Torch Photo / James Williams
Mayoral Candidate Zellnor Myrie Talks Plans for NYC, St. John’s Basketball and Shoes’
JameS
In a competitive race for New York City’s mayoral seat brimming with controversy, New York State Senator Zellnor Myrie plans to offer obtainable solutions to “common sense” issues.
Having represented the 20th State Senate district in Brooklyn since his election in 2019, the democratic state senator announced his candidacy for New York’s upcoming mayoral election in late 2024.
During an interview with The Torch, Senator Myrie outlined his plans for free after-school programs and affordable housing while lending analysis on St. John’s historic season.
Myrie said after-school programs are a “no-brainer, common sense issue.” It’s even a personal topic for him.
“I had to have a safe place for me to be, keep me off the streets but allow me to be a kid,” he said reflecting on his past as a child growing up in Brooklyn. He sees these programs as a “public safety tool,” an opportunity for children in the city to safely be themselves while parents are at work.
“I think this should be available to every single family, every single kid that needs it,” Myrie added. “The investment in the future that after school for all would be is hard to count, but the data does give us empirical support for this investment.”
The Brooklynite State Senator has high hopes for New York City. Torch
As a proponent of the “Yes In My Backyard” movement, Senator Myrie plans to overhaul New York’s housing development and add nearly one million new houses to the city. It’s a move for housing reform that could impact college students.
“If you are an undergraduate or graduate student at St. John’s right now and you’re thinking about what your future is going to look like, you would want to put roots down in the city,” he said. “A major component in that calculation is whether you can afford it.”
New York City’s “affordable housing crisis” has decimated the city’s housing market with the median rental rate soaring above a reasonable margin. This boom in the cost of living has caused an exodus of low-mid-income earners from the city, with a large number of that group being college graduates.
“I would say this is really about you guys,” Myrie said, speaking to college students. “What I’m trying to do as the next mayor is to ensure that your decision is informed by having an affordable place to stay.”
Aside from after-school programs and housing reform, another one of Myrie’s biggest interests is on the court.
“If you look at the story of some of the guys on [St. John’s] now, some who may not have had as much success somewhere else but found that success when they came to St. John’s, it is very emblematic of what New York is,” he said when talking about why he has supported “New York’s Team” this season.
“For [St. John’s] to be one of the best basketball teams in the entire country, undefeated at home, winning the Big East Championship and 30 games, that is exciting for the Mecca of basketball, and yes, we are still the Mecca of basketball,” he said about the historic season the Johnnies had.
Myrie praised Coach Rick Pitino’s ability to
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turn the team around in such a short amount of time with players that “fit so well together,” including Kadary Richmond from his home district of Brooklyn.
He also held praise for another aspect of Pitino’s time at St. John’s, his iconic white suits. Even though has doubts that he could pull the look off himself, Myrie still loves the Hall of Famer’s style.
While he isn’t brandishing white suits in support of the Johnnies, Myrie still found a way to show loyalty to the team through his shoe game. He wore his Olympic red Sabrina 2s to match the team colors during their short-lived tournament run.
Putting shoes and suits to the side, Myrie sees the game of basketball as a potential tool for unity in such a fractured time.
“There are great analogies to life that basketball can provide,” he said. “You have to do things as a team, there is no one person above the team and everybody has to work together.”
According to Myrie, these analogies for unity and teamwork apply directly to the experience of living in New York City.
“That is something that we should be looking to emulate here in New York City; where the whole world comes, where everybody comes and tries to have a successful life and get on the right path,” he said. “We should be welcoming that and encouraging that.”
The campaign trail continues for Myrie, who enters New York City’s Nov. 4 mayoral election as a hopeful underdog to incumbent Eric Adams and former Mayor Andrew Cuomo.
If you are an undergraduate or graduate student at St. John’s right now and you’re thinking about what your future is going to look like, you would want to put roots down in the city.”
-Zellnor Myrie
WilliamS | march 30, 2025
Photo Courtesy / Nader Granmayeh
University of Notre Dame Researcher Gives Women’s History Month Lecture
Mary Celeste Kearney discusses the U.S. teen-girl, feminism and literature.
St. John’s University’s history professor Susan Schmidt Horning hosted media expert Mary Celeste Kearney of the University of Notre Dame for a lecture titled “Designing the Junior Miss: Some Short Stories about the Origins of Teen-Girl Entertainment” on March 24 from 1:50 p.m. through 3:15 p.m. on Webex.
The lecture was available for the University and external community. About 30 people were in attendance.
The University’s women, gender and sexuality studies interdisciplinary minor program coordinator, Amy Gansell, also collaborated on the event. She introduced the minor to attendees to begin the lecture.
Kearney began by introducing a 1940s newsreel by the Time-Life Company that represented the attitude toward teenage girls at the time. She called the newsreel, titled
Malak kasseM | March 26, 2025
“Teenage Girls,” one of the most “curious” media of the times, as it led an in-depth look into perceptions and importance of the teenage girl during the mid-twentieth century.
The video said, “Of all the phenomena of modern life in the United States, one of the most fascinating and mysterious, and one of the most completely irrelevant has been the emergence of the teenage girl.”
“Despite the narrator’s bizarre remarks about teenage girls being irrelevant, Timelines’ newsreels were not American journalists’ first attempt to promote teenage girls as a new social group with unique cultural practices in the 1940s,” Kearny said.
Teen girls during the 1940s were faced with new social roles, as they were targeted by manufacturers, due to boys being deployed to war. For the first time, young women were seen as economic drivers as employees, rather
than just consumers as they had been in the past. This is when cultural icons, like Rosie the Riveter, emerged, representing the shift in lifestyles these girls and young women pioneered through.
“It’s important to note as these changes within education, labor and consumer culture helped to further palm the teenage years as a unique life stage,” Kearney said. “Feminist activism and transformations in American gender politics also contributed to the structure of teenage girlhood as a novel form of identity by the early 1930s.”
The lecture navigated through other categories of discussion including women’s primary role in society and the portrayal of women in contemporary media, which Kearney has researched for her own publications including her current work focusing on U.S. teen-girl entertainment.
Student Government, Inc. Candidates Announced, Campaigning Underway
The GLORY and independent IPP tickets campaign for their elections.
Campaigns for the St. John’s University Student Government, Inc. (SGi) were announced on March 25, marking the beginning of the campaign period, which will conclude on April 3. The running tickets— GLORY and independent candidate Jack Ippolito—released their campaigns’ platforms that outline their goals and promises ahead of an April 3 debate.
Voting will occur from April 6-8, with winners announced on April 9.
The GLORY campaign—which stands for growth, leadership, opportunity, representing, and you—plans to continue many projects laid out by the current administration like repurposing unused space on the first floor of the D’Angelo Center, expanding culinary diversity through “diverse and inclusive” food options, the Johnny Trot and promoting campus-wide sustainability initiatives.
GLORY consists of President Ava Wilson, Vice President Ashley Genao, Secretary Andrew Fludd, Treasurer Ishmael Faye, Press
Olivia seaMan | March 31, 2024
Secretary Amarra Lopez and Senior Programming Coordinator Crystal Dibenedetto.
