Students provide critical wound care at ‘the epicenter of the opioid crisis’
Students start women’s club flag football team.
HANNAH PAJTIS ’26 Editor-in-Chief
Located alongside rowhomes and businesses in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia, Mother of Mercy House may pass for an ordinary red brick building. But to community members battling life-threatening substance abuse disorder in the center of Philadelphia’s decades-long opioid crisis, the humble clinic is a critical lifeline and a beacon of hope.
Behind the doors of Mother of Mercy House, members of St. Joe’s Institute of Clinical Bioethics confront this public health crisis head on, administering free wound care to individuals who have acquired wounds from injecting xylazine and medetomidine. Both these substances, which are veterinary tranquilizers, are often combined with other opioids like fentanyl. Resulting wounds can run deep to the bone, requiring hospitalization or amputation, and, in severe cases, leading to death.
According to the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, there were 1,122 overdose deaths in 2023. This was a 7% decrease from 2022’s previous high. Available data for 2024 suggests a further decrease.
The Kensington neighborhood, nationally known for the frequent public sale and use of illegal drugs, faces a crucial need for wound care. Between January 2020 and March 2025, there were 5,471 emergency department visits for people with substance use-related skin and soft tissue injuries in Philadelphia.
Peter Clark ’75, S.J., Ph.D., professor of theology and director of the ICB, said
the institute sought to provide care in Kensington after noticing it was “the epicenter of the opioid crisis.”
“This is one of the few things where our students not only talk the talk, but they’re walking the walk,” Clark said. “They’re putting the Jesuit values into action. They’re literally with the most vulnerable people in society.”
Fredy Abboud ’26, an ICB undergraduate fellow, said witnessing the epidemic in Kensington firsthand is important for developing an understanding of it.
“It is vital to be able to see for yourself how bad, how severe, the issue is, how severe the problem is, and to see the struggles that the people are enduring … when you have a better understanding, inevitably, you’ll be able to address it in a more efficient way down the line,” Abboud said.
The clinic’s beginnings
ICB members were first present at Mother of Mercy in early December 2023 according to Steven Silver, MBA ’25, assistant director of the ICB and opioid grant administrative coordinator.
Silver secured a $100,000 grant for the clinic to provide services, of which $13,000 was specifically designated to wound care. The grant covers supplies like bandages and saline sprays and funded the exam table for Mother of Mercy House’s wound care room. Currently, 10 student EMTs work as fellows within the ICB at the wound care clinic. The fellows are assisted by other undergraduate students and also work with physicians. The wound care clinic is part of the ICB’s BIPOC Health Promoter program, which aims to provide healthcare to people
of color throughout Philadelphia and its surrounding areas.
In 2023, white Philadelphian overdose fatalities decreased by 15%, but Black Philadelphian overdose deaths only decreased by 5% and Hispanic Philadelphian overdose deaths increased by 2%.
“From the developing world to the first world, there’s always going to be a minority, and you have to be an advocate for whoever you’re treating, whoever you’re experiencing life with,” said Ean Hudak ’26, an ICB undergraduate fellow.
Treatment and wound care
The clinic offers wound care services twice a week, on Tuesday and Thursday, for about two or three hours each day. The clinic functions similar to a doctor’s office, with patients waiting in the hallway outside the clinic room before receiving care. When
For Emily Sokolowski ’20, the recent controversy over Tylenol and autism following President Donald Trump’s Sept. 22 press conference isn’t just political — it’s deeply personal. Sokolowski’s older brother Adam, who has autism, recently tested positive for covid-19. When their mother recommended he take Tylenol for his headache, Adam’s response revealed how he received the administration’s rhetoric.
“He was like, ‘No, no, no, I can’t take Tylenol. It will make my autism worse’ … In his mind, he believed that taking the Tylenol would make him more autistic, and that would be a bad thing,” Sokolowski said.
Trump announced in the press conference the Food and Drug Association would be updating its warning labels for Tylenol, an over-the-counter pain reliever whose main ingredient is acetaminophen. Trump suggested Tylenol use during pregnancy is linked with autism spectrum disorder, citing an Aug. 14 Harvard University research paper.
“TYLENOL-AUTISM CLAIMS” CONTINUED ON PG. 2
it’s the patient’s turn to receive treatment, their wounds are cleaned and wrapped.
“You’re just kind of patching them up,” Dianne Hoffmann, executive director of Mother of Mercy House, said. “A lot of times, they send a wound care package with them because there’s other places down the street they can go tomorrow, but sometimes that feels like Mount Everest to them.”
Emma Anderson ’26, an ICB fellow, said they typically see between six to eight patients in a week, but the number of patients who receive care varies. Time spent on each patient can also vary depending on the severity of their wounds.
“WOUND CARE” CONTINUED ON PG. 2
The Student Newspaper of Saint Joseph’s University
Volume CIX
DeAnna Capaldi ‘27 discusses the impact of imposter syndrome.
From left to right: Dr. Khizar Hayat, Josh Frantz ’26, retired nurse Mary Jo and Ean Hudak ’26 discuss the procedure for wound treatment in Mother of Mercy House. Formerly a spare room, the space was transformed into a medical office for the Institute of Clinical Bioethics at St. Joe’s.
LIV BIELAWSKI ’27 News Editor
Ean Hudak ’26 distributes food at Mother of Mercy House located in Kensington, Philadelphia, Sept. 25. PHOTOS: SAHR KARIMU ’26/THE HAWK
‘ We ’ re trying to deal with the issue ’
“It can take a long time if they’re bad wounds, especially if they’re bilateral, and a lot of them are, so that can take almost an hour,” Anderson said.
The wound care process has various steps, Anderson said. First, the EMT or nurse removes the old wound dressing. Depending on the severity, saline will be used to moisten the wound and the dressing will be physically cut off. Next, saline is used to rinse off exudate, the fluid produced by the body in response to damage, from the wound. This is followed by wound wash, Dakin’s solution — a topical antiseptic — and sometimes iodine. Depending on the wound, a cream or ointment will be applied.
The care process finishes with wrapping the wounds in non-adherent dressings, roller gauze and an elastic bandage.
Strict protocols, Clark said, are enforced for student and practitioner safety.
“We have protocols on double gloving, masking, because many of these patients could have TB,” Clark said. “Many may [have] HIV, many may [have] Hep. C., so we’re very particular about how we do that.”
Wound care, however, is not limited to inside the clinic. Currently, the ICB uses a wagon “with two tackle boxes full of materials” to administer mobile wound care to individuals on Kensington's streets.
A major requirement of the wound care clinic, Clark said, is “continuity of care.”
To uphold this requirement, the clinic is partnered with groups like the wound care team at Temple University Hospital.
“We established a relationship with them,” Clark said. “So, if one of our patients is going to the ER at Temple, we call the
wound care team in advance. They meet the patient in the ER, and they circumvent the ER at that point, so our patients get seen.”
