Award-Winning Student Run Newspaper
Vol. LXV• Issue 4
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THELOQUITUR.COM
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YOU SPEAK WE LISTEN
Thursday , December 7th 2023
HOLID
Chris
AYS
Paige Jason
Jake Leigha
Jedidah
Sam
Andrew
Cover by Paige Bowman
Editorial
2 WE ARE THE
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Philly sports create community
2023-2024 Editorial Staff EDITOR-IN-CHIEF CHRIS PERRI MANAGING EDITOR PAIGE BOWMAN VISUALS EDITOR ANDREW STOVENOUR NEWS EDITOR JEDIDAH ANTWI SPORTS EDITOR SAMANTHA TADDEI LIFESTYLES EDITOR LEIGHA SEPERS PERSPECTIVES EDITOR JOHN RADER PODCAST EDITOR JASON FRIDGE
By Loquitur Editorial Board
What a time to be a Philly sports fan. Over the last two years, Philadelphia sports fans were treated to remarkable playoff runs, spectacular moments, and seasons that will be talked about for years to come. Between the Phillies’ Red October postseason campaigns, the Eagles’ 2022-23 run to the Super Bowl, and the Sixers consistently being a playoff contender, Philly teams have served as a memorable backdrop for the college experience. Sports can provide a welcome change and a distraction from students’ busy academic lives. Taking a few hours to watch our favorite teams play helps to take our minds off of schoolwork for a bit and is a perfect way to unwind. Winning ways Philadelphia sports’ success is also a welcome change of pace, as in recent years things weren’t so fun to watch. For example, the Phillies struggled through most of the last decade and have only begun to perform at a playoff level over the last couple of seasons. Similarly, the 76ers haven’t missed the playoffs since 2017, but that streak came after several tough first few years of “The Process.” Even with the ups and downs that come with rooting for the Philadelphia Eagles, being able to experience the atmosphere of a city throughout a 2022 season that saw them go all the way to the Super Bowl is something we will always remember. The best part wasn’t even the result on the scoreboard. It was all of the watch parties hosted, the hours spent yelling “Go birds,” and the close proximity we had to the team all year long.
ADVISER WENDY ROSENFIELD
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.
Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Philadelphia is such a unique sports town, and Cabrini’s location gives us unprecedented access to everything happening in the professional sports world. A simple train ride downtown puts us in the stadium district where sports fans can unite and experience the energy surrounding the Philadelphia Sports Complex.
Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Outsiders stand in awe at Citizens Bank Park, Wells Fargo Center, and Lincoln Financial Field all being walking distance from each other connected by parking lots filled with passionate fans. From the pregame tailgates to the postgame celebrations, there is nothing that matches what Philadelphia fans bring to the game-day environment. One prime example was a newspaper layout night where we streamed Game 2 of the National League Championship Series between the Phillies and Diamondbacks on the massive new TV in the Loquitur newsroom. The Phillies won 10-0, and the game added a level of excitement to our jobs. A mutual appreciation The players truly understand their fans’ love and appreciation for the teams, and they do their best to reciprocate that sentiment. Bryce Harper, the Phillies star first baseman, said at a 2023 National League Division Series press conference, “I love this place. There’s nothing like coming into [Citizens Bank Park] and playing in front of these fans. I signed here for a reason, to do everything I could to bring back a trophy to this town.” The density of small colleges and universities in the greater Philadelphia area gives even more opportunities for students to take advantage of the talent performing in South Philly. One of the highlights of the 2023 fall semester was the return of Cabrini’s “Night at the Phillies,” where students bought discounted tickets to watch one of the best teams in baseball. Students could escape the rigors of their college classes, spend quality time with their friends, and see firsthand the magic that Philadelphia sports bring to our community. Sports bring people together, and there’s nothing that Cabrini students love more than taking advantage of the best sports town in the country.
Listen to the fourth episode of
Talk 59
A Loquitur Media Podcast 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.
Check out our Socials and Podcast Here!
On today’s episode of Talk 59, Jason Fridge sits down and talks with Student
Government Association president Abby Flanagan to discuss the responsibilities that she has leading SGA through Cabrini’s closure and how the executive board has been able to serve as a liaison for Cabrini students to administration.
We then talk with the Loquitur’s Editor-in-Chief Chris Perri to break down his transition into being a leader for the newsroom and some of his favorite moments from our first semester.
