Award-Winning Student Run Newspaper
YOU SPEAK WE LISTEN
Vol. LXIII • Issue III
THELOQUITUR.COM
Thursday Nov. 4, 2021
Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash
Editorial
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THELOQUITUR.COM
WE ARE THE
Land of the free, home of the brave
LoQUITUR
By Sophia Gerner and Matt Rutherford Editor-in-Chief, Writing Managing Editor
2021-2022
Editorial Staff
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF SOPHIA GERNER
Everyday, there are 1.3 million brave young men and women putting their lives on the line to protect America.
WRITING MANAGING EDITOR MATTHEW RUTHERFORD
In return, we should take the opportunity to thank our troops and the 19 million living veterans who have served and protected the United States.
MEDIA MANAGING EDITOR SYDNEE REDDY
Each year we celebrate Veterans Day on Nov. 11., but this year the celebrations are a little bit different.
NEWS EDITORS ANNA SCHMADER CIERRA SOUTHARD MAX SILVERMAN
The U.S. has ended the longest war in American history. On Feb. 29, 2020, the country struck a deal with an agreement with the Taliban that set the terms for a U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan by May 1, 2021.
SPORTS EDITORS RYAN CHYBINSKI CHRIS SCHALLER
On Nov. 17, 2020, Acting Secretary of Defense, Christopher Miller, formally announced that the United States would reduce U.S. forces in Afghanistan to 2,500 by Jan.15, 2021.
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LIFESTYLES EDITORS TONIANN GOODEN PRYCE JAMISON PERSPECTIVES EDITORS RIGO CAMPOS-SANCHEZ TJ SCOTT LAYOUT AND DESIGN EDITOR SOPHIA GERNER ADVISER MARION CALLAHAN MISSION The Loquitur student newspaper and website are integral parts of the educational mission of the Cabrini communication department, namely, to educate students to take their places in the public media. Loquitur Media provides a forum of free expression. All members of the university community may submit work to the editors for possible inclusion. Publication is based on the editorial decision of the editors.
On March 25, President Biden held a press conference where he said “it’s going to be hard to meet the May 1 deadline. Just in terms of tactical reasons, it’s hard to get those troops out.” Less than a month later on April 14, Biden had set an updated deadline to the 20th anniversary of the initial attacks that started it all on Sept. 11. The final troops left Afghanistan on Aug. 30 marking an end to the war. 7,057 U.S. troops have been killed since the Sept. 11, 2001, war operations. Although this number is such a large impact, the bigger concern comes from the amount of veteran deaths because of this war.
7,057 • mbers have been U.S.service me 11 2001, killed since the Sept. , war operations
30,177 of military c iIdren· are under the age of 5
Infograph by Matt Rutherford Information taken from MilitaryOneSurce
them right now. In 2019, 977,191 children had at least one parent on the front lines with 41.2 percent of them falling in the age group of 0-5 years old. Life is not easy for military families.
Every single one of these fallen soldiers has a family.
Many of them live each day without their son, daughter, mother, father, husband and/or wife being able to be at home by their side. The other half that get to stay with their families have to move every few years to wherever they are stationed next.
Each person of the 1.3 million current active duty military members has people that miss them and wish they could be at home with
Deployments for active duty to foreign countries or even war zones occur regularly for the active duty member and can
Over 30,177 U.S. service members and veterans of the post-Sept. 11 wars have died by suicide.
RVICEMEMBERS U.S.SE TERANSOF THE AND VE 11 WARS HAVE PO~:~ BY SUICIDE
last from six to 12-months depending upon the needs of the military and the branch of service. Being in the military is tough for those serving, but also hard on their loved ones. We should be grateful everyday for those who are on the front lines for our freedom. They have the courage to do what millions wouldn’t be able to. Thank you to all those who are currently serving, active duty or reserves, veterans, and all of their families for risking their lives to protect us. Your hard work doesn’t go unnoticed, and we could never put into words how grateful we are to you!
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Loquitur accepts letters to the editor. The letter should be less than five hundred words, usually in response to a current issue on Cabrini University’s campus or community area and are printed as space permits. Name, phone number and address should be included with submissions for verification purposes. All letters to the editor must be sent via email to
loquitur@cabrini.edu.
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Thank you to our troops especially during National Veteran and Military Families Month!
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Cabrini’s move to shift more healthcare costs to employees sparks controversy By Pryce Jamison Lifestyles Editor It became apparent months ago that Cabrini needed to make some tough decisions that were deemed necessary for the sustainability of the school’s future, given the toll the pandemic had on businesses and institutions everywhere. These decisions didn’t always mean that it’s the end of the road for certain elements of the school that people around campus grew so familiar with.
Employee contributions for premiums increased slightly to $3,331 in 2021, up from $3,269 in 2020.
seems to be in effect now, but seems to have no choice to be temporary at the moment.
This helps paint the visual of the increase that employers have to work with while at the same time, still trying to offer these benefits at a reasonable contribution cost for employees.
This is a breath of fresh air for the time being as the solution adopted by the administration reduced the inordinate premium burden on employees compared to the initial plan described above . There still seems to be a significant increase in all employee contributions to healthcare premiums regardless of plan, but it is less than the original arrangement that fueled the controversy.
It appears that Cabrini has found, at least for right now, a temporary solution to the health insurance crisis that employees were appearing to face as this school year kicked off.
When tensions were at its highest, it seemed like there were concerns across campus about the process by which the changes were made and how the “take-home” impacts of the changes were not communicated clearly to all employees, as the open enrollment benefits deadline is looming so soon.
While major and faculty cuts stirred up mixed emotions last semester, healthcare plans for faculty and staff were something that was anticipated to be also changed significantly.
Wright was fully aware of how sensitive this matter is as he added that “all this was happening in the midst of a pandemic and economic turmoil for working families added to the distress, and
As the topic was discussed throughout faculty meetings, it seemed like putting a halt to these health insurance benefits for a second while figuring out a solution, was at one point the direction Cabrini was moving towards. Overall, the drastic change in healthcare premium costs caught faculty and staff by surprise.
“The larger concern of all employees right now is that the premium burden has been changed for this year, but seemingly not for the long-term; all of this is exacerbated by our ongoing need for real-world cost-of-living increases,” Dr. Wright continued with.
Transparency in all budget processes and their implications needs to become the norm when all employees and their families are potentially impacted.”
“The burden of the premiums shifted from the employer to employees in ways we found objectionable; this shift left all employees facing anywhere from $1000 to $5000 more out-of-pocket each year which is a significant reduction in salary that many cannot afford, particularly if their families’ healthcare needs are serious,” the faculty assembly chair, Dr. Paul Wright, acknowledged. This has been a national issue though, as businesses have been trying to keep these benefits for the employees that put the work in day in and day out. According to the Society for Human Resource Management, the total average employer cost across the nation for healthcare premiums rose this year to an estimated average of $13,360 per employee which was up from $12,501 in 2020.
“Depending on how this year’s budget processes go, the administration is likely merely deferring this heavier burden on employees to next year, so we continue to ask the administration to reconsider these plans going forward and to involve faculty and other employees more fully in the budget decision-making processes.”
While some faculty served on the Budget Advisory Council last academic year, Wright also stressed how those faculty representatives were not made aware of the healthcare changes and impacts in the way they needed to be.
- Faculty assembly chair, Dr. Paul Wright we feel that this change was not in keeping with our Catholic and social justice mission.” The need for medical attention has increased over the past year, but healthcare premium cost has increased?
