The Aquinas, November

ISSUE NO. 14

NOVEMBER 2019

THE STUDENT VOICE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON

COLLEGE HARDSHIPS

ON VS. OFF-CAMPUS

AT H L E T I C R E S I L I E N C E

University students who experience suffering and loss can turn to their faith for redemption.

Lease-signing season is upon us, but there are pros and cons to making the move across Mulberry.

Sports injuries can be debilitating, but recovery can help to redefine what success truly looks like.

The Student Voice of The University of Scranton Volume 89, Issue 3

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Friday, September 25, 2015

Faculty protest again At Leahy Hall dedication, FAC rallies for ‘fair’ contract

“The Rise and Rise of Daniel Rocket” debuts

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Interest rates remain, but for how long?

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The University celebrates Pope Francis’s presence in the U.S.

Club rugby team plays annual Pink Game

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INSIDE Campus Notes.......................... 2 News ...................................... 3-4 Feature ....................................... 5 Forum............................................6-7 Arts & Life ............................ 8-9 Business ............................ 10-11 Science & Tech....................... 12 Faith ......................................... 13 Jump......................................... 14 Sports .................................15-16

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AQUINAS PHOTO / EMMA BLACK

FACULTY AFFAIRS Council members gather at Jefferson Avenue and Linden Street for their second protest this year. They feel the proposed contract by administration is unequal and insist on getting a ‘fair’ contract.

KAYLA SHEA News Editor The Faculty Affairs Council protested the proposed contract by administration for the second time Sept. 18.

FAC members stood at three of the four corners of the Jefferson Avenue and Linden Street intersection holding signs that read “A fair contract for faculty,” “Tuition dollars wasted,” “Teaching is the mission,” and more, some of which were held at the

previous protest Aug. 22.

After being in Minimal Compliance – Stage 1 since July 13 and peacefully protesting, FAC members hoped the second demonstration would not be necessary.

Daniel Townsend, Ph.D., of the biology department held a sign that read “A fair contract for faculty.” He explained that the FAC did not want to have a second protest.

“We hoped we wouldn’t have to do this one,” Townsend said. He then repeated himself two

more times. “We hoped we wouldn’t have to do this one. We hoped we wouldn’t have to do this one.”

The contract negotiations began months ago and, in explaining what a typical negotiation entails, Townsend explained why there is friction between administration and faculty.

“The context of a negotiation is to do just that,” Townsend said. “To negotiate the give and takes, so that each side, in effect, gets some of the things that it would like and is willing to

give up some of the things that the other side is less excited about or less willing to accept, and that’s not happened. It has not happened to any reasonable extent.”

Stan Zygmunt, director of news and media relations at The University, provided a statement on behalf of The University.

“We respect the right of our faculty to draw attention to their perspective of contract negotiations.”

Zygmunt wrote in an email.

“Nevertheless, protests or demonstrations have no in-

fluence on our commitment to providing the faculty with a fair, competitive and sustainable contract that recognizes the financial pressures facing The University and all of higher education.”

Jessica Bachman, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the exercise science department who chose to hold a sign that read “Teaching is the mission.”

Bachman explained that the purpose of the

SEE ‘PROTEST’ PAGE 3

Sister talks death row Leahy Hall dedicated ANNA PUCCI News Correspondent Sister Helen Prejean visited The University to discuss her experience with death row Monday.

She was featured at the annual Ignation Values in Action Lecture, where she informed listeners of her advocacy for the abolishment of the death penalty.

Sister Prejean has worked with several inmates as they served their time on death row.

She told her heartwrenching journey through New York Times Best seller, “Dead Man Walking: An Eyewitness Account of the Death Penalty,” and her book “The Death of Innocents: An Eyewitness Account of Wrongful Executions.”

“Dead Man Walking” begins with an explanation of how Prejean originally got involved with death row.

“When Chava Colon from the Prison Coalition asks me one January day in 1982 to become a pen

pal to a death-row inmate, I say, sure,” Prejean wrote.

Pat Sonnier was the first execution she witnessed, but what Prejean did not mentioned in the book was the moment when he told her he did not want her to come to his execution, because he wanted to protect her. “‘Pat, if I am there and am able to witness what they do to you, I will tell your story around this

SEE ‘DEATH ROW’ PAGE 3

MICHAEL MAZZUCA KAYLA SHEA The new building for physical therapy, occupational therapy and exercise science, Edward R. Leahy Jr. Hall, was dedicated Sept. 18.

