sides of campus and, in some cases, changed the way we travel from class to class. We can no longer breezily walk to Barbelin from Lapsley Lane. Take the McShain bridge or walk on City Ave like everybody else, Hawks. This is one more introduction to the real world.

why is snow a dirty gray

Yes, snow might be a crystal white when it originally hits the ground but after a few days, the magic of it quickly starts to wear off. As freshly bloomed flowers rise up from dark soil, snow sits, accumulating dirt and collecting remnants of granite sidewalks. Let’s just hope it melts before Accepted Students Day, so prospective baby Hawks aren’t dissauded by the gross lumps sitting in between our parking spaces and campus lawns.

competition gets too real

Spring and summer both bring the competitive edge to get the best internships. The chase for the best career opportunities can put even the tightest of friends on edge, especially if they are in the same major or career field. Right around now, we need to set aside time to fill out job applications for future employment opportunities. But remember: use some perspective before wigging out from the pressure. And do not, by any means, lose a friend over who gets that prize internship you are both vying for.

6

Opinions

March 22, 2017

The need for Republican unity

A look at the proposed American Health Care Act JOSH BOSTROM ’19 Special to the Hawk President Donald Trump ran much of his campaign on the promise of repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act commonly known as Obamacare, but now that his party has the power to make a change, several opposing factions in the Republican party have developed.

Speaker of the House Paul Ryan introduced the Republican’s alternative to Obamacare on March 6. Known as the American Health Care Act

(AHCA), the bill laid out the Grand Old Party’s (GOP) plan to “repeal and replace” the Affordable Care Act, but it also forced several legislators to consider their stance on health care and the government’s job in regulating it.

In the past, President Trump has attacked Obamacare as a weak bill that has only harmed America, but much like the original goal of the Affordable Care Act, his objective was to “take care of everybody.”

The recently introduced bill, however, falls short of that objective.

The Congressional Budget Office, a nonpartisan agency, recently released its report on the short-term and long-term effects of the proposed AHCA (CBO). Its estimates claim that the new bill would save $337 billion over the next nine years; however, that comes at the expense of 14 million people losing coverage by 2018 and 24 million total by 2026.

For my First Year Seminar at Saint Joseph’s University, I took Global Healthcare with Professor of

A C H A

Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Marketing William Trombetta, Ph.D., and in summary, there was one main takeaway from this course: healthcare is extremely complicated. We studied many specifics of healthcare—from the individual types of plan to the comparative data on countries. Every individual has their own health care needs and wants, so there is no one-size-fits-all approach. President Trump even recently admitted this himself.

Whether it is universal health care provided by the state or privatized health care paid for entirely by citizens, there is no objectively correct way to do health care. It is a matter of needs and preferences. Politicians and pundits often simplify the complexities of healthcare into bit-sized problems and solutions, but in practice, the policies regarding healthcare are immensely complicated.

Even before the recent CBO analysis, some Republicans claimed that specific provisions of the proposed bill did not live up to the requirements to repeal and replace.

Some felt that the bill was too federalized and others felt that it did not provide enough to cover citizens. The specificities of the bill have driven a divide among many Republican legislators and pose an increased opportunity for the failure of the bill.

Now presented with the power to actually make a change, this fracture of opinions regarding the bill has led to an identity crisis

regarding healthcare for the GOP. It was easy for party officials to criticize Obamacare for the past eight years, while they were in the minority. Now the Republicans are the ones writing policy and changing several years of existing law.

This is the first significant test for the party under the new administration and they are divided to the point of potential failure. They can only afford so many Republican defectors and public criticism of the bill could cause many representatives to reconsider their stance on healthcare.

Although they were critical of many characteristics of Obamacare, such as the individual mandate or the limits on how much insurance companies can charge, the currently proposed bill keeps many aspects of the old bill and only slightly modifies others. A party that has spent the past administration critiquing the bill and claiming to want great change now finds itself in the difficult situation of determining what healthcare should look like in the United States.

Several have already come out publically against the bill, but one thing is for certain—after many years of criticizing the Democrats for their healthcare policy, the Republicans need to unite their party behind some version of the bill. If the bill fails, it will be a significant sign of failure early on in an already unstable administration.

Graphic by Kaitlyn Patterson ’20.

Stop complaining about colds The power of a positive mentality LORI GALLAGHER ’20 Special to the Hawk When entering college for the first time, it is so easy to think, ‘I will not get sick all of the time.’ I assumed my health would remain as it was before at two minor colds a year occurring about six months apart. In college, however, I have had colds that resemble the Black Death and I acted as a poor victim, and it just so happens that this negative attitude was worse than the colds themselves.

Although I dislike the symptoms of colds, I hate that my mentality worsens over the course of the cold. Basically, I feel like I have to put my life on hold. When I cannot recover in a short amount of time, I become frustrated and desperately take as much medicine as I can without exceeding the box’s instructions. (Note: medicine does not work when you need it to. Only time and the mercy of the Lord will cure you.) I put recovering from a cold as my only task that cannot get done quickly enough. If I am coughing my lungs out in class and a teacher suggests that I get water, I’ll mumble ‘Nothing helps,’ like a pathetic martyr.

After I recovered from one of my colds this year, I felt guilty about acting so dramatically. I hate complaining, yet I was being

hypocritical. There are people throughout the world suffering indescribable and awful events that I cannot fathom, yet I was acting like I was dying because my ribs were hurting from coughing?

I can apply this thinking to not only my hatred of colds, but to other things that people commonly complain about. For example, college students are so lucky that they have been granted the opportunity to attend a college and further their education, yet so many people do not fully realize how much of a miracle it is that we are here. For the most part, students are healthy, despite the occasional cold. Because we are so fortunate, it is so common for people, myself included, to act overdramatically with minor things like colds.

If anything, having a poor attitude will worsen the cold. If someone is already not feeling their best, they should not perpetuate thoughts that reflect a dramatized version of how their health is.

Instead of believing that a cold is a roadblock in life, take it as a message that you need to stop or pause for a little bit and reflect on life. It’s like driving. Are you go-

ing too quickly or too slow? Do you like the direction you are going in? Does your car, or yourself, need some work done? When someone drives, their car runs out of gas occasionally and needs time to re-fuel. A cold is an opportunity to stop at a gas station and fill your car up.

Colds are unfortunate, but they are a

frequent reality at college. I have had four brutal colds and two cases of food poisoning this year alone, but each time I should have reflected on what caused the illnesses and found a new roadmap if needed.

The Student Health Center helps maintain student welfare (Photo by Luke Malanga ’20).

Opinions

March 22, 2017

7

An internship nightmare

Takeaways from a not-so-perfect experience

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ALLI DELGRIPPO ’17 Hawk Staff 20

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If you’re feeling the mid-semester crunch to find an internship, what I’m about to say probably won’t make you feel better, but it may relieve some of the pressure of finding the perfect internship that will lead to the perfect job and the perfect future.

I started my internship the first week of spring during my sophomore year. For the first few weeks, I was thrilled to leave my apartment in Ashwood Hall every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, walk to Overbrook Station and be disgruntled with the real-life adult city-commuters while we waited for our SEPTA train to take its sweet time to arrive.

By the time I got into the city, I was even more excited to stand in line at La Colombe, a coffee shop, and order my usual, just as the adults around me did. I also loved greeting the doorman as I made my way up to my desk. This all reads like a seemingly pleasant morning, because it all took place before I actually arrived at work.

The first few weeks of my experience were exactly as one would expect—making sure the office coffee was brewed, daily client account maintenance, and the Monday morning weekly team meeting. Don’t get me wrong—I did have the opportunity to learn some things about software that were useful for a career in social media. I was able to learn how to draft the perfect 140-character message for a tweet and bring ease to an unhappy customer of a client who decided to

air out grievances via their Facebook page, just to name a few. Despite poking some fun at my chores, I don’t want you to think I was performing above average intern tasks, because I was not.

