September 2021

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september edition

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sep 30, 2021

o s n e i n t o n JOHNNIES h p o J

ON TOP Men and Women’s Sports Dominated in September

TORCH PHOTO / Sara Kiernan

Inside the Issue: COVID-19 cases on campus in September Reflection on Sept. 11 at the World Trade Center

TORCH PHOTO / Alicia Venter

2 News

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Breaking: 10 Positive Cases on Campus, 96% of Students Have at Least One Dose of COVID-19 Ali Crespo

An overwhelming percentage of the student body has received a COVID-19 vaccine, according to new figures released by the University to The Torch.

As of Sept. 21, 96% of the student body has had at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine or is fully vaccinated, University Spokesperson Brian Browne said.

This number is expected to increase over the next week, Browne told the Torch, and students who are not vaccinated should not be on campus “for any reason.”

Currently, there are 10 positive cases of COVID-19 on campus: eight students and two employees, Browne said. Last year, reported cases were disclosed via the Reported Cases tab on the St. John’s Reopens website. Browne said this COVID-19 dashboard will return with updates once a week.

Unlike last school year, there is no current case threshold or NYS

requirement that would mandate students transition to online learning.

“Instead, the University is monitoring cases of COVID-19 within our community and engaging

of testing. The event space in the basement of the D’Angelo Center has been reserved to serve as a COVID-19 testing center. Last semester, it was in Taffner Field House.

As per the updated announcement of required vaccines and masks before this semester, “All St. John’s non-degree, undergraduate, graduate, and professional students must present proof of vaccination against COVID-19 in order to attend in-person classes, visit campus, be employed as a student worker, and participate in campus activities this fall.” Fully vaccinated students do have the choice to wear a mask outdoors, but it is encouraged to wear a mask TORCH DESIGN/ Alicia Venter at events or off campus settings, in contact tracing to identify poand it is required in all campus tential campus clusters, outbreaks buildings. These guidelines are or community spread and is presaid to be revised by the end of pared to respond accordingly,” September.

Browne said.

Among other changes from last semester to this fall is the location

Hurricane Ida Storms through St. John’s Ali Crespo

Hurricane Ida barreled through St. John’s campus along with the rest of New York City after the first day of classes on Sept. 1st. After torrential rain throughout the night, residence halls flooded, some morning classes were cancelled and public transportation was halted across the city.

“This flooding occurred when the 100-year-old NYC storm drains could not handle the sudden volume and influx of rainwater,” Brian Baumer,

TORCH PHOTO/ Brenden Willsch

Associate Vice President of Campus Facilities and Services, told the Torch.

There was minor flooding in Bent Hall, Marillac Terrace, Little Theater, Taffner Field House, Henley Road Complex, the C-store and all the basements of the buildings that make up the residence village, according to Baumer.

Sophomore accounting major Eric Weggeland was among the residence students who experienced flooding in his building, Century Hall, informed

by Residence Assistants going door-to-door.

“I was told I couldn’t go down to the basement to get my laundry because of the flooding,” he said.

Junior fine arts major Allison Shortell was in Carey Hall the night of the flooding and found out the next day that the basement and elevator were shut down after having slept through the majority of the storm.

“On the morning after the storm, there was a pink sheet of paper taped to the stairwell door advising students not to go down to the basement,” she said. “It was a good thing I didn’t need to do laundry that day.”

“The more serious flooding with higher levels of water accumulation occurred in the off-campus Bartilucci Center and the Seton Complex, all of which were confined to basement areas,” Baumer said.

Junior communication arts major Jonathan Wilds is among the many students who had a Thursday class cancelled.

“Honestly, I was surprised that more of my classes weren’t cancelled that day,” he said. “The only thing that was annoying was that my professor told one of his co-workers to stand in for him and that he was running late. Turns out he was stuck [in traffic] on the Throgs Neck Bridge.”

The housing alert titled “Storm Flooding” warned resident students to protect and relocate their personal belongings, especially those in ground floor apartments like the Townhouses. The alert also advised students to place towels down to absorb any intruding water. A parking advisory for students parked in the ROTC lot was issued along with Facilities Service work orders and contact information to give students a proper way to report flooding, leaks and damages.

“Students are advised not to enter any building basement and to discontinue elevator use at this time until unsafe conditions can be remedied,” an email sent from St. John’s University Office of Residence Life that night to resident students said.

All water has been removed from the buildings, according to Baumer, but in some places Campus Facilities is waiting for the areas to dry.

News

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3

What’s New on Campus

Changes for the fall include no limit on academic gatherings and mask mandates Alicia Venter & Ali Crespo

Multiple changes have been implemented on the St. John’s Queens campus for the fall semester.

Ranging from shifting COVID-19 mandates to dining changes along with other customs typical to the St. John’s student, the fall semester will look like none that any St. John’s student has experienced.

COVID-19 Mandates and Guidance

With more students in-person and less behind a computer screen, it is not surprising that the University has implemented new safety measures to try and protect the St. John’s community. There are similar policies to that of last year. Isolation protocols will be followed based on guidelines from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the contact tracing protocol of last year is still in place, according to University spokesperson Brian Browne.

However, unlike last year, vaccinations are now required of all in the St. John’s community, as well as masks indoors regardless of vaccination status.

Those vaccinated in New York should already be in the University’s system. Students from outside of New York State must submit a copy of their vaccination card to the St. John’s Health Portal, or Medicat after signing into the University portal.

“All St. John’s non-degree, undergraduate, graduate, and professional students must present proof of vaccination against COVID-19 in order to attend in-person classes, visit campus, be employed as a student worker, and participate in campus activities this fall,” according to a letter from student affairs sent via email on Aug. 25. Proof of vaccination was due by Aug. 1.

If a student has only one dose of the Pfizer/Moderna vaccination, they will be able to attend classes and orientation until they receive their second dose. However, resident students cannot move into University housing until their second dose has been received.

The mask mandate was updated in late August.

The University requires all persons “regardless of vaccination status to wear masks inside all campus buildings,” the letter from Student Affair said.

“Students in their own residence hall rooms and faculty, administrators, and staff working alone in their own offices are not required to wear masks.

Fully vaccinated persons may choose to not wear masks outdoors.”

Acceptable face coverings include cloth masks that contain two layers of fabric that provide “acceptable level of protection” and block light when held up to a light source, or surgical masks according to the letter from Student Affairs. Bandanas and gaiters are not to be worn because they “do not provide effective layers of coverage.”

All St. John’s employees are required to be fully vaccinated by Sept. 30, according to Browne.

This is an update to the announcement on July 19 that stated all employees, both full and part-time, were required to be fully vaccinated by the start of the fall semester. Proof of vaccination for both students and employees must be uploaded to the Medicat Health Portal.

If an employee fails to upload vaccination by Sept. 30, they “may be placed on an unpaid leave of absence, effective Oct. 1, subject to applicable collective bargaining agreements,” according to Browne. If they continually fail to upload vaccination, they may face “disciplinary action, up to and including termination.”

Employees that receive an exemption from the vaccination due to medical or religious reasons must undergo weekly COVID-19 testing, along with other additional safety restrictions. Students who have been granted medical or religious exemptions “will be required to complete daily symptom monitoring, report for regular testing, wear masks indoor and outdoors on University properties and comply with other protocols applicable to those who have not been vaccinated,” according to the letter from Student Affairs.

