Reintroducing Alvernia Athletics Staff
Kendall Miller Contributing Writer
Over the summer, many changes have occurred in the Athletic Department here at Alvernia. Some major changes include a new Director of Athletics, new coaches, and bringing back some sports programs.
Sitting down with the new Director of Athletics, Corey Beddick, to ask about his history in athletics and his journey to be here at Alvernia. This semester marks his first time serving as the Head Athletic Director for a sports program. However, he has extensive experience, having coached baseball at the Division III level for the past 14 years. Previously, he held positions as an Admissions Counselor and Assistant Athletic Director. He graduated from Gettysburg College in 2010 and became an assistant coach for the baseball team in 2011.
Shortly after, he took on a Graduate Assistant position at Penn State Behrend, where he earned his master’s degree in business administration in 2013. He then launched a brand-new baseball program at Hood College, where he worked full-time as an Admissions Counselor for athletics and eventually became the Assistant Athletic Director. After four years at Hood College, he transitioned to Washington College as the Head Coach and Assistant Athletic Director.
For the past three years, he has served as the Head Coach at Gettysburg College, marking a full-circle moment as he returns to coach at his alma mater. When asked about his goals for the student athletes this school year he said he wants everyone to have a wonderful experience and that everything builds off the relationships you make with the people around you.
“I want our student athletes to know that their having a good experience here both athletically and academically is really important to me, and with me, they are going to have
someone to fight for them and advocate for them and support them. And I think the only way you earn that trust is by getting to know people and everything builds from
Corey Beddick said. Coaching changes have taken place this season. Men’s Lacrosse has introduced a new Head Coach, Michael Zadroga, who previously coached at Lawrence University. In Women’s Bowling, Alexis Schwenk is entering her first full season at Alvernia, having taken over as coach in the middle of last season.
The Spirit team has been reorganized into two separate groups: Cheer, coached by Nicole Rosella, and Dance, coached by Amy Miller. Men’s Golf coach Tom O’Connell has taken on the added role of Head Coach for both Men’s and Women’s Golf. Men’s and Women’s Tennis now has a full-time coach, Clay Allen, who brings coaching
the biggest arms and there was really no push back from the player side of things which always increases the smoothness of a coaching transition.” Micaela Senseing said.
Earning a new role this year is Marisa Lombardo, the Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Communications and Operations. Asking about her predictions for how the sports teams will perform this year, she expressed a positive outlook on the football team.
experience from Franklin and Marshall College and Goucher College, which will help create more stability in the program. Additionally, the Men’s Volleyball Program is set to return in the spring of 2027. Micaela Senseing, who was previously the Head Women’s Volleyball Coach at
Penn State Berks, will be the Head Coach for both Men’s and Women’s Volleyball. Assistant coach Owen McFadden will join her. Talking with Coach Senseing about her transition to Alvernia over the summer. “The transition was super, super smooth. I think the transition to a new team is always a little nerve-racking and learning how people want to be coached and have been coached and undoing some of those dynamics to fit more of our style. The girls welcomed both of us with
“They are young again, but I think it is a good young in terms of the talent we have, and they are a great group of guys to work with and be around,” Lombardo said.
“Their culture is fantastic and what they are doing, and I think you will soon see those results come forward.”
Lombardo plays a vital role in enhancing the game day experience for both home and away teams. Her responsibilities include managing media operations and statistics, as well as coordinating work-study students at the games. She covers all aspects of the experience, considering both the audience and coaches’ perspectives to ensure everything operates seamlessly.
Despite the many changes in the department this year, all staff members remain optimistic about the competition ahead, as well as the individual growth of the student-athletes.
Corey Beddick, Alvernia’s new Director of Athletics and Recreation. Photo by Marisa Lombardo there.”
Michael Zadroga, Alvernia’s Head Men’s Lacrosse Coach, another new addition to the athletic department. Photo by Marisa Lombardo.
Micaela Senseing, Alvernia’s new Head Men’s and Women’s Volleyball Coach. Photo by Marisa Lombardo.
Clay Allen, The Head Coah of Alvernia’s Men’s and Women’s Tennis teams. Photo by Marisa Lombardo.
Marisa Lombardo Alvernia’s Assitant Athletic Director for Athletic Communications and Operations. Photo by Marisa Lombardo.
September/Ocober 2025
the alvernian
DC’s Explosive Return to Film and Television Cole’s ComiCs Corner
Managing Editor/Layout
Grace Wanner
Section Editors
Cole Windsor
Morgan Brown
Hector Malave
Kyle Rudart
Albert Vargas
Anthony Parsons
Contributing Writers
Kendall Miller
Sean Jordan
Ryann Healey
Quinn Harter
Spencer Hahn
Jennifer De la cruz
Faculty Advisor
Dr. Ryan Lange
Cole Windsor Contributing Editor
In October 2022, James Gunn was made Co-CEO of DC Studios and began work reestablishing DC in the zeitgeist of film and TV. He began by greenlighting Creature Commandos, an animated series he had already written. He then wrote and directed a new Superman film to launch this new universe. Superman was released in July 2025, being the explosive start to DCU, pushing the superhero genre back into the minds of fans.
The Key Art Poster for the second season of Peacemaker.
Because of this, DC can bypass the need for overdone origin story films and can get straight into the action.
The Alvernian is the official student newspaper of Alvernia University.
Articles submitted for consideration into The Alvernian should be written in some semblance of AP style. Letters to the editor, requests for advertisements, and general comments and questions may be submitted to ryan.lange@alvernia.edu.
The editors reserve the right to edit submissions for clarity, accuracy, and length.
The views expressed in The Alvernian are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the student body, faculty, staff, administration, or sponsors.
Superman was the first major film launching the new DCU. It gave viewers the first big view of what the universe will look like as it continues. Superman does not retell the origin of the character, but begins with an already established character in the middle of his story. Julian Schaffhouser, an Alvernia student, said, “I liked how Superman represented resilience in this movie by always getting back up and
Credits: Warner Bros. Discovery and HBO Max
fighting the good fight despite all the adversity he faced.”
