Demonstrators in Center City call for ‘No Kings’
‘No billionaires, no red kings, no blue kings’
LIV BIELAWSKI ’27 News Editor
An estimated 15,000 demonstrators gathered outside Philadelphia’s City Hall Oct. 18, chanting “No Kings” as part of a nationwide protest against President Donald Trump and his administration. Demonstrations were attended by nearly seven million people in more than 2,500 cities and towns across the country, according to the “No Kings” website.
Starting around 12 p.m., demonstrators marched from City Hall toward Independence Mall holding handmade signs, wearing
costumes and peacefully expressing their frustration with the Trump administration.
Bob Zigmont, a retired letter carrier and self-described “political activist” who attended the demonstration, said it was important for him to participate.
“I’ve been retired 13 years, but I still come out to everything here because this is unacceptable, terribly unacceptable,” Zigmont said. “Ignoring the courts, ignoring the Constitution, just throwing everything in everyone’s face, and nobody holds anybody accountable anymore.”
Oct. 18 marked the second “No Kings” protest in 2025. The first took place June 14, with millions gathering in nationwide demonstrations on the same day the United States Army held a parade in honor of its 250th anniversary, which also corresponded with Trump’s 79th birthday.
Sam Rise, who also attended the Oct. 18 demonstration, said they were protesting the violent authoritarianism Trump represents. For Rise, it was also an opportunity for the community to come together for a shared purpose.
“We’re saying, ‘No Kings,’” Rise said. “That means no billionaires, no red kings, no blue kings. It means that we have to choose each other and fight tyranny wherever it is. So, mostly I’m here to connect with other people that want to find a political home and that want to organize together to build a better world.”
Mike Borrelli ’15, MBA ’19, executive committee member and nominations
co-chair for St. Joe’s Alumni Association, also attended the Oct. 18 demonstration and shared that sentiment.
“When we have these opportunities to protest peacefully, coming together in such a way just really shows our resistance,” Borrelli said. “I wouldn’t have missed it.”
Attendee Anne Olvera echoed the central theme of the “No Kings” movement: that “the power belongs to the people.”
“I hope that it’s going to be some feeling of solidarity with everybody,” Olvera said. “Our whole union is here. [The Philadelphia Federation of Teachers] is here. So, I feel like we hope to feel some momentum with all of our people together.”
Zigmont reflected on the progress his generation dreamed of and the divisiveness of the Trump administration.
“We’re all Americans,” Zigmont said. “We believe in the same things. We want the same things for our families, and it’s a disgrace.”
Bella Privitera ’26 and Sophia Galante ’26 contributed to this story.
Sale leaves ELS program housing, classroom space in limbo
GRACE O’MEARA ’27 Assistant News Editor
Housing and classroom space for ELS Philadelphia, which serves about 83 international students on the University City campus, faces uncertainty after the recent sale of the Living and Learning Commons (LLC), announced Sept. 12.
ELS Philadelphia has been a part of the St. Joe’s community since 1981, then called the ELS center. First operated by the nonprofit Washington Educational Research Association, it is now run by ELS Educational Services, Inc., a for-profit language school that operates language centers on colleges and university campuses across the U.S., helping international students to “master English quickly and efficiently,” according to the company’s website.
The students currently enrolled in the Philadelphia program come from different areas across the world, said Eric Rinehimer, ELS Philadelphia academic director, including Japan, Saudi Arabia, China, Korea, Brazil and Colombia. Most of the students range from 20 to 30 years old.
The LLC, which has the capacity for 416 residents, currently houses 70 students, including 65 ELS students. ELS students also may also choose to lease off-campus apartments.
Jill Dougherty Cleary ’00, Ed.D. ’23, vice president of administration and operations, said there is no anticipated scenario in which students would be able to live in the LLC after 2026. The LLC was the last remaining housing option for students at the UCity campus.
At an Oct. 2 forum for UCity students to voice concerns about real estate sales, Ross Radish, J.D., vice president of student life and dean of students, said the university is still working on a plan for ELS Philadelphia.
That has left ELS Philadelphia staff in limbo, not just in terms of serving current students but also recruiting future ones. The LLC is still listed as the “Student Residence Accommodation” on ELS Philadelphia’s website, which also tells prospective students they will have an opportunity to live in the same building with U.S. students.
Under the LLC’s description, there is a short blurb that reads, “Housing availability and confirmations are contingent on university and/or provider approval and are subject to change.”
“Since we haven’t been given a definite plan, we’re not really communicating that quite yet, just because there’s a lot of unknowns at the moment,” said John Catlett, Philadelphia ELS director.
St. Joe’s and ELS Philadelphia operate through a formal partnership, wrote Radish in an email to The Hawk. This relationship enables students to meet the English language requirements for conditional admission to St. Joe’s and other nearby partner colleges and universities.
“Our main goal is to get our students to matriculate to St. Joe’s, so it keeps that pipeline going,” said Megan Fenn, the international student advisor for ELS Philadelphia.
Students enrolled in ELS Philadelphia have “complete access” to St. Joe’s facilities, including the library and recreation centers on both campuses, according to the ELS Philadelphia website.
Catlett said the university has historically been responsive to the center’s needs.
“That’s why we’ve actually really enjoyed our 40-something-year partnership with St. Joe’s,” Catlett said. “It’s been a give and take, and they’ve been a very collaborative partner with us.”
In addition to housing students, the LLC
is home to six out of the eight ELS classrooms the program utilizes for instruction. One classroom is in Rosenberger Hall and another is in Whitecar Hall, which is also home to the ELS Philadelphia offices.
Catlett said the ELS Center has benefited from its time in the LLC.
“We’ve been very lucky to have those spaces because they’re really, really nice spaces that are very modern, very up-to-date on tech,” Catlett said.
Fenn said students are currently unaware of the details of the sale of the building in which many of them live and attend class.
“We don’t want to say anything until we know because we know that it would be met with a lot of questions,” Fenn said. “And if we don’t have answers for them, that’s just obviously going to get them more upset.”
Fenn said she believes the ideal solution would be to move ELS Philadelphia back to Hawk Hill. The program was first housed on Hawk Hill in what is now Claver House and
then long resided at 5414 Overbrook Ave., which is now the Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech. It moved to UCity in 2023 after St. Joe’s merged with the University of the Sciences. For many years, ELS students lived with families as part of a homestay program, Rinehimer said.
“Back when we were on Hawk Hill, the homestay program was much bigger,” Rinehimer said. “There were more families in that immediate area than there are where we are in UCity.”
A return to Hawk Hill would open up additional resources for students as well, Fenn said.
“It gives them more of that typical college life because they’re there with food, they’re there with activities, they’re there seeing students non stop just walking all around,” Fenn said. “And it’s just also closer to so many things. Transportation is better. The shuttle’s right there. I would love to see us back there.”