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News
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Arrest at library reveals a deeper issue By Sam Taddei and Emily Shultz Sports Editor, Staff Writer
At noon on Oct. 4, four Radnor police cars arrived outside Cabrini University’s parking garage. Officers entered the Holy Spirit Library, and approximately an hour later, longtime staff member Christopher Jones, a Cataloging, Serials, and Circulation specialist and Cabrini alumnus, was escorted out in handcuffs. According to many of the library’s current and former female employees, Jones’ behavior was a problem long before that day. The “Incident” An eyewitness source who asked to remain anonymous said Jones seemed visibly upset and confrontational during a meeting in a back room of the library with Library Director Anne Schwelm and a representative from Human Resources. Jones raised his voice, repeatedly yelling, “So I’m a threat now? I’m a threat now?” Students were cleared from the building and the library was closed for several hours. In an emailed statement to the campus community on Oct. 7, President Helen Drinan wrote, “...There was never any risk of safety to students, faculty or staff at any time during the incident. Our concern for safety on campus is paramount, and our Public Safety team was engaged at every step of this incident as is our practice,” and noted a policy of “maintaining confidentiality” for faculty and staff. According to a court docket obtained by the Loquitur, Jones was charged by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with “defiant trespassing” and “disorderly conduct engaged in fighting.” Bail was set at $10,000 and a preliminary hearing was scheduled for October 19. That date has since been postponed several times and is now slated for January 25, 2024. A familiar face Jones, raised in Queens, New York, graduated from Cabrini University in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in communication. According to his LinkedIn account, he received a master’s degree in education from Cabrini in 2011 and began working at Holy Spirit Library in Aug. 2014. One 2019 Cabrini graduate, Rahmere Griffin, wrote on the Cabrini Blog that Jones was a mentor and pivotal figure in shaping his academic journey. “I know I am not the only student who sees him as a mentor on campus. Many students I know make it a habit to stop by the library just to talk to Chris,” Griffin wrote. “He is someone who genuinely cares about the growth of students here at Cabrini. I believe he has made an impact on many students who have come in and out of the Holy Spirit Library, he definitely made an impact on mine.” Issues behind closed doors A’Niyah Stillis, a senior psychology major, started a work-study job at Holy Spirit Library in February 2022. She recounted, “It was a very easy, calm job and I didn’t have issues at all. And then closer toward last year, my junior year, I noticed something changed in the way things were being run. I noticed the change in my boss, Chris.” Another student worker, Jayden Randolph, a sophomore criminology and sociology major who worked at the library since spring 2023, agreed. “I felt so uncomfortable working around him. He was very cold. I was fine working with everybody in the library. I didn’t care who I worked with, except him.” Stillis noted Jones, who oversaw all work-study students, started displaying aggressive behavior toward her in 2022. “It was just really, like, a confusing time where he started to become really assertive and really aggressive,” Stillis said. “He started enforcing rules that were never previously enforced.” She approached a former librarian and archivist, Chelsea Frank, with her concerns, but says Frank told her she “didn’t want to get involved.” Stillis said Frank told her to inform Schwelm and “maybe HR if Anne doesn’t do anything.”
Photo by Andrew Stovenour.
In one example, Jones insisted Stillis come into work on a day she was not scheduled, demanding she reorganize a shelf of books. Stillis was in a rush but said Jones made her stay until the task was done. Meanwhile, when there was no work to attend to, Jones prohibited Stillis from doing her homework during shifts. Stillis also felt extreme pressure to obey. “I knew that if I reacted in any way, it would fall back on me. I just felt silent,” she said. “I know that I’m not the only person who felt this way.” Randolph agrees. “He did not care that I had work to do, even though it’s a work-study job, and part of the job is that you can do your work.” Stillis also noticed a difference in the way Jones treated female and male student workers. She said some of the boys wouldn’t show up for their shifts and faced no consequence, but girls were held to a different standard. Jones also reprimanded the girls for wearing headphones but not the boys. “My [male] coworker would wear them all the time and I never heard him say anything,” Stillis said. Randolph also recalls Jones “would always give me things to do and [fellow work-study student] Pryce was right there. … He barely worked. … I worked more hours and he would give me the task and then if I asked Pryce to split it [Jones] would get mad at me.” The behavior took a darker turn when Randolph recounted instances that crossed the line into harassment. She said, “I usually wear collared shirts, and once I wore a shirt that went down, it was like a v-neck, and it wasn’t that long, but we’re standing right next to each other mid-conversation, and then he just stops and just looks, and I’m like, ‘What?’” Adding to the unsettling encounters, Randolph said Jones purposely made her walk in front of him up the stairs. “There was enough room where two or three people could walk up together,” she said. “He would stop and tell me to go. And I thought it was so weird that I had to walk in front of him. It was every time we would walk up the stairs.”
Randolph had a similar experience. Jones “would be pretty hostile towards me on small things. If he was in a bad mood, he would let you know. He would take it out on you if there was a lot of work to be done and he would make you do it when he wanted you to.”
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Escalating concern Randolph said she was often isolated from her peers during work. “On the schedule, there was no double pairing of shifts. I only worked with another student worker once and it was for half a shift. We weren’t allowed to interact with each other.” Randolph explained that once she talked to the other student workers, including Stillis, they were able to connect their experiences. Randolph felt validated, “I’m not crazy. It’s not just me who is thinking this, it’s everybody,” she said. Immediately, Stillis went into action, “After hearing this, I was like ‘We need to come together and tell Anne [Schwelm] because if you’re going through this and I’m going through this, there’s something wrong.’” Stillis then presented her complaints to Schwelm along with those of Randolph and another student worker who did not wish to speak on the record. She said she told Schwelm about Jones’ comments, getting called into work during her time off, and the apparent gender bias. After the meeting, Stillis recalled Schwelm said she would reach out to Randolph but never did. Soon after, Stillis and the unnamed student worker together complained to Schwelm again addressing the same concerns. Stillis lodged a third complaint to Schwelm about Jones at the end of the spring 2023 semester and filed her last complaint at the beginning of the fall 2023 semester. “I would go to Anne to talk about it,” she recalled. “I told her everything from when he started and everything … and she wrote it down. She said, ‘I’m going to talk to him, and I’m going to get this situated. It’s going to be good when we come back.’ And then I believe that since the school was closing down there was nothing that really occurred to fix it. Because when I came back to work at the library, I was like, ‘You know what, maybe something’s changed.’ Nothing changed. It seemed like it actually got worse with his behavior.” Randolph agreed and approached Schwelm with her own complaint about Jones’ inappropriate behavior on Sept. 20, 2023. “I immediately went to my higher boss and told her, I can’t work with him. And I switched all my hours, so I wouldn’t have to work with him again.” She said Schwelm asked, “Do you want me to talk to him?”
Photo by Andrew Stovenour
Culture of silence “I’m surprised that it’s taken this long for this to be noticed and addressed,” Randolph said. By the time the incident occurred, she said, “He just seemed very unstable. … He just looked more and more like he wasn’t taking care of himself.” The transformation also went beyond mere appearances, Randolph said. “He threw our microwave out, people’s mugs, utensils. He was throwing out personal items.” The work-study students believe the aftermath of this incident urges reflection not just on the actions of one staff member but also on the institutional culture that enabled such behavior. “I just don’t like how hush-hush it was,” Randolph said. “Even in the [President’s] email that came out, it said ‘Don’t believe the media, it’s just rumors.’ I’m there like, ‘That’s ridiculous. They’re not rumors.’”
