Spooktober October 28, 2021
Editorial Board Sarah Vandermolen Editor-in-Chief sarahvandermolen@stfrancis.edu
Student led, student written.
UNIVERSITY
COLUMNS
4 Letter from the Editor
28 Cheers to 50 Years, Disney
NEWS 6-7 Campus News 8-9 Local News 10-11 World News
ENTERTAINMENT 13 WCSF Top Ten & Staff Picks 14-15 Squid Game: Another Perspective 16-17 Horror Movies: Addictive or Atrocious 18 Venom Review 19 The Creepy House
FEATURE 22 Our Friendly Campus Ghosts 23 The Old Joliet Prison 24-25 Worldwide Myths 26-27 The History of Halloween 2
October 28, 2021
29 My One, True Love: Harry Styles
COMMENTARY 30 Fall Drink Review 31 Trending Halloween Costumes: Past and Present
SPORTS 32-33 Winners Win
John Raspante Assistant Editor johnraspante@stfrancis.edu Paula Garcia Layout Designer paulagarcia@stfrancis.edu Jessica Scroppo Layout Designer jessicascroppo@stfrancis.edu Deonte Bryant Entertainment Editor deontebryant@stfrancis.edu Dallas Matlock Sports & Advertising dallasmatlock@stfrancis.edu Shayna Griffith PR Specialist shaynagriffith@stfrancis.edu Dr. Scott Marshall Advisor smarshall@stfrancis.edu
34-35 USF Welcomes Esports 36-37 Candace Parker Slam Dunks for Equality
Staff Allison Heard Amanda Dutkiewicz Brady Jones Collin Gilmer Cosme Lozano Emily Eagen Eve Odum Harlie Mast Kathryn Drey Lucy Erika Ann Magat Matt Lauterbach Rebecca Giese Sara Cahill Sister Gayle Rusbasan Starla Farmer
Front and Back Cover Courtesy of Jessica Scroppo
EDITORS Sarah Vandermolen John Raspante
Paula Garcia Jessica Scroppo
Shayna Griffith Dallas Matlock
Not Pictured: Deonte Bryant
Policies The USF Encounter is published by the students of the University of St. Francis, 500 Wilcox Street, Joliet, Illinois, 60435. The newspaper office is located in room S413C of Tower Hall. The USF Encounter phone number is 815.740.3816. As a member of USF Campus Media, the USF Encounter strives to produce a publication that stresses quality writing and design. By reporting on issues that may be sensitive in nature, the USF Encounter aims to educate, inform and persuade students on topics that affect their lives on and off campus. Editorial pages provide USF Encounter staff with opportunities to express thoughtful views on controversial topics. Letters to the Editor represent the opinion of the author and are not necessarily opinions of the USF Encounter Staff. Publications of letters to the editor are subject to space availability and management discretion. Letters are also subject to editing. Letters to the editor or any other submissions may be dropped off at the USF Encounter office or emailed to encounter@stfrancis.edu. The USF Encounter is printed by RICOH Services on the campus of the University of St. Francis. As a Catholic university rooted in the liberal arts, we are a welcoming community of learners challenged by Franciscan values and charism, engaged in a continuous pursuit of knowledge, faith, wisdom, and justice, and ever mindful of a tradition that emphasizes reverence for creation, compassion and peacemaking. We strive for academic excellence in all programs, preparing women and men to contribute to the world through service and leadership.
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Letter From the Editor-in-Chief Thank you for picking up this month's edition of the Encounter, “Spooktober.” In this issue you will find a chilling story written by our very own Eve Odum, a drink review on all things sweet by Jessica Scroppo, and many other pieces to get you in the mood for Halloween. Whether you prefer tricks or you’re a fan of treats, this edition is the one for you! “Spooktober” serves as the first issue that I’m Editor-in-Chief for, and I want to say a big thank you to the entire Encounter staff. I couldn’t do any of this on my own, and I’m incredibly grateful for everything. I want to specially thank my Assistant Editor, John Raspante, and our layout designers, Jessica Scroppo and Paula Garcia. We’ve all put in some long hours to get this issue to you, but these are the people that you will find in the Encounter office well into the night. I might have the ideas, but these are the people that make it happen! Additionally, I would like to share that it has been a struggle for us to get into the swing of things. For the first time in about five years, the Encounter has no senior staff. Although most of us have been writing for the past couple of years, none of us have been editors or layout designers. It has been incredibly difficult for us to find our footing without any guidance. However, we’ve been able to pull through and it makes the printing of this issue that much sweeter. Although we are starting to feel more confident in our abilities and our decisions, mistakes will still be made. In our September issue, “It’s Time To Speak Out,” we published a news article regarding the Texas Abortion Ban. While we try to bring you accurate and unbiased news, we failed to address an important point of view - the Cathloic perspective. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, "Human life is sacred because from its beginning it involves the creative action of God and it remains for ever in a special relationship with the Creator, who is its sole end. God alone is the Lord of life from its beginning until its end: no one can under any circumstance claim for himself the right directly to destroy an innocent human" (2258). It is important to remember this as we read and consider news on abortion rights going forward. Again, thank you for picking up the “Spooktober” edition of the Encounter! I hope you love it just as much as we do.
With love,
Sarah Vandermolen 4
October 28, 2021
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By: Encounter Staff
CAMPUS
University of St. Francis Named a Top School in America
The list is compiled of selections using a specific methodology. Forbes spokesperson Christian Kreznar states that colleges and universities are selected based on their Carnegie Classification. The Carnegie Classification is a framework developed in 1970 that defines criteria in which schools are
ranked by tiers. According to www. academicinfluence.com, “Research institutions are ranked based on three indicators: the number of research or practice doctorates awarded; the amount of money spent on research; and the number of research faculty.” Kreznar states that data from several different sources, such as the College Scorecard and Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, are used to evaluate student outcomes and institutional characteristics.
According to www.forbes.com, The University of St. Francis is ranked 561 out of 600 schools. USF’s average grant aid is listed at $24,242. The median 10-year salary for graduates of USF is listed at $87,200. Photo courtesy pinterest.com
University of St. Francis has been named by Forbes as a top college in America. According to a press release from the University of St. Francis, Forbes’ “America’s Top Colleges 2021” selects “…600 of the nearly 2,700 degree-granting institutions in the United States.”
Homecoming 2021 Recap
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Baptist University at Joliet Memorial Stadium. USF won the game with a score of 20 - 13 against MBU. Alumni were able to walk down memory lane during the USF “History in Photos” event. The Time Capsule Burial Ceremony then took place to honor the university’s past and celebrate the future. The capsule was buried in the quad and is not to be opened until 2045! The alumni memorial mass was held to remember former students and alumni who have passed. Father Terry Deffenbaugh, USF’s chaplain, was the celebrant for the mass. Finally, homecoming weekend came to a close with the Honored Year Alumni Dinner, hosted by USF President Arvid Johnson, for the classes of 1970-2016. The class
of 1970/1971 celebrated their 50th reunion and were inducted into the Assisian Club. The events of the 2021 Homecoming and Reunion were a success and will be remembered by University of St. Francis for many homecomings in the future. Photo courtesy Peyton Dummitt
The University of St. Francis celebrated their homecoming and reunion over the weekend of October 1 and 2. Hundreds of people attended, making it a homecoming weekend to remember. On Friday, homecoming weekend began with students showing their USF pride with #StFrancisFriday. Then, the alumni baseball game took place including batting practice and a homerun derby. After playing, alumni enjoyed a distinguished awards dinner where they were honored for their professional and personal achievements. Saturday was packed full of exciting homecoming events, including the tailgate and football game. The Fighting Saints took on the Missouri
NEWS
Campus Sustainability Month The University of St. Francis Sustainability Club organized an entire month's worth of activities for Campus Sustainability Month. Events ranged from things students could do together and choices they could make in their spare time.
