March 30, 2023 issue 07 Loquitur

Game on: when student life and athletics unite

By Hannah Poggi Lifestyles Editor

Following the recent institutional changes at Cabrini, one that was a surprise to many was the merge of student life and athletics leadership positions. Kate Corcoran, who was formerly the Director of Athletics, soon took over not just one large department but two, as she was declared the vice president for athletics and student engagement on Nov. 16, 2022.

Students quickly wondered how this merger would operate and ultimately benefit all groups, especially those who aren’t athletes. As Cabrini is still in the process of integrating the department’s plans, the future looks bright for relationships between students, residents, services, and programming.

Start of the merger

Corcoran is working alongside Dr. Anne Filippone, Bridget O’Donnell, Monica Carson, and Bryan Peightal, who in turn work closely with Student Engagement, Residence Life, and Counseling and Psychological Services, CaPS.

Corcoran said, “Dr. Filippone, who has extensive knowledge in student life, has been a phenomenal resource for me. Monica Carson, who is our new director of residence life, while she is new to Cabrini, also has a wealth of knowledge in the student life field.” And Bridget O’Donnell within SEal and student engagement, really have been valuable resources for me as I hope to lead a new section of student life.

The “new section of student life” Kate mentioned will integrate more open spaces where students can gather and freely interact with one another.

Corcoran’s new position can be overwhelming but she is finding balance and is setting goals with her colleagues. “I think the idea behind this was to ... maybe bring some of the expertise that comes from the athletic side of the house and re-envision what a student life model could be,” Corcoran said.

“It is very challenging right now because so many people are new to positions. Monica did not come to campus until late in the fall. We are trying to get a sense of how we work well together and prioritize,” Corcoran said.

“The working relationship since Kate took over our division has been amazing. Kate is extremely passionate about student development. She’s been very conscious of making sure that we are paying attention to policies that are not in existence or need to be revamped to match the current need of our student population,” Carson said.

She added, “I appreciate Kate’s transparency in communicating with staff about the position of Cabrini right now [Regarding student and campus life] and also the support that she provides in making sure that we’re working to a level that produces the best quality of service for students.”

Improvements already in action

One immediate improvement to come from the merger affects CaPS and Health Services.

“We are transitioning back to an on-campus health services model after two years of being off campus. We hired our nurse, Kim PerryMalloy, in October, and she has been working diligently to get that service back to fully functioning,” Corcoran said.

She added, “Mental health is an area that has been identified as a main priority. We are working to roll out a resource guide and then

provide training for our faculty and staff so we can better equip our professionals and serve the needs of our students.”

Sydnee Reddy, senior digital communication and social media major and resident assistant, believes merging Athletics with Student Life will improve overall participation.“I feel as though athletics have always been separate and it’s been its own little bubble. I’m glad it’s merged because I think it will do the school some good and lift school spirit in a way,” Reddy said.

Future goals

Gazing into the future, Corcoran and her team hope to build more locations for students to assemble to create a stronger sense of community.

“One of the things that Anne and I are doing in the coming weeks is an assessment of the land within Student Life and how we can identify areas on campus that can be congregating areas. We’re looking at outdoor rec spaces potentially and some outdoor spaces that our students can gather in so that they are not cooped up in dorms,” Corcoran said.

Corcoran also sees room for collaboration and new programming as the merger progresses.

“Down the road, we could potentially see joint programming. I know our student athlete advisory committee is working with Bridget O’Donnell in SEaL ... which will hopefully entice more people to come out to events, but that is a work in progress,” Corcoran said.

“Within Athletics, we get some limited NCAA grant money each year for specific areas of programming. We are looking at how we can use those funds to do programming across our entire student population and with student leaders as well,” Corcoran said.

Residency returns and graduate housing is opening Page 6 Softball travels to Florida to kickoff 2023 season Page 8

Photo by Thomas Ryan.

Photos by Cabrini Flickr.

WE ARE THE

2022-2023 Editorial Staff

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

VICTORIA EMMITT

MANAGING EDITOR

VICTORIA EMMITT

VISUALS EDITOR

THOMAS RYAN

NEWS EDITORS

JACOB PEGAN

JOHN RADER

SPORTS EDITOR

SANTINO TERRANOVA

LIFESTYLES EDITOR

HANNAH POGGI

PERSPECTIVES EDITOR

ISAIAH DICKSON

PODCAST EDITOR

LASHAY SMITH

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

SOPHIA GERNER

ADVISER

WENDY ROSENFIELD

The artificial intelligence revolution

By Loquitur Editorial Board

“As we delve deeper into the 21st century, artificial intelligence, AI, is becoming an increasingly common presence in our lives. From the way we shop to the way we communicate, AI is revolutionizing the way we interact with the world. But what about its impact on education, and life after graduation? As students, we often find ourselves grappling with essays and reports, but what if AI could take some of that burden off our shoulders.” In fact, this article’s lede was written by AI, which took that burden off our shoulders.

Aside from its clunky sentence structure, and a literal computer speaking on behalf of human beings, our lede (or, opening paragraph) paints the picture of a singular point of view. The Loquitur editorial staff believes that various points of view need to be taken into account when it comes to being an ethical journalist. This relates directly to the classroom, and the modern-day educational system. Easy access to computergenerated “thought” is supplanting independent thought and forces academic institutions to deal with this futuristic technology.

The AI takeover

In schools across America, students use artificial intelligence for tasks that have educators panicking. Since ChatGPT’s debut in November 2022, students have used the software to write their assignments, and pass off its essays as their own work. This has forced teachers to scramble and find cheaters, causing disruption to lesson plans across America.

ChatGPT is a computer program that can answer questions about literally anything, including philosophical beliefs, history, and even the software’s opinions on the best in music and sports. Due to the technology’s functionality, students may continue to use AI for classwork regardless of pushback. ChatGPT can also be used as a great tool to gather thoughts, and it can be used by teachers to help enhance their lesson plans. As long as the data from ChatGPT is cited properly, and fact-checked, the information can be a great starting point for writing a

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.

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.

story. Notice the words “starting point.”

Privacy Issues

The U.S. has data-privacy laws, but unfortunately, it hasn’t always been on top of tech regulation. The European Commission is considering a framework for how AI can be used ethically. Perhaps the largest ethical concern is the use of AI to replace human judgment. A computer or a smart device lacks the emotional intelligence of the human mind. Therefore, we shouldn’t rely on AI to give better insight into important decisions that require more than just a fact-based reaction or opinion.

AI eliminates the opportunity for people to step into their own creativity. Time spent finding information from AI may detract from the writing process, including focusing on how an image or paragraph will grab the attention of a human audience. Therefore, the creative process can be easily influenced by AI’s responses.

Another negative is AI’s environmental impact. According to Technology Review, researchers at the University of Massachusetts found “An AI model can emit as much carbon as five cars in their lifetime.” That number equals more than 626,000 pounds of carbon dioxide.