“Transparency in all budget processes and their implications needs to become the norm when all employees and their families are potentially impacted.”
He also knows how much of a national problem it is as he stated how “the larger situation of the nation and the global economy are certainly factors here, many of which are beyond Cabrini’s control, but employees remain concerned about decisions that undermine our ability to sustain our families while doing the work we love here.”
If Cabrini truly adopts this mindset of making sure everyone is on the same page about national issues reaching this institution, and the best ways to accommodate the needs of all employees, decision-making will only continue to be more open minded as this same issue will potentially have to be tackled again next year.
Luckily, a current solution to reduce that burden on the employees
The Jordan Center’s Dr. Colleen Lelli and Dr. Filling-Brown receive a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice By Angelina Halas Staff Writer There was elation, excitement and even some screaming. These were the reactions of the director of the Jordan Center, Dr. Colleen Lelli and Associate Provost, Dr. Filling-Brown, when she found out the Jordan Center was awarded a grant of $290,000 for its work.
lence Education Symposium, will be able to be funded through this grant, which we host every year in October,” Lelli said. The eleventh annual Domestic Violence Symposium was held on Tuesday, Oct. 5. Dr. Lelli and Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Chioma Ugochukwu, welcomed Barbara and John Jordan to the event.
“The mission of the Jordan Center is the whole idea to educate others about domestic violence and children affected by trauma and even what trauma is,” Lelli said.
“Your advocacy for sexual assault is admirable and so needed and appreciated,” Ugochukwu said while standing at a podium in Grace Hall, broadcasting on Zoom.
Dr. Lelli describes the mission of the Jordan Center as an acronym she came up with, “CAPE.” It stands for collaboration, advocacy, prevention and education.
Despite not being a Cabrini alumni, years ago, the Jordan’s lawyer met the previous president of Cabrini. He told him all about what Cabrini does, like social justice advocacy and their lawyer told him that he has to meet Barbara and John Jordan. Since then, they’ve been heavily involved with the university.
The American Psychological Association defines trauma as “an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, rape or natural disaster. Immediately after the event, shock and denial are typical. Longer term reactions include unpredictable emotions, flashbacks, strained relationships and even physical symptoms like headaches or nausea.” “Our whole idea is to collaborate with individuals on campus, as well as those off campus to fulfill that mission,” Lelli said. “We also want to advocate and look at preventing and educating others about trauma and domestic violence.” This grant comes from the U.S. Department of Justice and will allow the Jordan Center to implement a developmental approach to learning about these topics as well as support and fund future events they hold. The grant will also help them to engage in more research and the issues that surround the Jordan Center. “A number of what we already do, like holding the Domestic Vio-
“When we launched the center, it was just called ‘The Center,’” Lelli said. “Barbara and John Jordan were there and since they’ve been so involved in supporting Cabrini, through events and monetarily, Dr. Taylor named the center after them.” The symposium is held every Oct. because of it being domestic violence awareness month. Healing Abuse Working for Children reports that about six in every 1,000 students are sexually assaulted on college campuses.
It also states that 21 percent of college students report having experienced dating violence by a current partner, and 32 percent report experiencing dating violence by a previous partner. Sarah Klein, attorney and advocate for survivors of sexual abuse and former competitive gymnast who is the first known victim of former Olympic women’s gymnastics doctor, Larry Nassar, was a guest speaker, sharing her story with those present and those virtual during the symposium. Klein stood at the podium in Grace Hall to give her speech to those present and those on Zoom. According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN), 1 in 6 women and 1 in 33 men have been the victims of an attempted or completed rape. The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) reports that nationwide, 81 percent of women and 43 percent of men reported experiencing some form of sexual harassment and/or assault in their lifetime. “I don’t talk about being a victim that often,” Klein said. “I call it a survival story.” Klein’s goal through her speech is to “blow the stigma surrounding domestic abuse and violence to pieces.” Graphic made by Angeina Halas
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Equality for students with disabilities at Cabrini By Victoria Emmitt Staff Writer Colleges and Universities are not included under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Often referred to as IDEA, this is a federal law that ensures that students with disabilities receive a fair public education that is individualized to their needs. This act allows children and their guardians to access the necessary resources they need to prevent their disability from hindering their education. So how can college students with disabilities receive an appropriate education that meets their needs if they are not protected under the IDEA? Once a student who was previously protected under the IDEA reaches the point of college it is no longer considered an education issue, but a civil rights issue. The Americans with Disabilities Act was introduced back in the early 1990s. This was established so people with disabilities will have equal opportunities in all aspects of life. According to The Conversation, 11 percent of undergraduate students in the U.S. have documented disabilities. These disabilities can range from physical, mental or learning disabilities. Cabrini University has an entire department dedicated to ensuring enrolled students with disabilities receive an equal and fair education. The Accessibility Resource Center, ARC, located in Founder’s Hall is a safe space where students can receive the accommodations, based on a documented disability, they need in order to be successful in school. Upon enrollment to Cabrini, the ARC will request the documents the student previously had in K- 12, however, the most important thing at this stage is access to the testing or evaluation that was done to create these documents. During a meeting with the student they discuss the needs that they may still require and if it is reasonable, does not affect the course outcomes, those accommodations
will be met and the student will receive a VISA, verified individualized services. “My role is balancing the legal rights of the university as well as those of the student. I want to make sure everyone’s rights are being observed,” Kathy Johnson, executive director of ARC, said. “If a student is challenged in any way with getting an accommodation I want them to talk to me right away because they shouldn’t have to go through that.” Some accommodations offered can include, extended time for testing in a distraction-free room, use of a peer note-taker, audiobooks to name a few. These services are not only available for students who previously had accommodations in school. College is a new environment for many and some students may not realize they need extra help until they begin. No matter if the student seeks out help on their own or they are recommended by a professor the ARC is a resource students can utilize.
tion. No matter the issue a student is going through if temporary accommodations can help, the resource center only wants to see the student succeed. “To be able to provide students the support they need is huge. Especially those first-year students who aren’t sure how to navigate a different environment,” Christy Leigh, accommodations coordinator, said. Education is a basic human right for all and thanks to the ADA colleges and universities needed to update the way they aid students. Campuses are required by law to be inclusive and help their students with disabilities succeed. If a student with a VISA decides to disclose that with their professor they are required to abide by the needed accommodations and if there are any issues the ARC will do everything they can to see that their students are supported.
“At the end of the day we are here for the student and as much as we can we try to remove whatever obstacles are in the way for them to show what they know and to participate,” Johnson, executive director of the ARC, said. The next step after seeking help from the ARC would be to receive an evaluation in order to acquire the proper documents for accommodations. Johnson mentioned that since testing can be expensive she refers students to contact local universities that offer a doctorate in psychology because they can perform the testing at a reduced cost. Another option is to meet with someone in the counseling center, which is free. The counselor is able to relay information to the ARC so that the student can receive the proper help. Life can trigger all sorts of challenges in the area of stress and mental health and as a result of this temporary support is an op-
SCAN ME
Philadelphia Inquirer writer of ‘Choosing Blackness’ inspires Cabrini journalists By Christopher Schaller, Anna Schmader Sports Editor, News Editor Elizabeth Wellington, a style columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer, has been doing this since she graduated from New York University. She’s been featured in outlets including The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune and Seattle Times and has been given awards from the following organizations: The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), Keystone & the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ). Wellington’s stories include but are not limited to gender, race, wellness, fashion, style and pop culture. The articles that she has the most passion for relate to black identity.