On Wednesday, October 6, students were encouraged to attend a Garden Cleanup behind Assembly Hall. During the event, attendees were responsible for pulling weeds and laying a weed barrier for the winter. The club also held a collection at Codo Prairie. At USF’s very own restoration From the beginning of October to the site - The Charlotte Codo Prairie, eighth, the Sustainability Club held attendees “collected seeds to be used a Recycled Art Contest in the UNO to grow and plant new seedlings next Lounge. Students were invited to share spring,” according to the Sustainability their creations constructed entirely Club. out of recycled materials with USF students and staff. The fun didn’t stop over fall break! On their Instagram page, the Sustainability From October 3-8, members of the Club challenged their followers to go community were invited to stop by plant-based. the Ministry office to buy bottles of honey. According to the Sustainability Club, all of the honey was “responsibly harvested from the USF beehives on the Quad.” All of the proceeds went to the USF’s mission trips!
Photos courtesy usf_sustainability on Instagram
This served as a great opportunity for students to do their part on their own time. On Wednesday, October 27, USF students and staff were encouraged to stop by the UNO Lounge once again! This time, participants either received a sustainably-sourced treat or trick. Finally, USF was given the opportunity to meet all kinds of creatures on Thursday, October 28. Animals ranged from fruit bats and sugar gliders to skunks and reptiles.
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By: Encounter Staff
LOCAL
Tony's Fresh Market Begins Renovations
In May of 2021, Laborers of Local 75 protested in a labor dispute with Tony’s Fresh Market. The grocer chose nonunion contractors to begin interior demolition. The protests halted and
prolonged the beginning construction of the property. According to www.patch. com, “Tony plans to hire at least 100 fulltime workers and another 150 part-time workers for its new grocery store at 1801 W. Jefferson St.” A chain link fence has recently been added to surround the property as construction finally begins.
The plans were not final and had yet to be submitted and approved by the Joliet Zoning Board of Appeals and Plan Commission. The Kmart has been closed since late 2016. It was built in 1965 as Kmart’s 98 location.
Last year, Next Door Self-Storage submitted plans for renovation of the Kmart.
Get Ready to Run in Forest Preserve’s Virtual “Harvest Hustle” 5K The Forest Preserve District of Will County is hosting a virtual 5k run during the month of October. The 5k is designed to get people active even while we are still in the midst of COVID-19, and to encourage people to visit Will County’s beautiful forest preserves.
The “Harvest Hustle” 5k, which is 3.1 miles total, is completely virtual and intended to be done individually. To participate, all you have to do is pick one of the trails and record your run or walk on your smartphone’s activity app, take a screenshot and send it in via an online form.
Jen Guest, the Forest Preserve’s recreation coordinator, told the Joliet Patch that a virtual race is the best option in the middle of the pandemic. "Due to COVID-19, we have scheduled this as a passive 5K to avoid having a larger group program. Also, offering it virtually allows more people to participate when it is convenient for them." All participants can complete their run anytime during the month of October on any of the given trail selections; DuPage River Trail, Hickory Creek Bikeway, I&M Canal Trail, Lake Renwick Bikeway, Messenger Woods Nature Preserve Trail, Old Plank Road Trail, Plum Creek Greenway Trail, Prairie Bluff Trail, Rock Run Greenway Trail, Spring Creek Greenway Trail and the Wauponsee Glacial Trail.
Photo courtesy of active.com
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The first 100 participants to finish the 5k and upload their screenshot will receive a free, long-sleeve “Harvest Hustle” t-shirt.
Photo courtesy of tonysfreshmarket.com
The vacant Kmart on Jefferson Street is officially being renovated into a Tony’s Fresh Market. Last December, Joliet approved a tax incentive package for the construction. According to the Joliet Patch, Joliet city officials were hoping to see Tony’s open in 2021.
NEWS
Halloween COVID Tips and Precautions As October 31 quickly approaches, many people are planning their Halloween holiday, likely to include pumpkin patches, trick or treating and Halloween parties. COVID-19 cases are rising in the United States and it is important to protect yourself and others this Halloween by following safe guidelines. For vaccinated people, the holiday can be enjoyed semi-normally.
get vaccinated in order to safely enjoy Halloween, as well as protecting their kids and communities.
"Although we're still in the pandemic, this Halloween and Fall festivities season will look a little different than last year thanks to the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines that are readily available," Ezike said. "However, we must still take precautions as not "I think that, particularly if you're everyone is vaccinated and a vaccine vaccinated — you're outdoors for the for children younger than 12 year is most part — you can get out there and not yet available. Getting vaccinated is enjoy it," Chief Medical Advisor to the the best way to protect yourself, your President, Anthony Fauci, told CNN. friends and family, and your community, "This is a time that children love. It's but it's also important to use a layered a very important time of the year for approach by wearing a mask indoors and children. I know my children enjoyed it." limiting/avoiding settings where physical distancing is not possible to help stop Like Fauci, the Illinois Department of the spread of the virus." Public Health director, Dr. Ngozi Ezike, encourages the Illinois community to
Photo courtesy of 9news.com
Precautions include wearing a mask at all times while indoors, which is currently mandated in Illinois. Trickor-treating outdoors in small groups is recommended, as usual. Wearing masks also applies to indoor haunted houses, festivals, and any kinds of large gathering. It is also recommended to attend pumpkin patches, orchards, etc. at times when it is less busy and to wear a mask at all times. Likewise, any social gatherings are encouraged to be held outdoors. Of course, if you are experiencing COVID symptoms, you should not participate in any Halloween festivities this year. If you are not vaccinated, it is recommended to wear a mask even outdoors and only attend outdoor events.
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By: Encounter Staff
WORLD
Queen Elizabeth Hospitalized Queen Elizabeth was recently hospitalized overnight. Queen Elizabeth, 95, was admitted for a “preliminary investigation” into her health. Initially the Buckingham Palace did not publicize that Queen Elizabeth was under hospital care. The Sun, a British tabloid, was the first report to publicize the hospitalization. The exact cause of the Queen’s admittance is currently unknown.
Throughout her reign, Queen Elizabeth has maintained good health. However, the news of Queen Elizabeth’s hospitalization comes after she was seen with a walking stick for the first time in 17 years. According to www. scmp.com, “The British monarch… was last photographed using a cane after undergoing a knee operation in 2004.” The sighting was at a church service at Westminster Abbey. Again, Buckingham Palace would not specify any reasoning for the cane.
Photos courtesy of people.com
Queen Elizabeth also cancelled a trip to Northern Ireland for 100th anniversary engagements. The Queen is “…Following medical advice to rest for a few days,” as stated by a Buckingham Palace spokesperson. According to www.forbes.com, Queen Elizabeth is the longest-reigning monarch in the United
Kingdom’s history. She has retained her throne since 1952. 2022 will bring her 70th year as Queen. Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth’s late husband, passed away earlier this year at the age of 99.
Disney 2021 Adaptive Halloween Costumes Disney released a new collection of adaptive costumes for the 2021 Halloween season. Some of the costumes include Marvel’s “Black Panther” and a Star Wars “Mandalorian” adaptive costume. "We are excited to meet the needs of more of our guests and plan to continue to grow the collection," said Stephanie Young, president of Consumer Products, Games and Publishing at The Walt Disney Company.
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Adaptive costumes are designed for those who use wheelchairs, as there are stretched openings made large enough to accommodate a wheelchair. There are also flap openings in the front designed to allow for tube access. Disney first introduced these adaptive costumes in 2020 featuring characters such as The Incredibles and Buzz Lightyear. This year’s full line of adaptive costumes are available to shop on Disney’s website.
NEWS Is it time for a COVID Booster Shot? The COVID-19 Delta Variant continues to spread throughout the globe, so now more than ever it is important to get vaccinated and stop the spread. According to www.ourworldindata.org, about 190 million Americans are fully vaccinated. However, to fully protect ourselves, it may be time for a booster shot, according to viral experts. Firstly, even though vaccines are extremely effective, immunity against infection can lessen over time naturally. Getting booster shots increases the effectiveness of the vaccine. Currently, only at-risk people are eligible to receive booster shots, as they are the majority who will need it the most. However, U.S. health authorities say that the first
priority is vaccinating the unvaccinated first rather than receiving booster doses. All three vaccines, Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson, have been authorized to give booster shots in the United States. More than 120 million Americans will be eligible for booster shots in the coming months, but it depends on the timing of your first dose. If you got Pfizer or Moderna shots first, you’re eligible if your last dose was at least six months ago and you’re 65 or older or a younger adult living or working in high-risk conditions. For Johnson & Johnson, anyone who received the vaccine in the past two months is eligible for a booster, no matter your age or other factors.
