FROM THE EDITOR Contents FROM THE EDITOR....................... C O M M U N I C AT I O N D E PA R T M E N T. . . H O W W E S AY W H O W E A R E . . . . . . . . . . SUMMER INTERNS........................
3 4 5 6
7 F I R S T-Y E A R A N D OA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 I N T E R N AT I O N A L S T U D E N T. . . . . . . . . . . . 9 NEW AND IMPROVED..................10 11 I G N A T I A N V A L U E S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1. 2 D E A N C O N N I F F . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1. 3 AT H L E T E O F T H E W E E K . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 . 4 A T H L E T E C U L T U R E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1. 5 S T U D E N T G O V E R N M E N T. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 6 T H E A T E R W I T H A P U R P O S E . . . . . . . . . .1 7 18 A T T R I B U T I O N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1. 9
When August comes to an end, each student is faced with adjusting to the new parts of their life that come with the start of a new year. Whether it be new classes, new professors, new responsibilities or new faces on campus, the one thing all of these have in common is that they are all new. And similarly, this trend of ‘new’ has been a common theme for The Aquinas staff inside the office this year. This past May, we graduated all but three of our editorial staff members. Because of this, almost all of the faces on The Aquinas staff this year are new. Each of these new members have had to adjust to their new role and learn all of the responsibilities that come with being a part of the staff of the publication. Along with the rest of the staff, I have also had to adapt to things inside the office, as I adjust to my new role as Editor-in-Chief of The Aquinas. Although I have bounced around in positions on the editorial staff for the past two years, ultimately this role is new for me. Still, I am confident that through collaboration with other staff members, The Aquinas will continue to be the student voice of The University of Scranton. As we all adjust to this transitional time in University history and our own lives, this edition of the magazine highlights so many groups and members of The University community including our new president, Rev. Scott. R. Pilarz, S.J., The Scranton Players, athletes and the new dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Brian Conniff, Ph.D. In addition, the mural on the cover of this edition was created by students in the Commuter Student Association and the Art Club. With this being said, on behalf of The Aquinas staff, I would like to thank everyone who contributed to this edition. From the beginning stages of writing to the final stages of editing and printing, this publication would not be possible without all of the hands that aided in the production process. Additionally, the staff would like to give a huge thank you to Jeffrey Kegolis, Ph.D., and Janet Schieber for their continuous help and support in all that we do. I hope you all enjoy this edition that we have put so much of our hard work and creativity into. Lauren Gallagher & The Aquinas Staff
2
3
Communication Department anticipates new majors to thrive
BY: SAMANTHA CALDERONE The communication department implemented two new majors this year. Business communication and social media strategies have been in the works for over a year, and this is first semester the classes are available for students to enroll in. Department Chairperson Howard Fisher, Ph.D. said this year is a soft launch so only a few classes are offered. The large scale launch will take place during fall 2019; it will be the first time incoming students will be able to declare business communication or social media strategies as their major. The creation of both majors stemmed from the demand seen in real world businesses. According to Sufyan Mohammed, the program director, the importance behind both of these new programs stem from the change of technology used in business every day. Business communication is specifically aimed at students in the Kania School of Management. “We wanted our business school students in KSOM to have exceptional communication skills,” Mo-
hammed said. On the other hand, social media strategies is a major and minor that the department is hoping a variety of students will pursue. The program is aimed at providing students with the tools to stand out after graduation regardless of their major. Mohammed said the idea is taking something that is used so widely today and learning how to use it in the business world. The program for both of the new majors, as well as the other majors in the communication department, are set up in series of levels. “First we introduce you to the field and then we give you the skills required in the field,” Mohammed said. Fisher and Mohammed expressed that their hopes include helping students to thrive in their careers and providing them with the resources that will make them stand out. “We want you to be ready to shine, we want you to be ready to impress those employers, so that you can start moving up through the ranks,” Fisher said.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON BUSINESS COMMUNICATION AND SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIES GO TO: HTTP://WWW.SCRANTON.EDU/ACADEMICS/CAS/COMMUNICATION/INDEX.SHTML#
4
How We Say Who We Are Senior Strategic Communication major talks learning beyond the credits