The ticket also plans to transition physical storm cards to digital IDs on Apple and Google Pay. In their platform, this move “aims to modernize the student experience by making Stormcards more accessible, convenient and secure.” In terms of public safety, they also share initiatives to improve campus lighting and security cameras in parking garages.
Other planned initiatives include implementing the Corq app, which serves as a “centralized platform for students to efficiently discover and engage with campus events.” Additionally, GLORY plans to introduce wellness pods to support student well-being and create the Johnnies Access Fund, an application-based program designed to help students access basic needs.
Jack Ippolito is an independent candidate running for treasurer. Under the platform IPP—standing for integrity, planning and progress—he promotes the “honest manage-
ment of student funds, strategic budgeting for all organizations and innovative funding solutions.”
In his platform, key initiatives include creating office hours for questions and concerns from organizations, and continuing the existing funding caps and tier systems for organizations to “continue to encourage smaller organizations to host events and foster creativity.”
He also plans to offer grants to cultural organizations as part of a “collaboration fund” to “encourage cross-cultural collaborations across campus and promote a diverse representation across the budget sheet of SGi.”
Along with the promotion of cultural organizations, Ippolito plans to reimagine the budget report to “increase transparency” and inform members not involved in the process. He also plans to ease the process of creating organizations by “prioritizing first-time budget requests from groups” and hosting “targeted budgeting information sessions” to ensure comfort with the process of creating budgets and making requests.
Torch Photo / Olivia Rainson
‘Women on Wall Street’ Shapes a Pathway for SJU Women to Follow
This organization aspires to help members climb the corporate ladder of the business world.
The “#WomeninMaleFields” trend on TikTok has captured the attention of social media users globally with the backing of strong virality and shared experience. The message at its core has a universal meaning: women are increasingly recognizing the potential they have to flourish in fields that are largely male-dominated.
When it comes to the student population at the Peter J. Tobin College of Business, a team of women share similar sentiments and focus on elevating female influence in the professional world.
Women on Wall Street (WoWs) is a student-run organization led by females practicing in business education. Outside of the classroom, they are fostering a more personalized community that is anchored in bonds forged through the shared struggles, triumphs and overall experiences of women climbing their way in the field.
“I describe it as a community of ambitious women looking to break into competitive industries,” President Brianna Garrison said when asked about the organization’s identity at St. John’s.
“I always emphasize the ‘community’ aspect of it because we want people to know we are open to members from all majors, not just business,” she continued. “WoWs is more of a general support system – a community of just women who can feel judgment free from other Tobin clubs where there are a lot of guys, which we know firsthand can be intimidating.”
International Management major Molly Richardson expressed that as a freshman, she was in search of a club that “wasn’t tailored to a specific major, and could still be personal to [me].”
Like Garrison, the now-senior built upon the attraction of the organization as being personalized to the female perspective by stating other business clubs had considerable male involvement, and additionally “required dues or required formal attire for meetings.”
Desiring an environment that was “a little more comfortable,” she was pleasantly surprised when she came across the organization where she now serves as the internal vice president.
“I felt immediately at home,” she continued. “The girls were so enthusiastic about the club and helping other young women on campus.
Isabella acIerno | March 28, 2025
Women on Wall Street helped me feel confident and prepared as an underclassman, so I felt it was my responsibility to pass this on to others.”
Responsibility and eagerness to uplift fellow female professionals is an established energy that exists among the members of the organization. Treasurer Sophia Feeney told The Torch her position of leadership in WoWs was inspired by Garrison.
“The ultimate reason I decided to act as treasurer is because I want to make an impact on other women like Brianna has made an impact on me,” she said.
The international management major serves as president of The Balkan American Cultural Club and expressed her commitment to “strive to work in honor of women and try to create an uplifting environment for all.”
Moving into her senior year, her one hope for her future at St. John’s is to “continue to serve on the E-board of WoWs next semester” to keep the organization’s spirit of empowerment alive.
Social Media Manager Marija Ilkova spoke further about how WoW strives to build on the culture of support for female students who are outside of the editorial board at the University.
For those facing obstacles in this chapter of their life, “There is a support system created where members can share experiences, gain insights and learn skills that help them go through the challenges in the business,” she said.
Ilkova’s words played a role in revisiting an important aspect of the organization Garrison commented on in the early stages of discussion.
“We understand everyone wants to get a job at some point when they graduate, but there are a lot of unspoken rules and almost an expectation to know things such as the way around a resume. That’s where we want to help in any way we can, with what we know,” she said.
When asked how WoWs caters to these unexpressed standards, the finance major spoke about the numerous activities they boost, such as General Body Meetings, interactive workshops and discussions hosted by the team.
“It’s a mixture of social and professionalism,” Garrison said, who has additionally introduced committees for events, social media and fundraising and even expanded on leading roles in
the club by creating new positions such as freshman representatives.
“I wanted to join Women on Wall Street because I thought it would be a great opportunity for me to develop my leadership skills, meet new people and contribute to an organization that aligns with my interests,” freshman representative Daniella Mardy said.
The organization can be found on Instagram actively celebrating its members with personal creative content through the hashtag #WoWWednesday.
“WoW Wednesday gives the opportunity to spotlight what members of the club are doing,” Garrison said. “It doesn’t even have to be anything major; it could be that someone got an internship where they got promoted, or someone got an A on their final that they were working really hard for.”
“We have a nomination form in our Instagram bio where you can nominate yourself, a friend or anyone a part of the organization,” she continued. “We hope that it serves as a source of inspiration and motivation for not just the person in the foreground, but everyone that views it.”
“I read something once that went a little like this: a part of being a successful woman is walking to get to the top of the ladder and then throwing the rope down for the next woman so she can be in that same direction,” Garrison said. “That’s the kind of philosophy we are trying to capture here at Women on Wall Street.”
Photo Courtesy / YouTubeLaura in the Kitchen
Photo Courtesy / Women on Wall Street
Work and Learn: St. John’s Career Services’ Guide to Internships
In the increasingly competitive job market, how do internships come into play?
AlexAndrA
Prettitore | MArch 26, 2025
As the academic year rapidly comes to a close, the pressure to determine summer plans also creeps up. Although it’s great to use the summer to rest and recharge, it is also smart to use the free time to focus on career growth. Resume building is emphasized, so returning to a high school summer job doesn’t always feel like the most productive choice, especially for juniors and seniors making post-grad plans.
This is where internships—centered around specific career goals— come into play. It can be difficult to secure strong internship opportunities; according to CNBC, they are twice as competitive in 2025 as they were just a year ago.
The Torch spoke to Ellen Burti, assistant vice president of St. John’s University Career Services, for insights and advice about navigating the internship search.
“Internships and other forms of experiential learning allow students to explore career paths and industries through hands-on experience,” Burti said.
She emphasized the unique benefits internships provide, adding that they “give students the opportunity to develop skills and apply classroom learning to the workplace.” Internships directly relate to the interests and fields of student applicants, and allow them to put the lessons they learned in class into action.
Burti also pointed out the differences between internships and standard summer jobs. She stressed that internships are based on “clear learning objectives, supervisor feedback and potential project work,” a distinction from summer jobs, which almost exclusively revolve around monetary earnings.