The eight-story building is the latest addition to the Panuska College of Professional Studies. With 116,360 total square footage, Leahy Hall has 25 laboratories, nine classrooms, several simulation environments and more.

Peter Leininger, Ph.D., O.C.S., chairperson of the physical therapy department, is excited over the influx of high-tech equipment. He described a couple of new rooms with optimal technology, including an anatomy space that will open next semester.

“That’s going to be, pretty much, (a) state-of-the-art ventilation system — excellent lighting, projection system to help with the anatomy,” Leininger said.

He pointed out some of the differences between the

past location, Old Loyola, and the current location, Leahy Hall, for some of the departments, including an absence of natural light. He explained that students worked in dark rooms across the basement level, which lacked windows and interior temperature.

“We were in the basement of the hall, so some of the rooms had no light even during the day,” Leininger said. “Some rooms

SEE ‘LEAHY HALL’ PAGE 3

INSIDE ISSUE NO. 14 / NOVEMBER 2019

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Campus Comment

On & Off

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Dr. Dad, Ph.D.

Athlete of the Week

Redemptive Suffering

16 Athletic Resilience

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SJLA

Campus Comment

Aquinas staff asked students:

"What is the weirdest thing you have ever seen on campus?"

BY NICK BARONE

“I went to the lower level of my dorm to do my laundry and saw a bunch of people hanging out in the lounge, so I went to see what they were up to because I was pretty curious. I didn’t think I’d walk into someone’s mattress just chilling on the pool table, but that’s exactly what I walked into. A mattress… On the pool table.”

Elias Long ’23

“Whatever you see when you walk into Nevils.”

Kelly Neville ’23

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“In biochem class, last year, some girl just walked into the middle of class in the middle of a lecture, started playing James Bond music and literally rolled across the entire room.”

Taylor Karkut ‘20

“Around this time, two years ago, I saw a literal Oompa Loompa, from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, walking all over campus and talking to people. It wasn’t too long until campus security had to escort him off campus.”

Kevin Bowery ‘21 “I was walking back to my room on a Friday night and there was just an old man standing in the middle of campus, holding a bicycle over his head, and thrusting it up and down, over and over and over again. From what I saw, he didn’t stop going.”

Joe DeLibero ‘22

“During my first-year move-in day, I was moving all of my things in and saw an animal on a leash. I didn’t really think much of it, until I got a closer look and saw a goat on the other end of that leash. There were crowds of people swarming the goat to pet it. The goat wasn’t allowed to stay on campus though, but hopefully he’s chilling and having a good time wherever he is now.”

Chris Colburn ’20

“The 2018 Charlie Brown Christmas tree on the Green. That wasn’t even weird. It was just hilarious seeing everyone freak out over that.”

Matthew DeBenedetto ‘21

“I’ve heard of some weird stuff going on around here, and I always heard stories about clowns walking around in past years, and never thought anything of it, but when I ACTUALLY saw a clown running around campus I freaked. I totally love walking around campus and seeing an actual clown just yeeting himself all over campus. Makes you feel just great.”

Adriana Annarumma ‘23

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ON & OFF On- Campus Living

BY KATIE RISING

With lease-signing season right around the corner, I asked several upperclassmen at The University of Scranton what they think are some of the pros and cons of living on-campus or off, respectively. Here is what some of them had to say:

“Pros: I think I feel safer than I would off-campus, it’s a flat rate, I can turn the heat on and not feel bad or worry about the price. There’s no lease, so if someone drops out of the apartment it doesn’t mess things up for me. For cons, I don’t have a porch or a yard, I have limited space for having people over, it’s so expensive and it doesn’t feel as homey as an off-campus house does.”

ANNA ALTMILLER ON-CAMPUS SENIOR “I think a big pro is the convenience. In most cases you’re so close to campus, so it’s super easy to get to classes and DeNaples. Another pro is that living on- campus is a great way to meet people.

Every year I’ve met new friends on the floor of my building, and that’s something you don’t get off campus.”