Care for the whole person
The ICB’s mission expands beyond physical wound care. The clinic, Clark said, has a relationship with Project HOME, a Philadelphia nonprofit addressing poverty and homelessness. At a patients’ request for housing, a Project HOME van is called to pick them up. A similar call can be made for patients who wish to go into rehab.
“It’s just not a clinic that’s just dealing with wounds,” Clark said. “We’re trying to deal with the issue.”
Mother of Mercy House and the ICB fellows also do food and resource distribution in hopes of providing additional support.
Hoffmann said wound care is not just for physical healing, but also emotional healing.
“You’re not going to cure everyone … They still need to be seen and loved and heard, and that’s it. At the end of the day, that’s the most important thing,” Hoffmann said.
Silver said confronting the stigma around Kensington is included in “cura personalis,” or care for the whole person.
“You learn these people, you learn their stories and you realize that they’re
just humans at the end of day, they’re just people, just like us, but they just fell on tough circumstances,” Silver said. “If we can be there to provide some type of bridge to help, or provide a way out or just a helping hand, it opened my eyes to seeing like the full person, the full care of a person.”
Because death is an ever-present reality, confronting the epidemic can take an emotional toll. The gratitude shown by patients, Hudak said, keeps him pushing forward.
“Yes, it’s sad, and it takes a toll on you, but they’re beyond grateful for my help, and that’s what keeps me going,” Hudak said.
The personal connections forged between patients and caregivers, Clark said, is also central to him both as a professor and Jesuit.
“The nameless and the voiceless now have a name and a voice,” Clark said.
University recognizes National Hazing Prevention Week
This year, St. Joe’s formally recognized National Hazing Prevention Week, with Michael Busch, assistant director of the Community Standards, spearheading the initiative alongside St. Joe’s own anti-hazing campaign, Hawks Over Hazing. NHPW took place from Sept. 22-26.
St. Joe’s Office of Community Standards, as well as the Office of Student Leadership and Activities, hosted daily events throughout the week, including a student-made chalk mural, a Hawks Over Hazing presentation and a film screening of “The Lonely Dog,” a short film about hazing from the University of Virginia based on real events.
NHPW first launched in 2007 through the Hazing Prevention Network as a movement designed to raise hazing awareness and provide healthier alternatives to hazing within tight-knit organizations. StopHazing defines hazing as “any activity expected of someone joining or participating in a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses or endangers them, regardless of a person’s willingness to participate.”
Beth Hagovsky, Ed.D., director of Student Leadership and Activities, said while hazing is typically associated with Greek life organizations, it’s an issue that can present itself in any group setting.
“Very traditionally and stereotypically, people think of hazing as only a Greek-lettered organization problem, when in fact, it affects any community, athletics, club sports, regular student organizations, possibly even just friend groups,” Hagovsky said.
Hagovsky said anything students pressure others to do that they wouldn’t normally do is considered hazing, which students need to be reminded of.
“There’s such a power dynamic at play that students need to be aware of and conscious of when they’re asking students or demanding students to do something,” Hagovsky said. “Just because someone says ‘yes’ doesn’t mean they want to, and that’s 100% hazing.”
According to its website, all Hawks Over Hazing policies adhere to the federal Stop Campus Hazing Act, signed into law during
the Biden administration, and comply with full hazing transparency under the Campus Hazing Transparency and Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Report, which outlines the first steps of reporting hazing and describes investigated hazing incidents dating back to the 2020-2021 academic year.
Hawks Over Hazing introduces their initiative at summer orientation for incoming first-years, provides online training modules for new students to complete and offers year-round student workshops and small-group conversations around the topic of hazing.
Busch said the anti-hazing policies included in the Hawks Over Hazing implementation are essential to keeping student organizations on campuses alive and healthy.
“Student organizations are the lifeblood of a college campus, that pumping blood through the veins of the body of campus,” Busch said. “Helping these groups and organizations be healthy is extremely important because they do have such a responsibility to the student experience on campus.”
According to data from HazingInfo.org, there have been 125 student deaths from hazing since 2000. Since 2020, there have been 16 hazing-related student deaths.
Faith Adedokun ’27, secretary of student affairs for University Student Senate, said hazing is a subject that, until this year, has not been talked about enough, and that students in and out of student-led organizations need to understand its severity.
“Hazing isn’t cool,” Adedokun said. “Hazing isn’t a fundamental part of the college experience. It can affect college campuses anywhere and can lead to serious injury or death. As a responsible student of the Saint Joseph’s University community, you should feel empowered to report it.”
Hagovsky said there are many other opportunities to make connections with prospective members of any organization and that the cycle needs to be broken at St. Joe’s.
“We can make connections without being asked to do things that we shouldn’t otherwise be asking people to do,” Hagovsky said. “That’s not why anybody joins anything. No one joins an organization or goes out for
something because they want to be hazed.”
Busch said hazing education couldn’t be more important for the livelihood of college campuses and the general student experience, highlighting the importance of initiatives like NHPW and Hawks Over Hazing.
“Ultimately, hazing education supports the student experience to create a healthy one,” Busch said. “Research tells us that when students get involved during their college experience, they’re more likely to be successful, more likely to graduate on time, do better with academics and the whole of college generally.”
While National Hazing Prevention Week came to a close Sept. 26, the Hawks Over Hazing initiative is ongoing, with the hope that conversations begun this week continue to make campus more safe, inclusive and educated about hazing. Adedokun said the Jesuit mission of St. Joe’s is always at the forefront, and hazing could not stray further away from cura personalis, or “care for the whole person.”
“Saint Joseph’s University cannot, and should not, stand for hazing,” Adedokun said. “All of us that believe in these Jesuit values that we pay money to live out should know better.”
SOPHIA GALANTE ’26 News Reporter
GRAPHIC: MOLLY DETTLINGER ’27/THE HAWK
MotherofMercyHouseofferswoundcareservicestwicea weekfromitsAlleghenyAvenuelocation,Sept.25
PHOTO: SAHR KARIMU ’26/THE HAWK
“Don’t take Tylenol,” Trump said. “Don’t take it … Fight like hell not to take it.”
Autism is defined by the National Institute of Mental Health as a “neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn and behave.” About one in 31 (3.2%) children aged eight years old are diagnosed with autism in the United States. According to the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, this number has increased in recent decades due to the broadening of the definition of autism, which means more people now meet the definition, as well as increased screenings at wellness visits.
Scientists have responded with backlash against the claims, with the World Health Organization stating Sept. 24 that there is “currently no conclusive scientific evidence” that confirms a link between Tylenol use during pregnancy and autism. The damage has already been done, however, wrote Zoe Gross, director of advocacy for the Autistic Self
Advocacy Network, in an email to The Hawk. Gross described the comments as harmful to the autistic community.
Gross said the way Trump and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. talked about autism was “chilling.”
