Feb. 08, 2024 issue 05 Loquitur

VOL. XLV NO. 5

THELOQUITUR.COM

THURSDAY FEB. 8, 2024

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Every Wednesday afternoon, a Mass is held at Cabrini’s Bruckmann Memorial Chapel of Saint Joseph. A standard Mass usually lasts around 45 minutes, but due to the lack of volunteers, this one only lasts 20 minutes. Why are Mass numbers dwindling?

Find out on page 4.

Amy Persichetti, writing and narrative

arts

department

chair and associate professor, says, “We started off as an English department with four faculty members.”

Persichetti

is

now

that

department’s sole professor.

Find out more on Page 3.

YOU SPEAK WE LISTEN

Award-Winning Student Run Newspaper

Cabrini’s Final Alumni Basketball Game Check it out on page 7!

Editorial

2

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The last first issue

WE ARE THE

2023-2024 Editorial Staff EDITOR-IN-CHIEF CHRIS PERRI VISUALS EDITOR ANDREW STOVENOUR NEWS EDITOR EMILY SHULTZ LIFESTYLES EDITOR BROOKE PROTESTO SPORTS EDITOR SAMANTHA TADDEI MANAGING EDITOR JASON FRIDGE PODCAST EDITOR JASON FRIDGE LAYOUT ASSISTANT LEIGHA SEPERS 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.

By Loquitur Editorial Board

This year marks the Loquitur’s 65th anniversary. The new year stirs up many emotions. With the calendar turned over to 2024, people begin to set goals, establish healthy habits, and look forward to a year of personal growth.

For Cabrini students, seeing the year 2024 plastered everywhere brings about a different feeling.

When we see 2024, it’s hard not to think about how we are getting closer to the day where Cabrini University will be no longer. This isn’t something we can push off as “happening next year,” because it’s now on the horizon.

Jan. 16 was the last first day of classes at Cabrini. Straight out of a childhood dream, that last first day happened to be a snow day. It was an anticlimactic start to what will be a whirlwind of a spring semester.

Before we could even take a deep breath to prepare, January turned to February and we are one month closer to the end. Everything seems to be framed with this looming reality. Students either already moved on to their next school, are working on transferring for next year, or get the honor of being in the last graduating class at Cabrini. Whatever the situation, we all share the same emotions knowing the inevitable is near.

There is a sense of urgency to make the most of every remaining moment. For those not graduating in May, there’s a sense of sad anticipation that we’ll soon have to leave everything we’ve come to know at Cabrini behind and start fresh at our new schools.

In the Loquitur newsroom, while we share the same feeling of anticipation of the end, we remain motivated to tell the stories that matter most. We highlight the people on campus with unique perspectives to

share. We also pride ourselves on our reporting and investigative work. Like all good journalism, our publication tells the stories you won’t anywhere else.

We will continue on as we always have, producing the best journalism possible.

The campus community can count on us to remain vigilant until the final day our newsroom remains open.

We hold the power in our hands to make this final semester the best one yet, and we are committed to filling 2024 with memories that will stay with us far longer than our institution.

Looking to the future

On Feb. 22, The Loquitur will host a National Student Press Freedom Day event in The Grill from 1:30-4 p.m.

Students are encouraged to stop by, pick up copies of the paper, and learn about the work of the Loquitur and college journalism around the country.

Looking ahead, while uncertainty may cast its shadow, our resolve is buoyed by the resilience and solidarity demonstrated by the Cabrini community. What gives us hope and keeps our morale high is seeing all of the students and faculty who have stayed to ensure that the Cabrini experience remains the same. Our community came together in so many ways over the past seven months. Honoring the history of our institution becomes more important this year than ever before.

Sixty-five years ago a group of students became watchdogs around campus advocating for change and establishing a platform for student voices. The Loquitur has served as a source of information for Cabrini. community, by the students. Instead of being afraid of the unknown, we look forward to celebrating the history of our newsroom and the exceptional journalists who have passed through it.

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

loquiturconnect@gmail.com

LOQ Media

Portions from the first ever print issue of the Loquitur. Photos via the Loquitur on Issuu.

