The Student Newspaper of Saint Joseph’s University
Volume XCVI | Est. 1929 | www.sjuhawknews.com
Nov. 1, 2017
Update on CAS Dean VIVIAN MILAN ’18 Editor in Chief
In her first three months as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), Shaily Menon, Ph.D., has been immersing herself in campus life in order to better understand the campus community. Something she already understands is the need to create a clear identity for CAS and to encourage collaboration between CAS and the Erivan K. Haub School of Business. Menon has met with Joseph DiAngelo, dean of the Haub School, to find ways the Haub School and CAS can diminish the divisiveness between the two schools. “My number one question for him, even when I was interviewing, was ‘I’m a very collaborative person, so I don’t see this as competition. I see it as collaboration. How can we work together?’” she said. DiAngelo said he is looking forward to continuing working with Menon to see how the collaborations will provide students in both schools with new opportunities which may not have been possible before. “In the future, new collaborations between science and our MBA programs, management and the Kinney Center and allowing CAS students to participate in our co-op program, only scratch the surface of new and interesting opportunities available for our students,” DiAngelo said. Menon is aware of the stereotypes surrounding the CAS but said, these stereotypes can be diminished and that, in fact, a liberal arts education can significantly help students after graduation. She visited the fall Career Fair to ask employers how they can benefit students in the CAS, and what kind of degree they are looking for in students. Only 20 percent of the employers at the career fair represented jobs in the arts and sciences. “The majority by far said ‘no we’re not looking for any particular degree,’” Menon said. “‘Give us someone with drive, passion and those other skills: critical thinking, creative problem solving, working with teams, communication skills, verbal, written.’” Menon has joined conversations about inclusion at the university. She has attended Office of Inclusion and Diversity (OID) -sponsored events such as “True Stories,” a panel discussion on LGBTQIA+ identities and how they intersect with the campus community. Rachel Cox ’19, chair of Inclusion and Diversity for Student Senate, invited Menon to the discussion and was happy to see her there. “It felt good knowing she took my invitation seriously and made the extra effort to come,” said Cox. “She’s already made her presence felt as an ally and a woman of color in the office, as well as to the student [organizations] and has been great at getting to know the students there genuinely.” Additionally, Menon supports the university’s efforts to make campus more diverse. In 2012, 85.6 percent of the university was predominantly white. As of 2015, that number has decreased to 83 percent. “We want to increase diversity of the student body and have them feel a sense of belonging,” she said. “It’s not enough to get people here if they feel like they don’t belong to the institution.”
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St. Joe’s basketball guard, Christian Vega ’18, a native of Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, addresses the crowd after the “HawkAID” intra-squad scrimmage that raised over $4,000 for hurricane relief which will be donated to Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola, a Jesuit college-preparatory school and parish community in San Juan (Photo by Luke Malanga ’20).
Llanerch Diner set to reopen
Repairs and renovations to a St. Joe’s favorite dining spot ALEX MARK ’20 Hawk Staff The Llanerch Diner, a 24-hour eatery located at 95 E. Township Line Rd. in Upper Darby and popular among St. Joe’s students, was originally scheduled to open a week after a kitchen fire closed the diner on July 24. Instead, extensive renovations have pushed the diner’s reopening to Nov. 13. Mark Klein, owner of the Llanerch Diner, said grease from frying bacon overheated and caught fire while breakfast was being cooked. The Upper Darby Fire Department quickly extinguished the blaze, but the kitchen’s refrigeration system was “messed up,” according to Klein. With an unworkable kitchen, the diner was forced to close for much longer than originally estimated. The building was required to be evaluated and new equipment needed to be installed. “We’re taking an old Corvette and putting a new engine in it,” Klein said. The refurbished diner will seat 90 people, and will still include the famous booth featured in the movie “Silver Linings Playbook.” Built in 1964, the Llanerch Diner has been a favorite among St. Joe’s students up until its unexpected closure. Mike Koury ’20 said his fondest memory of the diner is when he went late in the night with a large group of about 20 other students. “It was just a great night hanging out, chatting, eating,” Koury said. Amanda Strydio ’19 has also frequented the diner for the past two years, often with other students involved in SJU’s Theatre Company productions. After opening nights, students would
The Llanerch Diner in Upper Darby, Pa. (Photo by Luke Malanga ’20).
head to Llanerch for a late-night breakfast. “I kind of feel bad for everyone there because we take up the whole right side of the building,” Strydio said. Strydio, who is from Monmouth County, New Jersey, knows how to choose her diners. “I come from a place where there are a lot of diners,” Strydio said. “It’s [Llanerch] the only diner that feels like home.” T.J Stackhouse ’18 frequented the diner on opening nights as well, often for a stack of late-night pancakes, his favorite
item on the menu. “My Twitter bio was inspired by the Llanerch Diner menu,” Stackhouse said. “When it comes to pancakes, there are no rules.’ It comes straight off the menu.” For students interested in learning what goes into those famous pancakes, the Llanerch Diner is now hiring. Many of the eatery’s veteran employees will return once the diner opens, but Klein said he is hiring additional workers to replace those who have left in the wake of the closure.