April 17, 2024 issue 08 Loquitur

LOQUITUR

Final commencement speakers announced: students react

By Jason Fridge Managing Editor

Cabrini’s 64th and final commencement ceremony is right around the corner, and before students receive their degrees on Sunday, May 19, we now know they will be addressed by alumnae Kylie McDevitt Kelce and Dr. Rachel Slaughter.

Kelce will speak at the 9:30 a.m. undergraduate ceremony and Slaughter will speak to all graduate students at 1 p.m.

Meet the speakers

Kelce made headlines across the country as she became a houshold name in the Philadelphia area. Graduating in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in communications Kelce hosted her own show on Cavalier Radio and was a staff writer for the Loquitur.

Kelce was also a standout field hockey player, a four-year starter who helped the Cavaliers win two Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) championships. During her time she received CSAC rookie of the year honors in 2013 as well as three allCSAC selections. After her time at Cabrini, Kelce returned to her alma mater, Lower Merion High School, where she has been the head field hockey coach for the past seven years. She also used her platform in November to host a field hockey camp in Kansas City, Mo to share her passion and involve more girls in the sport.

“One of the best decisions I’ve ever made was to become a part of the Cabrini field hockey family,” Kelce said in Cabrini’s press release announcing the speakers. “The experience gave me memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.”

With her husband, recently retired N.F.L. star Jason Kelce, she supports the (Be)Philly foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of city youth. Additionally, Kelce hosts an annual charity event with the Eagles Autism Foundation, which raised more than $375,000 in 2023.

Slaughter earned her bachelor’s degrees in English/communication and secondary education from Cabrini in 1989. She received a master of education from Kutztown University in 2000 and a doctoral degree in cognitive studies and reading from Widener University in 2019.

Slaughter was also a Loquitur journalist, which propelled her into a part time role writing features for the Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Tribune while teaching during the day.

Her passion was always in teaching, and Slaughter found joy in working with children during her time as a studentteacher. She founded the Salt and Light Learning Institute in 2008 to increase access to quality educational services for at-risk students.

Slaughter’s book “Turning the Page: The Ultimate Guide for Teachers to Multicultural Literature” was published in 2021, advising teachers on how to incorporate multicultural texts in the classroom.

Student reactions

For the first time since 2021, Cabrini alumni will address a graduating class. Senior education major Sofia Costanzo looks forward to hearing Kelce. “It’s exciting,” she said. “Not only was she from here, but her ties to Philly sports as a whole are huge.”

Costanzo sees Kelce as a great representation of Cabrini’s spirit. “At Cabrini, we have such a tight knit community,” Costanzo said. “Even as we dwindled down with the people that stayed, we’re welcoming and close with each other. I think [Kelce] embodies that.You see that with her family, and her love for Philly sports.You could say, maybe she got that from Cabrini.”

Fellow education major and senior Marisa Canuso also believes Kelce being a Cabrini grad makes her appearance at graduation more meaningful.

“She definitely lives with her purpose,” said Canuso. “It’s cool to have someone that’s been in our shoes and has shared similar experiences. They can really relate to us in a way that no one else can.”

While Kelce’s name might jump off the page to fans of Philly sports, Slaughter brings her own wisdom to the table that intrigues students earning master’s degrees.

“As I read more about [Slaughter], I see how accomplished she is,” said graduate student Emma Turnbach.

Turnbach will receive her master’s degree in secondary education with a certification in social studies at the May ceremony. Her pursuit of a career in education makes Slaughter’s selection even more enticing.

“She’s an educator that has done a lot of work for school districts in Philadelphia,” said Turnbach. “Everything that I’ve heard about her, she incorporates social justice into everything that she’s done professionally. That’s huge, because how often do you see people carry on what they learned in school in their everyday life? I feel like that’s a good sign for someone who’s about to graduate, like, ‘Oh, I can apply all of this in the real world.’”

Turnbach graduated from Cabrini in 2020 with her bachelor’s degree in education, giving her a unique perspective on having two fellow alumnae addressing Cabrini’s final class.

“As an alumna myself, I feel like there’s clearly something about Cabrini that keeps people coming back,” said Turnbach. “We’re small, but the values are there. Someone like Kelce or Slaughter who’ve gone on to accomplish such amazing things, the fact that they’re coming back is a compliment to Cabrini.”