“By calling for the end of autism, the administration is explicitly saying they are working toward a world where autistic people no longer exist,” Gross said. “This sends a terrible message to the autistic community and further stigmatizes autism in the eyes of non-autistic people.”
Cora Moeller ’27, whose brother, Owen, has autism, said she and her family were shocked by the number of people they knew who believed the claims about Tylenol so quickly. Moeller said the kind of language used can have a big impact on people with autism.
“These are real people that we’re talking about,” Moeller said. “They have feelings, and so for them to be reading things that people are posting or things that they’re endorsing,
to make it seem like … those who have autism are burdens or they’re suffering from autism, which is just not the kind of language that I think should ever be used.”
According to Gross, misinformation from the government about what causes autism doesn’t just harm autistic people. It harms everyone.
“The anti-vaccine claims, in particular, will lower people’s confidence in vaccines that have already been proven safe, leading to resurgences of vaccine-preventable diseases,” Gross said. “The instruction not to take Tylenol during pregnancy or give it to children puts pregnant people and children at risk, for example, of injury during untreated fevers.”
The FDA released a statement Sept. 22 that said while an association between acetaminophen and neurological conditions like autism has been described, a causal relationship has not yet been established. Further, the statement noted there are contradictory studies on the subject.
Sokolowski, who worked with the Autism Society of America for two years, emphasized
the importance of citing facts, data and scientific explanations for why something may cause something else, especially when it comes to autism.
“Everybody’s experience with autism is so different, and I think it’s important to recognize that,” Sokolowski said. “Be[ing] able to have support and research based in facts is [of] the utmost importance, especially for our community and caregivers that are in the community as well.”
This sentiment was shared by Gross, who added that research should be directed toward helping autistic individuals. The emphasis on searching for a “cure” to autism, she said, distracts from helping autistic people who are alive today.
“Autism affects every part of our being,” Gross said. “There is no me without autism. You cannot accept and include autistic people effectively without accepting that our disability is a part of us, and you cannot work effectively for our rights without accepting and including us.”
Department of Public Safety reports (Sept. 19-25)
Sept. 19
Public Safety investigated the use of a fraudulent identification card in an attempt to enter a Hawk Hill residence hall.
Public Safety investigated fraudulent identification cards found on persons entering a Hawk Hill residence hall.
Sept. 20
Public Safety investigated a report of terroristic threats made by a St. Joe’s student at an off-campus location. The police were notified.
Sept. 21
Public Safety investigated the theft of a student’s wallet. A credit card was attempted to be used fraudulently. The police were notified.
Sept. 22
Public Safety investigated an intoxicated person in a Hawk Hill residence hall. Medics were called.
Public Safety investigated the theft of a motor vehicle from a Hawk Hill parking lot. The police were notified.
Sept. 23
No incidents to report.
Sept. 24
No incidents to report.
Sept. 25
Public Safety investigated an intoxicated person in a Hawk Hill residence hall. Medics were called.
Weekly message from the Office of Public Safety and Security: Responsible Choices: Alcohol & Substance Safety Value: Discernment & Care for Community
Wise choices protect not only you but those around you. Supporting friends in vulnerable moments shows “cura personalis.”
Tip: Never leave drinks unattended, and call for help if someone is in distress.
GRAPHIC: JORDAN SHARER ’25/THE HAWK COMPILED BY: LUKE SANELLI ’26/THE HAWK
Editorial: Misleading Tylenol claims undermine science
The Trump administration announced in a White House press conference Sept. 22 that there may be a link between Tylenol and autism. While studies cited by Trump have found some correlations between Tylenol use during pregnancy and autism, such as “Evaluation of the evidence on acetaminophen use and neurodevelopmental disorders,” correlation does not equate to causation. Leading health organizations, including the Food and Drug Administration and World Health Organization, have stated current evidence does not establish a verifiable link between Tylenol and autism. The Trump administration’s claims risks compromising scientific integrity and eroding public trust.
Tylenol is not just an over-the-counter medication; medical professionals recommend the pain reliever to pregnant women over other alternatives, such as ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen, due to well-documented risks to fetal
development. By announcing Tylenol is no longer safe to use, pregnant women are left with limited medically approved options for managing pain.
Neurodivergence is not a birth defect but rather a reflection of the natural diversity of human minds. Autism, ADHD and other neurodivergent identities should be accepted, supported and valued. Neurodivergence produces extraordinary creativity, personal resilience and diverse thought processes that stand to benefit society. To frame autism as a negative outcome of pregnancy reinforces stigmas and erases the dignity of millions of neurodivergent individuals in the United States.
The social consequences of this announcement are significant, possibly deepening existing stigmas and limiting the agency of women in decisions over their own health. For pregnant women, the loss of medically backed and approved pain relief is vital because it reduces (or potentially
eliminates) their ability to work and even socialize. In effect, advising women against using Tylenol for pain management during pregnancy may create barriers for women seeking the balance between both a family and professional life.
If the administration’s goal was to support the well-being of mothers and their children, a more nuanced and practical approach would be better suited, such as investing in more research, prenatal care and financial support for families, rather than issuing statements that risk undermining trust. Emphasizing weak correlations as conclusive not only damages public confidence in healthcare but also frames motherhood as a means for control. The public deserves honest and accurate science, women deserve accessible healthcare and neurodivergent people deserve dignity. Anything less than this compromises justice, health and equality.
America’s public health system is too politicized
VALENTYN SUKHYY ’27 Guest Columnist
Within the past six months, a large number of events have taken place in the government. With that, an issue I believe to be of great concern has emerged: how our bipartisan government has politicized science (specifically healthcare) to the point where many of its claims are not empirically true. Rather than facts, emotional language and political divisions have been used to influence the public.
Since becoming the secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has wanted to tackle many issues, including obesity, restricting certain compounds in foods and “discovering” the “cause” of autism. Kennedy and the current administration have a strong and well-needed motivation to tackle the nation’s healthcare problems, but the ways they address it are poorly assessed.
A recent example was the Sept. 22 White House press conference announcing the possible autism-causing effects of Tylenol, where a few hand-picked studies showed some correlation, not causation, in reports of pregnant individuals taking Tylenol and their babies being born with autism. Overstating claims like these damages the credibility of the science community and trust of the government. Thankfully, the Food and Drug Administration has described the potential link as an “association,” emphasizing correlation and not causation.
Manipulating and handpicking researchers to push an agenda is also an issue. Such is the case of the Harvard study that tried to find a link between Tylenol and neurological development. Or, how a scientist running a metabolism lab in conjunction with the National Institute of Health claims to have been censored and restricted by the government from continuing his research and publicizing his work.
We also should consider that this issue has appeared on both sides of the political spectrum. For example, the Biden administration used Title 42 to expel migrants positive with covid-19 during the pandemic despite a lack of evidence suggesting these expulsions stopped the spread.