Randolph said no. “I was like, absolutely do not talk to him. First of all, he scares me.” Title IX concerns Title IX is a federal law passed in 1972 that aims to prevent sex-based discrimination in schools and education programs funded by the federal government. According to Cabrini’s Title IX brochure, “A complainant will be given periodic status updates throughout the process, which generally takes 60 calendar days following receipt of incident report.” Jones was removed from the library nearly a year after Stillis’ first complaint. None of the women were informed of any updates or guided through the Title IX process. Stillis grappled with the ongoing challenges she experienced working with Jones and ultimately decided she couldn’t take it anymore. “It just started to reach a point where I really felt like I needed to leave,” she explained. Her final day of work at the library was Sept. 22, 2023. After Stillis’ resignation, she said Schwelm asked her, “Oh, is it because of Chris?” Stillis said it was and that Schwelm simply responded, “Okay,” and walked away. Randolph and Stillis also noted that due to Jones’ behavior, the unnamed student worker also quit around the same time. Schwelm said she was unable to provide comment for this story.
Photo via Cabrini Flickr.
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The final Cabrini Day: celebrating our legacy
By Jedidah Antwi and Emily Shultz News Editor and Staff Writer
On Tuesday, November 13, 2023, Cabrini University held its last Cabrini Day. An annual celebration of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini’s legacy, classes are canceled and students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to participate in the day’s activities. A Tue s d a y m o r n i n g g a the r i ng This year’s Cabrini Day theme was “Reflection and Our Journey Forward.” The day started at 9 a.m. with morning Mass at Bruckmann Memorial Chapel of Saint Joseph. Father Fidelis Olokunboro led Mass, reading from the Book of Wisdom and the Book of Luke. When Olokunboro prepared the sermon, he considered that this would be the last Cabrini Day. “Even though that should be a celebratory event, it’s also the final one. It comes with two sentiments of a joyful celebration because for us Cabrini Day is joyful, but it also comes with another not so joyful concern,” he said. “What do you do? How do you choose the kind of sentiments that you dispose yourself to, in that kind of situation? So that was what the reflection was all about.” Olokunboro believes the readings of the day help us as a community to make a choice between these two sentiments. He said, “The sentiment that would eventually triumph is a sentiment of looking back and thanking God for the opportunities.” Olokunboro hopes what people take from his message is a sense of gratitude. “Sentiment of gratitude is always a sentiment that is joyful, for the opportunity that we’ve had to be part of this environment, to be part of the university,” he said. Frances Brooks, an adjunct faculty member of business management and 1982 Cabrini alumna, talked about her experience in the Mass. “Cabrini’s been a part of my life for 40 years. Saying goodbye at the end of the school year is going to be difficult,” she said. “Mother Cabrini’s legacy is every single one of us and so, as we
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continue to go out into the world and do what we’re meant to do, we’re honoring her and her memory.” Emily Lichius, a sophomore writing major and pianist for campus ministry, said “It was enjoyable. It’s good to see a large turnout, particularly over the holidays. I liked that there were more alumni and students present than there usually are at Sunday service.” Undergraduates present their research Undergraduate presentations were held in the Grace Hall Atrium at 10 a.m. This year, undergraduate students presented research on various topics including Alzheimer’s awareness, social justice, gun violence, child labor, improving senior mobility, and organ donation. Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini relics were displayed in the conference room, turning the space into a mini-museum exhibit. Attendees had the opportunity to learn more about the saint’s life through vintage pieces of writing and photographs. Yeredith Cruz, a senior health science major, won the best student presentation award for her poster presentation on disparity in health research for women. Some of her findings were that women were not required to be included in clinical research until 1993. Men make up the majority of the STEM field, which impacts the way women’s health is researched. Student presenters majoring in education designed curriculums for elementary school children focused on diversity, inclusion, expanding vocabulary, friendship, and working together to overcome obstacles. At 11:30 a.m., students, faculty, family, and friends gathered at the cafeteria for a special luncheon. The cafeteria staff provided grilled salmon with potatoes, rice, veggies, and more including the usual chicken nuggets, wraps and sandwiches. All of the food service counters were run by faculty and staff volunteers. There was also a dessert table decorated with red velvet and vanilla
Photo by Jedidah Antwi.
cupcakes, Cabrini logo cookies, and blue candies. The table deliciously honored Cabrini’s blue and white color scheme. The luncheon ice cream bar proved to be a fan favorite during the event. Francine Baker, area coordinator for East Campus, and Monica Carson, Director of Resident Life, were two of the many volunteers. Baker said the day was running beautifully. Carson added, “I haven’t seen as much of a presence in Founder’s the entire semester, so to have it on Cabrini Day is absolutely beautiful. I would encourage students to show up and enjoy the campus while we have it,” she said. “Don’t just show up on Cabrini Day but continue to show up and be present on campus as we navigate through the end of the semester and the academic year.” Ou r h ig h ly a n t ic ip a t e d f ilm At 1:30 p.m., a private screening of the movie “Cabrini” was shown at the Widener Auditorium. The movie is about Mother Cabrini’s journey to America and the challenges she faced. The movie shows the many glass ceilings she broke through and the impact she left. It was followed by a Q&A with some of the film’s producers. Hillary Graham, a licensed professional counselor and senior clinicians at CaPS, said, “I thought the movie was absolutely extraordinary and Mother Cabrini is an inspiration to us all.” Zachary DeCarlo, a producer of “Cabrini,” attended the private screening. “The purpose of this movie is to make her known, this amazing, impactful, audacious, tenacious, entrepreneurial, loving caring woman,” he said. DeCarlo hopes that through this movie many people will learn more about Mother Cabrini’s life and legacy and hopes everyone gets a chance to learn more when it comes out in March 2024. Katlynn Razler, a senior early education major and peer minister, with campus ministries, said “Even though we’re not a physical campus anymore, the people here in spirit will carry it through their daily lives and the people they meet.”