With just over a month until the ceremony, many wonder what Kelce and Slaughter will say.

“I’d love to hear from Rachel about how applicable the things that she learned here were with social justice and teaching,” said Turnbach. “It’s hard to see the real world examples of it, but she went on to do basically everything we learn about. I think both of them are going to have a profound effect on everyone who’s there.”

Kylie McDevitt Kelce (left) and Dr. Rachel Slaughter (right) were confirmed on March 12 to be the speakers for Cabrini’s final commencement ceremony in May. Photo via cabrini.edu

WE ARE THE 2023-2024

Editorial Staff

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

CHRIS PERRI

MANAGING EDITOR

JASON FRIDGE

NEWS EDITOR

EMILY SHULTZ

VISUALS EDITOR

ANDREW STOVENOUR

LIFESTYLES EDITOR

BROOKE PROTESTO

SPORTS EDITOR

SAMANTHA TADDEI

PODCAST EDITOR

JASON FRIDGE

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. LETTERS

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.

Navigating the confusion

By Loquitur Editorial Board

Since the start of the year, communication from Cabrini’s leadership has disappointed students. This year’s running theme is the administration’s lack of transparency and clear messaging. It puts us, the students, in a position where we are constantly blindsided by new information or outright left in the dust as we traverse a year full of meaningful changes.

Hearing of the school’s closure through an outside source’s leak sparked a mountain of questions from students, faculty, and alumni. The campus community deserved to hear the news directly from the school itself. People on campus began to distrust the administration because of the leak, creating more uncertainties and questions because we had no idea where to turn for correct information.

The administration has only hosted one event where students could have their questions answered in person. While last December’s town hall was well received by students in attendance, there wasn’t a follow-up opportunity in the second semester. Student government was also the one to initiate this event, with most of the questions pre-planned for Dr. Filling-Brown and President Drinan to answer.

The time allowed for questions from the crowd seemed minimal during the one hour session, and without a formal follow up conversation there remained concerns of how the rest of the year would unfold for students.

Missing the mark

Navigating this year as a senior has been difficult, and the lack of communication is frustrating. From the beginning, the main point of concern for seniors was if they would be able to finish out this year and graduate. There was assurance that they would be able to do that, however, dates either kept changing or were unclear.

Some seniors were not notified of graduation registration, either finding out from their professors or through word of mouth from their peers. This caused confusion where students were barely able to make this important deadline, which would have impacted their ability to receive their diploma and walk in May.

Cabrini’s website states that this date was on the master calendar, however it is normally practice for mass messages to be shared with the student body regarding important dates.

The lack of communication on behalf of student athletes has also been inadequate this semester. Coming close to the end of the year, athletes, especially seniors, are preparing for annual academic and athletic recognition ceremonies.

These ceremonies honor student success, and serve as a culmination of their time as Cabrini student athletes. Unfortunately, the dates for these ceremonies and events remained unknown for a majority of the semester.

Once the dates were announced, athletes noticed that these times conflicted with conference playoffs that have been on the schedule since the beginning of this semester. Athletes, who are already low on roster numbers, must now sacrifice these final events to fulfill their commitment to their teams. On top of this, it also impacts families from out of town who wish to watch their students get the recognition they deserve.

This shows that communication has been lacking between different areas of the school, creating conflicts that impact the student experience directly.

It’s unclear if students are the priority throughout this final year. On top of all this, little information has been shared about how our student body’s legacy will live for years to come. Those of us who don’t graduate in May will not be considered Cabrini alumni. Does that mean the years of forming meaningful relationships and bonds with our classmates will go to waste? We made the decision to return to a school as it is in the process of closing, and we are not being valued as members of this final student body.

It feels as if the school is simply checking off items on a list of things to do before closing it’s doors, rather than assist students on their journey through this final semester.

Students being inducted into the Sigma Zeta Math and Science National Honor Society in May 2023. This year, conflicts with athletics is forcing students to miss out on these ceremonies. Photo via Cabrini University Flickr

Pennsylvania’s attorney general race: meet the candi dates

By Chris Perri Editor-in-Chief

Voters in Pennsylvania will soon choose the nominees for the upcoming attorney general election. Five Democrats and two Republicans face off in a primary election on April 23, and the state’s attorney general will be decided in the general election on November 5.