GRAPHIC: BLADIMIR LEMUS ’26/THE HAWK
A demonstrator dresses as Superman from James Gunn’s “Superman” (2025) and holds an American flag at City Hall at the Philadelphia “No Kings” rally, Oct. 18.
PHOTO: PRESTON THOMAS ’28/THE HAWK
A demonstrator holds up a sign at the Philadelphia “No Kings” rally, Oct. 18. PHOTO: LUKE SANELLI ’26/THE HAWK
Weekly vigil for migrants works to raise consciousness ‘Our brothers and sisters are really suffering’
On Saturday mornings at the intersection of Montgomery Avenue and Meeting House Lane, passing drivers break the quiet with a chorus of honking horns in support of a silent vigil advocating for just and humane treatment of migrants.
The weekly silent vigil is held outside the historic Merion Friends Meeting House, a simple pale yellow house erected in 1695 that serves as the meeting place for the local Quaker community, also known as the Religious Society of Friends.
During the vigil, participants stand along the street holding signs with messages such as “Justice for all is what makes America great,” “Love thy neighbor, no exceptions” and “Treat migrants humanely.”
“One core belief is that there’s that of God in everyone, so everyone should be treated accordingly, and following Jesus’ example of standing with the vulnerable, the people on the outside of society, and seeking peace and justice,” said Jeffrey Barg, clerk of Merion Friends Meeting’s Beliefs into Action Committee.
The group’s first vigil was held May 10 following the Trump administration’s deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to CECOT, a maximum security prison in El Salvador notorious for its poor conditions and torture reports. In 2019, Garcia was granted a “withholding of removal” order from the Supreme Court that prevented him from being deported to El Salvador.
“Not only was there a lack of adequate
due process, but it was directly against a court order that said he couldn’t be,” Barg said. “We were like, ‘This is a bridge too far.’”
At the vigil, Barg held a photo of Garcia and a sign that read “Free Kilmar.” Garcia is currently in an United States Immigrations and Customs Enforcement detention center in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania.
Between six and 18 people typically attend the vigil each week. Before the vigil, a silent worship open to all community members is held for 30 minutes. Silence — a key element of both the worship and the vigil — is essential, Barg said.
“It’s all about facilitating, surrendering our own thoughts, desires, to try to connect to the small, still voice within, and that requires, sometimes, silence,” Barg said.
The Quaker community’s history of social justice is even older than the Merion Friends Meeting House, which was reportedly visited by William Penn, according to a sign from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Throughout American history, Quakers have served as social justice advocates, supporting movements including abolitionism, feminism and environmentalism. A cornerstone of Quaker beliefs and life is nonviolence, as reflected in the vigil.
“I’m very much concerned with the rise in political violence, and I don’t think we can afford to adopt the regular partisan politics that we’ve descended into,” Barg said. “Now more than ever, we need a different approach, so [we’re]
signs
Department
available
Oct. 4
Public Safety investigated a report of criminal mischief at a University City parking lot. A student’s car window was broken. Nothing appeared to be missing from inside of the vehicle.
Public Safety investigated a trespasser at a Hawk Hill residence hall. An unhoused male was escorted from the property.
for
Oct. 5 No incidents to report.
Oct. 6
Public Safety investigated empty beer cans found inside of a Hawk Hill residence hall. Referred to Community Standards.
Public Safety investigated trespassers on the Hawk Hill campus soliciting for business. They were escorted from the property.
Public Safety investigated an odor of marijuana at a Hawk Hill residence hall. A vape pen was confiscated, and the incident was referred to Community Standards.
trying to be a model for that.”
Barg said a protest is different from a vigil, which is a religious act that involves helping others open up their hearts, even those who disagree with them.
“We’re trying to open up people’s hearts rather than draw battle lines,” Barg said.
Dr. Eileen Carpenter, a longtime member of the Merion Friends and a regular participant in the vigil, said the vigil gives people a sense of community.
“I feel like if you’re an American, you’re responsible for what America does, and you have to participate and let people know what your point of view is,” Carpenter said.
Although the vigil is led by Merion Friends, not all participants are Quakers. Over the past five months, members of the Sisters of Mercy, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church of Ardmore, Narberth Presbyterian Church and others have participated in the vigil.
Sister Suzanne Gallagher, who has been attending since the first vigil, said social justice is intertwined with her role as a Sister of Mercy, whose convent is on the same street.
“We have critical concerns, racism, care for Earth, nonviolence and that kind of thing,” Gallagher said. “So, immigrants fits right in, with, we think, racism and care for the poor. It’s just a natural fit for us to say, ‘What are the needs of the times?’ During these times, there are so many needs, but our brothers and sisters are really suffering.”
Gallagher said she’s seen support grow for the vigil through recent interactions with passersby.
“The other day, somebody drove by here and said, ‘I’m an immigrant,’ and one of our sisters said, ‘Welcome,’” Gallagher said. “Just this morning, a woman passed by, and she turned around, and she said, ‘Thank you. I’m an immigrant.’”
Signs are provided by Merion Friends, with a variety to choose from at the entry to the meeting house. Some signs are in English, and others are in Spanish, with messages like “Todos somos inmigrantes”
(“We are all immigrants”).
“We were very intentional about sign creation,” Barg said. “The majority of the signs that you see are ones that we created because we wanted the message to be standing with and for something rather than opposing something.”
Gallagher, who described silence as “another way to have a message,” said an important part of the vigil is raising consciousness. She was reminded of this one Saturday when a woman in her car drove by and asked if the group had anything better to do.
“I wanted to say, ‘No, I don’t have anything better to do,’” Gallagher said.
Instead, Gallagher held her sign in silence.
This is the first article in a series by Hannah Pajtis ’26 that highlights immigrant-related stories from the Philadelphia area.
Oct. 7
Public Safety investigated a report of harassment at Hawk Hill. It was an argument between two students.
Oct. 8-16
No incidents to report.
Jeffrey Barg, clerk of Merion Friends Meeting’s Beliefs Into Action Committee, participates in the weekly silent vigil.
HANNAH PAJTIS ’26 Editor-in-Chief
Handmade
are
at Merion Friends Meeting House
use at the silent vigils. PHOTOS: ZACH PODOLNICK ’26/THE HAWK
GRAPHIC: LUKE SANELLI ’26/THE HAWK
Editorial: Protesting is a valuable tool for upholding democracy
On Oct. 18, more than seven million demonstrators marched in “No Kings” rallies across the nation in protest of the current administration’s abuse of federal power. The rallies served as a nonviolent means of combatting injustice, drawing mass media attention and reaching a far larger audience than those present at the protests.
The constitutional right to protest serves as a cornerstone for the function and effectiveness of a democracy. By organizing around a common goal, protesters can make their concerns visible to their local communities and those legislating on their behalf. Although protests are sometimes criticized for not producing immediate results, they are responsible for highlighting societal injustice when it otherwise goes ignored, making them essential in protecting the rights and freedom of all Americans. In short, they provide communities with visibility.