Photo by Sophia Gerner
Elizabeth Wellington saw how people referred to her mother as a white woman, based on her skin tone, despite her being a black woman. As a child, Wellington recalled a new kid on her school bus asking her, “Who’s the white lady answering the door? All my life people have asked me if my mother was white; She was my mother, who was black.” It was her mom who shaped Wellington’s “blackness,” inspiring a recent Philadelphia Inquirer essay exploring her identity. She said her mom was one of the most “militant, strong” people when it comes to blackness. Those types of sentiments fueled Wellington to embrace and be proud of her blackness, which is also seen through her writing. Wellington, an award-winning journalist, shared her story and her reflections on her recent story with the Loquitur staff. She’s been killing this job for over 18 years and continues to provide her audience with capturing topics. The Loquitur staff had an honorary visit from a renowned journalist. She’s been killing this job for over 18 years and continues to provide her audience with capturing topics.
“The pain of being black wasn’t always in my face, but when it was, it helped me as a writer,” Wellington said. Whether the article is about: her family’s identity, segregation laws in Philadelphia that impact the city today or about systemic racism, she got to advocate from a personal perspective. It wasn’t until Wellington grew up before she realized the struggles black people were going through. This would later inspire her to exemplify the concept of blackness. “We all as black people should realize we all play a larger role in American history,” Wellington said. Researching her family’s lineage is her biggest inspiration for what she does. Knowing her mother was light skin, she had found out that her grandfather was mulatto (mixed). When asked about her genealogy and trying to find the answer but not being able to figure it out, Wellington said, “It’s a process… there was so much being done… as you get answers, you have more questions.” Her mother taught Wellington that she should be proud of her black identity. The topic of racial microaggressions was discussed throughout the conversation. Wellington attributed that as normalcy that happens throughout her tenure at the Philadelphia Inquirer. “Back in 2017, when I was in the bathroom after work, a coworker came up to me and said, ‘it’s good to have class in the White House again,’” Wellington said. “If it feels like a microaggression, then it is a microaggression,” Wellington said. The microaggressions have been more apparent due to the racial unrest that was highlighted in 2020.
“History speaks for itself,” when Wellington is confronted about her standpoints as a journalist, she shrugs it off with that phrase. During the speech, she added that the discomfort from non-BIPOC individuals, about blackness is because people feel responsible for their actions and words. “As of recently, black people can experience blackness on their own terms.” With the highlighted racial injustices earlier this year, there has been more of an effort to listen to a black point of view. A clearer spotlight on Juneteenth, recognizing racist imagery and examining the struggle of being black in America, is a step in the right direction, but is not enough. She recently published an article about the R. Kelly verdict showing why it’s important to listen to Black women when they speak up. Wellington actively uses her voice to advocate social justice topics that make a difference and bigger impact. Wellington wants her articles to emphasize the importance of black culture from a black perspective. While addressing a room full of Loquitur journalists, Wellington mentioned the importance of ethics in journalism. “Evaluate who you are as a journalist, and bring your ethics as a person, as a journalist.”
Photo by Matt Rutherford
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Building ‘connection through healing,’ sexual abuse survivors tell their stories By Siani Nunez Staff Writer It’s a touchy subject filled with lots of emotions, like shame, sadness and fear but sexual abuse needs to be denounced. If not, more people will suffer in silence.
Klein is Larry Nassar, former Olympic doctor’s, first-known victim, a sexual abuse survivor herself. “The perpetrator is almost never the scary, big man wearing a trenchcoat walking around the playground- [they] are typically kind, supportive people who use language to build you up- to make you feel good about yourself- and engage in a trusting relationship with you,” Klein said.
Cabrini hosts their annual Domestic Violence Education symposium event each October during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Hosted by The Jordan Center and co-sponsored by the social work department, the symposium took place on Oct. 5 in both Grace Hall and virtually. This year’s theme was “The Importance of Connection in Healing.” And on the elevated, Cabrini blue podium against the mural on the wall painted with diverse faces, special guests like Sarah G. Klein, Mackenzie and Carla Clanagan, Ruth M. Glenn and Rhett Hackett took the stage to expose the horrors that were done to them. As they listened, students and faculty learned about common behaviors and language abusers will use to take advantage of their victims and how to heal their trauma by speaking up. Meanwhile, a woman in the center of the room lovingly caressed her husband, embodying the theme of connection.
“The conversations on [abuse and grooming] I think, really need to happen- especially on college campuses,” Klein said in a separate interview. - Sarah G. Klein, civil and trial attorney, activist and the event’s keynote speaker,
The pandemic, Hackett says, has made domestic abuse even more prevalent, as people are forced to stay home with their abusers “24/7”. “If people don’t realize the magnitude of that… [that] is the reason why [speakers] speak outwardly toward the community,” Hackett said. It’s really empowering to educate yourself on domestic abuse. You will learn how to protect yourself. You will gain the insight to see the warning signs from your partner or someone close to you. Most importantly, though, you will build a community that empowers survivors. Cabrini University is here to support you. If you have been affected by domestic abuse, sexual assault or dating violence, there are resources on campus. Contact The Jordan Center, Counseling Center and Public Safety for more information. Photo by Siani Nunez
The speech quickly became serious once the speakers began to discuss grooming and “good guy predators,” as Klein, civil and trial attorney, activist and the event’s keynote speaker, said. “They are your favorite teacher, your pediatrician or a coach that can be really nice and grooming you.” The United States Department of Justice defines child grooming as “a method used by offenders that involves building trust with a child… in an effort to gain access to them,” but it can be applied to young adults, as well. “We have to believe our kids,” Carla Clanagan said. “The conversations on [abuse and grooming] I think, really need to happen- especially on college campuses,” Klein said in a separate interview.
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“I was so little when it happened, that I never developed a sense of self,” Klein said about her abuse, training with Nassar and coach John Geddert. She explains that those experiences are why she calls her story “one of survival…[and] my style of lawyering is of love.”
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Klein was awarded with The Jordan Center Award for Resilience and Advocacy, much to her surprise.
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“I appreciate this more than the ESPYS award,” Klein said to a laughing, applauding audience.
Jordan Cont. For three years in a row, the Jordan Center has received around $30,000 from the It’s On Us Pennsylvania grant.
During her speech, Klein praised Cabrini for being “proactive, not reactive.”
“We wrote our proposal initially to engage athletes with topics of sexual assault and bystander intervention,” Lelli said. “With that, we brought Sarah Klein to campus to speak to the athletes. The student athletes liked her so much that they said that everyone needs to get the chance to hear her story so we were able to bring her back for the symposium.”
“We’re going to be doing great work with the Jordan Center. This grant is not only going to allow us to continue that work but elevate it to the next level, which was a vision of mine as the center director,” Lelli said.
By taking the It’s On Us pledge, it means that the person is a good bystander. It relates to the mission of the Jordan Center by educating others about issues like dating and domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking and childhood trauma. The Official Pennsylvania Government Website states that the pledge is a “statewide campaign that invites everyone to play a role in ending sexual assault.” Being able to share grants with Lelli is something Filling-Brown considers an honor. “We are passionate about this work and it’s what we do, in and outside of Cabrini,” Filling-Brown said. “This is our life’s work and to do it alongside my friend, a woman who I deeply respect, is simply a blessing.”