Don’t worry if you are not eligible for a booster yet- the Center for Disease Control has stated that those without booster doses are still considered fully vaccinated. However, it is important to keep wearing a mask where it is recommended to be completely safe. Lastly, it is still unknown whether this will be the last or only COVID-19 booster shot we will need. Some experts say we will need COVID-19 vaccines annually, like the flu. In the meantime, it is important that we follow CDC guidelines and get booster shots when they become available to us to help slow the spread of COVID.
Photos courtesy of reuters.com & istock
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Get in the Business of Health Care With Your BBA $94,500 average salary* *bls.gov
For more information, contact jwashburn@stfrancis.edu
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Top 10
Artists
1. LITTLE HAG
2. ILLUMINATI HOTTIES Let Me Do One More
Home Video
4. AUNTY SOCIAL
It Looks Friendly [EP]
5. SAINT ETIENNE
I've Been Trying To Tell You
6. HOVVDY True Love
Staff Picks
The USF Encounter Staff took to Spotify and shared their favorite songs from this month in their "Monthly Staff Picks" playlist
"Ghostbusters” Ray Parker Jr. “Somebody's Watching Me” Rockwell “Thriller” Michael Jackson “'Tis Autumn” Nat King Cole Trio “Toxic” Britney Spears “Disturbia” Rhianna “Monster Mash” Bobby Pickett & The Crypt-Kickers “ET” Katy Perry
7.
EYEDRESS
Mullholland Drive
8.
“I Want Candy” Bow Wow Wow
JUICE
“Hungry Like the Wolf” Duran Duran
"Girlfriend Song" [Single]
9. BOY WILLOWS BANGS [EP]
10. ERIKA DE CASIER
Artwork courtesy of WCSF
MONTHLY “Calling All the Monsters” China Ann McClain
Leash
3. LUCY DACUS
SPOOKY
Sensational
Want to hear more? Follow us on Spotify!
Let’s get in touch!
musicdirectorwcsf@stfrancis.edu 815-740-3697
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ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE OF LIFE
By: Cosme Lozano Staff Writter
By: Paula Garcia Layout Designer
From my understanding, “Squid Game” shows viewers how some people in our society are willing to do anything to survive. I wouldn’t describe the tv show as fascinating. Although the show gains its own audience, it is not for everyone, especially sensitive viewers. The show isn’t what you would call "unique." Like many other shows, "Squid Game" holds a deeper meaning behind what the audience may perceive. The main character, Gi-Hun, is a divorced father in his 40s. He lives with his mother and occasionally steals her money to gamble. His character is exactly what you would expect from someone that is swimming in debt and would do just about anything to get out of it. In the first episode, he is mysteriously offered a chance to win money by playing several childhood games over the course of 6
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days. What he, and the rest of the contestants, don't know is exactly how much this opportunity will cost them. When Gi-Hun wakes up, he finds himself surrounded by 455 other players, of different ages, genders and backgrounds, that all came for the same reason, money. Like Gi-Hun, all of the contestants are heavily in debt and are desperate to pay it off. Each and every player joined the game of their own free will, with all of them eventually finding out what playing really meant. However, only a few of them go far enough to see what the end of the games would actually look like. Human morality is challenged, with the games forcing players to make desperate and homicidal decisions. The desperation leads people into “a state of despair,” which typically results in “extreme behavior,” according to www.languages.oup.com. What is more extreme in civilization than killing one another because of the uncertainty of what is going to happen next? I personally think that the show gets predictable as it continues on. You are able to guess what choices the
photos courtesy of cnet.com
Societies all around the world have different struggles, with wealth inequality being one of them. Wealth inequality is something that people have to experience everyday, especially in capitalist countries like America. In the Netflix show, "Squid Game," we can see how real world misfortunes, specifically wealth inequality, affects people. This topic can be uncomfortable for some people because most of these societal misfortunates people usually ignore.
players will make before they are even sure. However, this opportunity is important to the players who do not have any other choice but to be there. That's when the audience's own humanity plays a role and we begin to feel empathy for the players and the choices they have to make. The visuals are enjoyable. The place has such a childish and playful atmosphere, you feel like you are watching a fantasy movie for kids. Not only the colors, but the structure of the whole place creates a contrast with what its genuine purpose is. Is it really all about money?
in some people's lives, and so many people risk their lives for it. However, some of us aren't able to see this because we have been trained to turn a blind eye to this part of society. What makes "Squid Game" different from real life is that there is no "grey area." You either win or you die trying, forgiveness is not an option. Can you imagine what life would be like if we died everytime we made a mistake? We wouldn't be able to live because we would be too busy trying to survive. "Squid Game" educates viewers about this aspect of society. The show also encourages viewers to imagine what choices we would make if we were in these life or death situations.
The players are forced to look at their lives as a factor of losing. There is no amount of money that can bring anyone back to life, and that is my point. Money can mean everything "Squid Game" is available now, only on Netflix.
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By: Sarah Vandermolen Editor-in-Chief
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October 28, 2021 Photos courtesy of Ball State Daily, POPSUGAR, factorytwofour, nerdist, Bloody Disgusting
Horror Movies: Addictive or Atrocious?
What is there to like about horror movies? With all the blood, guts and gore, how can someone find anything enjoyable? Truthfully, you couldn’t pay me to sit in a dark room, alone, and watch a horror movie. The nightmares alone would keep me up for weeks, not to mention the sheer amount of anxiety I would have during the day. I would find myself thinking that I was being followed, or that one of my peers is a student during the day and a serial killer at night. My overactive imagination would take control and I wouldn’t be able to return to normal for several days. I find it incredibly hard to believe that anyone in their right mind would find a horror movie to be enjoyable, let alone be able to say that a horror movie was their favorite movie. I decided that it was crucial for me to investigate this. I simply had to know what it was about these slasher films that kept people coming back. Be warned, there will be spoilers ahead! One of the obvious answers from www.health.com that I found was, “Being scared can give you a thrilling rush.” Of course scary movies give people a “thrilling rush!” Getting caught up in figuring out who the killer is and why they’re doing what they’re doing can be exciting. Even more thrilling is thinking you have everything figured out, only to find that you’re completely wrong. Talk about a mind-blowing experience. For example, in the blockbuster hit “Scream”, the film leads the audience to believe that a random stranger is going around killing the students of Woodsboro High. In reality, the killers are actually Sidney’s boyfriend Billy and his friend Stu. Although the movie leads people to believe this, they then convince the audience that the killer is actually someone else. However, when the truth is revealed, you wonder why you trusted the film in the first place!
doing, maybe you shouldn’t be watching horror movies. The last thing this world needs is a serial killer on the loose. University of St. Francis junior, John Raspante, explains, “Of course I’ve thought about what it would be like to be a killer in a scary movie. But I wouldn’t actually go on a murder spree if given the chance!” What a relief! Eventually, I decided that if I wanted a solid, realistic answer, I’d have to look at this from a different point of view. I decided that the best way to think about this was from a psychological perspective. According to www.bustle.com, “A study published in the Journal of Media Psychology found that people watch scary movies for three main reasons: tension, relevance, and unrealism.” Watching horror movies to experience tension touches back on the idea that we watch horror films to feel a thrilling rush. The mystery and the shock of a scary movie gets our blood pumping and our palms sweating. However, watching a horror movie for relevance seems strange to me. What about a scary movie is relatable? Personally, if I found a horror film that I could relate to, I would stay as far away from it as possible. Why would I want to relive something so traumatizing and disturbing? If I had a psycho-killer stalking me no matter where I went or what I did, I would not be tuning in to watch “Halloween.” In contrast, I can say that I understand people that watch horror movies for the unrealisticness of it all. Sometimes it’s nice to dissociate from this world and enter another. Although I wouldn’t do this with a horror movie, I guess there are people out there who would. I can safely say that one of the last movies that I would want to get lost in is “Child’s Play,” but suit yourself.