However, if you’re asking me now what I took away from the eight months of my internship, I would tell you that some of my greatest takeaways include how not to fall victim to pettiness between teams, how to bite your lip when getting screamed at for not completing tasks you were never assigned, and how to gracefully accept that you were never going to see the weekly stipends they promised you when you had accepted the job.

The greatest takeaway of all, however, is that being unhappy with an internship doesn’t mean you’re not learning a huge lesson. Actually, it is quite the opposite. In spending months monitoring Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram, etc., the platforms began to seem incredibly shallow to me.

Takeaway one: I didn’t like social media and did not want to pursue a career here. I also realized I couldn’t understand or sympathize with the seemingly immature jealousy and competition between teams—to me, we were all working on the same client projects and should have been thrilled to be collaborating together.

Takeaway two: I want a workplace and team that is passionate and excited

about what they do and a team who works together to create the best possible product or service for its customers. I realized that when almost everyone in your department either quits or gets fired in the few short months you spend there, the hunch you have about not considering a full time offer is probably right on though. Maybe another opportunity will open up for you.

Takeaway three: find something else that I love.

If you’re heading into the summer with a good feeling about the offer you received for an internship, that’s phenomenal.

Congratulations. If your first few weeks don’t meet your expectations, or you’re not loving what you do when you get to work, don’t sweat it. That crazy boss, monotonous schedule, or the lack of teaching are giving you the greatest lesson of all—you’re going to be happy doing something else.

Check the box on letting yourself explore this field and know that you’re one step closer to the right one. If you start your internship and you absolutely love it, then be grateful for how lucky you are and embrace every second of it.

A sign in Mandeville Hall displays internship possibilities (Photo by Luke Malanga ’20).

I hope I never hear this song again

The unhealthy themes in “So I Can Have You Back” Graphic by Kaitlyn Patterson ’20.

The first time I heard R&B singer Joe’s song “So I Can Have You Back” I was on the West shuttle at 8:30 a.m. going to my Music Fundamentals class. There aren’t many songs quite like this one and for a good reason—it sucks.

Though I was still half asleep while listening to this song, I knew that I never wanted to hear it again. Except that I did. I always heard this song on my shuttle rides and became so sick of it that I often considered calling the radio station and begging them, for the sake of my ears, to kindly stop playing this horrendous song.

The song is about a break-up between a man and a woman, which is obviously, totally unique, never been done before. Someone should contact the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Did anyone else feel the Earth move?

Because clearly this song is ground-breaking.

The woman whom Joe is singing about, has moved on (a natural and normal thing to do), while Joe is still not over her. In fact, he wishes that something bad will happen to his ex’s relationship, just so he can have her back. The need for Joe to be that possessive and that controlling is unhealthy. It

VIVIAN MILAN ’18 Copy Chief

does not evoke sympathy from me and it makes me feel better that this hypothetical woman is no longer with him.

The song’s chorus is, “I hope he makes the biggest mistake / The unforgivable that makes your heart break / I hope you tell him ‘sorry is just not enough’ / And it goes from good to bad, so I can have you back.”

If you’re still not sure why I have a problem with this song, in the wise words of an actually talented artist, Outkast’s André 3000, “we’re gonna break this back down.”

Joe wants this woman’s relationship to be ruined by something her new boyfriend does. This is wrong and creepy for a variety of reasons.

While it’s normal to grieve over a breakup, wishing ill fortune on someone else is not normal. Wanting her happiness to be completely destroyed is an upsetting and disturbing request. Instead of wasting so much time on hoping that this woman’s relationship ends, maybe Joe could have spent more time and energy on moving on with his life.

Also, why does he just assume that his ex-girlfriend will automatically return back to him? Just because she broke up with

her new boyfriend, that certainly does not mean she is going to return to Joe. It seems like she is a good decision maker because she left him in the first place. She could find someone totally new, or take some time to herself, or more importantly file a restraining order against Joe for being a possessive, threatening ex-boyfriend.

In other songs, the boyfriend acknowledges that his ex-girlfriend has moved on and places her happiness above his own needs.

For example, Bruno Mars’ “When I Was Your Man” exemplifies a perfect reaction to a break-up. Mars sings about his regrets with his ex-girlfriend mentioning things like, “I should have bought you flowers / And held your hand / Should have gave you all my hours / When I had the chance. ” The song’s final verse changes this perspective. It’s no longer Mars wishing that he would have been a better boyfriend, rather it is him respecting that his girlfriend is content with the new man. Mars sings, “But I just want you to know / I hope he buys you flowers / I hope he holds your hand / Give you all his hours / When he has the chance...Do all the things I should have

done / When I was your man.”

Mars is not pressuring her to get back together with him, he does not make her feel guilty for moving on, and he’s not creepy—he just wants the best for her, even if the best means being with someone else.

More recently, Ed Sheeran wrote a song called “Happier” about a man seeing his ex-girlfriend with someone new for the first time. GQ magazine describes the lyrics as “his [Sheeran’s] cleverest and most mature lyrics yet,” while Sheeran described “Happier” as “a grown-up song ” to Glamour magazine. Sheeran believes as you grow older, the best thing you can do for an ex is just to be happy for them because they are genuinely joyful and in love. It’s immature to not want someone to be happy and move on.

Thus, Joe could seriously benefit from learning from these two gentlemen. Mars and Sheeran are much more mature and have a healthier mindset about break-ups than Joe, despite the fact that they are both over a decade younger than Joe. The only mistake that was made was the production of “So I Can Have You Back,” and that’s pretty unforgivable if you ask me.

8

Opinions

March 22, 2017

A woman’s work always gets done

A reflection on Women’s History Month and women’s choices VICTORIA TRALIES ’18 Opinions Editor March is Women’s History Month, which was implemented in 1987 by Congress. This can only begin to mean something when you know a woman over the course of your lifetime. The only woman who truly fits that description, for me, is my mother. Over the past 20 years, she has uniquely shaped my own perception of women in society and continues to do so today.

Approximately 78 percent of mothers, with their youngest child between the ages of six and 17, held full time positions in 2015, according to the U.S. Bureau of Statistics. My mother worked while I was growing up. In fact, both of my parents worked full time and managed to raise my sister and I. Additionally, my mother somehow found a way to mother, work, and attend graduate school–which preemptively exemplified my future definition of a strong and ambitious woman. Despite the strenuous nature of her job as a nurse in a cardiology unit, she maintained a positive outlook on life in the caretaking line of work. Currently, she is a nurse practitioner in the palliative care field.

Unfortunately, my perception of my mother wasn’t always as positive as it is now.

As adolescence and middle school chipped away at my sense of worth, I grew more judgmental of my mother and her role.

Why did she work? Other mothers volunteered for my school, establishing what appeared to be perfect order to their children’s lives and always making the mark. My childhood perspective made me ask questions I hadn’t before considered: if some mothers worked and others

stayed at home, which would I do when I grew older? Would I sacrifice my career for my own children?

By the time I reached high school, these questions remained hidden, but persistent in my mind. During my junior year, my writing reflected these same questions in a paper for AP English titled “A Profound Choice.”

At the age of 15, I dared to take pen to paper and challenge prejudices, between women, that I had never experi-

freedom of choice. As my mother stared back at me across the kitchen table, in her eyes, she could have been worried that I was judging her for her choices and lifestyle. Except now my judgment would be on paper.

I know my mother sensed my youth.

Though my passion was commendable, my ignorance was obvious. She hinted at the missing pieces of my paper, even though I felt justified in my analysis. I failed to understand a saying my mother

Victoria Tralies, her mother Marie, and sister Jackie. (Photo courtesy of Victoria Tralies ’18).

enced. I still remember the faces of my mother and sister as I spoke about both arguments. They were struck by the ego of a young woman who dipped into the pot to stir it and had never even been a mother. The subtext of these issues was significantly more charged than my 15 year old mind could have imagined: socioeconomic status, matters of identity and how only positions of power offer the

often refers to: “sometimes you do what you have to do, not what you want to.”

Regardless, the five page paper took the high road arguing: “Whether choosing to work and raise a family or choosing to stay at home, mothers must remember to decide according to what best fits their own circumstances, not what fits the expectations of others.”