AI requires human intervention for the software to function, which leads to an issue of bias, as intentional or unintentional bias may be inserted into the algorithm. In an article from The Harvard Gazette, Senior Fellow Karen Mills said, “AI not only replicates human biases, it confers on these biases a kind of scientific credibility. It makes it seem that these predictions and judgments have an objective status.”

According to the tech site geeksforgeeks, one advantage is that AI’s interactive style is more powerful and more useful in the classroom for information comprehension than typical computer queries like Google searches.

Cabrini University unveils ‘Illuminate’ threeyear plan

By Thomas Ryan

Visuals Editor

On March 6, Interim President Helen Drinan introduced a revised version of Cabrini’s strategic three-year plan in a new brochure. Formerly called “Mission 2027,” the plan now known as “Illuminate,” focuses on 12 strategic initiatives that each incorporate the same four themes: Deepening Impact, Building to Strength, Leading with Purpose, and Courage to Serve. Beginning in Fall 2023, the school hopes to reenvision what it means to be a student at Cabrini.

The four “Illuminations” and what they mean

The goals of Cabrini’s 12 initiatives are to increase the student population, increase equality among students, increase satisfaction among students and staff, and maximize the “brand.”

The plan’s first section, “Pathways to Graduation,” focuses on setting students up for success prior to their arrival at Cabrini. There is also a deep focus on creating a more positive learning environment for current students, especially those who live on campus. Dr. Richard Gebauer, assistant dean for Retention and Student Success, recalled his own college experience.

”Outside of athletic spaces, where did I spend the majority of my time? Well, I spent the majority of my time at open student spaces that were on campus ... I think we need to do better maximizing outdoor spaces. We need to be asking students what they want to see outside. And how do we create those environments, both indoors and outdoors, that create ways for students to gather and connect?” Gebauer said.

This section also focuses on creating a pathway that is easier for students to follow along their journey to graduation and beyond. According to the brochure, the university is creating “experiences that map to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, NACE, career-readiness competencies through specific hands-on coursework, co-curriculum, and/or high-impact practices offered within each academic department.”

Creating learning spaces for all

The second section is about welcoming learners of all ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds to campus. This “illumination” encapsulates the mission of Mother Cabrini. The school is taking initiative to recruit and support adult learners, enhance transfer degree completion, and design a comprehensive fundraising plan. Additionally, it will focus on creating a better and more attractive environment for transfer students while creating bonds with two-year institutions, such as community colleges.

This leads to the next theme: branding.

Cabrini’s mission is central to the university, and the newly hired Executive Director of Marketing and Communications, Angela Buchanico, says she strives to maintain that focus in its branding.

“With the years of experience that I have in higher ed, I think I will make a positive impact on Cabrini’s brand and all of the subsequent efforts connected with that. I have already found the Cabrini community to be extremely warm, extremely generous, and everyone here has been extremely helpful, which actually makes me more excited to do my job and do my job well,” Buchanico said.

Buchanico says her previous background as executive director of marketing at the University of the Sciences, will allow her to take what she learned there and implement it toward efforts to increase diversity on campus.

“For BIPOC students, there is a lot here that they would feel good about and feel comfortable about. So that becomes part of my job, to communicate that out in a meaningful way, to ensure that we create a vibrant, diverse community here at Cabrini that aligns with what Cabrini is,” Buchanico said.

BIPOC-serving, not just BIPOC-enrolling

The fourth and final section addresses issues of inequity and possibility. The brochure says, “Cabrini University is dedicated to this institutional transformation that will result in academic equity, student success, and student persistence for BIPOC learners to ensure all Cabrini students thrive.”

Gebauer said, “One of the biggest trends that we see in institutions, not just Cabrini, but we have more diverse learners and more BIPOC learners entering two- and four-year institutions, particularly over the last five to seven years. Cabrini wants to really commit to being BIPOCserving instead of just BIPOC-enrolling. We don’t want to just enroll our students of color, but we want to make sure that our infrastructure is designed to support them academically and socially, make sure that their social well-being is being met, and make sure we are meeting their financial needs.

“We need to be ahead of the curve and more proactive in establishing support structures prior to students arriving so that when they get here they can thrive.”

Hope for the future

While the brochure presents information about the plan in a general sense, students are still unsure about its future and its potential pros and cons. Freshman math and secondary education major Dominic Petruzzelli said, “After reading the outline, there are a lot of key points that want to be hit during this plan. And really, the big question is how are these specific points going to be hit and make a positive impact, and how will it continue to encourage student engagement?”

Penn Medicine holds Cabrini student health records

By Isaiah Dickson

Perspectives Editor

At the beginning of the fall 2022 semester, Cabrini University announced the end of its partnership with Penn Medicine. The partnership was replaced by the return of campus health services.

campus previously, we have to have a partnering physician so that the nurse can do the typical things you’d see in a health services area,” Dr. Anne Filippone, dean of Student Engagement, said.

Now that Cabrini has opted to use its own health services, some student health records that were held by Penn Medicine are inaccessible due to HIPAA regulations. Kimberly Perry-Malloy, the new director of health services, has been going through all of Cabrini’s health records and contacting the students whose records dating from December 2022 are still missing.

“There are health forms that are required for all full-time students who either live on campus or off campus,” Perry-Malloy said.

The university requires that these forms be completed so Health Services is aware of any health conditions students may have as well as knowing if students are immunized against certain diseases in the case of an outbreak.

students deal with at the ready, the institution also requires that students have updated health records to be selected for housing.

“They can register for housing, but they won’t be able to get into

Pre-pandemic Cabrini and Penn Medicine partnered in the hope that students would be able to go off campus for health services. The partnership officially started in July 2020. The pandemic put a wrench in this plan and there wasn’t much interaction between students and off-campus health services. When the campus fully opened back up, Penn Medicine didn’t seem to be any more accessible.

“We found that there were still COVID-19 protocols at the local Urgent Care,” said Cabrini Vice President of Finance and Administration Jim Cooper. “Students were struggling to find the opportunity to get in to have service.”

This resulted in students going to their own doctors or other Urgent Care locations and ultimately to the decision not to renew the relationship with Penn Medicine. Now Cabrini has brought back its own health services and has no plans of partnering with another offcampus health service. However, the university does plan to bring in a doctor. The goal is to have the doctor full-time by the fall 2023 semester.

“In order to do the traditional health services operations we had on

“We need to have those up-to-date records on campus so that we know if something happens, we’re able to provide the health information to treat that student,” Filippone said.

If students are dealing with health issues or EMTs come to campus to provide care to students, these records are vital for treatment. In addition to having immunization records and any health conditions

the selection process until all the records are in,” Perry-Malloy said. This rule even applies to students who have started a series of immunizations and have a second vaccine due in the summer before the semester starts. These students are allowed to register for housing, but cannot move in until they provide Cabrini’s health services with their health records.

For students living on campus, the consequences of not turning in health forms are clear. However, this isn’t the same for commuter students. Currently, there are conversations about what health services should do regarding commuter students who don’t have their health forms filled out.