COMME N TARY BY: VIC TORIA PE N N IN GTON Commu n ication is vital to peopl e’s l ives . We as h u ma n s commu n icate al l th e time, wh eth er it is inten tion al or n ot. We do th is th rou gh face- to- face interac tion s , ph on e cal l s , s ocial media, tex t mes s agin g, body l an gu age an d voice infl ection . I am a s en ior s trategic commu n ication major in th e pu bl ic rel ation s track. Th e fiel d of commu n ication , in cl u din g th e commu n ication department on campu s , h as on l y grown s in ce I s tarted col l ege. Commu n ication is fl oodin g s ociety becau s e tech n ol ogical advan cements contin u al l y produ ce n ew opportu n ities for peopl e to in teract. Th is is won derfu l for peopl e wh o l ive far from famil y or frien ds becau s e th ey can s u s tain qu al ity con n ection s with th eir l oved on es by u s in g apps l ike Face time or Skype to keep in tou ch . It is al s o ben eficial for bu s in es s es becau s e th ey can target con s u mers in more pers on al ways , wh ich h el ps bu il d bran d awaren es s an d l oyal ty. I pers on al l y feel very excited to begin my career as a profes s ion al commu n icator becau s e of h ow many option s th ere are to ch oos e from in commu n ication . Prior to 2015, th e Un ivers ity on l y offered a gen eral commu n ication major. In 2015, th e commu n ication department added two n ew bach el or’s degrees th at each in cl u de two con centration s . Th e gen eral commu n ication major was broaden ed to in cl u de a commu n ication l ead ers h ip track an d a commu n ication an d l aw track. Th e two n ew majors were jou rn al is m an d el ectron ic media (JR EM) an d s trategic commu n ication . Th e JR EM major s pl its into a jou rn al is m track an d a broadcas t track, an d th e s trategic commu n ication major s pl its into a pu b l ic rel ation s track an d an advertis in g track. Now, th e Un ivers ity h as added an oth er two more programs th at are avail abl e to major an d min or in . Th e firs t on e bein g s ocial media s trategies , an d th e s econ d bein g bu s in es s commu n ication . Th es e programs were added in res pon s e to an in creas e in in du s try’s n eed for s ocial media s kil l s in particu l ar. Compan ies th at h ave been arou n d for de cades are ru n by peopl e from ol der gen eration s wh o are n ot as fl u ent in s ocial media pl atforms s u ch as Twit ter, In s tagram an d Sn apch at. Th is h as l ed compan ies to create jobs s pecifical l y for s ocial media, wh ich are fre qu entl y fil l ed by you n g gradu ates . Not on l y does th is h el p bu s in es s es bu il d a s ocial media pres en ce to reach you n ger demograph ics in a more organ ic way, it al s o h el ps col l ege s tu dents l ike me get a foot in th e door in th eir pros pective in du s try or company. I h ave intern ed at a l ocal organ ization cal l ed
Scranton Tomorrow a n d at Pla n et Con n e c ti on s Th e atre Fes tivity in New York C i ty. Both i nte rn s h i ps gave me val u abl e h an ds - o n expe ri e n ce s wi th tra d i ti on a l P R tech n iqu es s u ch as w ri ti n g pre s s re le a s e s a n d coord i n atin g events . Bu t, i n b oth i n s ta n ce s , th e b u lk of my work con s is ted of s pe a r- h e a d i n g s oc i a l m e d i a s trate gies . Du ri n g my ti m e wi th Sc ra nton Tom orrow, I c re ate d a n d exe c u te d a s oc i a l m e d i a c a m pa i gn th at fe a tu re d i n d e pe n d e nt businesses loc ate d i n d ow ntow n Sc ra n ton on Sc ra nton To m orrow’s Fa ce b ook , Twi tte r a n d In s ta gra m a ccou nts . Th i s c a m pa i gn wa s syn onym ou s w i th i ts m i s s i on of d ri vi n g e con om i c revi ta l i z ati on to th e h e a rt of downtown . Many of th e s e i n d e pe n d e nt b u s i n e s s e s did n ot h ave th eir ow n s oc i a l m e d i a a ccou nts , s o th i s h el ped give th em more of a n on li n e pre s e n ce at n o expen s e to th em. Simil arl y, in my ti m e wi th Pla n et Con n e c ti on s , I was tas ked with prom oti n g ove r 50 plays a n d s ta ge d readin gs for an eco- fri e n d ly i n d i e th e atre fe s ti va l u s i n g In s tagram, Facebook a n d e m a i l m a rketi n g. Th i s fe s ti va l h eavil y rel ied on s oc i a l m e d i a to get word ou t a b ou t s h ows becau s e th eir m i s s i on s tate m e nt pla ce s gre at i m portan ce on bein g gre e n . Th e content I wa s prom oti n g a n d pos ti n g a b ou t at Pl an et Con n ection s cou ld n ot h ave b e e n m ore d i f fe rent from th e content I c re ate d at Sc ra nton Tom orrow. Th es e varyin g ex perie n ce s ta u ght m e to a d j u s t my la n gu age to th e n eeds of d i f fe re nt orga n i z ati on s , grou ps an d projects . Overal l , I bel i eve le a rn i n g h ow to com m u n i c ate in di fferent s ettin gs w i th va ryi n g m eth od s i s on e of th e mos t val u abl e th i n gs a colle ge s tu d e nt c a n d o. It te a c h es you h ow to pres e nt you rs e lf, h ow to i nte ra c t w i th oth ers an d h ow to re a d pe ople’s re s pon s e s . In a n a ge wh ere peopl e s pen d h ou rs at a ti m e s ta ri n g at a s c re e n , h u ma n commu n icati o n le ave s eve n m ore of a n i m pa c t on th os e arou n d you .
"Communication
is flooding society because technological advancements continually produce new opportunities for people to interact.
"
5
F I N D O U T H O W S I X R OYA L S S P E N T T H E I R VA C AT I O N AT W O R K
Senior Mark Miller interned with Wasserman, a global sports marketing agency, in their Raleigh, North Carolina office. He worked in the marketing services division on an account team for a Fortune 100 brand, and had the opportunity to learn about the business behind the PGA TOUR and Major League Soccer.
SUMMER INTERN SPOTLIGHT
Miller was able to get out of his comfort zone both personally and professionally by moving away from home for the summer. “I was not familiar with the city, the type of work, or the people. After a rewarding 10 weeks, I became friends with my coworkers and learned how to navigate Raleigh,” Miller said. “I am thankful for the incredible people I met and their willingness to provide insights and direction in my early career.”
BY LAUREN GALLAGHER
MARK MILLER WASSERMAN
Miller is a double major in marketing and business administration, and a double minor in communication and business leadership.
Junior Jack Aversa worked at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Gamboa, Panama as a part of a 10-week research internship. He is double majoring in biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology and biomathematics, and minoring in Spanish.