KRISTEN GENSINGER ON-CAMPUS SENIOR

“Pros are it’s close to campus, safer, I don’t have to deal with landlords or worrying about things breaking. Cons would be it’s more expensive, RAs I guess and a smaller space.”

ALEXA GRIECO ON-CAMPUS SENIOR

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“Some pros would be more freedom, the ability to live with more friends and a full kitchen. Cons would be it can get messy and the quality of the off-campus housing isn’t always great. There’s a leak in my house!”

EVAN ZAMBELLETTI OFF-CAMPUS JUNIOR “Pros would definitely be freedom to do what you want, and you can live with more people than you could on campus. But, things break, the houses aren’t as nice as the on-campus apartments, and it’s farther from most on-campus apartments.”

JJ FOSTER OFF-CAMPUS JUNIOR

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Off- Campus Living

“The pros are more space, living with more people, and increased independence. But the cons are additional responsibilities, like more to clean, managing utilities, etc. It’s also a longer walk to class and you have to take out your own garbage.”

SARAH CHIMERA OFF-CAMPUS JUNIOR

Students Learning & Living Philosophy The Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program is one of the more selective programs we have here at The University, but its members all have one thing in common: a fascination with the study of philosophy.

BY DOMINICK M. MELARA

Many students here at The University take both philosophy and theology courses, as it is a requirement and is part of a liberal arts education.

Filling this requirement is often times just that, a requirement. Very few students continue to pursue philosophy beyond what they have to take according to the University. However, there is a small group within each year that breaks the mold. A group that is enamored with the study of philosophy, and studies it far beyond what is required of the average student. These students are members of the Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program. They may be few in number, but they represent some of the most hard-working students we have here at The University.

For those who may have never heard of the SJLA program until reading this story you are not alone. The program is only available to between 50 and 60 of the most qualified incoming first-year students. Those who are selected from that group officially become members of SJLA and begin taking philosophy and theology courses within the curriculum that are different and not offered to other students unless specifically requested. On average, only 60 percent of students who initially enroll in the program stick with it all four years. Most of these decisions fall to the head of the SJLA program, Dr. Daniel Haggerty. I recently asked Dr. Haggerty what he felt was the cornerstone of SJLA.

“The most important thing about the program is the community that develops among the class of students within each year of SJLA,� Haggerty said.

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This bond formed amongst a particular class of SJLA is one that Dr. Haggerty feels lasts long after the students graduate from The University. If this sort of program sounds intriguing to you, there are other ways to become a member of SJLA. Students that take an interest in philosophy or show excellence in their required courses as a second semester freshman or sophomore can apply to be a member of the program. SJLA is an incredibly challenging program, but the outcome and advantages afforded to students who pursue it all four years are numerous.

According to the program outcomes of SJLA, students are supposed to not only display a comprehension of what they are studying, but also demonstrate “eloquentia perfecta.” Eloquentia perfecta is a Jesuit ideal that emphasizes clear and effective communication both in speech and writing. Through the development of eloquentia perfecta, students in the SJLA program are gaining skills that will help them contribute to the greater good as well as become effective communicators in our modern world. Furthermore, students within the program are expected to show evidence of personal formation as well as ascertaining an understanding of the Jesuit ideal of being men and women for others.

A tremendous amount of work is both necessary and expected to achieve excellence within SJLA. The level of reading and writing alone is quite the undertaking for the average student, and that is without considering work in other classes and extracurriculars. Despite all of this, the members of SJLA are not, as Dr. Richard Klonoski would call it, the “intellectual elite.” I sat down with Dr. Klonoski and he had this to say about the students in the SJLA program.

“The perception of SJLA students is that they are the intellectual elite, but in reality they are often some of the most intellectually humble because of the challenge and disciplines that cause them to think deeply about the texts,” Klonoski said.

In fact, Dr. Klonoski even went as far as to say that students within this program are “learning how little they know.” At the end of the day, SJLA professors want their students to become better people, who think more about others and less about themselves.

SJLA, though challenging as it may seem on the surface, is truly designed to help develop young people into informed, intelligent and selfless future leaders who will, as St. Ignatius of Loyola so perfectly states it, “go forth and set the world on fire.”