I’d like to think these were the words

of a young female trailblazer, but if I’m being honest, they were the words of a girl who was only beginning to understand societal problems. The paper I once thought was a manifesto now reads like a two-page pamphlet concerning women’s issues. I seemed to entirely avoid the notion of money. Research reveals that the numbers matter with regards to moms and financial circumstances.

Legal Momentum, which describes itself as “the oldest non-profit legal organization dedicated to advancing the rights of women and girls,” connects women and economic inequality with a wide range of reasons: the wage gap, limited government programs, the cost of childcare and domestic abuse to name a few. The problems the 11.5 million single-mothers in the United States face, mentioned on their web page, include managing the home and the workplace and financing the lives of both themselves and their children.

Maybe if I had spent more time studying women in my own life rather than those in my research, I would have realized the gaps. The reality is that someday I too may grapple with the issues my mother once did: how to manage being a working mother without feeling like any less of a parent. Women continue to balance home and family responsibilities.

Even though society has evolved from traditional gender norms, the notion of proper family values are still very much ingrained in our expectations of women as mothers.

Women’s History Month is a reminder that I am a woman and while that does not define me, it gives me definition. Someday, being a mother may do the same.

Building something timeless Service for a week lasts a lifetime in my heart

Appalachian experience volunteers work together on site for 2017 APEX (Photo by Kaitlyn Patterson ’20).

KAITLYN PATTERSON ’20 Creative Director If someone came up to me a year ago and told me that the best week of my life would be spent with 36 strangers digging holes and extracting rocks from the frozen ground, all of which happened 12 hours away in the small town of Jonesville, Virginia, I would have laughed. When we left for our journey on March 10, I did not know what to expect; how could I spend my vacation week with these people I don’t even know? It was intimidating, but

the time I spent in Jonesville definitely changed my whole outlook on life.

The Appalachian Experience, commonly known as APEX, is a service trip that spans the week of spring break.

Groups go to 17 different work sites in the Appalachian region to serve and learn about the individuals who live in the community. Going in, my group wasn’t informed of the kind of work we would be doing once we got to our sites, so when we were told to build a wheelchair ramp from scratch, with very little instruction, our jaws dropped. However, right away we

literally began to dig right into the project.

For the entirety of the first work day, we dug two-foot holes into the ground. Let me tell you, it is much harder than you’d expect, especially if you’re digging straight into solid rock and clay. Despite the harsh weather conditions, challenges and many setbacks we faced, there was never a negative comment on the work site, which was something that was very new to me.

I have never met so many people who have the same values as I do, with the desire and drive to serve others, that are passionate about Saint Joseph’s University’s mission of creating “men and women with and for others.” Maybe my spring break wouldn’t be considered an actual “break,” but embracing these new experiences and opening up to new people was very refreshing.

I am a very small person, so I couldn’t really do any of the heavy lifting in building this ramp, especially since we were working in snow and freezing rain for the majority of the work days. I’ll admit, this made me feel completely useless; I came here to work, not to sit around because I was physically incapable of helping. In reflection, however, we discussed the equal importance of doing physical labor but also building new friendships. It was comforting to know that despite the fact that I was not always doing the physical labor, I was making connections and sharing stories with my group members as well as the owner of the home we worked at.

We didn’t come to Jonesville to “fix” a broken home; we came to learn about the people who lived there while providing something they needed. Although it was rewarding to see a tangible result come from our hard work, the relationships we built were much more valuable. I didn’t realize this until the end of the week, but we did so much more for this man and his family than we will ever realize.

I’m not going to preach about how I “discovered myself ” or “found God” during my trip, but what I gained from my first APEX experience was equally valuable. I exceeded the limits of my comfort zone, learned to truly see people for who they are and developed true faith in myself. I found love, hope and gratitude. The work I did, friends I made, and conversations I had allowed me to realize things about myself more clearly and in depth than ever before. I will allow this new insight to help me to become a better neighbor, friend, lover and human being. I can’t say I have all the answers yet, but I am now closer to truly becoming a person who is with and for others.

Yes, learning how to use a hand saw and power drill may be more useful in a practical sense, but the lessons and new perspectives I have gained from the 36 new friends I have will allow me to build better relationships, communities and humanity. A piece of my heart was left in Jonesville and I will forever be grateful for what that beautiful town has given me.

Lifestyle

March 22, 2017

9

Finding positivity with the pole Taking on a new form of exercise

MAGGIE MCHALE ’17 Special to the Hawk

O

n a mild Monday evening in February, I found myself in front of an inconspicuous glass door in Center City labeled simply as “POLE HAUS.” After a long walk down a bright-red hallway and up four floors on an elevator, I arrived at my destination: a one-hour long, introductory pole dancing class.

Pole Haus, located at 1719 Chestnut St. in Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse neighborhood, is the city’s only pole dancing studio.

It offers one-off classes for $25, or you can choose from a variety of membership options ranging from $55 per month for an introductory membership, to $110 per month for a premium membership.

Pole Haus’ continuing purpose is “to provide high quality instruction of pole dance and associated workouts in a safe and encouraging

environment," according to its website.

Truthfully, I had no idea what to expect from this class. I was told that pole dancing could be anything that I wanted it to be, but I didn’t necessarily know what that meant. “[It can be] sexy, tricks based, lyrical, ballet-inspired,” said Jules Corrado, Pole Haus’ owner and instructor. “There is room for all styles, and no pressure to be anything that you are not.”

After filling out a precautionary waiver, removing my shoes, and stripping down (pun definitely intended) to my shorts and sports bra, I made my way to the dance floor and selected a pole in the middle of the room, directly behind Alfie Sosa, my class’ instructor.

Sosa has performed in showcases and won various competitions over the course of his nearly seven-year career in pole dancing. During our class he maintained a palpable confidence that instantly assuaged the room, including my anxious mind.

The majority of Pole Haus’ students are women, including everyone from housewives, students, doctors, researchers, scientists and dancers, according to Sosa.

“Some women come to us with a specific goal,” Sosa said. “Losing weight, to learn to pole dance or just curiosity. We have also seen an increase in the amount of men who want to try it.”

My own introductory class solidified Sosa’s claim. All but one participant had seemingly never had any other pole dancing experience whatsoever. There were women in their late-20s who had just come from work, swapping skirts for Spandex and college-aged women covered in tattoos observing their posture in the mirror.

In the class just before mine, there had been a middle-aged man in the back corner who moved with inspiring self-assurance.

Roughly 20 minutes of warm-ups later, we began basic pole exercises. Locking my knee and ankle around the metal pole and placing my hands high above my head, I was instructed to pull myself up onto the pole.

In that moment I realized I have no viable upper-body strength at all.

After three shaky attempts to pull myself up, I let out an exasperated sigh. Sosa noticed my frustration and came

to my aid, readjusting my form and telling me to try again. I did it and it wasn’t great— but, I did it.

I wasn’t trying to be perfect. I knew that wasn’t possible. I was, however, trying my best to disregard my shoddy form in relation to my overall experience, as I wanted to feel good much more than I wanted to look good.

Sosa explained that Pole Fitness allows you to explore who you want to be, or even who you already are deep down inside.

“The more you learn, the more movement vocabulary you have to express yourself,” Sosa said. “And I think that is what makes it different from other workouts.”

I made another attempt using my other leg, then took a long look at myself in the mirror.

Although I had just unsteadily hoisted myself onto a metal pole surrounded by a dozen total strangers, I felt completely empowered.

“I have seen people's body images transform, and the community we have is so supportive that you can’t help but increase in confidence,” Corrado said. “It takes work, but it is so worth it.”

At this point in class, Sosa then began teaching a basic pole dancing routine to the class. As he glided around the pole, I became hyper-aware of my lack of coordination again. As we began following his lead, I caught myself mumbling eight-counts under my breath just to keep up.

We went step-by-step through the routine about half a dozen times, and Sosa asked for a “sexy” song request that could accompany our work. The class decided on Flume’s song “Never Be Like You,” and we took our position.

I stared at myself in the mirror again.

