Nov. 17, 2022 issue 03 Loquitur

Professors battle for ‘token’ retirement benefits

By Marcus Alvarez Managing Editor

Even before Cabrini Interim President Helen Drinan alert ed the community to the school’s dire financial situation, behindthe-scenes ramifications began rumbling. Dr. Marilyn Johnson and Dr. James Hedtke claimed Drinan denied them promised retirement benefits they negotiated with Cabrini’s former president, Donald Taylor.

According to Johnson and Hedtke, other faculty, and their friends, the pair have sought legal counsel in the matter.

Private negotiations

While Johnson and Hedtke declined to detail the negotiated deals, Drinan described the deals as unfair. “I’m not continuing an unfair practice, nor am I in a position to make that funding given our finan cial situation,” she said.

These compensation deals for retirement should not be confused with Cabrini’s longstanding 403(b) contribution retirement plan. In the plan, the school donates 4% of an employee’s base annual sal ary and matches up to 3% of the employee’s contribution. Drinan

explained that people can put in as much money as they like up to Internal Revenue Service limits, or nothing at all, while still receiving Cabrini’s contributions.

She said, under previous administrations, “When certain members of the faculty were about to retire, some of them asked for extra compensation, and some were given it. Some were given more than a year of severance. Some were given less than a year of sever ance, some were given a year of severance.”

She further explained that other faculty members have not equally received these sums, and staff weren’t even considered for deals the faculty received. Drinan said, “We have not honored such re quests from everybody. And we have also not offered such things to everybody.”

Sources say Hedtke and Johnson received the same deal as previ ous senior faculty who retired. Part of that deal included a year’s salary.

Dr. Jerry Zurek, an English and communications professor who re tired in 2021, took one of these deals, referred to as a voluntary separation agreement. “If you worked 25 years, you’d get a pay

check every two weeks for a year. I worked 50 years, but I didn’t get any more than if I’d worked 25 years. It was capped at one year max of pay,” Zurek said.

According to Zurek, in 2020, faculty were told that in the 2021-22 academic year, those who accepted the agreement would receive, “two weeks of base salary for each year of service, $2,000 for or in lieu of health insurance, $2,000 for or in lieu of outplacement ser vices, tuition benefits for four years, lifetime use of Cabrini facilities, including the Dixon Center and the library, and retention of employ ee’s Cabrini email address and e-mail account.” He said several staff members and some faculty took the deal.

Lawful pitchforks raised

Johnson, professor in the writing and narrative arts department, started at Cabrini in 1966. She is one of its longest-serving profes sors. On the advice of counsel, she did not wish to comment on her case. However, she said she does not understand Drinan’s rea soning on packages being given out unevenly when retired senior faculty members have received evenly distributed ones.

The fire that wasn’t: Founders Hall classes disrupted by smoke

By John Rader News Editor

At roughly 10:45 the morning of Nov. 10, a fire alarm went off in Founders Hall and the building was evacuated. This is the second time in the last two weeks Founders Hall experienced a fire alert. The first time, a faulty smoke detector was to blame.

Rumors circulated throughout the Cabrini community as students and faculty alike reported seeing smoke. The Radnor Fire department was on the scene about 15 minutes after the alarm was sounded, and it took an additional 45 minutes before anyone was allowed to re-enter the building.

An unexpected disturbance

The cause of the fire? Well, there was no fire.

“The source of the fire alarm was dust and debris that entered the 2nd floor due to our team using a backpack blower to remove leaves, dust and debris from the ramp,” Patricia Smith, director of facilities, said.

The dust and debris entered the building through an open door, which triggered the smoke alarm. Smoke alarms cannot differentiate smoke, which is why the dust from the backpack triggered the alarms.

Smith apologized for the inconvenience which led to class being disrupted and said that for future instances the maintenance staff will use brooms as opposed to backpack blowers to clean up any dust.

“I was supposed to have a presentation that I prepared all night for,” Eddie Martin, senior communication major, said. His presentation is now pushed back until next week.

The disturbance occurred towards the end of the 9:50 a.m. block of classes, and cut the 11:05 a.m. block of classes in half, which led some professors to cancel classes.

A haze of confusion

The whole ordeal lasted longer than it should have due to the outside source of smoke, as the Radnor Fire Department, and Cabrini maintenance spent roughly 45 minutes searching the building for where the fire supposedly started.

“We could not locate the source,” Joe Maguire, Radnor fire chief said.

His team was certain that the haze of smoke was coming from the second floor, but not where the smoke entered the building.