In order for a student to submit their health forms to Cabrini they must call Penn Medicine and have an authorization form sent to them via mail, email, or fax. They do not take verbal requests. After completing these forms, students can send them back through the same avenues, and from there Penn Medicine will process their request for their health records to be sent to Cabrini.

Cabrini pairs grad programs with edX platform

By Chris Perri Assistant Editor-In-Chief

Cabrini announced in February that it has joined the global edX network to bring two of the school’s graduate programs to the platform. The school is also weighing several prospective partnerships with other institutions.

These programs allow students to sample a certain area of study, and go on to enroll in the full program at an institution if they choose.

“It may be a way to lead someone into saying, ‘I really enjoyed this, maybe I’ll look at Cabrini’s program,’” said Filling-Brown.

The partnership with edX stems from Interim President Helen Drinan’s previous experience with the service while she was president of Simmons University. “She had really great success partnering with them. They were able to scale a lot of their programs, and they were able to really support the growth and revenue of the university,” said Filling-Brown.

“We’re very lucky to be in partnership with edX. Because of their visibility and the volume they receive on their website, they don’t partner with just anyone,” said Filling-Brown. “It was really because of Helen’s relationship with them that we were able to be introduced to them and pursue a partnership.”

Motivations and timeline of events

Cabrini has also been exploring a partnership with Campbellsville University in Campbellsville, Kentucky. “There hasn’t been an agreement signed,” said Filling-Brown. “Certainly, we’ve been exploring all sorts of partnerships right now. I’ve been working with the associate deans and our registrar, and we’ve met with the area community colleges. We’ve been meeting with leadership from those campuses; we already have existing agreements with them, but a lot of those agreements were written a long time ago, so it’s important to go back and refresh them.”

Additionally, Cabrini is in discussion with Ursinus College and Messiah University. The school has not finalized a partnership with either. “[Ursinus] is a fully undergraduate school. They don’t have any graduate programs. So, we’re looking to sign agreements to allow their students to matriculate into our graduate programs,” said Filling-Brown.

edX’s role

edX is an online university course platform founded in 2012, with the intent of expanding access to higher education. According to their website, the platform has since garnered 42 million users and more than 110 million enrollments. In November 2021, it was purchased by a similar service called 2U.

According to a release issued by Cabrini, the two graduate programs coming to the edX platform are the school’s Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Master of Education in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment.

“What it will do is increase enrollment in these two programs over time,” said Dr. Michelle Filling-Brown, Dean of Academic Affairs at Cabrini. “It’ll provide access to the Ed.D. program to people around the world. Prior to this, our main students who enrolled in the Ed.D. program are people local to Pennsylvania. Now we’ll be able to enroll folks all over the country.”

Additionally, Cabrini plans to launch a “MicroMasters” program in education called Equity and Inclusivity in the Classroom, as well as a “MicroBachelors” program in social sciences through edX.

The process of initiating the partnership began during the 2022 fall semester.

“It really started when Helen came on board and introduced the idea. Then, we moved the [EdD program] curriculum through the faculty governance process,” Filling-Brown said. “We reduced the total number of credits slightly. That was a decision that was to put us in alignment with other EdD programs. edX had given us the advice to pull back a few credits, and that had to be voted on.”

The primary motivations behind the partnership are to increase Cabrini’s visibility and graduate program enrollment. “Certainly, it’s visibility for us generally. The ‘MicroMasters’ and ‘MicroBachelors’ are getting our name out there,” said Filling-Brown. “[edX’s] brand power, now with our name attached to it, we’re gaining some visibility because of that. But the real motivation is increasing enrollment in the Master’s and doctorate programs.”

Jenna May, sophomore computer and information sciences major, said, “I think it’ll be beneficial [to Cabrini’s visibility], just so that students who can’t make it in person have another option.”

The agreement with Messiah would see students take the opposite path. “Again, none of these are finalized, but I spoke to someone from Messiah,’ said Filling-Brown. “They have an athletic training Master’s program, so we’re looking at what kind of agreement we can sign so that our students who are studying something like exercise science can continue their education at the master’s level.”

According to the release, Cabrini plans to launch the “MicroMasters” program and transition the two graduate programs to edX beginning in the 2023 fall semester. The “MicroBachelors” program will be formally announced in early 2024.

Photo by Isaiah Dickson.

Photo from Cabrini Flickr.

Photo from Unsplash.

Photo by Isaiah Dickson.

Photo from Unsplash.

Cabrini University looks toward a bright future

By Victoria Emmitt Editor-In-Chief

Whether it is a friendly smile, a wave hello, or helping out a family who needs directions, everyone can be a part of recruitment efforts on campus. Bryn Campbell, director of Undergraduate Admissions at Cabrini, says recruitment is everyone, and “It is really as simple as showing that welcoming community feel.”

COVID-19 had a major impact on higher education and the way colleges and universities plan for the future. With many schools experiencing difficulties, Cabrini hopes for a bright future for current and incoming students.

“We are still accepting applications. We see that there is a class that is going to graduate in 2027, but as an institution and under the guidance of President Drinan, we’re really rethinking how we deliver a college education and what that looks like so that we can be more accessible to as many people as possible,” Campbell said.

New names, new faces

On March 10, Drinan held a town hall outlining a variety of positive news for the university, including recruitment efforts, new partnerships, and financial successes.

In a statement to the Loquitur, Drinan said, “Cabrini University intends to forge a path forward with clarity, transparency, and unity. And we are positioning Cabrini for the quickly changing higher education landscape by strengthening our foundation and securing our future, beginning with the reorganization and restructuring that commenced in fall 2022. Presently, our admissions counselors, with the support of faculty and staff, continue the challenging work in recruiting students for the class of 2027.”

While the pandemic put a hold on some recruitment efforts, Campbell and her team are bringing back some exciting events for future Cavaliers. Overnights and “Cav for a Day” visits allow prospective students to experience life on campus. For overnights, Admissions partners with Student Engagement to hold events, a sleepover in Casey House, and the chance to attend classes the next day. Cav for a Day matches students with classes that align with their interests.

“The idea is to get them to really feel what it’s like to be a Cabrini student as much as humanly possible,” Campbell said. The Admissions department attributes a slight decrease in appli-

cations to its change in partnership with EAB, a one-size-fits-all recruitment company. Cabrini now works with Two Oceans, which Campbell believes offers a more personalized solution.

“They go to a college or institution and really get to know them and decide what they need, not what everyone needs. We love them for that. They are really tailoring it,” Campbell said.

but also all administrators, faculty, and staff who see a need in their department. Chisholm made a point to say that even students can have a say in advocating for their needs on campus. “The departments identify needs … and we try to find a funder that fits that.”

Such was the case in the communication department, which recently received a $117,000 grant. “In the case of communication, it was from the George I Alden Trust, a funder who gave money previously for … anatomy and physiology courses,” Chisholm said. “Because we did such a good job stewarding those funds we could reach out to them again and ask them for funding for the communication department.”

Dawn Francis, associate professor and chair of the department, explained, “We wrote to the Alden Trust asking for money to be used to purchase equipment for our communication center. So, the video studio, the control room, and to do upgrades on the installed equipment.”