MARY MCCAFFERTY COMPASS
DANNY YURESKO NYPD Danny Yurseko interned for The New York City Police Department Legal Bureau/Civil Enforcement Unit. He represented the department under the guidance of experienced department personnel, and dealt with criminal defendants and their attorneys who were seeking to get their property back from the department.
R E I L LY CHARLES NBC Junior Reilly Charles interned for NBC at 30 Rockefeller Center and assisted coordinators with all of the graphics for NBC News. Charles is a double major in theater and communications.
“I was very fortunate to be able to intern where I did and meet so many amazing police officers and attorneys who taught me a lot of different things that I have been able to take back with me to my normal life,” Yuresko said.
She had a great experience at the internship and hopes to one day return. “I loved it so much. It was such a rewarding experience and I learned so much. I hope that they will have me back in the future!” Charles said.
6
Yuresko is a junior majoring in political science and minoring in criminology.
Junior Mary McCafferty interned at Compass, a luxury real estate tech company, in Manhattan, NY. She was a creative production intern on the creative marketing team. “As a creative production intern, I assisted with the different tasks of the production branch of the creative marketing team. These included organizing and implementing photo/video shoots, delegating tasks to the design team and implementing agent needs into upcoming projects. I also helped launch a completely renovated, tech-driven real estate sign into the marketplace,” McCafferty said. “It was an amazing experience for me because I was able to work with different subgroups across the marketing team and had the opportunity to work on-site for multiple photo and video shoots.” McCafferty is a junior marketing and philosophy double major, with a minor in business leadership and a concentration in environmental studies.
Aversa worked as a research assistant for three Ph. D. students who each worked on their own projects involving bat behavior. At night, he and his team would catch bats in the jungle, record them and occasionally take certain species back to base to perform harmless behavioral experiments on them. “My experience in Panama caused me to grow not only as a researcher but also as an individual. I learned a whole new meaning of independence, self-reliance, and preparedness for the unexpected,” Aversa said. “Life in the jungle was as unforgiving as it was exquisite, and it played by a whole different set of rules.”
JULIE WEISMILLER CHRISTIAN H E A LT H C A R E CENTER
J AC K AV E R S A SMITHSONIAN TROPICAL RESEARCH CENTER
Julie Weismiller, a junior nursing major, interned at the Christian Healthcare Center in New Jersey as a Psychiatric Nursing Assistant (PNA). She was responsible for contributing to the development, evaluation, and reassessment of care plans through observation and reporting changes in patient behavior and physical status. She also assisted in maintaining the safe and therapeutic environment of the unit. Weismiller is able take what she learned from the internship and use it during her clinical work through the University. “I’m fortunate to have had previous experience caring for these patients,” Weismiller said. “Even though the patients were sometimes difficult to deal with, I always made sure to be compassionate and empathetic because of their physical, mental and emotional needs.”
7
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
UZOMA “UZO” AGBASIONYE
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON
COMMENTARY BY: DOMINICK MALARA
8
holiday breaks. While he may not necessarily
“Back home at school, you are in-
pack up and go home, Agbasionye has plenty
in South East Nigeria. He first came to the
timidated by your teachers. You rarely say
of people he considers family to stay with. He
United States in 2011 as a sophomore in high
anything in classrooms. While here in the
added that he has never had any difficulties
school, where he attended a boarding school
U.S, the teachers encourage you to talk.
finding somewhere to stay during his time at
in Connecticut. Now, Agbasionye is a 3rd
There’s incentives for participation. So I’d
the University.
semester senior health administration major
have to learn to speak up in classrooms,” Ag-
Agbasionye plans to continue his education
at the University and will be returning home
basionye said.
once he receives his undergraduate degree,
to Nigeria this winter for the first time since
Christmas in 2014.
glish, making the transition to U.S.
His first language was not En-
and has applied to a master’s program. If accepted,
The transition from Nigeria to the
schools even more difficult.
he will contin-
United States was quite the culture shock
He said that if the class took
ue a two-year
for Agbasionye, particularly at school. He ex-
five minutes to read a page,
graduate
plained that in Nigeria, schools do not have
it would take him five times
program in
little things students
longer. Homework in Nigeria
health
in the U.S. take
was few and far between,
for granted, such
and so he had to get used to
as libraries and
doing homework every day in
the
computer lab. He also com-
the U.S.
LE
Heaton described what made her want to be an Orientation Assistant in the first place. “I had a really great orientation experience my first year. So, I wanted to be that first face our first-years see when they step foot on campus, and I can be the first of many to make them feel at home,” Heaton said. She explained that OAs must go through three different intensive training sessions, as well as attend a retreat to help build team bonding and friendships. “Team work is such an essential part of being an OA, so it was incredibly important for us to come together as one big family,” Heaton said. However, after the OAs have completed this section of their training the real work begins. Before every orientation session the group of OAs working would meet a day before to discuss scheduling, spend time with the other OA they were working with and practice the skits. “Our two main goals for every session were number one: make sure that the incoming students were having fun and number two: ease their worries about coming to Scranton,” Heaton said. Maddie hopes that her hard work will inspire her orientees to one day become OAs just as her OA inspired. “I truly feel this is the best thing I’ve done at Scranton,” Heaton said.
Uzoma “Uzo” Agbasionye is an
The typical student at the University packs
ad-
their things and goes home when winter
min-
break or summer come. However, that pro-
tion.