In the end, the focus should not be placed on these specific situations but rather on the need for better public health policy overall. This is where public distrust and fear can be lessened toward the science and healthcare communities.
Social sciences under threat
Politicians shape the social narrative by limiting research
CAROLINE
Giannantonio 26
Grant Neff ’26
Adam Syed ’26
*Section Editor, Assistant Section Editor or Team Manager
Once valued for revealing the truths of the social world, the social sciences are currently under threat by the Trump administration and conservative politicians across the country. Under the guise of budget trimming and truth telling, the study of social sciences is being restricted in order to weaken the public’s understanding of inequality, extremism and democratic decline.
In 2024, officials in Florida removed sociology from the list of courses that fulfill core requirements at public universities, opting to replace the class with a more “factual history course” alternative. Such a statement suggests sociology is an
invalid field, undermining its importance.
More recently, in March, the Pentagon eliminated its social science research efforts in order to “ensure fiscal responsibility and prioritize mission-critical activities.”
Under this directive, projects including Democracy Quest and The Language of Parasocial Influence and the Emergence of Extremism have been eliminated, with such research being framed as less essential to fund in comparison to technology.
However, the attacks on social sciences are not about fiscal responsibility or teaching factual information. In our current era of misinformation, democratic backsliding and social inequality, efforts by the current administration to undermine these disciplines are deliberate attempts to suppress data that contradicts their political agenda. Sociology, in particular, exposes uncomfortable truths about
systemic racism, gender inequality and persisting homophobia in the United States — real issues the administration continuously neglects to address. In defunding and eliminating social research, the public is left without information that could be used to challenge claims made by the administration, making it imperative to save the discipline.
Undermining the social sciences allows the administration to control the social narrative. In the absence of data and research, false narratives surrounding marginalized groups (including people of color, immigrants and the LGBTQIA+ community) can go unchallenged, thus manipulating the public to view them unfavorably. An attack on the social sciences is an attack on truth itself, ultimately leaving democracy vulnerable to prejudice, propaganda and censorship.
TRIMBLE ’26 Assistant Opinions Editor
GRAPHIC: HANNAH PAJTIS ’26/THE HAWK
A state divided against itself cannot stand
Pennsylvania’s rural-urban divide
JARED NACHIMSON ’27 Hawk Columnist
In a lot of ways, Pennsylvania serves as a peculiar microcosm for the nation. The state is straddled by bustling metropolises on opposite sides, complementary to their relatively empty interiors, and filled with acres of farmland and quirky small towns. The contrast between rural and urban lifestyles has only been amplified in Pennsylvania since the rise of urbanized areas as centers of industry and commerce. However, the state’s unmistakable polarity between these areas is becoming more divisive and is manifesting itself in several prolonged policy debates. Chief among them is public transit funding, as public officials representing Pennsylvania’s rural expanse rekindled heated resentments
between the two areas by stalling desperately formulated plans for it. They, in turn, accused urbanite politicians of disinterest in their own region’s troubled infrastructure and plights. While the emerging ideological and cultural rupture between rural and urban communities throughout America is nothing new, it’s worth addressing the ongoing gap between the seemingly irreconcilable regions of Pennsylvania.
This summer, the rural-urban rift resurfaced during heated debates over policies primarily affecting cities, especially transit and infrastructure. The issue sparked some of the most impassioned contentions of the season, contributing to incredibly polarizing sentiments from rural politicians like Republican Pennsylvania Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman, who doubled down on his rural pride while
Imposter syndrome
The confidence thief
college can feel overwhelming and isolating, and it becomes so easy to question whether you really deserve your place or if you are just “faking it.”
Have you ever doubted your ability to succeed or felt like you didn’t truly deserve your accomplishments?
If so, you are not alone. This feeling, known as imposter syndrome, happens when you believe you are not truly qualified for your achievements or that sooner or later, people will “find out” you don’t belong. It’s more common than most people realize and affects students everywhere.
For first-generation college students especially, the weight of imposter syndrome can be even heavier. Without family members who have walked this path before, figuring out how to navigate
In my first biology lab, I remember watching classmates handle pipettes like experts with complete confidence. Meanwhile, I felt clumsy and out of place, convinced everyone else knew exactly what they were doing, and I didn’t belong. What I didn’t realize at the time was that most of us were learning together. Imposter syndrome had tricked me into believing I was the one struggling, when, in reality, my uncertainty was completely normal.
The first step in overcoming imposter syndrome is simply acknowledging it. Naming the feeling takes away some of its power and prevents it from controlling you. From there, reframing negative
criticizing cities. While feelings that rural influence within Pennsylvania politics is slipping could possibly be traced to the expansion of urban areas’ influence in Pennsylvania politics (as indicated by Democrats’ impressive reclamation of the Pennsylvania House in 2022), it hasn’t helped the ever-present rural-urban divide permeating the state government’s ability to help all of its residents equally.
As a Pennsylvanian, I hope all citizens of the Commonwealth, including students, can share equal opportunities without being overshadowed by a fruitless geographic divide. That being said, having grown up in the Philadelphia region, I find it disheartening to witness the seeming antipathy Pennsylvania has for its main money-making engine. This shouldn’t be a regional or factional debate over who gets what, but it also shouldn’t
be a cumulative extortion of the city areas for their inherent material needs.
thoughts into more positive ones can help shift your perspective. I’ve also found it helpful to celebrate my successes, both big and small, and to keep track of accomplishments. Looking back at those moments is a powerful reminder that what I’ve achieved isn’t about luck or chance but the result of my own effort and persistence. Imposter syndrome grows stronger in silence. When we hide it or ignore it, it chips away at our confidence. But when we talk about it, share experiences and lean on others for support, it loses its hold on us. By speaking openly about these feelings, we can build a campus culture where students feel supported. So, the next time you feel like you don’t belong, remember that you earned your place.
DEANNA CAPALDI ’27 Guest Columnist
GRAPHIC: MOLLY DETTLINGER ’27/THE HAWK
GRAPHIC: ALEXIS KAIN ’27/THE HAWK
What’s in a name? Honoring Sister Thea Bowman
DANIEL JOYCE Guest Columnist
What’s in a name?
Our St. Joe’s community is figuring out what to call our new residence building. Many call it “Sister Thea,” while others call it “Bowman Hall.”
“Sister Thea” is how many addressed the scholar, evangelist and spiritual leader, Sister Thea Bowman, Ph.D., the patron of our newest Hawk Hill residence hall. During her lifetime, students may have called her “Dr. Bowman.” In childhood, many may have called her by her given name, “Bertha.” Those closest to Sister
Art
Thea Bowman called her by a version of her chosen religious name,“Sister Mary Thea.” It is likely she chose her religious name because of her devotion to Mary, the Mother of God, and her father, Theon.
As we get accustomed to this new landmark, I suggest we capture the spirit of Sister Thea Bowman.