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News

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To stay or leave Cabrini

By Chris Perri Editor in Chief

Over winter break, students were faced with the decision to transfer or remain at Cabrini.

Advisory Committee (SAAC) representative, vice president of Student Government Association, an admissions ambassador, and a tutor in the math center.

Many students are heavily involved on campus, through athletics, clubs, or other campus organizations and don’t want to abandon those commitments.

“I knew I would have to start over with some of the stuff,” Petruzzelli said. “I’ve already made connections with the Neumann campus SAAC.With non-athletic things, I had to go back to square one.”

Dominic Petruzzelli, a sophomore math and secondary education major, transferred to Neumann University during winter break. Several important factors played into his decision to leave Cabrini. Petruzzelli said he wanted to continue playing soccer as he had at Cabrini, and also wanted a school similar in size and financial aid.

However, finding that school asn’t easy.“When I was applying to schools, some of them weren’t taking my full financial aid package,” Petruzzelli said.

“When I was looking I had 45 credits completed, and some schools would only take 30, which would be an entire semester lost.”

Petruzzelli looked to the four official partner schools, but none of them panned out either. “Gwynedd [Mercy University] doesn’t have a math Petruzzelli in action. Photo via Dominic Petruzzelli. major, so they were already out of the question. Holy Family is a Division II soccer school, but I wasn’t looking in the Division II realm,” Petruzzelli said. “So that left Eastern. I applied there, but they said I would have to stay at Cabrini for the entire year, and that they would only match tuition for a year. That led me to go search elsewhere.”

After facing setbacks at other schools, Petruzzelli finally settled on Neumann. “I knew Neumann was a very similar school to Cabrini,” he said. “They were able to give me a good credit evaluation and match my net costs. Playing against them four times, I knew some of the soccer guys, so I was able to make the connection.”

Being a student athlete was also a major factor. “I was in contact with [head men’s soccer coach Rob Dallas] over the summer. My full intent was to stay at Cabrini for the fall semester. I needed to say goodbye one last time,” Petruzzelli said. “After each game throughout the soccer season, I’d go up to the opposing coach and talk to them.

Cabrini athletes could be in the transfer portal throughout the season and talk to coaches.”

On top of being an athlete at Cabrini, Petruzzelli was an NCAA Student Athlete

Logan DeConti, a junior education major, chose to stay at Cabrini for the spring semester. The motivation behind his decision was mostly academic. “I felt as though staying at Cabrini would allow me to reach academic goals I may need to go to my next school,” he said. “A question I asked myself was, ‘How am I going to do if I leave and go to a brand new school with only a month in between?’”

DeConti said there were no schools he considered transferring to, and that he made his decision early on.

DeConti also said the campus experience now is almost the same as it was in the fall.

“Most of my friends transferred over the summer break, so I feel the same and have the same experience, except for my classes being even smaller.”

Many Cabrini students, not just seniors, chose to stay at the school for the final year.

“I think familiarity is what brings people back here,” DeConti said. “There’s something comforting about knowing people and schedules.”

Petruzzelli shared that sentiment. “I was talking to Coach Dallas and he asked ‘What are you going to miss about Cabrini?’ The simple answer is everything. You’re going to miss walking down the paths and seeing people you know. Because we’re such a small community, you know everyone’s name,” Petruzzelli said. “Also, the support system between the professors, administrators, and the students. We created a family.

I spoke to [associate director of athletics] Laura Patton and we said, ‘Nothing will ever compare to Cabrini.’”

“I think many students just like [Cabrini],” said Dr. Jim Hedtke, professor of history and political science. “They feel comfortable here, they feel safe here, their parents went here, they developed friendships here. I think students like, if not love, Cabrini and wanted to see it through for as long as they could.”

Jana Tidwell, an adjunct professor in Cabrini’s communications department, said, “I’m not surprised students want to be a part of Cabrini’s last semester. Cabrini is a place where learning transcends textbooks, experiences develop character, and relationships shape lives for the better.When Cabrini’s gates are closed, those relationships don’t go away. They are bonded for life. That’s what makes Cabrini so special.”