After going over all of the information that I found and really trying to put myself into a horror movie lover's shoes, I On the other hand, www.tufts.edu had a completely different finally came to a solid and absolute conclusion. idea, The Beast Within Theory, stating, “...although we consciously disapprove of what the monster is doing, deep Fact: I will never like horror movies, ever. However, I now down part of us enjoys seeing the murder and mayhem the see why someone could find horror movies to be enjoyable. monster unleashes—because if we could, we would do that.” Scary movies offer people an outlet to get lost and away from Essentially, people like horror movies because they believe this world. They can give people a rush so addictive, that that, deep down, we’re all savages that would do evil, terrible they can’t help but to come back for more. Some horror things if we could get away with it. Although I agreed with movies can be so strange, twisted and unique that they can’t the last point, this one I simply cannot get behind. help but become your favorite. If you watch horror movies because you wish you could do what the killers and the monsters on the screen are
Although I’ll never relate to horror movie fanatics, I can now say that I understand them.
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By John Raspante Assistant Editor
RE V IE W
At the time of this writing, “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” has become the highest grossing film since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and I believe it is well deserved.
There are some tonal issues for one thing, which were also prevalent in the original. It felt like the movie couldn’t pick a genre at times. There was one moment in particular where the movie shifted from a rom com in one scene to a horror movie in the next. For me personally, it was a jarring shift that happened way too quickly, which was another issue entirely. “Venom 2” clocked in at a short 97 minutes, a whole 43 minutes shorter than its predecessor, and it made the movie
feel rushed. The plot moved from one story beat to the next in rapid succession, which made the stakes not feel as high as they could’ve been. If something went wrong, it was going to be fixed in just a matter of moments, so why even worry about it? My thoughts on the movie aren’t entirely negative though. For one, I thought Carnage was portrayed perfectly in his first big screen adaptation. In an interview with www.ign.com, director Andy Serkis shared “I think we have pushed to the very limits [of a PG-13 rating with] the danger and darkness and the threat and the menace of Carnage.” Seeing Carnage wreak havoc, biting heads off and just being downright brutal brought a huge smile to my face, because that’s the embodiment of the whole character! Additionally, the action and fight sequences were pure comic book fun. Getting to see Venom and Carnage pitted against one another in live action was just as satisfying as I ever could’ve imagined. The battles were intense, loud, and some parts even had the audience cheering in delight. University of St. Francis junior, Sarah Vandermolen, shared that “Personally, my favorite part of the movie was the dynamic between Eddie and Venom. It was heartwarming to watch them grow together amidst all of the chaos.” Overall, I think the movie was a solid seven out of ten. It definitely was not perfect, but when the action scenes would play, I forgot about all the issues and just enjoyed the madness. Also, the end credits scene made the movie worth watching all in itself. According to www.theringer.com, “The last moments of the ‘Venom’ sequel promise to alter the franchise forever, but when and how is still up in the air.” “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” is out in theaters now. And please, stay seated once those credits start rolling. I promise you will not regret it.
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Photos courtesy of deviantart.com & fandom.com
For those who don’t keep up with comic book movies, the first “Venom” saw journalist Eddie Brock (played by Tom Hardy) merge with a dark and rage-filled alien life-form known as Venom. The sequel takes place shortly after their original adventure, and finds Brock and Venom struggling to coexist. However, when a deranged serial killer, Cletus Kasady (played by Woody Harrelson), also becomes a host for an alien symbiote known as Carnage, the heroes must put aside their differences to stop Kasady’s reign of terror. This follow-up to the 2018 hit was highly anticipated by many people, and I’ll be honest, the movie isn’t perfect.
By: Eve Odum Staff Writer
The Creepy House
Like any small town, we all have our share of creepy houses. Everyone knows about the house a teen broke into with a shotgun and shot an elderly couple dead in their bed. Everyone also knows about the house a woman and her child died in during labor because the family didn’t believe in doctors. But, there’s a house that not many know the backstory to. A house that no longer stands. As with any good ghost story, the house was built in the 1800s with beautiful wooden architecture and narrow hallways. A young Christian couple moved in a few decades ago, despite the pleading from the townspeople. Rumor has it that a drunk lived there over a century ago and accidently killed his daughter in a fit of rage. Since then, the house has had few tenants but each one left in a frenzied hurry without much of a warning or explanation. The couple moved in and two soon became three. To understand the story, you need to picture the layout of the house. Proceed up the stairs to the second floor and you’ll find the master bedroom on the left. If you look right, a banister lasts about five paces before turning into a hallway. A door, also on the right, leads to a small bedroom. The only other important aspect of the house that pertains to this story is the stairs that lead to the cellar. They were steep and made of old wood.
But that night the baby wouldn’t stop. After two hours, the mother burst into the room to find her child lying on the rocking chair—the chair still swaying gently. The next day, the husband consulted his co-workers at the church. Two clergymen were sent to the house to purify it. One of the men opened the door to the cellar and a chill crawled through his body. He held a small wooden cross extended in front of him and took a few steps down. His foot slipped and he tumbled to the bottom. The clergyman yelled from the cellar, “It felt like something grabbed me and bit me.” That night when the man was changing for bed, his wife asked him what that mark was on his butt. Sure enough, a perfect circle was punctuated onto his lower right cheek. The family didn’t return to the house after that day; the mother refused to enter. And so, it was once again vacant. It’s unclear exactly the cause of what happened next. The house burnt down less than a week later. Some say it was a pyromaniac. Others think it was the ghost of the drunken father, angry that his second chance of being a dad was taken away. However, most people think something more demonic took place. They claim that Lucifer was mad at the demons that reside in the house and decided to open the pits of hell and punish them.
It wasn’t more than a week before the baby started waking up, as if on clockwork. Every two hours it would let out a shrill screech. In their sleepy stupor to console the baby, it took the parents a few nights before they realized that the cradle was rocking. Slowly moving—back and forth—as if being pushed… The parents attributed it to the draftiness of the old house. After nine months, the parents moved the child to the room down the hall. They called the doctor, concerned that none of them had been able to sleep through an entire night. “Let the child cry. It won’t hurt it,” the doctor advised.
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Trick or
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Treat?
With the Encounter Staff
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Our Friendly Campus Ghosts By: Kathryn Drey Staff Writer
Let's start off with our beloved main campus, which according to www.exemplore.com, “…was originally home to Franciscan nuns as an infirmary for the sick and poor.” During the influenza outbreak, there was an influx of deaths that occurred in the building. Flash forward to present day, and visitors and students alike have reported seeing a nun pacing in the halls. Student Security Officer, Ryan Ramsden, shared that, “People think that they have seen a nun in the Church Chapel, or just in the halls of Motherhouse. She would appear around the corner and would just be gone.” Others have reported feeling chills late at night near the Chapel and hearing footsteps, moans and whispers throughout the night. Next up is the Rialto, which has a few stories of its own. People say that there is a little boy that haunts the basement and the staff of the Rialto have noticed a woman wandering the premises after hours. The most prominent story is
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that of the couple in the balcony. According to www. legendsofamerica.com, “…the pair fell to their deaths from the balcony, and like others who have died in tragic accidents, they just won’t move on.” No one truly knows why the lovers took their lives, but their spirits have yet to move on from this world and continue to haunt the theater. The last stop on our ghost tour is the St. Clare campus. The ghost story here revolves around when St. Clare was an orphanage. In short, the story was that a little boy jumped off the building and his spirit has resided within it to this day. St. Clare security guard, Diana Plisic, stated that “I walk through here alone at night locking up, and out of the corner of my eye I will see something moving. Sometimes on night patrol, the motion sensors in classrooms will be triggered even when no one is there.” Diana also described hearing laughing and other noises, but not seeing anyone around if she went to check. On a positive note, she believes that there aren’t any bad spirits, only good ones in her eyes. From the main campus to the Rialto to St. Clare, USF has aged over time, so it only makes sense to have a few ghost stories to accompany it. Keep an eye out as you wander around campus, you may just encounter one or more of these ghosts.
