Torch Photo / James Williams
Torch Photo / James Williams, Olivia Seaman
‘We Are Shoe York City’ Exhibit Opens at Yeh Art Gallery
The event featured a panel of sneakerheads and a collection of customized shoes.
Nicholas st cyr | Feb. 10, 2025
St. John’s University’s Collins College of Professional Studies (CCPS) held the opening of the “We Are Shoe York City” art exhibit in the Yeh Art Gallery on Feb. 6.
From 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., the exhibit showcases the history of sneaker and hip-hop culture in New York City.
Multiple University-affiliated and independent organizations collaborated to organize the event. The St. John’s Division of Sports Management, SOLEcial Studies CommUNITY Academy, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), the Institute of Interdisciplinary Sport Research and NRS CustomX helped curate the exhibit and host its opening night.
As attendees entered the event, they were greeted by hip-hop music from St. John’s alumnus Terrell Amparado and DJ T, and were prompted to take a raffle ticket. Prizes included a copy of “Fresh Fly Fabulous: 50 Years of Hip Hop Style” signed by co-author and Fashion Institute of Technology Professor Elena Romero.
Attendees gathered to hear from a panel of self-proclaimed sneakerheads and supporters of the exhibit.
CCPS Dean Luca Iandoli spoke highly of
the collaboration on display before the panel began.
“You can see how all of these minds work together tonight to build this, which is an outstanding, amazing example of creativity and design,” Iandoli said. “There are so many different ways to look at something. In this case, it is just an object like shoes.”
Event manager Simon Pack introduced the panel members and moderator, St. John’s alumnus Max Coughlan.
The speakers featured Sean Williams from SOLEcial Studies CommUNITY Academy, Danny Lee from NRS CustomX, Andrew Nasti, a shoe customizer for professional athletes and Romero. Williams spoke about how the exhibit highlighted the importance of sneaker culture in New York.
“I think people should take a little bit of appreciation of the exhibition out there snd see the individual sort of style and personality and some of the things we pointed out representing the five boroughs as We Are Shoe York,” Williams said.
He also spoke about how Lee and Nasti’s work as shoe customizers has a positive effect on the culture.
“These two gentlemen here represent that in-
dividuality that still exists.”
announced, and the audience was invited to watch Lee sew a customized shoe in honor of former St. John’s coach Lou Carnesseca.
Attendees also had the opportunity to mingle as they walked through the subway-themed shoe exhibit that featured a shoe representing each borough or visit the Inclusivity Resource Center (IRC) to view a collection of custom sneakers.
“I thought it was nice how people were chatting about it, bonding over it and bringing people together,” senior Brayden Maxwell said.
While browsing the assortment of sneakers in the IRC, senior Ari Phillips was drawn to the signature shoe of the New York Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu. “She’s my favorite WNBA Player. I think that was the first one where I was like, ‘this is cool,’” Phillips said.
Senior Dilon Bheer was surprised by the amount of customization on display. “I knew there was variety, but this was just a whole other level,” Bheer said.
The exhibit will be displayed in Sun Yat Sen for the remainder of the spring semester.
Torch
Torch Photos / Nicholas St. Cyr
Basketball Ticket Policy Changes Amid NIL Challenges and Arena Upgrades
University President Shanley discusses financial pressures of the NIL era.
As college athletics continue to evolve in the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) era, the St. John’s basketball program has revamped its season ticket process.
In an email sent to season ticket holders on Jan. 21, first-year athletic director Ed Kull introduced a new “Priority Points System.” The program will reseat season ticket holders based on their contributions to the University, support for NIL initiatives and consecutive seasons as members. Final “point totals” will be determined by May 31.
The shift comes as schools nationwide turn to donor-driven models to remain competitive in the NIL landscape.
Frank Molfetta, a full-season ticket holder since the 2015-16 campaign and a prominent figure in the St. John’s basketball online community, has mixed feelings about the change.
“I think the risk is how [the system] is executed,” Molfetta said. “Most of us have never asked for much. We’ve donated and attended because we love our school and this program.”
Molfetta intended to increase his financial contributions to the team before the change was announced but now hopes his generosity will allow him to retain his current seats.
“Long-time season ticketholders want to be,
Kyler
FOx | Feb. 6, 2024
and frankly should be, rewarded with retaining their seats at [Madison Square Garden] and the nearest equivalent, or, if they qualify on priority points, upgraded seats,” he said. “We’re the ones who have been here through the lean years,” Molfetta continued, referencing the program’s shortcomings in recent seasons.
In an interview with The Torch, University President Rev. Brian Shanley acknowledged the evolving landscape of college athletics and the need to maximize revenue to sustain the program’s success.
“We’ve been talking about it since I’ve been here and especially since Coach [Rick] Pitino got here. It’s something, given the momentous changes in college athletics right now, from a financial point of view and the NIL situation, which is not done,” Shanley said. “We need to look at how to maximize revenue from athletics because it’s just going to cost us more to do athletics.”
Shanley continued by emphasizing the Unversity’s efforts to improve the fan experience on campus at Carnesecca Arena.
“One of the things that we want to do is make Carnesecca a better fan-friendly arena. So, you know, some of the easy things to do
were start selling beer or bring the trucks outside, make it a better fan experience,” he said. Shanley also acknowledged the financial challenges of upgrading the revered venue.
“The challenge is that Carnesecca is a really old building and it would cost us a lot of money to make it really good,” he said. “So the question that we haven’t really answered yet is how many games are we gonna play in Carnesecca and how many games are we going to play in The Garden?”
Shanley also addressed the connection between the revamped ticket system and the need for increased financial support, particularly for NIL.
“The question right now though is that we need fans to give us and donors to give us money for NIL,” he said. “And so now I think the biggest change is we’re gonna count if you’ve given money to NIL as part of your points for seat locations.”
As Molfetta and other fans prepare to navigate the Priority Points System, the University finds itself adapting to the realities of modern college athletics. As the program cements itself as a national powerhouse, this model plans to shape the future of Red Storm basketball.
New Academic Building Planned Amid Renovations Administration
shares early details on construction.
In an interview with The Torch, St. John’s University President Rev. Brian Shanley revealed plans to construct a new academic building at the Queens campus. The construction would provide a space for classroom activity while renovations are made at St. John and St. Albert Halls.
The proposed renovations are part of the Campus Master Plan, in coordination with Gensler, a global design and architecture firm. The plan was announced to all students through e-mail in December 2023, with a University-wide survey sent in March 2024.
“I think what they’re going to propose, I don’t say this for sure, is that we build another new academic building which will give us the space to be able to go into the other buildings and work on them,” Shanley said.
“I think probably St. John’s first and then St. Albert’s,” he continued.
St. John Hall stands as the oldest on-campus building, constructed in 1954. “It looks like it looked like 40, 50 years ago,” Shanley said. The original St. Albert the Great Hall was built in 1956.
He added that Gensler has “spent the past semester talking to people” about plans, including several students on that steering committee.
“It was really a collaborative community-based approach on hearing those ideas that could make the proposal.”
“Prime real estate” for the building would be on the campus’ upper quad.