Protest movements have served as catalysts for social change in the United States for decades, with both the civil rights and suffrage movements using a variety of
methods to further their respective causes.
In 1913, suffragettes marched in Washington, D.C., prior to the presidential inauguration of Woodrow Wilson, bringing women’s rights to the forefront of media coverage for several weeks and demonstrating the power of women’s voices in politics.
“It is through unity and organization of the masses that leaders begin to take concerns seriously.”
In 1965, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Ph.D., alongside as many as 25,000 protesters, marched roughly 50 miles from Selma, Alabama, to the state’s capital, Montgomery, in objection to legislation preventing Black Americans from voting. The protests spurred political discourse and directly influenced policy reformation, ultimately leading to the passage of The Voting Rights Act of 1965
several months after the march.
Today, protest movements hold as much importance as they did throughout our nation’s history. It is through unity and organization of the masses that leaders begin to take concerns seriously, making participation in protests fundamental in influencing social and political change. Even without immediate results, political demonstrations remain essential in upholding the foundational ideals and principles of our democracy; those which would surely dissipate if the nation declined to protest.
Our system’s checks and balances cannot realistically fully function by themselves; they require constant public accountability to protect our democracy. It’s important to remember it’s a privilege that anyone, regardless of their beliefs, is able to make their voice heard, which is a core principle of democracy that should not be disregarded. Exercising your fundamental right is always valuable, even if it takes a while to see change. Protest is the catalyst for the change we fight to one day see.
What does it take to be a “career-ready” Hawk?
“I haven’t done anything.” This is the most common phrase students share when a career counselor asks them about past experiences while developing a resume. Very quickly, when students are asked to apply the eight “career readiness competencies” to past experiences, they gain a whole new perspective!
What are the eight competencies? They are qualities identified by the National Association of Colleges and Employers as most desired by hiring employers across industries. They are: Communication, Critical Thinking, Professionalism, Career and Self Development, Digital Technology, Equity and Inclusion, Teamwork and
Collaboration, and Leadership. Students will often ask, “Where can I gain these qualities?” The surprising answer is: everywhere! Working on campus in a work-study position or have experience in child care or as a lifeguard? You’ll most likely be developing communication and critical thinking! Play a sport (club and intramurals count, too!)? Consider mentioning teamwork and leadership on your resume and in interviews! Landed a summer internship? How about those career and self development and professionalism competencies? The list goes on, but the primary message is that, whether you are engaged with a club, actively volunteer or even have a unique academic project, you will want to recognize these are relevant to share in the application process. Keep in mind you do not have to have all of these qualities! Naturally, we all have unique strengths and challenges. Get
yourself “career ready” by becoming aware of your specific set of competencies! While the definition of success is largely individual (work/life balance, income level, geographic location, interest in the work, etc.), these eight qualities can greatly support a smooth and successful transition to whatever comes next after leaving the nest.
Lisa Hansinger is the associate director of counseling and career education.
GRAPHIC COURTESY OF LISA HANSINGER
CARTOON: LUKE SANELLI 26/THE HAWK
Protein, protein, protein!
The growing problem with the protein ‘health halo’
VALENTYN SUKHYY ’27 Guest Columnist
Protein bars, protein cereal, protein powder, even protein chips. In recent years, there has been an up-labeling of “protein” content being displayed on different foods. This is mostly due to the rise in popularity of high protein diets, which are spread by social media and fitness influencers. Although high protein diets increase the anabolic response of the body and may seem healthy, buying all those protein foods
is not as beneficial as the diet claims to be and could even be more harmful.
Firstly, the problem is not protein itself, as there have been multiple studies looking at the positive and negative effects of protein absorption in the body. Protein overconsumption, very importantly, has been related to increasing the kidneys’ workload and has some linkage to cardiovascular disease, but primarily to populations that have pre-existing health conditions. Currently, there are recommended guidelines of 0.8g/kg of body weight for an average sedentary adult and 1.1-1.5g/kg of body weight for adults who
exercise regularly. With these claims, it may seem that protein foods (or protein snacks) would be better than their average counterpart. However, the Food and Drug Administration allows the “protein” label on packages based on its nutritional value percentages. The issue is these foods are processed, and there have been past examples where companies marked their brands with healthy labels, such as “vegan,” “plant-based,” “low sodium” and even “gluten-free,” potentially creating a “health halo” effect, or an illusion that occurs when a food is perceived as healthier than it is. It comes back to the problem of
overeating calories due to unsatiating sizes and the dense calories packed in them. For instance, a bag of protein chips is still a bag of chips; they are equally unhealthy. Thus, the best advice when consuming protein is to avoid all these gimmicky labeling for foods that should be eaten in moderation. Always strive to eat more whole foods, where the sizes and calories are nicely balanced and can make you feel more in control of your diet in your health journey.
Third places and social connections
What Copenhagen, Madrid and New York taught me
SOPHIA BERTSCH ’27
Guest Columnist
A third place is one that is distinct from home and work, a public environment where community is cultivated. As I’ve studied abroad in Madrid and observed in Copenhagen, third places are distinct when compared to those in my home in Long Island, New York. These European cities foster community through intentional care toward third places.
Since middle school, my daily routine has included sitting alone in public to complete schoolwork. Instead of leisurely socializing, I oxymoronically have a tunnel-visioned goal of completing whichever task I’d left my house for. I routinely utilize third places not for social interaction, but for social isolation, hoping to propel myself toward “productivity.”
At a Spanish café, my friend and I opened our laptops in silence, as if we’d been
programmed to do so, when an employee approached us, telling us we could not use them. Putting our laptops down, my friend and I began to speak.
In Copenhagen, my friends and I ventured into a café to a large table, excitedly sharing stories when we observed a “no laptops” sign. Exchanging surprise at the rule, one friend noted, “Yeah, I saw someone reading.” Someone reading in a café, which us Americans saw as out of place, was something I realized should be normalized. I also noticed some couples and friends reading around me. This is what third places should be: places where we are leisurely incorporated into a larger community.
The decrease of third places in the United States reflects a society: the loneliness epidemic that plagues my generation. Our capitalistic desire to be productive separates us from community. We must rewire our brains to realize that it’s OK to slow down, to breathe, to laugh and to talk. It is necessary for our shared humanity.
Finding great company in plants The personal benefits to gardening
IZZY IMRAN ’27 Guest Columnist
When I first took the time to walk around the University City campus after my brightly lit and heavily air-conditioned lectures, I couldn’t help but think of how beautiful the flora was — the towering trees and colorful little blooms. It was nice to know that, despite a campus change, I wouldn’t have to head back to Hawk Hill to enjoy the calm of nature.
There have been more changes lately than a campus shift. I’ve been spending more time trying to get back into my studies, and sometimes, the walls of my room become duller and grayer each time I look up from the blue, eerie light of my laptop. Luckily, I’ve been collecting plants in my room to keep me company, making my room a little more bearable to be in as I’m chained to never-ending assignments and emails.