Photos courtesy of stfrancis.edu
Have you ever heard a ghost story that chilled you to the bone? Maybe it was one told around a campfire or one that revolved around the old cemetery by your house. But did you ever think you went to school with these spirits? You heard right. The University of St. Francis (USF) is a dwelling fit for the paranormal and we are going to dig into it.
the old joliet prison By: Sara Cahill Staff Writer
Photo courtesy of chicagotribune.com
Exploring a haunted prison is the best way to kick off the Halloween season! I had the opportunity to take a tour of the Old Joliet Prison, located only three miles from campus. The prison stands on 25 acres of land and according to www.jolietprison.org, housed around 2,000 inmates in 1878. With many tour options available, my friends and I decided to take on a haunted flashlight tour, which started at 6 p.m. and lasted until it was pitch black. The prison opened in 1878, but due to financial struggles and unsafe building conditions, the prison closed in 2002. When we stepped onto the grounds, it felt as though it was abandoned one day, with no one looking back. The laundry machines were still intact and bunk beds were still assembled in cells. Our guide had told us about a few haunting moments that she experienced while walking through the buildings. Once she felt someone stroking her hair and another time she had tripped on the stairs and a voice called out to her, “don’t fall!” Before we began the tour, she had mentioned that the spirits take attention to blonde women, which made the hairs stand on the back of my arms. Thankfully I didn’t encounter any paranormal activity, but University of St. Francis senior, Dee Olabi, had seen some questionable activity. She stated, “In the second story, I saw a gray silhouette and a flickering light. I thought it was a flashlight, but our tour guide had mentioned she had seen the same silhouette and flickering light before.” Halfway through our tour, we walked to the prison’s hospital, which was noted to have the most paranormal activity. Our guide recalled a story of another guide who had reported a “Tall Man” that walked the halls of the hospital.
Photos courtesy of Sarah Cahill
The tourguide had been walking inside of the rooms when doors began to shut, and a tall figure chased him to the front door. While they’re still unsure of who this “Tall Man” was, sightings of him have been consistently reported from all the tour guides. There were numerous famous criminals who passed through or stayed at the prison. John Wayne Gacy made an appearance for a short while including Richard Speck, Leopold and Loeb, and Baby Face Nelson. Not only was it unsettling to know that I was walking the same grounds as these men, but also knowing that many were executed in the electric chair that was housed on the prison grounds. While the prison doesn’t have accurate recordings of how many men were killed by the chair, our guide had showed us the replica and explained that all executions happened at night with a viewing room for the prisoner’s family to watch. Of course, there are many more intricate details of the prison that you can learn about by taking a tour for yourself. Make sure to check out their website, www. jolietprison.org, for tour information about one of the most notable and historic pieces of Joliet.
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Worldwide
MYTHS Every corner of the world has its own monster stories. The mythical creatures known as “cryptids” that are said to share the same world with us have been talked about in legends for hundreds of years. It is said that Bigfoot roams the forests, the Loch Ness monster swims in the depths and the Jersey Devil is said to terrorize the skies. These creatures are all spoken about in myths and legends, but the evidence that points to their existence is very minimal. Let’s take a look into some of these monster myths, how they came about and if there is any validity to these stories.
always seem to be blurry, hair samples are always proven to be from other creatures and in 2002 the family of a deceased logger claimed the original footprints that sparked the whole Bigfoot craze were fakes carried out by their father.”
One of the most popular cryptid myths is that of the Sasquatch, otherwise known as Bigfoot. Sasquatch is described as an apelike creature that walks on two legs and inhabits the forests of North America. The initial legend stemmed from a 1950s newspaper article written in the “Humboldt Times” that shared the story of California loggers who discovered large footprints in the woods.
Similar to the Sasquatch, the Yeti (or Abominable Snowman) is another ape-like creature that is said to wander the Himalayan mountain range in Asia. The creature originated in folklore when Western mountaineers began exploring the Himalayas in the early 1900s. Reports of the Yeti came in rapidly, to the point that, famous explorer, Sir Edmund Hillary conducted an expedition to find the Yeti in the early 1960s.
Then, in 1967, Roger Patterson and Robert Gimlin captured the most famous video of the creature in an area known as Bluff Creek in northern California. The clip shows the alleged Sasquatch casually strolling across a creek on the edge of a wooded area. Since that video, people have tried again and again to find proof of Bigfoot’s existence. According to www.history.com, “Videos
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The scientific community has questioned how a large creature like Bigfoot could sustain its life while remaining hidden, and have deemed its existence to be near impossible.
However, just like its North American counterpart, no conclusive evidence has ever pointed to the Yeti’s existence, and explorers have probably misidentified other animals as the beast of legend. Another mythical monster said to roam the Earth is the mysterious Chupacabra.
Photo courtesy of shadow-squadron.com, paracay.com, pinterest.com & townsquare.media
By: John Raspante Assistant Editor
The Latin American legend tells of a creature that attacks animals and consumes their blood. According to www. britannica.com, “Chupacabras were first reported in 1995, in Puerto Rico, where they were blamed for attacks on goats, sheep and other domestic animals, supposedly leaving uneaten carcasses that were drained of blood.”
gave a screech, unfolded its wings and flew out the window and into the adjacent swamp.” Police, travellers and many others have all claimed to witness the activities of this devil and belief in the creature is quite real. However, like its fellow cryptids, any concrete scientific proof has yet to be found.
The Chupacabra is described as a canine-like creature with spines running down its back and tail. Sightings have been reported across the world, and so-called Chupacabra bodies were even discovered once. Unfortunately, all of them turned out to be dogs or coyotes with sarcoptic mange, which is a skin disease caused by mites that causes the animals to lose their fur.
Last, and most certainly not least, is one of the most notorious cryptids: the Loch Ness monster. Fondly known as “Nessie”, the legend of the famous long-necked sea creature swimming through Loch Ness in Scotland dates back over 1500 years. The first written record of the beast comes all the way back from the sixth century.
The Jersey Devil is another monster of legend that has been spoken about for generations. It is described as a kangaroolike creature with the face of a horse, the head of a dog, batlike wings, horns and a tail. This mysterious entity has been said to prowl through the marshes of Southern New Jersey and emerge periodically to rampage through the towns and cities for more than 250 years. The origin story of the Jersey Devil is one that is heavily believed by residents of the area. According to www. pinelandsalliance.org, “Mrs. Leeds... was distraught when she learned she was expecting for the thirteenth time. In disgust, she cried out, ‘Let it be the devil!’ The story continues that the child arrived and it was a baby devil. The creature then
Many years later in 1934, the first and most famous picture of Nessie was captured. The black and white photo showed a creature reminiscent of the extinct plesiosaurs, a lineage of dinosaurs that went extinct some 65 million years ago. However, during the 1990s the photo was proved to be a hoax and any expeditions since then have failed to provide any evidence that Nessie actually exists. Whether any of these creatures truly exist or not, the mystery surrounding their existence is something that has intrigued humans for centuries. These are only a few of the mythical cryptids that are said to roam the earth, and perhaps one day some truth to their stories may be found.