“You’ve got St. John [Hall] on one side, you’ve got St. Albert and St. Augustine on the other side, the Church. Imagine you’re standing in that walkway between the chapel over to St. John’s. That would be the logical place to put a new academic building.”
While the University does not have a definitive timeline, Shanley said it will be “a while before we have a clear sense of where the master space plan is going to go.”
Another piece of the master plan, according to Shanley, is creating more spaces for students when they’re in between classes.
“If we’re able to build a new academic building, that will be a huge source of more space for students. You hear that a lot from students,” he said. “It’s a challenge for us as well because we’re a mix of commuters and residential students. We have to serve both populations.”
He said that academic spaces are the University’s first priority while recreational spaces are second. This plan is already in action with plans to renovate Taffner after a basketball facility is completed in Spring 2027.
Olivia Seaman | Feb. 10, 2025
University Groups Put on 22nd Annual Lunar New Year Celebration
The event included performances, dinner and bingo.
St. John’s University’s Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) and Campus Activities held the 22nd annual Lunar New Year Dinner in the D’Angelo Center Ballroom from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The celebration commemorates the Year of the Snake, which values positivity and resilience.
Several student and University groups collaborated to put on the event including OMA, the Cultural and Identity Programming Council, the Institute of Asian Studies, the International Student Council, Project AIM, Chinese Cultural Association (CCA), Kappa Phi Lambda Sorority Inc, Philippine-Americans Reaching Everyone (PARE) and SJU K Dance.
While waiting to be seated, Rhona Castanheiro, a junior and former mentor at Project AIM said, “It really is an amazing experience. I like that this school has different cultural events where it’s not just Catholic.”
Malak kasseM | Feb. 2, 2024
“I hope that people all come together to enjoy this cultural event regardless of whether they identify with Chinese culture or not,” OMA staff member Grayline Goff said. Before performances, leaders announced the first batch of raffle winners, who won $10 Starbucks or Dunkin’ gift cards.
invitation to recharge, for us to reconnect and to restore humanity to mankind,” he said. “In this room, there is a lot of love and joy, and we want to make sure that we keep that love and joy flowing.”
Following the opening address, Rev. Tri Duong E.M, associate director of campus ministry for interfaith/ecumenical ministry followed up with a prayer. Performances kicked off with the Lion Dance by the Ohana Paddling Association, which is believed to bring good luck.
Before programming began, attendees were given bingo sheets and raffle tickets. This allowed people to circulate the ballroom, asking others to fill out their sheets.
Bingo slots included Asian-themed questions like “Knows how to fold an origami animal” and “Can name three Asian countries that celebrate Lunar New Year”
“Even those of us who are born in America, it’s important for us to remember the culture that we came from,” Richard Cheu, a history doctoral student and neurophysiologist said.
Sharod L. Tomlinson, assistant vice president for equity and inclusion and student belonging kicked off the night with opening notes, “As we celebrate this Lunar New Year, it’s more than just a celebration, but it is an
Chep Nguyen and Travis Nguyen of Project AIM followed the Lion Dance singing an original song titled “Together.”
The St. John’s K dance team took center stage before the open buffet was ready for attendees. Halal and vegetarian options were available.
PARE put on a traditional Tinikling folk dance, which involves two participants tapping bamboo sticks against the floor while dancers step in and over the pole in a coordinated fashion.
Attendees were invited to join after performers demonstrated and cheered each other as they navigated the traditional dance.
Raffles were also drawn at the end of the event.
NYPD Investigates Swastikas Drawn in Snow on St. John’s University Campus
The incident marks the third in one year.
The New York City Police Department (NYPD) is investigating an incident at St. John’s University where two men drew swastikas in the snow. The incident occurred on Jan. 24 at approximately 5:15 p.m., according to the NYPD’s Deputy Commissioner of Public Information (DCPI).
Following the act, “The individuals then fled on foot in an unknown direction. There were no reported injuries. The NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating,” the NYPD told the Torch in an email.
One suspect was described by the NYPD as last seen wearing a black bubble jacket, black
hoodie, sweatpants and sneakers. The second suspect was described as last seen wearing a black jacket, jeans and white and black sneakers.
This is not the first recent hate-related incident on campus in the last year.
On July 6, 2024, a Public Safety officer found a swastika “etched into the concrete” of the parking garage located near Gate 6. On Oct. 15, a swastika was found drawn on a piece of lab equipment. The NYPD was notified in both cases.
The University condemned the most recent incident in a statement to the Torch.
“The NYPD is investigating this incident as a hate crime. St. John’s condemns antisemitism and continues to engage with members of the campus community on our ongoing efforts to prevent and address all forms of discrimination,” University spokesperson Brian Browne.
The NYPD asks anyone with information to call the Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577TIPS or submit a tip through their website.
To report any non-emergency situations, members of the University community can report a bias complaint on the St. John’s website.
Olivia seaMan | Feb. 3, 2024
Torch Photo/Malak Kassem
Future Educators Club: Learning Through Action
This organization prepares its members for careers in the classroom.
Learning doesn’t always have to be inside a classroom, even for education students. Many of the most fruitful learning experiences stem from collaborative, hands-on activities. The St. John’s University Future Educators Club, started in 2022 by students in the School of Education, emphasizes this idea, focusing on professional development, volunteer work and other experiential learning events for aspiring teachers.
President Amber Collazo explained the organization’s strong emphasis on preparing its members for their teaching careers, sharing that the mission of the Future Educators Club is to “help members build strong connections with those in the School of Education and those in the school system already.”
Vice President Emily Florea highlighted the importance of mentorship, specifically mentioning the executive board’s guidance to newer education students.
“We have had the opportunity to provide mentorship to our underclassmen and provide them with any advice from our past experiences to help them succeed,” she said.
To motivate new members and build rapport, the first event hosted in the 2024-2025 academic year was a vision board workshop, which inspired attendees to map out their future teaching careers. Treasurer Josh Fox believes it was a huge success because “everyone was able to show their creativity and explore what life as a future teacher could look like.”
Secretary Briana Tola agreed, adding that it allowed members to “showcase their dreams,” in turn motivating them to continue working towards their professional goals.
The club also hosts numerous career-oriented events, which, according to Fox, “give future teachers connections that will give them an advantage as they transition to their career.” Such events included a LinkedIn workshop, which taught students to create profiles that suited the educational field. Headshots were also taken free of charge. They plan to introduce additional professional development and networking opportunities in the Spring 2025. Tola is especially committed to this goal because she “believes it’s important to develop as many skills as possible before beginning teaching careers.”
Collazo plans to execute this by connecting Future Educators Club members with current teachers since they can give specific advice to students and provide insights on teaching various grade levels. She thinks this is particularly helpful for students who are unsure about the type of school or age they want to teach.
The Future Educators Club also has a philanthropic aspect to their organization. They’ve hosted various service events throughout the semester, such as holiday card-making for hospital and nursing home patients and Halloween candy donations for elementary school students.
This semester, Fox hopes to “get more involved with service, specifically at schools, like with book drives or events for reading month.”
Because the Future Educators Club is a relatively new organization, it’s still growing and working to become more well-known among School of Education students. Florea’s main goal for the Spring 2025 semester is to grow the club further and recruit new members. She specifically aims to “work with the School of Education as a whole to foster a further sense of community throughout the school.”