If you’re considering getting your own leafy friend, here are a couple of
non-toxic, humidity-loving and easy care suggestions:
Cast Iron Plant: Known as a slow grower and one of the best low-maintenance plants, Cast Iron Plants are a good choice for a new gardener. They like low to medium sunlight, as they can get sunburned easily, and only need to be watered every one to two weeks.
Calathea: More commonly known as the “prayer plant,” they’re fairly low maintenance and can alter the water pressure in their stalk to move their leaves at various times of day (hence their nickname). They enjoy indirect or low sunlight and need to be watered every one to two weeks.
Miniature Orchids: If you’re seeking a plant for a pop of color into your space, miniature orchids are a good choice. However, this well-known plant will need some maintenance. The orchid I currently own has low care needs and is a miniature version of the full-sized plant. These plants need about 1.5 tablespoons of water a week
and indirect sunlight. Many of these plants have size (and correlating care) variations. As always,
make sure to do your own research and ask questions when you head to the local garden centers. Happy gardening!
ILLUSTRATION: ALEXIS KAIN ’27/THE HAWK
GRAPHIC: SATINA SACKIE ’27/THE HAWK
Pennsylvania should craft an equitable cannabis policy Considering the industry’s moving parts differently
JARED NACHIMSON ’27 Hawk Columnist
In Pennsylvania, it is not a matter of if the state will legalize the use and sale of recreational marijuana but how and when the state will inevitably decide to regulate and harness the profitable nature of the growing industry. Despite these realizations (and almost every surrounding state already capitalizing on legalization and profitability), many citizens, like myself, have questioned the seemingly inconclusive progress made in Harrisburg to end the state’s medical-use-only policy and finally legalize it.
While several policies have surfaced over the years at the state government level, emerging from cannabis’ broad
public support, lawmakers continue to hesitate. However, this hesitation provides Pennsylvania with ample opportunity to craft a responsible and equitable cannabis policy that won’t ostracize small-scale dispensaries and growers and will avoid becoming overregulatory.
To create a fair cannabis framework, Pennsylvania should look to other states for guidance. Take New Jersey, for instance, which utilizes a model that allows public use of marijuana, promotes social equity by expunging prior marijuana-related infractions and ensures consistent revenue through taxes on sellers and buyers. It also establishes where and how cannabis may be sold through an overarching regulatory commission. Although promising to prioritize licenses to economically disadvantaged areas, New Jersey’s high dispensary licensing costs
have conversely inhibited some small-scale entrepreneurs from obtaining them.
While Pennsylvania’s most recent bipartisan attempt to legalize and regulate cannabis replicates some of these points, it likewise neglects key social equity measures. This creates hurdles for small-scale dispensaries in economically disadvantaged areas to compete against large-scale cannabis corporations that can muscle through the big regulations and licensing fees. This imbalance has possibly fueled an outpour of illicit cannabis markets throughout the state, causing subsequent pushback from established medical and recreational cannabis businesses.
While I agree nobody should endorse the spread of illicit cannabis products as alternatives to the state’s own indecisiveness, the overregulatory framework
We can’t be bored in our technologically
Finding happiness in the mundane
SOPHIA PALUMBO ’28 Guest Columnist
Walking around on campus, there are so many people with their eyes glued to their phone screens. From the dorm room to class and onto the next class, we can’t put down our phones. Even in the simplest of moments, we need our phones in front of us or even just in our hands. It’s a default we have all become accustomed to. We have all become comfortable with having our phones as a consistent distraction during boring moments. From a broader perspective,
this habit is only hurting us because we need boredom.
According to Arthur Brooks from the Harvard Business Review, “You need to be bored. You will have less meaning and you will be more depressed if you never are bored.” Brooks discusses how we constantly crave the distraction of our phones because, with all of the technology around us, we don’t know how to operate without it. Putting down the phone is the most beneficial action we can take. If you want a better connection with yourself, you must be bored. Brooks continues, “If every time you’re slightly bored [you] pull out your phone, it’s going to get harder and harder for you to find meaning, and that’s the recipe for depression and
and gentrification from large cannabis corporations, if left unchecked, will continue to overwhelm and stifle small-scale businesses from participating in an already lucrative market. Therefore, legislators should reconsider how they choose to eventually legalize and open marijuana up to the market.
advanced world
anxiety…” Learning to sit in boredom without reaching for a screen is not just an act of discipline — it’s a necessary practice for emotional clarity and long-term mental wellness.
Research from the University of Virginia even found that many people would rather administer mild electric shocks to themselves than sit alone with their thoughts, highlighting just how uncomfortable stillness has become in a hyper-connected world. Yet, embracing that discomfort is where growth, clarity and authentic self-connection begins.
The biggest form of self love and preservation is being OK with being bored and alone with ourselves once our phones are put away. It’s in that stillness that we
reconnect with our thoughts, rediscover our values and remember who we are without distraction.
GRAPHIC: BLADIMIR LEMUS ’26/THE HAWK
GRAPHIC: MOLLY DETTLINGER ’27/THE HAWK
Illustrating hope: A story of second chances
Man currently incarcerated draws alum’s children’s book
TAYLA J. EVANS ’27
Features Editor
When Alexa Fichera ’25 sat outside of SCI Phoenix in her mom’s car the fall of her junior year, she was nervous. She was still nervous when she entered the maximum security prison a few minutes later. And again when she sat down with Robert “Bobby” Labar.
Nervous, but honest.
Fichera told Labar her mom was waiting for her in the parking lot. He turned to her and asked her to thank her mom for him — to tell her she was an “awesome mom.”
It hit Fichera right to her core.
Fichera could see her mom as soon as she left the building — Labar didn’t have that freedom.
For the rest of the semester, Fichera continued to visit the prison for the class Crime, Justice and Media, taught by Mike Lyons, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of the department of communication and media studies. As Fichera learned more about Labar’s life and achievements, she found they had a lot in common. They were both from South Philadelphia and loved Philadelphia sports.
But there was a difference. When he was 18, Labar was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
As of August 31, 2025, Pennsylvania prisons have a total of 41,007 residents across federal and state jurisdictions, according to a Pennsylvania Department of Corrections report. Just over 5,000 of those residents are serving life without parole, according to a report by The Sentencing Project.
Commuting these sentences is near impossible in Pennsylvania, according to Susan Clampet-Lundquist, Ph.D., professor of sociology and criminal justice.
“Very, very few people in Pennsylvania receive commutation, and that’s not because very, very few people deserve it,” Clampet-Lundquist said. “It’s because the system itself just does not have the capacity to handle this.”
Upon completion of the course, Fichera found her perspective on incarceration had completely changed. But she wanted to do more.
“I didn’t feel like I was done with this,”
Fichera said. “I found a new passion for giving second chances.”