The dust and debris from the backpack blowers was so dense that it trickled down to the main lobby of Founders Hall. This haze filled up the first and second floors.

The Radnor Fire Department was able to dissipate the smoke in the building, and then coordinated with Cabrini officials to make sure that Founders Hall did not lose power.

“Considering we have been out here for over an hour, I am just hoping that I can get to go back to my office,” Christy Leigh, director of the Accessibility Resource Center, said.

This sense of confusion was palpable throughout the hundreds of students and faculty members watching the firefighters. Everyone assumed this time there was a legitimate fire, and not just another false alarm.

One can only hope that, moving forward, Founders Hall can enjoy the rest of its semester without any more alarms.

Photo by Thomas Ryan.

2022-2023

Editorial Staff

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

VICTORIA EMMITT

WRITING MANAGING EDITOR

MARCUS ALVAREZ

VISUALS MANAGING EDITOR

TOMMY RYAN

NEWS EDITORS

JOHN RADER

VICTORIA GIORDANO

JACOB PEGAN

SPORTS EDITORS

SANTINO TERRANOVA

LIFESTYLES EDITORS

HANNAH POGGI

PERSPECTIVES EDITORS

ISAIAH DICKSON

PODCAST EDITOR

LASHAY SMITH

LAYOUT AND DESIGN EDITOR SOPHIA GERNER

ADVISER WENDY ROSENFIELD

MISSION

The Loquitur student newspaper and website are integral parts of the educational mission of the Cabrini communication department, namely, to educate students to take their places in the public media.

Loquitur Media provides a forum of free expression. All members of the university community may submit work to the editors for possible inclusion. Publication is based on the editorial decision of the editors.

Saying diversity is important is not enough

By Loquitur Editorial Board

As affirmative action sits on the Supreme Court’s chopping block, it is more important than ever to advocate for diversity on all university and college campuses. The loss of affirmative action will cause schools around the nation to eliminate the need for race to be considered when it comes to the admissions process.

The universities of Michigan and California have already been forced to stop using affirmative action for admissions. The antiaffirmative action organization Students for Fair Admissions brought lawsuits against Harvard University, claiming it discriminates against Asian Americans, and the University of North Carolina, claiming it gives admissions boosts to underserved racial minorities. These are the cases the Supreme Court is currently considering.

College gives people the opportunity to broaden their horizons and experience different opinions than those they grew up with. Being surrounded by people from different races, ethnicities, and backgrounds helps students understand the experience of people who are different from them.

Diversity on campus is also very important because it helps to educate students on loving each other and not dividing them. As students graduate and enter their careers, they will go into environments filled with a melting pot of different cultures and experiences.

Having a racially diverse experience in school is proven to improve our cognitive skills. We are living in a more diverse society than generations before, and learning in a diverse environment helps younger people when they reach adulthood and seek employment. Not

only is diversity necessary for inclusion but it is essential for promoting innovation and creativity in a work environment. A study from University of Massachusetts Amherst, showed that racial diversity led to innovation which increased financial performances in banks.

Diversity may be uncomfortable for many people, but it can also enhance creativity, problem-solving skills, and positively influence them by showing that differences are a good thing.

Cabrini University is known as an inclusive school with a social justice mission, though it has a predominantly white student body. Cabrini does a decent job at acknowledging this statistic and supports an environment where all cultures can be celebrated.

Student-run clubs in place right now are the African and Caribbean Student Association, the Black Student Union, the Jewish Student Union, and the Muslim Student Association. These clubs are the first step in the right direction to expose different cultures to all students, and anyone may join who is more interested in learning about another culture or religion.

Cabrini requires diversity training for all administration and faculty, as well as mandatory diversity training for individuals on search committees for new hires. This ensures the university’s diversity mission is carried through to all aspects of the student experience.

Even though Cabrini integrates diversity into campus life, there is still room for improvement.

The undergraduate admissions office is trying

to diversify Cabrini’s campus, but how will this impact their planned efforts? Cabrini is a predominantly white institution, and is trying to remove that label, but solving this problem is easier said than done. Universities, companies, and social groups talk about diversity, yet a lot of times these are just words.

We need action, and it remains to be seen, as Cabrini has an African American population of a meager 19.4 percent. BIPOC students of color feel underrepresented on Cabrini’s campus by those in positions of power and have taken notice.