Also, following NYC law, “unvaccinated indi-

ment, Recreation, Dining, and Fitness Settings,” according to Browne. “Therefore, only students who are vaccinated will be allowed in the fitness center as noted in the communication to all students. Students are required to wear a mask at all times while in the fitness center.”

All academic gatherings have no capacity thresholds, according to the letter from Student Affairs.

Any social and extracurricular gathering that is held outdoors has no capacity threshold.

“Events with food should be held outdoors,” the email says. “When this is not possible, no more than four people should be seated at each table to allow for social distancing. This is subject to change as required by changing conditions and/ or guidance.”

Last semester, students were quarantined in St. Vincent Hall. However, at the end of Spring 2021 the residence hall was torn down to be replaced with a new health sciences building. According to Browne, there have been “spaces in other areas [that] have been taken off-line to accommodate students that need to quarantine.” These spaces were not specified.

“We recognize that some members of the St. John’s community may be disappointed by these policy changes,” the letter from Student Affairs stated. “However, we must make decisions to protect the health and safety of our community.”

Food on campus

TORCH PHOTO/ Sara Kiernan

viduals are prohibited from using campus dining facilities and the fitness center, Taffner Field House, and other athletic facilities,” according to Browne. The same rule applies to students.

“The University is required to follow the NYC Executive Order issued on Aug. 16 requiring COVID-19 Vaccination for Indoor Entertain-

Multiple on-campus dining options are available for the fall as of publication. Montgoris Dining Hall, Marillac Food Court, Marillac and Montgoris Markets, Dunkin’ Donuts, D’Angelo Center Starbucks, Law School Café & Sidebar, and Einstein Bros. Bagels will all be opened this fall, according to Scott Lemperle, Executive Director of Auxiliary and Conference Services. However, the D’Angelo Center Food Court is currently being repurposed, and will be closed for the foreseeable future. More information on dining can be found here.

With the closing of the Red Storm Diner due to the destruction of St. Vincent Hall, late night dining is instead being offered until 1 a.m. at Montgoris Dining Hall every evening, according to Lemperle. It will serve late-night menu options, which were not specified.

Students must be vaccinated to use “which include Montgoris Dining Hall and the Faculty Club,” according to the Letter from Student Affairs. “Take-out options will be available for unvaccinated individuals or those in process of achieving full vaccination status.”

Montgoris Hall will be opened at normal capacity to vaccinated diners, according to Lemperle.

“Individuals should wear masks inside the dining hall except when sitting at a table and eating,” he said. “Masks should be replaced once individuals have completed their meals.”

4 Features

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Off-Campus Eats to Escape On-Campus Dining Francesca Fazio

As the school year begins and students settle in a routine, they may begin to grow tired of the same on-campus dining options. Luckily, for St. John’s students, there are a plethora of great dining options that can be found on Union Turnpike, a foot from campus, many of which will deliver right to your door.

TORCH PHOTO/ FRANCESCA FAZIO

TORCH PHOTO/ J.L. Stephenson

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NIKKO HIBACHI

5

177-21 Union Tpke, Queens, NY 11366

If you are craving Japanese cuisine, look no further than Nikko Hibachi, a great option if you are wanting to have a proper dine-in meal. The restaurant offers a great variety of options from sushi to the traditional hibachi experience. The food is rich and delicious and the restaurant is sleek and modern, with my favorite design element being the giant eight foot buddha statue.

Theresa Snyder, a 2023 criminal justice major, told the Torch, “[Nikko Hibachi] was one of the first restaurants I found when my roommate and I came to campus and my roommate and I were both surprised at how good the food was along with the service that we keep coming back!”

REGINA’S CAFE & PIZZERIA

176-49 Union Tpke, Flushing, NY 11366 When in New York, it is imperative one gets a traditional slice of NY pizza and this is just what Regina’s delivers. However, they don’t stop there. They offer almost any Italian dish you can think of from heroes to pasta dinners –– they even sell dessert. It is almost a right of passage for a St. John’s student to walk from Union Turnpike to the Italian restaurant. Many organizations on campus will order pizzas from Regina’s, as it offers student discounts. If you are craving the authentic pizza that New York is known for, then head from gate four down to Regina’s.

UMI SUSHI

177-13 Union Tpke, Queens, NY 11366 Similar to Nikko Hibachi, Umi Sushi offers Johnnies an array of different sushi options, from the simple california roll to the “Rock ‘n Roll” sushi, which contains eel, salmon skin, cucumber, avocado and masago. However, Umi differs by offering a quick takeout meal, great for the college student constantly on the run between classes. Delivery is available as well, giving students a range of options that unsurprisingly makes Umi Sushi a favorite among St. John’s students.

CREPE ‘N’ TEARIA

177-07 Union Tpke, Flushing, NY 11366 For a lighter meal, Crepe “N” Tearia is a perfect option. They serve dozens of different sweet and savory crepes, one of which is bound to satisfy what you’re craving. And if not, they even have an option for a completely customized crepe. Beyond crepes, they also offer specialty drinks like bubble tea, smoothie bowls and even milkshakes.

DUMPLING LEGEND

176-61 Union Tpke, Queens, NY 11366 For amazing Chinese cuisine, look no further than Dumpling Legend. The restaurant has more options than one can count from seafood to noodle dishes. They are extremely affordable with flexible dining options for either dine-in or take-out. It is almost a Sentence guarantee that they will fit into your schedule, budget and tastes.

Name

BAGELS ‘N CREAM CAFE

8002 Surrey Pl, Jamaica, NY 11432 Another New York must is a delicious bagel and St. John’s students need look no further than just past the nearby T.J. Maxx to find one. Bagels ‘n Cream is great for grabbing a cheap and delicious bagel breakfast if you are on the run or want to just sit and enjoy the New York staple with friends.

LULU’S BAKERY

179, 04/06 Union Tpke, Queens, NY 11366

Lulu’s is the plast to go to grab a little sweet treat as a pick-me-up, celebration or just because you feel like it. The family owned and operated bakery makes homemade tarts, cookies and biscotti, among other sweets. When you get to feeling that you need something a little sweet in your life, head out to Lulu’s.

6 Features

How Hurricane Ida Affected Resident and Commuter Students Alike Francesca Fazio The remnants of Hurricane Ida hit the east coast this past Wednesday (Sept. 2) leaving at least three dead in Queens and causing an incalculable level of damage to New York City’s infrastructure with massive flooding that shut down the subways.

Amidst this chaos, St. John’s students, who had just begun classes this day, waited with bated breath to see how the state and University would respond. After the extremely hazardous nature of the storm became apparent, NY Governor Kathy Hochul issued a state of emergency at 5 a.m. Thursday morning with a travel ban for all non-emergency personnel.

Accordingly, many SJU students waited for an announcement canceling classes for the next day. This announcement never came.

This caused issues for students who were dealing with the effects of the storm themselves. With about 71% of students commuting, many students were forced to miss their second day of classes.

According to University Spokesperson, Brian Browne, “Canceling classes or transitioning to remote learning–even for a day–is a serious operational decision to make as the University makes weather related closure decisions based on prevailing conditions of each campus.” He continued to explain, “while the Sept. 2 commute to campus following the remnants of Hurricane Ida was challenging–especially for those using public transportation –on-campus classroom space saw limited impact from flooding conditions and regular University business continued uninterrupted.”