AlexAndrA Prettitore | Feb. 7, 2025
Photo Courtesy / Briana Tola
Five Unique Valentine’s Day Dates
For when you want more than just a restaurant.
Valentine’s Day falls at a fairly convenient time — the holidays have passed and the semester has just started, so many students need a day to do something special with a loved one, whether that be a friend, partner or family member. This doesn’t have to mean another usual dinner date. Here are five alternatives to a traditional date night out — and some cheap alternatives if you stay in.
Met Date Night
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met) hosts “Date Night” every Friday and Saturday from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. This year, Valentine’s Day lands on a Friday, which is the perfect opportunity to experience the Met after dark.
From live music to drink specials, experiencing one of New York City’s most iconic museums at night, especially on Feb. 14, isn’t something to miss. Admission is pay-what-you-wish for NY, NJ and CT residents and students, making this an inexpensive and unique date.
Cooking Class
Between Queens and NYC, there are several options for taking a cooking class with a partner or a friend. Giftory and Cozymeal offer
Olivia RainsOn | Feb. 8, 2025
deals on numerous classes, from pasta making to cocktail creating. Prices shown are typically for two people and can range from $65 to $126. This may be a more expensive activity, but when considering the price of a dinner for two, it’s a class and meal all in one.
Another great (and cheap) option is to have your own cooking class at home. Find a recipe you have been wanting to try and attempt to make it together! Some easy recipes are kinds of pasta with homemade sauce or a simple chicken dish.
Paint and Sip
“Paint and Sip” is a fun way to be creative with your partner without having to acquire all the materials yourself — including the wine. Painting With a Twist in Forest Hills offers two sessions on Feb. 14 at 3 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. for $59 to $65 depending on the canvas size. Snacks and alcohol are also included with the two-hour painting experience, giving you your money’s worth.
If you have art supplies of your own, this activity can easily be replicated at home. Pinterest has an abundance of step-by-step tutorials to follow while sipping on any, or no, drink. Whether you are competing to see who can
create the best painting or attempting separate images, creating something together is the perfect way to connect this Valentine’s Day.
Karaoke Night
If singing is your thing, there are many places in Koreatown for a karaoke night. Prices for private rooms can range from $10 to $50 per hour depending on the package selected. For a more local night, Flushing offers a variety of places to explore, as well as great restaurants to indulge in before the karaoke.
Assuming you don’t have roommates or ones that love a performance, karaoke can be done at home to save money. YouTube has karaoke-style lyric videos you and your partner can follow from duets to solos.
Comedy Club
Comedy Clubs are a fun way to explore the unique activities NYC has to offer. Places such as Comedy Cellar or New York Comedy Club range from $15 to $40 a ticket depending on the admission chosen. Along with the show, attendees have access to a bar, food and table seating. For an interactive date night, comedy shows are a fun experience to share with a partner this Valentine’s Day.
Photo Courtesy / Youtube Mimi
Is ‘Just Friends’ a Simple Equation?
Modern-day takes on an age-old debate.
Male-female friendship.
Societal norms often suggest that this relationship is complex, but can be reasoned with some calculation.
Not all math problems seek solutions, but social expectations and traditions have predetermined that romantic partnership is a desired conclusion in this equation. For decades, cisgender men and women have been encouraged to adhere to the “rules” that exist within a long-standing stereotype.
In this ratio, value is most frequently measured on a romantic love scale. While the logistics of the relationship are open to interpretation, it can be reasoned that on one side of this scale is emotional commitment. On the other, pure physical intimacy.
Rob Reiner’s romantic comedy classic “When Harry Met Sally” examined the gender gaps that exist in friendships of cisgender men and women from different perspectives. Still, platonic love for a friend blossoms into romance in the end.
This raises an additional question: How many times have you been told that men and women can’t be “just friends?”
St. John’s University senior Lex Autera says frequently throughout her life.
“I think because of things like movies or even hearing about situations that happen in real life, people have become convinced that men and women can’t be just friends. It’s a hard concept for some to understand,” Autera said.
That’s not to say that the senior agrees with what has been suggested to her.
“I’m in these types of friendships, so I believe that men and women
Forever Friends
Molly Downs, Culture Editor
can easily be just friends, as long as there has never been any attraction or wanting anything more from each other. The vibe has to be strictly platonic,” she said.
Senior Veronica Minissale reflected on her own experiences with cross-gender friendships.
“I have girl and guy friends that I know don’t have other intentions,” Minissale said. “If they did and I had a partner, I would make it clear I wouldn’t want anything besides a friendship.”
While Minissale recognizes that gender should not define friendship status, she added that “prioritizing what is important” should be highly regarded when a significant other is added to the equation.
“It doesn’t matter as long as there is respect for both sides. Communication is key in these situations because oftentimes, there are misunderstandings,” she said.
Senior Brendan Geddes provided a fresh perspective by stating that not all opposite-gender friendships are purely based on physical attraction and intimacy.
“Look at Jerry and Elaine from Seinfeld,” Geddes told The Torch. “In an ideal world, a friendly relationship, even between former partners, should be acceptable.”
While the potential for romantic attraction can be considered solid evidence in favor of one side of the debate, someone like Geddes would argue that platonic partnerships are more than feasible. He finalized this conclusion with some promising elements to think about when it comes to people in general.
“Cliched, but trust is the most important element to any relationship, romantic or not,” Geddes said.
Sophomore Oskar Bohaczyk expressed his appreciation for mutual respect when asked about being in a relationship with someone who has a close friend who is the same gender as him.
“If my partner is friends with a person that I can’t really trust, or have a gut feeling about something that doesn’t feel right, then I would tell them,” he said. “If they’re a good partner, they will hopefully stop talking to them, or talk to them less.”
This led to the conversation of boundary crosses, and for Bohaczyk, too much “quality time” would raise unwanted concerns for him.
“I wouldn’t mind my partner hanging out with them here and there, but there’s definitely a point where it becomes excessive,” he concluded.
Male-female friendships consist of two variables, regardless of the values they carry. However, these values are what determines the level of complexity, or simplicity, within the dynamic.
Regardless of status, no relationship is as simple as a standard mathematical equation.
Falling in love with your best friend has always been the classic trope in many love stories, but that’s all I ever thought it could be: a story. James and I met when we were sophomores in college and instantly became close friends. When he transferred the following year, part of me worried we would drift away from each other, but the opposite happened. Somehow our close friendship became closer over hundreds of miles. The connection grew until it was obvious neither of us wanted to just be friends anymore. Dating my best friend has been a lovely little story.
Isabella acIerno | Feb. 4, 2025
Torch Design / Megan Chapman
Torch Photo / Isabella Acierno
Marian Edgar Budde Might Have Been out of Pocket, but She Was Right
How Donald Trump’s immigration policy is completely unjustified.
MiCah GraysOn | Jan. 31, 2025
America’s 47th president is starting his term exactly how he said he would, but his stay-in-Mexico policy’s depravity and unsubstantiated nature cannot go unnoticed.