It can be challenging to know where to start when beginning the daunting internship search. Burti recommends using the free website
Handshake to discover thousands of opportunities “regardless of program, course of study or industry interest.”
She added that “the vast majority of internships posted in Handshake are paid,” so students don’t have to worry about getting another paid position if they decide to accept an internship.
Another platform she suggested was Forage, which offers job simulations that are “self-paced, online learning programs that reflect the work performed in roles at many organizations.” This allows for increased confidence once you begin an actual internship and demonstrates dedication to companies.
Many students are also concerned that they do not have the necessary experience to be chosen for an internship, especially considering the increased competitiveness of the internship market. Burti offered multiple solutions, highlighting that it’s more about how you frame your application than having direct experience in your field. She advised students to “think broadly about all the things you have done both in and out of the classroom” when deciding what to include in your resume.
The University offers multiple resources to help you explain your work, volunteer and extracurricular experiences. Burti specifically mentioned Career Peers — students who provide “ongoing support to help refine your resume and craft competitive applications,” offering expert advice that directly applies to the current internship market.
They are available Mondays and Thursdays during Common Hour from 1:50 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.
Securing an internship this summer doesn’t need to be an overwhelming task. To make an appointment with Career Services, connect with your career advisor via Handshake or utilize their walk-in hours.
Torch Photo / Alexandra Prettitore
Harnessing the Power of Jealousy
What may seem to be an only toxic trait may offer subtle clarity in relationships.
Any relationship, no matter how short or long, is susceptible to jealousy. Defined broadly by Psychology Today as an emotion encompassing “feelings ranging from suspicion to rage to fear to humiliation,” it is deeply complicated and often dangerous.
How should couples approach this complex emotion together without hurting each other?
What Is Jealousy?
A Yahoo survey revealed that 87% of Americans experience jealousy in relationships. To fully understand what it truly means in a relationship, one must identify the various feelings it elicits. Insecurity, fear and even rage are all components of this state of mind—which is often just that, a state of mind.
However, jealousy can reflect trauma from previous partnerships, disguising itself as concern or anxiety. For example, a partner previously cheated on may be more prone to jealousy, as the word itself reflects fear of rivalry or replacement. What could be an innocent concern, this emotion often expresses itself in accusations and anger.
The Main Causes of Jealousy
The causes of this emotion are abundant and cannot always be rationalized. Insecurity, trust, abandonment issues, unrealistic expectations
and anxiety over losing someone are all intrinsic feelings demonstrating jealousy. External factors, such as social media or an incessant ex, can amplify these feelings—even if there is no truthful reason to feel them.
It is important to remember that jealousy can be a weapon of manipulation in an abusive relationship. If it is repetitive, controlling or physically harmful, the relationship is unsafe.
Jealousy vs. Envy
Often confused as being interchangeable, jealousy and envy are two completely different experiences. Although both elicit feelings of possessivity, the opposition can be found in the emotion’s origins. American professor and researcher, Brené Brown, described in the simplest terms how these feelings differ:
“Envy is wanting something that someone else has. Jealousy is the fear of losing something you already have to someone else.”
How does this relate to relationships? Feelings of jealousy are normal, as people are often scared of losing their partner for being inadequate or unloved. Envy, however, is desiring something else completely—and this should not be present in a relationship. As jealousy can be healthy in doses, the envy of another couple’s relationship reflects dissatisfaction and discontentment in your own.
Why would someone in a healthy and happy relationship envy another person or their partner? Just as jealousy is worth discussing, envy is an emotion that can derail relationships and leave couples feeling as if they aren’t enough for their partner. If you seek someone else or wish you had their relationship, maybe yours is not the one you need.
Using Jealousy as a Tool
Coined as the “green-eyed monster,” jealousy can actually be used to a relationship’s benefit. The emotion can assist in personal understanding of common, negative relationship behaviors and show how to combat them. It can indicate that you or your partner do not feel secure or even appreciated in the relationship. This can cause serious fights or, in the worst case, separation.
Couples who deal with issues of jealousy should examine the nature of their relationship and ask questions surrounding its roots. How can I make my partner feel special? What potential innocent behaviors are perceived incorrectly? Where is this jealousy stemming from, and what can I do to erase it? People in relationships are often jealous out of fear of trusting another person with their emotions and their heart. The best way to use jealousy is to assign it as an identifying factor for potential anxiety or fear in a relationship.
Affirming your partner your love and demonstrating it by dedicating time to them is significant. Giving the same energy to other relationships (friends or family) is key to combating the feeling. If you are not showing the same amount of dedication to your partner that you are to other relationships, it can leave them feeling insecure and therefore jealous of others in your life.
Understanding where this jealousy comes from and limiting accusations is a healthy way to use the emotion as a magnifying glass in your relationship. Where is trust needed and how can it be instilled?
Recognizing this emotion as one of care, couples can use it to open their communication and figure out how to best love each other.
Megan Chapman
Olivia RainsOn | apRil 1, 2025
Photo Courtesy / YouTube E! News
Our University Leaders Cannot Capitulate to Trump
The anti-DEI mandates laid out under the “Dear Colleague” letter are not yet legal, there’s no reason to get rid of our programs.
Racism and discrimination don’t have a place on our campus, regardless of who’s sending out the initiative. And following the Trump administration’s recent “Dear Colleague” letter, now is the most important time to understand this reality.
On Feb. 14, the Department of Education (DOE) sent out the letter, which outlined new guidelines that federally funded colleges must follow. These mostly revolved around removing race as a consideration in its hiring and admissions processes. The DOE’s ambitions didn’t end with this either, as the department has also begun a series of investigations into the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs of more than 50 universities across the country.
St. John’s University was not included in the schools listed in the DOE press release concerning the investigations, but a thorough response to the mandate is still pending.
University spokesperson Brian Browne stated on Feb. 24 that the situation is being closely monitored. While they believe that current policies are compliant, he also stated that a group of University leaders are in the process of “reviewing programs and policies” based on the directive and the school’s commitment to “upholding Catholic and Vincentian values while remaining compliant with the law.”
The legality of the Trump Administration’s actions is currently under judicial review. In the meantime, our University leaders have a responsibility to do everything in their power to not capitulate to the directive.
St. John’s is an incredibly diverse school. Over 57% of the student body is non-white, according to College Factual. Emphasizing an ethnically rich environment is a core aspect of what the school has become. Universities are places where students should be exposed to a wide variety of backgrounds they may not have
been familiar with prior, deepening their understanding of the different cultures that make this country what it is.
There are also structural reasons that play a major role in the importance of DEI initiatives. Hispanics and African Americans— who are the second and fourth most represented groups at the school—have significantly lower median household incomes than their white counterparts.
More money means being able to pay for more tutoring, enriching extracurricular activities, better schools that offer a wide variety of courses, summer programs and other benefits. Lower-income demographics are disproportionately set back compared to their wealthier counterparts.
DEI initiatives factor in this disparity and attempt to level the playing field for those who are not lucky enough to grow up in a rich family.
In 1870, the Bishop of Brooklyn requested that a school in the city be created to educate the rising number of immigrants entering the city. Our school was the result—St. John’s was founded on and pillared by a particular commitment to “those lacking economic, physical or social advantages.”