An increase in events can benefit the Cabrini students who are willing to expand their knowledge of diversity and hear personal experiences from those invited to speak to the community. One event that attracted students and faculty and offered a necessary and meaningful speech was the 2022 Celebration of Urban Education Symposium.

Have more diversity-focused events that can benefit the entire community. When Cornel West came to campus the entire community enjoyed his presence and it brought everyone together. Events like these will show why diversity is important and let people know that success is granted to everyone no matter the color of your skin, who you worship, and more.

Having more equal-opportunity events on campus so that students of all races and ethnic backgrounds feel represented will put us a step in the right direction.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The Loquitur accepts letters to the editor. The letter should be less than five hun dred words, usually in response to a cur rent issue on Cabrini University’s campus or community area and are printed as space permits. Name, phone number and address should be included with submis sions for verification purposes. All letters to the editor must be sent via email to loquitur@cabrini.edu.

‘Token’ retirement benefits

Hedtke began his tenure at Cabrini as an edu cator in the history and political science depart ment in 1973. On the advice of his counsel, he also offered no comment. Jamie Prince, alum na, donor, and previous student of Hedtke’s, believes he deserves to have his contract hon ored by Drinan.

“I think he is a remarkable academic, and truly one of the best human beings I have ever had the privilege to know. And I consider him a friend. It really upsets me to see him treated unfairly, and not to be rewarded for his just outstanding service to the Cabrini community.”

Prince is one Hedtke’s many allies. She started a small social media campaign on Twitter and Facebook to rally support from other alumni. The university has not budged.

“If you look at it per year of service, it’s a very token amount. It’s not enough money for the administration to be making such a bad de cision … all the talk of social justice seems rather hypocritical.”

Prince said Hedtke came to her for advice when he found out about the broken deal. She said that after reviewing the details with her husband, they believed he had a solid case against the university. Prince said she and her husband were close to starting a GoFundMe page to help cover Hedtke’s legal fees.

Drinan’s

firm stance

Hedtke and Johnson both discussed their frus trations during Faculty Assembly meetings. Dr. Paul Wright, English professor and Faculty Assembly chair, said, “They have raised their concerns about retirement incentives they were promised by Donald Taylor, and those were incentives to retire sooner. Some faculty have had that opportunity in the past.”

Drinan holds firm, ex plaining, “While we face a $5 to $6 million defi cit, and we have laid off people and we will prob ably have to lay off more people, how do I justify giving someone who’s been here with a full re tirement program, pro vided by Cabrini, another year of pay?”

“I am being asked to give two amounts of money to faculty that I did not agree to, and that I’m not required to agree to,” Drinan said.

No other universities or colleges participate in these types of deals, according to Drinan, and she reiterated that she remains on the side of equal treatment. “If anybody is going to get this kind of money, then theoretically, everybody should be able to get this kind of money. And that has not been the case.”

What now?

The dispute is tangled in competing truths. Hedtke and Johnson are part of Cabrini’s legacy and have taught more than half a cen tury alongside retirees who received similar benefits. Drinan, as interim president, came to fix Cabrini’s finances and ensure its future prosperity.

Hedtke and Johnson are both tenured profes sors with doctoral degrees who earn far more than the average adjunct professor. In 2009 alone, (the most recent figure available online) Hedtke was paid $124,735.

Honoring the contracts made by Taylor and having Hedtke and Johnson both retire sooner could generate more savings; new professors

would make less salary. But Cabrini is in finan cial trouble, and, as Drinan said, “is simply not in the position to make additional funding avail able to people who already have retirement programs. This is not their retirement program. This is extra compensation.”

Prince disagreed. “If a contract has already been drawn up, she has a legal obligation to honor it. And a moral one as well.” As a long time donor to Cabrini, she says she will now only donate to the history and political science department or any future fund to honor Hedtke.

“I think it’s very demoralizing for both of them,” Prince said.

Wright, in a statement on behalf of the fac ulty, said, “Our elected faculty leadership (the Faculty Cabinet) has no specific comment on the situation at this time given its very delicate nature, but we remain concerned that the in stitution should honor its arrangements made with faculty and employees at large. This is an important element of administration and workforce discussions and negotiations go ing forward in a time of crucial transition and restructuring for Cabrini.” Donald Taylor was unavailable for comment.

Sincerely,

The Editorial Team

Photo by Thomas Ryan

‘Work to do’ on inclusion at Cabrini

By Brianna Mack

Staff Writer

Isaiah Saddler, senior writing major, attended the Hispanic Network ing Night because it was facilitated by Sherrise Rowe, director of alumni Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Saddler is not Hispanic but went because his Latin friends told him about it; earlier in the year, Rowe made a lasting impression on them. She lost her job on Friday, Oct. 25.