One individual who understood this well was Bishop of the Episcopalian Diocese of Washington D.C., Marian Edgar Budde. On Jan. 21, she called for Donald Trump to exercise empathy towards the upwards of 11 million migrants he plans to deport under his new administration, as well as members of the LGBTQ+ community, which he has also targeted with new legislation.
“[Undocumented Migrants] may not be citizens or have the proper documentation, but the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals. They pay taxes and are good neighbors. They are faithful members of our churches and mosques, synagogues.”
flected on a graph.
I’ve experienced many of the cultural effects firsthand. The wide variety of people from different backgrounds living in one area greatly affects how natural-born U.S. citizens, such as myself, view the world’s di-
daughters is completely unfounded.
Bishop Budde’s sentiment was not only pertinent in terms of the central message. But it perfectly captured the hypocrisy of a right-wing movement that has managed to co-opt Christianity with its hateful ideology. In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus says “Love your neighbor as yourself” Maybe the president should’ve considered that before formulating a cornucopia of lies vilifying millions of undocumented citizens that live amongst us.
An Episcopalian Church isn’t a traditional setting for radical left sentiment, but Budde’s points perfectly summarize why Trump’s policies are indefensible.
The first and most obvious is the lie that migrants make up a large chunk of the violent crimes taking place on U.S. soil. Data collected by the National Institute of Justice exposes this as an abject falsity. Undocumented immigrants offend at a lower rate than natural-born U.S. citizens, both in terms of violent crime and overall crime.
On average, undocumented migrants commit fewer crimes and provide vital labor that drives American agricultural production.
According to the U.S. National Agriculture Workers Survey, around 70% of those who work in agriculture are immigrants, and 40% are undocumented. We rely on them for one of our most important sectors, and the moves that the president has and will continue to implement will devastate the American economy. Millions of lost jobs, millions lost in yields and severe crisis.
What also can’t be overstated is the impact of undocumented citizens, which isn’t re-
verse cultures.
This attitude shift is not set in motion simply by the differences. Learning about different traditions, languages and trying out different foods certainly gives one a sense of appreciation. But the number of similarities between someone whose family is from another part of the world and an individual such as myself demonstrates how immigrants are just as American as anybody else.
Assimilation happens quickly, and for all of our country’s faults, the culture and loving attitude we have in the U.S. has made it so that regardless of whatever reason migrants might come here for, they end up wanting to stay.
The notion that large swaths of migrants simply sell illicit drugs and commit heinous crimes to natural-born sons and
The future is bleak — that much must be recognized. Understanding the consequences of the administration’s policy is the first step to resistance. Joining one of the many organizations in cities that deal with the challenges undocumented migrants face is perhaps the best and most accessible way for average Americans to combat the devastation.
In New York City, groups such as the New York Immigration Coalition have communicated with city officials about what must be done to protect the undocumented population, provided essential information about immigrants’ rights, and worked to improve migrants’ material conditions while living there.
The Episcopalian bishop was sharp in her analysis, but more must be done on the ground to combat the actions of this administration.
Photo Courtesy / Youtube POLITICO
102ND EDITORIAL BOARD
Olivia Seaman EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Kyler Fox MANAGING EDITOR
MalaK KasseM
NEWS EDITOR
Isabella athanasIou ASST.
NEWS EDITOR
JaMes WIllIaMs SPORTS EDITOR
Molly DoWns
CULTURE EDITOR
CelIna MullaDy ASST.
CULTURE EDITOR
Carlyann Carey
OPINION EDITOR
MICah Grayson ASST. OPINION
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olIvIa raInson
FEATURES EDITOR
alexanDra PrettItore ASST. FEATURES EDITOR
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STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS
Parker Songco
Nicholas St. Cyr
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
Did ‘Not Like Us’ Really Resonate With the Academy?
Every year, the Grammy Awards celebrate the highest achievements of the biggest names in the industry. This year, audiences witnessed artists like Chappell Roan, Doechii and Lady Gaga speak about trans rights, racism and healthcare during their acceptance speeches.
deeply you follow the rap beef, it feels as if someone is running in the A-list crowd that actually cares about the difficult and problematic parts of celebrity culture.
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There was also something less discussed, but rare for the Recording Academy to acknowledge being awarded.
Kendrick Lamar dropped a series of songs discussing fellow rapper Drake back in May 2024. The songs went into detail about the serious accusations against the artist such as pedophilia, sexual abuse and even went as far as to call him a “colonizer.” One of the songs in the series, titled “Not Like Us,” brought home five Grammys for the artist.
The song is more than just a diss track or a generic rap beef we’re subjected to every few years. It’s a cultural phenomenon that goes in-depth on topics most artists haven’t touched on.
To openly call out a man as famous and wealthy as Drake on something often swept under the rug is already rare. But to receive so much mainstream success from it is nearly unheard of. When played at the Grammys, he got a crowd of A-list stars singing the lyrics “Tryna strike a chord and it’s probably A minor.”
Someone such as Kendrick using his platform to unabashedly articulate his issues with an artist’s abuse of power is meaningful. Regardless of how
You would think that the Academy would finally be starting to validate victims of assault, right? That is until you do some research into who else won awards this year.
The Grammys, on the eve of the show, honored Joel Katz with the Trustees Award.
Terri McIntyre, the former executive director of the Los Angeles chapter of the Academy, alleges that Katz, their former general counsel, offered her $1 million in exchange for her silence when she was sexually assaulted by her boss twice two decades ago.
Katz is the one who told her it was time to “put this to bed” and sign an NDA and is notorious for being one of the main leaders in the sexual abuse coverups in the Academy.
A night where music calling out sexual assault is celebrated, but just the night before they were rewarding men for covering it up. It’s performative.
“Not Like Us” is incredible as a body of art, but what is art if not a confrontation of real-world issues?
The Academy can award music for the sake of it being music as often as it wants, but it must understand and engage with the deeper meanings of the songs they are celebrating.
The Academy is exactly like the person Kendrick antagonizes. “They not like us.”
Carlyann Carey | Feb. 11, 2025
Why Is Everyone Suddenly Conservative?
America is not the only country turning right.
Americans are in a fit of chaos. With the second inauguration of President Donald Trump came a sweeping amount of executive orders including actions taken against birthright citizenship and calling for unrestricted use of artificial intelligence (AI) which can jeopardize American jobs.
America, as evidenced by Elon Musk’s interference in German politics, is not the only country accelerating toward a far-right political system. After the inauguration, Musk spoke to a crowd of Germany’s conservative party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), and told supporters to move beyond their “past guilt.”
Musk first showed signs of an interest in a far-right Germany when he used an unambiguous Nazi salute after Trump’s inauguration. The world reacted with confusion that was soon clarified after Musk continued to allude to Germany’s genocidal past.
This proves Europe is also becoming more conservative, and many like Germany’s conservative party or France’s Republican Party headed by Marine Le Pen, were counting on a Trump victory to solidify a rapidly changing Western world.
This is not just about Musk’s recent Nazism, it’s also about a dangerous alliance with Europe and America, showing a global thought shift which could have disastrous repercussions.
But the question I’m asking is simple. Why? Anne Applebaum from The Atlantic might have some answers.