However transportation issues did affect staff as well. Some professors were stuck at home, in a similar situation to their students. Paul Grista, a junior Finance major, noted that “my professor couldn’t get to campus the next day because

of the roads and [had to] cancel our first class.”

Even residential students were not left unaffected by the storm. Some students say they received communications from their RA’s. However, the only other communication residents received from the school was an email at 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday from Residence Life.

Along with nearby apartments, over half of on-campus dormitories reported some sort of flooding according to statements made by Public Safety to students. Many took to social media to document the rising basement floods.

One student’s Snapchat story was reposted on @sjubarstool showing the flooding in Hollis’s laundry room.

A little farther away, but still on campus, Founder’s Village, more commonly referred to as the Townhouses, was also taking on water. While several first-floor apartments flooded, second and third-floor apartments did not escape damage.

Jillian Jindrick, a 2023 psychology major, who lives in the Townhouses described her experience to the Torch, “The water was leaking through my window and it soaked my entire bed and floor. I had to move all of my stuff.”

Another Townhouse resident, Sebastian Hernandez, a senior Environmental Science major, came back to his dorm to find both his common area and room flooded with around an inch of water. Although, since he lives on the first floor, he was prepared and had previously removed items that could have been damaged off the ground.

To have the flooding addressed, he and his suitemates called facilities. “They said they would take around 1-2 hours to come, yet they never did. We had to clean it up and dry everything by ourselves.”

When asked, Jindrick and Hernandez expressed their displeasure at the way the school handled the crisis for both commuters and residents.

“The school did not handle the situation well at all. I called public safety several times and all I got was attitude and [the statement that] ‘maintenance is going home’,” said Jindrick.

Hernandez echoed Jindricks sentiments. “I felt that the situation could’ve been handled better honestly.”He added, “After it dried off and we cleaned everything it was fine afterwards. My only complaint was that I wish facilities would have come through with what they said they were going to do as it would have made the situation better.”

TORCH PHOTO/ BRENDEN WILLSCH

What’s Changed with On-Campus Dining in the Post-COVID Era Brooke Mosca The fall semester on the Queens campus has finally arrived, and life on Utopia Parkway is beginning to look more and more as it did prior to the coronavirus pandemic. While the in-person population is still masked up, for the first time in over a year, the hallways are packed with laughing students, large social events are being held on the Residence Village strip as well as the Great Lawn and the Freshens line is wrapped around the Marillac Cafeteria.

While long lines in Marillac may not seem out of the ordinary to upperclassmen, the recent changes in on-campus dining options may be contributing to these amusement park-length lines that much of the student population has never witnessed before. Since mid-fall of 2020, the D’Angelo Center (DAC) food court, home to student favorites such as Taco Bell, Mondo Subs and Smoked, closed its counters.

Heartbroken at this change, students across campus hoped this closure would be temporary and that the food court would reopen at the start of the 2021-2022 school year.

To the dismay of the greater student population, the DAC food court not only remained closed for this fall, but the restaurants have been completely boarded up, suggesting that these dining options will be unavailable until further notice.

Scott Lemperle, Executive Director of Auxiliary and Conference Services, told the Torch on Aug. 30 that “the concepts in the D’Angelo Center Food Court will remain closed for the foreseeable future as the space has been repurposed.”

“As someone who loved eating at DAC frequently throughout the week, I’ll miss going to Taco Bell after class and doing homework with my friends,” junior Sports Management major Hailey Pomara said.

This once great spot for studying, hanging out with friends and grabbing a quick bite to eat wasn’t the only dining fatality of 2020. The Red Storm Diner, one of the most beloved food establishments on the Queens campus, was taken out to be replaced by a health sciences center. With its classic retro décor and menu staples, like the buffalo chicken sandwich and brownie sundae, the Diner was a late-night sanctuary for countless Johnnies. Located in the rear of St. Vincent Hall, which will be torn down at the end of September, the Red Storm Diner is yet another on-campus restaurant that St. John’s students have kissed goodbye for the new school year.

While much of the student body is still mourning the loss of the DAC food court and Red Storm Diner, on-campus dining options are far from doom and gloom. This fall, the Marillac Cafeteria welcomed two new places, Revolution Noodle and Piccola Italia. Home to diverse menu options, including sushi, chicken teriyaki, lasagna and a variety of pizza slices, these new restaurants are already receiving high marks.

“The chicken teriyaki bowl from Revolution Noodle is a fun new take on the Asian dishes that had previously been offered in the DAC Cafeteria,” junior Biology Major Maggie Scott told the Torch. “It met all of my expectations!”

These refreshing supplements to other Marillac staples, like Dunkin’, Freshens and Subway suggest that the Marillac

Cafeteria will be the hot food stop on campus this semester.

To compensate for the closure of the Diner last year, Montgoris Dining Hall extended its hours and was open until 1:00 a.m., serving classic late-night bites. This change is one that many students are happy to see stay for the 20212022 school year. While many Diner stans were hesitant to embrace this change at first, many have come around to the idea of late-night Monty’s, especially now that mozzarella sticks are included with a standard meal swipe.

While much has changed with on-campus dining in the past two years, students seem to be cherishing the simple ability to dine indoors once again without capacity restrictions or limited hours. Thomas Carmody, a junior Qualitative Risk and Insurance major, commented on this idea.

“The time that we’ve been separated from each other during [the COVID-19 pandemic] has made us celebrate smaller moments such as eating meals together, and I think it has brought us closer as friends and as a St. John’s community,” he said.

At the end of the day, what’s most important is not where students are dining or what they are eating, it’s something many of us took for granted prior to the pandemic: the ability to physically sit around a table with a group of loved ones and celebrate the things that bring us together.

Culture

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Lorde’s “Solar Power” isn’t Conserving Any Energy Alex Yau

On Aug. 20, Lorde finally released her highly anticipated third studio album, “Solar Power.”

Four years after her critically acclaimed album, “Melodrama,” many were waiting for the New Zealand sensation to create another emotional and introspective record. Lorde, however, had other plans.

After a trip to Antarctica in 2019, Lorde discovered the inspiration for her next album: an acoustic homage to Mother Nature.

“Solar Power” is drastically different from its predecessors. Although it still features her trademark songwriting and unique vocals, Lorde has left behind her sad girl persona. Her shift in tone reflects the awakening she has experienced in the past four years that gave birth to the message behind the album. Although it’s admirable of Lorde to use her voice for a cause, the product comes off as performative and lazy. The album screams of a privileged, white woman randomly finding a cause and trying to push for the whole world to notice.

For example, a song titled “Fallen Fruit” which Lorde wrote to her parents is essentially blaming the baby boomer generation for the world’s current problems. Although she’s not entirely wrong, the trope of blaming boomers in song form is laughable. Aside from the new music to bring awareness to the climate crisis,

Lorde went so far as to not sell physical CDs of her new album because she didn’t want to produce something that would end up in a landfill.

The album has some standouts. Notably, songs like “The Path,” “Mood Ring” and even the title track give off the laid-back vibe of a warm summer day while still telling the younger generation that we are the key to change. Although most of the album has an upbeat and summery vibe, there are a few somber songs — notably “Big Star,” which Lorde wrote about her dog who died a few years prior. However, the rest just falls flat.