G
Petry did not apply to many colleges, as he only applied to five. He was worried that his lack of options would lead to a possibly uncomfortable situation. His thoughts leading up to orientation at the University reflected this feeling of uncertainty. “I was expecting it to be somewhat of a drag. I went in thinking the rooms were going to be too hot, there would be too many ice breakers and I wouldn’t remember anything I learned when school came around,” Petry said. However, once he stepped foot onto the University’s campus, this feeling of insecurity seemed to float away. “My Orientation Assistant was incredibly welcoming. She really made me feel like I was a part of the community already,” he said. Throughout the day Petry would constantly ask his OA questions, and what he got in return were incredibly honest answers and help whenever it was needed. “By the time I got home I had already made some great friends and felt incredibly confident in my choice of school. I knew Scranton was my new home,” Petry said.
ria to the U.S.
international student from a small village
O
Sophomore, Class of 2021
O
Freshman, Class of 2022
to stay with them for Thanksgiving and other
G
Maddie Heaton
pared the teaching styles from those in Nige-
istra-
CO U R TE SY OF
Connor Petry
BY: MITCHELL DEMYTRK
cess is a bit different for Agbasionye. While he is going home to Nigeria for Christ-
O
As the first month of this school year has come to a close, it would seem that the class of 2022 is finally settled in. After a long application process, waiting to be accepted and orientation, first-year students have all begun to adjust to their “new life” on campus. For some, this adjustment period may have been flawless. Though, for most it probably took some getting used to. So, who do firstyears turn to during this time of uncertainty? One good place to start may be the people who have been with them even before classes began. The Orientation Assistants, or OAs for short, have been by their side through almost every step of this journey. Whether it was a helpful piece of advice, or just a smile on the first day, the OAs have been a huge source of guidance on how to not only survive but thrive at the University. To get a better understanding of the first-year to OA relationship, I talked to first-year Connor Petry, and his OA, Maddie Heaton.
mas this year, he typically stays
P
with close friends from high
H
O
T
ORIENTATION
FIRSTYEAR & OA SHARE BOTH SIDES
school. In addition, he has met families at the UniverPHOTO COURTESY OF SHERYL MURPHY
sity that have allowed him
9
SAINT MARY MACKILLOP
NEW & IMPROVED
Born in 1842 near Melbourne, Australia, Mary McKillop was the eldest of eight children. She spent the early years of her career teaching in different parts of the country before opening her own boarding school which is today known as Bayview College. It was not until McKillop opened a Catholic school in South Australia in 1866 that she became a sister. She quickly rose through the ranks of her congregation, the Josephites, while founding more Catholic schools throughout Australia. When McKillop heard of allegations that a man named Father Keating had been sexually abusing children, she informed higher level clergy members. Keating was sent to Ireland under the public assumption that his banishment was because of alcohol abuse Other priests were so outraged at Keating’s dismissal that they sought to excommunicate McKillop and disband her entire religious order. Jesuit priests sheltered McKillop while many of the schools McKillop helped to build were closed. She was not exonerated until two years later, at which point she continued to grow the Josephite order and continue her mission of expanding Catholic education.
PUTTING FACES TO THE NEW NAMES O F U N I V E R S I T Y R E S I D E N C E H A L L S BY CO LLE E N B OY L E Ant i ci pat i ng th e re le as e of grand j ur y pro ce e d in g s th at wo u ld later re l e a se t he n a m e s of h u n dre ds of C at ho l i c Cle rg y m e m b e rs i n Pe nnsyl va ni a , a s e le c t g ro u p of uni ve rsi t y co m m un ity m e m b e rs gathere d to d i scuss po s s ib le ou t come s of t he d o cum e nts a n d w h at the a ppro pr i ate res po n s e s m ay be . Th e Uni ve rsi t y c h o s e to s h are the i r re spo nse to t h e proce e d in g s throug h a n e m a i l from th e n ew ly re i nstate d Pre si d e nt, Scott R . Pi lar z, S . J. The e m a i l reve a le d th e thre e re si d e nce s th at wo u ld b e str i ppe d of t he na me s of prie s ts i nvolve d i n t he g ra n d ju ry re port. Wi thi n days, a l l ca mpu s s ig n s an d Unive rsi t y d i g i t a l m ate ria ls we re re place d b efo re fi rs t-ye a r m ove i n. On t he se pa ge s are th e name s of t ho se w ho h ave re place d that of Je sui t s ex pos e d by th e grand j ur y re po r t . Th e b u ild in g s have be e n re na m e d af te r Un ive rsi ty al um ni , a fo r m e r Arc h b is h o p and an Aust ra l i a n nu n w h o s e life’s wor k revo l ve d a ro un d b low in g th e whistl e o n t he sa m e of fe n s e s th at pr ie sts na m e d i n t h e g ra n d ju ry re por t e i t he r pe r petrate d or a c ti ve ly cove re d up. 10
PHOTO COURTESY OF GOOGLE IMAGES
BRENDAN J. GIBLIN ’06 & WILLIAM H. KELLY JR. ’93 PHOTO COURTESY OF GOOGLE IMAGES
OSCAR ROMERO Former Archbishop of San Salvador Oscar Romero preached his messages of peace and unity during the height of a civil war in the late 1970s. Romero worked tirelessly to protected the exploited communities of San Salvador amidst political conflict that put the fate of the Catholic Church into question. He became the voice of the poor and marginalized, denouncing the electoral fraud and mob killings that barred El Salvador from achieving the social change it so drastically needed. The Archbishop proposed non-violent solutions to the political tensions rising from the left and right, and was scrutinized by the press in return. Well aware of the volume of death threats he had began to receive from extremist political groups, Romero served mass in March of 1980 and was assassinated at the alter. He fell in front of the crucifix and has since been recognized as one of the greatest modern martyrs in the Catholic Church.