Photo by Emily Shultz.
Check out: “The Loquitur wins 16 CMA Pinnacle Awards”
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Living through a second college closure
By Chris Perri Editor in Chief
Imagine your college shuts down. You go through the process of searching for a new school, finally find one, and settle into your new academic home. Now imagine it happens again, and everything you went through comes true again. This is the experience of two Cabrini seniors, Ariana Mirenda and Kaitlyn Delaney. Mirenda is a biology pre-med major, and Delaney is a psychology major with a minor in exercise science. Both play on Cabrini’s softball team, and transferred to Cabrini from Wesley College, a small, private liberal arts college in Dover, Del. That school was purchased by Delaware State University in July 2021, and is now used as a separate campus.
In addition to the short notice, Wesley offered students no help in their transfer process. “We had two months to figure out what we wanted to do,” Delaney said. “Wesley didn’t do any partner schools. We didn’t have the option of going to schools that would take our credits. It was either you stayed and went to DSU, or you left and did the whole transfer process on your own. There were no advisory meetings. Everyone was on their own.” The announcement came as a shock to the entire campus community. “Everyone was blindsided. Even the staff had no warning. They had to figure out what they were doing just as fast as the students did,” Mirenda said. When Cabrini announced its closure, that shock repeated itself for Mirenda and Delaney. “My first reaction was ‘Again?’ How do you get yourself in this situation a second time?” Delaney said. “The email came out from the D3sports story, which is the same way it came out at Wesley. Our coaches didn’t know, our professors didn’t know.” “Finding out in the summer was definitely harder because at least [at Wesley] we could talk to each other and figure out what everyone was doing,” Mirenda said. “But in the summer, no one had any idea what anyone was doing. We didn’t know if we were going to have a season and we didn’t know what was happening with the school.” The final ride Mirenda and Delaney are also preparing for Cabrini’s final softball season. Going into the year, the focus is on appreciating the sport. “I think it’s a season to have fun, because our team’s on the older side,” Mirenda said. “For most of the team, it’s their last time ever playing. Everyone’s going in just wanting to have fun. They want to have a good last time sharing the field. Because they want to go out with a season they’re at least having fun and can just appreciate the sport they’ve been a part of for so long.”
Photo via Ariana Mirenda.
A shoc k a n n o u n c e me nt The announcement of Wesley’s closure came in March 2021. Students were given extremely little time to prepare their next steps, as the school was not going to be open in the fall. “We had to figure out what we were doing by the end of the year, because the school wasn’t going to exist,” Mirenda said. “With Cabrini, we found out during the summer so we had the option of staying for the final year or finding somewhere else.”
“We’re lucky enough that we have eight seniors. I feel like this is our year for closure,” Delaney said. “And even the ones that aren’t seniors, they’re not moving on to a school where they’re gonna play. This is pretty much the entire team’s last year. I think we’re going into it as underdogs. People aren’t expecting much from us, because we’re going in with 12 people, which is what we have left. So, it’s kind of a season to prove everybody wrong.” Although this season’s focus is on fun and appreciation, the drive to compete remains. “[During Wesley’s final season], everyone’s mindset was ‘let’s just go out and have fun.’ We had a fire that season that lit us up,” Mirenda said. “This situation is similar. We all want to go out and have fun, but we also want to compete because it’s the last time we ever get the chance to.”
American advocates stand strong for Ukraine
By Brooke Protesto Staff Writer
The war in Ukraine has not been the center of media attention lately, but it is still happening. Nonetheless, many in our area stay involved and follow the war closely. The war began on February 24, 2022, when Russia launched an invasion that caused an escalation of the war. Ukraine launched counteroffensives on August 29, 2022. A stalemate lasted from from November 12, 2022- June 7, 2023. Ukraine launched another counteroffensive on June 8, 2023, and continues. Eugene Luciw, President of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America’s Philadelphia branch, does his part to support Ukraine. “I’m part of a church that has donated a lot to the Ukrainian war. I’m also on the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America organization’s national board. That organization is involved in many aspects of Ukraine’s support.” Luciw said. The Ukrainian war is not just about one issue. “Our Western form of government specifically and most importantly the United States form of government is democracy, liberty, freedom, freedom of expression, the ability to have personal dignity, to have diversity, and to express yourself. These are the same principles the Ukrainians are standing up for.” Luciw said.
“We have a crisis that is in large measure fostered and promoted by Putin through his proxy Iran and also his proxy in Syria. This is the big struggle. We’re very fortunate, as Americans and the Ukrainians are willing to fight that struggle,” he explained. Involvement and advoca c y f o r Uk r a in e Dearden said he stays involved by following the war through different media outlets. “I get most of my news from independently sourced news from YouTube. Usually mainstream news only covers specific stuff and they don’t cover on the ground.” Dearden said. Luciw does his part by advocating for Ukraine in Pennsylvania. “The most direct role that I play is in advocacy is meeting with congresspersons, meeting with senators, meeting with members of the United States administration, meeting with local politicians, and state politicians,” Luciw said. Luciw’s passion for Ukraine is shown through his advocacy. “Through the Ukrainian Congress Committee, millions of dollars have been raised in terms of humanitarian aid for the populace of Ukraine and for wounded soldiers. I’ve served as a spokesman for most of our organizations in the Philadelphia area.” Luciw said. “I had involvement with two district rotaries and their fundraisers raised hundreds of thousands of dollars. We supplied the information, the energy, and knowledge about what is Ukraine and ways to get relief there to facilitate those types of programs.” Advocating for Ukraine is hard work appreciated by many. “It has been exhausting. Those are the things that I have done, that many of my colleagues have done, and many of my friends have done. We are tired, but we continue.” Luciw said. The more the U.S. supports Ukraine, the higher their of chance of victory and freedom. “The Ukrainian victory will establish that democracy can and always will prevail. It will liberate that part of the world. Tens of millions of people will live in democracy and no longer be threatened by war.” Luciw said. “We’re no longer going to have to spend assets to defend against the war. Belarus will very quickly become free. Those people want to be free.”