By the first listen, I wasn’t impressed. I’ve come back to it a couple times since it came out, but find myself only listening to three songs at the most. The rest just aren’t memorable. Most people have said the album has to grow on you, but in my opinion, if you have to listen to an album over and over to enjoy it, it’s just not that good. I don’t want to diminish Lorde’s creativity or her artistic freedom, but if she was really passionate about bringing awareness to the climate crisis, why do it in the form of an album that has yet to make any mainstream impact aside from her fanbase? As if Lorde releasing music will suddenly make everyone stop and decide to care for the Earth.

I’m glad that Lorde has broken out of her old persona and evolved into an enlightened, hap-

pier person — I just wish the music reflected that. “Solar Power” sounds like a debut album, not the same artist who produced “Pure Heroine” and “Melodrama.” I think the theme and message of the album would have worked if the execution didn’t seem so lazy and misplaced.

Some artists are able to successfully merge their activism with their music (e.g. Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way”), but I think Lorde missed the mark. I hope whatever she decides to do with her next album is less of a superficial PSA and more of the unique and genius artistry that we equate with her.

TORCH PHOTO/YOUTUBE LORDE

Taylor Swift Surprise Releases First Single from “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” Swifties did not imagine this in their wildest dreams Maria Villaroell

Taylor Swift surprise re-released “Wildest Dreams (Taylor’s Version)” this past Friday as part of her saga to regain her masters, leaving fans extremely confused as to what the singer has in store for the next couple of months.

In March, Swift released a snippet of her version of “Wildest Dreams” as part of the soundtrack for the animated movie “Spirit Untamed.” This led fans to believe for months that the singer-songwriter would release “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” as her second re-recorded album, right after “Fearless (Taylor’s Version)” which came out in April. However, she shut down these rumors by announcing that her next re-release would be the autumnal record “RED (Taylor’s Version).”

For months, fans had been asking the multi-genre singer for a lead single from “RED (Taylor’s Version),” which she kept quiet about. But it was not until the original version of “Wildest Dreams” went viral on TikTok that Swift decided to surprise release her version of the 2014 song.

While us Swifties did not think in our wildest dreams that she would do something like this, from a marketing perspective, this move was exceptionally astute. In

Dreams” after the increased acclaim for the tune these past couple of weeks on the app, especially considering the fact that she is hoping people will stop streaming the original version of the track.

On the other hand, sonically, the singer achieved exactly what she wanted, having her version of the song sound almost the same as the original version. Being one of her most beloved and popular tracks, and also part of her most successful album “1989,” it is understandable that Swift did not want to make many alterations to “Wildest Dreams (Taylor’s Version).” She is able to transport listeners back to her “1989” era, having us sing about a love that we are not yet ready to let go at the top of our lungs.

Despite all the shock that came with the release of this PHOTO COURTESY/ YOUTUBE TAYLOR track, the glory of this song only today’s world, TikTok is arguably the most increases my excitement about what she influential app among younger genera- has in store for her fans. While we cannot tions. Artists nowadays push for their songs expect anything from her, one thing is beto go viral on the app so it can increase coming clearer—it is Swift’s world and we their popularity. Therefore, it is logical that are just living in it.

Swift would release her version of “Wildest

8 Culture

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Wonho Explores the Color Blue in his Latest Release Priyanka Gera

Wonho made his solo debut last year after parting ways with the Korean K-pop group, MONSTA X. He recently made his comeback this year with the new single “BLUE,” part of his third mini album that dropped Sept. 14, “Blue Letter.” This follows the release of his twopart album “Love Synonym.”

“BLUE” is a pop song different from the other singles Wonho has released. It is a bright, upbeat song that is perfect for the summer season. The color blue is not a new element. Blue has been Wonho’s color from the start, dominating every music video he has released thus far.

He takes it one step further in “BLUE ‘’ by singing about it.

In an interview with Audacy, Wonho shared how blue became his “signature color… a great color to express emotions,” even though his preferred color is black. Overcoming “feeling depressed,” among other hardships, was his greatest inspiration when putting together the album “Blue Letter.”

Usually, blue is associated with sadness and feeling overwhelmed, as was portrayed

in Pixar’s “Inside Out.” Wonho shows a different shade of blue, as well as himself, matching the beat’s pleasant party vibe.

Previous singles had a more serious, solemn tone to them while Wonho seems to have fun in this song, playing a successful footballer who finally asks out his crush in the music video. Although he plays a

mean high school athlete.

The vocals are on point; Wonho seems to be getting better and more confident in his voice with each new release. The chorus is fast-paced and starts to slur the “feels like blue” lyrics into the next line. It wouldn’t hurt for him to pause in the song since the instrumentals in the background are pleasant. However, the speed may have been intentional to reflect how someone might feel when asking out their crush––nervousness, fast heartbeat, etc.

“Blue Letter” contains an English version of “BLUE;” however, I find it difficult to make out the English lyrics because it is fast-paced and the background music is slightly overpowering.

Hence, I prefer the Korean-English version.

“BLUE,” with lyrics written by Wonho, is a light and airy track PHOTO COURTESY/ YouTube WONHO clocking in at around three minutes. It will probably get a great deal of radio time and jock, he paints himself as a kind and joy- is a notable addition to your summer playful high school student who is well-liked by list. his peers––in contrast to the stereotypical

Your Guide to Finding the Latest Concerts in 2021 Mia Flores

With 2021 nearly coming to a close, live music fans are eager to get back to standing in general admission with hundreds of other sweaty, dedicated concert-goers. No matter the genre, waiting on line for hours to claim a spot behind the barricade is a memory I miss the most. Those precious minutes of anticipation, mingling with other attendees on line and listening to the faint beats of sound check are times I certainly took for granted. Nearly two years later, we are finally witnessing the reopening of concert venues, but sadly, are still in mourning of permanently closed ones – Revolution Music Hall in Amityville, you will be missed.

On a lighter note, I am overjoyed to refresh my Instagram and see a flood of tour dates on my feed. Until now, I’ve been vicariously living through old concert videos – yes, even the ones where I can hear myself screaming completely off-pitch.

Music festivals are also making a comeback, with GovBall 2021 now taking place in Citi Field from Sept. 24-26. Other favorites such as Firefly Music Festival, Global Citizen and Life is Beautiful are happening across the country this month. It is a relief to see artists perform what they do best on the big stage again, and I’ve already secured my tickets for a few events this fall.

Locally, there are plenty of concerts to see this fall even if you haven’t purchased tickets yet. At the venue Elsewhere in Bushwick, Brooklyn, you can see alternative acts like HUNNY, The Drums, Willow Smith, Japanese Breakfast, beebadoobee and other talented bands. The hall also features a rooftop stage where you can enjoy your favorite music over the New York skyline.

It makes for an unforgettable night and is easily accessible by the L train.

If you’re interested in larger venues, Barclays Center will be hosting performances

by Marc Anthony, J. Cole and the Lights On Festival curated by H.E.R. Other stadiums such as Citi Field will be home to Rolling Loud New York, one of the biggest music festivals for hip-hop artists taking place across multiple American cities.

For fans of pop and rap genres, there is no shortage of events to attend before the year comes to a close.

Whether you’ve already seen Harry Styles perform at Madison Square Garden this year or are looking to attend your first concert, live music has something for you. These are still trying times for venues, however, so be mindful of any COVID-19 restrictions that may be in place before buying tickets.