In an interview for NPR, Scott Simon inter-
Carlyann Carey | Feb. 8,
2025
viewed Applebaum on the rise of a global farright. She claims that conservatism’s appeal to the average person has a lot to do with the two types of messages that are being put forth.
One type of right-wing party tries to dismantle democracy overtly. They do not hide what they are doing and plan on doing. They rely on strong connections to erode the media and the democratic system. A prominent example of this is Russia. When Putin was elected president in 2000, only days later did the military storm newspaper headquarters and planted the seeds for authoritarianism.
The other relies on a sense of nationalism and unites Europe, or America, in discontent about things such as immigration. When people are united against a common cause, no matter how fair and accurate that cause is about real issues. It is easier to come into power and manipulate people about a leader’s intentions. We can currently see this in countries like Hungary, the United States, Brazil and India.
This is all true and provides a powerful explanation for why and how conservatism is gaining a foothold internationally. However, a huge, and maybe overlooked reason, is the youth.
No one is taking the rise of the right in new voters seriously enough, which is allowing conservative leaders to take advantage of social media and podcasts to cater to young people. Le Monde writes specifically on how young men are turning more conservative than their female counterparts by a margin of 30%.
Donald Trump appeared on podcasts like
the “Joe Rogan Experience” to speak directly to Rogan’s young male audience about political topics. He also “tried” to get TikTok back after first introducing a ban in 2020. Why? To create a narrative that young men can hang onto.
The same can be said of Marine Le Pen, the leader of the National Rally, the conservative party of France. She has promised young people employment opportunities without having an egregious amount of degrees and qualifications. She appeals directly to youth via TikTok.
“Many observers credit the far right’s social media prowess for their success with younger voters…Jordan Bardella, the National Rally’s 28-year-old president and presumed successor to Le Pen, has proven to be a social media sensation in France, boasting 1.6 million followers on TikTok,” Time Magazine writes.
Naturally, this kind of tactic would appeal more to young men, who are no longer more educated or powerful as the women they now must force to consider their peers. This kind of anger allows for people like Donald Trump and European politicians to promise a reinstatement of the past, and possibly the utopia they grew up dreaming about.
Conservatives are quickly gaining traction on a global front. They are pushing the Western world to the far right with overwhelming speed. Their greatest supporters, and one of the main reasons for their success, are our peers. The more TikTok dances politicians do and podcasts they go on, the more young people will hit the polls and vote for them.
Photo Courtesy / YouTube POLITICO
Curating a Multi-Genre Love Song Playlist
Here’s a Valentine’s playlist with at least one song everyone can enjoy.
Molly
Downs | Feb. 11, 2025
A thoughtful Valentine’s Day gift for someone can be as simple as a handmade card, homemade meal or even a playlist curated to their taste. Fitting with the holiday, there’s no better time to lean into the romantic melodies. Whether it’s for a partner or simply to embrace the feeling of love in the air, here’s a collection of love songs from five different genres that’s sure to have a sample of something everyone can enjoy.
Pop
The pop genre as a whole has no shortage of great love songs, but many of them seem to remain relatively surface-level. Taylor Swift is one artist who is best known for her romantic ballads with an entire album entitled “Lover.” Yet the song that is arguably her most loving is a little less on the nose: “invisible string.”
She sings poetically of the little details that have led her and her partner to one another, almost as if they’ve been tied together by a “single thread of gold.”
For a more classically pop track, Michael Jackson’s “Love Never Felt So Good” is upbeat and playful, emphasizing how fun falling in love can be. Jackson’s lyrics are about finding a love so good, it feels as if it’s not real. The repetition of how “love never felt so good” with the disco-influenced instrumentals makes for a song that two lovers can dance around and feel good to.
Rap
In true Mac Miller fashion, “ROS” is a sweetly raw track, painting an honest portrayal of what it’s like to be in love. Starting slow and almost jazzy with just piano instrumentals, Miller raps about seeking his love out through “sunshine or rain.” It picks up in the second half — filled with verses expressing awe at his lover's beauty and the feelings he has for her, “Your skin smell like butterscotch and your lips taste like kiwi.” Listening to this song should make you think of the one who will be yours, “through rain and through shine.”
Off of his compilation album, “untitled unmastered.” Kendrick Lamar’s “untitled 06” is a stunning example of love and loyalty in rap. The funky jazz instrumentals and CeeLo Green’s velvety vocals make the track incredibly unique and fun to listen to.
Lamar’s lyrics describe trying to open yourself up to someone and in turn have them open up to you, a vision of genuine love. He calls the person he’s rapping about a “goddess,” and finishes the song with the repetition of “I am yours,” portraying his devotion.
Indie
“Anyone Else But You” by The Moldy Peaches is an endearing duet between band members Kimya Dawson and Adam Green. The lyrics have a gentleness to them, explaining why they can’t imagine loving anyone else but the other person. Some of the verses are charmingly silly, singing “We sure are cute for two ugly people,” while some are more straightforward and lovely, reading “You’re a part-time lover and a full-time friend.” The entire song holds a childlike innocence, making it a precious addition to any indie fan’s playlist.
A bigger name in the indie scene is Father John Misty, whose biggest song “Real Love Baby” is the epitome of a declaration of true love. Its airy acoustic melody matches the picturesque love story Misty creates with his lyrics. He smoothly sings of being in love in a way that’s bigger than himself: “I’m in love, I’m alive / I belong to the stars and sky.” With this song playing, it’s impossible not to feel full of life, just like Father John Misty.
Rock
There are so many options from The Beatles’ discography that could be chosen as a love song for someone’s playlist, one of the best being “Don’t Let Me Down.” It’s a track full of blatant yearning, with John Lennon singing about being in love for the first time, and “It’s a love that lasts forever.”
Lennon is joined by Paul McCartney for the catchy chorus, pleading with their lovers not to let them down. It encapsulates that feeling of early love, when the relationship feels new and full of promise, which also comes with fears. With a real love like The Beatles are singing about, there’s no way to be let down.
“Songbird” by Oasis is a romantic ballad in a very simple way, made up of only two mostly repetitive verses. Being one of the few songs written by Liam Gallagher, the lyrics are even sweeter when they sing “Gonna write a song so she can see / Give her all the love she gives to me.”
The chorus’s single line “She’s not anyone” is sung over and over again, proving that this love Gallagher is singing to is incredibly special to him. The simplicity of the lyricism makes the track even more enchanting, giving listeners the chance to think about the ones most special to them.
Folk
The beauty of folk music comes from its ability to strongly convey meaning while being so stripped down, making it easy to communicate true love. Bob Dylan’s “Boots of Spanish Leather” does this incredibly well with nothing but his voice, his guitar and his poetic lyricism.
Dylan sings about leaving his true love and wishing there was something he could send her to remember him by, but all she wants is for him to return home. He sings earnestly about all the things he could bring her and that if he had all the treasures in the world, he’d “forsake them all for [her] sweet kiss.” Despite the distance, Dylan’s feelings remain strong, proving that true love knows no bounds.
Tyler Childers’ “All Your’n” is a more modern example of romantic folk music. The upbeat melody accompanies Childers’ raspy voice as he sings about loving someone until his “lungs give out.” This clear dedication of his heart is made even clearer by the promise of himself completely, singing “I’m all your’n and you’re all mine.” A love made up of equal devotion is certainly one worth singing about.