“Thea” is a Greek word for “the divine.” When Sister Thea Bowman joined the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration to become a Catholic nun, she knew the name’s divine meaning. The name “Sister Thea” became more pronounced in the U.S. Catholic Church and beyond as her ministry grew. As someone who helped people come to
understand and relate to God, it made her divinely inspired name all the more relevant. Thus, she was more commonly called just “Sister Thea.”
First names are also important in the African American community due to the complications of a long, ugly slaveholding history. After emancipation in 1865, many families had been given, or adopted, the surname of their former enslavers, making one’s identity with their last name fraught with varying degrees of ownership. For many, first names may be more important than last names.
Sister Thea Bowman is on her way to being declared a saint in the Catholic
Church, as her “cause” for sainthood is being investigated by the Catholic Diocese of Jackson. Many already pray to her for intercession with God. Our residence hall may soon be called “St. Thea Bowman Hall.” Until then, we should honor her life, inspiration and example by calling our new building by her chosen name — Sister Thea.
doesn’t have to be a perfect circle
Contemplating the meaning of
BLADIMIR LEMUS ’26
Creative Director
Growing up, I had always been fascinated by art. Whether it was traditional art that was displayed in museums, art in the pages of a comic book or even art from unknown artists on the internet, more often than not, I was looking for a new work of art to look at. Ultimately, this led me to pursue my degree in art. However, whenever I encouraged anyone to make their own, my invitation was often met with the same kind of response.
They would often discredit themselves with phrases like “I’m not a good drawer,” or sometimes, “I can’t even draw a circle.” Having repeated conversations like this led me to contemplate what art is.
After having various conversations with professors and creatives and
reading the biographies of artists, I’ve concluded art is a form of conversation made physical. A work of art is a timeless conversation between the artist and the audience. Regardless of the medium, through art, an artist is able to share their thoughts, ideas and opinions with a wide demographic.
One of my favorite examples of this is a Japanese pottery technique, kintsugi, that I learned in my pottery class. It’s a technique that requires a potter to mend broken pottery back together, using gold in hopes of sending the message that there is beauty in imperfection. I believe this is a motive that all artists should have.
People shouldn’t worry about how skilled they believe they are. Instead, they should focus on the message they want to share with their audience. What is it they want their audience to think or feel? I believe everyone approaches art in a
art
unique way, and through that, enriching conversations can be had.
Graduate school financial barriers
Uncovering paths to accessibility
Graduate education’s rising costs are currently threatening to transform advanced degrees from viable career advancement routes into privileges reserved for the wealthy. Amid these challenges lies an underutilized truth: Substantial funding opportunities exist for those who know where to look and how to compete effectively.
Many students focus exclusively on loans, missing specialized federal opportunities like TEACH grants for education students and prestigious Fulbright Graduate grants for international studies. Even strong candidates face rejections, but persistent applicants who refine their materials and reapply to different opportunities often find that each rejection provides insights that strengthen subsequent applications.
Private organizations offer grants that support specific fields through platforms such as GrantForward, where institutional grants encourage diversity and support field-specific research.
For veterans, graduate education funding represents one of the most significant returns on military service. Yellow Ribbon schools can cover most or all tuition costs for post-9/11 veterans, with institutions such as Northeastern delivering more than $11.2 million in funding through this program alone. The Post-9/11 GI Bill can cover remaining tuition costs and the costs of living and books, creating comprehensive educational support that transforms military service into advanced degree opportunities.
Graduate school funding increasingly emphasizes real-world experience integration. Students can access Federal Work-Study programs, and institutions such as Drexel University offer graduate students six-month periods of hands-on
experience with employers in their chosen industries.
Perhaps the most overlooked funding source involves employer tuition reimbursement programs. Companies spend around $28 billion annually on educational assistance programs, yet only 2% of eligible employees utilize these programs, despite the average annual assistance of $10,500 for graduate education.
Funding success demands treating financial aid pursuit as a professional endeavor. Students who complete optional questions on scholarship applications match twice as many scholarships as those answering only the required questions. Year-round vigilance proves essential, as opportunities emerge continuously.
Smart funding strategies transform graduate school from a financial burden into strategic career investment, proving that with proper preparation and persistent effort, debt-free advanced education can be achievable.
The Rev. Daniel R.J. Joyce ’88, S.J., is the vice president of mission and ministry at St. Joe’s.
OLIVIA LUTZ ’26 Guest Columnist
GRAPHIC: BLADIMIR LEMUS ’26/THE HAWK
GRAPHIC: SATINA SACKIE 27/THE HAWK
Woodworking as an art: Visiting the Museum for Art in Wood
At the Museum for Art in Wood in the Old City neighborhood of Philadelphia, people enter through glass, and the art enters through wood.
The wooden doors to the left of the glass entrance are made of reclaimed barn wood and stand more than 11 feet tall. The purpose of these wooden doors is to allow easy transport of large art structures into the museum for exhibitions or galleries. They are what first drew me to the museum, which I passed frequently while window shopping in Old City.
Katie Sorenson, director of outreach and communications for the Museum for Art in Wood, started volunteering 10 years ago and now coordinates exhibitions and programs. Sorenson took me to a staircase in the back room, leading up to nearly 1,100 objects on display.
“We do house a few historical pieces,” Sorenson said. “The majority of the collection is wood-turned objects because that’s how we began.”
Co-founded by brothers Alan LeCoff and Albert LeCoff in 1986, the museum began as the Wood Turning Center, offering symposiums and workshops. It was later called the Center for Art in Wood before being renamed the Museum for Art in Wood in 2022.
Amrut Mishra, assistant curator of the museum, said despite its many names, the museum’s goal has always been to serve as an accessible space and resource for education about wood in art. Admission to the museum is free.
“We believe everyone should be able to experience the artistic expression that we showcase at the museum, and free admission enables [us] to reach a wide range of audiences that might not have entered our space otherwise,” Mishra said.
The museum offers programs for artists, including the Windgate Arts Residency Program in Wood that takes place from early June to early August. Under the program, artists of all levels have the opportunity to live and work together to produce a group exhibition.
The people’s entrance to the museum immediately drops guests into a gift shop, with wooden earrings, cutting boards of
various shapes and sizes, patterned rolling pins with blends of black walnut and white oak wood, sculptures and small furniture for sale.
After making my way around the gift shop, I entered the exhibition space. The stairs to the gallery were to the left of the room. Coincidentally, I visited when artist Katie Hudnall, MFA, was setting up her exhibition. Hudnall runs the woodworking and furniture program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
“When people hear woodworking, they think carpentry,” Hudnall said. “Even if they think furniture, they don’t necessarily think that’s an art form.”
I’m guilty of that. But that’s why I was there — to learn about wood in art and discover the motive for using this specific material.
After working in an industrial wood shop and developing wood carving skills later on, Hudnall said she likes using wood because it is ubiquitous.