Nevertheless, it is with open arms that fans welcome the return of concerts and get to sing their hearts out, if only for a night.

TORCH PHOTO/ MIA FLORES

Opinion

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Flames of the Torch 99TH MANAGING BOARD Alicia Venter/ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Priyanka Gera/ MANAGING EDITOR Ali Crespo NEWS EDITOR Sophie Williams DIGITAL EDITOR Brady Snyder SPORTS EDITOR Francesca Fazio FEATURES EDITOR Mia Flores CULTURE EDITOR Sara Rodia OPINION EDITOR Giohvan Dejoie CHIEF COPY EDITOR

Chloe Fecci DESIGN EDITOR Alison Goldberg SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Angelique Mevorah HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER Shaolin Barid BUSSINESS MANAGER Sara Kiernan PHOTO EDITOR Jim Baumbach ADVISER

STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS JENNALYNN FUNG

ALEX YAU

BROOKE MOSCA

MARIA VILLARROEL

EDITORIAL POLICY

Editorials are the opinions of the Editorial Board of the Torch. Columns and other content are the opinions of the author(s) and are not necessarily those of the Torch.

Opinions expressed in editorials, columns, letters or cartoons are not necessarily those of the student body, faculty or administration of St. John’s University. All contents are the sole responsibility of the editors and the editorial board and do not necessarily represent the views of the administration, faculty or students of St. John’s University unless specifically stated.

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CONTRIBUTIONS

All letters submitted for publication must include the author’s name, email and affliliation to St. John’s. Limit letters to 350 words. Submissions may be edited for clarity. Please submit letters to torchopinion@gmail.com

ABOUT THE TORCH

The Torch is the official, independent student newspaper of St. John’s University.

The Torch is written, edited, designed and produced by students of the University. The Torch is published on most Wednesdays, with approximately 20 issues throughout the academic year. Copies are distributed for free on campus and through mail subscriptions.

With September coming to a close, The Torch is extremely excited to get the opportunity to produce a full edition of our paper. It has been over a year since we have sat down as an E-Board to create the pages, both due to COVID-19 and our financial situation. As many of our readers know, we have been attempting to raise money to alleviate our debt from years of publishing. It is our hope that future editorial boards will have the opportunity to produce the paper in print as The Torch has done for the past 90 or so years with the help of donations and through fundraising attempts.

Until then, we adapt. This is our “September Edition.” In this edition you will find what each section editor felt was the best stories for the month. A majority of our E-Board has not been able to use our program to produce the full edition, so there was a definite learning curve to the process.

However, after tears of frustration and a lot of learning, these 14 pages were compiled.

In this edition you will find how St. John’s sports have dominated in the Big East Conference. Men and Women’s Soccer are both tied for first, with multiple players boasting impressive statistics for the month. In this edition you

will find what was new this semester and the COVID-19 update for the month. Culture and Opinion share our interests and concerns for the month, such as our Staff Writer Maria Villarroel’s love for Taylor Swift’s Edition of “Wildest Dreams (Taylor’s Version)” and Editor-in-Chief Alicia Venter’s reflection on 9/11. Features shares where we should all eat off-campus when dining on campus becomes monotonous and we need something unique for our palate. Find all this and more in this special September edition!

As we move into October, with students preparing for midterms, The Torch will continue to produce its weekly newsletter for University updates. We will continue to keep an eye on University COVID-19 updates, the newest song and movie releases and our sports victories (and the occasional losses). We hope that things will continue to follow the semblance of normalcy that September provided, and when this E-Board passes on The Torch come late spring, the 100th E-Board will be in a better financial position than us. As such, expect to continue to see our campaign to #KeepTheTorchLit, attempting to alleviate our printing debts.

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To advertise in the Torch, contact torchads@gmail.com. Advertisements are subject to space limits and must be submitted by 5 p.m. the Monday before publication for the issue of placement. A list of rates and publication dates is available online at torchonline.com/advertising.

A Meditation on Sept. 11, 2021 at the World Trade Center Almost everyone who was alive during the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 knows exactly where they were when it happened. My grandmother was serving grits to her husband when she received a frantic phone call from her daughter, my mother, to switch the television from the typical Andy Griffith Show to the news.

My mother was nine months pregnant with me at the time. She told me that she thought the pain she felt watching CNN was going to induce her into labor. Her heart, on par with the hearts of America and the world, suddenly felt as if talons were grabbing at it. Time froze, and she knew that life would never move forward as it had. She describes her life as experiencing two different worlds – pre-9/11 and post-9/11.

Now, as I approach my 20th birthday, I get the privilege of being in New York City to honor those lost here two decades ago. A child of the post-9/11 world, I will never know a time when airport security did not include full-body pat downs and complete luggage searches. The term ‘terrorist’ became part of my vocabulary as early as 7 years old. Most prominent

of all, there is not a time in my life that I cannot recall the photos of young men and women jumping out of a building hundreds of feet tall, among other ghastly sights.

As I walked off the J Train to the World Trade Center on Sept. 11 of this year, I wondered if those photos had the same impact on others as it did to me. The memorial was stunning. Flowers ranging from golden yellow tulips to crimson red peonies were a welcoming sight to offset the dark grey foundation the Twin Towers were once in. So stunning, some felt that they needed to pose in front of them for a pretty photo, as if we were at the Met Gala. Everyone has their own definition of the term ‘honoring,’ I suppose.

However, to honor those who were lost, I feel it best we recognize the consequences of their deaths, and how the American people have done both better and worse since then, if such absolute subjective terms can be placed onto the decisions made post-9/11. The American government has overthrown regimes, killed Osama Bin Laden, leader of the terrorist group Al-Qaeda, and has overhauled the entire security setup in the United States, proving the iron-tight grip that they have over international affairs.

However, just because such a horrifying and near-unimaginable thing happened to the U.S. doesn’t mean we cannot recognize the horrifying and near-unimaginable things that have been caused due to our involvement in the Middle East and due to our current polarized political language. It doesn’t make us “less American” to admit that the terminology chosen by political leaders led to hate crimes against Muslim-Americans and changed how many view those who practice Islam. Nor are we any less patriotic to question how we can be involved in government building in Afghanistan for 20 years, just for it to fall in under two weeks to the Taliban (or even, how and why the Taliban were created).

How will the world be affected in 20 more years after what happened in 2001? Is this a “better world,” and how can we make sure it will be?

Maybe if those at the memorial with me chose to turn to the names carved into the monument instead of the camera, they could try to dwell on such thoughts.

10 Opinion

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NYC’s Vaccine Mandate is a Necessary Step Towards Normalcy Jennalynn Fung New York City is the first city in the United States to require proof of at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine for workers and customers at indoor dining, gyms and live performances such as concerts. This mandate would require that patrons show their vaccine card — paper or digital as an Excelsior Pass — before they gain entry into an event or activity. This “Key to NYC” program will require customers and staff over 12 years old to be vaccinated if they are partaking in an activity over 10 minutes long. Any businesses that violate the mandate will be subject to a $1,000 fine for the first offense.

For institutions that continue to offend, the charges will only become higher.

This has been required in New York City since Aug. 17, but there was a “grace period” between then and Sept. 13 for establishments to acclimate themselves to the new requirements, which also helped remind patrons of the mandate.

Many of my friends who had been fully vaccinated were reminded to start bringing the card with them. Those who are unvaccinated now have a reason to get the shot: to return back to normalcy like everyone else.