On Sosa’s say-so, we began gliding around the pole, always maintaining a point of contact no matter what. We repeated the dance until the end of the four-minute track before collapsing on the floor for cool-down stretches.

“As you keep coming to class and you progress, not only do you realize you are getting stronger, toned and are losing weight, but also you are taking your body

Graphics by Kaitlyn Patterson '20.

on a journey in which you discover you can do things that you never imagined you were able to do,” Sosa said.

At the end of the class, I felt like a noodle.

I was, however, a noodle with an enlightened sense of deeper assuredness in myself. I was the perfect plate of spaghetti at your favorite Italian restaurant. I had never felt better.

10

Lifestyle

March 22, 2017

After the long absence

Ed Sheeran returns with new album RAFA DHELOMME ’20 Hawk Staff It’s been approximately one year since fans last heard from red-headed music prodigy Ed Sheeran. After his career took off with the song “The A Team,” which was the lead single from his debut album “+” (“Plus”) in 2011, Sheeran has been a constant presence in the music industry as both singer and songwriter for many other artists and friends, including Taylor Swift and One Direction.

Over the next five years, Sheeran managed to go a long way. By writing hits like “Love Yourself ” by Justin Bieber and “Dark Times” by the Weeknd. In the latter song, Sheeran collaborates with the Weeknd by singing the chorus.

He finally gathered a new set of songs and put together a new album, also released

by Atlantic Records and Asylum Records titled, “x” (“Multiply”). Five singles were taken from that same album, with “Thinking Out Loud” peaking number-one in 12 countries, followed by over 1 million copies sold in the United Kingdom and winning two Grammys for “Song of the Year” and “Best Pop Solo Performance" in 2016.

Sheeran first developed an interest in performing by singing in a local church and listening to musicians such as Damien Rice, Eminem and Eric Clapton. But after five years in the business, Sheeran took a yearlong break from the recording industry,

Ed Sheeran's new album takes a personal look at fame and family (Illustration by Allison Sene, '19).

which he says garnered a “lukewarm” reaction from his many fans.

It took Sheeran some time to come back, especially for the restless fans, but in the end, he didn’t disappoint. “÷” (“Divide”), released March 3, had sold 232,000 copies, both physical and digital, in the UK in its first day of release, and within the week, it had sold 672,000, making it the UK's fast-

est-selling album by a male artist. Worldwide, on the same day that the album was released, the songs achieved a total of 56.73 million streams on Spotify in one day, breaking the previous record holder, “Starboy” by the Weeknd.

Honoring his Irish heritage, the 26-yearold singer showed listeners the strong presence and inspiration that his family holds in

his new songs, especially his grandparents, both of whom were Irish. “Galway Girl”, a track on the album about meeting a special girl, also has Irish roots, snd took a spin when Sheeran introduced elements of Irish culture and music, relying on its youthful sound to cheer up the record, along with “Nancy Mulligan,” the story of his grandparents’ relationship.

Unfortunately, Sheeran’s grandmother died during the making of the record, leading him to write “Supermarket Flowers,” one of the more heartfelt songs on the album, written from the point of view of his mother.

In the short span of time since “÷” was released, the singer achieved much more than anyone ever thought he would. According to the Official Charts Company, Sheeran’s new album holds nine of the top 10 singles in the United Kingdom.

This might seem like a surprise to some people, but having heard “÷” in its entirety, I can say that the artist really put himself out there with such emotional and diverse songs, all of which reflect experiences he might have had during his break.

To a fan like me, Sheeran’s hiatus was only a year, but it felt like forever. Now that he is back, I don’t think we’ll let him go ever again.

Joan of Arc in a new light

New translation of famed testimony hits bookshelves FRANKI RUDNESKY ’18 Assistant Lifestyle Editor

Franki Rudnesky, ’18, reads the new translation of the testament of Joan of Arc (Photo by Joey Toczylowski, ’19).

Anyone who has ever taken a history course has most likely either learned about or heard references to Joan of Arc, a teenage girl who became one of the most prominent figures in medieval history.

In addition to hearing “voices” from God and important saints, Joan of Arc led thousands of men into decisive battles during the Hundred Years War. Unfortunately, she met an untimely end when she was put to trial in 1431 for blasphemy, and was eventually convicted and burnt at the stake on May 30, 1431 when she was only 19 years old.

Nowadays, readers can have access to modern English translations of the tran-

scripts from the four-month-long trial, along with an epilogue addressing controversial issues surrounding Joan of Arc, in Emilia P. Sanguinetti’s book “Joan of Arc: Her Trial Transcripts.”

The transcripts were originally written in Medieval/Middle French during the trial by a notary, and were first translated into English in 1932 by W.P. Barrett; but Sanguinetti’s publication offers a shorter, more concise version that promotes easy readability in modern English.

Readers can easily navigate the story, from the pre-trial phase in January 1431 where experts gathered and discussed evidence against Joan of Arc, all the way up to the recounting of the chilling statements

made just before the heroine’s death.

The months in between relay countless testimonies for, against and by Joan herself.

The claims deal with everything from the “voices,” or interior locutions that guided her, to the Catholic Church at the time and including assorted statements about Joan’s gender identity and sexual orientation.

While Joan of Arc is often depicted as a Christ-like figure, the trial transcripts presented by Sanguinetti hold information that portray Joan of Arc as a representation of the Virgin Mary. She even refers to herself on a few occasions as “the miraculous virgin” who was meant to save France.

This book even includes “bonus materi-

al” in the form of all-encompassing accounts of Joan of Arc’s mystical experiences.

Following the transcripts from the trial is an epilogue written by the author, detailing the fallout of the trials, including details of the “Rehabilitation Trial” that took place in 1456 and an investigation of the trial itself.

This investigation ended up undoing the conviction of Joan of Arc, finding the trial to have been “tainted with fraud, slander, injustice, contradictions and many obvious errors involving facts and laws," according to Sanguinetti's book.

Sanguinetti, currently a theology student at the University of Notre Dame with five years of formal language training in French, also included essays in which she discussed Joan’s sexual orientation and gender identity, the origin of Joan’s “voices,” Joan as an icon of the suppression of women in the church, and Joan as a symbol of the Virgin Mary.

“Joan of Arc: Her Trial Transcripts” is an engaging read for anybody who is interested in history, issues of sexuality, gender identity or religion.

Graphic by Kaitlyn Patterson, ’20.

Lifestyle

March 22, 2017

11

On the road with “CHiPs” A Q&A with Michael Peña & Dax Shepard ROSE WELDON ’19 Lifestyle Editor The late-70s/early 80s TV program “CHiPs” was a phenomenon in its day and introduced a pair of more-than-capable California Highway Patrol officers: Officer Jon Baker and Officer Frank “Ponch” Poncherello. “CHiPs” was one of the first shows on network television to stage large-scale stunts and explosions, and the series ran for six seasons and continues in syndication.

Nearly 40 years after its initial premiere, “CHiPs” has been adapted into a film starring Michael Peña (“Ant-Man”) and Dax Shepard (“Parenthood”) as Ponch and Baker, respectively, with Shepard also serving as writer and director of the project. I had the opportunity to speak with both men at a press conference at the Ritz Carlton in Philadelphia on March 3, where we discussed influences, luck, and public demand for Erik Estrada.

ROSE WELDON: Were there any scenes you had to cut that you really didn’t want to?

DAX SHEPARD: Yes, in particular, there was a scene with Michael, who you saw in the movie. [His character] is not just obsessed with women, but also with the clothes they wear and the stitching – he’s a savant about his appreciation for women and their clothing. So he [Peña] had a sex scene that we cut out of the movie, that I kept fighting for and I kept trying, in every version, to make it work.

He was having sex with this woman, but he could not stop looking at her underwear. He was so distracted with her underwear, like ‘why would she wear those underwear?’ and ‘you shouldn’t wear these brands,’ and then it becomes a thing about what brands she’s wearing. And it was so weird. I think, for us, we loved it, but the test audiences were like, ‘He’s a bit of a serial killer now’ [laughs]. I think we dipped into serial killer territory.