Bill Kelly grew up in Yardley, Pennsylvania and spent his summers on Long Beach Island in New Jersey. He graduated from the University in 2001 and began working for Bloomberg, L.P. in Princeton, New Jersey, and their affiliate, Bloomberg Tradebook L.L.C., in New York City. He later won the company’s “Heart and Soul” award about a year before he attended a conference at the World Trade center during the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Brendan Giblin of Cherry Hill, New Jersey graduated from St. Joseph’s Preparatory School in Philadelphia before coming to the University in 2002. He was an active member of the University swim team and later became the co-captain. He was fatally hit in a car crash in Panama City during his senior year spring break, but is remembered with love by friends and family. PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE BRENDAN J. GIBLIN M E M O R I A L F U N D & T H E B I L L K E L LY J R . M E M O R I A L F U N D 1 1
Q & A with Dean Conniff SIX QUESTIONS FROM CAS STUDENTS ANSWERED BY THE COLLEGE DEAN
BY: GABRIELLA BASILE
Q: What are your plans for the future of CAS? A: My vision is that, fundamentally, many of the most tradi-
living a meaningful life. You’ve got four years with a unique opportunity to figure out what’s going to give purpose and meaning in your life. That will determine your happiness and success much more than
rent student body and faculty, a more diverse campus community in
any major or minor ever could. If you’re undecided, stop worrying
many senses. Nonetheless, we will be doubling down on a vision of
about it. Deciding on your major is important, but not nearly the most
Jesuit education grounded in the liberal arts and humanities, because
important decision.
they will be needed more than ever in our constantly changing social landscape.
Q: What is your advice for for seniors? A: Stop worrying about it. There is life beyond The University
Q: What does Jesuit education mean to you? A: That’s a good question. It’s an education grounded in the
of Scranton. Appreciate how well a Jesuit education has prepared
liberal arts, directly connected to caring for people most in need and
vocation that will be much more important than each individual stop
addressing the greatest needs of the human community. There’s a lot
along the way. Stay involved with the University. This will always be
I could say about this topic, but what it all boils down to is vocation.
your second home, and there is much you will still need to learn To be
We’re educating students not just to have a job or a career--we must
Jesuit educated is to be a part of something much bigger than your-
continue do that part well--but also to have a vocation, a vision of life
self, and it certainly doesn’t stop when you graduate.
grounded in their particular talents and also serving the greater good and building a more just and peaceful world.
Q: What is your favorite statue on campus? A: My favorite is Jacob and the Angel at the top of the hill,
you for the rest of your life, particularly through having a sense of
Q: We hear you are on social media, can you tell me a little bit
more about that?
A: We want our students to identify with the college while
placing our liberal arts foundation and mission in the spotlight, with the aspects of their education that are more than just a major or
personal and spiritual, but also about this larger community. It's a
degree. We want to make more visible to everybody all the great
story from Genesis and about a people who come to have a cove-
things being done by our students, faculty and alumni. There’s all this
nant with God, to be his people and do his work,
great work happening and the best way to share it is by being connec-
but also about this one man who struggles
ted. I want students to be more reflective about what it means, and
through the night with this demon who
I guess, in the case of social media, what it looks like, to be Jesuit
NE M
because it tells a story about transformation and struggle. It is deeply
educated. I want students to unders-
up there looking down not only on
tand and take seriously that when we
the campus but on the whole
IBU
valley. It reminds us that when
we
say we are sending CAS graduates out to change the world, we are not
struggle-
kidding. By following the CAS social
--perhaps most of all
media accounts, students can more
when we struggle--we
easily and accessibly see the impact
are still becoming part
the education has in the lives of our
of something bigger.
alums and the lives around them. On a
Q: What is your
advice for first-years?
A: Get engaged with all the good
CO PHOTO
turns out to be God. I like that’s its
things going on within the community. Get to know a faculty member because that’s a that impacts a student’s success
across every gender, race, etc. Be contemplative, have time to
contemplative in action. Start thinking about how you will go about
think ten years from now and beyond we’re going have a very diffe-
factor
12
book of literature or philosophy, go on a retreat, make time to be a
tional aspects of Jesuit education will remain as important as ever. I
TR
that he wanted to pursue a career in medicine. “I want to be able to be with people during these crazy moments when what really matters come out,” O’Connell said. O’Connell graduated from Harvard Medical School in 1982. After completing a residency in Internal Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, he founded the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program in 1985. The program currently serves over 11,000 homeless people in Boston. O’Connell also is an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. Four pre-med students from The University of Scranton were part of the discussion panel alongside O’Connell. They included Stefan Olsen, a junior biochemistry major; Michael Predi, a second-year graduate student pursuing a masters in biochemistry; Catherine Stapf, a senior neuroscience and philosophy double major; and Brittany Thomas, a senior neuroscience and biology double major. All the student panelists attended the International Street Medicine conference that took place in Allentown last year. During the conference, they met various street doctors, including O’Connell. The students commented on how the conference impacted their views of the world. “It was an eye-opener,” Thomas said. “You need to realize that everyone else around you has their own lives that have other things going on, but when you don’t see someone that doesn’t mean they’re not going through something. It’s very easy to just forget that other people have their own situations and lives that they have to take care of. It also goes to show how far kindness can really go.” Predi discussed how a quote from O’Connell’s book, “Finding meaning the mundane,” especially resonated with him. Attending the conference and reading O’Connell’s book reminded Predi how important and impactful human interaction is when it comes to influencing the life of another person. “It’s so easy to overlook humanity,” Predi said. “It’s so easy to forget about people, people we belong to.” Hearing doctors talk about their experiences while working on the streets brought new questions to the forefront of the students’ minds. “That really got to me and gave me the opportunity to really think about not only what is it that I want to do, but why do I want to do it?” Olsen said. It is a question that students of every major should take the time to reflect on.