This past week, for the first time, I saw many indoor dininareas putting up signs that only those who had been vaccinated were permitted to sit down and eat. I was shocked, yet thankful to see that these kinds of policies are in motion and may motivate another person to get the FDA approved vaccine.

I think that this mandate will mean the difference between New York City becoming the epicenter of the pandemic or not, for a second time. According to NYC Health, New York City in particular has a fully vaccinated rate among adults (two doses for Pfizer and Moderna, one dose for Johnson & Johnson) at 70.1%. In fact, the effects of our comparatively high vaccination rate can already be seen in our current number of cases versus those in less-vaccinated states like Florida. According to The New York Times as of Sept. 1, 2021, there were 19,048 new cases reported in the state of Florida.

In New York on Sept. 1, how many new cases were there?

1,207. The United States Census Bureau (USCB) confirms that Florida’s state population is 21 million, thus rendering the proportion of new cases to the state population around 0.09%. USCB also affirms that New York’s state population is 20 million, meaning the proportion of cases to overall population is 0.06%.

TORCH PHOTO/ JENNALYNN FUNG

It’s evident that this drastic difference in new cases is due in part to vaccination rates. Becker’s Hospital Review ranks states daily by percentage of fully vaccinated people. As of Sept. 2, the number one state is Vermont at 67.93%. New York is ranked eighth at 60.27%. Florida, ranked 22nd, is at 53.19%. The COVID-19 related fatalities in Florida are also disproportionately greater than those of New York. The New York Times reported that Florida’s seven day average (Aug. 25 to Sept.1) of COVID-19 deaths was 263, while New York’s was 11. The high fatality rate is most likely attributed to the lack of vaccinations. The Commonwealth Fund found that, if states like Texas and Florida had higher vaccination rates, they could have prevented 4,700 lives being lost in July.

With the surge in new COVID-19 cases tied to the delta variant and children’s schools reopening, this mandate is

needed more than ever. But this begs the question: Why only require one dose of a coronavirus vaccine if the data demonstrates a higher efficacy rate in those who get both of their doses? The Lancet published data from a study done by Public Health Scotland and EAVE II which shows that against the delta variant, one dose only has a 30% efficacy rate. With two doses, it is 79%. Israel’s Public Health Ministry also reported drastic drops in the efficacy rate among delta back in July. It is no wonder that Pfizer is now encouraging a third booster shot for the immunocompromised.

On Sept. 2, due to delta, Seattle enforced masks in outdoor gatherings larger than 500, again — could this happen to New York if not enough get vaccinated? It is in the realm of possibility.

The vaccine policy is being picked up by other cities, too.

San Francisco followed New York’s lead by implementing a vaccine requirement for all indoor activities; this mandate was enforced starting Aug. 20. However, San Francisco will be requiring full vaccination, meaning two doses of Pfizer, two doses of Moderna or one dose of Johnson and Johnson.

They will also allow employers two months to verify their employee’s vaccination status. Los Angeles is also considering it.

To keep the public’s health safe, we must implement stricter requirements on vaccinations. We cannot just do half of the work and expect the rest to follow. People must understand that it is their own personal decision and liberty to get the vaccine or not, but by refusing to do so, they are threatening the health of their community. Private and federal institutions reserve the right to refuse serving unvaccinated clients. This matter isn’t just about buying cake or seeing your favorite singer — it is about protecting your neighbors from ending up in the ICU on a ventilator. It should not be such a political or polarizing issue to show empathy and care for those around you.

What I Wish I Knew as a Freshman Sara Rodia The start of the school year brings the incoming class of 2025 with it. In other words, wandering around campus are a group of brand new freshmen who, luckily, will get to have a relatively normal four years at St. John’s — assuming another pandemic doesn’t sweep through the world anytime soon.

But, also wandering around campus are the sophomores who didn’t experience freshman year since many were online in 2020. They are practically new students on campus as well.

As a senior, I now find myself reflecting back on my normal years at St. John’s and the things I wish I knew or am glad I did know as a first-year student on campus. So here’s some tips for all those new students wandering around campus this semester!

Take advantage of the city!

At St. John’s, we’re only about 40 minutes from Manhattan via public transportation, so take advantage of this! There are many amazing things to do (literally, I have an ever growing list of things I need to do) so make sure you head into the city and have fun, especially if you’re not from the area. And not just in Manhattan – every borough has some exciting activities. Queens has many attractions that are worth a visit, such as the Queens Botanical Garden and the New York Hall of Science. A quick google search can land you with a laundry list of places to visit.

The first semester of my freshman year, I went in and did some things in the city, but not as much as I now wish I did.

Now, I go into the city at every chance I get. I don’t know where I’ll end up living in the future so I don’t want to miss

out on exploring the five boroughs of New York when I have the chance and the time to do so. And the best part is, you don’t need to spend a ton of money. Pay for the subway and go sit in a park and read or do school work. It is affordable and you can explore numerous parks and areas throughout the city by doing this! But seriously, email me if you want fun things to do (torchopinion@gmail.com)!

Get your work done early.

What tends to hold us back from going out and doing fun things? All the homework we let pile up. If you avoid procrastinating, you’ll have more time to go enjoy yourself.

Freshman and sophomore year are the best times to go out and explore because the workload tends to be less. Core classes lend a little bit of a break from strenuous major courses which gives you more time on your hands. So my advice is get your work done at the first chance so you give yourself free time.

This was something that held me back freshman year. I was not super on top of my work and so I didn’t always have the time to go out and explore as much as I wanted to. Now, I get my work done at the first opportunity, or I at least make a plan for when I’ll have time to get everything done.

Thursday, after I get out of class, for example, I try to get my work done for that Monday class right away. Then it is off my plate, I don’t have to worry about it and I have time to enjoy myself.

TORCH PHOTO/ BRENDEN WILLSCH

Put yourself out there.

Yes, I know this is easier said than done. We’re not all social butterflies and might not be comfortable going up to random people to make friends. But try your best to step outside your comfort zone. Start up a conversation with someone in your class for instance. You might make a lifetime friend and find a buddy in your major! Ask for people’s Snapchats and invite them to grab lunch. Sure, you might end up never seeing each other again, but you also might end up making a new friend.

I was so worried about not making friends in college, but everyone really is in the same boat when you first get here.

No one is going to reject a possible friendship, so give a conversation a go. I love that I can run into people on campus and have conversations with them even if it’s not a close friend, just someone I briefly spent time with freshman year.

It’s just great to walk around and see friendly faces! Being in a new place away from home with a bunch of new people can be scary, but just put yourself out there a little bit and it’ll go a long way.

Sports 11

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Week In Review: Soccer Undefeated In Conference Play

Torch Photo/ Sara Kiernan

Brady Snyder

The St. John’s Soccer program went 3-0 in Big East Conference play last week enroute to another successful week for Red Storm Athletics.

Both Men’s and Women’s Soccer are undefeated in conference play and look poised to compete for the conference title.

The Men’s team secured a win in their only game of the week, defeating Creighton by a score of 2-0 at Belson Stadium. Creighton took control of Red Storm territory early in the first half, in part, due to the Johnnies’ defensive miscues. However, the Johnnies settled in nicely and controlled the tempo and ball movement throughout the final 80 minutes of the match. Wesley Leggett finally got one past Creighton goalkeeper Paul Kruse in the 69’ to get the Red Storm on the board, and Atila Ashrafi added another for insurance ten minutes later. Reigning Big East Goalkeeper of the week, Luka Gavran, kept the game scoreless to secure the Johnnies’ fifth straight win.