But that’ll be on the DVD. MICHAEL PEÑA: Oh God, dude! If it’s in the movie for some reason, it’s cool,

RW: Were there any other influences besides the TV show? Because while I was watching, seeing the balance of the comedy and the action, I was thinking of “Burn Notice.”

MP: [The show with] Jeffrey Donovan, right? That’s my golfing buddy, but I haven’t seen that many “Burn Notice” episodes.

DS: Definitely, my influences were “Bad Boys” and “Lethal Weapon.” That’s what I watched on repeat while I was writing the script. Have you seen either of those?

Michael Peña, Rose Weldon and Dax Shepard at a press event for “CHiPs” (Photo Courtesy of Rose Weldon ’19).

but having the sex scene in the outtakes just makes it a little…

DS: Well, yes. Had that scene come later in the movie, I think people would have died laughing. But they’re still getting to know [Ponch], it was just too early. They don’t love [him] yet, but by the end they’d be up for it.

RW: Of course, you’ve got Erik Estrada [the original actor who played Ponch] in there for a cameo - but did you also make an attempt to get Larry Wilcox [the original actor for Baker] in there as well?

DS: No, because when we were about to make this movie, leading up to it, every single person I told that I was doing the movie, the very first question out of their mouth is, “Will Estrada be in it?” There was such a demand from the public for Erik Estrada that it was unavoidable. He [Estrada] was going to be in the movie hell or high water.

RW: Was there any difficulty in maintaining the tone of “this is a comedy, this is like ‘Bad Boys,’” while you have some serious events and accidents?

DS: If you’re directing something some-

one else wrote, you’re already combining two different points of view – the director’s point of view and the writer’s. Then you add the actors to that, and they are adding their own point of view. And so, I do think it’s much easier for me to achieve a consistent tone, because I know what I like at all times. Whether that’s for action, I know what kind of action I like, and I know what kind of acting I like.

So weirdly, what I like becomes this unifying tone. I can feel, even if it’s kind of a broader bit of comedy, weirdly it’s the same mechanism that determines whether the action sucks or looks cool. There wasn’t anything that Michael [Peña] needed to be told. But with the many other actors who would come in, and a lot of them were just friends of mine who came in for an afternoon – Maya Rudolph just stopped by for an afternoon [for her role] – I have to tell them what movie they’re in, because you can read the script in many different ways. So I would just say to them, ‘You’re in “Pulp Fiction.” You’re not in “Paul Blart: Mall Cop.” Pretend you’re in “Pulp Fiction,” and this scene will work.’ And pretty much, if you start it from that point of view, then everyone’s in the same movie.

RW: Yes. DS: I wasn’t trying to be insulting, just curious. I’m sure “Lethal Weapon” was out before you were born. And “Bad Boys” probably came out the year you were born.

RW: So around ’97?

MP: Whoa! Okay.

DS: Hey-o! We’re old as f***.

RW: So, what were the biggest surprises for you while working on “CHiPs?” DS: Mine was how lucky we got. We were shooting during what was supposed to be the worst El Niño in California in the last 20 years. And in our entire shoot, which was all outdoors, it rained only one time, and it was on the scene where we needed rain. I just thought this is not possible. The fact that we did hundreds and hundreds of stunts and we had a single injury – a guy got stitches on his chin – that was it. No broken bones, no one went to the hospital. We didn’t smash any cars on accident, everything that got hit was supposed to get hit. The amount of luck we had; it felt like a very blessed experience...We finished on time and under budget, it was all too good.

“CHiPS” opens in area theaters on March 24.

10 College Must-Haves Under $10 Picks from Amazon Prime CORINNE SINESI ’19 Hawk Staff Amazon is a hotspot for the deals college students incessantly crave. The only thing better than the original deals on Amazon is Amazon Prime, which guarantees shipping on most products in two business days. Here are 10 must-have items for success in college and all of them under $10.

1. Microwave Omelet Maker – $9.45 The Norpro 930 Silicone Omelet Maker is a red, half-moon-like contraption that you can fill with eggs and any other omelet contents of your choice. The whole device is microwaveable, so it makes breakfast easy and enjoyable for anyone restricted to the limited appliances of a dorm room. The omelet maker requires a bit of experimentation in order to get your desired results, but the outcome is worth it.

2. Bedside Caddy – $7.55 In college, many students have their beds boosted up on bed-raisers or on bunk beds in order to hide the endless junk. Constantly having to get in and out of bed to grab a tissue or the remote can become tiresome.

The INTBUYING 6 Pocket Bedside Storage

Caddy is the perfect carry-all for your necessities and will keep you in bed for as long as you wish.

3. HDMI Cord – $9.99 SecurOMax offers a cord that connects laptops with TVs if they are compatible. For Mac computers, there’s another convertor needed, which can also be purchased for under $10. With an HDMI cord, you can play music using the TV as a speaker or watch a movie with all your friends instead of crowding around a laptop.

4. Drying Rack – $8.99 Everyone is well aware of the unfortunate and unavoidable faultiness of laundry services. Whether it’s a washing machine filled with suds or a broken dryer, sometimes your clothes are just left lukewarm and damp.

If you get a Greenco 3 Tier Over the Door Drying Rack, you can hang it right over your wardrobe and allow any important items to air out if need be.

5. ID Holder – $8.59 Students always have unique ways of carrying around ID cards. Some prefer the rubber pocket that sticks to a cell phone while

others use a trusty wallet. Yuhan Pretty on Amazon offers “wallet purses” for men and women that can carry a HawkCard, license, credit cards, and money. It also hangs around your neck, which prevents misplacing your most-valued items.

6. Pepper Spray – $6.99 Luckily for us, we live on a safe campus with great students and surrounding neighbors, so there truly isn’t much to worry about, but the world can’t always be trusted. It’s better to be safe and act as your own security with a mini pepper spray keychain. SABRE has a wide range of defense sprays, but the compact ones are the best for easy access.

7. Tapestry If you’re tired of coming home to the same, drab walls of your residence hall and you want to switch up your environment, then invest in a tapestry. On Amazon, there are thousands of color combos and intricate designs for under $10. Find what suits you, and improve the aesthetic of your room.

8. Sleep Mask – $9.99 Roommates can be best friends, but still not totally compatible because every-

Graphic by Kaitlyn Patterson, ’20.

one has a different schedule, bed time and set alarm. Sometimes lights flicker on and off when you’re in your deepest sleep and sometimes the sun just decides to rise right in your face. Whatever it is, it can be prevented with the Lonfrote Star Moon Deep Molded Sleep Mask.

9. Shower Shoes This is not merely a freshmen phenomenon; the need for shower shoes lives on through college. If a shower is shared by many bodies, not regularly cleaned, or not well ventilated, then mold and bacteria will colonize. It’s safer to use porous shoes so water can run through while still maintaining a barrier from the funk. Chazzi on Amazon has “Cheese Style” Thong Beach Sandal Flipflops that are perfect for deflecting shower funk.

10. “College Hacks” by Keith Bradford – $4.75 For under $5, you can get a whole book of college tips to further enhance your expertise and lead you to success here at Saint Joseph’s University. Plus, Prime members can read it for free online. How can you beat that?

12

Lifestyle

Crossword Puzzle

March 22, 2017

KELLIE O'BRIEN, '19 Social Media Manager

ACROSS 1. Cosmetics brand 5. Has eight tentacles 11. Actor from the movie “Taken”, Neeson 12. Something to dig 13. What suspends a flag 14. “It’s not a apple, it’s __ apple.”