“Malcolm’s Second Chance”
For her senior capstone project as a communication studies major, Fichera decided to write and publish a children’s book. Lyons, Fichera’s capstone mentor, suggested she work with someone on the inside. Labar introduced her to a fellow inmate, Charles “Zafir” Lawson, who, using Fichera’s drafts, agreed to illustrate the book.
“Malcom’s Second Chance” follows a young badger named Malcolm, who, after getting trouble in school, is led to believe he’s a bad kid. When his classmate, Tyler, invites him to play, Malcolm is grateful for the second chance.
Labar is taking advantage of second chances from the inside, working with the coalition Right 2 Redemption, which has worked to rename “life in prison without the possibility of parole” to “death by incarceration.” He also works with St. Joe’s in setting up Lyon’s class, is pursuing a degree from Villanova University and has received his barber license.
Clampet-Lundquist, who works closely with Right 2 Redemption, said many people have established programs to promote literacy and education in prison, like Labar. She said it’s important to think about the programs people in prison create for themselves.
“I think that a lot of people just don’t realize how much wisdom and compassion and beauty is inside prison, and that the folks inside prison are working to create meaning and dignity in their lives in the same way that people outside of prison are,” Clampet-Lundquist said.
Fichera said she believes the impact “Malcolm’s Second Chance” can have on reframing the narrative surrounding incarceration is important.
“[If] I could rewrite that or change the stigma, I would feel satisfied,” Fichera said.
The meaning of “second chances”
Dana Lomax-Ayler, a Philadelphia native who spent 27 years on and off incarcerated and works with Labar and Right 2 Redemption, said she doesn’t love the phrase “second chances,” as a lot of victims of crimes don’t get one. She prefers
to call it a “fresh start.”
“Language is everything,” Lomax-Ayler said. “It is not so much what we say, but our presentation in saying it.”
In the context of “Malcolm’s Second Chance,” however, she sees merit in giving second chances.
When released, Arthur “Cetewayo” Johnson, who was wrongfully convicted of murder and spent 51 years in prison, said he was never really given a second chance because of his wrongful conviction. Still, he said he believes second chances are all about possibility.
“I look at it as opportunity to be another person, especially if you went to prison young,” Johnson said. “You’re not fully developed, so you don’t understand the responsibility that’s on you at that age.”
Lomax-Ayler said stories such as “Malcolm’s Second Chance” help bring awareness to giving people more opportunities.
“Man, maybe they should have a fresh start,” Lomax-Ayler said. “People do
Currently in Pop Culture: Jane Goodall
OLIVIA GASPARRO ’27
Features Columnist
Jane Goodall, Ph.D, was a British primatologist, ethologist and anthropologist whose observations of chimpanzees in the wild and advocacy for their conservation made her a name to remember. She received her doctorate in ethology from the University of Cambridge in 1965. Goodall died Oct. 1 at 91 years old, leaving a lasting legacy behind.
Goodall’s start
Goodall created a name for herself at the age of 26 when she began researching chimpanzees and their lives in the jungle at Gombe National Park in Tanzania. What was different about Goodall’s work was that she watched and studied these animals in their natural habitats rather than in captivity, where most of the previous studies and knowledge of chimpanzees came from.
One of her most groundbreaking observations — the Gombe Chimpanzee
War — took place at the Gombe National Park. This was a four-year conflict in which tensions grew between a community of chimpanzees, called the Kasekela community, leading to the group splitting into two. This was groundbreaking, as it was one of the first observed pieces of evidence that chimpanzees can form coalitions of their own and display territorial behavior similar to humans when in conflict.
Goodall had a connection with the chimpanzees. She described them like companions or colleagues and even assigned them names of their own. Many criticized her for this, saying chimpanzees should be given numbers instead of names, as names suggest they have individual personalities.
What she left behind Goodall’s research not only transformed the knowledge of chimpanzees and their behaviors but also reshaped the understanding of the relationship between humans and animals. Her findings demonstrated how animals are capable of having complex emotions, intelligence
and social bonds — traits very similar to humans.
In addition to her innovative research, Goodall was a passionate advocate for animal welfare and environmental conservation. Goodall founded the Jane Goodall Institute in 1977, which continued her mission to advocate the protection of chimpanzees through education and research. She also established Roots and
change. That’s the whole concept. People change, and prison don’t change people because that’s not what it’s designed to do. But people change themselves.”
Storytelling
Lyons said he tells his class that a big part of media is advocacy.
“Stories have put a lot of these people in prison,” Lyons said. “Narratives have put them in prison. The narrative of them being monsters is what created life without parole in the first place. The only thing that will undo that is other narratives, counter narratives, counter stories.”
When Fichera began her project, she simply hoped she could change at least one person’s perceptions about incarceration through Malcolm’s story.
“I feel accomplished knowing that I might change a stigma one day, and that I might be the reason the next generation becomes more empathetic,” Fichera said.
Shoots in 1991, which aims to encourage and educate youth on taking action for animals and the planet.
Goodall’s work aimed to inspire others to understand animals as thinking and feeling beings themselves.
“Let us develop respect for all living things,” Goodall said. “Let us try to replace violence and intolerance with understanding and compassion. And love.”
GRAPHIC: SATINA SACKIE ’27/THE HAWK
“Malcolm’s Second Chance,” written by Alexa Fichera ’25 and illustrated by Charles “Zafir” Lawson, follows a young badger named Malcolm who learns the meaning of second chances.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ALEXA FICHERA ’25
Celebrity chef brings bold flavors and inspiring stories
The face behind the dining hall’s latest Latin cuisine
St. Joe’s Dining Services hosted celebrity chef Grace Ramirez Oct 8. to showcase her latest Latin American dining concept, La Latina Cocina, to students in The Kettle.
Ramirez is a celebrated chef, activist and cookbook author who uses her skills to connect with those around her. La Latina Cocina’s menu combines Aramark's produce and ingredients with Chef Grace’s recipes.
Through her partnership with Aramark, Ramirez hopes to expose college students to an authentic Latin cooking experience. La Latina Cocina has been brought to more than 85 campuses across the country, with St. Joe’s being one of them.
“I like to have a lot of impact and a lot of reach, and Aramark can do that,” Ramirez said. “They also have been very good in respecting my recipes and the culture and really celebrating what I am about and what La Latina Cocina is about.”
Ramirez’s advocacy work is multifaceted and has left lasting impacts. One highlight, Ramirez said, was her work with the World Central Kitchen, which provides meals to communities battling food insecurity and humanitarian crises.
“One of my proudest moments was working with World Central Kitchen and the City of New York to feed thousands of New Yorkers,” Ramirez said. “It was around 100,000 meals a day, 10 million meals throughout the operation, helping save over 250 restaurants from closing.”
Because of her efforts, Ramirez was recognized as a Covid-19 Hero by the City of New York. In addition, with the help of the United Nations, Ramirez works with the Chef’s Manifesto to promote food sustainability.
For Ramirez, her passion for food came from her multicultural family.