Grants such as the Janetschek Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship Fund, given to historically underrepresented demographics in the university, give credence to those characteristics.
In a world of discrimination, there would be no use for DEI initiatives in education or any setting. But for now, they’re one of the best mechanisms for tackling structural hurdles minorities have and continue to face.
You can’t have a colorblind approach in a society where one’s complexion can predict your circumstance.
Micah Grayson | april 1, 2025
Torch Photo / Sara Kiernan
Buyer’s Remorse: How Should The Left Approach Regretful Trump Sympathizers?
Two months into his adminstration, people already wish they could take back their vote.
In his first month in office, President Donald Trump has garnered a 44% approval rating. A surprisingly high score considering some of his most vocal objectors are his own voters.
Republican pollster Sarah Longwell interviewed multiple Trump voters, her consensus being the very first wave of MAGA buyer’s remorse is settling in.
“And the voters that I was talking to both before the election and after … They voted for Donald Trump for one very specific reason— they thought things were too expensive, and they still think things are too expensive,” Longwell said on MSNBC.
We have all heard the argument “eggs are too expensive” which seems to have been the driving motivator for the MAGA movement in November. The working class is tired of not being able to afford basic things like groceries, housing and transportation. Eggs are a small part of a large problem but managed to represent everything a campaign could hold on to. They’re more expensive than ever, partly because of an Avian flu outbreak. But the Trump administration hasn’t done much to help, particularly when firing thousands of government workers. Now, the administration plans on rehiring the federal workers they fired to manage the outbreak.
Trump supporters didn’t listen to former
President Joe Biden or Vice President Kamala Harris when discussing economics. Harris’s economic policies that would have been implemented had she won the presidency include not increasing the taxes of families making less than $400,000 a year. As for grocery prices, her plan involved proposing an end to price-gouging and helping local growers and small businesses.
The Trump supporters did not listen to this. They simply went to the grocery store, were unhappy with the amount of money totaled at the end of their trip and took that anger to the polls.
Now the left is faced with a moral issue. After their arguments fell on deaf ears for over a year, former MAGA Republicans and Trump sympathizers are finally listening, but too late. How should Democrats react to the non-voters and Trump voters? Is there a sympathy shortage? Should they feel any pity?
In 2016, regretful Trump supporters were embraced. But as the years climb on and the idea that Trump is not your average Republican becomes less and less appealing, the left now has one message: there is no more room for empathy.
But here’s the thing, there will be other Trumps. When his four years are up, you can bet there’s another, younger candidate
who learned everything they know from the Trump administration. The truth is, we need those regretful Trump supporters to ensure nothing like this happens again.
If you hate Trump and didn’t vote for him in November, you don’t have to be best friends with his former fans and apologists. But there is something important to recognize. To beat the two-party system that allowed for Trump’s second term in office, you have to put down the pitchforks when approaching them.
Politicians rely on the ability to divide a nation. They thrive off of one-upping each other, getting a base of loyal fans unable to criticize and making the possibility of genuine reform nearly impossible.
If you’re a leftist and someone you’re speaking to begins to have buyer’s remorse, let them. Let them be frustrated with an administration that may not be all it was promised or the fact that what was promised does not apply to working-class Americans. It’s the first step to ensuring it doesn’t happen again.
It feels wrong to tell someone not to be outwardly spiteful after everything that has happened over the past six months. However, politics wasn’t always so divided, and in order to break that cycle, regretful Republicans must be met in the middle.
Carlyann Carey | MarCh 18, 2025
Photo Courtesy
Photo Courtesy / Unsplash Derrick McKinney
102ND EDITORIAL BOARD
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STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS
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Why Dismantle the Department of Education?
Carey | MarCh 30, 2025
On March 20, President Donald Trump signed an executive order dismantling the Department of Education (DOE). He would need congressional approval for this, but the order has already caused mass layoffs in the department to aid in his end goal of giving education up to the states.
of the United States based on a law dating back to the Cold War. This allows the deportation of non-naturalized citizens based on what they say or write.
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“My administration will take all lawful steps to shut down the department. We’re going to shut it down and shut it down as quickly as possible. It’s doing us no good,” the president said in a statement at the signing ceremony of the executive order.
According to his administration, the DOE spends more money than what America would be “getting back,” according to our literacy rates and test scores. A 2019 report by the Institute of Multi-Sensory Education says America ranks 125th for literacy among all countries, significantly lower than most other world powers.
Three programs, such as the $18.4 billion Title I program that provides funding to high-poverty K-12 schools, the $1.6 trillion federal student loan program and the $15.5 billion Idea program that helps cover the education costs for students with disabilities would not be affected by the order, according to The Guardian.
It would be hard, however, to make any real cuts to the department without touching these programs.
But this isn’t the first time this term that there’s been an attack on education.
Three academics from Columbia University, Brown University and Georgetown University are being detained and kicked out
During the Cold War, Congress passed the Immigration and Nationality Act and it intended to keep Communism out of America. It hasn’t been spoken about too much since. But this wave of attacks on education from our current president is using the act to deport educators who have not been born in the United States.
Gabriel J. Chin, a professor at UC Davis, wrote about this recent move:
“There is no question that this is an attempt by Trump and his administration to chill the speech of academics, particularly those who are not U.S. citizens, that he does not agree with.”
These deportations have less to do with protest and speech and more about the threat academics pose to the MAGA agenda.
These attacks on education reveal what the Trump administration refuses to admit, education is power. It gives people knowledge of our congressional system and in turn the ability to use it.
Cutting programs for children and college students and deporting educators and protestors who are teaching young people about the reality of our current world is not a show of strength, it’s weakness.
Continue educating yourself. Read books and articles on our government, because the Trump administration is showing that that’s exactly what they don’t want you to do.
Carlyann
A Conversation with Musical Duo Ray Bull
Tucker
Elkins and Aaron Graham
are making art for art’s sake.
Brooklyn-based duo, Ray Bull, released their third EP “Little Acts Of Violence” on Feb. 21. Made up of Tucker Elkins and Aaron Graham, the band has been releasing music of various styles since 2021, combining elements of indie, folk, rock and pop while leaving the most emphasis on their songwriting abilities. This newest addition to their discography is no exception, continuing to grow their already alluring collection of eclectic songs.
The Torch got a chance to chat with Ray Bull about “Little Acts Of Violence,” as well as their various artistic pursuits, their TikTok fame and much more.
The two met while studying visual arts at The Cooper Union in Lower Manhattan, Graham, originally from Westchester, New York, and Elkins from Los Angeles. Both had similar relationships to music growing up, learning various instruments for fun, but never pursuing it seriously until after college.
“I still love making [visual] art, but I was really going down the path of trying to have an art career and I kind of burnt out on it,” Graham said. “I just found myself in a weird spot where I was more compelled to make music. It felt more romantic, and more like the audience was immediate in terms of knowing whether or not what you’re doing has an impact.”
Elkins agreed, and felt similarly about becoming “disenchanted” with the art world.
“Painting feels like this club where you have to know the rules to understand it. Whereas music and film, everybody feels like they have permission to consume that. [Music] felt like the best breeding ground for art ideas.”
Their visual art side hasn’t left their brand completely with their creatively peculiar album covers, music videos and even t-shirt designs.