Photo by Amaury Laporte via Creative Commons/Wikimedia.
Joshua Dearden, sophomore political science major said, “The war in Ukraine is directly in our sphere of influence in Europe and anything that is a Russian interest is not inherently an American interest. And if we just let a democracy fall to authoritarianism, then what does that say about us?” Letting Ukraine fall to dictatorship will lead to an outcome that will cause a domino effect. Luciw said. “This struggle will define the future of world events. If dictatorship wins in Ukraine, it’s going to win in Asia. The attack on Taiwan will then be imminent.” Luciw said.
Photo by David Gluschuk.
Lifestyles
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Fall in love with books
By Gekeya Pinder Staff Writer
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On Friday, November 17, students wrapped up the fall season with an event put on by the Student Government Association called “Fall in Love with Books.”
great to see it,” Specht said. “We are encouraging students to read, but also getting rid of old books that students can enjoy,” O’Donnell said.
S w e et r e a d i n g s Books such as “The Hunger Games,” by Suzanne Collins, “The Love of My Life,” by Rosie Walsh, “The Survivors,” by Jane Harper, and many more were given away for free to students and faculty. To accompany the free books, SGA provided Krispy Kreme donuts and warm apple cider.
Community gives back The Student Government Association wanted to have the community of Cabrini together at this event. Flanagan said, “The purpose was to bring people together. We had a lot of people donate books. Also, we have students picking out books here today. I feel like this event is a full circle moment with the community, giving away things but also students and faculty receiving something that can bring joy to them. It ties together the Cabrini community.” Deanna Harris, senior design management major, said, “I feel like this event brings me closer to the Cabrini community because when there’s an event on campus, I try to go and see who’s there and try to make a new friend.” Upcoming fun for the co m mu n it y Flanagan said, “We are also hosting an educational forum that will be about the Cabrini and Villanova deal so it’s an opportunity for undergraduates to express questions and concerns about the agreement in December. Flanagan said, “For the rest of November and December, we are trying to finish off the semester strong. So, on November 29, we are partnering with the Eastern Student Government Association and we’re doing a kickback for the basketball games. We will do a healthy happy hour.” To learn more and be involved with the Student Government Association, follow @cabrinisga on Instagram for all updates on events.
Photo via Gekeya Pinder.
Student Government Association also provided a table with free keychains, pens, magnets, and upcoming events calendar for students and faculty. Abigail Flanagan, senior health science major and president of the Student Government Association, said, “We were trying to wrap up the season, but also provide something fun. So, [sophomore history major and SGA senator] Skye O’Donnell came up with the idea of “Fall in Love with Books” we were thinking of giving away donuts to increase student population at the event, but also give away books as a fun educational activity as well.” Marrin Specht, senior international business and marketing major and SGA member, said, “We are trying to keep students in a positive atmosphere especially with the closing of Cabrini, creating something fun and sweet to bring our community together.” T h e l ove f o r b o o k s The event brought out the bookworms and encouraged students. “I’m a really big book lover so I’m so happy that there are so many books here and people are coming out to enjoy the same thing I enjoy. It’s
Social Nexus carries on
By Seamus Feeley Staff Writer
Social Nexus, a student run social media agency, strives to understand social media’s impact on the public, with background of research, they cooperate with organizations around them to produce content for social media. In return, the student members gain experience and Cabrini organizations prosper.
Photo via Gekeya Pinder.
Baker said the production of content depends on how the team can extend themselves to each of the respective clients. In this case clients are Cabrini organizations, the purpose of establishing them as customers forms a connection to real world applications and prepares the members for future careers. Grigoryan reaches out to the clients and the members pick which ones they should work with based off the resources they have, then they divide the work amongst themselves to produce social media content for their clients. Examples of the content they help produce are seen on the Cabrini Cupboard’s Instagram page, which the agency runs. Each week, content is created with updates about food in the Cupboard, different recipes, and promoting ways people can donate to the organization. As of now, the agency is connected with five other organizations: Laurel House, a worldwide organization whose goal is helping survivors of domestic violence; Cabrini Cupboard, a donation-based pantry offering free food to students; Cabrini’s Children’s School, a kindergarten staffed with teachers certified in early childhood education, and Social Nexus’ own social media page. Grigoryan believes the agency’s student members are more than fit for the job, because along with her assistance, they most likely had one to three prior classes about social media. “For the students who are part of it, they are the ones who create the content, or who provide the consultancy, I only advise them,” Grigoryan said. Baker has been a member of Social Nexus for two years. “I’ve just always been interested in social media and how all of that plays a role in communication and marketing,” he said. He has enjoyed his time with the program, the environment is engaging and he feels their work has an impact. “What’s really special is we help people who might not be able to pay for that kind of work,” Baker said Social Nexus is a young agency. But in its brief existence, the effort they put into helping their clients, despite the small crew, boosts Cabrini organizations visibility in a digital scope.
Graphic via Social Nexus Instagram.
Ethan Baker, a senior digital communication major and Social Nexus member, along with Dr. Nune Grigoryan, assistant communication professor and advisor of Social Nexus, offered some insight behind the team’s scenes and screens. Who t h e y a r e The members behind Social Nexus provide a service for Cabrini organizations by helping them produce content for different social media platforms.