Though DeConti, much like everyone still on campus, tries to make the best of his situation, he admits it hasn’t been easy. “I just hope everyone has a great life after this year, no matter where they’re going or what they’re doing. They’ve been through a lot over the last four years and they deserve a lot of good things to come.”

A small but strong writing community

By Gekeya Pinder Staff Writer

For this spring semester, the writing and narrative arts department is concluding with only one course for writing majors.

The start of a small department As many know, the WNA department is for students working toward a career in writing and other narratives forms including film, literature, and theater. It gives students a chance to find their identity and voice through their craft.

Before these disciplines combined under one heading, WNA was a simple English department. Amy Persichetti, WNA chair and associate professor, said, “We started off as an English department with four faculty members. We were making cuts to faculty because we didn’t have enough money to sustain them, so our department was just getting smaller.”

Persichetti continued, “We were shifting from teaching secondary education teachers and pre-service teachers, which is literature based learning. There weren’t any more of those majors left, so the major was changed into writing. The change helped us streamline and make decisions on the department and faculty.”

The WNA took a hard hit when writing professors Bret Shepard and Paul Wright left.

The hard impact of a writing department Being in the writing major, keeping it together is the hard part. Persichetti said,“Working in higher ed, the humanities are particularly hard hit, which is the saddest thing in the world, because education has become really expensive. People think as a writing major, we are sitting around, singing, and holding hands, when that is not the case. We have these applicable skill sets that we’re working on. It’s hard to justify a poetry class for $40,000 a year when humanities are collapsing in education.”

With WNA providing only one course, it poses a major obstacle for writing students that will not graduate at Cabrini. Persichetti spoke on the reality of the closure and how positivity can still be found in her students. She continued,“We’ve tried everything

that we can to minimize the student impact and to optimize the student experience, but there’s just a reality behind it. You’re attending the closing school and a dying department and it’s a sad thing. So, I think that the more we kind of admit that’s what it is. The more we can work to find our own paths through it because it’s a process that has to be rightly unfolded.”

Departmental concerns With one course and a closing school, writing majors are impacted by the changes as well. Carina Shandy, senior WNA major, said,“It was surprising at first because i believe we expected more of variety of courses offered for the major.”

In WNA, the course gives writing students the opportunity to help construct its literacy magazine. It helps students become editors but also look into different writing skills they never tried or seen before.

Sara Hanley, another senior WNA major, said,“It sucks to see the department only have one course especially when writing students may need to take more writing courses and it is only the Woodcrest course. For readers,The Woodcrest magazine is a student run literary and art publication for Cabrini where they would accept submissions from students and non-students to create discourse through poetry, fiction, and non-fiction writing, as well as visual art.

A strong community Even with all of the troubles for the department, the writing community always sticks together. Persichetti said, “the nice thing about the writing program is that we’re so community driven that when you walk into a classroom, it’s excitement all around.

Everything is exploding around us but what’s happening in here is still pretty great.”

Emily Lichius, sophomore WNA major, said, “I believe we care for each other more than the school cares to pay attention to the writing department, and that’s okay.” She added, “I realized that it was a small department, but it was kind of like a family and we treated each other very nicely and saw each other as friends.”

News

4

THELOQUITUR.COM

Faith amid closure: Mass attendance dwindles

By Emily Shultz News Editor

Bruckmann Memorial Chapel of Saint Joseph. Photo via Cabrini University Flickr.

Every Wednesday afternoon, a Mass is held at Cabrini’s Bruckmann Memorial Chapel of Saint Joseph. On this particular Mass, the crowd is small. In total, there are only five attendees, all staff. There’s no pianist, singer, or lectors. Director of Campus Ministry Antoinette Reaves sits in the front row; filling in as a lector and lead singer. A standard Mass usually lasts around 45 minutes, but due to the lack of volunteers, this one only lasts 20 minutes.

Students pressed for time In the midst of a school closure, many students are rushing to get transferable credits for their next institution. Naydelyn Villanueva-Contreras, a freshman digital communication and social media major and commuter, explained, “This semester, my schedule is kind of stacked like crazy. So that’s the only reason why I haven’t been able to [attend Mass], but it’s something I’ve been wanting to do for a while.”

ministry events such as faith sharing and bible study.