Superman establishes the DCU very differently from any other superhero universe that came before it. The world has had superheroes for years and is not experiencing them for the first time. The citizens are used to having big monster attacks and superheroes to save them.
Before Gunn took control of DC Studios, he wrote and directed the first season of Peacemaker, which took place in the old DC universe, headed up by Zack Snyder. Due to the success of the first season, Peacemaker was renewed for a second season, which Gunn used as an opportunity to transition Peacemaker to the new DCU. The second season deals with the multiverse simply, without all the complexity and confusion that usually comes with multiversal superhero content. The second season began on August 21 and has continued releasing weekly. Due to the success Gunn has had beginning the DCU, two films and a TV show have been announced for 2026. With a brief cameo in Superman, Supergirl began filming in January 2025, with a planned release in June 2026. Alvernia student Emily Eldredge said
she was very excited for the film, especially after how good Superman was. This film will be loosely based on the comic book Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow by writer Tom King and Artist Bilquis Evely. The comic follows Kara Zor-El, the cousin of Superman, as she navigates the universe after the destruction of her home world, Krypton.
Following the Supergirl film, in September, a film focusing on the Batman villain Clayface will be released. It will be a horror film and will give audiences their first major view of Gotham City in this new universe. The Clayface film began filming in late August 2025. Since then, many set photos have been leaked or taken by passersby during the filming of outdoor scenes. These pictures show the atmosphere of Gotham, as well as what police cars and other emergency vehicles will look like.
John Stewart(Aaron Pierre) and Hal Jordan(Kyle Chandler) walking down the street. Credits: John P. Johnson, Warner Bros. Discovery, and HBO Max.
Stewart and Hal Jordan. The show has been described as a sort of gritty detective drama, following the Green Lantern Corps, which are the space police of the DCU.
Gunn has also announced a few other projects, which are planned to come out in 2027 or later. One of which is a direct sequel to Superman. Gunn announced on social media, “Man of Tomorrow. In theaters July 9, 2027.” The sequel features Jim Lee artwork depicting Lex Luthor in a green armored suit, and Superman next to him.
Another project he announced is a Batman film, which he called
“The Brave and the Bold.” According to Gunn, this film would be based on the Grant Morrison comic, Batman and Son, which shows Batman navigating fatherhood with his 10-year-old son whom he did not know he had. While this film does not have a
confirmed release date, Gunn has stated that there are other projects that are taking priority.
As the DCU continues to develop, more and more exciting projects are being announced, made, and released. When Gunn
announced his position as Co-CEO of DC studio, He released a YouTube video calling this the stage of the DCU “Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters.” As this chapter continues, fans continue to enjoy the content and anticipate the future.
Alvernian
Dr. Phospherus, The Bride, Weasel, and Nina walking through a melted hole in the wall. Credits: Warner Bros. Discovery and HBO Max
September/Ocober 2025
2025 Emerging as ‘The Year of Horror Movies’ news
Sean Jordan Contributing Writer
The horror genre in film has often been seen as stereotypical and predictable in the eyes of both audiences and Hollywood. But in 2025, horror is enjoying a rare moment in the spotlight, thanks to a string of successful releases. Several recent titles have earned unusually high marks from critics, with Rotten Tomatoes scores ranging from 70% to 90%. Audiences also are responding strongly at the box office.
The biggest standout of 2025 so far has been Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler. The surprise hit has inspired repeat viewings and widespread online discussion. The film’s storytelling and hidden messages have led fans to call it one of the best horror movies of the decade or even two. Its popularity also has sparked talk of Oscar recognition, thanks in part to Michael B. Jordan’s dual performance as Smoke and Stack. Other recent
releases, such as Together and Weapons, have reinforced the genre’s momentum. Both films have been praised for combining traditional scares with deeper narratives that resonate beyond the theater.
The keys to making a great horror film are strong storytelling, unpredictable scares, twists, suspense, and depending on the subgenre, gore. For example, Sinners relies less on jump scares but delivers standout storytelling and pacing. Together offers solid storytelling along with effective twists and scares.
The film is considered a body horror, focusing on grotesque physical transformations.
Suspense is also very important in the genre of horror. It can keep the audience on the edge of their seats on what will happen next. Suspense can be misleading, but most times lead to a really great scare.
Tim VanKlingeren has expressed interest in the genre recently with the film Sinners being one of his favorites of
the year. This shows that the genre can persuade non-horror fans to like the genre with how the story has been written and paced.
Another key point for the horror genre, especially for slasher films, is plot twists. For example, Scream is one of the most iconic slashers of the early 90s and 2000s. What works for them is the plot twist of the killer being someone who you wouldn’t expect. Other films try to copy that and have not succeeded in said
attempt.
One film that was recently released successfully did it and it was Clown in the Cornfield. Although the movie had its ups and downs, it still had a plot twist of who the killer was and had a decent amount of gore for the type of slasher film it is.
Remakes have been a recurring theme in 2025 and in past years as well. Remakes can either make or break at the box office such as I Know What You Did Last Summer and just recently announced Silent
Night Deadly Night. I Know What You Did Last Summer had a poorly executed sequel rated 36% on Rotten Tomatoes for its poorly written story. The franchise should’ve ended with I Always Know What You Did Last Summer in 2006. Silent Night Deadly Night is a classic in the genre for being a Christmas slasher film. The last time a Silent Night Deadly Night sequel came out was in 1987, which drew attention from all horror fans of that era.
The main concern is whether this reboot will live up to the hype, pleasing the fans of 80s slashers, or not. The genre continues to expand with the release of The Conjuring: Last Rites. While reviews were mixed, the film extends and possibly concludes the Conjuring universe. Looking ahead, upcoming titles generating buzz include Good Boy, which tells its story from the perspective of a dog, and Black Phone 2, a direct sequel to the 2021 hit The Black Phone.