“Cabrini keeps making decisions that slight their mission,” Saddler said. He questions how students of color are supposed to feel at a university that cut culturally specific majors and laid off staff who welcomed them to campus.

Cabrini University is committed to social justice, yet Saddler calls the university’s social justice initiatives “ingenuine.” He appreciates the space students have to do social justice work but wishes the university did more to promote it.

Keeping friends close keeps students safe “You can see a flyer once or twice in the halls or in Founders, but you really don’t know of many happenings unless you’re a part of that group,” Saddler said. As a resident assistant, he believes commu nication between Residence Life and the other departments in the Office of Mission, DEI and Student Engagement should be improved so students don’t feel excluded.

“Nine times out of 10 you would have to build your own community to really feel at home at Cabrini,” Saddler said. Saddler observed that any student who wants an exciting college experience outside

of their found-family group must actively search for opportunities where they feel included.

“The students are doing the heavy work to engage themselves,” Saddler said. He praises the Black Student Union as the club where Black students feel most secure.

Word of mouth seems to be the most successful communication method for events on campus, but Saddler wants Cabrini to treat on-campus social justice events like they do their mission trips.

“I would like to see an emphasis on social justice initiatives focused on things happening in our own country,” he said. He compared Cabrini’s advertisement of the upcoming Guatemala mission trip to what he saw as the university’s reserved approach to promoting events like the Hispanic Networking Night.

Alanna Hall, freshman undeclared major, identified the annual Hu man Trafficking Awareness Walk, facilitated by the Missionary Sis ters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, as a focus for the university. She could not identify Cabrini’s efforts to encourage students of color.

The Awareness Walk and the Guatemala trip are integrated into the university’s curriculum, but other initiatives are mostly extracurricu lar.

Lailah Dunbar, director of the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, agrees that word of mouth is the most effective mar keting tool. Her office also posts fliers and sends emails to students, faculty, and staff.

Students feel misunderstood by faculty Saddler said students carefully choose their community in the resi dence halls but identify classrooms and common areas as exclusive spaces.

Dunbar has strong friendships with students involved in DEIB en gagement on campus. She hopes her office bridges the gap be tween the growing diversity in the student body and a faculty that is between 70% and 90% white.

“Our aim is to embed a culture of belonging throughout the entire

institution,” Dunbar said. Dunbar hopes the ODEIB educates and inspires faculty to create an inviting environment for all students.

By broadening their perspective from a “single story,” she hopes professors can empathize with all students and their experiences.

She also praises faculty who regularly engage in the office’s initia tives. “You have some people who are supporters of diversity, eq uity, inclusion, and belonging, who may show up for everything, like Father Dave Driesch,” she said.

“I definitely hope we help to strengthen people’s historical under standing so that they can ground the opinions they have in facts,” Dunbar said.

She hopes that faculty practice cultural sensitivity in their class rooms. Dunbar believes greater knowledge empowers faculty to teach students “in a more holistic and comprehensive way.”

Both Saddler and Dunbar agree that Cabrini has the potential to truly be a social justice campus. Improving communication between students and faculty is the first step.

“There’s always work to do,” Dunbar said.

Dwindling campus interest on Ukraine

By Sam Kirk Staff Writer

Many people are losing interest in the invasion of Ukraine that start ed in late February 2022. Reports show that since April 2022, the plummeting number of Google trend searches for the words “Kyiv” and “nuclear” show the declining interest among people worldwide.

“As the war continues, more people are just assuming it is over and done with since it is not on the front pages of the news anymore,” Veronica Charyna, sophomore chemistry major, said.

Charyna’s family is Ukrainian, and she has relatives currently fight ing on the war’s front lines. “I have several cousins and an uncle who are fighting who live outside the city of Lviv in western Ukraine near the Polish border,” she said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian soldiers forged a drone alliance providing a significant boost to Russia’s air strike capabilities. They have already uti lized these drones to do as much damage as possible to Ukrainian infrastructure.

Many expected that at the beginning of the war, Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, would fall within days, and Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, would be overthrown.

Nevertheless, Ukrainian forces worked hard to defend their nation.

From Feb. 24 to Oct. 2, 2022, a record 15,246 civilians were killed or injured by the Russian attacks on Ukraine. Both sides of the military forces have taken heavy losses as well.