Erin Speak, a freshman digital communication and social media major, explained how she believes there’s a strong religious community here at Cabrini. However, she said, “I don’t think it’s as kind of made known to people.”

Priest shortage Last year, Cabrini saw two chaplains leave: Father David Driesch and Father Frank Chambers. According to Sister Christine Marie Baltas, a campus minister associate and volunteer, Dreisch’s order transferred him to another parish in Delaware. Not long after, Cabrini hired Chambers to take his place, but only for the rest of the year.

Chambers did not return for the 2023-2024 school year. Father Fidelis Olokunboro, Cabrini professor of religious studies and priest, volunteered to run Mass on the days Chambers wasn’t available.

Director of Campus Ministry Antoinette Reaves recalled, “Rarely do we get a student to drop in. They maybe come once every two months or so, which is very sad, but it’s understandable during the week because of their schedule.”

Olokunboro continues to volunteer this year, but it isn’t enough to cover every Mass.

As a result, Reaves must ask local priests to run Mass.

Potential underlying issues Reaves became director of campus ministry in February 2023. When she started, she noticed a pianist and singer only participated at Sunday Mass, which made weekday service exceptionally short. She volunteered to fill in the silence by singing in the crowd.

Baltas explained a priest shortage was to blame for the lack of Mass scheduling availability for students.“What do you do when you can’t get a priest?” she asked.“Like, if the students would just say ‘It would really be great if we could have Mass at 10:00 at night. Oh, they have it at Villanova.’ You know, I’m making this up but I know they have something like that,” she continued. “We don’t have that option.”

Ultimately, Mass scheduling depends upon the availability of priests outside Cabrini who also volunteer.

Similarly, she noted many parishes in the area only have one or two priests to cover all Masses, which makes it especially difficult to host multiple services almost every day.

The final message Still, Reaves hopes students will find time to join her in the chapel. Reaves said, “I’m not here to convert anyone. I’m here to appreciate everyone: their gifts and their talents.

You know, if you are a Catholic, and you want to talk about faith, I’m here for you. But also if you’re Jewish, I’m here for you. If you’re Muslim, I’m here for everyone.“

Mass times

Antoinette Reaves stands next to a cutout of Pope Francis. Photo by Emily Shultz.

However, these absences were just a symptom of a larger issue.

Reaves highlighted a few reasons why student turnout is so unsatisfactory. First, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many students became commuters; this weakened campus life. Second, student enrollment dropped significantly since the closure announcement.

Reaves also believes some students may have been guilted into attending services by their families, possibly making them hesitant to partake in faith activities now that they’re more independent.

Reaves sought to reframe what faith meant for students and worked to improve Cabrini’s religious scene by adopting peer ministers. Peer ministers are students who collaborate with Reaves to boost community involvement and spread awareness about

Monday 12:30 Tuesday 12:30 Wednesday 12:30 Sunday 2:00 Rosary

Want to volunteer?

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Director of Campus Ministry Antoinette Reaves at:

Tuesday 12:05

ar7035@cabrini.edu

THELOQUITUR.COM

Lifestyles

5

How “The Sopranos” redefined television

By Brooke Protesto Lifestyles Editor

Twenty-five years ago, HBO made television history when the pilot episode of the hit series, “The Sopranos” aired. During its run from 1999-2007, many considered it one of the greatest television series ever. The series won a total of 21 Primetime Emmy Awards, five Golden Globes, and one Peabody Awards for each of the first two seasons. But what made “The Sopranos”stand out from the crowd?

John Doyle, assistant professor in Cabrini University’s communication department, explained why he thinks the show was special. “The first thing I want to say is that ‘The Sopranos’ impacted my overall television viewing by changing my capacity to tolerate poor writing. The writing on the show is really extraordinary,” Doyle said.

“And when I say writing, I don’t mean plotting. I mean, actually the language that the characters use, and that language they use is both elevated and specific to each character. It is about making language and the way people speak a critical component of the storytelling.”

Doyle believes the show’s writing can also affect the viewer’s relationship with the characters. “The other thing that I think that the show did very well, that we see echoed throughout television, that changed my viewing habits, and my relationship with

TV to some great extent is the capacity to see the world through the eyes of the bad guy and have empathy for them.”