UR
BY: LAURA FREEDMAN The University hosted a discussion panel featuring this year’s Ignatian Values in Action author on September 14 at 11 a.m. in the PNC Auditorium located in the Loyola Science Center. James “Jim” O’Connell, M.D., wrote about his experiences treating homeless people on the streets of Boston, Massachusetts, in his book “Stories from the Shadows: Reflections of a Street Doctor.” O’Connell has spent more than 30 years administering medicine to the homeless population in Boston. “One of the nicest things about the homeless population is that it’s a group of people who have been through unbelievable stuff,” O’Connell said. “I used to think that we were all just one paycheck away from being homeless, but that’s not really true. Most of us have support. The people who really end up outside have really been traumatized.” During the discussion panel, O’Connell also discussed how difficult his transition from working in an intensive care unit to a homeless shelter clinic initially was. “There are dangers when you go through a program that’s rigorous, and you know your world pretty well and then you get taken out of it,” O’Connell said. “What you’re used to being certain about becomes entire doubt and uncertainty.” But he never let doubt or uncertainty deter him. In his book, O’Connell compares his work to the Greek myth Sisyphus, in which the titular character is forced to roll a boulder up a hill only for it to roll down once it nears the top for all eternity. “Things happen very slowly,” O’Connell said. “There’s something about how you learn how to really enjoy and be present in that moment, and not having to worry about whether the boulder is coming back down or not. I think that’s the secret to most careers. You just enjoy the day-to-day. You enjoy what you’re doing.” His journey to becoming a street doctor did not happen overnight. After graduating from the University of Notre Dame in 1970 and receiving his master’s degree in theology from Cambridge University in 1972, O’Connell searched for his passion. He discovered that his passion was medicine after an experience he had with his friends in England. While on the Isle of Man, O’Connell and his friends witness a man crash his motorcycle. He and his friends kept the man company while they waited for help to come. While they waited, O’Connell talked to the man. During his time with the man, O’Connell realized
TESY OF ES TH E TIM
IGNATIAN VALUES IN ACTION
be reflective, read a
practical level, we also share things like academic calendar announcements and news-worthy events within CAS, so I think that’s a pretty useful tool for current students as well. SCRANTON_CAS
SCRANTON_CAS
13
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
CO
UR
TES
Y OF SCRANT
ON
AT
H
LE
T
H
14
TO
LE
T
P
O
IC
S
C BARTLET
CO
UR
TES
Y OF SCRANT
ON
AT
H
O
H
I ER
J
P
Women’s soccer forward Jamie Hreniuk helped the Royals get off to a blazing start for the 2018 season, netting four goals in the first two games of the season. Her first two goals came in a 4-0 win over Stockton University on Aug. 31. The next two came in a 3-0 win against Kean University. One was unassisted. Hreniuk’s four goals gave her 29 in total for her college career, bumping her up to 14th in the program’s record books of most career goals. Favorite song to listen to before a game: We make our own warm up tape which is kind of a mix of all the current, cool songs and anything upbeat and we do have a couple songs that are old and we listen to them every year, it’s been kind of a tradition here at The University for a few years now. Biggest superstition: I wear the same sports bra, spandex, warm up shirt, I wear my hair the same for every game. I think we’re all the same like that. We sit next to the same people on the bus, same seats. If someone goes in front of us it’s a weird thing. We stand next to the same people on the side line, or when we’re in the huddle, I have the same two people on my sides. Favorite professional athlete: I’d say Eli Manning. Plans after graduation: I’m currently applying to physical therapy school, so hopefully I know where I’m going by the winter. Favorite spot on campus: My friends and I like to sit outside first floor DeNaples and grab food or do homework. It’s nice out there.
I AM
E HRENI
UK
S
IC
H
TO
T
P
O
Junior Calvin Ralph of the men’s golf team helped the team get off to a 6-0 run to start the season. In the team’s match against Wilkes University, Ralph shot 73. He followed that performance by shooting a 71 when the team played at Glenmaura National Golf Club against Marywood University and Wilkes University. Favorite song to listen to before a match: It changes every time I play. I was listening to Nonstop by Drake a lot. Yesterday I was listening to Sicko Mode by Travis Scott. It just really changes on the day, whatever song comes up. But it’s usually a lot of Drake just to get focused. Favorite professional athlete: I looked up to David Wright growing up. But golf wise, I’m a huge Tiger Woods fan, and Brooks Koepka, guys like that. Biggest Superstition: I always carry three balls and six tees in one pocket. And I carry three quarters and I have a Mets divot tool, because I’m a huge Mets fan. So the quarters that I mark my ball with all have a year that’s important to me. Sometimes I’ll also look down at the last number and set that as my goal for what I want to shoot that day, like shoot 6 or 8 over or better. Plans after Scranton: I don’t really know yet. I want to go to grad school... I don’t know what level but I definitely want to get into coaching. Favorite spot on campus: I like hanging out on first floor DeNaples. My friends and I always eat down there now and stuff like that, so it’s a good spot to be.