Photo Courtesy / Tyler,
Torch Design / Megan Chapman
Fernanda Torres Excels in ‘I’m Still Here’
The actress stars as a wife and mother dealing with her husband’s abduction.
One of the biggest winners of this early awards season, “I’m Still Here,” was released to select theaters in New York City and Los Angeles on Jan. 17.
Beginning in 1970s Rio de Janeiro, the film follows the true story of former Brazilian congressman Rubens Paiva’s (Selton Mello) forced disappearance at the hands of Brazil’s authoritarian dictatorship. The sorrow and uncertainty of Rubens’ disappearance is conveyed to the audience through his wife Eunice’s (Fernanda Torres) point of view as she attempts to pick up the pieces of their lives for the betterment of their children.
Already the recipient of the Golden Globe for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama, the recognition for Torres continues to mount as she received an Oscar nomination and will be a significant contender for the Best Actress award.
Torres serves as the anchor of this constantly changing film. As she manages the stress of abruptly losing a partner while simultaneously holding the sole responsibility of raising her six children, Eunice has the world on her shoulders, and Torres portrays that burden beautifully.
Despite her entire life crumbling around her, Torres communicates
Eunice’s willpower through subdued reactions held behind hopeful eyes. This performance radiates hope and optimism in a film that quickly becomes devoid of any positivity.
These sudden tonal changes are handled brilliantly by director Walter Salles. The film’s shift from an endearing family portrait in a time of civil unrest into a paranoid and sorrowful character study is heartbreaking but natural.
What makes this turn in the story so tragic is how much time the audience spends with the complete Paiva family before Rubens’ absence. The at-times drawn-out opening act is full of music, dancing and dinner parties which may seem insignificant in the grand scheme of the story; but that wholesome moment in time is sorely missed when it’s gone.
That lengthy buildup pays off in a somber deliverance, after Rubens’ abduction there is a void in every scene. A crushing emptiness haunts every frame as Eunice’s anxieties and fears accelerate.
The final act of “I’m Still Here” retains a modicum of the familial positivity felt in its opening. While the emptiness never goes away, it becomes much more manageable and as the characters receive any semblance of closure it morphs into a different feeling.
Time moves much quicker in the final moments of the film, decades are told in minutes and the audience sees the Paiva family come together after their grief-filled hardships. Seeing all of Eunice and Rubens’ children’s lives develop reveals a hopeful core in this story’s calamity.
The film shows that anything can be overcome but should never be forgotten, any tragedy can be conquered and mold a person into someone stronger on the other end.
“I’m Still Here” is a devastating true story, but in its sadness, there is a rich optimism and faith in the human spirit. Fernanda Torres carries this expertly crafted film into the awards conversations it rightfully belongs in.
A Haunting Time Capsule of Mac Miller’s Ambition
The long-awaited release sounds like a message from beyond the grave.
Parker songco | Feb. 6, 2025
On the fifth anniversary of the release of “Circles,” the first album released after his death, Mac Miller’s second posthumous album, “Balloonerism” hit streaming services on Jan. 17 for both old and new fans to experience.
Announced on Nov. 16 at Tyler, The Creator’s Camp Flog Gnaw, the long-awaited release of “Balloonerism” is something die-hard Mac Miller fans have been anticipating for years. There have been unofficial tracklists floating around for some time, but now fans can finally listen to the project in the way Miller would have intended.
Originally an album recorded in 2014 during the same sessions as Miller’s critically acclaimed mixtape “Faces,” “Balloonerism” was a project ultimately shelved to give priority to other projects, due to its experimental nature.
The two projects have their similarities, both sonically and thematically. In areas where “Faces” only slightly dabbled, “Balloonerism” fully commits to the slower, jazzier sound and darker thematic undertones the rapper was going for on tracks like “Colors and Shapes” or “Funeral” in 2014.
The opening tracks “Tambourine Dream” and “DJ’s Chord Organ” immediately set the tone for the artistic direction the album is headed. Miller’s voice takes a backseat on the intro, letting a combination of a 10-year-old SZA verse, Thundercat vocals and a soothing organ set the
stage for what is the artist’s most experimental project.
“Balloonerism” deals with common themes that are seen in previous projects, but zones in on darker subjects such as death, drug use, feeling unfulfilled from fame and the difficulty of growing up. This combined with the slower and jazzier sound of the project makes up the foundation of this album. These topics were always talked about by Miller but are no longer hidden through upbeat production and raps.
While he leans more into the singer/songwriter route that he tapped into later in his career on this album, Miller still delivers quality rap verses throughout the project that are on par with the other music he was making at the time. On tracks such as “Do You Have A Destination?” he delivers bars that sound like a verse off of “Faces” but deal with darker, introspective themes that feel like “Balloonerism.”
Miller deals with death throughout the whole album, but particularly on tracks like “Rick’s Piano” as he repeats the question “What does death feel like?” Or on “Funny Papers,” when lyrics like “Didn’t think anybody died on a Friday” have deeper meaning after knowing that Mac himself died on Sept. 7, 2018, which was a Friday.
Listening through this album feels like opening a time capsule, one that is both comforting and eerie to experience. In that time capsule, the sounds are both familiar and new, with themes that echo louder in the context of his death.
James Williams | Feb. 2, 2025
Photo Courtesy / YouTube Sony Picture Classics
Five Films Celebrating Non-Romantic Love Films that showcase unique forms of love.
Valentine’s Day is usually known and referred to as a day to celebrate romantic love. Despite the focus on romance in the media, other types of love are just as important and worthy to celebrate. Whether it’s female friendships or familial love, these are just as valid to celebrate. Below are five films that celebrate non-romantic love and showcase strong relationships.
“Thelma & Louise” (1991)
Ridley Scott’s “Thelma & Louise” is a roadtrip thriller that follows two best friends, Thelma (Geena Davis) and Louise (Susan Sarandon). The women come from very different backgrounds, with one major thing in common: their disrespectful and absent partners. Thelma and Louise embark on a fishing trip to get away from them. When a horrific assault occurs on Thelma, the two women become runaways from the law.
The film is exciting and action-packed but shows a much deeper story than the one on the surface. Above all, “Thelma & Louise” is about female friendships and the love that the two women share for one another.
“Little Miss Sunshine” (2006)
“Little Miss Sunshine” is a dramedy following the Hoover family on their journey to the Little Miss Sunshine beauty pageant for the youngest member of the family, Olive (Abigail Breslin). The film shows this dysfunctional family trying to co-exist with one another
while also dealing with the disparities in their own lives and their failed dreams.
The family finds themselves in unbelievable situations that unexpectedly bring them closer than they ever have been. “Little Miss Sunshine” shows how love can be complicated especially when dealing with family, but it is always there.
“Everything Everywhere All At Once” (2022)
“Everything Everywhere All At Once” is a sci-fi drama and comedy dealing with family issues, self-acceptance and the immigrant experience. The film focuses on Evelyn Wang (Michelle Yeoh) and her dissatisfaction with her life and her family. Her laundromat is failing and being targeted by the IRS, her husband, Waymond (Ke Huy Quan), is attempting to serve her divorce papers and she has an extremely tense relationship with her daughter Joy (Stephanie Hsu).