Time-tested Sopranos narratives Tony Soprano, the family patriarch and mob boss, is no saint.Viewers see all sides of his personality throughout the duration of the series.

Sydney McCarthy, a former Cabrini student and current sophomore English major at St. Joseph’s University said, “I think a moment that has always stuck with me, specifically, is season one, episode five, ‘College,’ where you see Tony transformed into a different person. We kind of see him in a different way from the first four episodes because he is on a college visit with his daughter and he just brutally kills this guy.”

That episode caused McCarthy to question Tony’s moral universe. “It kind of leaves you with the question of, ‘Okay, is what he’s doing good? What is this guy? What is happening in this TV show? Is any part of it moral?’ And I think the answer to that is no, but it’s their way of life.”

The issues “The Sopranos” covers are still relevant 25 years later. Doyle explained, “The thing about ‘The Sopranos’ is the issues, it’s not temporal. So it’s not having a conversation about whether Trump is a good president. It’s having a conversation about whether or not it’s appropriate to put your family before humanity, and when you put money in front of honor or integrity. Those are issues that are always relevant.” Doyle said.

McCarthy still finds the series relevant. She said, “I think that ‘The Sopranos’ is one of the best TV series of all time. I don’t really think that there’s a TV show that compares.”

Fan favorites In almost every television series, viewers pick and choose their favorite characters while getting to know them throughout the course of the show.

Haley Howat, a former Cabrini student and current sophomore communications major at St. Joseph’s University said, “My favorites are Adriana and Carmela because they’re so misunderstood. And I love them so much, and I could treat Carmela and Adriana so much better than Christopher and Tony could ever.”

The gang breaks bread at Vesuvio. Photo via HBO.

McCarthy said, “Paulie Walnuts is definitely one of my favorite characters of all time. I couldn’t even tell you why. He is just so funny to me. For some reason, I can’t even put my finger on it. I just love that guy.”

Envisioning 2024 with SEaL

By Emma Regulski Staff Writer

On Thursday, Jan. 25, the Center for Student Engagement and Leadership hosted a funfilled vision board-making event on campus.The purpose of the event was for students to come together, have a good time, and create lasting memories for Cabrini’s final semester.

Bridget O’Donnell, director of SEaL, said, “It’s the beginning of a new year and we wanted to get students to start thinking about their goals for the semester and what they want to see happen by the end of 2024.”

SEaL’s impact on Cabrini students SEaL plays a vital role in advancing the mission and core values of Cabrini University by creating involvement opportunities that inspire students to actively participate in campus life.

Emphasizing inclusivity, SEaL serves as a hub where Cabrini students can discover their communities and connections. Its main goal is to provide diverse outlets for engagement and foster an inclusive campus experience for all Cabrini students.

The purpose of a vision board is to visually manifest. It is a collage of pictures, quotes, and phrases that help inspire the rest of the year. Print or cut out photos from magazines. By creating a vision board, students can provide clarity and focus on what they want to achieve, such as career, relationships, health, personal growth, and more.

The event took place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and was even accompanied by a Korean fusion food truck, outside of Founder’s Hall. SEaL provided a handful of students with canvases, books, paper, scissors, markers, stylish tape, stickers, and even old Cabrini magazines to create their perfect vision board.

Junior Symone Loving said, “I happened to stop by The Grill and saw the event. I like vision boards, so I came to make one. I think they are a great way to set your goals for the year.”

If a student participated in the event, they received a ticket for a free meal from the food truck.

O’Donnell said, “It’s a nice stress reliever and we partnered with Campus Ministry to have the food truck to draw people around.”

Visualizing success SEaL Program Assistant and 2023 Cabrini alumna Je La Boulden said, “New year, new

us! People can come and map out their year and have a good time.”

“A lot of people are visual learners, so why just keep that in the classroom? Do what makes you happy,” Boulden said.

Having a visual reminder of goals helps students stay focused on what they want to achieve. It can serve as a daily reminder of what we want to accomplish and keep us motivated and on track for this year.

O’Donnell said, “It’s a good way for students to start visualizing what they want out of their year.”