15. Insect found at picnics 16. Jealousy 18. Those who play sports 26. Limited time McDonald’s milkshake in March 27. Another word for hotel 28. To begin and to 29. Volunteer for the military 32. Morning 33. The female version of a nephew 35. Name of supermarket, meaning BIG 39. Metric system unit of mass 40. In order to exit, you must 41. Singer of "Rocket Man," now a knight 42. Abbreviation for a retweet 43. What is tied to the back of a couple’s car who were just married

DOWN 1. Small llamas 2. The king of the jungle 3. Type of beer with high alcohol content 4. Most famous African American Protestant religion 6. “Keep your ____ up” 7. A preposition identifying the person or thing affected 8. Skin care brand 9. A permanent pencil 10. “Thank you for your _______”; said to people in the military 16. Term for people with a lot of power in companies 17. Synonym of abrupt 19. The most refreshing kind of Girl Scout cookie 20. Mano (Spanish) 21. Channel with lots of drama movies 23. Refer to #7 DOWN 24. Winter sport on a mountain 25. The opposite of night 28. To want something very much 30. On top of ambulance, police cars, etc.

31. Bluish green 34. Channel for country lovers 36. The symbol on every Twitter handle 37. Key object in Volleyball, Basketball, and Soccer.

38. Prefix meaning three

Join Our 11th Annual Kristin’s Krusade 5K Run/Walk Saturday, April 8th at SJU.

Check In: Sweeney Field 8:30-9:30AM Race start: 10:00AM ONLY $10: students with ID Team registration: groups of 4 or more Special gifts: all team members 5 Free raffle tickets: pre-registered students Refreshments, prizes, raffle and more!

Sign up today: KristinsKrusade.org All proceeds benefit the Kristin Mitchell Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to raising awareness about the dangers of unhealthy dating relationships. Kristin Mitchell, an SJU grad and a victim of dating violence, was murdered by her ex-boyfriend in June 2005.

Sports

March 22, 2017

13

Professional sports up close

Philadelphia Flyers host open practice sessions ABBEY PIRO ’19 Special to the Hawk Going to school in Philadelphia, there are numerous Hawks that double as Flyers fans.

What a lot of these Philadelphia sports fans don’t know is that almost all Flyers practices are free and open to the public and take place at the team’s practice facility in New Jersey.

The hardest part of the experience is figuring out when the open practices take place. The team doesn’t list its practice schedule on its website, so if you’re like me, you may have to monitor the Twitter account of Sam Carchidi, a Philadelphia Inquirer reporter who covers the Flyers, for exact dates. Normally, practices are announced either a few hours before they take place, or if you’re lucky, the night before.

The team practices at the Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, N.J., a 30-minute drive from campus. To take an Uber there can range from $36-$46 one-way, so grab your own car, or a friend with a car.

Trisha Maleno of Springfield, Pa., an avid Flyers fan who enjoys attending practices at the rink, was there the day I visited.

“These men are paid thousands of dollars to shoot pieces of vulcanized rubber with a composite stick, and to fans, these are our idols,” she said. “We love them, so watching them in a smaller rink, just working on their play is amazing.”

Another fan, a retired school teacher, was there trying to get enough pucks

The Flyers practice in front of fans at the Flyers Skate Zone (Photo courtesy of Abbey Piro ’19).

signed to make a raffle basket for her old school. She had a big sign pressed against the glass that read “If you throw me a puck, I’ll give you a cookie,” as well as a batch of homemade cookies. She seemed thrilled when Flyer’s center Nick Cousins smiled at her sign and threw her a puck.

Practice length is different for each player. Some players are on the ice for 45 minutes and others are there for over an hour. A typical practice will begin at 10:30 a.m., but the start time changes depending on the team’s game schedule.

Zack Hill, senior director of communications for the Flyers, said the benefits of open practices are obvious.

“It permits fans to see the Flyers up close,” he said.

This is such a great opportunity because it is free for fans to see one of their favorite teams up close. Not all fans can

afford to sit front row, up against the glass for a game so this gives those fans the opportunity to get that experience without paying over $100.

Teams like the 76ers and the Eagles will have open practices once in a while, but not like the Flyers who make almost every one of their practices open. For example, the Eagles have one or two training camp practices open but again nothing to the scale that the Flyers have.

After the practice that I attended came to an end and players started to skate their way off the ice, a fan tipped me off that players sometimes will stop their cars on the way out of the rink parking lot in order to greet fans.

I scurried my way out the front doors and walked around until I saw a metal barricade. I was soon joined behind the barricade by six to seven other fans waiting for the chance to get an autograph.

It is definitely a waiting gamble, as some players do not come out right after practice and others will not stop for fans at all. It took around 45 minutes for the first player to emerge in his car and he drove by without stopping for fans. Others were more generous, pulling up and signing autographs without getting out of their cars.

The day I went I got signatures from Brayden Schenn, Sean Couturier, Michal Neuvirth, Michael Del Zotto, Radko Gudas, Mark Streit, Nick Shultz and Pierre-Édouard Bellemare. Unfortunately, I didn’t get an autograph from star player Jakub Voracek, who narrowly avoided hitting me with his car.

I have already gone to another practice since going the first time and I know people who attend to almost every practice. Every practice is different and different players will meet fans, so there is a lot of room for new experiences. I would definitely recommend everyone try it at least once, despite the hike, because it’s a great experience that many people don’t take advantage of.

Typical signings and photo opportunities with players can cost anywhere from $25 to $75, depending on who the player is and if you want a picture, autograph, or both. Open practices are a great alternative for sports fans with tight student budgets.

Welcome Back Students!

SJU’s teams have been working hard over Spring Break.... Support them at home!

This Week’s Home Athletic Events Wed., March 22 Softball vs. Rider, 3 p.m.

Fri., March 24 Baseball vs. Bryant, 3 p.m.

Men’s Tennis vs. Richmond, 3 p.m.

Sat., March 25 Baseball vs. Bryant, 2 p.m.

Women’s Lacrosse vs. Wagner, 1 p.m.

Softball vs. Saint Louis, Noon (DH) Men’s & Women’s Rowing at Murphy Cup, All Day

Sun., March 26 Baseball vs. Bryant, 1 p.m.

Softball vs. Saint Louis, Noon Men’s & Women’s Tennis vs. Siena, 10 a.m.

Tue., March 28 Baseball vs. Villanova, 3 p.m.

Men’s & Women’s Tennis vs. Lehigh, 2:30 p.m.

For schedule information, go to SJUHawks.com or follow the Hawks on Twitter: @SJUHawks

14

Sports

March 22, 2017

Fans take flight

The student section: a passionate place for basketball fans PAUL KAROLY ’17 Special to The Hawk NCAA Division I basketball is comprised of the country’s top college-age players, spectacular arenas and die-hard fans.

Perhaps the most die-hard fans within the sport itself are the students from each respective university and here at Saint Joseph’s University, the 54th Airborne student section, also known as the Booster Club, is composed of those fans.

At each basketball game, and other select sporting events, members of all graduating classes gather to achieve one goal: to give St. Joe’s the extra push to help them achieve victory through cheers and enthusiasm.

“When fans get into the game, the players get into the game with all of the energy created by generating noise,” said senior Matthew Conlin, 54th Airborne’s co-president.

54th Airborne had its inaugural season during the 2009-10 school year, according to their online blog. The revamped student section commenced just in time for the completion of renovations to the Alumni Memorial Field House and its undertaking of the name “Hagan Arena.” From that

54th Airborne attempts to distract an opposing free throw shooter (Photo by Luke Malenga ’20).

point forward, students have been flocking to St. Joe’s basketball games to experience the atmosphere and excitement that comes with being involved in the student section.

“Being a part of the 54th Airborne feels like you’re fighting with the guys and girls [basketball teams] like an army,” said Will Cronen, ’15, former 54th Airborne president.

Hagan Arena has approximately 1,200 seats blocked off just for the student section, making up over one-fourth of those

in attendance for St. Joe’s basketball games when filled, according to the SJU Athletics website. 54th Airborne’s presence is made known within those seats by exclaiming various chants, including its most infamous one, “The Hawk Will Never Die.” However, the real question is, does the student section actually make an impact on a team’s performance during the game? To date there are no scientific or statistical studies to show that a student section and its in-

tensity can sway a game one way or another, but some members of the men’s basketball team at St. Joe’s believe otherwise.

“We always get fired up going off fans,” said third-year sophomore forward Markell Lodge. “It helps us get runs going.”

The contagious atmosphere is even noticed by first-year players, such as freshman standout Charlie Brown.