“You find it everywhere,” Hudnall said. “Everybody has a connection to wooden objects, whether it’s a pencil or a wooden spoon or the floors in your house or furniture. Wood is a material that when people come to it, I think they associate it with something warm, they associate it with home, they have a relationship with it already.”
Everything Hudnall acquired to create her exhibition, “Longest Distance Between Two Points,” was either picked up from her daily four to five mile walks on the side of the street or found in a dumpster.
In one of Hudnall’s pieces, “A Cabinet for Lost and Found Things,” Hudnall shares the treasures she has found in different cities, ranging from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Philadelphia. In Hudnall’s handcrafted wooden drawers are sunglasses, washers, leaves and pedicure toe separators. These treasures connect Hudnall to the city and the people moving within it.
Hudnall said wood is attracting more
young artists these days.
“I know a lot of young people who are trying to learn how to do woodwork, whereas when I was coming along, woodworking was seen as something your grandpa did,” Hudnall said.
Steve Rossi, assistant professor of art, teaches Sculpture and the Environment, a class that ties environmental art and socially engaged public art with woodworking.
“I find that the students’ mastery of techniques happens extremely quickly,” Rossi said. “In just a couple class sessions, students are confidently using wood cutting and joinery techniques that they previously had been entirely unfamiliar with to build complex sculptural forms.”
Sorenson said the museum pushes the boundary of what wood can do.
“There’s some really fine craftsmanship and beautiful artwork that can be created,” Soreson said.
My trip to the museum helped me understand that.
The Museum for Art in Wood, founded in 1986, is an accessible resource for those seeking to learn about wood in art.
MONICA SOWINSKI ’26
Assistant Sports Editor
Katie Hudnall, MFA, who runs the woodworking and furniture program at the University of WisconsinMadison, has an exhibition in the Museum for Art in Wood called “Longest Distance Between Two Points.”
A shelf located in the back of the Musuem for Art in Wood’s gift shop contains wooden furniture and kitchen objects. PHOTOS: MONICA SOWINSKI ’26/THE HAWK
Indian documentary highlights period poverty to students
BRYAN BALMORES-JUMARANG ’27
Features Reporter
The Nealis Program in Asian Studies partnered with the Institute Clinical of Bioethics and Operation Tampon to host an open discussion about the film “Period. End of Sentence.” and the topic of period poverty Sept. 24.
“Period. End of Sentence.” follows rural Indian women as they fight menstrual health stigma by making low-cost sanitary pads and expanding access to hygiene products.
Period poverty is described as “having insufficient access to menstrual products, education and sanitation facilities,” according to the National Library of Medicine. This inaccessibility causes injustice and inequity.
For many viewers like Amber Abbas, Ph.D., associate professor of history and director of the Nealis Program, menstrual health “is a topic that connects us locally and globally.”
“What really struck me was learning not only how access to menstrual products in a place like India impacts women’s access to work and education but also the extent to which those same kinds of problems exist in our communities here in Philadelphia and even on campus,” Abbas said.
Watching the film resonated with students like Dani Rodríguez ’26, who wanted to learn more about how people around the world experience their menstrual cycles and the different stigmas around it.
“It was crazy to see how crippling it was for some women to not be able to even leave their home … and to see how having
access to pads changed their lives in their community,” Rodríguez said.
Before the film, the ICB, which promotes the Jesuit mission of “men and women for others” through their service and their research, was given the opportunity to speak about their work in combating period poverty.
Santino Diana ’26, a fellow in the ICB, said one of his responsibilities is to take on research projects, one of them being a period poverty project.
“We’re attempting to create sustainable menstrual underwear for women in developing nations, specifically rural Arcatao, El Salvador,” Diana said.
After the film, attendees were invited to make their own period kits, courtesy of Operation Tampon, to promote openness around menstrual health. Operation Tampon is a service from the Women’s Center that provides free period products to all students, faculty and staff in the St. Joe’s community.
Nikki Sunnen, Ph.D., associate professor of practice in the biology department and faculty liaison for the Women’s Center, said the cost of menstruation health products is not discussed enough.
“I think a lot of people don’t realize how many are used in a particular month for a lot of menstruating individuals,” Sunnen said. “It’s clear here on campus with Operation Tampon that we’re going through 10,000 pieces of product.”
Emma Wenzel ’28, who works for Operation Tampon, said the event was helpful in calling attention to the stigmas around menstruation.
“You never know someone’s situation,”
Wenzel said. “Giving people the access to period products, like we saw in the movie, it’s needed so that you can focus on other areas of your life, like academics.”
“Period. End of Sentence.” showcases how period poverty affects not only those who menstruate but also their entire communities. Abbas emphasized that menstrual health is a universal concern that all people should care about.
“Menstruation is something that’s
happening to half of the population in all of our communities all the time, whether we’re going to school, whether we’re at work, whether we live in a war zone, whether we are displaced, whether we live in the city or in the countryside, whether we’re homed or unhomed … we’re able to do more together,” Abbas said.
Tayla J. Evans ’27 contributed to this story.
Award-winning pianist brings ‘19th-century salon’ experience to campus
TAYLA J. EVANS ’27
Features Editor
Delicate notes echoed off the walls of the Frances M. Maguire Art Museum as the glossy reddish-brown wood of the grand Steinway piano reflected hands so quick, it appeared as though his hands touched every key.
As a part of the department of Music, Theatre & Film’s Music in the Great Hall concert series, Christopher Guzman, DMA, professor of piano at Northwestern University, played pieces such as “English Suite No. 3 in G Minor, BWV 808” and “Bagatelles, Op. 6” Sept. 26.
The series, hosted in the Great Hall of the Maguire Art Museum, contains six to seven concerts each academic year and features local, national and international artists. This concert was the first in this year’s series.
The department of music, theatre & film sought to make viewing world-class artists accessible to students, said Elizabeth Morgan, Ph.D., DMA, associate professor and chair of music, theatre and film.
“The idea was to have, right here on campus, this world-class chamber music series with recitals and wonderful visiting artists and bring it right here so the students can come,” Morgan said.
These performances are intimate, Morgan said. Guzman’s performance allowed students to connect with an accomplished pianist.
“It’s a chance to hear an artist of his caliber without paying and without going downtown,” Morgan said. “When you sit in that hall, it’s a little bit like being in a 19th-century salon, where you’re just feet away from the artist, and then maybe you have a conversation with them afterwards.”
Cecilia Nguyen ’26, a pianist, was excited about the series, as she had not had the chance to attend a recital in a long time.
“I genuinely just really enjoyed watching him get into the music and play his pieces,” Nguyen said.
Nguyen felt connected to Guzman’s performance.
“I’m also a very expressive piano player, as previous instructors have told me, so seeing what another expressive piano player looks like, [was] really interesting from an audience perspective,” Nguyen said.
Guzman, an internationally recognized and award-winning pianist, has performed around the world with chambers and orchestras. Guzman started playing piano at age nine and has stuck with it ever since.