As the event concluded, students left not only with their motivational vision boards but also a renewed sense of determination.

Upcoming Events Saturday February

10

Friday February

16

Valentine’s Day Cards for Hospital

Create a card and then drop it in the assigned box in the Wolfington Center.

Battle of the Decades Dance

Featuring the best music from the ‘70s to today in one legendary night.

Sports

6

THELOQUITUR.COM

Cabrini softball’s final season: a bittersweet farewell

By Nate Mazurek Staff Writer

As Cabrini University undergoes its final semester, several teams are gearing up for their last season. They face challenges such as low roster numbers and the struggle to stay competitive. The softball team, boasting six Atlantic East Conference Championships, mirrors these difficulties with only 10 players on its roster, leaving minimal room for injuries.

The legacy When asked about the legacy they hope to leave, Gugel said,“I hope we are remembered by being a program who fought to be a team one last time. This year hasn’t been easy for any sports program, but we have all banded together and made it our mission to do our best, have fun, and fight hard in the name of Cabrini.”

Despite this challenge, the team is determined to work harder and unify to pull off a seventh Atlantic East Conference championship.

Mirenda agreed, “As a team I hope to be remembered as one of the best teams the Cabrini program has been a part of in the last couple years and I want to be the team that went out through this hard time and still accomplished a successful season.

Personally, I want to be remembered as a good teammate and someone the girls could come to.”

“We are more motivated than ever,” said senior shortstop Madison Gugel. “We all know this is our last season, so we all want to come out and have the best season we can. No matter the outcome, we will all know we left everything out on the field. We want to make Cabrini proud one last time.”

Bringing joy to the game Beyond the competition, the players still emphasize the importance of enjoying their final moments as the last-ever Cabrini softball team. Senior outfielder Ariana Mirenda said, “Going into this season I am trying to have as much fun as I can knowing it’s most of the girls’ last season and the last season ever for Cabrini. This season should be about having fun playing the sport we have all played for our entire lives for the last time.”

“This team had already made their legacy. It’s been an amazing three years with these girls, and our record proves that,” Protesto said. “This year I am sure we will add to the legacy of this team and program, and we look forward to defending our conference title.”

Cabrini’s defending softball champions travel to Florida for their season opener to face Grand Rapids Community College on Feb. 28 at 11 a.m. The game, along with a doubleheader at 1:30 p.m., can be streamed on cabriniathletics.com.

Head coach Chris Protesto noted the girls high spirits despite the adversity. “Carrying 10 players in a sport where you have to start nine is obviously like walking on a tight rope, but maintaining a positive attitude will not be a problem.You don’t win back-toback conference titles with players that fall apart in tough situations. These ladies are tough and will be ready.”

Together as one In rare situations like schools closing, teams tend to unite through adversity. Gugel said, “We have definitely grown closer as a team. The circumstances have given us more motivation because we are the last Cabrini softball team ever. Having 10 girls on the team makes me feel like I have nine older and younger sisters. We bump heads at times, but we care about each other and have a strong bond.”

Mirenda agreed. “I would say we have grown closer because we’ve all had to face this and this challenge has created a stronger bond and respect for each other. Because, through all of it, we all stayed together and supported each other.”

These athletes know the bond they have will be hard to find anywhere else. They aim to savor every moment, recognizing that soon it will only be a cherished memory.

Small team, big plans for 2024. Photo via Cabrini Athletics.

Perspectives

By Ha-Anna Vu Guest Contributor

The Innocence

Vu is a senior in graphic design/design management at Cabrini University. She says she loves to use her talents to “help and speak for the unspoken people.”

THELOQUITUR.COM

Sports

7

Last alumni game marks the end of a 49-year legacy Sports Editor Samantha Taddei

As Cabrini University faces the somber reality of closure at the end of the school year, the echoes of a storied basketball program resonate one last time on the court. The final chapter unfolded on Saturday, Jan. 27, as over 100 proud alumni, spanning decades of Cavaliers’ history, gathered to enjoy an emotionally charged and memorable last alumni game.

shaping the program’s legacy.