Finishing off strong “Just because we can see our end date doesn’t necessarily mean we have to stop what we’re doing,” said Baker. The relationship between Social Nexus and its clients has not been damaged by the news of closure, so the students see no need to end their efforts. In fact it has made the team stronger, and increased their work ethic. Grigoryan said Social Nexus future will live on through the knowledge its members have gained from the program, and how they will apply it to opportunities that come their way.
Perspectives
8
Cabrini: destiny, friendship, and legacy
THELOQUITUR.COM
By Hollie Havens
Guest Contributer, Cabrini Class of 1998
Truth be told, I was not supposed to go to Cabrini. In the fall of 1993, I was a senior at Saint Basil Academy in Northeast Philadelphia, focused mostly on taking the SATs and deciding on a college. It’s hard to believe, but this was pre-internet so there were no websites or online reviews. I was the first person in my family to pursue college, so I had no firsthand references or recommendations. The only way my classmates and I learned our options was via admission brochures emailed to our home or on display in our guidance counselor’s office. Most of us city kids would be first-generation college students, who chose colleges based on who had the prettiest buildings and people in their brochures.
Photo via Linkedin.
I excelled in academics. My parents (my father a union carpenter and my mother a waitress) pushed me to continue my education.
I knew I wanted to be a writer so a college with a strong journalism and communications program was my priority. I applied to a random assortment of schools I never heard of including Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Marist College in Poughkeepsie, and the University of South Carolina; they truly had the prettiest brochures. I also applied to some local schools including Penn State and West Chester, in case I wanted to stay closer to home. Though I never stepped onto their campus, I eventually settled on West Chester. Cabr i n i ? N e v e r h e a r d of i t! In March 1994, my high school hosted a College Day for underclassmen. As a reporter and editor for the school newspaper, I was asked to sit in on one of the sessions and interview the professor who was speaking, Dr. Jerry Zurek from Cabrini College. To be honest, I was bummed to have to do this assignment as this was a “free day” for the seniors and I wanted to hang out with my friends. After his presentation, I sat with Zurek and asked him about his background, his advice to the junior class, and about Cabrini’s programs and activities. When he learned that I was interested in journalism, he asked why I had not considered Cabrini. I responded that I had never heard of it. He then told me that several editors of the Loquitur were recent Basil graduates and that I should consider applying. In my mind, it was too late, but Zurek promised to mail me an application right away. (Again, no internet). A few days later, I received an application to Cabrini via FedEx, along with a personal letter from Zurek, and an admissions brochure titled “Stand Out from the Crowd.” I never received a letter like this from any other college and I certainly never received a FedEx package. I felt special! I applied right away and within a week I received my acceptance letter and a Dean’s Scholarship, which was 50% off tuition for all four years. Coincidentally, my best friend from high school also selected Cabrini so it was coming together perfectly. Years later, I often wonder if Zurek would have recruited me if he knew I would miss the majority of his 8:15 a.m. Shakespeare classes! (Sorry. J.Z.) Li v i ng a n d l e a r n i n g i n the ‘ 9 0 s I arrived on Cabrini’s campus in August 1994 with my mom’s beaten down car packed to the brim with extra-long twin sheets, a new set of bath towels, photo albums from high school, and a few bags full of clothes and toiletries. My best friend and I were assigned a triple in Woodcrest. I was super bummed because we didn’t have air conditioning like Xavier, but it actually was the best experience. In the halls of Woodcrest I formed friendships with people who would become lifelong friends. We laughed, we danced, we sang, and we told funny stories to the wee hours of the
morning, all while listening to a variety of music like Mary J. Blige, Nirvana, A Tribe Called Quest, and Snoop Dogg. I can’t tell you how many times we were written up by our RAs for being too loud or having too many visitors! I could write a book about all the memories and friendships I made over the next four years both inside and outside the classroom. From legal parties and the Hat and Tie dance to the bonfires in the parking lot and grabbing late night snacks in the Wigmam, there was never a dull moment. And yes, we sometimes went to class and did homework. Some of my best times were spent writing and editing for the Loquitur, developing negatives and prints in the darkroom (again, this was pre-digital age), and organizing events with Student Government Assocation. I often reflect on how lucky I am to have received an “education of the heart” from the most amazing professors and supported by the most wonderful staff. People like Jerry Zurek, Cathy Yungmann, Don Dempsey, Joe Romano, Sharon Schwarze, Marilyn Johnson, Arthur Young, Shirley Dixon, Leonard Primiano, James Hedtke, Jolyon Girard, Cynthia Halpern, Adeline Bethany, Anna Kruse, Neal Newman, Carol Serotta, Bob McGee, Bob Bonfiglio, Emma Legge, John DiMucci, Nancy Hutchison, and Martha Dale dedicated their lives to educating Cabrini students. And even though I was born with zero athletic talent and never played on a team, I formed lasting friendships with some of Cabrini’s coaches, including John Dzik, Jackie Neary, and Steve Colfer. Continuing Cabrini’s leg a c y When I heard the news that Cabrini would be closing, I was devastated not only for myself as an alum, but especially for the students, faculty, and staff whose lives would be so harshly disrupted. My heart breaks for them as I know they are making the best of a very difficult year. Personally, I am numb having already lost my grade school and high school which both closed, and now my college will soon be gone as well. Should I start dressing like Orphan Annie? To put it simply, Cabrini changed my life and helped shape me into the person I am today. This is where I met my lifelong best friends, who stood by me in good times and bad, laughing and crying together, and watched them marry and have babies. We supported each other through job searches and career transitions, said goodbye to parents and held each other up during the worst of times. This past September my class gathered to celebrate our 25th reunion during Alumni Weekend. I was so happy to see so many friends from every decade who inspired me to be an active alum and keep giving back in any way possible. We built something so special, and I know this is not the end. We will continue to celebrate and honor the Cabrini legacy for many years to come through our new Alumni Association. I encourage everyone to please stay involved, share your stories and what Cabrini means to you, keep the Cabrini spirit alive and be sure to join our Facebook group “Cabrini College Alumni & Friends.”