“We’ve never really worked with a creative team outside of ourselves to do that stuff, because we have the skills and we just love doing it,” Graham explained.
The way they harness their creative skills certainly attributes to the authenticity and uniqueness of the work they produce. Whether it’s
merchandise with Anne Hathaway’s face on it or a TikTok documentary featuring Elkins spending all their money at L-Train Vintage, Ray Bull certainly knows how to make something completely their own.
TikTok has been a major stepping stone in growing the band’s following, coming mostly from the virality of their mash-up videos, combining two songs that “sound the same.” The duo has combined songs by anyone from Drake and Justin Bieber to Chris Stapleton and The Strokes, showcasing their vocal range as well as their stunning ability to blend their voices.
The concept was born during their early stages of doing shows, when they would perform the mash-ups live on stage. At the same time, they were gaining some traction on their TikTok, making “weird, surreal videos with crazy editing where [they] were lying about celebrities,” Elkins said.
“We were like, ‘We have to let people know that we do music.’ The first idea was to record [the mashup],” Elkins continued. “That was the first idea of many that we were gonna try, but it stuck immediately.” With their account now at over 600,000 followers, it’s clear these videos stuck for good reason.
While their covers give a glimpse of the talents this duo possesses, their newest project, “Little Acts of Violence,” puts those talents on even higher display. The seven-track EP is made up of songs the two have been working on for quite a while, with singles like “I Don’t Know Ya” being out since Sept. 12, 2024.
“Some of the songs were out already for a while, and written a while ago. The creation process was kind of like piecemeal; we were just working on the songs we felt drawn to or felt compelled to work on,” Elkins said of the EP.
“I think, in a way, now that it’s out we’re finally starting to realize what it is and how the songs are talking to each other as a project,” Graham elaborated. There’s a natural progression between each of the tracks, despite their disjointed creation — which almost adds to the unique and dynamic sound of the EP as a whole.
Opening on a strong note, “Better Than Nothing” is bouncy and fun, highlighting their mesmerizing vocal blends, as well as particularly emphasizing Elkins’ range as a singer. The lyrics read almost like beat poetry, with lines like “Back to school, do as I’m told / You were in shock, babe, I was enrolled / Terrible luck, fried system / What is her name, tell me, what is she on?”
Its energy is matched by the title track, “Little Acts Of Violence” and “Dead In Wisconsin,” which are equipped with interesting instrumentals and droning vocals.
These tracks are balanced out by dreamier, mellow songs like “Parasite,” “Reelin” and “MTV.” The softness of “I Don’t Know Ya” highlights the rhythmic nature of their lyrics. The repetition of the lines “Is it time / To let / It go” and “Take your time / But let / Me know” put the listener in a sort of trance, moving through the EP’s themes of growth and change.
The emphasis they both place on their songwriting is prominent in their poetic lyricism. “I feel like we start from the writing — which maybe feels like an obvious thing — but it feels important in a way,” Elkins said. With each track’s production and overall sound being quite different, it’s the job of the writing to keep a common thread.
On the heels of this newest release, Ray Bull begins their tour at The Atlantis in Washington, D.C. on March 7 and ending at the Troubadour in Los Angeles on April 25. Other than the tour, their goals for the future are to “release more music,” “meditate” and “be healthier.”
Molly Downs | March 11, 2025
Photo Courtesy / David Brandon Geeting
Transforming the Democratic Party
Jack Schlossberg is connecting media and politics like never before.
Celina Mullady | MarCh 13, 2025
Jack Schlossberg has become one of the leading faces of the Democratic Party. Despite being the grandson of John F. Kennedy — the 35th president of the United States — Schlossberg has gained his fame by being the opposite of presidential.
The political socialite began gaining recognition on TikTok this past year, making content regarding American politics and the upcoming 2024 election. He showed his support of presidential candidate Kamala Harris by working with her team and speaking at the Democratic National Convention.
While being humorous, he still managed to discuss political issues — such as reproductive rights — and called out various far-right politicians. He even protested against his cousin, Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the current U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Photo Courtesy / YouTube John F. Kennedy
In a recent Instagram post, Schlossberg posted an image stating, “Can’t spell MEASLES: Without 1) Me and 2) Weasel” with the background being a picture of RFK Jr. and a weasel, addressing RFK Jr’s opposition to vaccinating children. Schlossberg began posting this type of content last year, leading up to the 2024 election but has not stopped since.
Making many humorous yet critical TikToks about President Donald Trump’s cabinet, he has pointed out the very dangerous issues with some of the richest men in the world having too much control in the government, like Elon Musk being involved in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
In an interview with former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki,
Schlossberg discussed issues within the Democratic Party. He pointed out that people will only pay attention and remember when something is extreme, unexpected and jarring.
“It’s difficult to break through especially if you’re not saying something that’s controversial, or at least, somehow unexpected,” he said “I think that, that’s kind of the game that the other side’s been playing really well, which is flipping people out — and getting a reaction is almost half the battle.”
Schlossberg has begun playing the game that far-right politicians play very well. From Trump’s tweets to Joe Rogan’s podcast, there is no lack of right-wing internet personalities. Being bizarre, outspoken and extreme in a similar fashion has allowed Jack to become relevant on the internet — and stay relevant. Schlossberg is currently a political correspondent for Vogue, furthering his reach and solidifying his place on the internet and in politics. As a correspondent, he wrote about the 2024 election and reported on various political events for the magazine.
Social media has drastically changed the way information is shared and discussed, and Schlossberg appears to be one of the few people in the Democratic Party who have noticed. His content has gained a large Gen-Z following, which was a group where the Democratic Party underperformed in the 2024 election.
He is slowly changing the landscape of the party, carrying himself more similar to the opposition than not. Schlossberg uses social media to his advantage, playing to the extreme knowing it will grab people’s attention.
Faye Webster Overdelivers on World Tour
The Atlanta-based indie-folk star rocked Radio City Music
Parker SongCo | MarCh 13, 2025
Atlanta-based singer-songwriter Faye Webster played to a sold-out crowd at the iconic Radio City Music Hall on Feb. 28. This stop on her “Underdressed at the Symphony” tour was a night full of elegant live instrumentation, soothing vocals and a surprising amount of minion cosplays.
The scene outside of the historic venue felt more like a fashion show, a common theme for Webster’s concerts. Under the legendary Radio City neon sign — where they happened to misspell the name of the tour —stood a swarming crowd of Webster’s fanbase sporting their best outfits, from the coolest clothes in their closet to the combo of a yellow shirt and blue overalls paired with a minion beanie. Nobody arrived underdressed for this symphony.
Opening the performance was Japanese indie-pop artist mei ehara, who collaborated with Webster on her 2021 project “I Know I’m Funny haha.” Accompanied by Webster’s band, Ehara set the mood for the night, singing her Japanese-indie songs with soft tones and calming melodies.
Following ehara’s opening, the lights dimmed for Webster’s viral concert introduction. The image of a minion was projected onto a giant t-shirt that hung over the stage, as she and several other minions sang their minionese rendition of “But Not Kiss,” sending the crowd into a frenzy. Following the minions, Webster and her band came on stage and performed the song themselves.