The Women’s Soccer team had a much tougher journey to their 2-0 Big East start. The Red Storm traveled to Connecticut for a Thursday night matchup with the Huskies, decisively winning 3-0. Brooke Boyd, Zsani Kajan, and Isabelle Aviza all scored for the Johnnies and Naya Lipkens made two saves to secure the clean sheet. Kajan’s goal was her 10th of the season, making her the first player in program history to record a double-digit goal total in three seasons (‘18, ‘19, ‘21).

The Women’s Soccer team’s quick turn-

around to their Sunday afternoon Big East Conference home opener versus DePaul made for a much tougher match. “Part of that game, to be honest with you, was DePaul not playing on Thursday and us having to go to Connecticut,” said Head Coach Ian Stone in a postgame interview with The Torch. “[DePaul] got the bye on Thursday and we traveled to Connecticut and had a tough road game.”

Despite the obstacles, sophomore midfielder Ava Collins put the Red Storm in front in the sixth minute of the match. The 1-0 advantage would be all the Johnnies needed, as they held that lead for 84 more minutes behind Naya Lipkens’ 12 saves. The team’s fatigue showed as the game progressed, with DePaul shooting 17 shots compared to St. John’s seven. The Women’s Soccer team now sits at 6-2-1 overall and 2-0-0 in conference play on the season, with all of their victories coming in shutout fashion.

Women’s Volleyball opened conference play Saturday with a road match versus Connecticut, falling in three sets. The Red Storm were barely edged out by the Huskies, losing their sets 25-23, 25-22 and 26-24. Rachele Rastelli, third in the NCAA in total points, continued her season-long dominance with 13 kills in the match. The Johnnies had a chance to rebound just a day later at Seton Hall on Sunday, and rebound they did. Women’s Volleyball defeated the Pirates in four sets behind Klara Mikelova’s double-double featuring 14 kills and 12 digs. The team is now 10-6 overall and 1-1 in conference play ahead of their Big East home opener on Friday versus Creighton.

The Women’s Cross Country team returned to action for the first time in two weeks with a strong 3rd place finish at the Jasper Invite.

Claire Cushing placed third overall in the 6k race with a personal best time of 21:59.2.

Katherine Bruno finished fifth overall with a time of 22:16.2, and Mia Forster (14th), Hannah Huleatt (24th), and Tiffany-Ann Matturro (45th) rounded out the scoring for the Red Storm. This is the first time since 2018 that the Cross Country team has placed top five in consecutive races to open the fall season, but the team must tighten up the back end of its top five runners to contend into championship season.

St. John’s Golf returned to action last weekend at a pair of invitational tournaments. The Men’s Golf team finished fourth overall at the Macdonald Cup, led by senior Tyler Gerbavsits who tied for 14th place individually.

The Women’s Golf team did not fare as well, placing 12th in the team standings. They were guided by senior Jessie Kweon and sophomore Angelica Kusnowo with a three-round score of 228, which was ten strokes above par.

The strong start to the season by all Red Storm units is worthy of attention, but it is important to note the level of which both soccer programs are performing. The Men’s and Women’s Soccer teams were both picked to finish sixth in the annual coaches poll, but both teams are primed to contend for a Big East title. Their strong 2-0-0 starts are just the beginning of a competitive stretch of conference play in Queens.

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Ian Stone Earns 250th Career Win Brady Snyder

Enroute to their 6-2-1 overall record, the Women’s Soccer team has been earning individual career accolades. Longtime Head Coach Ian Stone is no different, as he became the winningest coach in program history earlier this month. In Stone’s 28th season with St. John’s University, he earned his 250th career win over the University of Delaware on Sept. 9th. Overall, Stone has led the Johnnies to a 250-20756 record over that span and a number of championships.

Stone says that the milestone is important, but it is more indicative of the program than his own success. “It means a lot [and] obviously it takes a village,” said Stone in an interview with The Torch. “I have tremendous assistant coaches, I’ve had phenomenal student athletes over the years, and my support staff and administrators do a fantastic job.”

Over the seasons, from Stone’s first win to his 250th win, he reflects on his growth as a coach.

“I’d like to think that I’ve developed a bit of an understanding of the female college soccer

player’s psyche.” Stone recognizes that this is a continuous task, and adds that the female college player’s psyche is “always ever-changing as well across the generations.”

Most of all, Stone credits his ability to learn and listen as the main reason for his longevity at the St. John’s Women’s Soccer program. “When I first started I thought I knew everything and soon found out that wasn’t the case,” said Stone. “I’m better at listening to my assistant coaches, listening to our leadership committees: our captains, our seniors.”

Stone has found a way to bring the best out of his players, mentoring 43 All-Big East Conference players and 11 All-Rookie Big East Conference players.

This season, he has guided graduate student Zsani Kajan on her journey to becoming the only player in program history to score ten or more goals in three separate seasons. Now, Stone will lead a Women’s Soccer team featuring stars, role players and future contributors on their quest for a Big East Conference title.

Ian Stone talks to players before a Sunday afternoon matchup with DePaul.

Torch Photo/ Sara Kiernan

Johnnies Leading The Charge Brady Snyder

Torch Photo/ Sara Kiernan

Torch Photo/ Sara Kiernan

ZSANI KAJAN Zsani Kajan has been the offensive force for Women’s Soccer this season, earning four Big East Conference weekly honors in the first five weeks of the season. Her ten goals through the first nine games of the season account for more than half of the team’s total goal scored. The double-digit mark cements Kajan in St. John’s history as the only player to reach double-digit totals in three separate seasons in the program. Kajan is third in the NCAA in goals per game and tied for fourth in total goals as of Sept. 28th.

NAYA LIPKENS Naya Lipkens’ steadiness at goalkeeper has propelled the Women’s Soccer team to their 6-2-1 start, as all six of their wins have come in shutouts. Lipkens has made 39 saves in order to lock down the goal with a save percentage of 83%. She has rested just about seven minutes across the Red Storm’s nine games, and brought home a Big East Conference Goalkeeper of the Week honor for her efforts.

CLAIRE CUSHING

RACHELE RASTELLI

Junior Claire Cushing is having her best season yet, leading the Women’s Cross Country team to their best start to a season since 2018. In Cushing’s first race, a 5k in the Bronx at the Fordham Fiasco, she paced the field with a winning time of 19:06.5. Cushing continued her dominance at the Jasper Invite in Montgomery, New York, her first full-length collegiate 6k race of the season. Cushing placed third overall in the race with a personal-best time of 21:59.2.

Rachele Rastelli has powered Red Storm Volleyball to a 10-6 (1-1 Big East) record behind her conference-leading 4.6 kills per set. Rastelli is third in total points in the NCAA as of Sept. 28th, but has led the nation at times. She also has two out of the top ten highest kill totals in a match this season for the Big East, including the top spot with 31 kills on Sept. 10th vs. Boston College.

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Life After The Storm: The Last Season Sara Kiernan

From across the pond, Matt Forster has made his mark over his 6-year career at Belson Stadium. Over his entire career at St. John’s, Forster has collected almost 4,000 minutes of playing time, starting 60 games and playing in 70. Forster has been at St. John’s since the very beginning of his collegiate career.