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Redemptive Suffering

A faith perspective on enduring hardship in college

BY JULIA DALCEREDO

Everything is going all wrong. You’re on page one of your 15-page paper that’s due in an hour, you’re functioning on roughly two hours of sleep and a Tall Iced Caramel Macchiato, and you have an 8 a.m. exam that you haven’t even begun to study for. Maybe you just failed your fourth test of the semester, or maybe you’re so stressed you feel like crying. Perhaps it feels as if your entire world is caving in on you.

Your parents tell you that it’ll pass, that this is part of being a college student. Your professors

assure you that grades don’t matter in the long run, even though you know that they do. Others tell you, quite bluntly, to simply “calm down—” everything will turn out eventually, after all.

Suffering is a part of every college student’s life.

Whether great or small, physical or emotional, paralyzing or pesky, some level of pain is an inevitable part of our journeys at university. That’s some pretty dark stuff, right? But it’s true. We all suffer. It doesn’t always have to imply braving unbearable anguish and agony, either; it can simply entail tolerating or enduring something 10

uncomfortable, or putting up with something for the sake of a greater good. Sometimes it seems as if the magnitude of our suffering exceeds our ability to handle it. Sometimes it’s strictly academic, and other times it’s deeply personal, ingrained in the most intimate fibers of our being.

Regardless of its nature, hardship is always present, and its inevitability seems daunting. So, the question remains: if we can’t avoid it, then how do we deal with it? How can we transform our suffering to make it fruitful?

Everyone always tells you to grin and bear it. People are dealing with much worse than you are; people are struggling to find food and water while you complain about that B you got on your last paper. Suck it up, they say, and be thankful for what you have. Maybe there is some merit in putting your suffering in context, but as Theodore Roosevelt once said, “comparison is the thief of joy.” What good does it do to compete against others, bragging that we have it much worse than they do or vice versa?

Suffering is suffering. Regardless of its strength, size or shape, pain is uncomfortable for anyone who is enduring it. Sure, other people may be much worse off than you are, but that doesn’t make your agony any less legitimate or tangible. The fact of the matter is, God meets us where we are. No amount of pain is too little to offer up. The smallest discomfort, the most miniscule inconvenience, can be used to deepen your relationship with Christ. No matter what kind of pain you are experiencing, your hardship is valid in the eyes of the Lord. After all, the intensity of the suffering is not a measure of our worth; our brokenness doesn’t determine God’s love for us or our potential for closeness with Him.

So, how do we make our suffering fruitful? How do we create meaning out of the discomfort? We must first and foremost remember that it’s not the size of the obstacle that matters—it’s how we jump the hurdle. Do we cover our eyes and try to run around it ourselves? Do we deliberately sprint right into the obstruction?

Or do we reach out to our loving Father who

beams down at us and ask for his help? The choice seems so simple and so obvious—yet how many times have we tried to handle a situation on our own? How many times have we failed to pray or trust in the Lord’s divine plan for us?

The amount of pain and suffering your metaphorical hurdle inflicts does not determine your value; it’s what you do with that suffering that counts in the eyes of our Lord. In other words, it’s not about the magnitude of the distress; it’s about the shape of the distress, or more accurately how we ourselves shape the distress. Do you use the suffering as an opportunity to fortify yourself and draw yourself closer to Christ? Or do you complain and bemoan your unfortunate fate, bragging that you got less sleep or a lower grade? Pain and hardship will always come.

Someone who is enduring difficult times is not necessarily better or stronger than you are. It’s possible to feel the very pain of crucifixion itself and remain alienated from Christ (as the impenitent thief who was crucified with Jesus demonstrated), just as it is possible to stub one’s toe and use that small amount of unpleasantness to unite oneself to Christ’s suffering. What is your intention? Do you want to suffer for the sake of suffering, or do you want to transform that agony into something more?

Remember always that our Lord loves you, and he feels your discomfort when you face adversity. He knows what it’s like not to sleep and not to want to do that thing we know we have to do. He knows what it’s like to be so stressed out that you cry; in fact, he was so anxious that he sweat drops of blood. Jesus carries our crosses with us, lightening our burdens and braving the anguish that we ourselves endure. No one knows suffering like Christ does. Let us never forget that“suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us;” even amidst “the most severe trials,” God is making us new again (Romans 5: 3-5; Pope St. John Paul II).

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Dr. Dad, Ph.D.