“I hope that the Jordan Center can continue its work both supporting our Cabrini campus community and also serving our external community, especially providing professional development opportunities to educators,” Filling-Brown said. “I want the Jordan Center to be known nationally for the work of our faculty affiliates.” Filling-Brown’s wish of becoming nationally known is starting to come true.
about the research, our mission, so it wasn’t about a physical space,” Lelli said. “It’s more about what we’re doing in programming and bringing speakers to the university and having students, faculty and staff get involved in all of our events and learning about our research.” If someone sees the Jordan Center is having an event, it’s for everyone to attend. These events are published through email, the Jordan Center’s website and posters across campus. “We hope that students engage and come to all of our events,” Lelli said. If interested in the Jordan Center events, check out their website.
“I’ve been connected with a number of state and national partners that are really proud of what Cabrini University and the Jordan Center is doing,” Lelli said. “Even President Biden knows who we are. I’ve met him a few times and he told me knows who I am and what I do and promote here on campus. We are getting nationally recognized which is amazing.” The Jordan Center has been around since 2017, and Lelli recommends that students become involved in events.“It’s not about finding the center even though we do have an office. It’s more
Photo taken by Angelina Halas
THE PLIEDGE It's On Us to: • Recognize that non-consensual
sex is sexual assault.
• Identify situations in which sexual assault may occur. • Intervene in situations where consent has not or cannot be given. • Create an environment
in which sexual assault is unacceptable
and survivors are supported.
Photo taken from The Offical Pennsylvania Government Website
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Cabrini’s hidden sceneries create great photo opportunities By Marcus Alvarez, Sophia Gerner Staff Writter, Editor-in-Chief The fall season brings out the true beauty of the Cabrini campus. While walking through the pathways within the 112-acre university, the sceneries are one after the next. Cabrini University has breathtaking, sometimes hidden scenes to see and capture in great photos. With a campus this size, there are bound to be beautiful areas missed or overlooked that could make a great opportunity for a photo shoot.
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Internships and experience: a degree most likely won’t be enough By Marcus Alvarez Staff Writer Visualize working and studying for years to grab a degree on that graduation stage, full of high student debt and expectations, only to not find a steady job – a parent’s worst nightmare. Searching for jobs is highly competitive now. A plethora of college students are studying for and obtaining the same degrees. Out of those students, employers are looking for select people with distinguishable characteristics and experience. Relying solely on a degree will not get anyone working towards a career far in this day-in-age. Acquiring an internship or opportunities in the real world during college will open new career paths. The National Association of Colleges and Employers conducted a survey, which shows that 72.2 percent of college graduates got a job offer with having internship experience. For college graduates without internships, only 36.5 percent got a job offer. The benefits of having these are endless, so it’s optimal to find opportunities in your intended career field to increase the odds of securing a job. Internships allow for a “trial period” in the chosen career. Exposure to a workplace or company environment and culture will allow students to understand and become comfortable with future real-world environments. Students can apply what they learn in the classroom in a professional environment. While applying knowledge, students can grow upon their set skills and improve themselves. Associate professor and chair of Communication department, Dr. Dawn Francis, said that acquiring internships allow students to find likes and dislikes in a selected job or career. A Cabrini upperclassman, Hannah Dalton, is almost finished with
her internship at Abington Township Police Department. “It has been a wonderful experience and has given me the opportunity to see the inner workings of the department as well as what a typical day maybe for a police officer on the street,” said Dalton. Networking or the ability to network is a key factor that exponentially increases employment. Who you know often outweighs what you know. Francis said that utilizing internship opportunities will help expand your networking. If you do well in an internship, it will allow you to meet professionals that might potentially help jumpstart your dream career. The right connections may make finding a job more seamless, or land someone a dream job.
The Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD), located at the Widener Center, is determined to help students along their career journeys. Francis said that Indeed and LinkedIn are other resources to locate internships. She also said that students can petition the CCPD and fill out an internship application to bring new internships to Cabrini. The CCPD will ensure that petitioned internship opportunities are “high impact” and challenge students. The CCPD offers overwhelming support, from advising and career management to hosting several CCPD events. These events are hosted throughout the semester for undergraduates, graduates and alumni. More information can be found on the Cabrini University’s website.
An advantage of having internships is building and establishing a list of contacts. Internships may not lead to a secure job, but those contacts will prove to be a hidden and unexpected treasure. Mining hidden treasure is not easy. The networking ability requires putting oneself out there. Taking time to develop, maintain and commit to those meaningful relationships is a key component of networking. Finding internships or opportunities should correlate with your intended career. The right experience can be a sizeable learning and growing experience. “My biggest piece of advice is to not let yourself get too stressed out about the process of finding and completing an internship… it should be a fairly enjoyable experience. If you’re worried about any part of the process, I’d say to definitely check out the Career Center, speak with your advisor or reach out to the professor that will be teaching your internship class,” said Dalton.
Photo taken from Pexels.com
Ida flooded the Philadelphia area and Cabrini, is climate change the culprit? By Pryce Jamison Lifestyles Editor It’s no secret how Ida made its presence felt as it swept through a number of states and left some unprecedented damage, especially in the Philadelphia area.
This went on to also cause a delayed start to the next day as classes before 11:05 were canceled, which didn’t spark complaints from students, but confusion instead.
Stories came rapidly one after another through many mediums as flooding from the hurricane’s rain was some of the worst we’ve ever seen in the region, and it had many people thinking on why it hit New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware worse than your usual, annual hurricanes.
“It seemed like there wasn’t a single area of ground on campus that wasn’t flooded at least one inch high,” Tyler McKlaine, sophomore graphic design major, said. All you could hope for as the night went on is that it didn’t get as bad as we heard it was getting in areas nearby.”
As it made its way up north on Aug. 30, flooding predictions got very serious and few could anticipate the impact of the tropical storm.
Based on these harsh occurrences, more people are starting to speculate that climate change is the culprit of this more intense hurricane and all of its effects, giving very new results in different locations.
When looking at the recent irregular weather patterns and how much of an anomaly the results of the hurricane were when it hit the tri-state area, it’s hard not to look into the topic of climate change as a possible catalyst.
It all possibly comes back to the same concept of the warming of the earth that has shown clear trends throughout the 20th and early 21st century.
Even when looking at a storm that was in effect almost 2 months ago, this conversation is one that is simply timeless, and it takes occurrences like that to make people look back and ask what was seriously going on at that time.
When talking about rain, we know it is much more common in more areas of this earth than tornadoes, but not to the point where the flooding should’ve left street blocks and vehicles submerged in water as if an intense tsunami occurred. On Wednesday Sept. 1, the Provost Dr. Chioma Ugochukwu, sent out an email around 6 p.m. stating how Cabrini agreed on canceling “all evening classes due to flooding and tornado warnings for several of our surrounding areas.”
The stronger hurricane winds and tornadoes can also be linked back to the warming effect, as the natural rise in hot air over the cold is widely known in the science community as a basic fact on how wind speed and direction is determined. A hotter and more moist atmosphere can definitely be looked at as some of the driving factors of the overall destruction, and are also factors behind how the storm was allowed to travel such a great distance up north while keeping mostly the same power. This is bigger than just a hurricane that occurred a while ago. It’s about the bigger picture, the future, and a conversation we humans have been having for a long time as we knew that eventually it was going to change the environment drastically. It’s not that climate change is the full reason behind very intense storms, because there are many factors, but completely ignoring the concept and not looking into it further when these harsh conditions hit us physically, wouldn’t be the most wise choice for us in the long run.