Alvernia Senior Scholar Builds AI Model for the FBI (With a Little Help from Cats, Dogs, Even Rainbows)
Ryann Healey
Contributing Writer
Alexa Ullrich is this year’s Senior Scholar, and her research project is a cuttingedge exploration of AI that could be used by the FBI.
Ullrich’s major is computer science with a minor in mathematics. Her two-part project is called “AI Driven Crimes Against Children,” which involves her leading a team training an AI model for the FBI office in Philadelphia.
The project sounds straight out of a sci-fi novel but is taking place with the support of Alvernia University.
The first AI model she is helping build is a customized AI database similar to ChatGPT, which will help law enforcement dig through state laws and legislation. Essentially, the specialized large language model (LLM) would allow law enforcement officers to ask a question about a topic and then receive information about what laws have been passed relevant to the topic.
The second model focuses on image and media recognition. The goal of this model is to train it to detect whether a piece of media, like a video or picture,
was created by artificial intelligence or human made.
“There’s a big misconception about this part,” she said. “People think we’re looking at disturbing or unethical content to train it, but that’s not the case. We’re using strictly happy stuff, like pictures of cats, dogs, and even rainbows.”
While the technical side of things is intense, the experience overall has given her a boost in knowledge in more than just coding. As project manager, she has learned how to lead computer science and criminal justice teams.
“Managing those two teams and learning a lot about the criminal justice
aspect of the project has taught me how to be a good leader, manage my time and resources well, and will help me in any job I pursue after college,” Ullrich said.
Like so many others in college, she is still trying to figure out what will come after graduation. “It’s been a struggle not knowing exactly what I want to do,” she said. “Even though the process has been tedious and tough, I can see myself pursuing this path as my occupation.”
At the very least, this task is giving her a dynamic project to discuss on her resume, in interviews, and with others in her field. Along with this, she will be making a lasting scholarly contribution
to the benefit of society. Most importantly, her hope for her work is that it will open doors for other computer science students in the future.
“Our faculty is growing,
and the students in our major are growing,” Ullrich said. “Being able to house more opportunities like this would be super beneficial for those students to come.”
Ullrich has an exemplary academic record with a 3.73 GPA, which she has maintained all four years while playing first base for the softball team. She serves as a peer mentor in first-year SEARCH classes, and was Head Orientation Weekend leader for this past freshman move-in.
The Senior Scholar demonstrates “a strong interest and commitment to their major, the university, and the community” per the guidelines for the award.
Director Ryan Coogler and actor Michael B. Jordan. Picture taken by Proximity Media
President Fitzgerald presents the 2025-26 Senior Scholar Award to rising senior Alexa Ullrich at the 2025 Honors Convocation - photographed by Lauren Little.
The beautiful ranch (President’s house) where Ullrich presented her AI model research at the end of summer 2025photographed by Alexa Ullrich.
Campus updates
September/Ocober 2025
Making an Aramark on Alvernia Yet
Kyle Rudart
Students Remain Skeptical of Any Cooking That Isn’t Their Mother’s
Contributing Editor
As of this academic year, Aladdin Campus Dining has been replaced by Aramark Collegiate Hospitality. What does this change mean for you as an Alvernia student?
In Alvernia’s announcement of the change, the university promised wellness-focused menus and an enhanced chef-led hospitality experience.
“Providing a warm, welcoming and nourishing environment is at the heart of the Alvernia’s student experience,”
Alvernia University Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer John R. McCloskey, Jr., DBA, said.
Part of the changes include renovations to the main dining hall, including a new section called “True Balance.” The new section features healthier, freshly cooked options at the dining hall that many students were clamoring for.
“The food is generally
Grace Wanner
Managing
Editor
Welcome back, Golden Wolves! The seasons are changing, and so is Alvernia. It’s been a busy summer break at Alvernia, with tons of updates around campus. Here’s a quick guide to campus improvements, additions, and upcoming projects.
One of the most significant changes around campus is the switch from Aladdin to Aramark dining service. While the new dining service is still working out a few kinks, students have expressed mixed emotions about the new food. “Some days I think it’s really good. Other days not so much.,” said upperclassman and Student Government President Logan Minford.
A perk of having Aramark as our food service provider is that they cater student events! So, if you’re a club president or planning an event on campus, contact Student Activities for more catering information.
Another exciting new addition to Alvernia is the free fitness classes. Over the summer, Alvernia hired a new athletic director, Corey Beddick, who organized the
better than last year, especially the new addition amplifies the cafeteria, and adds more diversity,” student
Cary Ploshay said.
Aramark also has a stronger social media presence through its Pack Hospitality page on Instagram, promoting future events and specials to the students and staff. Known for its late night, grill and fry food, introduced automated ordering kiosks.
These kiosks are like the ones ate Wawa and other fast-food locations and were put outside of the cafe itself. The kiosks are solely made to order Courtside food, but it gets you reward points because of the university’s new partnership with Grubhub.
The kiosks take student IDs to allow students to use meal plan swipes or cash to order food and are intended to help with the long lines the cafe would see around game time. Freshens, Kestrel Cafe, and the Starbucks at the John
R. Post Center saw no major changes.
How do students feel about the changes? The Alvernian collected a convenience sample of 40 students to ask if they preferred the food this semester or found it worse.
As usual, students were generally split on the quality of the food at the university. 17 students felt the food quality had improved, while 23 felt it had gotten worse.
The change in management does not appear to have made an immediate impact on how students perceive the dining hall or the overall dining service.
Student opinion may shift over time, but historically college students seem very much invested in complaining about the cafeteria.
Some students like Kendall Miller, one of the Alvernia women’s volleyball players, requires a gluten-free diet. On one occasion just recently, Miller “asked for gluten free substitutes, and I was just told no, flat out,” she said.
Another snag in the transition from Aladdin to Aramark was the point of sale (POS) system at the John R. Post Center Starbucks. They were not able to take campus cards as payment for the first couple weeks of the semester, though this problem has now been resolved.