While the equipment that can be rented out to students is always kept up to date, the updates to the installed equipment will be a great way to keep the department competitive with other schools.

Campbell said the EAB partnership brought a lot of “soft applications” from students who were not serious about Cabrini.

Much to celebrate Drinan also explained some of the university’s financial successes. In the same statement to the Loquitur, Drinan said, “The Office of Development and Alumni Affairs continues its grant success, adding $13 million in the last four years, and currently managing 37 grants worth nearly $8 million.

These grants continue to enhance the students’ experience at Cabrini, whether it’s combatting food insecurity, allowing the opportunity for students to travel to Zambia for cultural immersion and partnership building, or pursuing education goals by ARC students.”

$5.5 million of the almost $8 million in grants is allotted for the Department of Education to help bring K-12 teachers to take graduate courses at Cabrini. These teachers are all area professionals who have a high number of students learning English as a second language, and the grant money will cover their tuition and supplies.

Grantwriting is not the sole responsibility of Chisholm and her team

Campbell said, “A welcoming community is one of the many reasons people will choose Cabrini. We have the academics, we have the resources, and we do incredible work. So, just continuing to showcase all of those pieces is the key, but everyone can do it in one way or another … We are here, we are still taking applications … we aren’t going anywhere.”

CaPS’ search for a new director

By Santino Terranova Sports Editor

CaPS, also known as Counseling and Psychological Services at Cabrini University is in search of a new permanent director. There’s currently an interim director holding down the position: licensed psychologist Dr. Bryan Peightal.

Dean for Student Engagement and Leadership Dr. Anne Filippone said of CaPS, “They really are focused on the mental health of our student population. Students come in with varying needs in terms of mental health within the community, and so, they provide individual appointments.”

Filippone added that CaPS does training and consulting with student leaders and faculty to provide additional mental health support.

CaPS offers services to students such as telehealth and in-person sessions, and same-day urgent appointments or mental health emergencies.

students and the clinical presence of our counselors. And so, to really have those appointments with students to be able to meet the need that exists on our campus, the challenges are that we’re down a counselor.”

She added that there are some administrative tasks that would come with the director role that Peightal currently covers. However, due to supporting tasks like those that come with acting as director, he has fewer available hours to meet with students.

“In terms of ongoing meetings with our counselors, there may be some challenges there,” Filippone said. “We haven’t experienced that yet. But there are kind of different spikes across the semester. As students hit that midpoint, as they hit critical times in the semester, the needs may be greater … in the past, we’ve had times when we have students maybe on a waitlist to be able to be seen by a counselor.”

The search process

The search process started after Brown’s departure. There was a gap in time of trying to identify the skills, abilities, and qualifications CaPS sought in a director candidate, Filippone explained.

She said, “It’s a committee, so, there would be many different voices at the table. All of our searches obviously would run through our Human Resources department. We have to get approval to rehire for the position, which we did. You have to have an updated job description, make sure everybody’s on the same page.”

terms of establishing meaningful successful relationships with other departments on campus.”

Peightal added, “Being able to implement some of those longer-term goals and longer-term policies could benefit the Cabrini community not just beyond this academic year but for many years.”

Nonetheless, he said CaPS has had a lot of stability with the rest of the staff, and it’s a staff he feels incredibly confident in and comfortable with.

“We’ve actually, you know, created a little bit of a community here, and as a result, we were able to kind of implement a lot of the policy that we’ve been operating from for the past couple of years,” Peightal said.

Junior digital communication and social media major Skyler Kellers said she believes the new director of CaPS should be, “The sort of person … who’s really passionate about what they do.”

Kellers believes CaPS has helped her pinpoint trauma and lessen it. “CaPS is important to me because it’s a great resource. I go on Wednesdays, and you know, you might not feel like in the moment that you need that exact help, but it’s to maintain your happiness, maintain your homeostasis.”

Filippone said, “Our former director was Dr. Alissa Brown. Alissa left for a new opportunity that was closer to home and a great opportunity for her and her professional career, and she left at the end of summer.”

Challenges of not having a permanent director

Filippone acknowledged the department’s current challenges. She said, “There is great need in terms of individual appointments with

Now, Filippone said, “Hopefully we’re in the final stages. We’re finalizing interviews now, and then hopefully we’ll make a decision and offer soon.” She believes students will return in the fall semester with a permanent director in place and added that, ideally, CaPS will have a director before the end of this semester.

Allowing for “long-term thinking”

Peightal explained the importance of having a permanent director. “I think it allows for long-term thinking within the counseling center in

CaPS offers a six-week mental health group for all students called Solving for Distress, which started Thursday, March 23, and continues until Thursday, May 4. These are drop-in groups. Students can attend whichever themed sections best fit. Sections are led by different CaPS staff members.

The sessions will be held in Grace Hall, Academic Affairs Conference Room, second floor from 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. Contact CaPS with any questions at 610-902-8561 or counselingcenter@cabrini.edu.

CaPS is available Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Infante House on Residential Blvd.

Photo from Cabrini Flickr.

Photo from Cabrini Flickr.

Photo from Unsplash.

Serving up Smiles: The Cabrini-Sodexo Staff

By Kyleigh Brunotte Assistant Managing Editor

The timeless proverb is true: the way to someone’s heart is through their stomach. Here at Cabrini, Cav’s Corner’s dining staff goes right there, serving up food and joy to students every day.

Cabrini and Sodexo

Sodexo, formerly known as The Wood Company, has been a partner of Cabrini University for over 25 years. The company prides itself on “the difference a day makes,” from the interpersonal relationships between staff members, to the bonds with those Sodexo is serving, and their environmental footprint.

Joseph Lutz, executive chef, began his tenure at Cabrini in June 2022. “I’ve worked at a couple different places before, and [the Cabrini-Sodexo staff] genuinely cares about everything they’re doing,” Lutz said, “Most of them are very personable, they take the time to ask the students how their day is going … and not just asking, but genuinely caring about how the student’s day is going.”

Lutz recognizes the Cabrini-Sodexo staff’s attention to detail. “If they see something out of place, instead of just letting it be out of place, they actually take the time to adjust it or come see someone to try and fix it,” Lutz said.

A lively environment Lutz described Cabrini University as a family-oriented school. That familial atmosphere not only describes students, but also radiates from the kitchen. The friendly banter between staff, whether newbies or seasoned veterans, contributes to the fun atmosphere in Cav’s Corner. “The guys and ladies back there will rip each other and joke, but at the same time they care about each other,” Lutz said.

Most of the Cabrini-Sodexo staff has been part of the Cabrini community for 10 or more years. Lutz relies on experienced staff members to help facilitate the positive atmosphere the team aspires to have both in and out of the kitchen.

“Having those people in your kitchens really helps bring the newer [employees] in and gets them a feel for the way things are and gets them onboard with the program,” Lutz said.