Winds and precipitation from the moving hurricane on Sept. 1, left Jersey damaged as unexpected tornadoes also came, and even the I-676 in Philadelphia flooded to the top of the highway, literally. This shocked people to see how the tri-state area was being hit by winds and rain that were rarely seen before. Serious tornado warnings in Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey were in effect as winds started to pick up like it’s the midwest.
This continues to show just how much the added gases in the atmosphere help trap heat from the sun and send it to earth’s surface, that is doing nothing but melting glaciers and ice sheets, warming bodies of water, and thickening the moisture in the air and clouds, allowing for more frequent water evaporation and extreme rainfall.
Photo taken from Philly ScoopHall
The decades of greenhouse gas emission by humans and the warming of the atmosphere and oceans in the modern world seems to be directly linked to the formation of storms in general. According to information gathered by Scientific American, warmer sea temperatures and the thick layers of moisture that extend from them are climate issues in today’s world that are an example of how climate change is likely behind these more powerful storms. Water expands as it warms, which has been rising sea levels for quite some time now, as the rising global temperature is playing a more significant role in the world as decades pass.
Photo taken from Pxfuel.com
Lifestyles
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Hospital Norm becomes fashionable at Cabrini and around the world By Lashay Smith Staff Writer Once a common sight in surgical rooms, masks are now worn by everyday people and are a part of a new fashion age.
halls, dorm halls and even outside to protect one another from COVID-19.
Mask fashion has struck a new wave of attention and there are so many designs and graphics that are now printed on them and worn all over the world.
People all around the world woke up one day and were instructed to wear masks. This struck so many people because everyone thought that the immediate need to mask up would last for two weeks but, it turned into a year and ten months. Seeing someone everyday with a mask became something so normal and when there would be someone without a mask on it seemed quite odd.
For the past year and a half, masks have made their way to our everyday fashion lives. We now have to make sure that the blue, black or even creative masks with pictures and prints on them will go with the next outfit or event. “I am a waitress so I prefer to have a fun mask because my customers like to comment on them but when I am on campus I like to wear a pink or blue mask which is more comfortable,” Haley Mchenry, special education major, said. People all around the world have embraced mask fashion. This is something that can now spotlight the creativity of many talented people. For example, designers now make masks that are clear, with rhinestones, pictures of your favorite basketball players and much more. The list of the different types of masks are incredible and there are masks that will fit the styles of many.
Take being on campus at Cabrini University for example with how students at Cabrini university who were in attendance before COVID-19, were able to enjoy their time together without masks. They were able to see the full faces of their peers and their professors, but now that there are mask regulations, the campus has become very different and students would like to see things go back to the way they were before COVID-19. “It gets challenging, especially when we want to show off our face more than half of the time. It is also pretty hard to breathe in them but other than that, I believe that wearing masks gives us a safe feeling especially with COVID-19 going on,” Katirah BenjaminStokes, sophomore business major, said.
Brands and small businesses have added colored masks and customizable masks to their sites to keep up with the new stream of fashion.
Face masks are required at Cabrini University for all students, faculty and staff so there are many different masks that people could be wearing on campus. When figuring out which masks to wear it can be quite difficult but if there is an outfit that is planned out it will not be such a hassle.
Many brands and small businesses knew that there would be a huge need for them and that people would complain about having to wear plain, blue hospital masks. These brands have taken masks and made them appealing to everyone.
“It depends on what I am wearing or how I am feeling when it comes to picking which mask to wear. I would go with the regular blue mask when I am not dressed in any particular way,” Angelica Lara, senior digital communication major, said.
Before Covid, masks were already a part of many individuals’ everyday life. We would see masks worn in hospitals, construction sites, car repair shops and many more places.
If students would like to join the mask fashion train, they can find many cute and creative masks at local retail stores or the seal office located next to the Grill. The Seal office will be more than happy to support mask fashion with a Cabrini mask.
Today, masks are now worn in work offices, classrooms, dining
Photo by Engin Akyurt
Photo by Marion Callahan
Is TikTok the most loved platform? Here’s what Cabrini students had to say By Hannah Poggi Staff Writer When it comes to social media, TikTok is taking over with 1 billion users worldwide. Tiktok has impacted many people’s lives over the past couple of years and has grown and evolved drastically, but do most people call TikTok their number one favorite and most used social media? According to an article from Media Kix, Kix, TikTok has gained close to 25 million new users in 2020. In 2020, TikTok saw a huge rise in users downloading the app and creating videos most likely because of the global pandemic. Users used TikTok as an escape to find comedic videos to distract themselves from the outside world and boredom. As well as that, in 2018 TikTok was placed in the top four global apps worldwide. worldwide. This is a big deal for TikTok’s company because they amounted to great growth and expansion since 2018 and they continue to advance as time goes on. TikTok has also made a significant impact on those who use the app. “TikTok is my favorite app because I love how entertaining it is and I enjoy all of the funny videos, while also being able to create videos myself,” Marisa Canuso, avid TikTok user, said. TikTok is an outlet for positive vibes and laughable content and seems to be one of the top platforms used by students on campus.
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In an informal Cabrini survey of 29 students on Instagram, students were asked “What is your favorite social media platform?” The 29 responses sent in were widely scattered. The answers varied from Twitter, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, Instagram and Pinterest. With four students choosing Twitter, eight choosing TikTok, seven choosing Snapchat, three choosing Instagram and one choosing Pinterest. From these results, it is clear that TikTok takes the crown as the top platform used by students. There was also a poll done on Instagram as well, comparing two different social media platforms and which one student’s like better/ use more.
From the data gathered and polls done, TikTok is a large competitor when it comes to these different social media apps/platforms. It is inevitable that it will continue to surpass other apps in the future as the number of users climb and the love and impact of the app flourishes.
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The first poll was Instagram vs. TikTok. This poll was close with 101 students voting on Instagram and 124 voting for TikTok. The second poll was Snapchat vs. Instagram. 141 voted for Snapchat and 88 voted for Instagram. The third poll was Twitter vs. Instagram, with 40 voting for Twitter and 181 voting for Instagram. The last poll was Snapchat vs. TikTok, with 115 voting for Snapchat and 105 voting for TikTok. The polls that were generated and designed through Instagram gave a good perspective and idea on what platforms students take a liking to. Twitter is the least loved platform by students. The last poll done between Snapchat and TikTok was extremely close but Snapchat took the win over TikTok. luckily TikTok still won over Instagram. These platforms are all different and have very distinctive features. For example, Instagram is more of an aesthetically pleasing app, where users can post photos, stories and videos that share a bit about their personal life or any of their interests and hobbies.
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Snapchat is used to snap pictures back and forth to friends as a form of communication. And lastly, TikTok is solely used for video creation with videos ranging from the time span of 15 seconds to three minutes.
Infograph created by Hannah Poggi
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Perspectives
9
The fitness journey that changed my life By Christopher May Staff Writer
My fitness journey has not been easy. When it comes to the mind and body, it is very important to take care of both. During my senior year at Abington Friends School, I was weighing in at 285 pounds. It was a very depressing time period. It took a lot of sacrifices and dedication to get to the goal weight. It wasn’t until the summer after graduation that results started to come around and truly show physically. During that period of time, the weight went from 285 pounds to 260. At the time working with kids at a summer camp and working out in the gym everyday definitely helped increase the weight loss significantly.