However, difficulty in accessing the meal plan has been a long-standing complaint with Post Center residents, as Starbucks’ offerings are primarily breakfast-oriented. Starbucks does offer some lunch options, but inventory can be scarce.
What’s New for You?
classes.
“One focus has been launching a weekly fitness class schedule—including Zumba, Pilates, Boot Camp, and Yoga—to encourage fun, fitness, and wellness across campus. These classes are free and open to all,” said Beddick.
There is a variety of classes, from yoga to Zumba that are offered multiple times throughout the week. The schedule for the classes is still being tweaked, but you can find the dates and times posted outside the dance studio located on the top floor of the gym in the Student Center.
Speaking of the gym, all the machines have been replaced! That’s right, no more broken gym equipment (for now). For those of you who use the free weights, fear not, an update for those is underway as well.
If you are a returning student, you know that one of the biggest issues around school is parking. Over the summer, multiple parking lots were re-paved. The re-paving of the commuter lot added additional spaces! The gravel lot at the Plex is no longer gravel and is a fully paved lot. You’re welcome, first years. You’ll never know what you missed out on parking in that
lot.
In addition to exciting updates around school, The Alvernian has updates of its own! A former student, Sherrin Smith, has graciously bestowed her podcast Around the Den on The Alvernian. So be sure to keep an eye out for podcast episodes about campus life, athletics, student involvement, and more coming soon.
A big announcement came out over the summer that the university has restructured the colleges. Alvernia has left the four-college model behind and has adopted a more “streamlined” three-
“I just want a turkey sandwich, man,” Dr. Ryan Lange, professor of communication, said.
Dr. Lange is referring to the turkey, provolone, and pesto sandwich on ciabatta.
“Every day I hope that the sandwich will return,” he said. “Every day my hopes are cruelly dashed by the vicissitudes of fate.”
The transition between food service providers has posed some challenges, but many students are optimistic that there is an effort being made to try and improve the dining at Alvernia University.
college model. The threecollege model officially took effect on August 1. So, what does this mean?
The three colleges are now The College of Health Sciences (CHS), The College of Innovation, Discovery and Enterprise (CIDE), and The College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences (CHESS).
The biggest change this makes is that the dean for the degree you’re pursuing may have changed. If you’re unsure which college your degree is now under or who your dean is, feel free to ask your advisor or refer to Alvernia’s news page!
Another exciting announcement for the university is that our engineering program is officially accredited. The accreditation comes several years after Alvernia started the engineering program in the fall of 2021.
A lot has changed for Alvernia in these few short months, but our Golden Wolf spirit remains the same. Be sure to keep an eye out for more updates to come this fall and stay tuned for episodes of Around The Den!
As is normal at Alvernia, a narrow majority of students continue to think the quality of food at the university is always worse than in previous years, regardless of any quantitative evidence to the contrary. Chart by Kyle Rudart, N=40
Image of the commuter lot, which waws recently re-paved. In the repaving, more spaces were added for students to park. Picture by Grace Wanner.
September/Ocober 2025
Culture
When Silence Falls: The Battle Over the Coquí’s Call
Hector Malavé
Contributing Editor
Puerto Rico’s beloved sound, the high-pitched “co-quí” that fills the night air, may be at risk. Concerns about the habitat of the protected coquí frogs, which is a general term for several species, went viral from a Reddit post discussing nonresidents potentially using illegal pesticides.
The Reddit post describes a conversation overheard by an American couple at a Condado restaurant discussing plans to spray an unknown chemical at their AirBnb to keep the frogs away. The original post asked a question about whether the chemical was safe, but soon discussion expanded to discuss grievances about tourists allegedly coming to the island and disrespecting it.
The mention of spraying has alarmed environmentalists and community members, who warn that chemical use against the coquí could threaten not only the frogs, but also Puerto Rico’s ecological and cultural heritage.
For Puerto Ricans, the coquí is a national symbol. Its distinctive nighttime call has become a cultural soundtrack of the island, transformed into songs, stories, and folklore. For those living away from the island, the sound of the coquí carries an emotional weight, evoking memories of home and a sense of belonging.
The frog also holds spiritual and historical importance, tracing back to the Taíno people, who regarded it as a sacred creature tied to nature and harmony. Today, it stands as both an ecological emblem unique to Puerto Rico’s biodiversity, and culturally signifies resilience, identity, and the enduring spirit of the island.
The coquí is classified as a protected species under several environmental regulations. In Puerto Rico, the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DRNA) safeguards the species through Law 241, the Puerto Rico Wildlife Law, which prohibits harming or killing native wildlife, including all coquí species. At the federal level, the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA)
also extends protections to certain coquí populations.
Violations of these laws can result in serious consequences, including fines and legal action. Enforcement is carried out by the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DRNA) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. While not all coquí species are protected, those listed under federal and local laws are safeguarded against harm.
Respecting these protections is essential to preserving Puerto Rico’s unique biodiversity and cultural heritage.
The controversy over pesticide use gained attention after Puerto Rican influencer Soymerlienpr, commonly “Merlien,” received a video from her followers. The clip featured another Puerto Rican woman living in the United States, who had come across the post and decided to create a video in English to inform non-Spanish speakers.
In response, Merlien addressed the issue directly by producing her own video in Spanish for her audience. This video went viral around the island and off the island.
People from around the world showed their support for protecting Puerto Rico’s biodiversity on social media. After interviewing the boricua, Merlien said, “When I found out about the Reddit post, it was late at night, around 12:30 in the morning, and when I saw it, I felt so angry. I felt something I couldn’t describe. How is it possible that people from outside or from here on the
island want to hurt this little animal that is part of us? What is our Puerto Rican essence that identifies us?”
“This should matter to other countries because it’s our culture, and we must elevate it wherever we go. Even more so in these times, where we’re unfortunately witnessing a process of erasing our identity. They’re attacking our three cultural pillars: the University of Puerto Rico (UPR), the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DRNA), and the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture. We must take our culture everywhere.”