“I love it,” Guzman said. “I love the music. There’s always more to discover every year, even now.”
Guzman selected his pieces, paying attention to balance and what he enjoyed. Noting his performance in an art museum, Guzman performed “Sposalizio” from “Années de pèlerinage” by Franz Liszt, which tells the story of the painting of the same name by Raphael.
“You can imagine a wedding processional happening, but [there’s] something very spiritual about it,” Guzman said.
Guzman also teaches various masterclasses, and just 10 years ago, he taught a masterclass at St. Joe’s. He said his inspiration to play comes from his students.
“I think my students inspire me a lot because I love seeing how much they care for the art,” Guzman said. “It makes me want to be active in it, too, [and] keep having discovery of what’s out there.”
Internationally renowned pianist Christopher Guzman, DMA, takes a seat after concluding his final piece, Sept. 26
Amber Abbas, Ph.D., discusses Period. End of Sentence.” with viewers, Sept. 24
PHOTO: DEE ALABEDE ’26/THE HAWK
The Steinway Hepplewhite Grand Piano, a rare, modern version played by Christopher Guzman, DMA, at his performance in the Great Hall of the Frances M. Maguire Art Museum. PHOTOS: EMILY SCHEIDECKER ’27/THE HAWK
Currently in Pop Culture: Jimmy Kimmel
OLIVIA GASPARRO ’27 Features Columnist
ABC announced the indefinite suspension of one of their most popular late-night TV talk shows, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” Sept. 17. The decision to suspend the talk show came after Kimmel made comments about President Donald Trump’s reaction to the recent death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The show was pulled from air in response to the public pressure from Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr and ABC affiliates.
Over the following week, conversations were held about what would happen next and whether the decision posed a possible threat to freedom of speech.
Where does this conversation stand today?
As of Sept. 23, the talk show has returned to ABC, ending the nearly week-long standoff. Kimmel opened the show with an emotional apology, stating he didn’t intend to “make light of” Kirk’s murder. He also shared that he believes it’s important that “we get to live in a country that allows us to have a show like this.”
The late-night show is still sparking outrage within the Trump administration, with President Donald Trump taking to Truth Social Sept. 23 to express his anger: “I can’t believe
ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back. The White House was told by ABC that his show was cancelled! Something happened between then and now because his audience is GONE, and his ‘talent’ was never there.”
The public’s response Kimmel’s suspension was sudden for many, sending a shock wave throughout the entertainment industry. He employed about 200-250 people, all of whom woke up with a job Sept. 17, then went home wondering if they’d still have one. There were organized protests against Disney outside their office buildings in New York and California as people denounced the threat against freedom of speech.
Oasis October
Kimmel has received lots of support from many notable figures, including Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks and former President Barack Obama. Anthony D. Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, said ABC “should never have suspended him to begin with and resisted the government’s desire to control what people say.”
CROSSWORD: Philadelphia history
BRENNAN DILLENBECK ’28 Hawk Staff
Across 2. The supposed maker of the American flag.
4. The first of these in America was opened in Philadelphia, now featuring over 1900 animals.
5. The middle name of “The Raven” author whose house can be visited on 7th Street.
7. The name for this neighborhood comes from the Lenape word for “place to drink.”
8. The Philadelphia “___” Museum is home to the famous Rocky statue.
9. Founding Father and Boston expat who invented bifocals.
Down
1. This neighborhood is believed to derive its name from the food that was once commonly sold there and the smell it left behind.
3. Richard Thompson James invented this toy that made its debut in a Philadelphia department store.
6. Categories for this local parade include the Fancies, Wenches and String Bands.
7. Philadelphia is famous for this type of wall art.
In honor of Oasis’ recent North American tour, here’s a playlist of their songs to help everyone have a rocking October. The Britpop band known for their rock hits and emotional ballads are experiencing a revival in the U.S. Their music will hit you hard emotionally and be the perfect soundtrack to your “supersonic” month.
“Supersonic”
If you want to listen to a song that makes you feel like a cold-hearted, over-partied rock star, this one’s for you. A cool, steady guitar guides you through Liam Gallagher’s world of excess and melancholia. Hard-hitting drums and a killer chorus reinforce this song as Oasis’ staple rock star ballad.
“Cigarettes & Alcohol”
The happy Jekyll to “Supersonic’s” dark Hyde, this song is all about fun — parties, friends and saying goodbye to trivial problems. A bouncy lead guitar takes you through simple pleasures, and Gallagher’s amazing vocal performance convinces you to get out and have some fun.
“Don’t Look Back in Anger”
One of Oasis’ most popular songs, this ballad hits the heart in indescribable ways. Bittersweet and smooth, the song guides you through goodbye’s and see-you-never’s, backed with a fantastic piano melody and a lush chorus.
“Stand By Me”
Resonant and relatable, “Stand By Me” takes angst and puts it into song. The lead guitar’s riff puts the word “moody” to sound as an acoustic guitar backing for rhythm creates a yearning unique to the band’s sound.
“Married With Children”
Rounding out the playlist is this all-time Oasis classic. One bad breakup, and this is what we’re all thinking. Gallagher perfectly encapsulates feelings of apathy and disgust in his vocal performance. It’s a great song and cathartic listen for this rock star October.
GRAPHIC: SATINA SACKIE ’27/THE HAWK
W Oasis
GRAPHIC: BLADIMIR LEMUS ’26/THE HAWK
ZACH PODOLNICK ’26 Photo Editor
76ers revive iconic black jerseys for 2025-26 season
Return of Iverson-era jerseys reflects cultural nostalgia
NICOLE FRANZ ’27 Columnist
The Philadelphia 76ers are bringing back their iconic Iverson-era jerseys for the 2025-26 season. This upcoming season has been coined a “season-long celebration” of the 2000-01 Eastern Conference Championship team and their run to the NBA Finals. The Hardwood Classic Edition uniform and corresponding court will debut at Xfinity Mobile Arena Nov. 8 when the Sixers take on the Toronto Raptors.
The uniform was first introduced at the start of the 1997-98 season, reflecting a drastic shift from their classic red and blue color scheme. The new jerseys’ look consisted of two main variants — black for away games and white for home games — each of which displayed a modernized logo across the chest in black, silver and gold elements. A blue version of the jersey was added to Philadelphia’s road uniform rotation during the 1999-00 season.
While the black jersey was popular from the time it debuted, it officially cemented itself in NBA history during Allen Iverson’s incredible 2000-01 MVP season. The versatile six-foot guard propelled the Sixers to the 2001 NBA Finals, where the infamous stepover took place against the Los Angeles Lakers. Defended by Lakers point guard Tyronn Lue,
Iverson displayed crafty ball handling skills before draining a long jumpshot in front of the opposing team’s bench. Lue fell to the court following an attempt to contest the shot, and Iverson dominantly stepped over him. Iverson went on to record a statline of 48 points, six assists and five steals in the Game 1 overtime victory, in addition to producing one of the most memorable moments in NBA history.