IC
PH
TO
LE
T
IN RAL
S
LV CA
CO
UR
TES
Y OF SCRANT
ON
H AT
Men’s cross country member Eric Bartlett helped his squad to a third place overall finish at the Dutchmen Invitational in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. He finished sixth at the invitational, the best finish of his career, with a time of 27:00.71 in an 8,000-meter course. Bartlett has high hopes for the season both on an individual and team level, and looks forward to continuing to better himself with each meet he competes in. Favorite song to listen to before a meet: I don’t particularly have a favorite song, I have a certain playlist. I usually listen to a motivational playlist before. I have it on Spotify, just something to pump me up. Biggest superstition: One big thing that I do beforehand is we have these things called flats but you put spikes in them, and I tape them up before so my shoelaces don’t get untied and my friend always asks me why I do that and I just don’t want to risk getting my shoes untied. Favorite professional athlete: There’s Mo Farrah, he just retired. I always loved watching Usain Bolt but if I had to say a favorite, I like this guy from Kenya. His name is Eliud Kipchoge. He was one out of three athletes that attempted to break the two hour barrier in the marathon, and he made it the closest. Plans after graduation: I’ll be going to grad school here in the PT program. Favorite spot on campus: There’s a room that’s above the pool and down a hallway, and there’s a lot of nice whiteboards and desks and you can use the projector and it’s a really quiet spot not a lot of people know about.
COMMENTARY BY: JILL WALL Every September hundreds of students pour into the Byron Center to celebrate the Mass of the Holy Spirit. All students, faculty and members of The University community are welcomed to join in the celebration of the mass, but no group makes a more evident appearance than the student-athletes. Members from each of The University’s 23 Division III varsity sports teams file in and sit proudly together, each representing his or her own team. This occasion, and the strong presence of athletes, is a unique aspect to our University and helps beg the question- who are the athletes on our campus and what is their role in the University community? Athletes are often thought of in one of two ways- dumb jocks who toss balls around and lift weights all day or superstars sent down as gifts to enlighten the lives of everyone around them. Both of these viewpoints often come with the idea that athletes are given special treatment— by fans, professors or administrators. The athletes on this campus, however, acknowledge that while being an athlete may come with more recognition, it also comes with higher expectations. Bridgette Mann, senior point guard for the University’s women’s basketball team noted that she does not believe she or other athletes receive any type of favoritism at the University. “Being an athlete on any sports team here, at such a small school, almost everyone knows who you are. This may come with its perks, but I have never once received or expected any special treatment from anyone just because I’m an athlete. Just like playing on a team, you always have to earn your spot,” Mann said. “I think there is a certain standard that needs to be met from athletes. There’s no room for garbage time in good programs, and that stands true for academics as well. On our team, we know there is a certain expectation of excellence on and off the court.” The expectation to reach a certain level of academic excellence in the classroom stands true for all athletes at the University, a prime example being the men’s lacrosse team. In order to ensure his players are performing the best they can academically, Michael Hofmiester, head coach of the men’s lacrosse team, has implemented the practice of a study hour for his players, in which the players are required to devote an hour of time to studying or homework every day. “We have study hours and the way they work is everyone on our team that is
ATHLETE CULTURE ON CAMPUS new to the team, or guys that have below a 3.0 cumulative GPA, have a study hour Monday through Friday and they pick where on our campus they want to do it. It can’t be their dorm room and they have to do it before 4 o’clock,” Hofmeister said. “The reason I say before 4 o’clock is because after 4 everyone in college is doing something fun…all the distractions that exist. And from an athlete’s standpoint, our teams are going to practice. They’re going to work so hard at practice they’re going to be tired and not going to do their work afterward, so I just think it makes sense to do their work during the day.” Hofmeister also noted that while he holds his players to a higher academic standard, he does not believe others outside the athletic department, such as professors, do the same. “I wouldn’t say they get held to a higher standard, necessarily, by everyone else, but I as the head coach will say I hold my guys to a higher standard. I expect a lot out of them, and I would say if you ask a lot of the other coaches here they would say the same thing. They hold their athletes to a higher standard,” Hofmeister said. “So from the coaching perspective, I would say yes. I wouldn’t say the professors or other people on our campus hold the student athletes to a higher standard than they do regular students. I would say that everyone is more aware of who the student athletes are, so there’s a little more of a reputation that comes with [that].” Senior Delaney Heywood has a unique perspective on the athlete culture at the University, as she has been both a student-athlete and a non-athlete during her time here. Heywood played for the women’s soccer team her first year at the University but decided to stop playing after that as her rigorous schedule as a nursing major be-
came more demanding. While reflecting on her time as an athlete versus a non-athlete, Heywood noted that there were clear differences. “Athletes are held to a higher standard than non-athletes because they represent Scranton in a spotlight that the average student does not. Every student represents Scranton but athletes do so at higher stakes,” Heywood said. “Athletes not only represent Scranton off campus at away games, but in everything they do. They may face greater punishment for a misdemeanor because of the weight they carry, but they also receive greater praise than the average student.” Heywood noted that this standard also gives the opportunity for athletes to be treated differently from non-athletes, but does not necessarily mean that they should be. “I think athletes are people of importance on campus because they are in the spotlight for Scranton. They are recognized for their achievement and reprimanded for any mistakes,” Heywood said. “They work for Scranton in a way that the non-athlete student does not. We do not need put them on a pedestal but their hard work deserves to be recognized.” While it is true that at many universities athletes are overly praised for their accomplishments on the court or the field, The University of Scranton has strived to foster an environment where athletes understand that being a student comes first. The University has shown that this campus is not a place where they will be given preferential treatment simply because they wear a jersey. At the same time, athletes can be assured that every game day the stands will be filled with peers, professors and member of the Scranton community cheering them on, wishing them success in all they set out to accomplish.