For the unfamiliar, the University of Puerto Rico has long been a center for intellectual and artistic exchange, producing generations of writers, filmmakers, and scientists, safeguarding the island’s knowledge and creativity. The DRNA, meanwhile, is tasked with protecting Puerto Rico’s fragile biodiversity, from the coquí frog to the mangroves that shield coastal towns. And the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture is a guardian of traditional music, dance, language, and history that continue to define the archipelago’s soul.
Environmental struggles are not isolated to Puerto Rico. Around the globe, cultural and ecological institutions are threatened by privatization, budget cuts, and political neglect. The fight to preserve Puerto Rican identity echoes similar efforts in Indigenous and colonized communities worldwide,
where safeguarding culture is also safeguarding sovereignty. Mainstream media outlets in Puerto Rico often disregard these concerns. Merlien was invited to two TV programs and brought awareness regarding this situation on the island. But none of the news outlets on the island covered it. She was disappointed by the lack of interest from local press.
“Puerto Rico’s communication outlets didn’t do a good job,” Merlien said. “If we analyze the movement, we see it happened through social media. No news channel or government has wanted to support us in this cause. There was no investigation, even if it was a lie.”
Alumni Genesis Malavé, a graduate of Sagrado Corazón University in Puerto Rico, expressed concern over the lack of traditional media coverage. “There was no news coverage about the coquí at all,” she said. “I found out through social media, because everyone was talking about it except the news outlets.”
Puerto Rico is currently struggling with a broader crisis of visibility, where mainstream media often overlooks pressing cultural and environmental issues on the island. This silence has left many Puerto Ricans turning to social media platforms for information, sparking grassroots conversations highlighting the urgency of protecting the island’s identity and natural heritage.
The debate over the coquí is less about a frog and more
about preserving Puerto Rico’s cultural identity. “The sound of the Coquí means resilience to me. It’s the root that ties us to our land. The Coquí is a sacred ancestral animal that represents our people. If you silence the Coquí, you silence our people.” said the influencer. To many, the coquí’s call is the heartbeat of the island an emblem of heritage, resilience, and belonging. Attempts to silence it, whether through neglect or dismissal, strike at the very soul of Puerto Rican identity.
Puerto Rico’s struggles with underfunded institutions, environmental threats, and limited media coverage underscore the urgency of protecting culture and nature. Communities and social media voices, not traditional outlets, have carried the message forward in this silence. Underserved communities in Puerto Rico and elsewhere demand action. They demand stronger environmental protections, sustained investment in cultural institutions, and a global recognition that safeguarding the coquí means protecting the identity of Puerto Rico itself.
The coquí may be small, but its voice carries far and the responsibility to preserve that voice belongs to all who value culture, biodiversity, and the right of a people to hold on to their heritage.
A picture of the iconic frog, now endangered. Photo credits Wilfredo Falcon under Flickr creative license.
September/Ocober 2025
Track and Field Already Hard At Work
Quinn Harter Contributing Writer
Alvernia’s Track and Field team is getting ready to kick off their preseason practice to prepare for their winter season. AU Track and Field has started the preseason earlier than other MAC colleges to get a head start with training.
With experienced returners, as well as newly joined transfers and firstyears, the Golden Wolves are preparing long before their first meet, where they will debut in the beginning of December.
Head coach Eric Bennet has wasted no time getting the team back to work. Next week marks the official start of preseason training, strength workouts, speed drills, and technical sessions across sprint, distance, and field events.
The Golden Wolves are coming off a season of growth, with several athletes posting personal bests and qualifying for the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Championships, as well as Regional, and National Championships.
This year, the coaching staff is emphasizing on building depth across every event group, from sprints and distance, to jumps and throws. The goal is not only to qualify more athletes for championship meets, but also to increase the team’s overall competitiveness and chemistry throughout the season.
As the team heads into the preseason, some internal tension has surfaced around how the program is being coached.
Some athletes have expressed concerns about the structure and communication style of the current training environment and are advocating for constructive improvement.
Other athletes feel that their voices haven’t been fully heard when it comes to how practices are run, how different event groups are being managed, and the kind of training they’ve been doing.
“I feel like the training isn’t beneficial,” Joel Thomas, a long/triple jumper, said. “They’re not bad, but as an athlete I don’t think I’m getting a lot of work out of it. I want to get better, but if current workouts aren’t working then we have to change something.”
Throughout the recent discussions, student-athletes have emphasized that their intention was never to cause any long-term or unnecessary problems, but rather to advocate for a positive change.
While training concerns have been long-standing issues at Alvernia, the change in coaching does have some upsides. Some students are pleased that they’re getting started on focused training sooner in the pre-season.
“I like that we’re starting early,” Sam Wallace said. “I thought i wasn’t going to enjoy starting pre-season earlier than other colleges, but I am enjoying it so far. I feel like I can really work on
the technical things.”
Despite some mixed feelings, the team remains focused on the season ahead. Athletes insist that the issues with coaching have not affected their dedication to their sport or to each other.
In the meantime, the Golden Wolves are focusing on what they can control: Their work ethic, their mindset, and their support for one another.
Despite some disagreements, the athletes continue to train with dedication, show up for each other, and motivate each other to reach their goals whether they are on the track or in the classroom. Their bond as teammates remains strong.
“I feel like the team chemistry is great.” Joel Thomas said. “We don’t have a lot of people this year, but we have a tight bond, we dance together, we all chill out, we all eat with each other were very tight and we’re all pushing each other.”
Behind the Scenes of Game Planning with Alvernia Football
Albert Vargas
Contributing Editor
Have you ever wanted the inside scoop on what happens behind the scenes when planning for an Alvernia football game?
Each week, the coaches start reviewing the previous game’s film. Coaches and players spend many hours watching film to see what happened during the game from a bird’s-eye view. After the Golden Wolves finished watching last week’s movie, they studied the film of the upcoming opponents’ previous match to know what they will run and how they run it.