New changes underway

On March 10, 2023, was former General Manager of Dining Services Tracy Eells last day at Cabrini University. Maureen Palko has filled the shoes of Eells. Palko worked at three local universities prior to joining the Cabrini-Sodexo team. Palko plans to prioritize community engagement as some of her first initiatives as a Cavalier. Palko’s service as general manager began on Monday, March 20, 2023. Getting to know some of the Cabrini-Sodexo staff North Philadelphia native Kim Green, crafts delicious sandwiches at the Cav’s Corner deli, but only the privileged know Green has an undeniable love of cats.

She has been working for Sodexo since 1999 and joined the CabriniSodexo staff Aug. 18, 2021. Her infectious laugh and care for those she comes into contact with greatly contribute to the Cav’s Corner ambiance. Green’s favorite recipe is pork ribs and chicken wings. As she is always serving up a smile and sharing a laugh, Green’s favorite part of Cabrini is interacting with the students every day.

Philadelphian Raphael Gladden joined the Cabrini-Sodexo staff

March 5, 2022. Raphael works on the “Home Town” food station and never forgets to ask students, “How’s your day going?” or “What is new?” Gladden says that the part of his job he cherishes most is being able to care for the future.

As an avid sports fan, Gladden loves to talk about Philadelphia sports, especially with his coworker, Joe. The friendly sports banter between rival sports fans enhances the Cav’s Corner environment. Gladden’s favorite recipe is coconut almond shrimp.

He is a self-proclaimed clown, which can be seen through the contagious enthusiasm Gladden radiates alongside his coworkers and into the Cabrini community.

Joe Brown joined Cabrini-Sodexo’s staff in August 2022. Another Philadelphian and member of the “Home Town” line, Brown also loves to talk about Philadelphia sports. Brown’s favorite thing about being a part of the Cabrini community is cooking.

As for others outside Cabrini, they may not know about how deep his passion for cooking truly is. His favorite recipe is Caribbean jerk salmon. Brown has been cooking for 25 years, and he always has a smile on his face and brings positivity to all he encounters.

Meikhi Lawry, an 18-year-old Philadelphian and salmon lover, is one of the newest members of the Cav’s Corner staff. Lawry joined in October 2022. His favorite part of being at Cabrini is the opportunity to meet new people.

Many members of the Cabrini community especially appreciate Lawry’s sense of humor. Considering the comradery between Lawry and more experienced members of the staff, it’s impossible to tell he is a newcomer.

Nasir Goodwin of Philadelphia joined the team just one month after Meikhi, in November 2022. Like his coworkers, Goodwin’s favorite part of being a part of Cabrini is the people he has met. Goodwin is a friendly face to students and has made many personal connections here in just four months. S

ome may know Goodwin’s favorite recipe is chicken marsala, and fewer may know outside of Cabrini he sings R&B.

While this article only highlights some of the remarkable members of the Cabrini-Sodexo staff, the Cabrini community is truly lucky to have every person that students get to see each day.

Slumlords of Conshohocken

By Kelly Kane Staff Writer

Are slumlords controlling off-campus housing for Cabrini students?

A large portion, of Cabrini students, 54%, live off campus, and often they choose to call Conshohocken home. However, living off-campus comes with a price, and the biggest is dealing with landlords.

According to Webster’s Dictionary, a slumlord is a landlord who receives unusually large profits from substandard, poorly maintained properties.

Students struggling

Graduate student Bridget O’Neill has had one heck of an experience dealing with these so-called “slumlords.” “He would come in without any notice, ignore messages to fix things and would even try and gaslight us saying everything was our fault,” O’Neill said.

Senior psychology major Andrea Pezick experienced similar issues. “It seems like we are convincing him when we reach out to him with a problem, even though he rented us this house with pre-existing issues and it is his job to fix them for us,” Pezick said.

This is Pezick’s second landlord, but he is making her living situation far more difficult than she experienced in her last home. In her last home, she did not have to worry about communication between her and her landlord.

“The one before was good. He checked on us monthly to make sure everything was going smoothly. And when we had a problem, [he] immediately responded and was super helpful. But this [landlord] avoids responsibility and makes us figure out our own issues,” Pezick said.

Communication is key

Both O’Neill and Pezick had similar struggles in trying to get their landlords not only to communicate with them but also to do their job: keep the property safe and up to code. O’Neill’s last house in Conshohocken was missing an outdoor railing and had a broken step. Even worse, the week she was moving out, she found contractors in her bedroom knocking down the wall without any prior notice.“He

had the audacity to say we would not get our security deposit back because the bedrooms were dusty, when he had men in my room knocking down my bedroom wall,” O’Neill fumed.

What to know now

The struggles of finding off-campus housing can be extremely difficult for most students. However, knowing what to look out for can help make this experience easier and stress-free. Cabrini is located in a pricey area, especially for struggling college students. This leads many students to look to the neighboring borough of Conshohocken for housing. And yet, Conshohocken is also on the rise, so finding affordable housing there is now more of an issue than ever before.

College housing usually means cheap, and cheap housing can come at a price. That price is often the difference between a good and bad landlord.

Attorney Frank Correll of Klehr Harrison Harvey Branzburg LLP said, “There are numerous statutes and laws that are set up to help protect a renter from unscrupulous landlords. If you think about it, landlords are in the business of renting real estate for the most amount of money possible. Some may not want to do necessary repairs etc. Knowing your rights helps to insure that you have a safe, secure rental unit that has the proper utilities, etc., since that is what you bargain for when you sign a lease.”

It is important to do some research before signing a lease. Ask lots of questions, talk to prior tenants, and most important, read leases carefully. It is important to know that even if every rule is followed, some landlords may still try to violate a lease. Make sure to know your rights and their rules. Also, learn what a landlord can and cannot do.

No warning, no landlord Graduate student Madison Rooney said, “My landlord only gives a 10-minute warning before coming over.” Her lease states the land lord must give at least 24 hours notice before entering. O’Neill’s landlord entered without giving any notice at all.

“One time I was spooked when I heard the front door close and footsteps,” She said. It turned out to be her landlord sneaking in thinking no one was home.

It is important to read your lease, keep it close, and know these specifics and others before it is too late. As a last resort, don’t be afraid to ask an expert for advice.

“Be aware that various states and locales have different rules and rights so make sure you understand the rights available in the locale where you are renting,” Correll said.

Tips from an attorney

It is always important to investigate before you jump right into a new lease. Here are some tips from an attorney:

• Read the proposed lease.

• Notice whether or not the place is well maintained.

• Take photos of anything that is not working when you move in.

• Make sure to always communicate in writing to create a paper trail.

The bottom line is, if the landlord or property conditions give you any concerns, take a pass and move on to the next opportunity.

Photo by Kyleigh Brunotte.

Photo by Kelly Kane.

Residency returns and graduate housing is opening

By Hannah Poggi Lifestyles Editor

This year, Cabrini’s residency dropped from about 900 residents down to 500. Dean of Student Engagement Anne Filippone plans to increase campus engagement, as well as offer a new option for graduate housing.