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The History of Halloween By: Staff Have you ever wondered why we celebrate Halloween? stories, fortune-telling and dancing around large How did a holiday where people dress up in costumes bonfires. and go from house to house asking for candy come about? The tradition of “trick-or-treating” actually originated in Europe. People would dress up as saints and go Halloween has been around for centuries. According door-to-door reciting songs or bible verses in exchange to www.history.com, “the tradition originated with for food and drink. Europeans brought this tradition the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain [pronounced of dressing up and performing in the streets to sow-in], when people would light bonfires and North America, and it quickly became problematic. wear costumes to ward off ghosts.” It was a day that According to www.farmersalmanac.com, “Youngsters marked the end of the summer and harvest seasons, used Halloween as an opportunity to prank people, and the beginning of the dark, cold winter. The Celts and those pranks were often destructive, causing celebrated Samhain on the night of October 31, when expensive property damage. It was right around the it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to Great Depression that these activities became known earth. as trick-or-treating.” Children would go to a house and give the homeowners a choice: trick or treat. Since no one wanted to be pranked, candy and other sweet treats were handed out. These treats could be anything from homemade popcorn balls to peppermints or lemon drops. During World War II, trick-or-treating became The evening before All Saints Day became known as less common due to sugar rationing. However, after All Hallow's Eve, and according to www.countryliving. the war, the tradition came roaring back and now it is com, “The name was eventually shortened to impossible to imagine a Halloween without flocks of ‘Halloween,’ which we know and love to this day.” costumed kids going door-to-door asking for candy. Time went on and Halloween eventually made its way to America. As the beliefs of different European ethnic groups and Native Americans meshed, the distinct American version of Halloween began to emerge. Colonial festivities included telling ghost
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Around the same time period, Halloween became a community-centered holiday. Halloween parties became a regular occurrence, with town-wide costume parties becoming an annual form of entertainment. By the early 1950s, town leaders had successfully limited
Photo courtesy of history.com
Later on in the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a day to honor all saints. All Saints Day became an annual celebration, and eventually incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain.
vandalism and the destructive pranks, and Halloween had evolved into a holiday directed at younger children. Another Halloween tradition that came from Europe is the carving of pumpkins. Early Irish immigrants to the U.S. shared their tradition of making jack-o'lanterns, which were based on an old folk tale from their culture. According to www.halloweenexpress.com, “Jack was a blacksmith who had tricked the devil on several occasions. The story says that when Jack died, he was denied entrance into both heaven and hell. When the devil turned him away, he gave Jack a burning ember. Jack hollowed out a turnip to carry the ember and give him light.” The Irish told this story every year and carved scary faces on turnips with a burning piece of coal inside, in order to scare away evil spirits. However, when the Irish came to America, they discovered that pumpkins were more readily available and made better jack-o'-lanterns than turnips. This activity has spanned all the way into today, where pumpkin-carving is a popular Halloween pastime. Some people carve faces, logos or characters into their pumpkins and set them on their doorsteps for all the trick-or-treaters to see on Halloween. For those who are
confident enough in their abilities, pumpkin-carving contests are a popular way to participate in the activity on a whole new level. In present day, Halloween is a major holiday celebrated widely across the United States. Americans spend an approximate $6 billion on Halloween every year, making it the second largest commercial holiday, after Christmas. People decorate their houses with spooky projections, inflatables and other decorations. Kids and parents alike dress up in costumes ranging anywhere from zombies to Pinkie Pie from “My Little Pony.” A University of St. Francis sophomore, Valerie Reyes, shared that, “My favorite part of the holiday is when the trick-or-treaters come to my house. I love seeing the smiles on their faces when I give them candy and I am always blown away by all of their creative costumes.” There are costume parties, horror movie nights and so many other ways to spend this holiday. If Halloween wasn’t your favorite time of the year already, hopefully the origins of these traditions can help you to appreciate it a little more.
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Cheers to 50 Years, Disney By: John Raspante Assistant Editor
This is a very exciting year to be a Disney fan! Way back on October 1, 1971, Walt Disney World (WDW) opened its doors to the public for the very first time. And now, WDW is officially celebrating its 50th anniversary. The event has been dubbed as “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” and will span 18 months. Mickey and friends are dressed in new outfits, all four parks are decorated with golden statues of the “Fab 50 Character Collection” and the landmarks of each park are lighting up the sky at night as brand-new “Beacons of Magic."
Personally, I cannot wait to get down to Florida to experience this event myself. I haven’t been to WDW since October 2019, and I have had not one... not two... but THREE cancelled trips since then (thanks COVID-19). On my last trip, I truly felt like I was home, and I am looking forward to enjoying all the new festivities going on at the parks. I am excited to see the new “Disney Enchantment” fireworks show at Magic Kingdom, go on new rides like “Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure” in EPCOT and simply feel the Disney magic again. A trip to Disney World makes everyone feel like a kid, no matter how old you are. The feeling of seeing all the classic Disney stories and characters come to life is something that cannot be matched. As a hardcore Disney fan, this feeling is only intensified for me. The magic feels real at WDW and it makes me believe that anything is possible. From reliving my favorite movies through rides to interacting with my favorite characters, I have never experienced more joy than I do in these moments. The parks mean so much to me and will always hold a special place in my heart. I have heard a lot of people say that the park experience has been slightly underwhelming since they reopened after COVID, but this celebration seems like a sign of normalcy returning to The Most Magical Place on Earth.
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Photos courtesy of John Raspante
The celebration was kicked off on Thursday September 30 with a rededication ceremony of the parks, led by Disney CEO, Bob Chapek, and former CEO (now Executive Chairman), Bob Iger. It was a moment that genuinely brought a tear to my eye.
My One, True Love: Harry Styles By: Sarah Vandermolen Editor-in-Chief
Photos courtesy of Sarah Vandermolen & Brooke Edits on Twitter.com
To be completely honest with you guys, I would consider myself to be one of the biggest Harry Styles’ fans to ever exist. I’m sure every Harry fan believes that, but I know it to be true. You could show me a random picture of this man, and I could tell you the date, event, and era that it’s from. Although that may sound weird, if not borderline crazy, I like to think that it shows that I’m a dedicated and hardworking person. Anyways, you can only imagine my excitement when I got to see the Mr. Harry Styles for Love On Tour. My best friend, Grace, and I went to the September 24 show at the United Center, the first of his two sold out shows in Chicago. We had bought our tickets in 2019, which feels like an entire lifetime ago. You would not believe how good it felt to be back at a show, and how much better it was for the performer to be someone that we both love. His opening act was the wonderful Jenny Lewis. Although I had never heard any of her music beforehand, I found myself falling in love with her sound as the set went on. Her energy was unreal and, by the end of her act, the entire crowd was on their feet. If you don’t believe me, listen to her song “Red Bull & Hennessy.” I guarantee that you’ll love it! If I had to pick my favorite part of the entire night, I would have to say that it was, without a doubt, seeing all the feathers floating in the air and down Madison St. If you don’t know, a feather boa is a Harry Styles staple and almost every fan was sporting one that night. If you ever get the chance to see Harry in concert, I would advise against saying no. Even if you’re not a fan of his, by the end of the night, he’ll win you over. Although I would have loved to go to both of his shows, I won’t take for granted the amazing time I had and the amazing memories I made. Yours, Sarah
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Fall Drink Review
By: Jessica Scroppo Layout Designer
For my first option, I chose a twist on a classic- the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew. The first day it was available, I was in line. I remembered loving it in previous years. The drink was rich and the pumpkin cream on top was full of flavor. According to www.thepostathens.com, “The Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew made its debut in 2019, making this its third year on the menu.” However, this year was a different story. I noticed the pumpkin cream was not only a different color, but less rich in flavor. Starbucks fanatics contribute the changes to a difference in syrup. Regardless, I still give it a 7/10.
The Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew was next on my list. A cold brew from Starbucks will never mislead you and is a core menu item for a reason. According to www. businessinsider.com, “The long steeping time is key to the brewing process, giving the drink a sweeter, less acidic taste than iced coffee.” I get the cold brew with an extra pump of caramel because I like things on the sweeter side. Even then, the caramel taste is not overwhelming and the coffee is never bitter. University of St. Francis senior Shayna Griffith agreed, “I always order the Cold Brew, and I make sure to get it in a venti. It's the best thing on the menu!” As my favorite Starbucks drink of all time, I give it a 10/10. The last drink for my review was the Apple Crisp Macchiato. This is a new Fall 2021 menu item; however, I don’t think it will be a menu item next year. In my experience, a Starbucks macchiato leaves a bitter after taste. The Apple Crisp was no different. Without adding any extra pumps of sweetener and the Apple syrup collecting at the bottom, the first sips left me gagging. Trying to stir and shake the cup did nothing. The cinnamon apple flavoring collecting at the bottom would not budge. While I was finishing the drink, I was finally able to taste the apple. However, the syrup added little to the other 90 percent of the drink. I give the macchiato a 3/10. Overall, Starbucks is at every corner for a reason. Fall isn’t fall without a little pumpkin spice. Even if you aren’t a fan, there are plenty of options that can still give you a “taste” of fall. P.S. Get the cake pop…
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Photos courtesy of devianart.com, pngaaa.com, pngimg.com, pikpng.com
I thought I’d taste test a few of Starbucks’ options, I’m a Starbucks girl. I’m familiar with the menu and I’ll take any excuse to pay over $5 for a coffee.
A few days later, my next try was a Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino. Although I stopped drinking Frappuccinos in junior high school, I was compelled to try the pumpkin spice variation. I’m glad I took the risk because the flavor was just right. The pumpkin spice was not overly sweet, and the texture was smooth. I even reordered it the next week. It’s a 9/10 for me.
Photos courtesy of Jessica Scroppo
It’s finally fall! Of all the things to look forward to, I find myself anticipating the comeback of my favorite drinks each year. Most coffee shops offer an array of pumpkin spice and cinnamon options to choose from. I am a firm believer that a drink in hand makes it easy to get into the spirit!
Trending Halloween Costumes: Past & Present By: Lucy Erika Ann Magat Staff Writer
Within the past decade, Halloween has increasingly become representative of pop culture, especially with the ever-growing market size for the movie industry. Traditional Halloween costumes, like ghosts and vampires, are now falling behind as the most worn costumes. They are being replaced with main characters from famous movies and shows.
For 2020, as reported by www.fox8.com, witches and superheroes were tied at the most searched costumes on Google, but the second spot still goes to Harley Quinn, which may be due to her movie, “Birds of Prey,” being released in January 2020.
With this year being a little less severe than last year, in terms of COVID-19 restrictions, there is an expected increase in costume Let’s take a look at what costumes were and decoration sales during this Halloween trending over the past five years and what season. Spider-Man is still the most searched is expected for this year. costume for children, while witch costumes are popular among adults. A University of In August 2016, just two months before St. Francis student, Adesuwa Imafidon, is Halloween season, “Suicide Squad” was seeing this trend with children’s costumes. released to the public and its infamous She says, “My younger cousin is ecstatic couple, Harley Quinn and the Joker, about the upcoming Spider-Man film, so he became the most searched costume idea for has planned it to be his costume already.” She that year (and would continue to be popular also notes that she knows at least four other for the next few years). children planning to dress up as Spider-Man for this upcoming Halloween. In 2017, the horror film, “It,” was released just a month before Halloween. As reported Search engines also show that the most by www.thrillist.com, the main antagonist, popular costume this year for pets is Pennywise, was one of the most worn expected to be pumpkins. It is also worth costumes of the year, along with another mentioning that Netflix has made an impact character from the movie, Georgie. They on Halloween, as we see more people dressing were closely followed by “Wonder Woman,” up as characters from “Stranger Things” and whose movie was released in June of 2017. “Money Heist”. With “Squid Game” being on track as the most watched show in Netflix In late 2017, “Fortnite” rose to popularity history, it won’t be a surprise to see their as the game reached 30 million worldwide iconic red guard suits and green track players. This was evident in 2018 when suits worn during Halloween. “Fortnite” costumes were on trend with the younger audience. According to www.allure.com, in 2019, the top spot for most worn costume was taken back by superheroes as the “Captain Marvel” movie released in March of that year. SpiderMan also shared the top spot with Captain Marvel, as Peter Parker came back on screen in July 2019 with the film “Spider-Man: Far From Home.”
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W I NNER S WIN By: Alex Mielcarz Staff Writer
In July of 2021, John McGinty became the new head coach for Women’s Basketball. He is a young journeyman from Evergreen Park who has coached at every level possible and has posted impressive numbers along the way. His first job was as an assistant coach at Lewis University, where he was a part of a 31-3 season that took the team to an Elite Eight at the Division II level. He then traveled to Northern Illinois University (NIU), where he was the offensive coordinator underneath Lisa Carlsen. McGinty’s offense was the 5th best in the nation in 2016-17, posting an impressive 85.1 points per game. McGinty has also spent time in the NAIA. He was the head coach at the University of Northwestern Ohio, where he posted the best winning percentage in the last three years of the program. Last season, McGinty served as an assistant at Loyola University Chicago. McGinty is no stranger to winning, and he plans to continue the winning ways established in the women’s basketball program.
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“It’s always fun when you walk into a program that’s had a lot of talent,” McGinty said. “I think that goes along with a little bit of pressure.” McGinty credits his past jobs and his personal values for landing him the position. “I grew up Catholic [and] went to Catholic school,” McGinty said. “I’ve had experience at the highest level. When you sit in that seat... you get to learn quite a few things.” McGinty has a long history of love for the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC). This job was the perfect opportunity to come back to his roots. “I grew up watching the CCAC,” McGinty said. “A lot of teams in this conference have had success at the national level. I think it’s one of the best if not the best [conferences] in the Midwest.” McGinty is ready to usher in a new era of Saints basketball and introduce the fans to a more modern, faster pace type of play that he learned while under Carlsen at both Lewis and NIU. “[Carlsen] wanted to play fast all the time,” McGinty said about his former boss. “We took a team that averaged 55 points a game, installed our system...and averaged 85 points a game. I think it’s fun to play, fun to watch and it’s [a way] to show off women's basketball.” This system is much different from what the women played last year, and McGinty is very aware of that.
Photo courtesy from gofightingsaints.com
The University of St. Francis (USF) Women’s Basketball program is used to winning. They’ve advanced into the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) national tournament in each of their last 6 seasons, including a trip to the sweet 16 last year. With the head coaching position being open after the resignation of Steve Brooks, the Saints needed to find someone who could continue the winning ways of the program.
“It is different than they’re used to,” McGinty admitted. “They were very defensive minded [and] they were going to control possession and get the best shot, and they were a heck of a team doing that with 20 plus wins each year. We’re not going to reinvent the wheel, but we are going to implement a little bit of a different philosophy.” The players are ecstatic about the new style of play. USF Senior Forward Jordan Pyle admits it’s been an adjustment, but thinks that McGinty’s style will benefit the team. "I love to push the ball,” Pyle said. “It gives us an edge to have such a different coaching style [this year].” Being a coach at this level goes way beyond team performance. McGinty cares just as much about his players off the floor, as he does on it.
Photo courtesy from si.com
“I’m huge on meetings,” McGinty said. “I’m group messaging quite a bit about basketball, non-basketball, academics, whatever. We have team meetings, individual meetings, academic meetings and transition meetings.” McGinty makes sure his players are on the same page with him. When it comes to how he wants them to carry themselves on the floor, in the classroom, and out in the world. “We want to represent women’s basketball, we want to represent the university the right way,” McGinty said. “In everything we do, we’re talking about those core values.” McGinty’s playing and coaching styles all come back to one thing: Winning basketball games. “At the end of the day though, the bottom line is we have to win basketball games,” McGinty said. “If that means we need to slow down for different opponents, we’ll try and do that. We’re going to play to our strengths.” Coach McGinty can’t wait to put on a show in the Pat Sullivan Rec Center.
Coach John McGinty
He wants everyone to come out and see what he and his squad can do. “This is a great group. They’re super skilled, fun to watch and super athletic,” McGinty said. “If you take an opportunity to watch us play, I think you’ll get addicted and want to come back. Come give us a chance, and see how fun the style will be, and see how talented these young women are.” The Saints open the season October 29 against the Eagles of Judson University.