About 25,000 Russian soldiers and 9,000 Ukrainian soldiers were killed in action.

Ukraine has lost about 20% of its land but continues fighting to re gain them. The war has already cost at least $113.5 billion and will cost even more to rebuild the country.

What can Cabrini do?

On the ground in Ukraine

The unprovoked Russian attacks on Ukraine have caused horrific problems for the country. Not only has the war crumbled its econ omy, but thousands of soldiers and civilians have been killed due to the many bombs that have been dropped throughout its cities.

Recent Russian attacks resulted in electrical lines going out. More than half the population has had no access to electricity for days at a time. The Russian military targeted energy and water infrastruc tures that have deeply affected civilians still in the area.

The community here at Cabrini seems to have lost interest in this story. Last year, at the beginning of the war, Cabrini held a prayer service in the campus’ chapel. Besides that, there has not been much of an effort to promote fundraisers or anything for those who need help.

“There should be more of an effort by Cabrini’s community to raise awareness of how we can support those in Ukraine,” Wyatt Haney, sophomore finance major, said.

There are many relief fundraisers looking for donors to support families affected by the war.

Lots of fundraising has been done through the Tryzub.

“The Ukrainian American Sports Center in Hosham has had sum mer picnics where a percentage of the profits went to the victims and the Ukrainian educational and cultural center who have hosted dinners, fairs, and other activities to raise money,” said Charyna.

The Center on Immigration at Cabrini sticks to their mission of promoting immigrant justice through advocacy, education, and re search. “We have organized a round table for raising awareness in our community about the war and the situation in Spring 2022,” Interim Director of the program Dr. Nune Grigoryan, said.

Photo by Sam Kirk.

Photo by Thomas Ryan.

Photo by Cecilia Canan.

Photo by Cecilia Canan.

Cabrini Swifties enter new era with ‘Midnights’

By Paige Bowman Staff Writer

The past two albums were filled with songs based on fictional char acters and scenarios. They were more whimsical rather than the dark mood of “Midnights.” The new album is based on 13 sleepless nights from Swift’s life.

Jamie Falgie, senior biology major, said, “When I first listened to it, I was expecting another genre. I was ready for indie music, like ‘Folklore’ and ‘Evermore.’ Once I listened to it more, I really enjoyed the album.”

Fans met at midnight, then surprised at 3 a.m. Eager Swifties stayed up all night to be among the first to hear “Mid nights.” As the clock struck midnight, 13 new songs were released. Then, at 3 a.m., a surprise release of seven more songs arrived. Swift called these new bonus tracks, “3 a.m. edition.”

Swift broke Spotify for a short time when the site crashed. There were over 8,000 outages early Friday morning.

For the first time ever in 64 years, a male artist is absent from the top 10 on the Billboard charts. Swift surpassed artists like the Beatles and Drake for the most songs in the top 100 in a week. “Anti-Hero” sits in the number one spot; this is Swift’s ninth song to peak at number one. To quote Swift, “That’s a real legacy to leave.”

Eras Tour

Taylor Swift has not gone on tour since before COVID-19. Since then, she has released four new albums and re-released two. She will return to the stage in March 2023, for the “Eras Tour.” The tour will play songs from every album she has produced. This is some thing Swift has never done before, as her tours usually focus on just one album.

Swift described the tour as “a journey through the musical eras of my career.”

Swift will return to her home state on May 12,13 and 14, 2023, where she will perform in Philadelphia at Lincoln Financial Field.

Cabrini students are in that “lavender haze” since Taylor Swift’s new album was released on Oct. 21. During the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards, Swift announced her plans to release album number 10. Since August, the hype and speculation of what the new era would sound like have flooded social media.

The short wait is over. “Midnights” is here and fans are happy.

Allison Wojton, senior accounting major, called “Midnights” jawdropping. “It’s nothing like she’s released before because it seems more about the lyrics than just a catchy tune. It’s brilliant,” she said.

New era calls for new sound “Midnights” favors past albums “Reputation” and “1989” rather than Swift’s most recent albums “Folklore” and “Evermore.” It is filled with moody indie pop vibes, a stark contrast to how her music has sounded for the past two years.

Jo Wallace, senior business major, stayed up until midnight to catch the new album drop. On early Friday morning, she had mixed feel ings, but the album is now a personal favorite.

Wallace said, “I had to really listen to the album more to understand the lyrics better. Afterward, I understood the meaning. I loved the whole album.”