Pennsylvania has a closed primary system, meaning that only registered Republicans and Democrats can vote for their party’s nominees.

According to attorneygeneral.gov, “The Attorney General is the state’s top law enforcement official.” The office is divided into four divisions: Criminal Law, Public Protection, Civil, and Operations, and is comprised of several hundred prosecutors, attorneys, investigators, and support staff.

Democratic candidates

Jared Solomon

Solomon, hailing from Northeast Philadelphia, currently serves as a state representative for the 202nd district. He attended Swarthmore College and obtained his law degree from Villanova, later joining the Pennsylvania National Guard as a Judge Advocate General’s Corps officer.

According to his campaign website, Solomon is in favor of gun reform legislation, including red flag laws, an assault weapons ban, and expanding background checks. He also favors protecting access to abortion in Pennsylvania.

Solomon is endorsed by several unions, including firefighters’ unions in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Allentown, as well as United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) 1776.

Eugene DePasquale

A native of Pittsburgh, DePasquale previously served as state auditor general, as well as a state representative from the 95th district. According to Spotlight PA, a nonpartisan news outlet, he attended Wooster College and the University of Pittsburgh, earning his Juris Doctor from Widener University. He also currently serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Pittsburgh.

A key point of his campaign is his firm stance on protecting abortion access. His campaign website states “Roe v. Wade’s reversal was a dark day for women and liberty in America. As Attorney General, I will stand up to any extreme forces that try to tell people what to do with their own bodies.”

He is also campaigning strongly on prosecuting hate crimes against LGBTQ+ people and on fighting book bans.

He is endorsed by labor unions such as Ironworkers Local 3, Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 520, the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers, and Philly Neighborhood Networks.

Keir Bradford-Grey

Bradford-Grey is originally from Boston, and attended Albany State University, earning her law degree from Ohio Northern University.

According to Spotlight PA, she became chief defender of Montgomery County in 2012 and eventually chief public defender of Philadelphia. In this role, she helped connect people who were arrested to social services. She is currently a partner at Montgomery McCracken Walker and Rhoads, where she focuses on white-collar and government investigations, as well as criminal defense.

Her campaign website brands her as “Someone who will make it a priority to restore the sense of security and safety to everyday working people.”

Her top issues are protecting abortion access and holding gun manufacturers accountable if they break the law. She supports gun manufacturers adopting “microstamping,” a technology supporters believe would help solve more shootings.

Bradford-Grey is endorsed by the Working Families Party and Teamsters Local 623.

Jack Stollsteimer

A resident of Havertown, Pa., Stollsteimer attended Thomas Edison State University and earned his law degree from Temple University.

According to his campaign website, he was appointed an assistant Delaware County district attorney in 2000. He later joined the U.S. Department of Justice as an assistant U.S. attorney, and in 2019 was elected the first ever Democratic district attorney of Delaware County.

One of Stollsteimer’s major campaign points is his accomplishments as Delaware County DA. The website cites a 70% reduction in gun homicides in the city of Chester

since 2020, and a 30% reduction in the county’s prison population. Stollsteimer also litigated against opioid manufacturers, which resulted in the county receiving millions of dollars for treatment programs.

According to Spotlight PA, he is endorsed by the Teamsters Joint Council 53 and the Pennsylvania Building Trades Council.

Joe Khan

Khan grew up in Philadelphia, attending Swarthmore College and earning his law degree from the University of Chicago.

According to Spotlight PA, he served as an assistant district attorney in Philadelphia, as well as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. He was later appointed Bucks County solicitor, where he served for three years. He is currently a partner at Curtin and Heefner, where he works as a trial and appellate attorney.

Khan’s primary campaign promise is to take on political and corporate corruption. His campaign website cites examples of his bringing litigation against the mayors of Allentown and Reading, and former President Donald Trump.

He also challenged companies such as 3M and DuPont over charges of water pollution. He also says he will protect abortion access and establish the state’s first Housing Justice Unit if elected.

He is endorsed by Democratic members of the state legislature, and American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees 1739.

Republican candidates

Dave Sunday

Sunday was raised in Cumberland County, and joined the US Navy after high school. According to his campaign website, he deployed to the Persian Gulf, participating in Operation Desert Strike. He obtained his undergraduate degree from Penn State and his law degree from Widener.