BY SAMANTHA CALDERONE

Some of the students at the University of Scranton have a unique experience simply because of who their parents are. There are quite a few students at the University who have professors for parents, and each of their experiences have been different. For some, having a parent who is a professor creates an environment similar to home. However, the overall consensus is that those with professor parents actually enjoy having their parents at The U. For Clare Domenico, a senior history major, having her father work at the university has created an interesting dynamic, as Domenico’s major aligns with the department her father works in. Domenico shared a story from the first time she had her dad as her professor.

“We played a game to have the other students not know that we were related. So the entire first half of the semester I would call him Dr. Domenico, he wouldn’t say ‘my daughter’ or anything,” Domenico said. “But the thing is I would always sign my papers and tests ‘your daughter,’ so halfway through the semester I was getting a test back from him and he read the name out loud. So he goes ‘your daughter…oh Clare, here you go’ and then he realized what he did and everybody was like ‘Oh!’” Domenico shared she enjoys having her dad as a pro-

fessor at The University, and she and her father are so similar that when they are together they enjoy embarrassing each other.

St. John Whittaker, senior environmental, bio-chem and philosophy triple major, shared parts of his experience with his father as the “toga professor” on campus.

He explained that he has only taken one class with his father while on campus, but spent a lot of time in his father’s office during his first two years at The U. “The first day of Triv when he was calling roll he was sort of pretending he didn’t know me. So he went through the first row, asking ‘what is your name and what do you want to be called’, so when he did that to me and I said ‘son,’” Whittaker said.

Whittaker said most of the students in his father’s class were in SJLA and already knew that their professor was his father. He said that although he does not see his dad much on campus, it was interesting to see him “in his element” as a professor.

“It was interesting to see him, ‘cause he’s a different person, sort of--at home being a dad and then in class being a professor. It’s not inauthentic, it’s just different” Whittaker said.

Zoe Haggerty, senior philosophy and theology major, also talked about her experience with her father as the chair of the philosophy department, and the director of 12

the SJLA program.

“So I am in the SJLA program and since he is the director, it’s a little awkward sometimes and I did have to take one class with him my sophomore year called metaphysics and since I want to go to law school I had to take logic and he is the only one who teaches that,” Haggerty said.

Haggerty shared that it’s nice having her father on campus, even though she finds it a little awkward sometimes.

“So it’s kind of a well-known fact, throughout SJLA at least, that my dad likes to have a lot of his stories in class relate to me. Growing up I always knew he was talking about me in class and I thought it was funny but having my classmates take classes with him and hearing all these stories and then being in class with him with him

telling these stories he would say ‘one of my daughters’ and then look at me so everyone knew it was me,” Haggerty said.

She explained that her and her dad have both formed their own identities on campus, even though their paths may overlap.

Haggerty also said that she believes having a professor parent is unique for her class because she knows two other students who are also in SJLA, and whose parents also are a part of the SJLA program.

Overall, the students who shared their experiences seemed to have come to a consensus that although the idea takes some getting used to, they are happy with the decision they made to come to The U even though their parents work here.

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Athlete of the Week

BY LAUREN EARNSHAW

At the beginning of each week, The University names an Athlete of the Week. The selection is based off of athletic performances of the preceding week. The selected athlete may be on a men’s or women’s team. This accolade is an honor, so we make sure to speak with each University of Scranton Athlete of the Week. Read below to learn a little more about each selected student-athlete.

JAKE HODLOFSKI ‘22

JILLIAn GRAHAM ’21

Men’s Soccer October 9 to October 15

Women’s Volleyball September 16 to September 22

Jake Hodlofski is a goalkeeper on the Scranton Men’s Soccer Team. The week he was honored, he let in only one goal against regionally ranked Haverford College and shutout Moravian in an important conference matchup.

Jilliam Graham is on the Scranton Women’s Volleyball team. The junior had double figure kills in matches against Geneseo & Rowan with 14 kills in Rowan & 16 in Geneseo during the week she was honored.

How is your season going so far?

We are currently 12-13 on the season.

How is your season going so far?

Our season is going great so far. We are 8-4-2 and only have 1 loss in Conference play. We are currently in second place in the Landmark Conference.

Do you have any pre-game rituals or superstitions?

Before games our team does 2 mins of visualizing & deep breathing in the locker room. Then right before games we pray as a team.