“My grandmother and my grandpa [are] from Venezuela,” Ramirez said. “My mom lives in Mexico. My stepfather is from Peru. I was born in Miami, and I’m a New Yorker, and food is what brings my family together. I like to celebrate culture through food.”
Students like Crystal Benito ’29 were looking forward to trying something new with La Latina Cocina.
“I can tell she’s passionate about what she does,” Benito said. “I think it’s really nice to see how food brings people together internationally as well.”
Ramirez’s recipes not only captured the vibrancy of Latin American culture but also accommodated students facing dietary restrictions, like Camryn Demetrius ’29.
“I don’t eat meat,” Demetrius said. “I don’t eat gluten. Anybody can have something. I feel like it’s very open, and you can choose what you want based on what she provides.”
Ramirez’s appearance at St. Joe’s was made possible by Vannessa Jimenez, Aramark’s field marketing manager for St. Joe’s. Jimenez said the partnership enhances Aramark’s mission of food equity while spotlighting Ramirez’s advocacy for food justice.
“Her visit gave students the opportunity to meet the face behind the recipes and learn more about her background,” Jimenez said. “It reaffirms our commitment to providing thoughtfully prepared meals and recognizes the hard work our culinary team puts in to execute recipes just like hers for our students, every day.”
La Latina Cocina is rooted in love and tradition, two things Ramirez hopes many students can take away.
“I hope they feel a sense of home,” Ramirez said. “I hope they feel warm and fuzzy inside. I hope it feels like a warm hug. They should try everything because everything is delicious. It’s family recipes with a lot of heart.”
Discover Madrid’s restaurants: Four places you can’t miss
Madrid, Spain!
Amazonia Açaí
You can’t turn a corner in Madrid without stumbling into a tapas bar, hole-in-the-wall café, or Michelin Star restaurant. In my time here, I’ve discovered numerous restaurants and cafés, and the food is unlike anything back home. Here are four restaurants you must visit if you’re in
Amazonia Açaí is a franchise located in Spain with multiple locations throughout the country, notably having 18 locations in Madrid. It’s the perfect place to go for a quick morning meal or even an evening snack.
Amazonia focuses on specialty acai bowls. My favorite is the Passion Bowl, which comes with açaí base, passion fruit
cream, cookie pieces, chocolate chips, strawberry, banana, mango and coconut. The menu also includes smoothies, tapioca and a Brazilian dish called pão de queijo, or cheese bread.
Each bowl comes in different sizes, and each size dictates the price. A 350ml bowl is 8.50 euros (about $10), a 500ml bowl 10.50 euros (about $12), a 750ml bowl 13.50 euros (about $16) and an XXL bowl is 16.50 euros (about $19).
Mercado de San Miguel
Located in the heart of Madrid right beside Plaza Mayor, Mercado de San Miguel is a fresh food market that hosts multiple vendors with a variety of foods to purchase.
Mercado de San Miguel is always incredibly lively. You can purchase ready-made meals, such as bocadillos, jamon serrano, croquetas and paella, as well as other traditional Spanish cuisine. The market also offers fresh ingredients to purchase, with fresh fruit and vegetables stands, butcher shops and seafood stands.
While the Mercado is a popular tourist destination, it remains a beloved part of Spanish history. During the Spanish civil war, it provided sanctuary to citizens.
TKO Taco
TKO Taco is a taquería that offers tacos, quesadillas and drinks, all to bring a little piece of Mexico to Spain.
The restaurant offers a respite from the bustling Spanish life with table-to-table service and quick serving times.
The prices are very affordable, and the
average meal will run you up to about 10 euros. Individual tacos start from just 1 euro (about $1) and can reach up to 1.90 euros (about $2). The different types of quesadillas start from 3.70 euros (about $4) and go up to 4 euros (about $5). My personal favorite is the quesadilla de pastor, which includes marinated pork meat and guajillo chili. TKO Taco has six locations throughout Madrid and other locations spread across Spain, like Barcelona, Ibiza, Valencia and more.
Divorare
Divorare is an authentic Italian street food focaccia restaurant. Focaccia is a flat leavened oven-baked Italian bread, and the restaurant uses this bread to make their famous Italian sandwiches.
Divorare offers a variety of focaccias, such as the come a casa, nonna and tradizionale. The sandwiches can include pesto, tomato, stracciatella cheese and different types of meat, like mortadella, prosciutto, meatballs and porchetta.
Every sandwich is incredibly messy, so be prepared with your napkins and wet wipes if you choose to visit!
Grace Ramirez serves Latin American dishes to students in The Kettle Oct. 8. PHOTOS: ZACH PODOLNICK ’26/THE HAWK
LISBETH URENA ’27 Features Reporter
The Passion Bowl from Amazonia Açaí comes with açaí base, passion fruit cream, cookie pieces, chocolate chips, strawberry, banana, mango and coconut. PHOTO: LISBETH URENA ’27/THE HAWK
Celebrity chef Grace Ramirez showcases La Latina Cocina to students in The Kettle Oct. 8.
BRYAN BALMORES-JUMARANG ’27
Features Reporter
Make today the best day ever
A week-long positivity challenge
capable of playing this game.
You would never believe it! I had the best day ever for seven days in a row!
For a whole week, I played a TikTok game called “Best Day Ever.” Every morning, the first words I said were, “It’s going to be the best day ever,” and I had no clue why until I found myself looking for reasons why.
I was living a mundane life, just going through the motions. It wasn’t until I came across a video about the “Best Day Ever” game, that I knew I wanted to make a change.
And so it began: a seven-day trial of having the best day ever.
Lanie Smith ’25 had a reputation of being one of the most optimistic people on campus. I asked her what makes her so positive. She said after having health issues in high school, she changed her perspective and decided to lead with positivity in hopes that spreading cheerfulness to others would make her feel that way, too.
“Life is tough, and it’s not gonna be sunshine and rainbows all the time, but if you can focus on those little moments … it just kind of makes things feel better,” Smith said. “Even if it’s only one small good thing, it’s better than no small good thing, so I try to look at it in that light.”
Over the course of my Best Day Ever experiment, I saw what she meant. Focusing on small joys changed how I approached each day, and I wondered if everyone is
Deborah Ward, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology, gave insight into the idea that folks who are most likely to “live in the moment” are better at looking for smaller things in life that could, in turn, have a big impact on happiness and well-being.
“It seems like we can — or learn how to — strategically change those mindsets to maximize our well-being, depending on the specific situation,” Ward said.
When playing this game, I tried to be conscientious of the flip side, as toxic positivity found its way into my week. I juggled with the false idea that every day has to be the best day ever in order to feel fulfilled.
“Every day is not gonna be the best day ever, but when you make that mindset, it makes you appreciate the small, good things more,” Smith said. “It helps you focus more on the little good things rather than thinking every single thing has to be this huge positive accomplishment. It could be something small.”