Reasons for the decrease

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what caused the drop in residency, but there are some obvious culprits, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. “Coming back from COVID-19, I think students are just seeing a change and it’s been slow to have a way back to residential living spaces. Some people may not be fully comfortable with living in a community right now,” Filippone said.

She added, “I think it’s a variety of reasons, which could be individual to each person. Some of it is there’s more of a tendency of students to maybe want to live at home if they’re close by and can commute.” Filippone also said it’s not always clear who’s fully engaging on campus.

“[Students] might be actively involved in athletics, or they can be really involved in the SEaL programs. And maybe they are a part of CAP Board or engaged in another department on campus,” Filippone said.

“We don’t always have a clear picture of all the different ways that our students are engaging, so if there’s a program happening at the same time as another program, that right there already diffuses your audience,” Filippone said.

Hope for student engagement

Student engagement is one of the many ways Cabrini hopes to encourage residency. Filippone is eager to get more students to participate in groups and events on campus and is optimistic that there will be an improvement.

“We’re seeing [engagement] numbers going up this year, since the past two years. Again, it’s been slow, but we’re seeing more students engaging in our student organizations. We’re seeing higher attendance rates for programs and the off-campus trips we run through SEaL. So, I do think that the numbers are starting to go up pretty steadily. We’re excited about that,” Filippone said.

She also noted the steps the school’s taking to ensure turnout for events and how to boost activities students want to attend. “We all

want to be participating in things where we see our friends and other people there and it’s places people want to be. I think trying to enhance that will enhance the student residential experience as well,” Filippone said.

“Or, word of mouth of like … ‘Hey, I’m headed to this program tonight.’ The more students share those kinds of things and turn out, then that’s when we see our attendance going up,” she said. However, Filippone said she also needs community feedback. “I really want to hear from the students. What are the things you want to see? And I encourage you to participate because it’s not worth doing if students aren’t going to come out and participate in those activities.”

to open the McManus House to graduate living.

“We are looking to utilize the McManus House for graduate housing. We do have some graduate students who are living in housing currently. But it’s not something that has been actively marketed in the past. We’re looking at ways to really make that more open to students to let them know there is housing available for them,” Filippone said.

“We want to have that be graduate-specific housing because I think that there’s a shift that once you graduate from the undergraduate experience, there’s a shift in the focus on classes, the time commitment you’re putting towards that,” Filippone added.

However, Olivia Little, a current graduate student in elementary education said, “With the cost of graduate school and post-graduate expenses, I think that adding on-campus housing wouldn’t necessarily be the most feasible option for graduate students. It is also important for universities to prioritize campus housing for undergraduate students, especially because the age range is 17-22, and those students require a lot more safety and protection over a graduate student who has enough experience living on their own.”

On the other hand, Cole Synder, a current graduate student in education, said, “I think it would be smart to have it as an option. Many times, students who are in grad school no longer go to school with their classmates anymore because they are graduated. This causes them to be stuck without a place to live; with on-campus living, it would be easy.”

Both Little and Synder live off campus.

Ella Marrollo, junior education major, shares her thoughts on-campus events and engagement. “I personally don’t even go to them but I have been to the involvement fair supporting Morgan’s Message and The Hidden Opponent. I would love to go to more of them but it’s hard for me to go on Wednesdays when they usually are during common hour but I usually get home later from field [student teaching] and can’t make it,” Marrollo said.

Plans for graduate housing

Graduate students aren’t guaranteed housing if they choose to continue their education at Cabrini. But on the bright side, there’s a plan

“Being able to work a full-time job and making money to afford my own living space is much more rewarding. Plus, you’re saving on student loans when living off campus,” Little said.

“I chose it for a few reasons, one being it is cheaper to live off campus than it is to live on campus. Also, I don’t have to share a common bathroom. I live with my teammates, so living off campus is a good option for me,” Synder said.

Still, Filippone believes offering graduate housing is an important option. “It’s a different type of experience and we want students to have this setting that will best support their learning and the educational environment that they’re looking for,” she said.

Respect creates community at concerts

Brianna Mack

Concert crowds are electric, emotional, and exciting. Danger creeps in when fans don’t respect each other’s space and the money they paid to be there. Whether outside or pressed between walls, crowds can make or break an event.

Freshman accounting major Kyle Kozlowski saw Pitbull perform in summer 2022. “It was super packed. We had lawn seats so everybody was just stacked on top of each other,” he said. Lawn and general admission seats are usually standing-room-only areas.

“I think people should have the right to sing and dance. That’s concerts. You’re supposed to have fun, you’re supposed to express yourself with the artists,” Kozlowski said.

But expressing yourself has limits. “People were dancing all around our group. Occasionally some people would get really irritated and try to fight,” Kozlowski said.

major Juliana Hopwood said about fans dancing during a Kenny Chesney performance at Philly’s Lincoln Financial Field. Feel free to shout, cheer, and dance during concerts, but not at the expense of another fan’s enjoyment. Hopwood was ideally placed to enjoy the surrounding excitement. “We were on the corner,” she said. “So it wasn’t like I was stuck in the middle of a bunch of people and couldn’t get out if I wanted to get out.”

Before the show

“Get there early. Traffic sucks,” senior health science major Victoria Camacho said. General admission events make it much more difficult to secure “seats.” Arriving at the venue at least an hour before doors open increases the chances of having a decent view of the artist.

Mapping out your seat before the show includes checking for the closest exits in case of an emergency. Depending on the genre and the performer, overwhelming crowds are inevitable.

If you get stuck in the crowd, remember to keep your head raised and look towards people on stage who may try to give directions.

“There was a lot of security, I remember that,” Camacho said. Camacho saw Travis Scott perform in 2018 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. If directions for overwhelming crowds aren’t easily heard through the chaos, remember always to avoid the center of a surging crowd because motion from all sides collides in the middle. Protect your head if you fall and move diagonally through the crowd if you see an exit.

read their bag specifications and see what is allowed inside the site. Fans with disabilities should check the venue’s website for accessible seating information before buying a ticket. Call the venue after purchase to organize proper accommodations. All venues are required to follow the Americans with Disabilities Act so all fans can peacefully enjoy the performance.

Watching the concert

Fans prepare for performances in different ways. Some buy merchandise, some buy music, and some make signs.

“I don’t mind it. I mean, as long as it’s not obstructing people’s views,” Hopwood said. Holding up a sign for the entire concert will make people upset, but some artists use signs to connect with the crowd. Holding up phones to record the entire event elicits different reactions from fans and artists.

Comfortable shoes and respecting another fan’s physical boundaries ensure that everyone enjoys the show.

If possible, map out your seat before you purchase a ticket. AViewFromMySeat.com is a great tool for picking the right viewing spot. Contributors supply a photo of the view from their seat, exactly where it’s located, and a small description of their experience.

“I like it. I feel like it makes it more entertaining,” Junior education

Taking a breather during the show is also alright; though, don’t try to sneak in contraband.

“I don’t think we could bring in any drinks or food or anything, and then we went through metal detectors,” Hopwood said. “If you had a bag, you had to take your bag off [and] let them search your bag.”