“When we are watching film as a team, we are going over their best players and what we must do to contain them,” Carl Taylor said.
During the week leading up to the game, the players meet with their position coaches and coordinators to understand the game plan and answer questions players may have about the strategy. These meetings feature more film, and this week’s game plan is to know what we should do on game day. Studying and watching film are important because you get to pick up on tendencies
that the other team players will do.
“Game planning is very important every week because every opponent week in and week out does something different, and we have to practice it to defend it,” Eli Curran said.
As the day of the game approaches, the team reduces physical training and focuses more on building strong habits. We start going over stuff like a two-minute drill and a bench drill. A twominute drill is when little time is left in the half or the game. The offensive plays extremely quickly during a two-minute drill in football.
It is typically used by tied or losing teams, particularly following the “two-minute warning.” Every second counts in this high-pressure scenario. Bench drill is when a coach calls out the special teams, and the players must know what they are on so everything can run smoothly on game day.
“Going over two twominute drills in practice is very important because that can help us win a game like we did in our last game of the season against Misericordia,” JJ Gonzalez said.
On game day, the Golden Wolves are prepared to hit the field and put on a show.
The players always want to do an excellent job in front of their fans. The goal on game day is to play fast and know your assignment. All the people at this game are the reason we are playing this game at the collegiate level.
“I am not fond of all of the beating his body has taken over the years, but I am beyond proud to see my son continue the commitment he has had his entire life to organized sports,” Susan Piavis, mother of McCabe Piavis, said. “He knows what it is to be a leader and the importance of being a good
teammate. He understands working under pressure, handling defeat, practicing endurance, tenacity, and demonstrating humility. All of these skills will, and have, served him well. He has chosen to be part of a brotherhood in which, to move forward and persevere, all must work together and have each other’s backs. Ultimately, the football field has served as a training ground for much of what he will face in life. He loves football and I love that he loves it!”
Leo Tirado, 2nd Place MAC Champion in High Jump. School Record Holder in High Jump Photo taken by – Quinn Harter
Head Coach Steve Azzanesi is getting his headshot taken for the 2025 football season. Picture by Marisa Lombardo
Game planning is an important aspect of football. It’s more than just playing the game. Picture by Raymond Petrik from Unsplash.com
September/Ocober 2025
sports
Cross-Country, Alvernia’s Forgotten Fall Sport
Spencer Hahn
Contributing
Writer
Football season kicked off, soccer’s back on the turf, and field hockey’s up and running again. However, one team doesn’t get the same spotlight as the others: Cross-country.
“It can be difficult to motivate yourself to wanna run for this school when a lot of people don’t even know there is a cross-country team.” Ryan Dennison said.
With no home meets and a small roster, cross-country can be easy to overlook. But while the team is small, the Golden Wolves put just as much dedication and work into their sport as any of the larger teams on campus.
What is cross-country all about? Cross-country takes the long-distance aspects of track and field and applies them to natural terrain. Typically, in collegiate crosscountry, women run 6k races, which is just under four miles. Men run 8k races, which are just under six miles. The long, hard runs make crosscountry a demanding sport to participate in, requiring strong mental and physical toughness.
Training is the core of cross-country. While the season may start in August, the foundations begin in June.
Throughout the summer, athletes run miles daily, often alone, trying to build the stamina they’ll need for the season.
“Summer training really makes or breaks your season
in cross. When we come back in August, you can really tell who put in the work over the summer and who didn’t,”
Samuel Martinez said.
Consistency is crucial. Even just a few weeks off can add minutes to their time, which adds up in an endurance sport. The mentality to consistently train like this is just as important as their physical effort.
“I didn’t quite get as much training done this summer as I would’ve liked. My fitness isn’t where it should be, and I wasn’t even able to run in our first meet this season,” James Henry said.
Even with the isolation during the summer months,
the cross-country team is one of the most connected teams on campus. Due to the small number of runners, it is easy for the team to form close bonds with one another. Everyone not only pushes themselves through the physical and mental struggle of a race, but also their fellow runners.
“Being a small team is unfortunate performance wise, but does mean we share some pretty close bonds. I’ve only known these guys for a few years, but it feels like they’ve been lifelong friends.”
Younes Naimi said.
Despite having a small roster, the team has seen some of its best performances
over the past three seasons. Most recently, junior runner Samuel Martinez set a new 5k record in the season-opening meet. Martinez, a junior physical therapy major, has become the gold standard for what kind of work goes into being a cross-country runner here at Alvernia.
“Getting a record is always nice, but my focus is just on improving my time, and our team’s performances. Hopefully, this record can sort of set the pace for the season.” Martinez said.
A team’s strength does not just lie in its players, but also in its coach. Previous head coach Jordan Smith left his position in spring 2024, leaving the team without a coach during the important summer training season. Fortunately, on September 27, 2024, Eric Bennett was hired to become the new head coach of cross-country.
Bennett was a returning cross-country coach familiar with the program. His previous tenure was from 2013 to 2018, where he coached 184 all-MAC performances between male and female runners in track and field. Unfortunately, the cross-country team did not quite warrant the same success during this time. He’s once again taken on the role of overseeing this up-andcoming team and trying to strengthen it.
“I think the teams in a good spot right now, both the men’s and women’s side,
and a strong showing in our first meet has proven that. The teams aren’t the biggest this year, so that could be a challenge. However, we’ve got plenty of recruits lined up for next season, so I think the best is still yet to come.” Bennett said.
With the current season underway, the men’s and women’s teams will compete in invitational meets to prepare for the MAC (Middle Atlantic Conference) championship on November 1. With a smaller roster this season, the men’s and women’s goals have been shifted towards their own performance over placement in the MAC. Each runner has worked tirelessly to push themselves towards setting a new best time and gaining more experience running in these bigger meets. While trying to perform well as a team is certainly a goal, this season’s real focus is personal development.