Do you have any pre-game rituals or superstitions?

Before every game I pray and tape my wrist and draw a cross on it. Also, I always have to do my handshakes with different players on the team. Also I always bless myself and slap the post twice before the start of every half.

What has been your favorite moment of your Scranton volleyball career?

We went to Costa Rica the summer before my sophomore year as a team & it was a really cool experience.

What has been your favorite moment of your Scranton soccer career?

My favorite moment since being here is beating Elizabethtown last Saturday 2-1 on their homecoming day.

What is your favorite thing about Scranton?

I love my friends & teammates.

What are your plans after Scranton?

I will be here for a fifth year for my masters in occupational therapy & then hope to work back home on Long Island.

What is your favorite thing about Scranton?

My favorite thing about Scranton is the amazing new complex Weiss Field.

Are there any role models or athletes you look up to?

My parents have been amazing role models for me pushing me both athletically & academically.

Are there any role models or athletes you look up to?

My dad is a huge role model in my life. His work ethic inspires me and I hope to be like him one day.

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BECCA RUSSO ’20 Women’s Soccer September 23 to September 29 The Scranton Women’s Soccer team was tied with Catholic at zero goals apiece at both the end of regulation and the end of the first overtime. As Catholic is one of Scranton’s conference rivals, a win would be crucial to the Royals’ conference record. In the second overtime period, Russo ended up scoring a goal to win the game.

Russo has been honored as Scranton Athlete of the Week once before for her efforts on the Women’s Lacrosse team, as she is a two-sport athlete at the University.

How is your season going so far?

Our season is going well! We had a slower start than usual and unfortunately suffered many injuries that definitely contributed to this slower start, but I think that we have handled those adversities well. We have all been extremely positive with the situations thrown at us and hopefully that will set us up well to finish the season strong!

Do you have any pre-game rituals or superstitions?

Usually, I just get pumped by listening to music with my teammates in the locker room. Our backline has a handshake that we always do before games, and I shake my teammates hands in the same order every time.

Also, we do sequence passing in our warm-up and all stand in the same spot for that part of the warm-up so I guess that would be a team superstition that we follow for games.

What has been your favorite moment of your Scranton soccer career?

My favorite memory since I have been playing soccer at Scranton is winning the semifinals my freshman year against Susquehanna in overtime. It was under the lights and gave us a lot of momentum going into the Landmark Conference finals that year. That is also when the rivalry between us and Susquehanna really started.

What is your favorite thing about Scranton?

The people for sure. I feel like everyone always talks about the people and the atmosphere, but you don’t truly realize it until you’re on campus.

What are your plans after Scranton?

I aspire to be a pediatric nurse after graduation.

Are there any role models or athletes you look up to?

One athlete that I have always looked up to is Tobin Heath on the US Women’s National Team. From the time I was younger, I always looked up to how she played and the manner in which she carried herself on the field.

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From the moment Megan Gallagher first stepped foot on the field for her first field hockey game at Scranton, she was a star. Gallagher started all 18 games of her rookie season in 2017. During that season, Gallagher tallied four goals and eight assists. Those eight assists tied her for the second most assists in a single-season as a first-year. She also earned All-Landmark Conference Second Team Honors in 2017.

In the Royals’ semi-final conference playoff game in 2017, Gallagher dislocated her shoulder, which ended up being a torn labrum. Gallagher left the game, which the team lost 2-1 to end their season, and she went right to the hospital.

Gallagher had shoulder surgery in December 2017. Her recovery time caused her to miss the Royals’ spring training season, but she ended up being cleared

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at the end of May right before the team’s England training trip.

Gallagher went on to have another outstanding season in 2018. Her sophomore campaign earned her All-Landmark Conference First Team and All-South Atlantic Region Second Team accolades. The offender scored five goals and seven assists in 2018, topping her numbers from the previous season. Gallagher’s season-highlight goal was in the Royals’ Conference semi-final 1-0 win against No. 1 ranked Catholic University, when she scored the lone goal of the game. She started 16 games during the season, as she missed three with a broken thumb injury. Yes: another injury for Gallagher.

In one of the team’s winter-league games in 2019, Gallagher experienced even more unfortunate luck. At one moment, she was making a pull to dodge one of the other team’s defenders, and at the next moment, she was on the ground putting attention on her knee. Her teammates helped her off the field—all hoping the unthinkable had not just happened to one of their own.