In a touching moment, Dzik turned his attention to the present, acknowledging the current Cabrini basketball team led by Coach Ryan Van Zelst. Despite the challenging circumstances surrounding the university’s closure, Dzik applauded the team’s resilience and dedication, underscoring the resolute spirit that defined Cabrini basketball.

A legend returns The Cabrini basketball program was initiated in 1975 and has been an integral part of the university’s sports history for 49 years. At the center of this legacy stands head coach John Dzik, who dedicated an awe-inspiring 25 years to shaping the Cavaliers into a force to be reckoned with in the world of Division III basketball.

In looking back on his 25 years at Cabrini, Dzik stressed the communal atmosphere within the program. “Cabrini is a family, so I became a part of something bigger than myself. There are so many people that touched my life in so many ways.”

Dzik’s coaching legacy at Cabrini is firmly engraved in the university’s athletic accomplishments. From 1980 to 2005 with Dzik at the helm, the Cavaliers secured Keystone Athletic Conference titles, made multiple appearances in the NAIA Tournament, and clinched District 19 championships.

Dzik explained how for him coaching wasn’t just a job; it was a calling and a passion he carried throughout his time. “I always wanted to coach, and I’ve always loved athletics.

Cabrini gave me that opportunity, which I’m very thankful for,” he shared. The deep connection he forged with the university is evident. “Cabrini became part of me. I tell people, when you cut me, the blood comes out blue. I’ll be a Cabrini person forever till the day I die.”

On top of that, the team garnered an impressive 16 conference championships and made 11 appearances in national postseason tournaments. During his tenure, Dzik amassed a staggering 483 victories, the most in Cabrini history.

Dzik’s influence also extended beyond the court. He served as director of Men’s Athletics (1980-86) and later as director of Athletics (1986-2003). In 2010, he rightfully ascended into the Cabrini Athletic Hall of Fame, becoming the 23rd member and that year’s sole inductee.

As the final buzzer sounded at Cabrini’s last alumni game, wrapping up nearly five decades of basketball achievements, it stood as a tribute to the enduring values of family, togetherness, and pride that defines Cabrini University.

The cheers and memories from that court will stay in the hearts of players and fans, making sure Cabrini’s basketball legacy lives on, even as the university says goodbye.

Michael Massari, a Cabrini basketball alumni from the class of 1993, articulated the profound impact of Coach Dzik’s approach, stating, “Coach was interested in who you were. He understood who you were. He worked to get the most out of you as an individual and I think the wins and losses prove that.”

Reunion for the ages The Cavalier spirit reawakened as alumni and their families flooded the stands, instilling the gymnasium with an electrifying energy. The reunion marked a poignant moment, breathing life back into the heart of the university—an atmosphere not felt in quite some time.

Michael R. Bennett, basketball alumni of 1982, said “The thing that made Cabrini special was that it was a really small environment, but you had access to everything.”

Massari agreed, “I think it’s really what makes Cabrini special. It’s a family and a unit. Everyone looks out for each other.”

Bennett shared his sentiments on the day, expressing, “There is a lot of emotion tied up in the school here. Coming up here today, I was texting my friends how this is a really bittersweet day,” Bennett continued. “It’s the last time we’ll ever have an alumni game. I’ve been doing this now since 1983.”

Massari shared his own personal connection, “I came here as a third or fourth grader before the Cabrini basketball games happened, so Cabrini has been a part of my life since I was a young man.”

A final farewell During halftime, Dzik took center stage and delivered a speech that resonated with players, coaches, and fans. Expressing gratitude for the overwhelming turnout, he paid heartfelt tributes to former players and assistant coaches instrumental in

“Cabrini became a part of me. I tell people, when you cut me, the blood comes out blue.”

- John Dzik Photos of Dzik and spectators by Samantha Taddei.

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Sports

THELOQUITUR.COM

Cabrini swimming’s final training trip

Managing Editor Jason Fridge

While students away from campus toasted in the new year, Cabrini’s swim team continued a tradition. The team traveled to Florida for its annual winter training trip, a program staple for nearly a decade.

But this year looked different in more ways than one.

Not only is the team dealing with the school’s impending closure, but it also has the smallest men’s and women’s roster since the program’s inception in 2008.