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USF WELCOMES ESPORTS By: Cosme Lozano Staff Writer Over the course of the past decade or so, gaming has become a true staple in the entertainment world. Long gone are the days of gaming being frowned upon and looked at as a waste of time. Gaming influencers like Ninja, Nickmercs, FaZe Clan and others, have shown the world how special gaming can truly be. With the rapid growth of gaming, it has spawned a new esports team here at University of St. Francis (USF). Having had the privilege to talk with the team's organizer, Steve Wettergren, I was able to better understand how competitive gaming arrived on campus. One of the first questions that arise when looking at this situation, is how discussions even began. Speaking with Mr. Wettergren, he was able to give me great background context into how we got here: “Esports has been talked about at the university for some time. During the peak of the pandemic, the conversations became more serious because it was one of the few collegiate activities that could still be done safely. In May/June 2021 the concept became a reality, and the university made this one of its strategic initiatives.” Additionally, Mr. Wettergren wanted to build an equal opportunity environment for any students involved. Here, they can learn to develop communication, teamwork and leadership skills; skills that you need while on the sticks and in real life.
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In dealing with the pandemic and what we experienced last year, it has meant that more products are on backorder or delayed. This was a problem our esports team faced early on. Mr. Wettergren spoke on this saying, “Then we ordered the equipment and we thought that computers would be backordered. Instead, those arrived rather quickly, and it was furniture that was delayed.” Fortunately, those problems have been resolved and they are focused on making the finishing touches to the technology side. For year one of the team, they will be competing in Overwatch and Rocket League. These are two of the largest gaming titles on the market right now and have established pro and collegiate scenes. There is a chance that Nintendo’s Smash Bros. series will make an appearance, but for now it is not a mainstay. Expansion is something that will be happening as the team looks to potentially add Valorant for FPS fans, and sports titles like Madden or FIFA. Expectations for the first year of the team are high, but the team knows that hard work and good chemistry are necessary to get to where they want to go. Mr. Wettergren shared with me his expectations for year one, by saying, “My goal this year is to develop a team that can compete in varsity level competitions and win. Simple as that. To get to that level there is a lot to do. We first have to establish a team and develop at least two squads for each game title.
Then it’s all about practice. To really be competitive it takes more than just game skills; we need to develop as a group and find that dynamic that allows you to know what the other player will do before they even do it.” This is all still the beginning for the USF esports team, and there is still a long road ahead of them that will require hard work and commitment. The team will be hosting tryouts soon and would love to have student participation. Those interested in trying out can email, USFesports@stfrancis. edu. Once you are on the email list, you will be informed first as soon as dates are set.
Students can also receive information from the TV on the first floor of Tower Hall, by the Commuter Lounge. If you are interested in joining the team, but do not wish to compete, the team is still looking for help. The team is looking for individuals who are familiar with management, technology, marketing knowledge, and promotional skills. If this is you, you might be a fit for the team. This provides students with the ability to still be a part of the team, but not in a competitive way.
Photo courtesy of Steve Wettergren
After Before
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CANDACE PARKER SLAM DUNKS FOR EQUALITY By: Sarah Vandermolen Editor-in-Chief After graduating from the University of Tennessee in 2008, Candace Parker was the first overall pick in the 2008 WNBA Draft. She was selected by the Los Angeles Sparks and from then on, she would go on to change the basketball world. While growing up in Naperville, Illinois, Candace learned from her brothers, Marcus and Anthony Parker, the love of basketball. At the ripe age of 15-years-old, “Candance became a national sensation at Naperville Central High School, leading her team to back-to-back state championships in 2003 and 2004,” according to candaceparker.com. Parker would go on to win several more championships and achieve some amazing accomplishments, such as: Naismith and Gatorade Prep Player of the Year, the slam dunk contest at the 2004 McDonald’s All American Game, and “back-to back Class AA state titles,” all before graduating from high school, according to www.candaceparker.com. In college, Parker's reign didn’t even waver. According to www. candaceparker.com, “She became the first woman to dunk in an NCAA game, and the first woman to dunk twice in a single NCAA game.” In her very first season in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), she was named SEC Rookie of the Year. “She went on to win back-to-back NCAA championships with the Lady Vols in 2007 and 2008, leading the
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team both in scoring and rebounds her final season,” according to www.candaceparker.com. Throughout her collegiate career, she was named: Collegiate Female John R. Wooden Player of the Year (2007 and 2008), State Farm Player of the Year, Basketball Writers Association National Player of the Year, and Kodak AllAmerican. Parker was also a member of Team USA. According to her biography on www.candaceparker.com, “Candace was a member of the USA Women’s U18 team which won the gold medal at the FIBA America Championship.” In 2006, Parker also led Team USA to win a bronze medal at the World Championships in Brazil, as well as leading the team to a gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and the 2011 London Olympics. Candace’s story only gets greater and greater, with her success only skyrocketing once she hit the big leagues. After being selected by the Los Angeles Sparks, she was “named to the AllWNBA First Team and All Rookie Team” and “Became the first player to earn WNBA MVP and Rookie of the Year in the same season,” according to www.wnba.com. After giving birth to her daughter in 2009 and suffering from several injuries in 2010 and 2011,
Parker returned to the game to increase her stats in 2012 and to be named the WNBA Most Valuable Player in 2013. She remained at the top of the WNBA for several years and at the beginning of the 2021 basketball season, Parker decided that it was time to go home. After becoming an unrestricted free agent, Parker decided to leave the Sparks. She went on to sign a 2-year contract with the Chicago Sky, back in the state that she was born and raised in. Candace explains her decision, stating, “Chicago is where my family raised me; where I first learned the game of basketball...I am excited to continue the next chapter of my career where it all began...I’m home.” Despite injuries amongst the team, The Chicago Sky earned the #6 seed in the playoffs, with a record of 16-16. They faced the Phoenix Mercury in the finals, after beating out the top seed, Connecticut Sun. On Sunday, October 17, the Chicago Sky beat Mercury, 80 - 74 to win the franchise‘s first WNBA Championship. Although what Candace Parker has done during her entire basketball career and with the Chicago Sky is utterly mind blowing, very few people have paid any attention to this team's accomplishments.
decorated tennis players out there. But, if you ask a handful of people who is the best athlete right now, chances are not one of them will say her name. As a society, we need to start treating female athletes as real athletes. We need to let young girls know that there are women out there to look up to; women that are taken seriously and looked at with admiration. We need to give these hard working and dedicated athletes the respect that they deserve, no matter what their gender is. Candace Parker is one of the most accomplished female basketball players to ever play the game, and her and the Chicago Sky deserve our respect and applause. https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fkesq. com%2Fnews%2F2021%2F07%2F14%2Fchicago-skys-candaceparker-will-be-the-first-woman-on-the-cover-of-nba-2k%2F&p sig=AOvVaw1sDE6eJc7bwYu4J2HiLiin&ust https://kesq.bcdn.net/2021/07/hypatia-h_7a3125c1188176d92cfe5f3620fa b06c-h_88cc7965654fa0594b734d24afdbc71b-300-scaled.jpg
Photo courtesy of windycityworld.com & espn.com
Since its establishment in 1996, the WNBA has never been taken as seriously as any professional male sport. Before the start of the 2021 season, NBA fans took to Twitter to express their feelings on the WNBA, some stating “No one even watches the WNBA” and “The WNBA is a joke. Why would I waste my time watching a bunch of women that can’t play basketball?” The WNBA isn’t the only professional women’s sport team to be viewed as less by society. The USA Women's Soccer team has four World Cup titles, four Olympic gold medals and eight CONCACAF Gold Cups on their record, and they are still paid less than the USA Men’s Team and not taken as seriously. University of St. Francis senior, Elizabeth Ponce, agrees, stating, “Female athletes have never been taken seriously, despite all that they have accomplished.” Even after winning a championship title, the Chicago Sky is still not being taken seriously. This only leads players to wonder, what does it take? How much do female athletes have to achieve, to accomplish for the world to view them as actual athletes? Why are professional male athletes the standard when female athletes are out there setting and breaking records every day? Serena Williams is one of, if not the most, accomplished and
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