Alexander Skolnick, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology, said that feeling all the feels and being flexible are some of the healthiest things a person can do.
“If you need to be stronger, or you need to be positive or you need to reframe something because it’s really upsetting, the people who are the best at being flexible in their responses to the moment, seem to me, have the best mental health and do the best long-term,” Skolnick said.
Ron Dufresne, Ph.D., professor of management, starts off each class with a moment of gratitude, inviting his students to pause and reflect on one good moment, opening up the space afterward for sharing.
“To be positive and to bring that gratitude into the world is not to forget bills to pay,” Dufresne said. “It’s not to forget that life is hard. It’s hard for all of us. It’s not the toxic positivity of glossing over that part of life. What it’s really doing is just shining a light on the good parts of our life that coexist with the bad as well.”
After participating in this game, I can confidently say that while it is a “game,” it is now defined as a lifestyle in my dictionary.
CROSSWORD: LGBTQIA+ history
BRENNAN DILLENBECK
’28
Across
I’ve started to embrace small moments within each day and celebrate and recognize all the little moments in life that make life worth living.
“Positivity is a limitless resource,” Dufresne said. “Like love, the more we love, the more we have, the more we give it away, the more it’ll grow for us.”
Best advice ever.
1. The location of a famous six-day uprising led by LGBTQ community members after a 1969 police raid.
4. The first openly gay NHL player who now suits up as an AHL player for the Bakersfield Condors.
5. The United States’ first openly transgender member of the House of Representatives.
6. The magnum opus of openly gay science fiction writer Samuel R. “Chip” Delany.
8. The first American woman in space who came out as LGBTQ upon her death.
9. Drag queen and performer who won the fifth season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”
10. This “Great” Prussian ruler faced persecution in his youth for his sexuality.
Down
2. In 2024, this American woman became one of the two first transgender models to walk in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
3. This author famously explored gender fluidity and sexuality in her masterpiece, “Orlando.”
7. The Sacred ____ of Thebes was a famous military unit comprised of 150 male lovers.
Rebecca Romito ’26 participates in TikTok’s “Best Day Ever” game for seven days in a row.
PHOTO: ZACH PODOLNICK ’26/THE HAWK
REBECCA ROMITO ’26
Hawk Staff
Hawk Staff
Four new head coaches in three months
Multiple Hawk athletic programs enter new eras
JOSEPH MANCINI ’28 Sports Reporter
Change is in the air on Hawk Hill for four St. Joe’s athletic programs. Men’s lacrosse, women’s rowing, men’s rowing and men’s basketball have all turned the page to new head coaches, all occurring in the past three months.
The wave began with men’s lacrosse in July, followed by leadership changes for both the women’s and men’s rowing programs in August and September, respectively, and concluded in September with the announcement of a new men’s basketball head coach.
Men’s lacrosse
The start of the changes came when Taylor Wray, the former head coach of men’s lacrosse, stepped down. After he departed from the team, assistant head coach Scott Meehan took over his role. Meehan was chosen due to his instrumental part in the team’s successes since he came to St. Joe’s in 2019. With Meehan’s guidance, there have been multiple record breakers during his time in the program’s history, and there is the expectation that more will come.
Since taking the role, there have been two new assistant coaches and the addition of an associate head coach that will be instrumental in Meehan’s legacy and how he will run the team. The Hawks had a successful non-conference record last season, going 7-2 but falling short in the semifinals of the Atlantic 10 championship against High Point University. The Hawks look determined to return to the A-10 championship
under Meehan and make a run toward the NCAA Tournament in the upcoming 2026 season.
Women’s rowing
In August 2025, it was announced Kevin Gruber was chosen to take over the women’s rowing program after longtime head coach Gerry Quinlan stepped down in July 2025. Gruber was a former assistant coach at Villanova from 2023-2025. He also served as head coach for the University of Delaware for 11 seasons, which was the longest in its program history.
Gruber brought many successes to Delaware, and the Hawks hope his previous success will lead them to another A-10 championship appearance. Women’s rowing will have competed twice before the end of October: the Head of the Charles, which took place Oct. 18, and the Head of the Schuylkill, which will take place Oct. 25. They are the first competitive races Gruber will be leading the team in this season.
Men’s rowing
Shortly after Quinlan stepped down as head coach, men’s rowing head coach Mike Irwin announced he would be stepping down from his role to coach at the United States Naval Academy. Taya DiAngelo, assistant coach for men’s rowing, served as interim head coach from the end of July to the end of September.
Three-time Olympic medalist Michiel Bartman will be taking over as the director of rowing and head coach of the men’s rowing team. Bartman brings prestige as an Olympic medalist and has decades of coaching experience that ranks teams and takes them
to championships. With multiple events on the horizon for the Hawks — the Head of the Schuylkill Oct. 25 and the Princeton Chase Nov. 2 — the team is looking for a strong start to the season.
Men’s basketball
Two months before the start of the men’s basketball season, head coach Billy Lange stepped down to take a job in player development with the New York Knicks front office. Steve Donahue was named as the successor to Lange as the new head coach. Donahue came to St. Joe’s after the program had multiple A-10 tournament runs in recent years and back-to-back Big 5 championships but with a core group of players departing, including Xzayvier Brown, Erik Reynolds II and Rasheer Fleming.
The hiring of Donahue brings a new era in St. Joe’s men’s basketball. As a former head coach at the University of Pennsylvania for nine seasons, Donahue is not a stranger to the Big 5 and brought the Quakers to an NCAA Tournament. Although this was his most recent NCAA tournament appearance, he brought Cornell’s men’s basketball program to the Sweet 16 in 2010. With experience in Philadelphia and multiple NCAA Tournaments, many hope this new era of men’s basketball will push the Hawks toward their goal of winning the A-10 and making March Madness.
With all these changes, St. Joe’s hopes to push their teams further toward success and further establish these teams in record-breaking books and conference histories.
GRAPHIC: JORDAN SHARER ’25/THE HAWK
GRAPHIC: CARMEN KNOPF ’27/THE HAWK
Men’s club ice hockey maintains momentum
Hawks hit 10-game winning streak
MONICA SOWINSKI ’26 Assistant Sports Editor
Currently sitting 10-2-0, the St. Joe’s men’s club ice hockey team is continuing a strong start to the 2025-26 season. The Hawks are sitting ranked No. 1 among the competition, according to an Oct. 9 Atlantic Coast Collegiate Hockey League Instagram post of the M2 Elite Power rankings.
The 10-game winning streak and high ranking is just the start of the season for the Hawks. Former player and head coach Dean Keeney ’16 said the team is using the ACC ranking as something to “build off of” to achieve its goal of making the American Collegiate Hockey Association national rankings.
Peter Boarman, senior defenseman and assistant president of the team, said it’s the first time in three years the team has ranked No. 1. Boarman said “continuing
this momentum” will help prepare the team for one of its biggest games this season: the ACC Fall Showcase.