After both the minionese and original performances of “But Not Kiss,” the first leg of Webster’s setlist consisted of tracks off her new album “Underdressed at the Symphony” such as “Wanna Quit All the
Time” and “Thinking About You.”
Hall.
Webster then shifted to tracks from her previous two albums, “Atlanta Millionaires Club” and “I Know I’m Funny haha,” playing fan-favorites like “Right Side of My Neck,” “A Dream With a Baseball Player” and “In a Good Way,” accompanied by an extensive and beautiful acoustic guitar solo.
A highlight of the show was the performance of “Jonny,” when Webster turned the mic to the crowd to sing the witty line, “my dog is my best friend and he doesn’t even know what my name is.” She always follows up this song with “Jonny (Reprise),” a passionate spoken-word poem over the same instrumental where the singer poured her heart out.
Webster concluded the show with an encore, bringing out her best friend and bassist Nunu. “This is my best friend Nunu. The two performed “Feeling Good Today” with Nunu on the keys.
During the encore, Webster introduced the rest of her band and made the crowd give their flowers to opener ehara. She ended the night with an elegant performance of “Kingston,” her most popular song, finishing off with a bang.
A graceful display of her vocal, instrumental and songwriting talents, Faye Webster’s crowd-pleasing performance of both fan-favorites and new releases made for an unforgettable night at the symphony. After rocking the most iconic venue on her tour, the singer will continue to overdeliver during the “Underdressed at the Symphony” tour in stops across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
‘Mickey 17:’
A Futuristic Sci-Fi Riot
Robert Pattinson delivers in Bong Joon Ho’s newest film.
Nicholas st cyr | March 18, 2025
After taking home four Academy Awards for “Parasite” in 2020, director Bong Joon Ho made his return to directing with a cinematic adaptation of the novel “Mickey7” by Edward Ashton. The film, titled “Mickey 17,” was released in theatres on March 7.
The film follows Mickey (Robert Pattinson), an expendable employee on a space exploration who dies repeatedly to gather information about the ice planet Niflheim. His mission takes a turn when a new clone is printed before the old Mickey is dead. The dark comedy acts as a social commentary highlighting worker rights and capitalism.
The film survived four release date delays to finally make it to theaters. Ho pointed to Hollywood strikes and the editing process of his final cut as to why the movie was pushed back.
“A lot of it had to do with the U.S. film industry including the writers’ and actors’ strikes,” Ho said at the Berlin International Film Festival.” The film was first contracted on the condition of me having final cut, and the studio let me have creative control.”
Pattinson was easily the highlight of the film, he effortlessly flips back and forth between two different versions of Mickey to deliver two hilariously bizarre performances. Pattinson showed off his impressive acting range by playing a sincere and less confident Mickey, while also portraying a brooding and intense Mickey simultaneously.
Other standouts included Naomi Ackie (Nasha Barridge), Toni Collette (Ylfa Marshall) and Mark Ruffalo (Kenneth Marshall). Ackie delivers a fiery and passionate performance as Mickey’s love interest and protector throughout the film. Playing the film’s main antagonists, Ruffalo and Collette are hysterical as wacky politicians with a cult-like following and humorously shallow.
Compared to “Parasite,” the director decided to take a much less subtle approach to his social commentary in “Mickey 17.” Ruffalo’s character appears to be an analogy for Donald Trump, with his supporters even sporting red caps in the film. The film does not aim to say anything profound about society but instead focuses on making light of the current state of global affairs.
Although the film possessed memorable moments, other features left a lot to be desired. For a film with a considerable budget and major studio backing, the set design and visual effects were underwhelming. The cast seemed to be bloated as well; characters like Timo (Steven Yeun) and Kai Katz (Anamaria Vartolomei) get lost in the shuffle and their subplots are simply not engaging.
Regardless of these weaknesses, “Mickey 17” still serves as a worthy adaptation of the novel and does not look out of place in Ho’s Oscar-winning filmography.
Momo Boyd Captures Americana in Debut Single
The singer connects patriotism and love in her long-awaited song.
carlyaNN carey | March 30, 2025
Singer Momo Boyd first released the demo “American Love Song” on SoundCloud two years ago. On March 27, she released a solo official version after success with the group Infinity Song on streaming, accompanied by a music video.
“American Love Song” is more than just standard patriotism, it’s a connection between self and country. She writes in an Instagram post how love in America is more influenced by culture than we think. Our personalities have been programmed to compete with one another and maintain the things that set us apart. The song is a reflection of these concepts, and even if she doesn’t have the answers, she encourages listeners to engage with them with her.
The start of the track is solely her and the music. A guitar strums along with her voice as she sets the scene of a failing relationship—one hinged on being placed on a pedestal by her partner.
“Once upon a time I was your angel sent down to you from above,” she sings, then delves into her indecisive partner calling it off.
Boyd constantly repeats the phrase “You said if I wasn’t so American, I might love you more.” She talks about the all too familiar feeling of feeling like someone has to give up the most important parts of themselves for their relationship.
The single has a haunting choir harmonizing with Boyd in the background of the track, echoing her reflections on love in a way that makes it a cultural struggle rather than an individual one. It’s become less of her story and one that can resonate with Americans around the world who understand the culture’s need for freedom and hyper-independence.
The bridge has the same pattern as the chorus, but this time Boyd is singing, “Love is a privilege, not a right. Sometimes you just don’t get back twice.” The background singers have faded and Boyd speaks directly to her partner, warning him of the potential trouble of ending a relationship in the hopes of finding something better.
The additional vocals and the removal of those vocals as well as the strumming of instruments all play a role in the overall message Boyd seeks to give. She’s creating an experience of love and reflection as well as calling on our culture to recognize the faults we have in creating genuine relationships.
Her music video embodies classic America with horses, denim, an American flag sweater and a small chapel wedding. By embodying American culture, Boyd becomes the thing used against her in the song: her partner’s patriotism. By doing this, Boyd brings Americana in full force and provides a perspective not often recognized in classic Americana music: the experience of Black women.
Her song has received engagement on YouTube from a community of women who find themselves represented in a genre that often works against them. Boyd doesn’t stray from the classic American aesthetic typically reserved for white country artists, and Black women have noticed. Users are writing in the comments underneath her video how much it means to see themselves represented in white, conservative culture.
If there’s one new artist to look out for, it’s Momo Boyd who is making a strong premiere to the music scene with “American Love Song.”
SPORTS PHOTOS
Torch Photo / James Williams
Luke Orbon celebrates a solo home run with Jackson Tucker on Mar. 7
Jacob Ruiz records an inning ending strikeout agaisnt CCSU on Mar. 26
St. John’s Baseball celebrates a walk-off win against CCSU on Mar. 26
Kadary Richmond lays in a right-handed finger-roll against Arkansas in the Round of 32.
Deivon Smith Brings the ball up against Omaha in the Round of 64.
Zuby Ejiofor throws down a two-handed slam against Arkansas in the Round of 32.
Torch Photo / Sebastian Zelaya
Torch Photo / Sebastian Zelaya
Torch Photo / Sebastian Zelaya
Torch Photo / James Williams
Torch Photo / James Williams
Torch Photo / James Williams
Women’s Basketball Offseason Look Ahead
What made St. John’s competitive this season, and where they can improve going forward.