Last season’s influx of injuries caused the team to miss the playoffs for the first time since center Joel Embiid’s first active season (2016-17), leaving a bad taste in the mouths of Sixers fans. Embiid only appeared in 19 total games before being officially shut down Feb. 22 in order to properly rehabilitate a lingering left knee injury. Season-ending injuries to forward Paul George (groin and knee) and standout rookie guard Jared McCain (torn lateral meniscus) added on to roster inconsistencies. The Sixers finished as the 13th seed in the Eastern Conference with a record of 24-58.
Coming off the most miserable season in recent Sixers history, the revival of the Iverson-era jerseys are accompanied by a degree of much-needed excitement surrounding Philadelphia’s basketball team. The uniform “represents an era of franchise history that embraced a distinct identity and captured the attention of the entire city,” as stated by Sixers Chief Operations Officer Lara Price. This element of cultural nostalgia,
on top of the health of the roster, is the key to getting Philadelphia sports fans back on board with the Sixers.
GRAPHIC: JORDAN SHARER ’25/THE HAWK
GRAPHIC: CARMEN KNOPF ’27/THE HAWK
Men’s soccer shuts out Duquense
GRAPHIC: JORDAN SHARER ’25/THE HAWK
Fifth-year midfielder Glen Lala prepares for a kick. PHOTOS: ZACH PODOLNICK ’26/THE HAWK
Senior midfielder Matteo Mazzotta brings the ball upfield.
Sophomore midfielder Sebastian Perez-Gasiba goes to attack the opposing player.
Sophomore midfielder Sebastian Perez-Gasiba attacks and ties up the opposing player.
New women’s club flag football team starts inauagural season
TESS MARGIS ’26
Assistant Sports Editor
This semester marks the inaugural season for St. Joe’s new women’s club flag football team.
The club, which was started by Campus Recreation and began meeting in the beginning of September, has garnered 35 players. Potential players filled out an interest form sent out by Alexandra Kissinger, assistant athletics director for Campus Recreation.
Avri Bain ’27, the team’s president, was sent the form by a friend who thought the sport would be something they would both be interested in. Bain decided to take on the president role because it would be a new experience for her.
“[It’s] something I’ve never done before and something that will be really fun that I’ll remember for a very long time,” Bain said.
Practices are currently focused on learning the fundamentals of the game, and the team will start playing games in the spring. Unlike tackle football, which has 11 players per team on the field at a time, flag football plays with between five and seven players.
Ella Cocuzza ’29 joined a flag football league in fourth grade and has been playing the sport since. As a more experienced player, she is helping those new to the sport learn the game.
“A lot of girls were really interested in it and don’t really know what flag football [is] or how it’s expanded in the past couple
years,” Cocuzza said. “It’s just getting routes down and throwing around the ball and getting used to what flag football is.”
Paige Foley ’27 decided to join the team after playing powder puff games in high school and college.
“I wanted to get involved in a more organized team, and this gave me the opportunity to do that,” Foley said.
Foley said she hopes to meet more people on campus through playing and to branch out into an organized sport she considers new to her.
“[I hope to] just get more girls out to advocate for the sport,” Foley said.
Bain said she wants the club to grow into a “team that [has] been around” for a long time and something that convinces people to come to St. Joe’s.
“I just hope it’s something for girls who were too afraid to play in high school to finally be able to play here in college and feel safe and welcomed into the club,” Bain said.
Cocuzza said the team will be a good opportunity for girls who played in high school to continue their flag football career.
“It’s a no-brainer to just keep expanding [the team] and just getting better and better,” Cocuzza said.
Student-athletes advocate for mental health awareness
‘We always see human over athlete’
DIANA SOSA ’27 Sports Reporter
St. Joe’s chapter of The Hidden Opponent, a nonprofit mental health organization for athletes, is working to raise awareness for mental health and create a safe space to foster conversations about wellness.
The Hidden Opponent is based in California and was founded in 2019 by former Division I athlete Victoria Garrick Browne to advocate for and support athletes’ mental health. Over the last five years, the organization has reached over 800 high school and college campuses around the world. The St. Joe’s chapter was founded during the fall 2024 semester.
St. Joe’s is part of The Hidden Opponent’s Division I East Green Group, along with the University of Rhode Island and Duquesne University. The Campus Captains — ambassadors for The Hidden Opponent required to go through mental health training and certification — work together to plan events and advocate for mental health awareness.
Jenna Currie, a senior utility/catcher on the St. Joe’s softball team, serves as co-president of the chapter. Currie said The Hidden Opponent aims to stimulate conversation surrounding the mental health of student-athletes on campus.
“Our goal is to create a safe space where athletes can come in and have the ability to share their struggles, to share the things that have gone well and give them a space and a community to help support them and create that conversation around mental health so that no one is struggling alone,”
Currie said.
Evie Holder, a senior rower and captain of the women’s rowing team, serves as vice president for the chapter. Holder heard about the club at a meeting for St. Joe’s student-athlete advisory committee. Having experience working in mental health organizations, Holder wanted to get involved.
“I want to spread awareness, de-stigmatize mental health,” Holder said.
“Our biggest thing is that we always see human over athlete. Who you are and your mental health always comes first.”
The chapter holds monthly meetings and events to promote the organization’s mission.
“We’ve done a mental health poster where you write down tips,” Holder said.
“It was a write one, take one, so you take a tip and write a tip.”
Payton Kochanski, a junior distance runner and co-president of the St. Joe’s chapter, said the organization significantly improved her mental health during the fall 2024 cross country and track seasons.
“It started to affect my performance and my academics,” Kochanski said. “When I heard about The Hidden Opponent, it made me realize that I wasn’t the only one, and that there were resources out there for me.”
Scott Sokoloski, Ph.D., director of Counseling and Psychological Services at St. Joe’s, serves as the campus advisor for The Hidden Opponent. Sokoloski said student-athletes face balancing the pressure of perfectionism and competitive sports, among other responsibilities.
“There can be a misconception that
student-athletes have to be ‘perfect,’ so when they experience normal challenges, it can be difficult to acknowledge them and to seek help,” Sokoloski said.
Sokoloski emphasized the importance of having peer support in normalizing conversations about mental health and supporting the athlete’s overall wellbeing.
“The concept of cura personalis at St. Joe’s means caring for and supporting the student as a whole person, not just as an athlete, and groups like The Hidden
Opponent are trying to break the stigma so that student-athletes can prioritize their mental health along with their physical health,” Sokoloski said.
Monica Sowinski ’26 contributed to this story.
Players engage in catching drills during practice on Sweeney Field, Sept. 29. PHOTOS: ZACH PODOLNICK ’26/THE HAWK
GRAPHIC: MOLLY DETTLINGER ’27/THE HAWK
Players practice catching and throwing during practice on Sweeney Field, Sept. 29.