The key to the successful first half of the season is the team quickly settling into a “buy-in” mentality. Keeney emphasized playing the right way, even if the outcomes don’t occur right away during a game. Straying away from individually making plays and staying patient throughout games have helped secure wins.
“Sticking to that game plan of using your teammates and sticking to our forecheck, making sure we’re backchecking hard and helping out into the D-zone, and good things will come,” Keeney said. “You just got to stay a little patient.”
Throughout the years, camaraderie has been strong, and senior goalie and team president Cooper Tyson said continuing the strong bond has been helpful.
“Being close off the ice really does translate to success on the ice,” Tyson said. “[It] makes it easier for guys to find each other, makes the chemistry much better with the forward line.”
With the majority of the team being upper-level students, Boarman said the younger students have been able to commit to the intensity of the team and continue its tight knit bond.
“They’ve added to that, and they’ve all come in with open minds, playing their role that they’re given, and they want to win, too,” Boarman said. “That’s something that everyone wants to do is they want to win, and everyone’s bought in. It’s been really, really good for us.”
From team meetings to training twice
Archives Unboxed: 1972 St. Joe’s club ice hockey team
The first team photo of the St. Joe’s ice hockey club, established in 1971, can be found in the 1972 edition of The Greatonian, the university’s yearbook.
The team used the University of Pennsylvania’s facilities for games and practices. According to the yearbook, located in the St. Joe’s Archives Collection, the team finished its inaugural season with a 2-9 record.
The Hawks participated in the
Delaware Collegiate Hockey League, now called the Delaware Valley Collegiate Hockey Conference. The team’s opponents included La Salle University, Drexel University, West Chester University, Villanova University and the University of Delaware.
Ken Ortega ’74, a retired orthopedic surgeon who majored in biology, founded the team as a sophomore with the help of Chris Frey ’74. The two were club president and vice president, respectively.
Ortega, who played organized hockey in his home state of Rhode Island before
coming to St. Joe’s, said the men started hanging flyers around campus trying to find students to sign a petition to start the club. Within a couple days, the men had close to 100 students who wanted a hockey team.
“We rented ice, and we started getting organized,” Ortega said. “Kids were coming, and we had some pickup games and we finally got down to a core group of about 20 guys that were really serious.”
Ortega said during the season, St. Joe’s gave the team “a few hundred bucks” to rent ice slots, but all of the players also helped pay for the slots.
“We would practice once a week and then play a game once a week, and that was the extent of it,” Ortega said.
Ortega said he did not know the club would last as long as it has — the team is in its 54th season — but he believes the popularity of ice hockey in the Philadelphia area helped keep the club alive.
“I’m happy it did,” Ortega said. “As hockey built up in the Philly area and you got more ice rinks, the key thing was the fact that more kids were playing hockey.”
DYLAN KOUBA ’27
The 1972 St. Joe’s club ice hockey team featured in The Greatonian. PHOTO COURTESY OF ST. JOE’S ARCHIVES
a week at the Haverford Skatium, the team is intentional with its time together. Keeney agreed the strong camaraderie is helping the team progress.
The Hawks huddle up during its season opener against West Chester Sept. 5.
Special to the Hawk
Senior forward Neal Cudahy takes the ice during its season opener against West Chester Sept. 5.
PHOTOS: JOSEPH MANCINI ’28/THE HAWK
Q&A with Bella King
ALYSSA YANNANTUONO ’26
Special to The Hawk
Bella King ’26 played lacrosse growing up, and when she entered college in 2022, she began playing club soccer and field hockey. King is now the president of the women’s club lacrosse team, which is part of the Mid-Atlantic Women’s Lacrosse League, for the 2025-26 season. As president of the club team, she is responsible for scheduling games, delegating work, organizing fundraisers and facilitating team bonding events. King said she’s “hopeful for this season” and thinks the 30-member team is “even better than last season.”
In addition to being president of the women’s club lacrosse team, King, a pharmaceutical business major with a minor in psychology, is also the president of the Pharmaceutical Industry Leaders of Tomorrow. In both positions, King demonstrates her drive and leadership abilities.
Why did you want to become president of the women’s club lacrosse team?
I played a long time, and I knew that I could bring a lot of knowledge from my experience in the past to the team.
Who inspires you as a leader?
What has being president of the team taught you about your leadership style? I definitely take input from my team to make sure everyone’s needs are met, but at the end of the day, you can’t be asking what everyone wants. You have to make the best
My mom and my dad. My mom has always been a “Don’t be a follower. Be a
Who is your favorite U.S. president? George Washington.
What do you think is your best trait?
I’m super caring. A lot of times, I put other people before myself.
What do you like to do in ?
I really like to cook. I love photography. I love country music. I love Elvis Presley.
What talent would you most like to have?
Speaking another language
What do you most value in
Checking in is something that’s really
What is your most treasured possession?
What is something about you that might surprise other people? I have the music taste of a 70-year-old.
Q&A with Owen Dougherty
BRYNN TAGUE ’26
Special to The Hawk
Owen Dougherty ’26, a finance major, is the president of the men’s club lacrosse team for the 2025-26 season. The club team has 24 members and competes in the NCLL Division II level within the Liberty Conference. Dougherty first got involved with the team after seeing their table at the Activities Fair when he transferred to St. Joe’s as a sophomore. He year and has been a part of the team ever since. As president, Dougherty handles scheduling and communication with the team, organizes practices and games — both in and out of conference — and works closely with the St. Joe’s athletic director to coordinate facilitated practice times, reserve field space time for practices and home games and ensure referees and other necessary resources are arranged for each event.
Why did you want to become president of the men’s club lacrosse team?
I have a strong drive for lacrosse, and I also want to be able to lead the team and be on it in a way where I could make sure that there’s success.
JPMorgan Chase] encourages me as a leader because he’s been able to succeed in his role as a leader for many years.
What do you think is your best trait? My hard-driven work ethic.
What has being president taught you about your leadership style?
It shows that I have a very team-first leadership style. I want the team to succeed more than myself, and I also want each individual player to grow in their game and progress forward so that they can help not only themselves but also the team.
Who inspires you as a leader?
I would definitely say Jamie Dimon [CEO of
What do you most value in your friends? Definitely the type of support that they
What is your most treasured possession? My strong family relationship.
What is your biggest worry right now?
Finding a job.
What is something about you that might surprise other people? I’ve been to six other countries outside of the United States.
Which talent would you most like to have?
To be able to juggle.
What do you like to do in your free time?
To play golf and go down to the Jersey Shore.
What’s on your bucket list to do in Philly or on campus?
To go to one of each of the sports games within the next year.
Who is your favorite U.S. president? Donald Trump.
What’s the best advice someone’s ever given you?
Give 110%.
What is one word you hope people on campus would use to describe you? Charismatic.
PHOTO COURTESY OF BELLA KING ’26
PHOTO COURTESY OF OWEN DOUGHERTY ’26