“The team’s spirits get uplifted when it gets loud,” Brown said. “It gets us hype on the court.”

Phil Martelli, the Hawks’ men’s basketball head coach for the last 22 seasons, has seen the development and the intensity of the student section grow over time. He believes that the team does not feel alone on the court when there’s a strong student presence.

“Student passion has a positive impact on our performance,” Martelli said.

With the establishment of 54th Airborne, the basketball team can look forward to a strong student presence at games for years to come.

The Gremlin, the Destroyer and the Hornet St. Joe’s student takes to local disc golf course ASHLEY CAPPETTA ’17 Editor Emeritus There’s nothing like a lime green fanny pack, a self-made handbook and a bag of discs to make you look (and feel) like a total dork on the disc golf course.

One morning, I’d risen early to beat the crowds at Fairmount Park’s Sedgley Woods. I had the disc golf grounds, seemingly, to myself.

Sedgley is one of the oldest disc golf courses in the world, and is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Yet, for a course riddled with 40 years of flying discs and busy feet, the grounds are still lush and lively—essentially, how I hope to look at 40 if I were a disc golf course.

Ready and prepared to play disc golf for the first time, I hyped myself up by remembering just how closely I studied the rules prior to venturing out onto the course. I rattled them off in my head: The object of the game is much like real golf; lowest score and fewest strokes wins; always throw your next disc from where the previous one landed. There is a mix of tight skill shots through wooded areas, open spaces for full force driver shots and tricky water hazards that will swallow up your disc.

Prep over, I scanned the grounds.

Although I brought my own discs, Sedgley rents discs for a small donation of one or two dollars and players can even buy discs on-site for less than $10.

Luckily for me, my boyfriend is an avid player of the sport, so for my first round of play, I borrowed his discs—my first “score” of the day.

With my fanny pack, handbook and discs, I delicately approached the first hole.

The basket looked intimidating with its silver chains and yellow topper swinging in the wind. How was I ever going to get my disc into that tiny basket?

I peered into my bag of discs, unsure of which to use.

As in regular golf, there are drivers, midranges and putters. All three types of discs boasted various curves that determined speed, control, and distance.

I kind of hoped one would just jump out at me.

I picked my driver, “The Destroyer,” as named by the disc company. It’s a sharper-edged disc built for speed, and it’s a little thinner, too. As soon as it was in my hands, I realized how different this disc felt; it was nothing like a regular Frisbee. The Destroyer was heavier, somehow and had a very specific shape.

Feeling a bit nervous, I decided to pull out my trusty handbook for some guidance.

And, of course, I kept my handbook in my fanny pack. The style was uncanny.

Once I had the book in my hands, which I admit, was truly self-made from tips I learned on Professional Disc Golf Association’s (PDGA) instructional site, I read “play begins on each hole with the player throwing from the tee area, usually 150-500 feet away from the basket.”

I inched up to 149 and a half feet. I didn’t know how this was going to go.

As I held the disc, I recalled a tip that senior Keira McHugh co-leader of the Saint Joseph’s University Ultimate Frisbee team told me.

“It’s a lot of your wrist.” McHugh said.

“It’s not necessarily your whole arm, so the more rotation you get on the disc the farther it will go, and the flatter the disc will go.”

So I threw.

The disc hung in the air. I watched The Destroyer, a little yellow blip in the cloudy sky, plop sadly to the wet ground and safely secure a spot in the dirt.

It landed less than 25 feet from where I stood. Pitiful.

Although I blamed the disc, I knew that disc golf was certainly a skill that I

would have to consistently practice. My handbook and I continued through the course, as I was determined to tighten up my game.

As I walked through the park, I tried hyping myself up again.

As I worked up my hype, I remembered a conversation I had with John “Stash” DiSciascio, Sedgley’s Executive Director. He told me about this guy in his 80s who is a disc golf world champion, Paul “The Old Goat” Fein. Stash told me that players of all ages can come out, either for a casual walk with friends or for some intense competition.

I was there for the latter and definitely competing against myself. I thought, if an 80-year-old could get that disc into the basket, so could I. I was on hole two of 27, staring at the next basket. No, I hadn’t made it into the first one before moving on to the next; I didn’t want to hold up anyone who actually knew what they were doing.

As Stash told me, there aren’t any professional instructors out on the course as of now, but everyone is friendly and will teach you how to play.

But, truth be told, I really didn’t want help. I was looking forward to being on the course for a while, gaining traction on my own time— just me and my trusty handbook.

I tried a different disc on the second basket, a midrange. This one, as I read in my handbook, flies less of a distance than a driver, but offers the player more control probably the one I should have started with.

It felt cold and intimidating in my hands.

I reviewed more notes: “When you throw, the disc curves in the opposite direction from the direction you throw due to the spin.”

So, I wanted to force the disc to curve right. I threw, hard.

I covered 50 more feet than last time.

In fact, I was getting the hang of it. I switched over to a driver, then to a putter, and made the basket with a few more throws.

By hole 27 I was ready to rumble.

Being out there in the woods, away from campus and other crazy responsibilities, was literally a breath of fresh air.

I didn’t realize how true her statement was until I tried it for myself.

Disc golf challenged me physically and mentally, allowing for only concentration and self-awareness. If I stopped focusing for even a second, that disc flopped to the ground.

Yes, it took until about hole 15 to truly understand how to throw, but with each basket I made, the more confident I grew in my playing ability and the more comfortable I felt in those trees.

“Mostly it [disc golf] is just a great camaraderie; it’s a great way for like-minded people who enjoy nature, who love the woods, [and] like to throw discs, [to] enjoy life in general—rule number one is have fun,” Stash said.

With that, I threw my midrange Gremlin into the abyss, watched it knock into a tree, flop to the ground and land mildly close to the basket.

It may take until I’m 80, but I’ll get there.

Ashley Cappetta putts her disc towards the hole (Photos courtesy of Ashley Cappetta ’17).

Sports

March 22, 2017

15

Hope for the future

Men’s basketball looks forward to a fresh start in 2017-18 season NICK MANDARANO ’18 Sports Editor It was a year of pain, quite literally, for the men’s basketball team at Saint Joseph’s University.

On Oct. 6, just over a month before the start of the regular season, it was announced that sophomore Pierfrancesco Oliva would miss the entire season due to a knee surgery performed in late June after starting 30 games for the Hawks in his freshman campaign. He was one of two players to miss the entirety of the season for the Hawks. The other player was freshman Lorenzo Edwards.

On Nov. 12, St. Joe’s opened their season with a 77-76 win against Toledo University after unveiling their 2016 Atlantic 10 championship banner. Junior James Demery, the team’s leading returning scorer, dropped 11 points and grabbed eight rebounds in the victory.

A few days later, it was announced that Demery had suffered a stress fracture in his left foot. He would miss the next 10 games and return on Dec. 30 in a game against George Washington University.

Demery’s return brought the Hawks more disappointing news. Junior Shavar Newkirk went down at the end of the first half with a non-contact injury. It was later announced that Newkirk had torn his ACL and would miss the remainder of the season.

Sophomore Lamarr Kimble suffered a fracture in his foot in early February, which required surgery and for him and missing the rest of the season.

The abundance of injuries this past season seemed to affect each of the team’s top players.

Many would argue they were a large reason for the team’s struggles throughout the season.

Prior to his injury, Newkirk was averaging 20.3 points per game, scoring 20 or more points in two-thirds of his games. Only 34 players in the nation averaged that many in this past season, including just three A-10 players. In addition to Demery’s 14 points and six rebounds per game, next year’s senior class will be full of leadership and production.

Kimble, who scored at least 10 points in 20 of his 24 games and averaged 15.5 points, 4.5 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game, will pair with Newkirk for the best backcourt in the conference next year. This past season, he was just the third sophomore in program history to be named a captain.

The Hawks’ frontcourt will feature rising senior Jai Williams and rising juniors Oliva and Markell Lodge. Williams, at 6’9”, was the Hawks’ tallest player this season, averaging 5.3 rebounds per 30 minutes and will most likely

Injured players cheer their team on throughout a tough season (Photo by Luke Malanga ’20).