Losing 25 pounds felt so awesome as the hard work was slow, but surely starting to pay off. But the journey wasn’t over, as there were still long improvements to make. The goal weight was to get to at least 230 pounds of solid muscle. It was one of those things of where getting too comfortable wasn’t an option. Because ultimately getting too comfortable could lead to being back to square one again. But that was not gonna happen in under any circumstance. Kobe Bryant, NBA Hall of Famer, once said on the Jay Shetty podcast, “I’m not negotiating with myself… I signed that contract with myself, I’m doing it.” That’s the ultimate mentality. Cabrini has a place called the Dixon Center which was built in 1998, and expanded in 2016. It includes a fitness center, dance/aerobic studio, state-of-the- art turf field, a 25 foot yard competitive pool and a lobby that includes a social space and Cav’s Shack. The Dixon Center space has really helped the physical transformation in such a major way. During my first year, it has helped me lose a substantial amount of weight, and it has made my experience all worth it. Through all the hard work and sacrifices going to the gym everyday, the results were finally paying off. Cabrini has been a safe space to get better each day and many student athletes train there every day. Within the gym community, especially when it comes to the sports teams, there is a sense of brotherhood as they are training each day together.
Photo by Christopher May.
Photo by Christopher May.
Going with friends really increased the motivation to go the gym, including on days where it was hard just physically going to the gym. But thankfully the encouragement of friends and just the positive advice that was being heard was really motivating to want to keep going. What also kept the training going and wanting to get better each day was the thought of the little kids during summer camp. Drawing inspiration to the younger generation was extremely important to keep this fitness journey going. The message was for the younger generation to feel inspired and have the confidence to do anything they put their mind to. It’s all about never giving up and not taking shortcuts in life.
Cabrini student tells why being an outsider is a positive thing By Victoria Giordano Staff Writer They say being an outsider is not a good thing because you’re not interacting with society. They also say no human interaction can lead to loneliness and sorrow. I would say this is not truly accurate. Being an outsider has its disadvantages but being an outsider has more benefits than most might think. Since I was a kid, I have managed Autism Spectrum Disorder. I grew up doing things differently as a kid. I talked to myself and struggled to learn in school. Most of all, I spent most of my time alone, not wanting to interact with anyone. As a young adult, I am proud to say that I have outgrown a large portion of my Autism. Although growing up and going to school, I still struggled to fit in with kids my age. Despite that, I continued to focus on myself and the essential things in my life. So yes, I am an outsider and as one, I can say from many years of experience that being an outsider is a good thing. Being an outsider means independence. Independence means having all the time in the world to focus on yourself and on the things you love the most. I like to focus on activities I highly enjoy, such as writing, walking, playing the guitar and listening to different music during my free time. When I’m not participating in my favorite activities, I watch movies and read—doing these other hobbies help me be creative with my guitar and writing. Otherwise, I hang out with friends and family with whom I can be myself around and share my interests. Spending time with loved ones also gives me room for imagination in my music and writing. Growing up, I was never one to break the rules and disobey them. By obeying the rules, I earned back respect from many people to
which I gave respect.
Lee, are outsiders.
Most of all, I was an observer. Witnessing groups of kids my age and seeing how they interacted with one another has been something I’ve been doing since I was small.
These two brilliant women focused on themselves and their writing, leading them onto successful paths by telling powerful world messages through their impactful stories.
I would always pay attention to how they behaved and talked towards one another and adults—doing so taught me how to conduct and speak to specific groups of people properly.
Looking back at my moments of self-doubt and insecurities, I have grown to accept myself to be an outsider.
Looking back, I am grateful to have not been a part of most of these kids’ groups and performed the same actions as they did. I would not have grown to become wiser and as mature as I am today if I had. I also would not have been able to form relationships with my teachers and coaches and learn valuable lessons from them as I do now. Luckily, a few famous people, like authors J.K. Rowling and Harper
I am entirely thankful to have overcome the struggles I have faced and observed various types of people. If these events hadn’t occurred, I would not have shaped into the person I am today. So if you’re an outsider, don’t worry! It’s a good thing! You have a great path ahead of you!
Photo by Victoria Giordano
Perspectives
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Being Black on a campus that cut Black Studies By Sydnee Reddy Media Managing Editor During the spring semester of 2021, the Cabrini community got an email stating that the school will be cutting programs and staff.
university is getting pay raises and making 6 times as much as a young faculty member?
The press knew of the extent of the cuts before the students did.
As a black student on this campus, hearing the news that one of the majors Cabrini would be cutting was Black studies, was somewhat surprising to me. Let me explain why. I’m surprised Cabrini cut the program especially after the type of year that the black community dealt with in 2020 and how much awareness was brought to the way that black people are treated in the United States. Cutting the major that teaches students about black history and culture is just interesting to me especially for a school that one of their many marketing points is how much school supports Social Justice.
In March of this year, the Philadelphia Inquirer published an article announcing Cabrini’s cuts to staff, programs and also describing the amount of debt Cabrini was in Inquirer story. This was news to all students on campus because we didn’t get any email from the administration detailing the extent of the cuts before the article was published. It was only minutes after the article was published that the administration alerted students. The email described that the school will be cutting religious studies, Black studies, and philosophy as majors but will continue as minors and will be introduced into the core curriculum. They also completely got rid of gender and body studies, human resources management, liberal studies, and nutrition as majors but will be merging English and writing as a combined major. Along with cutting majors, Cabrini also let full-time professors go. I know Cabrini is not the only school in the country that is experiencing cuts right now. Ithaca College in upstate New York also is cutting programs and faculty at their school. My only problem is that while Cabrini was still in debt, IRS 990 tax documents show that President Donald Taylor’s salary in 2018-2019 was $346,362. In that same year, his “other compensation” totaled $123,317, making his total compensation package at $477,702. This figure represents a sharp increase from his total compensation of $209,498 when he was hired, according to a private university salary survey published in The Chronicle of Higher Education. That salary package may have risen in the past two years, while faculty and majors are being cut at Cabrini. My question is: What else is the school going to cut while the President of the
This does not surprise me though because as a black person at Cabrini which is a PWI (predominantly white institution), it often feels as though the administration of the school does not care sometimes. Other minority groups on campus may share the same feelings as I do. Anytime there is a problem involving racism in the country, university administrators send out an email to the Cabrini community saying the school doesn’t support what is happening and puts out a message that if you need to talk, contact CAPS (Counseling and Psychological Services). And that’s it. After that emails go out, that is the last you hear from the administration. Even though Cabrini only made Black studies a minor and is now introduced into the core curriculum, by making it a requirement that all students will take at least one Explorations requirement or at least one ECG requirement in a Black Studies course, or in a Black Studies-related course. In the University’s 2020-21 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Council Strategic Plan, it included a goal to “Developing curriculum and courses that illuminate our
commitment to anti-racist practices and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) exemplar practices. It is our thoughts that these courses can be integrated into Cabrini’s core curriculum,” according to the University’s 2020-21 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Council Strategic Plan. Even with these decisions it still brings up many questions. For a school so focused on social justice, why didn’t Cabrini incorporate Black studies or the study of any culture into the core curriculum before they started cutting programs? This would have been a great learning experience for students at Cabrini. I do hope that one day in the future after Cabrini gets back on track they can bring back black studies as a full-time major and also bring back the majors that are so important to the identity of this campus.