It had happened. Gallagher tore her ACL, meniscus and MCL. She missed the rest of the spring season, which had recently begun, and she got surgery in May. The hope is that Gallagher’s recovery will be completed in nine months, which leads her to around February.

Gallagher knew going into the 2019 season that she would not be playing in any game or practice. De spite this, she has still been going to games and practices, on top of her physical therapy sessions.

As one can imagine, Gallagher was devastated when she tore her ACL, meniscus and MCL. Her passion for field hockey and dedication to improving her game is hard to match, but she was destined to miss an entire season of field hockey.

“Leading up to my knee surgery, I was angry.

I was so angry the night it happened. I was very upset about it, and it became motivating. I was only doing things to help my knee because the physical therapist told me to. It was obvious I had another long recovery ahead of me,” Gallagher said.

The thing about Gallagher is, she is one of the most mentally strong people her teammates have ever met. If anyone could get through all of this, it is Gallagher.

“The first week after surgery was rough, but I started realizing that if I kept being negative about my situation, nothing good would come out of it. Attitude has a big effect on healing, recovery, rehab, etc., so I knew I needed to change my outlook,” Gallagher said.

Gallagher had a great support system around her—professionally and personally.

“I had a different physical therapist after my surgery. He was very encouraging and easygoing, and he made PT actually fun to go to. This helped my overall mood during the process. Also, seeing my teammates training, running, lifting and overall working hard over the summer motivated me. Even though it was different, I knew I had to keep up with their hard work,” Gallagher said.

Gallagher continues to be part of the team as a manager.

“Now I think that my role is to help keep everyone motivated and positive. I want to help bring up the team culture and stay as involved as possible. Most of my best friends are on the team, and I want to continue to support them,” Gallagher said.

One of Gallagher’s favorite quotes is, “You don’t have to; you get to.” She reminds her team that they are all lucky to be part of a collegiate sport and be able to play the sport they love every day. This says a lot coming from her, since she is not even able to do that herself.

Gallagher had apprehensions about her new role on the team for the 2019 season.

“It’s surprising. I thought it would be weirder,

but I still get to stay involved a lot even though I’m not playing,” Gallagher said.

Gallagher helps the goalies warmup for practices and games by shooting on them—very well of course.

If you are suffering injuries or end up experiencing a season-ending injury, it would be wise to follow Gallagher’s lead.

“Be very straight up. You can give yourself a week or so to feel bad for yourself, but then you can get over it. Don’t look too far into long-term goals; just go by small chunks of time. Focus on that even though you can’t do what you were doing before, you are getting back more and more every single day. Some people don’t have the privilege of regaining their abilities or having good surgeons and therapists who can help you get back on your feet. Overall, hard work pays off in the end,” Gallagher said.

Gallagher continues to work every day to get back to doing what she loves—playing field hockey beside her best friends.

17

The Aquinas Crossword Down 1 A required philosophy course for all undergraduate students 1

2 This on-campus vendor sells caffeine where you most need it

3 The DeNaples center used to be named the ___ Memorial Center

5 Closed on Sundays 6 The history professor mentioned

3

2 4

5

on page 12 of this issue

6

8 “En todo amar y ___�

7

Across 4 The surname of

8

the student body

president

9

7 Where wine slushies are sold 9 The street that used to run through campus

10

10 You have to wait this many minutes before picking up your package from the mail center 18

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Lauren Gallagher MANAGING EDITOR & GRAPHIC DESIGN

Colleen Boyle ART DIRECTOR

Minahill Sami SPORTS EDITOR

Lauren Earnshaw SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

Laura Freedman DISTRIBUTION MANAGER

Abbey Donaldson STAFF WRITERS

Nick Barone Samantha Calderone Dominick M. Melara Isabella Travaglia Phil Rauch FEATURED WRITERS

Katie Rising Julia Dalceredo EDITORS

Karly Johns Joseph Kottke Alana Siock 19

Are you a student looking to join The Aquinas?

Are you a club, organization, or business seeking story coverage?

Email Managing Editor Colleen Boyle

Email Editor-in-Chief Lauren Gallagher

colleen.boyle@scranton.edu

lauren.gallagher@scranton.edu 20