Hawk Fun Fact

see a notable increase in playing time due to the loss of senior Javon Baumann. Lodge, despite being the only player to start all 30 games, played just 17.9 minutes per game, and averaged 6.9 rebounds per 30 minutes as well as 1.5 blocks. Oliva averaged 6.6 rebounds per 30 minutes in his freshman season.

Sophomore Chris Clover broke out this season, averaging 9.9 points per game during conference play after averaging just 0.5 points per game throughout all of his freshman year.

Freshman Charlie Brown also provided the Hawks with a new source of production, averaging 12.8 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.

He was named to the A-10 All-Rookie team.

Freshman Nick Robinson played 23.3 minutes per game this year, averaging 5.4 points and 3.9 rebounds. He improved over the course of the season and should continue to do so into next season.

In the 2017-18 season, the Hawks will be joined by Edwards as well as incoming freshmen Taylor Funk and Anthony Longpre.

ESPN.com ranks Funk, a three-star recruit, as the seventh best player in his class from Pennsylvania. At 6’8”, Funk’s three-point shooting ability should be a major addition to the St. Joe’s team. Longpre’s frame will add some size on the inside for the Hawks as well.

There’s a lot to look forward to in the upcoming season for St. Joe’s basketball, and if the alternating pattern of successful seasons continues, the Hawks are due for a fairly except season in 2018.

T H E U N I V E RS I TY O F S C R A N TO N

S U M M E R AT

SCRANTON HAVE A TOUGH COURSE COMING UP NEXT YEAR? OR A GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENT YOU NEED TO FULFILL? Senior Kyle Chalmers plays in a match in Fall 2016 (Photo by Luke Malanga ’20).

senior tennis player kyle chalmers is seventh all time in st. Joe’s history with his winning percentage (55-25, .688).

We invite you to consider a summer course at The University of Scranton.

With the convenience of on-campus and online courses, at a reduced tuition rate, a summer course can help you get ahead.

2017 DATES: SUMMER I: 5/31-6/29, SUMMER II: 7/10-8/7 TUITION RATE: $586 per credit - more than 45% OFF the regular tuition rate Of approximately 60 courses being offered this summer, about half are online.

For more information visit scranton.edu/summer

*Data courtesy of SJU Athletics

16

Sports

March 22, 2017

Springing forward

Checking in on the Hawks’ spring break athletics ALEX HARGRAVE ’20 Assistant Sports Editor As the majority of Saint Joseph’s University students left campus for spring break to see their families or take vacations, student athletes continued to work from March 10-19.

The softball team travelled to Clearwater, Fla. where they participated in the Under Armour Showcase and the Michelle Smith Spring Break Invitational. The team did not fare very well in their first tournament, losing every game to opponents from all over the country.

Their luck turned in the Michelle Smith Spring Break Invitational when they beat Fairfield University, Yale University, Long Island University - Brooklyn. Their losses came from Bethune-Cookman University and the University of North Florida.

The week brought their record to 6-14 before they head into regular season play.

The baseball team’s week was impacted by the snow storm that wreaked havoc in the northeast, so they only had the chance

Senior Matt Pennell delivers a pitch to the plate.

to play two games over the break. The Hawks earned their first win of the season on March 10, beating the College of William and Mary in a close call, 3-2. Sophomore Charlie Concannon had two runs batted in and freshman Matt Cuppari had one run to earn their first win. Sophomore Tim Brennan’s pitching also contributed to the win.

The baseball team lost playing against Yale University, 13-9. The Hawks played well early on, but the Bulldogs came back to win it in the final innings. After the break, St Joe’s holds a record of 1-11.

Women’s lacrosse registered two losses for the break. Their first loss came from San Diego State University in a close match ending in a 13-12 loss for the Hawks. The scoring was back and forth until San Diego State netted the eventual game winner with under seven minutes left in the match.

Freshmen Hope Anhut and Julia Pash led the St. Joe’s effort with four and two goals, respectively.

The team also lost at Sweeney Field to Duke University, 16-10. The Hawks earned a close win against Mount St. Mary’s University by a score of 12-11 on March 19.

Senior Nora McCallion led the team with three goals. The game winner was scored by junior Aly Gormley with seven minutes left to play.

Men’s and women’s tennis travelled south to North Carolina and Florida to compete over the break. The men’s squad had three losses and one win over Fairleigh Dickinson University, 4-3, coming back from trailing early in the match. Senior Kyle Chalmers had two victories to lead the comeback.

The women’s team had three losses to Queens College, Davidson University and Bryant University during the week.

Men’s lacrosse found success early in the week, earning a 6-5 overtime victory over Monmouth University on March 10. Senior Ray Vandegrift scored the game

winning goal with under three minutes left in overtime to get the victory. The team lost their next two games to Drexel University and the University of Delaware and now have a record of 3-5.

The women’s basketball team returned to action after their Atlantic 10 tournament run, playing in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament. This tournament is independent of the NCAA and consists of the nation’s best teams.

The Hawks fell to the University of Virginia in a close contest, 62-56. Sophomore Sarah Veilleux led the team with 17 points, junior Chelsea Woods had 12, and junior Adashia Franklyn had 9. Seniors Mackenzie Rule and Amanda Fioravanti rounded out their Hawk basketball careers with 6 points each. St. Joe’s women’s basketball ended their exceptional season with an overall record of 17-15.

The Hawks hope for successful Spring seasons from each of their teams.

The women’s basketball team celebrates together.

Senior Maddie Graziani returns a volley.

Senior Marcus Milione looks beat the defense (Photos by Luke Malenga ’20).

Gearing up

St. Joe’s Gaelic Football Team prepares for upcoming season MARY MELLOR ’18 Special to The Hawk The Saint Joseph’s University Gaelic Football club team is currently preparing for their spring tournaments and is excited for the matches to come.

As the first officially recognized collegiate Gaelic football team in the United States, the St. Joe’s team puts an incredibly strong emphasis on team unity and ambition. The team has tournaments and matches in both the fall and spring semesters.

St. Joe’s Gaelic Football club’s mission is found on the club website: “We, and many before us, have put in copious amounts of work that have made this club a reality.

Our goal is to not only maintain this team, but develop it. We hope that Saint Joseph’s University will not only be the first, but will also be the best.”

The squad has a dedicated fan base, but other St. Joe’s community members do not know what the sport entails. Junior Eugene Ramos is a former player and current super-fan of the Gaelic team. “[It is] a very technical, fun sport,” he said. “It incorporates the beauty of soccer and the physicality of rugby, and the technical aspect of basketball.”

Gaelic football is an Irish team sport

that is played with two teams of 15 players on a grass field. Players can score by kicking or punching the spherical leather ball into the other team’s goal or between two upright posts and over a crossbar located eight feet in the air. The games tend to last for about an hour.

St. Joe’s is known for its Division I athletics, something in which the school,

alumni, fans, students and all people involved find pride.. As for current students, however, club sports are an excellent opportunity to compete.

The Gaelic Football team’s Vice President, junior Sean Rigau, explains his club team experience as “Serious, but we also love to have fun. Compared to DI programs for other sports, we are a lot more

The Gaelic Football Team poses for a team picture (Photo courtesy of Sam Giacino ’17).

laid back.” Ramos said that his favorite part about the St. Joe’s team is “the strong sense of camaraderie,” which is why he loves following their season.

The club team has about 35-40 players, consisting mostly of freshman and sophomores. Many of the team members were formerly on soccer, lacrosse, football and hockey teams, according to Rigau.

“Most [players] use experience from their previous athletic commitments to the team when it comes to playing,” Rigau said.

Interestingly, the team is student-run, meaning there is no coach.

“There has been a mutual growth and learning with the entire team,” Rigau said.

“Over the years the team has become a true brotherhood supporting its players through school and life. The boys on this year’s team have really become a family.”

Rigau is excited and optimistic about the coming season.

“We will do very well this year," he said.

"We are already undefeated in all competitions thus far, but the championship over the summer will be the true test."