Bag sizes vary by venue and artist. Check the venue’s website to

“I know some people are like ‘keep your phone in your bag,’ but I don’t mind people recording,” Hopwood said. She recalls that her seat in Lincoln Financial Field allowed her to see around the phones and signs. Hopwood empathizes with people’s motivation to record their shows.

“I can see a little bit like your favorite song or something like that, but people are so glued to their phone nowadays, it sucks,” Capacho said. She suggests thinking of some favorite songs before attending the concert and recording those moments.

Photo via Cabrini University’s Flickr.

Assistant Persepctives Editor

Photo by Brianna Mack.

Photo by Brianna Mack.

Disney princesses are entering a new age

By Leigha Sepers Staff Writer

If you asked little Leigha what she would be when she grew up, she would probably answer “A princess.” If you asked me today what I want to be I still might say “a princess.” “Beauty and the Beast” was on replay in my house growing up, mostly because Belle was my “twin.”

Many people relate to princesses, not only based on their looks but also their strong personalities. In this generation, we see more and more people able to relate to these characters. Whether it’s their gender, ethnicity, or character representation, this group of strong animated women has worked its way into our hearts.

into Disney royalty. In 1992, Jasmine was the first princess of color, portraying a West Asian girl with a West Asian counterpart. With Jasmine as a trailblazer, Pocahontas and Mulan followed, bringing more ethnic variety to the princess scene. This did not come without backlash though, due to the portrayal of these princesses.

If you were to watch “Aladdin” or “Pocahontas” on Disney+ now, before the iconic opening castle scene, there is a 12-second warning of the negative depiction and mistreatment of people or cultures.

Pocahontas faced some of the worst backlashes, due to Disney’s colonialist portrayal of Native Americans as “savages” and idolizing white people. Even with the happy ending of this film, it can still be seen as offensive to Native American culture, but due to it being a cult classic, there is virtually zero percent chance of Disney ever removing this movie.

The new age of Disney princesses

Although Disney has dealt with its fair share of cultural appropriation charges, in the last decade there has been way more representation in the franchise.

ent from the original red-haired Ariel. I think it was a great move on Disney’s part. The company gave a new look to a classic princess and allowed those who look like her to feel like they can be a princess too.

A tale as old as time

Belle loved to read, fought for those she loved, and found her true love, who happened to be a prince. Also, there is something about that singing houseware that really enchanted me. But one thing always stood out to me about Belle the most: her hair.

Belle had beautiful brown hair, just like me. I never fell in love with a prince or had a ballad sung to me by a teapot, but her appearance alone made me feel so connected to her. Unfortunately, for many children watching that was not always the case.

It took Disney five different princess movies about a white woman falling in love with a white man to finally introduce some diversity

In 2009 “The Princess and the Frog” showed the first African American princess, Tiana, and gave her a storyline more than just being a woman who falls in love with the prince. She represented something so much more in making a name for herself and chasing her own dreams, instead of falling into the Disney cliche of a hopeless romantic.

Going even further, Disney started a series of live-action remakes that have shaped these stories into so much more than the original animated films. In 2019, the remake of “Aladdin” changed the way this film was viewed and helped correct the cultural mistakes that were priorly made in the 1992 film. Changing song lyrics, updating the clothing, and including input from the American Arab AntiDiscrimination Committee helped to redirect the film.

Another groundbreaking remake is “The Little Mermaid,” set to be released in 2023. In a bold move, Disney decided to go with Halle Bailey as Ariel, an African American actress who looks very differ-

Tune as old as song

And then there’s the one and only Belle. The live-action remake of “Beauty and the Beast” changed so much for the Disney community with its release in 2017. This movie raised lots of controversies worldwide. In countries such as Kuwait and Malaysia, and even in some parts of the United States, this movie was not allowed to play for one single scene.

It wasn’t an issue of race, ethnicity, or even a scene that was particularly eyebrow-raising. No, the reason behind this banning was due to the last scene of the movie where two men dance together at the wedding of Belle and the Beast. One single shot that many probably wouldn’t even catch was the reason for an international ban. This brings us to the fact that even though Disney has overcome issues of race and cultural appropriation, they still have not discussed LGBTQ+ issues. When I think of Disney I think of happiness, acceptance, family, and hope. But until the company can adapt to include different kinds of families, many will still have to wait to feel like royalty.

Drunk driving continues to be an issue among college students

By Sam Kirk Assistant Sports Editor

Of the many consequences that result from drunk driving, it is hard to determine which is the worst. And yet, right now drunk drivingrelated deaths in young people between ages 18-24 are currently rising.

I was lucky. I didn’t know anyone affected by drunk driving until 2020 when a young man who went to high school close to where I lived died in a drunk driving accident involving four people.

another wrestler, and a college-bound recent graduate. When he got behind the wheel that night, he had no intention of crashing his car and killing his friend; unfortunately, that is one of the many consequences that can result from driving impaired.

Drunk driving can not only destroy your life, but it can also destroy your community and those close to you.

Statistics speak for themselves

In Pennsylvania, the legal blood alcohol content limit, or BAC, is .08%. For the typical man, that is around four drinks per hour, and for a woman, it is around three; this also depends on how much someone weighs.

Each year, almost 2,000 college students ages 18-24 die each year from unintentional alcohol-related injuries; this includes accidents related to drunk driving.

The 21-24-year-old age group has the highest rate of drunk driving.

Nineteen percent of drunk driving accidents involve college-aged students. Every year, 10,000 Americans are killed by drunk drivers; about 1,000 of these Americans are children.

Recent high school grad dies

The four were at a party with some friends from high school. The driver decided to drive home when he was far too intoxicated to take the wheel. What makes this scenario even worse is that three of the driver’s friends got into the car with him because they trusted him.

At around 4 a.m., the driver, traveling between 60-70 mph, swerved off the road and hit a tree. Three of the four wore seatbelts.

The fourth, a young man known as a great wrestler in his community, was launched out the windshield and later died from his injuries. The driver was charged with multiple offenses, including homicide.

I was a firsthand witness of how deeply affected the local community was when that young man died. Not only was the community upset about the loss, but they were also upset about the driver,

Many students in high school and college between ages 18-24 also think it is okay to drink and drive, even if they believe they have not had too much to drink. That is always a common mistake.

Did you know that one person dies every 45 minutes as a result of drunk driving in the United States? On average, that is about 32 people per day. Drunk driving is a serious problem that is not going away.

Drunk driving can lead to impaired judgment, reduced reaction time, poor coordination, an increased risk of accidents, and severe legal consequences.

It puts both the driver and other road users in danger and can result in devastating consequences.

Even with efforts by the U.S. government and law enforcement agencies to combat the issue, drunk driving remains a significant problem in the U.S. among people who are the ages of most Cabrini students.

Photo by Leigha Sepers.

Photo by Leigha Sepers.

Photo by dominika kwiatkowska.

Photo via energepic.com.

Photo via energepic.com.