Seven swimmers make up the 2023-24 Cavaliers: five seniors, one sophomore, and one freshman. It’s a change in size, but not a change in attitude. Head coach Cindy Ikeler siad, “Going into this year I thought [the size of the team] might leave a lot of things missing. But it’s been the complete opposite.”

Training in the Sunshine State Ikeler took over as head coach of the Cavaliers in 2012.

She embarked on the inaugural winter training trip her first year, taking the team to Naples, Florida. The team traditionally spends a week away from campus early in January participating in intense workouts and team activities to prepare for the final stretch of their season.

In recent years, the team trained in Orlando, where the swimmers stayed in housing separate from their coaches. This independence helped them grow closer as a group. For 2024, the small roster gave the team room to tweak its traditional structure.

Cabrini swimming spends much of the year raising money through various endeavors. Coach Ikeler sponsors swim lessons with her business Swimfast, and rents out the Dixon Center’s pool to local swim clubs year round.

“We’ve always worked hard fundraising wise,” said Ikeler. “Budgets rarely change, but roster sizes increase.

Without knowing what was going to happen to Cabrini, we found ourselves with quite a bit of fundraising money.

We wanted to make sure we used it on the team to give them the best experience this season, especially for sticking with it and hanging on when they didn’t have to.”

The extra money allowed Ikeler to make some changes for the better. Instead of seven days in Orlando, the trip was extended to nine. Past years only saw around half of the trip’s cost covered for the swimmers; this year it was free.

The trip’s purpose didn’t change, but the extra days allowed them to divide it into segments. Three days in a

Kenny Lok in action. Photo via Cabrini Swim.

row brought double training sessions followed by a day of relaxation.

“It was nice to break up the trip the way we did and give them complete days off,” said Ikeler. “I felt like we could really capitalize on the time in the water, knowing they were going to have a recovery day.”

Senior business management major Michael Gray said the training portion of the trip is extremely valuable to the group’s overall success.

“Going into training of that intensity, especially coming off of winter break, is always tough,” said Gray. “It helps with getting back into shape quick and making up for time spent outside of the pool. We also understood that this is the last Cabrini training trip ever, so we made it a mission to go out and do as many things as possible together.”

The team’s first day off consisted of a trip to Discovery Cove, where the highlight was a swim with dolphins.

“When we got there it was chilly and pouring rain, but

we still wanted to make the most of it,” said senior secondary education major Belinda Hedden. “Swimming with the dolphins was a crazy experience. Eventually the sun made an appearance, and it was just the best day. We really had a great time.”

The next recovery day brought a visit to Walt Disney World. The swimmers were dropped off with their tickets, free to control their entire day.

With other team activities including stops at Top Golf and Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, the team unanimously dubbed the trip a success.

“The trip highlighted that everybody on the team has what it takes to be successful,” said Gray. “Everybody had to wake up at 5 a.m. seven days in a row, get in the pool for two hours, and then jump back in four hours later. Everybody went through the same day-to-day activities and we all came back better because of it.”

Ikeler agreed. “They never hit a wall where I thought, ‘Maybe we shouldn’t have extended it,’” she said. “They made it really easy because they worked so hard when they needed to work hard.”

The all-in approach The hardest part about going to Florida in January is the reality of coming back to Pennsylvania weather and the start of the second semester.

But the team picked up momentum from every aspect of their time down south that they hope will carry them through the rest of the year.

Saturday, Jan. 27 was the final home meet for Cabrini swimming. With an AEC championship meet on the horizon in mid-February, every day is one step closer to the end.

“I’ve adored working with this group,” said Ikeler. “I’m honored to work with them everyday. They were given the opportunity to walk away and not have a season, but they decided to go all in. I hope that we check all those boxes so they can feel super satisfied with putting in the time and the effort that they did this year.”

Ikeler mentioned something one of the swimmers said earlier in the year about what this experience really means for the student athletes: it’s not the times or the races that will make this year special, but the experiences that they share together.

Swim team takes on Discovery Cove. Photo by Belinda Hedden.

Hedden said, “I hope we are remembered for our ability to find so much joy this year and embrace having a weird season.”