Nicholas st. cyr | March 26, 2025
The St. John’s Women’s Basketball team finished the regular season with a 16-15 record overall. Although the Red Storm finished the season above .500, their Big East record of 5-13 left much to be desired. The Johnnies need to have a productive off-season to come back stronger next season.
It was a rollercoaster season for Head Coach Joe Tartamella’s squad. The began by winning 10 of their first 11 games. The hot streak was followed by losing eight of their next nine, continuing inconsistencies until the end of the regular season.
In the Big East Tournament, the No. 8 seed started their campaign with a convincing win against No. 9 seeded Butler. The Johnnies’ tournament run would then be cut short as they ran into top-seeded Connecticut, who stayed in control to a 31-point win. The disappointing conference tournament push meant no postseason invite for St. John’s.
Tartamella pointed to scoring as a weak point in the season after the game.
“We’ve struggled offensively all year at times,” he said “It’s not a secret.”
The offensive side of the ball was a problem for the Johnnies all season. The Red Storm were in the bottom three in the conference on offense. To be more competitive next year, St. John’s will have to improve their half-court scoring.
Another offensive aspect the Johnnies can improve on is their threepoint shooting. The Red Storm shot 31% from beyond the arch this season and only made 192 on the season. Both ranked sixth in the
conference.
The Johnnies need to find a way to add size to the roster as well. The team had no players over 6’2” this season, and this was evident in their rebounding. St. John’s had a -1.87 rebounding margin, which was bottom three in the Big East this season.
Although the Johnnies had a difficult season, they still have many positives to take from the year. Their defense was second-best in the conference, only allowing 56.6 points per game and they were top three in the conference in turnovers forced and steals.
This defensive prowess was due in large part to senior guard Lashae Dwyer (13.4 pts 4.3 rebs 2.3 asts), who was a Big East Defensive Player of the Year and a member of the Big East Second Team. Dwyer and senior captain Ber’Nyah Mayo ( 11.2 pts 2.8 reb 3.3 ast) were also essential parts of the team’s offense. Replacing them effectively is a must for the Red Storm.
“They come to work and they want to compete. We’ll miss them for sure.” Tartamella said about the pair.
Another bright spot for St. John’s are rising sophomores Ariel Little (1.5 pts 1.0 reb 0.7 asts) and Janeya Grant (1.9 pts 0.6 reb), who looked ready for more responsibility in the latter parts of the season.
Grant’s three-point shooting will be a much-needed addition to the rotation. And Little’s ability as a floor general will add some stability to the guard rotation in the absence of Dwyer and Mayo.
After a middling season this year, the Red Storm will look to put together a more successful season in hopes of receiving a post-season tournament invitation next year.
Walk Off Balk Completes St. John’s Comeback
The Red Storm came back from 5-0 and 7-4 to secure win over CCSU.
sebastiaN Zelaya | March 29, 2025
The St. John’s baseball team grabbed a late comeback win Wednesday against the Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) Blue Devils 8-7. The Red Storm entered the game with a win over Wagner and a series win over Winthrop. CCSU entered the game with a series sweep of Mercyhurst in their last appearance, including two mercy rule wins. On the mound to start for the Johnnies was sophomore pitcher Chris Batuyios, making his fourth appearance and first start of the season. Brock Pare took the mound for the Blue Devils, making his third start of the year.
The game went scoreless for the first four innings, both teams combined for three hits and four walks. Batuyios would exit the game after the fourth, finishing with no runs, two hits, one walk and three strikeouts. Pare would pitch for five innings, only allowing one hit and three walks.
CCSU would open scoring at the top of the fifth. Sophomore Jacob Ruiz would replace Batuyios and get the first out on a flyout on two pitches. Senior outfielder Gianno Merlonghi would reach base the next at-bat on a base hit to center.
The Red Storm got the second out of the inning on a fielder’s choice, tagging Merlonghi out at second base. Owen Arias brought the baserunner in on a double to left field.
The Blue Devils would extend their lead to five in the top of the seventh with a big four-run inning.
CCSU loaded the bases with one out on a hit-by pitch and two singles. Senior Kyle Gordon brought in the first run with an RBI base hit to left. The next two runs were brought in on another base hit by Aidan Redahan. The final run was scored on a wild pitch, bringing
Gordon in.
The Red Storm responded instantly with a four-run frame of their own. A walk to Shaun McMillan set up a stolen base to put him in scoring position for redshirt freshman Adam Agresti, who would score McMillan on a double down the left field line.
A walk to Luke Orbon would put two men on base for senior Jace Jeremiah, who singled to left center to score Agresti. Jon LeGrande kept the inning going with a base hit up the middle to score Orbon. The final run of the inning was scored by Jayder Raifstanger, hitting a sacrifice fly to score Jeremiah.
The Blue Devils answered the fourth spot with a two-run eighth. A walk to Arias and a double from senior infielder Brady Short set up two men in scoring position with one out.
Redehan would get his fourth RBI of the afternoon with a two-RBI base hit, scoring both runners. Adam Agresti blasted a solo home run to left for the Johnnies to cut the CCSU lead to two.
Senior pitcher Sam Mettert worked a quick top of the ninth, striking out two to set up an eventual Red Storm comeback.
LeGrande opened the bottom half of the inning with a lead-off triple to center, senior Jackson Tucker grounded out to bring the run in and open the scoring. Raifstanger crushed a solo homer into the bullpens to tie the game at seven in the next at-bat.
Two singles from infielder Jared Beebe and McMillan, plus a passed ball put runners on second and third. The comeback would be completed after a catcher’s balk from Owen Arias brought Beebe home and ended the game.
Torch
Photo / James Williams
Torch Photo / James Williams
Torch Photo / James Williams
Calipari, Arkansas Upsets Pitino and St. John’s in Round of 32 15 Hopkins Heads to Queens
The Red Storm’s season has officaly ended.
Following St. John’s first NCAA Tournament victory in 25 years, a legendary reunion was in order. Rick Pitino and John Calipari— two coaches who have met five times in the Big Dance, tied for the second most all-time—were set to face off for a 24th collegiate-level matchup.
Pitino owned recent bragging rights, having dispatched Calipari’s Kentucky Wildcats while at Louisville’s helm over eight years ago, yet trailed 13-10 head-tohead. In round two of the NCAA Tournament, the 10th-seeded Razorbacks upset second-seeded St. John’s 75-66.
Zuby Ejiofor led the Johnnies with 23 points and 12 rebounds in the season-ending loss. In a tilt that featured more whistles than highlights, the Red Storm’s offense struggled throughout. Perimeter shooting had been a common critique all year, but even on the interior, St. John’s couldn’t get anything to fall.
Arkansas capitalized on the ice-cold Johnnies, though never seized total control. Each time it appeared the Razorbacks’ trio of Johnell Davis, Karter Knox and Billy Richmond III began to build up momentum, the Red Storm’s veteran core responded.
Behind Ejiofor and Deivon Smith, St. John’s cut a once-eightpoint deficit to just four at the half.