THELOQUITUR.COM
Perspectives
How reading changed my life By Samantha Taddei Sports Editor
When you hit rock bottom, life doesn’t just throw you a lifeline. Instead, it challenges you to find an anchor within yourself, something that grounds you to humanity and fuels the fight to keep moving forward. If you’re lucky, you might find not only an escape from reality, but a profound connection to it. Junior year of college was the hardest and most trying year of my life. My friend group had dispersed and transferred out of school. I was drowning in uncertainty about the future and the pressure of nailing down a career path. I had demanding responsibilities, including being a collegiate athlete while keeping my grades at a high standard, which was becoming a delicate dance of time, energy, and commitment. The weight of personal challenges and external expectations bore down on me like never before. Now, throw all of this at an insecure and apprehensive young woman who cares far too much what the world thinks of her. I felt defeated and overwhelmingly alone. So, what was my anchor during this time? Reading. I found that when my world became too much, which was most of the time, I could escape within the pages of my books. Through reading, I immersed myself in a new story, a different narrative — one that offered a refuge from the challenges of an unsteady reality. S t re ss a n d a n x i e ty During this time in my life, I struggled deeply with my mental health. My external challenges seemed to magnify my internal struggles, creating a perfect storm of self-doubt and anxiety. Every decision, every misstep, felt like it carried the weight of the world’s judgment. However, I found solace in the pages of books and discovered a sanctuary where judgment and self-doubt faded, allowing me to navigate through the tempest of my own thoughts and rediscover a sense of clarity, resilience, and ultimately, self-acceptance. When I read Paulo Coelho’s “The Alchemist,” I could experience a a profound sense of self-discovery and a renewed perspective on the journey of life through the main character. The themes of destiny, interconnectedness, and the pursuit of a “Personal Legend” resonated deeply, stirring a desire to live authentically and to embrace the adventure that life offers. Through the main character Pip in Charles Dickens’ “Great Expectations,” I learned the enduring lessons of the destructive nature of social expectations, the importance of personal integrity, and the transformative power of redemption. Pip’s journey served as a poignant reminder that true fulfillment comes from staying true to oneself and valuing genuine human connections over societal status or material wealth. The book gave me a deep insight into the complexities of human nature and showed me that people can grow and find redemption even in the face of life’s challenges. Turning to books opened a door to a world where characters faced similar challenges to mine. I found mirrors reflecting my own struggles and, through them, a roadmap for resilience and personal growth. Each chapter turned became a step toward healing, and the act of reading transformed into a lifeline. In fact, reading has been scientifically proven to reduce stress. According to the National Alliance on Mental Health’s website, a study conducted in 2009 at the University of Sussex concluded that engaging in reading can decrease stress levels by as much as 68%. Research indicates that dedicating as few as six minutes per day to reading can enhance your quality of sleep, alleviate stress, and enhance mental acuity. To break the science down: One blog post on Step Up for Mental Health’s website notes a study that found reading fortifies the neural circuits and pathways in our brain, concurrently decreasing heart rate and blood pressure. Pretty cool right? Reading is even proven to work better than other relaxation methods, such as listening to music or watching TV. In contrast to a film or TV show, where the visuals are provided, a novel engages you in a more powerful way as you’re the one crafting images in your imagination. Your mind is invited into a literary world devoid of the stressors that typically burden your daily life, making the experience more immersive and interactive.
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Pathw ay to empathy and underastanding Like most other college students and people in their 20s, I went through a tough journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance. It felt like navigating a maze of questions about my identity, values, and dreams and I grappled with questions about who I am and what I want from life. Reading allows us to understand and be empathetic towards others. When we read stories about characters and their lives, we learn to see things from different points of view. Whether facing tough times or celebrating victories, these characters show us what it’s like to be human and handle challenges. This helped me in my own journey by giving me valuable lessons about compassion, understanding, and how to navigate adversity with grace. Put plainly, reading acts as a bridge, linking us to the feelings and experiences of others, fostering a more compassionate and open-minded outlook. Literature became my beacon in the dark. It helped me rewrite my narrative and find the strength to overcome challenges that once seemed insurmountable. The journey through junior year wasn’t just about overcoming external obstacles; it was about confronting and dismantling the barriers I constructed within myself. Reading pushed me beyond boundaries and compelled me to redefine success on my own terms. It taught me that it’s okay not to have all the answers and that growing often happens when things get a bit tough. The strength I found in books became the bedrock for building up my resilience, acceptance, and instilling an unwavering belief in the breathtaking power stories have to shape and transform lives.
Photos via Wikimedia Commons
THELOQUITUR.COM
Sports
Van Zelst twins face off on the basketball court
10
By Seamus Feeley Staff Writer
Twenty minutes are on the clock and the jump ball is underway. The coaches watch with anticipation and… identical faces. Ryan and Adam Van Zelst are twins. The Cavaliers, coached by Ryan, faced off against the Arcadia Knights, coached by Adam, on November 12 at Arcadia University. The journey from playing pickup on the driveway to coaching Division III basketball was a sentimental ride for both the twins. To balance professionalism and emotion, Ryan respects his brother, but despite the strong emotions, he addresses the essential involvement of a coach being present for their team, regardless of the situation. According to Ryan, games like these are all about growth. He said there is no rivalry between the twins, there is only love for his brother, the game, and his team. Growing up with basketball Ryan recalled that from a young age the two were obsessed with basketball and used to fantasize about becoming NBA athletes. “You can imagine growing up we were competitive playing basketball together, playing games in the driveway, playing video games, playing made up games, you name it, the dumbest competitions,” he said. However, he stressed that although they had “sibling rivalries,” especially because of their involvement with the sport, he’d rather not engage against his brother at all. The Van Zelsts played Division III basketball at Albright College. After graduating, they both took roles as assistant coaches for the team. Soon Adam decided to take his own path away from Albright which inspired Ryan to take his own “leap of faith.”