Evelyn goes on a cosmic journey, entering a multi-verse and battling Joy, who is the “evil force” threatening Evelyn. Through all of this, audiences see Evelyn realize that every moment is meaningful. She returns with a newfound love for life, wanting to do the mundane everyday tasks she had seen as stressful.
“Dead Poets Society” (1989)
“Dead Poets Society” follows a group of teenage boys and their teacher, Mr. Keating (Robin Williams) at an all-boys preparatory school.
Celina & Molly’s Flirty Favorites
In no particular order, here are some of our favorite romantic comedies.
1. “Pretty Woman” (1990)
2. “50 First Dates” (2004)
3. “10 Things I Hate About You” (1999)
4. “Mamma Mia” (2008)
5. “Silver Linings Playbook” (2012)
6. “Notting Hill” (1999)
7. “27 Dresses” (2008)
8. “When Harry Met Sally” (1989)
9. “Dirty Dancing” (1987)
10. “Set It Up” (2018)
Focused largely on business and science, Mr. Keating opens the boys up to literature and urges them to embrace passion, helping them find their true paths in life.
The relationship between Mr. Keating and the boys shows that guidance and parental love doesn’t just come from parents. In every scene, there is a lesson taught about all different topics from love to poetry. “Dead Poets Society” highlights self-discovery, self-love and young people’s hopefulness.
“Marcel the Shell with Shoes On” (2021)
“Marcel the Shell with Shoes On” is an A24 film discussing themes of community, family and loneliness. The film follows Marcel (Jenny Slate), a shell who can talk. Marcel and his Grandmother, Nana Connie (Isabella Rossellini), have been left behind after his family disappeared, leaving them all alone in the Airbnb. Dean (Dean Fleischer Camp), a struggling filmmaker, stays at the home where he meets Marcel and begins making a documentary about him. Through the making of the documentary, Marcel and Dean become unlikely friends, working together to find Marcel’s family.
The film highlights the profound love that Marcel feels for his community and the loneliness he feels without them. “Marcel the Shell with Shoes On” shows the strength of close bonds both in friendship and family.
Celina Mullady | Feb. 9, 2025
Photo Courtesy / YouTube A24
Women’s Basketball Comeback to Win Their Second in a Row
Great guard play inspired a 22-point turnaround.
St. John’s bested Xavier 55-44 in a Big East matchup in Carnesecca Arena on Feb. 2. Both teams sported Black Fives “Pioneers of Change” warm-up jerseys to honor the legacy of African Americans in basketball for Black History Month.
The Johnnies aimed to put together some wins after a challenging string of games in January. The last time the Red Storm faced Xavier, they won 60-39 convincingly. St. John’s was coming off a win at home against Providence on Jan. 29.
The Red Storm started their offense slowly in the first quarter, shooting 18% from the field, 0% from the three and took no trips to the free throw line for the period. The Johnnies’ defense kept them within striking distance going into the second.
Xavier was forced into two shot clock violations late in the first, leaving the score 4-11.
Xavier’s freshmen guards Lucia Martinez Lopez (8 pts., 4 ast., 4 reb.) and Meri Kanerva (17 pts., 1 ast., 1-2 FT) combined for eight points in the quarter to lead the way for the Musketeers.
Xavier got their largest lead of the game, 11, halfway through the second quarter. St. John’s flipped the game’s momentum after an offensive flurry from captain junior guard Jailah Donald (13 pts., 2 ast., 2 stl.). Donald scored 13 of the team’s 17 points, including three triples, giving the Red Storm a 21-17 lead going into halftime.
Captain graduate guard Ber’Nyah Mayo (17 pts., 5 ast., 6-6 FT) pointed toward Donald’s effort when asked about what led to the comeback.
“She pretty much carried us the whole second quarter,” Mayo said. “Even coming out of half-time, she was like, ‘listen, everybody gotta get on my level,’ so we all just fed off of that.”
The start of the second half was led by Mayo’s stellar offensive per-
formance, scoring or assisting 13 of St. John’s 18 points in the third quarter. A floater right before the buzzer to give the Johnnies a 39-30 lead going into the final period. On her offensive ability, Mayo said “Staying under control, reading the defense, and honestly just taking my time.”
She also spoke about how her passing opened up more scoring opportunities. “Once I get the assists going, they might think I’m starting to be a little bit passive… and it gives me more room to work.”
The Red Storm remained in control in the fourth quarter. Despite Xavier shooting 43% from three in the final stanza, the Johnnies were able to hold them off due to some key baskets from junior forward Kylie Lavelle (10 pts., 5-7 FG) and eight points from the bench. Besides brilliant performances from starters Donald, Mayo and Lavelle, the St. John’s bench outscored Xavier’s 13-10. Freshman guard Ariel Little (3 pts, 4 ast, 2 stl) was +22 as a substitute. Coach Tartamella thought her performance was essential to the victory.
“Today she was prepared, she was ready, she was locked in and she helped us win the game. Without her we probably don’t win the game.”
University President Provides Updates on Basketball Practice Facility
In an interview with The Torch,
St. John’s University’s plans for a new on-campus basketball practice facility are still projected to finish on schedule according to President Rev. Brian J. Shanley, who offered additional details on how the facility would impact student life on the Queens campus.
The Spring 2027 completion date for the new facility that was announced in an email sent to students in March 2024 is still the target.
When asked about a potential groundbreaking date for the project, Shanley established that it could occur very soon.
“It would hopefully be this spring, spring of ‘25,” Shanley told The Torch.
He also made an important clarification about the location of the new facility, confirming that it would take the place of the parking lot across from Carnesecca Arena.
Concerning any rough estimate for the budget and cost of the new building, Shanley stated that negotiations are still ongoing.
“We are in the process of what is called value engineering, trying to drive the price down,” he said. “We’re getting a meeting of the minds together on what we can afford and build but I don’t have a number for it.”
One of his main goals during his tenure has been to add more recreational space to campus for students to enjoy. A plan for more student space is outlined in the original announcement email:
”We explored various construction alternatives, always with the same goal in mind: prioritizing uninterrupted use of the existing recreation
space for our students and employees.”
But a clear opening for recreational space becomes available after construction.
The current home for men’s and women’s basketball practice, Taffner Field House, is being eyed for a brand new “modern Campus Recreation Center,” as said in the email.
“The plan is [to] build this new basketball facility then clear out Taffner, completely gut it,” Shanley said. “I think that would be a game changer for a lot of our students to have bigger, better recreational space.”
Torch Photo / Sebastian Zelaya
Torch Photo / James Williams
Kadary Richmond is the Answer
The Seton Hall transfer has finally been performing as advertised.
Prudential Stadium erupted every time Kadary Richmond touched the ball during a Jan. 18 meeting between St. John’s and the Seton Hall Pirates.
Richmond is used to a thunderous reception in this arena, but the Seton Hall faithful berated the former Pirate with a sea of boos and vitriol all night. This homecoming for Richmond resulted in a convincing 79-51 win for his new team, much in part to his 12 points, five rebounds and six assists.