Cabrini men’s soccer journey in South Africa

By Paige Bowman Assistant Lifestyles Editor

things together as a team. We are already a very close team, but obviously, we have never had the opportunity to be with each other from morning to night for a week straight.”

One of their days in Capetown consisted of surfing. The team took beginner lessons in False Bay. False Bay is a historically great spot to hit the waves. Matthew Kekatos, senior midfielder and computer science major, said, “My favorite part of the trip was going to False

Mountain, which is now considered one of the seven new wonders of nature by The Swiss-based New7Wonders Foundation in 2011. Table Mountain offers a breathtaking 360-degree view of the Cape Peninsula.

More than just a vacation

This wasn’t just a typical spring break trip, it was even more than just sightseeing in Capetown. The team gave back to the South African community while there.

Toward the end of their trip, they spent a morning working with Leipzig Primary School in the Nuy Valley. There they worked with the Anna Foundation after-school group to teach sports and play games with South African children.

Cabrini men’s soccer had the spring break of a lifetime, when the team traveled to Capetown, South Africa for their international trip.

The team takes an international trip every four years so that each player gets to go at least once during their time at Cabrini.

With COVID-19 restrictions finally in the rearview and travel returning to normal, the long-awaited trip finally happened.

Bringing a team together

The trip consisted of surfing, playing games against local competition, exploring, and most importantly, giving back. The whole experience was hosted by Zag Sports, a company that sends teams on international tours focused on team bonding and mission work.

Nick LoBiondo, junior forward and accounting major, said, “I think we all enjoyed the week of hanging out and experiencing the next

Bay and surfing. It was a really cool cove and had a lot of good waves.”

Sightseeing history

During their time in Capetown, men’s soccer took advantage of the historic significance of the location.

The team took a ferry ride to Robben Island, the location of the prison where African National Congress leader and freedom fighter Nelson Mandela was held captive for 27 years. They visited the prison and learned about Mandela’s significance in South Africa’s history.

Men’s soccer also had the opportunity to climb the 3,500-foot Table

“My favorite part of the trip was definitely the soccer clinic that we did with the Anna Foundation. Seeing how happy the kids were to see us definitely put a smile on our whole team’s faces. I think most of the team would agree that this event was the most fun experience that we had on the trip,” LoBiondo said.

Embracing a culture

While in Capetown, the team was taught the term Ubuntu. A Zulu and Xhola word meaning “humanity to others”, but it is also translated to “I am because we are.”

However, Ubuntu isn’t just a saying, it’s a way of life. The team embodied Ubuntu while there by volunteering and making difference during their short adventure in South Africa.

“I personally have a very different view of the world after this trip. Being in South Africa for a week showed me how lucky I am for some of the things I have and how I need to not take what I have for granted. We did events where kids didn’t even have shoes, but they always had a smile on their faces. It was really just an eyeopening experience for all of us,” LoBiondo said.

Softball travels to Florida to kickoff 2023 season

By Jason Fridge Assistant Podcast Editor

The Cabrini softball team spent spring break in Winter Haven, Florida, playing 10 games to kickoff their 2023 season.

The team used the time away from campus to enjoy the beach and pick up seven strong victories in the Sunshine State.Traveling to Florida has been an annual tradition for the team since the 2012 season. Head coach Chris Protesto said that the trip has more benefits than just getting away from campus.

“Obviously, the weather is a benefit, as it’s a way for us to play games in February that 99 percent of the time we aren’t able to play up here,” Protesto said. “But it’s also a great bonding experience for the girls. Young kids get to know the upperclassmen as they all live in the same house, share rooms, and eat every meal together. It all really works out well.”

The defending Atlantic East Conference champions have several players returning on the roster. With freshmen and transfers joining the team, they got straight to work the moment they returned to campus in August. Protesto noted how much the team was able to accomplish before the first day of spring practice.

“Our girls really worked hard in the offseason this year,” Protesto said. “It was our best offseason ever in the weight room. We had a lot of buy-in from the team. I give credit to our upperclassmen and captains.”

away from campus is to see quality competition and test his team. The first day of games in Florida set the scene for the week ahead. With two talented teams in front of them, the Cavaliers showed off the hard work they put in during the offseason.

“On day one we played Messiah, who won two games in the NCAA tournament last year and we beat them 4-1,” Protesto said. “Then we played Alma, a big school from Michigan, whom we were 0-7 against all time, and we beat them pretty handily this year 8-3.”

Through the first two days, the team started with a 3-1 record. With a hot start and some big wins, they gained confidence. “Starting off with a big win against Messiah, that kind of set the tone for the week,” Ariana (Ari) Mirenda, junior infielder and biology/pre-med major, said. “That was probably our toughest game of the whole week and we went out and played dominant.”

Mirenda, the 2022 AEC player of the year, had 14 hits and 10 runs while leading the team in batting percentage all week. She was also impressed with the team’s performance against quality opponents.

“We were coming into Florida knowing that we would be playing hard teams,” Mirenda said. “So winning those first three games and only losing to Adrian College, who’s a very good team, it gave us confidence ... It showed us how good of a team that we were at the beginning of the year.”

By the end of the week, the Cavaliers left Florida with a 7-3 record.

Two of those wins came in dramatic fashion as they defeated Bridgewater College 2-1 and University of Dubuque 8-7, both games going into extra innings.Protesto highlighted some of the trip’s most impressive players.

“Ari Mirenda and Avery Byrnes are two of our captains and really stood out,” Protesto said. “Ari was player of the year in our conference last year and she did exactly what we expected her to do. Avery, the same thing. She’s our senior pitcher and she’s been outstanding the last three years. Freshman Sydney Andrews, who played third and pitched, also did outstanding and junior Kaitlyn Delaney, who’s a junior transfer. Really nice seeing new people contribute to the team.”

Continuing to move forward

After a successful spring break, the 2023 Cavaliers have high

expectations. The goal is once again to repeat as AEC champions, and with a young roster there is a bright future ahead.But Byrnes, the lone senior pitcher, has different goals for her final softball campaign.

“Honestly, I just want to have fun this year,” Byrnes said. “I put a lot of pressure on myself last year. I was one of two pitchers, and I was pitching almost every game. So, I just want to enjoy this season.”

The Cavaliers continue to challenge themselves this season. Later in their schedule, in the middle of conference play, they will travel to Maryland to face off against nationally ranked Salisbury University.

“I am very interested to see how we do against Salisbury,” Protesto said. “This will be our first time playing them since I’ve been coach, so I expect a tough game.”

“Compared to last year, I would say we are in much better shape since we played better teams in Florida this year,” Mirenda said. “We put up a fight against all the teams, so I believe against teams like Salisbury we’re going to be able to compete and put up more of a fight than we would’ve been able to in previous years.”

Having a schedule filled with talented opponents will give the Cavaliers experience they’ll need to make a long run in May.

Facing tough competition

Another major reason that Protesto chooses to start the season

Photo by @cabrinimsoccer.

Photo by @cabrinimsoccer.

Photo by Linda Johnson from Cabrini Athletics.

Photo by Linda Johnson from Cabrini Athletics.