He said these early games are all about growth, understanding that Cabrini’s roster is completely new, and Arcadia is a little bit more developed. He even saw this game as an improvement from the prior match when the Cavs played Elizabethtown. “We got a lot of new guys who are extremely young, and all our returners are all in new spots, and we’re going to go through some growing pains,” Ryan said. Jaden Dickerson, a junior guard, said he also believes the team improved overall from the last game, and although the offense was “stagnant” during the beginning of the first half, his team showed a great hustle against a great team. Dickerson said the team learned to play well together, moving the ball around and taking advantage of shot opportunities, keeping that passing “philosophy” throughout the second. After thoughts Was the game just another notch under Adam’s belt against his brother? Does Ryan want to get back at him? Ryan said he could see how this game could be seen in that kind of light, but the reality is far from that perspective, and believes Adam feels the same way. He said this game, or any game for that matter, isn’t about him and who he’s coaching against, even if it’s his twin. He said it’s about the Cavaliers, the players, who are the reason he’s coaching at Cabrini in the first place. “I love coming to work here every day, and I’ve only been here for a couple months, and obviously people have come and gone, and the school is a little different with the numbers, but this is a special place,” Ryan said.
Ryan said, “We always knew we wanted to coach, levels never mattered to us, Division I,II or III, it didn’t matter. We just wanted to impact people’s lives and be around the sport that we grew up loving. But to both be in the Philadelphia area at this point, coaching against each other, could we have imagined that? No, not in our wildest dreams.” Eventually, their paths crossed. The game on November 12 wasn’t the first time the twins coached against each other, but that didn’t mean it was any less difficult, Ryan said. “You’re always measuring yourself up against your brother, it’s inevitable. We’re in a competitive environment every day, so there’s some of that, but if we had to pick, we would never play against each other.” The game and growth During the first half of the Cabrini-Arcadia game, the Cavaliers trailed but found their rhythm later in the second period. In the start of the second the Cavs started to catch up but could not keep their pace as Arcadia led another run, ending the game 74-65. Cabrini lost, but Coach Ryan saw it as a win.
One trainer, many teams
By Jason Fridge Podcast Editor & Breaking News Coordinator
Lea Blackburn joined Cabrini’s athletic training staff in August 2022. Just over a year after arriving, she’s now the last trainer standing to lead Cabrini athletes through their final seasons. Working closely with the field hockey and softball teams, she was one of four full-time trainers operating out of the Dixon Center’s athletic training room.
Photo via Ryan Van Zelst.
help out when we have multiple teams practicing because I can’t physically be in two places at once.” Riding solo The training room is normally a lively atmosphere regardless of the time of year. Athletes from different sports come in to get their individual treatment, stretch, or just converse with the many personalities filling the room.Blackburn keeps this atmosphere alive, but it has not been easy adjusting to such different circumstances. “The hardest thing for me has been not having people in here to bounce ideas off of,” said Blackburn. “When it comes to athletic training, you’re seeing so many different injuries every day so it’s always helpful to get a second pair of eyes on everything. It’s been lonely more than anything, it was such a good environment when the four of us were all here and now I sit by myself for most of the day.” Despite the challenges she’s faced with the increased workload, Blackburn knew she needed to stay with the athletes she spent the last year getting to know. It’s the thing that always gave her something to look forward to every day: the relationships. “Truthfully, I stayed for the athletes,” said Blackburn. “Those second-year relationships with athletes are just so much different than the first year. You get to know each other so well and I always look forward to that second year where you’re expanding on those relationships. That was a big reason why I wanted to come back.” The human element Blackburn knows her role goes beyond taping ankles and assisting with treatments; she’s a source of support and consistency that athletes need when dealing with the rigors of their sports.
Photo by Jason Fridge.
Blackburn came to Cabrini from West Chester University, where she spent two years working with their men’s athletic teams. She settled in right away and found her home in the Cabrini athletic family, forming a tight bond with her colleagues and planning to stay at Cabrini for the long term. And then Cabrini announced its upcoming closure. “My initial reaction was sad,” Blackburn said. “My fiancée and I had just signed a lease to move up here right before the news broke. It was really upsetting because I definitely would have been here for a longer period of time.” At first, Blackburn and the other trainers planned to ride things out for the final year. While others reached out with offers, they wanted to be there for Cabrini athletes. The fall season started with all four still on staff spreading out duties between the sports that were in season. As the months passed, the other trainers were presented with opportunities that they couldn’t pass up. One by one, the core four separated until there was just one. Blackburn now has the responsibility of head athletic trainer and is manages all of the training room’s operations.“It’s been a lot,” said Blackburn. “It’s obviously really stressful management-wise because a lot falls on me... It’s great to have the help of [Athletic Director] Kate [Corcoran] finding per diem athletic trainers to come in and
Morgan McClintock just finished up her junior season as a midfielder on the field hockey team. Midway through, she fractured her femur and missed a full month of action. Blackburn stepped in and guided her through the recovery process. “When I found out the extent of my injury, she kept me in high spirits and gave me her undivided affection even as the only athletic trainer at Cabrini,” McClintock said. “It was not definite that I would be back by the end of the season, but with the physical therapy she did with me I was able to return one last time with my team. She cares about the athletes’ physical and mental health, which is one of the most special things about her.” Blackburn said “Throughout the year I get to learn about people before they get injured and be that person that’s there for them when they do need someone.” “I’m not only the person who knows how to medically deal with them, but I can calm them down in those traumatic situations because I know them as a person.” “I hope I can be remembered as someone that cared about the athlete themselves along with all of the medical things,” said Blackburn. “So many of our athletes I would genuinely consider as friends. You don’t get that everywhere.”