“It was nice to come back and get a win, despite all the boos,” Richmond said after the game. “I think I carved out a very nice career here and I appreciate them [Seton Hall].”
Since defeating the ghost of his former team, Richmond has become one of the best players in the nation.
Following St. John’s dismantling of Seton Hall, Richmond has averaged 18.6 points, seven rebounds and 4.6 assists in three games. Compared to his seasonal averages of 12.1 points per game, 5.6 rebounds and five assists. He has elevated his game to the level of national recognition, with Sports Illustrated saying that his recent play “should be drawing attention from NBA teams,” in the 2025 NBA draft. Citing his impressive two-way play and his versaitility as reasons NBA teams should be looking at Richmond come draft day.
With two commanding performances against budding Big East opponents Xavier and Providence, Richmond showed that under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden, he can deliver in the biggest moments.
The Johnnies’ first game as the No. 20 ranked team in the country was nearly their last as Xavier had St. John’s on the ropes. Richmond concluded what has become St. John’s routine 10-point second-half comeback with four clutch points in the final three minutes of regulation, including the game-tying layup that sent the game to overtime.
But in a tale of dramatic foreshadowing, Richmond could have ended the game before the extra quarter. The ball was plucked out of his hands as he drove into the lane with less than three seconds left, a costly mistake.
Despite the late turnover, St. John’s held on in overtime to secure a 79-71 win. Richmond’s 19 points, seven rebounds and five assists made his staggering 44 minutes of playing time worth it. This performance was his self-appointed “best game in a St. John’s uniform,” for the time being.
After a 25-point win over Georgetown, the Red Storm returned to New York to host the Providence Friars which proved to be the most climatic game of the season.
St. John’s 18-point second-half
St. John’s Breaks into AP’s Top-10
St. John’s Men’s Basketball’s latest achievement in a historic season is a spot in the top-10 of the AP Top 25 Men’s College Basketball Poll. A staggering 1058 points were awarded to the Red Storm after an impressive week.
The No. 9 Johnnies earned their prestigious spot after victories over two formidable Big East opponents, Marquette and UConn who were previously ranked No. 11 and No. 19 respectively.
The last St. John’s team to be ranked in the top-10 were the 19992000 Johnnies. Led by future NBA first round draft pick Erick Barkley, The Johnnies finished 25-8 as Big East Champions before being upset by Gonzaga in the round of 32 in the NCAA tournament.
collapse set the stage for a thrilling finale in the Garden. In an eerily similar play to his crunchtime turnover, Richmond was given a one-on-one opportunity against Providence’s Jayden Pierre on the final possession of a tied game.
Richmond sized up Pierre and with help from a Zuby Ejiofor screen, he found himself alone at the free throw line where he effortlessly drained a game-winning jump shot with three seconds left to take down Providence.
“My coaches and teammates believed in me to give me the ball at the end of the game,” he humbly said. “We executed the play and I made a big-time shot.”
Richmond’s late-game heroics provided closure to an overall phenomenal performance, his 24 points are his most as a Johnnie and his eight rebounds and eight assists were instrumental in earning the team this win.
Richmond’s all-around game has been invaluable to the now No. 12 ranked Red Storm, but his recent dominant scoring outbursts have lifted the team to incredible heights.
The former big-ticket transfer landing has proven to be worth the hype and if he can continue this tremendous play, then a bid for Big East Player of the Year seems possible as well as a deep run in the NCAA tournament.
Rick Pitino’s 19th career team to enter the top-10 has championship aspirations with a 21-3 record. With stars like Kadary Richmond and Big East Player of the Week RJ Luis Jr. those goals seem possible. The Red Storm will hope to keep this ranking during their remaining six in-conference games.
After a date at Villanova, No. 24 Creighton comes to Madison Square Garden on Feb. 16 for a battle between two ranked Big East teams.
Following a game at DePaul, a rematch against UConn in Madison Square Garden on Feb 23 is another test for the Johnnies.
After a road trip to Indiana to face Butler, the final regular season game in Carnesecca Arena will be against Richmond’s former team Seton Hall on Mar. 1.
And the regular season ends in Milwaukee for another matchup against No. 18 Marquette on Mar. 8.
The final stretch of the season begins in Philadelphia against Villanova on Feb. 12 at 6 p.m.
James Williams | Feb. 4, 2025
James Williams | Feb. 10, 2025
Torch Photo / James Williams
SPORTS
No. 9 St. John's Beats
Reigning National Champions
St. John’s basketball has put the nation on notice.
After a statement win against No. 11 Marquette in Madison Square Garden, No. 12 St. John’s traveled to “the College Basketball Capital of the World” to receive their second landmark victory of the season, a 68-62 win over the No. 19 UConn Huskies.
The fourth time proved to be the charm for Pitino as he earned his first win against Dan Hurley after losing each of their three matchups last season.
UConn landed the first punch as leading scorer Solo Ball (13 pts, 3 asts, 5-12 FG) exploded for eight points in the opening five minutes of the contest.
Dan Hurley’s Huskies continued this hot start by spreading the St. John’s defense thin with their patented aggressive shooting approach, jumping out to a 14-point lead in the first half fueled by a barrage of three-pointers. Ignited by a Deivon Smith four-point-play the Red Storm roared back into this game and seized the lead from UConn with a 25-9 run to go into halftime.
During this sequence, Rick Pitino deployed a
smothering full court press that caused many of the Huskies 20 turnovers.
“I felt the full court press would take a little starch out of their shots,” Pitino said regarding his ambitious tactic. “They’d take a little time in the backcourt and that’d make us ultra aggressive.
After scoring 18 and 24 against Providence and Marquette, Kadary Richmond’s zero first half points continued Pitino’s mantra surrounding St. John’s: “this team defies statistical value.”
In Richmond’s absence, RJ Luis J.R. (21 pts, 7 rebs, 10-21 FG) acquired the offensive burden for much of the matchup. While Richmond’s repatriation in the second half was pivotal to maintaining the lead, the St. John’s offense ran through Luis.
Luis battled with projected NBA lottery pick Liam McNeeley (18 pts, 11 rebs, 4-15 FG) as both stars traded baskets for the bulk of the second half.
Impressive performances by Luis in this game and against Marquette earmed him a number of accolades. Being named Big East Player of the Week, NCCA March Madness National
Player of the Week and Naismith Trophy National Player of the Week.
From trailing by as much as six to having an eight point advantage, St. John’s streakiness was on full display in Storrs as the tension inside Gampel Pavilion mounted.
McNeeley kept UConn alive as two consecutive successful free throw trips cut the Red Storm lead to a miniscule 64-62 with under 40 seconds remaining.
After a blocked Simeon Wilcher three-point attempt, three seconds remained on the shot clock and hope dwindled.
But in a show of faith and basketball expertise, Pitino designed a Golden State Warriors-esque circle screen to feed Luis’ hot hand off the inbounds pass. With the game in his hands, Luis delivered and drained a mid range jump shot to close off the back-to-back national champions in their home and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
Wins over two ranked opponents should secure St. John’s place in the top 10 of the AP Top 25 Men’s College Basketball Poll, something that hasn’t happened in 26 years.
James Williams | Feb. 8, 2025
Torch Photo / James Williams