According to Spotlight PA, Sunday served as a clerk for Common Pleas Judge Joseph C. Adams, then moved to the York County district attorney’s office, where he was the chief deputy prosecutor of litigation. In 2017, he was elected district attorney of York County.

Sunday is primarily running on public safety and fighting the opioid epidemic; his website cites his co-founding of the York County Heroin Task Force, as well as the types of cases he has successfully prosecuted which include murder, armed robbery, felony narcotics delivery, insurance fraud, and elder fraud.

He has said he does not believe the state constitution guarantees the right to an abortion, and the issue should be up to the legislature.

He is endorsed by the Pennsylvania Republican Party, York Fraternal Order of Police No. 73, Treasurer Stacy Garrity, and US Rep. Lloyd Smucker.

Craig Williams

Williams attended Duke University, the University of Florida Levin College of Law, and Columbia Law School.

He also has a military background; according to his office’s website, he retired from the Marine Corps as a Colonel after 28 years of service. Williams flew 56 combat missions during the Gulf War, and attended law school while in the Marines. According to Spotlight PA, he served as chief prosecutor at Camp Pendleton, a Marine Corps base in California. He currently serves in the PA House of Representatives for the 160th District.

Like Sunday, Williams is campaigning on public safety. He wants the attorney general to have concurrent jurisdiction in gun crime cases, which means the state could overrule local district attorneys and bring charges if they have chosen not to.

His campaign website touts his track record on guns, naming his passage of a bill that created a gun violence task force, as well as a bill to combat human trafficking. In the House, Williams occasionally voted with Democrats, including on a bill expanding background checks for firearm purchases.

However, he also voted against other firearm-related bills, including one pertaining to red flag laws, which allows judges to take away an individual’s guns if they are deemed a threat by family or law enforcement.

He is endorsed by Republican lawmakers in the state House, including Minority Leader Bryan Cutler.

Generally, voter turnout is low for primary elections compared to general elections. Photo by Element5 Digital via Unsplash.

What 2024 elections mean to Gen Z

By Brooke Protesto Lifestyles Editor

Every election held in our country affects our future, and it’s in the hands of our youth to participate in them.

PA Youth Vote, a nonpartisan collaboration of many students and educators who work together to elevate youth voter turnout shared some surprising statistics about the state’s youth voters in the last presidential election. “In the 2020 presidential election, 50% of citizens 18-29 voted- the lowest turnout of any age group.”

Why are the youth votes so low in Pennsylvania? Here is what Cabrini students thought.

Student perspective

Ashley Ea, a junior computer science major, thinks external influences affect youth voter turnout. “Based off of what their parents think or how they were raised, and then probably what they see on the media,” Ea said.

Many at Cabrini believe that the media is holding back youth voters. Colin Stocklin, a sophomore communications major said that the media discourages youth away from voting due to misinformation and disinformation. Stocklin said, “They don’t really know what to believe, so they don’t know who to vote for.” However, social media and nonjournalistic sites may not give the same information as reputable news outlets.

Social media also significantly impacts youth voter turnout. Ethan Baker, a senior digital communications major makes a point about influencers on social media promoting voting registration. “I think that the media has a very large role to play in influencing youth voter turnout, especially influencers and anyone who has a large following on social media today.”

Baker added, “There are a lot of things that are driven by social media and we’re seeing more and more influencers and celebrities promoting people to just register to vote. It’s already created such a large increase in people registering. So I think voter turnout is going to be a lot better than it’s been in years past in regards to youth.”

Aurora Piccione, a sophomore international business major, shared some of her thoughts on why people hold back from voting. “I think some people think it doesn’t

affect them. But there are also factors like not everyone has a way to get to the polls and it deters them from voting or they think that they’re not educated enough to go.”

However, Piccione stresses the cruciality of voting, “Your vote matters no matter how much research you have done or haven’t done. There are so many voting spots, and they make it a big effort for you to be able to vote and you were given the right to vote so why wouldn’t you use it?” Information about voting by mail can be found here.

Baker also preaches the significance of voting. He said, “I would say go vote. Don’t be discouraged if it feels like your vote doesn’t count. In the long run, everyone’s vote counts.They’re all counted. They all have meaning. And even if it doesn’t seem like that, it should have meaning to you.”