Forster has been playing soccer since he can remember.

“My dad would bring me to the park to play.”

Forster was recruited while playing back in England as the three-year captain of his high school team. When asked why he decided to come to play for the Redstorm, he told the Torch, “It was mainly the city, being in New York was a big draw. And playing in a good conference.”

Since being in the states for school since 2016, Forster has finished his undergrad in business and is a graduate student figuring out what his next steps are.

“I don’t want to go back to England yet. I wanna live in New York, I love it here. I wanna get a job in the city, looking towards finance and insurance.”

Being a student-athlete from undergraduate to graduate student, Forster says that without the St. John’s athletic department providing him a constant goal to work towards that his experience here would be so different.

“I don’t think I would have enjoyed it as much without athletics.”

Forster talks about how having something to do and figuring out time management between school and soccer definitely helped him in the long run.

One of Forster’s favorite memories while playing for the red storm was winning the second round against Syracuse, moving them to the third round and Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament back in 2019. This is something that Forster thinks could happen this season.

The Redstorm men’s soccer team is currently 2-0-0 in the Big East, making them tied with two other teams as of right now. After winning the home opener this past Friday, Forster is looking forward to a top-tier season.

“One of the best group[s] of guys since I have been here. I think it is just the start for us.”

The goal that Forster has for the team is to be ranked in the top 10 in the next few weeks. The entire team is now fighting every game to be in the NCAA championship tournament at the end of the season.

In his last season of being a Johnnie, Forster plans on keeping soccer in his life and possibly finding a job that involves it.

“I love the game so much, I’ll always have it in the back of my mind.”

#15 Matt Forster

Torch Photo/Sara Kiernan

On Top Of The Big East Conference

Both Men’s and Women’s Soccer Are 2-0 In Big East Conference Play Sara Kiernan

After a whole month of St. John’s Soccer back in action, the road to being at the top of the Big East is looking promising. Both Red Storm teams are 2-0 in the Big East Conference.

As of today, the Red Storm Men’s team is in a three-way tie for the top spot in the Big East with a record of 2-0. Currently, they have an overall record of 6-2. This is huge for the Men’s team as they are moving back to their pre-coronavirus standard of play.

Their one home loss from the beginning of the season against Marist was a wake-up call for the team to work harder if they want to be the best.

Matt Forster, a graduate student who has been on the team since 2016, spoke about how their plan of action changed after that loss.

“We had a little slip-up at the beginning of the season against Marist and we have reacted amazingly, having not lost a game since,” he said.

Since that loss, the Men’s team has been on a five-game win streak. Junior utility player Jared Juleau told The Torch how he felt about the win over Creighton at the Big East home opener.

“A win is a win. Honestly, we get all the chances we get [so], we just have

to finish them. If it’s 1-0, 3-0 a win is a win,” Juleau said.

The Women’s team is also tied with one other team, Butler, for the top spot in the Big East with a 2-0 record.

The women’s overall record is 6-2-1 for the season but is currently on a two-game win streak. The win against DePaul at the home opener pushed them into a better position in the Big East.

Sophomore midfielder Ava Collins told The Torch about how this season has been going in the best direction that they can hope for. After losing against Yale playing other Big East teams, securing a win on the road against the University of Connecticut was crucial.

“Obviously off Thursday’s win, we had a bit of momentum coming and so we knew we needed to come out strong and show them that we were up for the fight,” Collins said.

Collins has been one of the top players of the season with three goals, playing 67 minutes and starting seven of the nine total games of the season.

Overall the Red Storm Soccer program is moving its way back to its pre-pandemic glory. This season will soon be in the history books for the Johnnies.

#2 Jared Juleau

Torch Photo/Sara Kiernan

#8 Ava Collins

Torch Photo/Sara Kiernan

SPORTS September 28, 2021 | VOLUME 99, SEPTEMBER ISSUE

| TORCHONLINE.COM

The RedZone Storms Through Queens

From St. John's to CBS Sports

Torch Photo/ Sara Kiernan

Brady Snyder

There’s another storm coming to Queens—the St. John’s Red Storm, who are returning to full action this semester for the first time since March 2020. Alongside them is RedZone, the official St. John’s student section. After lying dormant for 18 months, fans are eager and ready to support the Johnnies this fall.

RedZone kicked off the soccer season with a bang at the St. John’s Men’s Soccer home opener on Aug. 30. The student section, led by RedZone Committee Chair David Diano, hosted a pregame event featuring food trucks, backyard games and other activities. If the goal was to pack and energize the stands, it worked.

“Our kickoff food truck event was a huge success! That was probably the game with the best attendance so far,” said Diano in a comment to The Torch.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, St. John’s University is limiting the number of people that can congregate indoors. There is no limit to the number of people that

can attend outdoor events, however, and this allowed RedZone to hold their kickoff event during move-in week. The University has even allowed students and fans to go maskless at outdoor athletic events, though it still recommends unvaccinated students to wear a face covering in large, outdoor groups.

The University’s lift of many restrictions that limited events last year allowed the student body to come out and support the Johnnies with full force. Both the grandstand and the goal lines were filled with a sea of red-wearing supporters for soccer games. According to St. John’s Athletics, the Men’s Soccer team has averaged 1,200 fans per game through five games at Belson Stadium in non-conference play. It was an unfamiliar atmosphere for a large portion of the student body. The freshman, sophomore, and transfer students of St. John’s had become all too familiar with the desolate emptiness of the Queens campus during the darkest days of the pandemic. Diano adds, “I feel after 18 months of no sports, the desire for our students to be back in

that setting is greater than ever.”

The effort was not in vain as the Red Storm have performed favorably in their non-conference schedules.

Men and Women’s Soccer have performed particularly well, closing out non-conference play at 4-2 and 4-21, respectively. Could their success be in part due to the energy brought by RedZone and the fans? Big East Conference Weekly Honor Roll recipient and Men’s Soccer midfielder Brandon Knapp thinks so. “It’s been great getting the fans back,” said Knapp in an exclusive Torch interview. “It’s awesome, we really feed off [of ] their energy, [and] we’ve had a lot of fans here.”

Diano sees the effect that the fans have on the outcome of games firsthand, and hopes part of the cause is RedZone. “I like to think the RedZone plays a big part in the success of home athletics games,” said Diano. “When we get big and passionate crowds of students together, not only do they feed off of each other’s energy, but the teams do as well.” From Albany goalkeeper Carlos Tofern kicking the goalpost in frustration

after allowing a goal to Columbia defender Keenan Foley breaking focus to laugh at RedZone’s chants, Diano appears to be correct. This is all part of the plan, as Diano said he would “like to think we do a very good job of giving them a hard time [because] it is all part of the fun of the game.”

The return of University sports has also been an unwelcome reminder that the COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing. The St. John’s Women’s Soccer Team announced a match cancellation due to COVID-19 concerns within their opponent’s program just last week. The hope is that University guidelines, including mandatory vaccination, testing and masking, will prevent COVID-19 issues within the Red Storm. Only time will tell.

For now, RedZone will hope to back St. John’s student-athletes on their path to a successful fall season.

At the time of writing, all University teams carry a winning percentage of .500 or better in non conference play. With Big East Conference play beginning, our St. John’s students are ready and able to rally behind St. John’s Athletics once again.