Razorbacks guard DJ Wagner and Knox helped orchestrate a
7-1 run out of the break, laying a double-digit deficit at the hands of the Red Storm, triggering the upset alarms. Meanwhile, the fouls continued mounting. Pitino opted to leave Richmond out on the floor, even after picking up his fourth of the night, resulting in an early exit for St. John’s star point guard. Richmon was disqualified at the 6:28 mark, leaving Smith to facilitate the scoring attack down the stretch.
After Aaron Scott drew a foul—a commonality on Saturday evening—and sank both free throws, a 13-point gap was suddenly trimmed to two. On the brink of another miraculous second half comeback, the Johnny faithful at Amica Mutual Pavillion rose to their feet, desperate for their beloved Red Storm to steal a game it had no business winning. And that’s when things fell apart. Richmond buried a right-baseline jumper, returning the Razorbacks’ advantage to four and placing the pressure back on St. John’s. Pitino called timeout, seemingly to draw up any sort of play in hopes of settling the offense. Out of the timeout, a poor inlet pass from Smith to Ejiofor bounced out of bounds, which essentially ended the game.
Smith, Scott and Simeon Wilcher took turns missing on three-point attempts, a poor yet required tactic considering the Red Storm’s final tally in that cat-
Just two days after RJ Luis Jr.’s decisive and controversial exit from St. John’s, Rick Pitino has already filled his spot with a massive acquisition of Providence’s Bryce Hopkins. The former All Big East forward agreed to transfer on Monday and immediately becomes the Johnnies’ first scoring option for the 2024-2025 season.
Hopkins only appeared in three games during his senior year, averaging 17 points per game with 7.7 rebounds before a torn ACL ended his 2024 campaign. Knee injuries have been a recurring issue for Hopkins, with another torn ACL afflicting his junior season at Providence.
egory (2-of-22).
The inability to connect from deep allowed Davis, Knox and Richmond to alternate shifts at the charity stripe, hitting on 5-of6 in the final minute of regulation to send the Johnnies home for good.
Strangely, Luis—the Big East Player of the Year and Most Outstanding Player in the conference tournament—sat out the final 4:56 of action. Having only been assessed one foul on the evening, Pitino’s decision came down to Luis’ performance.
“[Luis] was 3-for-17,” Pitino said, referencing Luis’ shooting efficiency. “I’m not going to knock one of my players.”
Visibly downhearted by the early exit, the Hall of Famer made sure to show gratitude to Richmond, Smith and Scott, all of whom have now played the final game of their collegiate careers.
“I’m very appreciative of [Aaron] Scott. He had a bad game, but gave me his heart and soul with a broken finger,” Pitino said with a smile. “I’m very appreciative of Kadary Richmond. He was a true pleasure to coach,” he continued.
“I’m very appreciative of Deivon Smith, who has been hurt and gave me everything he had.”
Though their March Madness run is over, the Johnnies have laid a foundation with a renewed sense of hope that should carry them into next season and beyond.
Before his stints with injuries, Hopkins was a paragon of consistency for the Friars. In his sophomore season he averaged 15.5 points and 8.8 rebounds in 33 games played, earning him a selection to the All Big East First Team. For fans concerned about this prolonged injury history, Pitino is the perfect coach for Hopkins. The hall of famer prioritizes conditioning above all and will make sure that Hopkins is back to the consistency seen in his earlier seasons. While Hopkins may not be RJ Luis Jr., he is the next best thing. At six-foot-seven, he is a master in the open floor and a wizard inside the arc. Next to Zuby Ejiofor, this frontcourt duo creates a matchup nightmare for every team in the nation on their quest for a National Championship.
Kyler Fox | March 22, 2025
JaMes WilliaMs | March 31, 2025
Torch Photo / James Williams
SPORTS
What's Next for the Johnnies?
In the full week since St. John’s bid for a National Championship was cut short by John Calipari’s Razorbacks, the landscape of the Big East has changed and the Johnnies have been left with a devastating hole in their roster.
The conference’s offseason began with a flurry of moves as Xavier’s Sean Miller fled to the SEC to coach the Texas Longhorns. The Musketeers then hired former New Mexico head coach Richard Pitino just one day after his Lobos’ loss in the NCAA Tournament, igniting a family rivalry within the conference.
But the biggest news for Rick Pitino and St. John’s broke on Saturday morning, as Big East Player of the Year RJ Luis Jr. simultaneously declared for the NBA Draft and entered the transfer portal.
Luis’ tenure as a Johnny ended unceremoniously with the star forward sitting on the bench against Arkansas. Luis’ benching after his nine-point performance on 3-17 shooting may catalyze his departure either to the NBA or another program.
His exit leaves St. John’s down a number one option on offense with 18 points per game to make up for. Pitino’s search to fill this void has already begun, with roster decisions being made through the portal and with in-house personnel changes.
On Wednesday the Johnnies made an essential acquisition of a former five-star recruit, poaching Joson Sanon away from Arizona State.
The six-foot-five combo guard averaged 11.9 points per game for the Sun Devils in his freshman season while hitting 37% of his three-pointers, which would have been the second-highest three-point percentage on the Johnnies this season.
If Pitino can develop Sanon’s raw playmaking skills, then he may have found Kadary Richmond’s replacement. Sanon is expected to take on much of the scoring load left in Luis’ absence, as will Zuby Ejiofor.
The Big East’s Most Improved Player confirmed his return to Queens with a new NIL deal to show his commitment to St. John’s. Entering his senior year, the expectation for Ejiofor is to dominate the paint and continue his steady leadership.
Pitino won’t stop after retaining Ejiofor and acquiring Sanon; with the financial backing of mega-donor Mike Repole, a major offseason is in the works.
As Pitino retools the roster, acquiring depth to replace key veterans is an absolute necessity.
St. John’s loss to Arkansas marked the end of both Aaron Scott and Deivon Smith’s collegiate careers, which means bringing in a backup guard and a wing shooter should be high on the priority list.
Many names fit the bill for a floor general off the bench, but UNC’s Elliot Cadeau and Georgia’s Silas Demary Jr. may be Pitino’s best bet.
Cadeau is a safe option, the true point guard averaged 9.4 points and 6.2 assists for the Tar Heels in his freshman year. While he may be the smaller and less dynamic choice, his potential upside makes up for his faults. He would work seamlessly as a one-for-one replacement of Smith, likely playing the same role if he were to join the Johnnies.
If Pitino opted to bring in the more experienced Demary, he would create a true competition for the opening point guard spot. While Demary isn’t the most gifted playmaker, he is a more than capable scorer at 13.9 points per game. His three-point shot has improved to 37% over his two years at Georgia and his sixfoot-five frame makes him a more physical option on defense.
Bringing in another playmaker, whether it be Cadeau or Demary, is a must for Pitino.
For Scott’s replacement as a three-and-D forward, a name already on the roster could be worth developing.
Simeon Wilcher was an adequate two-way player for the Red Storm this season, averaging an even eight points and providing solid defense while shooting a rough 29% beyond the arc. If Wilcher were to stay a Johnny and develop his marksmanship for another summer, he could blossom into a valuable piece.
It’s safe to say that after acquiring Soson and Bryce Hopkins, Pitino will stay active in the portal and the moves are not done.
James Williams | march 30 , 2025
Torch Photo / James Williams