CABRINI BY THE NUMBERS Theseare someof the numbers behind Cabrinis upcomingchanges.
BUDGET DEFICIT
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-5,000,000 -7,500,000 2016 2017 2018 2019 Cabrinihashad a budget deficit since2013.
FACULTY Therehavebeen43 faculty membersaffectedby this plan.
Retirees/JobFreeze 14.6%
Involuntary 25%
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Voluntary 60.4%
Thosewith involuntary separationswill receivea severancepackage.
Infographic by Faith Pitsikoulis.
Does this university value athletics over academics? By Christopher Schaller Sports Editor A quick look at Cabrini’s weight rooms, housing and campus accommodations shows the university’s priority for sports over academics when it comes to improvements. Earlier this year, Cabrini reduced majors, cut faculty and eliminated certain courses, all due to financial losses.
in 1960 and has not been renovated since 1999. The building is seriously outdated and does not meet the adequate needs of a 2021 learning hall. Also, Cavs Corner, the school’s cafeteria, is understaffed and has inflexible service hours.
However, the same level of cuts did not apply to the athletic department, which was seemingly unscathed from the pandemic-induced overhaul.
Same applies to the Holy Spirit Library, which was built in 1965, and while it’s been renovated several times, it is still miserably outdated. The library is broken into two floors and is completely unorganized. It has only five printers for the student body. It contains one classroom for classes.
This is a fair topic to compare and contrast.
That’s not-acceptable for a private university in 2021.
The athletic department is the independent variable; they are not the main catalyst when it comes to the sports-centric culture that Cabrini has built. The fingers should be pointing at the decisionmakers at the university for neglecting and ignoring ways over the years to upgrade the infrastructure of academics buildings.
So naturally, when that many students are athletes, there should be passion and pride about having a dominant athletic program. Contrary to that point, athletics should not overshadow academia and the attention that it desperately needs and deserves. The first daunting difference can be seen in facilities. The school spent a lot of money constructing the Dixon Center back in 1998 as well as expanding the facility in 2016. The facility is open to both students and athletes. However, the athletes, rightfully so, have a separate weight room, training facility and meeting area. So while the Dixon Center has been renovated recently, the same can not be said about: Founders Hall, Holy Spirit Library and a handful of the residence halls. Founders Hall, which is the main classroom building, was built
“No I still think academics still play more of a factor than athletics,” Gerry Ulatowski, attack redshirt sophomore, said. “Even though athletics are very competitive here for a D-III school, and consume a decent amount of my school day, academics still weigh above everything else.” With it being a D-III school that isn’t very known for it’s academics, sports should be something to look forward too. However, there should always be ways to brainstorm on how to improve the structures and functions of this university. This is a common trend amongst many colleges, especially D-I schools, but Cabrini is what is being discussed here. Cabrini has a 76 percent acceptance rate, and on the other hand, has an elite sports program. It’s good that the university is inclusive of as many students as possible.
Cabrini University has roughly 1,500 students, and a large portion of them are athletes. “According to my math, 23 percent of Cabrini students this fall semester are student-athletes,” Dr. Stephen Rupprecht, dean of students, said.
The counter-argument is that an athlete cannot compete unless he or she is passing academically.
Photo by Chris Schaller
Whether they’re athletes or not; students who say they are from Cabrini will usually hear the the follow-up question: “Do you play a sport?” Cabrini’s reputation and public relations is pretty much centered around sports. Outside of sports, they are rarely in the news.
But the University must recognize that academics is what drives success, not just athletics. Changes and improvements must be made. This process starts by making the necessary decisions to the academic values the university pride itself on. Athletics may attract students to Cabrini. Modern facilities can be even more of a draw.
However, sports at this school should not be bashed. For the size of the school; the Cavaliers have almost D-II level, D-III talent and an exceptional program altogether. The university boasts recent titles in swimming and men’s lacrosse, and consecutive tournament appearances in: women’s basketball, women’s soccer and women’s lacrosse. Overall, it has a decorated athletic program which every student and alum should be proud of. Let’s also focus that energy on the aged and outdated status of this school’s core buildings. One student, however, disagrees that athletics trumps academics.
Photo by Chris Schaller
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Sports
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Learn how Cabrini’s swim coach earned her way to Albright College’s Hall of Fame Isaiah Dickson Staff Writer Albright College welcomed Cindy Ikeler into the Hall of Fame. Her path to Hall of Fame recognition has been full of accomplishments as a swimmer and as a head coach. Since 2012, Ikeler has led them to four women’s conference championships and three men’s conference championships. With her guidance the record books have been rewritten, swimmers have been recognized as rookie of the year and swimmer of the year and the coaching staff was recognized as coaching staff of the year. Ikeler has also been named conference coach of the year four times.
Ikeler, saw the success of other Cabrini teams and used them as inspiration. “Here at Cabrini we’ve had extremely successful teams so it was us wanting to be that,” Ikeler said.
When Ikeler received the call from Albright about her Hall of Fame induction she was excited and felt very honored. The feelings were mutual among her swimmers. Catherine Sexton, swimmer, felt pure
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As a decorated high school swimmer, Ikeler had been recruited by schools in all three NCAA divisions. However, Ikeler’s collegiate career began at Albright. The idea of being a student athlete is a concept that she embraced. “I really liked the idea that in D-III you’re supposed to be a student first, you’re there to get an education first and foremost,” Ikeler said. After a collegiate career with filled with broken records, conference championships and MVP’s, Ikeler graduated in 2005 ready to move on from swimming. She would eventually find out about an assistant coaching position at her alma mater. This would be the opportunity that launched her coaching career, which ultimately led to Cabrini. To begin her head coaching career at Cabrini, Ikeler faced a learning curve. It was different from her experience at Albright. Now she was the person in charge. Despite the responsibility and pressure of being a head coach, she found the enjoyable aspect of the job. She now had the ability to craft and build the team to her liking. Her skill in building the team is an aspect of her career that she attributes to her college swim coach. Her coach helped her to understand the ins and outs of coaching, how to build a winning team and how to be a good leader.
Photo by Cabrini Athletics
With Ikeler now leading the way the Cavaliers swim team had nowhere to go but up. Her impact as a coach was felt right away as she led the Cavaliers to their best finishes in the AMCC Championships in 2013. Both teams combined for an 83 point improvement from the championship the previous year. The next year, with Ikeler’s leadership, Cabrini claimed its first AMCC Women’s Championship in program history.
Photo by Cabrini Swim
happiness when she heard of her coach’s Hall of Fame induction. “Cindy’s induction means so much to me and my fellow teammates,” Sexton said. “She is proof that as a woman: hard work, respect, determination and perseverance define achievement.”