Voting resources

PA Youth Vote has many resources for those who are uncertain about the voting process. They provide many links, such as the link to register for voting, as well as to sign up for a mail-in ballot.

For those who are not sure what party to choose, they included a quiz that can help you solidify your political alignment. This can all be found via this link.

PA Youth Vote also includes resources for educators. They have toolkits and presentations that allow teachers to spread the best possible information to their students. These resources can be found here; the toolkits are broken down by county, and provide information such as which offices are having elections and who is running in them.

The organization also offers information for many of the counties in Pennsylvania regarding where, when, and how to vote. They also give information to those individuals who are interested in volunteering at the polls. Volunteer opportunities are found here.

PA Youth Vote and the students at Cabrini are ready to do their part in the upcoming 2024 election, will you?

Sports

Pennsylvania’s spring fishing: trout, bass, and nature

By Nate Mazurek Staff Writer

Leaves are appearing and the weather is warming; spring is here and fishing season is upon us.

In Pennsylvania, trout season opened on Saturday, April 6, making the long wait come to an end. For freshwater fishing, trout and bass tend to be the favorites due to trout’s beauty and phenomenal taste, and the tough, hard fight of a bass. Though you can legally fish for bass all year round, they do not start to bite until around April. This means the lakes, ponds, and rivers are starting to heat up.

Nature’s sanctuary

To many people, fishing is a time of peace and an escape from the real world. It is more than just catching a fish, it is a way to clear your mind and enjoy the beautiful aspects of nature. Catching a fish is just an added bonus to the experience.

Sophomore business management major Matt Williams said, “my favorite part about fishing is just being outside and being a part of nature and then sometimes getting lucky enough to be able to catch and release a beautiful fish while also feeling the fight.”

Trout

While some fish like the warmer water of a pond or a lake, trout thrive in cold running waters such as rivers and streams. Funded entirely through fishing license purchases, trout are stocked in local rivers by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. They are raised in hatcheries and then released into waters that already have some wild fish, giving anglers a higher chance of catching and potentially cooking a delicious meal.

seven inches and a maximum of twelve inches. However, anyone who exceeds that limit will be fined if caught.

Since trout are smaller than bass, anglers also need lighter gear. Junior education major Brett Gougler says, “When I’m fishing for trout, I use an ultralight rod with four-pound line and a spinner. That usually gives me the highest chance to catch something.”

When buying your fishing license, for an extra $14.97, you can add a trout stamp. A trout stamp gives you the ability to keep up to five trout per day, with a minimum of

Bass

Due to their strength and size, bass are known for putting up a challenging fight. Bass eat more often in warmer water. They stay shallow at around typically less than eight feet, then once hot summer days push water temperatures into the high 80s, they go deeper. Since bass are bigger fish, they eat more. This leaves more room for a catch since they almost never seem to get full.

Williams notes, “I like artificial plastic worms with heavier line, or I’ll throw something that mimics a crayfish; that always seems to work for me.”

Worms always seem to be reliable when it comes to bass fishing. Sometimes, people will throw a topwater lure as well, which tends to mimic an injured fish or a frog if there are lily pads around. The great thing about these lures is that you get to enjoy the thrill of seeing the bass take the bait right in front of your eyes. Just make sure to set the hook hard, which is done by jerking the line so the hook gets into the fish’s lip and always keep your rod tip up.

Though it is legal to catch and cook a bass, it’s frowned upon in the freshwater fishing world.

Notable fishing spots

There are plenty of good fishing spots not too far from Cabrini. Marsh Creek Lake is a 535-acre body of water in Chester County. This lake is home to fish at many depths, including bass, and if you are lucky, a giant muskellunge (musky). This state park offers beautiful views with many hiking trails as well, leaving endless possibilities.

To catch trout, try Darby Creek, which runs through Delaware, Chester, and Philadelphia counties. It is stocked with brown, rainbow, and golden trout, which are not only fun to catch but also delicious to eat. Gougler claims it as one of his favorites.

Embrace country music’s authentic “renais sance”

By Brianna Mack Staff Writer

Following the release of her latest country singles,“Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages,” Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” dropped on March 29. While “Renaissance” danced through love and life, “Cowboy Carter’s” lead singles swing inward.

With tight harmonies, strings and plain-spoken storytelling, the Houston-born vocalist celebrates her roots on “Texas Hold ‘Em,” and on “16 Carriages” painfully recalls the strife her 30-year career caused her family.