With five meets left in the 2025 season, Alvernia crosscountry will look to have strong performances at the Dickinson College Long-Short Invitational, September 27, Delaware Valley Invitational, October 11, and Gettysburg’s Aubrey Shenk Invitational, October 18. The Golden Wolves will then compete at the MAC Championship meet at Delaware Valley, November 1, before finishing the season at the NCAA DIII Mid-Atlantic Regional in Carlisle, Pa. November 11.
Younes Naimi, Ryan Dennison, Samuel Martinez, and Spencer Hahn at the start line for the season-opening meet
Photo taken by Micheal Dennison
Runners lined up for a cross-country race amoungst beautiful fall foliage. Photo by Haley Harms from Unsplash.com
September/Ocober 2025
Alvernia Esports on the Rise news
Anthony Parsons
Contributing Editor
Within the past year, Alvernia Esports has been hard at work putting the program on the map in collegiate esports, including earning both regional and national championship titles.
Alvernia Esports hosts five titles within the program: Overwatch, Rocket League, League of Legends, Super Smash Bros, and Valorant. The Overwatch team has crowned itself as national champions and looks to maintain that momentum going into this season.
The Overwatch squad consisted of Max “Toad” Wilson, Seth “Set” Patchett, Devin “Optimal” Dvorak, Anthony “Gusty” Parsons, and Alex “Toggling” Rodreguiz, along with Coach Christian Woods.
The Alvernia team participated in the National Esports Collegiate Conference and was placed in Division III, where they went undefeated, dropping
only three maps total. They were able to collect both the regional and national championships as their first trophies since the esports program was founded back in 2021, solidifying themselves as one of the best collegiate Overwatch teams on the East Coast.
Devin Hartnett, Director of Alvernia Esports, commented on how he reacted to the win.
“I’m proud of course, but this was a long time coming. With a coach swap, and the amount of effort they all put in for the last year or so I’ve been here for, it’s not a shock
at all,” Hartnett said.
The team has grown a since, with every player reaching high ranks in the game’s competitive ladder and entering the Top 500 leaderboard in the North American region, as well as finding a suitable replacement for Toggling, as he graduated in the spring, for freshman, Mark “ScramPlease” Iorfida from Rhode Island.
The team has now been partnered with PlayVs to participate in the Varsity League along with other top Overwatch programs like
Northwood and Winthrop, where they will compete in a group stage of other schools in eastern region to grab a spot in the national tournament later in the semester. They have also been preparing for invitationals hosted by Penn State University and Syracuse University where they will compete in enemy territory as they will be traveling to both schools to win both tournaments.
Esports Director, Devin Hartnett, has plans in place to help the growth of the program and draw more eyes towards the school.
“I’d like to establish ourselves as a hub on the East Coast for both high school and collegiate competitions. LANs, invitationals, workshops etc.” Hartnett said. “Something similar for high schools ideally with a focus on workshops for them to improve, student run. Collegiate invitational would be something we plan out later I believe.”
Hosting esports events will help increase recruitment for the school and esports at Alvernia, as teams will get the chance to tour the facility and campus. With collegiate esports on the rise, more teams are backed by their schools with funded varsity programs, and sponsorships are entering the scene as investments. As the esports industry has been experiencing a financial downturn, with organizations losing money and the pressure to be the best increasing, players in the North American region have turned to university life to continue their competitive careers. University play allows esports athletes to pay for their education with scholarships and winnings. Alvernia has been taking advantage of the increased interest in collegiate esports by fielding some of the best rosters in the scene with toptier coaching to support the growth of these players.
I Graduated From High School. Now What?
Jennifer Delacruz Contributing Writer
Every spring, many high school students toss their caps into the air, marking a new beginning. But what comes after the celebration? Many possibilities await the new high school graduate, not just a direct path to college.
After graduation, many parents tell their kids to go to college, but some of them don’t enroll. 61.4 percent of high school students in the U.S. that graduated in 2023 enrolled in college, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. After that, the other choices are entering the work force, a trade school, military service, taking a gap year, entrepreneurship, or internships.
Choice paralysis can make some high school graduates feel like there’s no good decision, but the pressure to attend college is often heaviest on high-achieving students.
“I didn’t feel overwhelmed deciding whether I should’ve gone to college or not, but I did feel anxious when everyone was telling me that my only option was college, and that without it, I was
not going to be someone,” Ariel De la cruz, a graduate of Governor Mifflin High School, said.
Graduates have many options to decide, and a lot of time to do it. Parents shouldn’t pressure their children to pick something right away after graduation.
A better way to address the next step in a high school graduate’s life is to talk about the options that the student
has and to encourage them to achieve their goals.
Trade school is another option similar to college. You would go to an institution for two years or less to physically work and learn. It is more of a hands-on environment. Trade schools are cheaper than college, but it doesn’t mean that they are bad.
“Trade schools and work [are options], but if they start working right away, it
is difficult [for them] to go to college or a trade school after,” Leonaldo De la cruz, a parent of a graduated high school student, said. Leonaldo De la cruz also said that getting a degree, dedicating yourself to learning it, and to perceiver in your career, makes it easier to accomplish your future dreams. Getting a job right after high school has its benefits. You will get immediate
income, no student debt, and will gain experience right away. What students don’t see is the lack of advancement opportunities. Depending on the job that the graduate gets, some will have opportunities to advance to higher positions and even education, but some others will want to make you stay in the same position as much time as they can before they quit.
Money worries are often a major factor in what high school graduates think their viable choices may be. “I was scared to not be able to pay for my career,” Fernando Mejia said. “I didn’t have the time to study and work nor support.”
It often takes significant sacrifices for people to attend college. Fortunately, by the end, the path starts to get clearer and brighter as a student gets near the finish line. In these situations, scholarships and loans are a good option. Deciding to go to work full-time may be better for some in the short term, but in the longer term, leaving your studies behind to work rarely works well.