Volleyball coach hits major milestone By Ryan Chybinski Sports Editor
Head volleyball coach Eric Schafer hit a milestone that only three other coaches have hit at Cabrini. Coach Schafer hit the 300 wins milestone back on Oct. 6 with a 3-0 sweep of the Gwynedd-Mercy Griffins. Schafer, who is in his 14th season as the Cavalier head coach has seen the program through times of great success, including eight straight CSAC titles and NCAA tournament appearances from 2009 to 2017. Schafer started his coaching career with the girl’s varsity volleyball team at Radnor High School for two years before moving programs a couple of times. Eventually, he found his way to Cabrini. Schafer has seen the Cavs through tough seasons including the current, camping with a record of 10-17 on the season but the number one seed in the conference tournament with a big win over Marymount on Wednesday night. Coach Schafer said, “I’ve never looked at the number and you hit the 300 mark and you look back at the first 50 and how that was such a building time in the program.”
taken every year and tried to learn and grow from it.” Grow he did. Coach Schafer has gone from coaching varsity high school volleyball to a multi-time coach-of-the-year recipient at the college level. Learning and growing as a coach are major reasons why Schafer was able to reach this milestone at Cabrini. Many coaches hope to hit the 300 win milestone that coach Schafer has reached but few are around the game long enough to reach it. “I’ve learned that patience is huge. Sometimes I have it sometimes I do not,” Coach Schafer said. ” The communication part is the most important part. I think with all our team, early on I would say I did not do a good job communicating.” Growing his communication skills along with his patience when things are not going the Cavaliers’ way is a major key to why coach Schafer was able to reach the 300 win milestone and even surpass it this season with a few clutch conference victories. Schafer has spoken very highly of the support he has received over the years from the athletic department at Cabrini and has attributed much of his success to that support and the belief they have put into him.
Photo by Ryan Chybinski
Schafer has built this team into what it is today. He took a new team that struggled in the beginning. Then he recalled how it took two or three years to reach 50 wins. Then the program grew into the perennial conference powerhouse it is today. “All of sudden things started clicking for us and the next 50 was a little easier. The last 100 had been pretty hard,” coach Schafer said. Over the years the Cavaliers have added tougher opponents to their schedule, which added to the challenge of reaching the 300 win mark. Coach Schafer said, ” It’s just a number, it’s nice. It means I’ve been in the game a long time. I’ve
Photo By Cabrini Athletics
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Cavalier Radio broadcasts its first live sporting event in 10 years By Mark Finley Staff Writter Cavalier Radio returned to broadcasting live Cabrini sports. On Oct. 5 the Cabrini’s Men soccer win over Centenary University (New Jersey) 5-2. This was the first Cabrini sports event that was broadcasted on Cavalier Radio in over a decade. Cavalier Radio is the student-run public radio station here at Cabrini University. The game was called by Ryan Chybinski and Brendan Fisher. Chybinski was the play-by-play and Fisher was the color analyst. Matt Rutherford was also on the board for the game. The return of broadcasting live sports on Cavalier Radio happened due to the growing interest in sports inside Cavalier Radio. The sports department led by Fisher and Rutherford started the groundwork last year to start broadcasting games. The system that Cavalier Radio uses is called Qgo Live. Qgo Live is a system that is able to have students calling the game at the field. After a high interest in students within Cavalier Radio and wanting to produce more content, broadcasting Cabrini Athletics is a opportunity for Cavalier Radio. “I am really excited to have Cavalier Radio broadcasting sports again,” Jill Smith, chief operator and general manager of Cavalier Radio, said. “ We have systems in place so that we can call games and the students can run it all by themselves.”
“I think we are always interested in getting students involved to give students the experience that they want to get to prepare themselves to get to the next level,” Dave Howell, athletics communication director, said. Along with being athletics communication director, Howell teaches a sports communication class. Howell has been with Cabrini for 10 years including being the sports information director for five of those years. “I think we can have every game called as more students become interested and realize that they have the opportunity to get that experience to call games I think we will be able to call every game,” Howell said. Howell mentioned in the interview that Cabrini had to outsource broadcasting some games last year. “It helps give Cavalier Radio experience and content,” Howell said. “ You can fill two hours worth of content with a huge deal with programming and I also think it gives students an opportunity to understand what it means to call a game at a different location and having someone at the board is an experience you might not get some places else.” If you want to listen to any Cabrini athletics game on Cavalier Radio, you can listen to 89.1 WYBF or go to Cavalier Radio website.
Smith is a former member of Cavalier Radio and has been the director since 2014. “I listened to the men’s soccer game and I think it went really well,” Smith said. “ We have a microphone issue during the game and my staff is going through and fixing the problem.” One of the microphones during the broadcast was longer than the other one. The members of Cavalier Radio have fixed the issue. “I think Cavalier Radio can be an avenue for students who want to get involved with sports broadcasting,” Smith said. “ I want to give them a pathway and avenue to build a portfolio and use all of that information to help them get a job.” Smith, with the help from Fisher, Rutherford and others, was able to start from nothing to being able to broadcast games within a few years.
Photo by Ryan Chybinski
Dixon Center changing operations By Santino Terranova Staff Writter
Cabrini’s Dixon Center is opening again amid the pandemic. Changes in operations have brought students to the Dixon Center to enjoy a better environment. Some of the changes the Dixon Center has made is open at 10 a.m. instead of 7 a.m., Cavs Shack is open, there is no longer a designated exit to leave the facility like last year and the gym is open for anyone to use. Students on campus shared their thoughts on the changes. Ryan Brown, freshman accounting major, said, “I like it because it allows everyone to stay healthy and fit.”
“It should be. There’s probably some minor changes that should happen but it should be able to stay open for longer,” Harrell said. Harrell believes the changes that have been made at the Dixon Center will be able to keep it open. He said, “I think they’re good because people will be in the weight room and you can socialize more. Especially for the open courts, a bunch of games can be played.” Making the changes to allow the gym, weight room and other areas accessible to more people, it will be easier to have pickup games, build relationships and be social.
“It’s really convenient after the lifting to be able to get something to eat if you have to run to class after,” Brown said. The Cavs Shack being open will help bring students to the Dixon Center considering those like Brown will find it convenient.
“I think that’s huge. A lot of people want to work out, a lot of people want to stay healthy so if the gym is always open people are going to be typically happy, especially all of the athletes,” Mason Leanort, freshman, said. The gym being open to anyone is a change that will keep people happy knowing they have a spot to work out.
Brown said his confidence in the Dixon Center that it will be able to stay open after the changes. He said, “I think it’ll be able to stay open because it won’t just be athletes in there. It will help bring in some money by having the smoothies and everything else available for people after workouts.”
“I think it’s good, people can walk there in two minutes and grab whatever they need. They usually have a lot of different options,” Leanort said. Students and faculty on campus can go to the Dixon Center for food and drinks.
The Dixon Center’s Cavs Shack and workout area will be reliable reasons people go to the Dixon Center.
Brown said, “They should be able to keep the Dixon Center open. I’m sure that the gym is definitely a huge benefit.” Leanort expressed a concern others may have about the time change the Dixon Center has put in place to open at 10 a.m. “For some people 10 a.m. is too late. Some people like to get up super early and get it over with. Those would be the only concerns I think people would have.” Based on their preference when they prefer to work out, other students and faculty may have concerns about the time being pushed back. Students on campus are confident that the changes at the Dixon Center will keep it open. Although some may disagree with the time it opens, many are pleased. The Dixon Center’s changes could be beneficial in good ways to keep the students and faculty happy.
Photo by Cabrini Athletics
Victor Harrell, freshman communication major, said, “I think it’s better because most kids have classes earlier. It’s a better way for kids to be more energized and get their blood flowing. You’re able to get more reps in throughout the morning.” Since the Dixon Center is opening at 10 a.m. instead of 7 a.m., students that have classes before 10 a.m. aren’t missing much time working out.
Photo by Cabrini Athletics