Candid narratives separate country music from other forms. Western country music melded 1920s bluesy emotion, bluegrass’ improvisation, and folk dance for community flair. Voicing collective suffering in the Great Depression braided country music into

America’s fabric.

Country music’s sonics progressed from hillbilly to rockabilly to pop throughout the 20th century, but loyal country fans listened for hard-working, relatable tales of love and hurt.

Stories from Charley Pride, Willie Nelson and Emmylou Harris represented social change, resistance, and fairness, respectively.

Beyoncé’s sentiment on “16 Carriages” (“Goin’ so hard, now I miss my kids/ Overworked and overwhelmed”) doubles as her personal narrative and the struggle everyday people feel. Purposefully choosing the steel guitar to represent her burnout connects deeper than other sonics because country’s roots are in honest storytelling.

Redefining popular music

was rejected from competing in the country categories at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards, she reminded the Recording Academy of her lyric, “You can take me out of the country/But you can’t take the country out of me.” Since honest storytelling supposedly drives country music, the reaction from artists like Musgraves was odd. Sonically, “star-crossed” does lean more toward pop, but the songwriting follows country conventions.

Musgraves is known for her straightforward statements; most famously, encouraging people to live how they please on 2013’s “Follow Your Arrow”: “Kiss lots of boys/or kiss lots of girls/if that’s something you’re into.”

Musgraves’s new album, “Deeper Well” released on March 15. She lets go of negative energy over a guitar loop and the chorus echoes, “I’ve found a deeper well.” Blending acoustic and electronic sounds broadens country’s horizons. Musgraves draws musical inspiration from Loretta Lynn to Mindy Smith. Like Beyoncé, Musgraves relies on her country roots to tell her truest story.

The patriotism contemporary country music associates itself with today leads back to 9/11. As the Great Depression united country artists for the working person, the events on 9/11 turned outlaws into nationalists.

The tension between conservative country folk and Musgraves stems from early in her career after she brought her openly gay co-writers on the Country Music Awards stage in 2013 to be awarded Song of the Year for “Follow Your Arrow.” Consequently, Musgraves became a symbol for change in country music by promoting self-acceptance and breaking away from the popular narrative.

Grab your cowboy boots

Cowboy fashions are popular because people are choosing what they want to wear. The era no longer dictates what’s popular or mainstream. People feel empowered to do what’s authentic to them. Country rhythms and sounds inspire confidence in the mundane.

For instance, Mitski, an indie-realist, chose to perform her first love songs as country ballads on her latest project. “Heaven” and “My Love Mine All Mine” are complete tonal shifts in the artist’s discography. On the same album, she details the heaviness of carrying her soul and how she would trade it with the Devil just to be relieved of the burden. Mitski represents honest country ideals on this album. Mitski’s confessions, Lil Nas X’s controversy, and Beyoncé’s truth show country music returning to its unrefined roots on a grander scale.

Beyoncé preferred untuned instruments to digital filters on “Cowboy Carter,” demonstrating how country music’s imperfections are its strength. Beyonce wrote “My intention was to create a safe place, a place without judgment. A place to be free of perfectionism and overthinking. A place to scream, release, feel freedom” in her open letter to introduce her next album trilogy.

Kacey Musgraves

Honesty is hard to come by in popular music, but it’s craved. Fans and critics also like to pick the package it comes in. When “Dime Store Cowgirl”

The second installment, “Cowboy Carter” may exist in a judgment-free zone due to her artistic status, but also because country music prides itself on constructive creative freedom.

Kacey Musgraves singing in 2019. Photo by Andy Wichger from Wikimedia.

Charley Pride performing in 2015. Photo by Republic Country Club from Wikimedia.

The unattainable luxury of eating disorder treatment

By Emily Shultz

If someone told my younger self I’d eventually publish an article about my experience with bulimia and the search for treatment I would’ve called them crazy. In the past, I’d experienced my fair share of struggles, but never anything this invasive. Because of bulimia, my sophomore year was truly one of the most difficult periods of my life.

It starts very similarly for many people: a one-time thing, then an occasional activity labeled as a safety measure for overeating (an incredible contradiction given the risks), and then pure unrelenting chaos.