Photo of the Alvernia Esports facility in 2021. Credit: Alvernia University Esports
This is a student looking to decide whether to enrollee in college or not. It represents the stress students take when enrolling in college and making the decision to which college they are going.
Photo by Jennifer Delacruz
September/Ocober 2025
The Pumpkin Spice Takeover lifestyle
Morgan Brown
Contributing Editor
The pumpkin spice latte, or “PSL”, is more than a seasonal drink. The cultural impact of the pumpkin spice latte is a recognizable cultural phenomenon.
“I always visited the Starbucks in Collegetown because it was super convenient and on my way to classes,” Alvernia alum Brianna Burkholder said.
The pumpkin spice latte was introduced in 2003 to just a mere 100 stores in Canada and Washington D.C. It wasn’t released nationwide until 2004. The specific combination of warm spices, pumpkin, and coffee was concocted by the Starbucks beverage team at the Seattle headquarters. The team was then led by Starbucks product manager Peter Dukes. The Pumpkin Spice Latte was a part of a larger effort in trying to create seasonal drinks after the success of Peppermint Mocha.
Customer Riley Gas said, “Starbucks is so addicting! You tell yourself you are just going to get this one drink and soon you realize you’ve been getting one every day.”
During early tasting sessions, Chocolate & Caramel outscored Pumpkin Spice but the team decided to take a risk believing Pumpkin Spice was a more unique flavor that connected with the warm and cozy nostalgia of fall.
What specifically is in the PSL? The original Pumpkin Spice Latte included Espresso, Steamed
Milk, Pumpkin Spice syrup (cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and no actual pumpkin), whipped cream, and pumpkin spice topping. However, the recipe changed in 2015 to include real pumpkin puree after customer requests for more natural ingredients. Why is it so successful? The seasonal scarcity, strong branding, social media buzz, and emotional marketing have helped lead to the success of the fall drink. The PSL is only available for a few months, which leaves some customers yearning all year round for the few months it’s
available.
Starbucks customer Jess Neffko says “I get a PSL everyday its available because that is how much I love it! I wish they would make it a permanent menu item.”
Strong branding has helped the pumpkin spice latte to become a nationally recognized acronym of “PSL”. Social media has also helped fuel the pumpkin spice craze with early 2010’s Instagram culture making the drink “trendy” or popular. Lastly, Starbucks’ emotional marketing has helped tap into feelings of autumn, comfort, and nostalgia fullings customer desires to purchase the drink.
Student Olivia Jackson said, “Every time I walk into a Starbucks it just gets me in the mood of whatever season it is.”
What is the impact? The Starbucks PSL is largely credited to creating the Pumpkin Spice craze across the U.S. The Pumpkin Spice Latte has become the most
popular seasonal drink of all time for the company with millions sold. Fans eagerly await the fall drink every year with its arrival typically happening in early August. This led to Starbucks releasing additional Pumpkin drinks with the bottled PSL becoming available in 2016. The Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew was launched in 2018, The newest addition, Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte was officially added to the menu in 2023. Starbucks PSL success inspired a pumpkin spice boom across the U.S. with many cafes and brands jumping on the trend. Some of the notable brands have been Dunkin’ and their Pumpkin Swirl Latte and McDonalds launched their own version of a pumpkin spice latte. Additionally, brands such as Cheerios, Oreo, Cliff Bar, Chobani Yogurt, Spam, and Hummus have also created their own pumpkin spice versions.
Athlete Mental Health: More Than A Game
Austin Mbuyi Contributing Writer
How can student-athletes maintain their mental health during the busy academic year?
In all competitive sports, the mental aspect of the game comes first. Focusing yourself on doing one thing at a time will help you get into rhythm with your teammates.
Some students may find advice from podcasts helpful in managing their mental health. Several athletes discuss their struggles with mental health in podcast form to make sure people don’t feel like they’re alone when dealing with tough times.
Listening to the podcast by athlete Paul George and Demar Derozan, they talk about the mental health part of being an athlete and how to help grow from a lot of different experiences throughout the game. “After a tough loss in the NBA, people think we are supposed to just hold every emotion in and never show anything negative,” Demar Derozan said, “but sometimes there are times where you feel like lashing out or even throwing a chair through a window... times like that can be very
frustrating to go through alone.”
“You don’t have to say you are okay all the time. Sometimes it is okay to reach out to a loved one about a certain situation you are going through mentally to get a different perspective.”
An important thing for students to remember is that while you may face critique from coaches or other players about how you move on the
floor or even just your style of play, it’s important to let the game come to you and relax. You will be just fine!
After talking to someone on the Alvernia Men’s basketball team, Korey Charity, he said, “I would do something that keeps me at ease or something that keeps me calm to maintain my mental health, because there can be times where I can’t tell if I am in the right mindset so I turn
to something that can keep me on track of the goal I set for myself.”
Many athletes’ fear failure and tend to worry about squandering their prime playing years or letting their teammates down. After having a talk with Janye Stanley from the men’s basketball team, he said one thing he did to keep striving for greatness throughout the season to just show up every
day.
“I was in and out of the rotation constantly last season,” he said. “It got to me a little bit, I can’t lie, but one thing I did was keep showing up to practice every day and working harder than everyone every day. It sucks for the most part feeling like you aren’t helping the team, but just by showing up anything helps.” Another thing to help anyone dealing with mental health regarding to athletes is by visiting Alvernia’s counseling office, they help many athletes dealing with these issues to help them grow from it and become a better person day in and day out. If you feel the need to talk to someone, you can cantact them online or by calling. Their number is 610796-8350.
Mental health needs to be a priority alongside physical health as a studentathlete. Balancing athletic commitment along with personal time is crucial for maintaining overall wellbeing and for protecting mental health issues along the way. If you feel you are struggling, reach out to a friend, teacher, coach or parent. You’re not alone.
Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte image via Morgan Brown
you are a student athlete who is struggling with mental health, know you are not alone.
need.
matter. Photo by Dan Meyers from Unsplash.com