15
Theater with purpose inside sco op on The Players’
first production of the year
AQ U I N A S P H OTO / FA H A D A S H R A F
S t u d e n t G o v V. P. D i s c u s s e s E x p e r i e n c e & Up c o m i n g G o a l s C O M M E N TA RY BY: FA H A D A S H R A F
Imagine walking onto a college campus as a first-year, and seeing your face plastered everywhere during the first week. You do not know too many people yet; but they know you. The idea of putting my name into the mix and campaigning for a Student Government Senator position as a first-year student seemed immensely stressful at the time, but it has shaped my college experience in a way that I will be forever grateful. During my two years campaigning and serving as a senator, I’ve connected with many people that I now call dear friends. I cannot imagine my life without them now, and had I not put myself out there to serve Student Government, I may not have even met them. My professional, public speaking and leadership skills have grown immensely, and my confidence has reached new heights; this is an experience 16
I would recommend to everyone. As members of Student Government, our responsibilities include advocating for our peers and constituents, reviewing petitions for new clubs and chartering them, balancing the budget for student clubs and organizations and working towards change and progress within the University community as a whole. Without even realizing it, I have been benefitting from Student Government’s actions on campus for years now. My many late nights in the library would not be possible without Student Government’s past initiatives to make the library open for 24 hours. A number of clubs I am a member of now would not have been possible without Student Government chartering and funding them. Now that I am a part of it, I recognize that Student Government is a job that often operates for many hours behind the scenes
with little recognition for the change we make. However, giving power directly to students and connecting them to resources they have no idea about is a reward in itself. As I now transition into the role of Vice President in my third year, I have seen firsthand that change takes time, persistence and self-assurance. This year, some of our goals include establishing a non-partisan voter registration body on campus (U of S Votes), establishing a Classroom Bill of Rights & Responsibilities for students, increasing our communication and transparency with the student body and continuing to write resolutions that address student concerns. Not everyone will be happy with every decision we make, but we know that we are doing the best we can to positively impact as many students as possible. Because of this, we can look back at our time spent on student government with a smile.
COMMENTARY BY: VICTORIA PENNINGTON Tensions are high in the United States. It feels like the nation is divided by party lines and opinions on social and gender equality, creating an “us vs. them” attitude. This feeling seems to be intensified by social media and other outlets. It is during times like these that it is even more important to remember moments in history that encourage change and unity. Twenty years ago, on Oct. 12, 1998, 21-year-old college student Matthew Shepard was beaten to death in Laramie, Wyoming, for being gay. His death made national news and sparked social debates regarding equality of race, gender, sexual orientation and more. Eleven years after Shepard’s murder, the United States Department of Justice passed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009. This act gives funding to state and lower levels of jurisdiction to help them investigate and try hate crimes. Additionally, it created a criminal federal law that holds people accountable for causing another person bodily harm because of their religion, sexual orientation, race, disability and more. Playwright Moises Kaufman and his theater group, the Tectonic Theater Project, were hurt and driven to act after hearing Shepard’s story. Kaufman and other members of the Tectonic Theater Project drove to Laramie, Wyoming shortly after the incident, and interviewed the residents of the town to record their feelings and reactions on the event.
Kaufman then used this information to write The Laramie Project, a documentary-drama about the aftermath of Shepard’s death and the toll it took on the town. This year, The University of Scranton Players plan to honor Shepard’s memory by performing The Laramie Project as their first production of the 2018-2019 season. It opens it on the 20th anniversary of Shepard’s death. The show runs Oct. 12-14 and 19-21 in the Royal Theatre of the Joseph M. McDade Center for the Literary and Performing Arts. The Players will hold post-show discussions following both Saturday performances to continue the dialogue that Shepard’s story initiated 20 years ago. Artists including playwrights, actors, directors and more continue to explore the toughest of subjects without any fear. The Players are humbled by having the opportunity to add a chapter to this story, and to provide an open space to talk about what equality truly means, how society can improve for the future and why Shepard’s story cannot be forgotten. For more information: contact the Players box office at 570-941-4318 or visit us at thescrantonplayers.com. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for senior citizens, students, and University of Scranton faculty and staff. Second weekend is free for first-year students.
PHOTO COURTESY OF VICTORIA PENNINGTON
17
Editor-in-Chief Lauren Gallagher Managing Editor Samantha Calderone Graphic Design Colleen Boyle Social Media Manager Laura Freedman Editorial Team Jillian Wall Dominick Malara Liam Shea Contributors Fahad Ashraf Jack Aversa Reilly Charles Mitchell Demytrk Mary McCafferty Mark Miller Victoria Pennington Julie Weismiller Danny Yuresko Art Contributors Lasha Basadzishvili Shannon Black Minahil Sami Katherine Peccerillo
18
ďťż
ďťż
19
LOOKING TO JOIN THE AQUINAS? E-MAIL THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF LAUREN GALLAGHER AT LAUREN.GALLAGHER@SCRANTON.EDU
Original artwork created in collaboration by CSA & Art Club members: Shandon Black Minahil Sami Katherine Peccerillo Digitally edited by Aquinas staff 20