Before I knew it, the issue I thought I had under control crept into every corner of my life. It took priority over everything I loved and enjoyed: my relationships with friends and family, my hobbies, and even school. What was supposed to be my best year yet became infected by my eating disorder.

Calories in, calories out

I was constantly occupied by obsessive thoughts about restriction, binges, and what I would do to compensate for the ‘lack of discipline.’ Ultimately, it drained me to the point I had no energy for anything else. And despite multiple short-lived attempts to recover alone, I finally admitted, “I cannot let my life waste away like this.” So, I reached out for help.

Finding the right treatment program was a grueling process. It was a bit like applying to a college with a health insurance plan as a helicopter parent.

When I requested a list of in-network programs from my provider, I was met with a 99-page treatment directory. Every listing primarily offered support for depression, anxiety, and addiction. Not a single entry specialized in eating disorders. Why wasn’t my condition taken seriously?

I searched through what felt like 100 programs in Pennsylvania, made a disorienting amount of phone calls, and sent many emails.

After weeks of research, I hit a dead end. The most revered programs with the best patient outcomes were unaffordable. Meanwhile, my easiest options received horrendous reviews detailing traumatic events and dehumanizing conditions. How was it possible I lived in such a treatment-rich area with no appropriate match?

An appalling disparity

The truth is, despite the government’s steps to advocate for public insurance coverage for mental health treatment, eating disorder programs are excluded and treated as a luxury.

When the Affordable Care Act passed under Obama’s administration in March 2010, insurance companies were no longer allowed to deny or charge more for those seeking mental health or substance abuse care.

Eating disorder recovery requires a multidisciplinary approach, which could include a therapist, psychiatrist, care physician, or dietitian; Insurance companies don’t like how expensive this sounds.

Project Heal, a nonprofit organization dedicated to breaking down financial hurdles for eating disorder treatment, explains on their website how patients may suffer from limited provider networks and high out-of-pocket costs (despite coverage approval); all pose major hurdles.

Also, individuals can be denied coverage if treatment is not considered medically necessary. In other words, if you are not ill or dying, you are much less likely to get coverage.

Weight is also a contributing factor in determining diagnosis and medical necessity. Given that only 6% of eating disorder patients are underweight, this practice feels outdated and stereotypical.

To make matters worse, those who find treatment are only covered for a certain number of days. Often, insurance coverage is less than the recommended length of stay. This unfortunate trend proliferates not only in eating disorder treatment but across all mental health and addiction programs. The publicly insured are also significantly less likely to receive recommended treatment.

The ultimatum for public insurance

Even with various acts passed to enrich and broaden mental health treatment in America, public healthcare fails miserably with the exclusion of eating disorders. Failure to make treatment attainable is discouraging. Worst of all, forcing a population to recover alone heavily stigmatizes the issue.

It is crucial that eating disorders be taken seriously, as they are among the deadliest illnesses. A 2009 study found, “Crude mortality rates were 4.0% for anorexia nervosa, 3.9% for bulimia nervosa, and 5.2% for eating disorder not otherwise specified.” Regardless of an individual’s appearance, eating disorders have deadly consequences for the cardiovascular system at any weight.

Never alone

I feared others would view me as my disorder, a disease I never asked for. And, if anything, secrecy was too difficult to bear. If the desire for normalcy transforms into self-alienation, you have backed yourself into a cold and unwelcoming corner. Please understand you are not alone.

Free support groups, hospital and university research treatment studies, and on-campus counseling are always available.

If you or someone you know struggles with an eating disorder, consider visiting Cabrini’s Counseling and Psychological Services. CaPS also partners with Uwill, a free teletherapy service.

Eating disorder groups that meet in Philadelphia

Eating Disorders Group Therapy (757) 847-5311

American Anorexia & Bulimia Association of Philadelphia (215) 221-1864

aabaphilly@gmail.com

Womens Anorexia Bulimia Psychotherapy Group (215) 732-1612

drdeborahreeves@gmail.com

PA. Educational Network for Eating Disorders (412) 215-7967

pened1@aol.com

Hospitable Fare (717) 207-7824

Women’s Eating Disorder Support Group (610) 601-3545

Eating Disorder Support Group for Young Adults (267) 219-5794

Family Support Group (484) 403-3676

Former President Barack Obama signs the Health Care Reconciliation and Education Act of 2010. Photo by Lawrence Jackson.