Staying up late to listen to the album seemed to impact fans’ reac tions. Each time they listened to the album, the more they picked up its deeper messages. Many listeners speculated about the songs’ subjects and which sleepless nights they were based on. Some of the speculations include the night after the infamous VMAs moment when Kanye jumped on stage to steal her award and spotlight.

“I definitely had to listen to it more. After listening to it again on my morning commute I found a new love for the album,” Wojton said.

“Midnights” is not only jaw-dropping but record-breaking.

‘Enola Holmes’ movies represent female empowerment

By Victoria Giordano

When “Enola Holmes” was released on Netflix in 2020, and its se quel was released on Nov. 4, it wasn’t the films’ action-packed fun that gripped audiences. It was their themes of female empower ment, particularly in choice, freedom, and crime.

The movies were adapted from Nancy Springer’s book series, “The Enola Holmes Mysteries.“ The series tells the stories of the teen age mystery-solving sister of famous detective Sherlock Holmes. “Stranger Things” actress Millie Bobby Brown portrays the young detective, and “Man of Steel” actor Henry Cavill portrays Sherlock Holmes in the films.

Autonomy and patriarchy

Set in England’s Victorian era, the first film explains how Enola becomes a detective: while searching for her missing mother, she uncovers a mystery involving a young Lord. During her journeys, she grapples with society’s views on gender-based autonomy and patriarchy.

During the period in which the film is set, everything is under the control of mostly upper-class men. Whether it was their fathers, brothers, or husbands; women were governed by men and often forced into marriage.

Sherlock and Enola’s oldest brother, Mycroft Holmes, portrayed by “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” actor Sam Claflin, is Enola’s guardian. However, he makes Enola do things she refuses to do to fit in, such as attending finishing school to become an acceptable wife.

In regard to films in general, Courtney Kovatch, senior early and special education major, said, “There’s a lot of times where women are seen as less than. We need to make sure women are getting equal representation as authority figures, or being the ones that make the choice, or being the ones that have the opportunity to be more powerful.”

Carina Shady, junior English major, said, “Unfortunately, despite this progress, representations of empowered women still can fall into stereotypes such as the ‘angry woman,’ the ‘femme fatale,’ and the ‘overly emotional or crazy woman.’”

Gender inequality

The sequel continues the adventures of Enola as she becomes a

more professional detective. This time, she eagerly searches for a missing girl and combats gender inequality. Enola’s new mystery is loosely based on the 1888 Match Girls’ Strike. This strike was led by girls who worked in match factories fighting for better working condi tions. One of the characters was even based on a real-life match girl who led the strike, Sarah Chapman.

Kovatch believes women fighting together for what they believe in is one of the greatest ways to bring them together and to entail wom en’s empowerment. “We need to give women more positive roles,” she said.

Women solving crime

Since Enola is related to the famed fictional investigator, it’s not surprising that her mysteries involve unsolved crimes. She may be a fictional character, but she is also one of many fictional female detectives known in literature today. “Writing characters that are em powered and writing plotlines that show the women’s power,” said Dr. Marilyn Johnson, writing and narrative arts professor, are ways

that can influence young women to become more active in solving crimes and making a powerful impact in others’ lives. According to the jobs website Zippia, there are 14,759 detectives currently em ployed in the United States. Some 82.7% are men, but the other 7.3% are women.

“There’s always improvement to be done.”

The “Enola Holmes” films are some of many films that truly show what women are capable of. Johnson said, “There’s always im provement to be done, but … it’s way better than it used to be.”

“You’ll only really see progress if you see women depicted talking and engaging with each other on subjects other than men,” Dr. Paul Wright, writing and narrative arts professor, said.

Johnson agreed. “Many of the media bosses still have 19th-century mindsets and they think that women don’t want to watch powerful women.”Yet, Wright said there has been an improvement over the past 30 to 40 years because, “More and more women are getting involved in the production end of television and film.”

From producers to showrunners, franchise runners, writers, and actresses, “I can definitely assure you that there have been many steps forward,” he said.

Wright continued to say this doesn’t mean women are perfectly rep resented; the industry still has a lot of work to do.

“Today, more female directors and screenwriters are being appreci ated for their talents, and they are providing accurate and thoughtful depictions of women in their stories,” Shady said.

There are many films and TV shows that represent strong women like Enola to show audiences what it truly means to be a woman in society. Examples of these include “Game of Thrones,” “Won der Woman,” “Black Panther,” “Athlete A,” “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Good Girls,” and “Girls5eva.” Shows and films by Disney, such as, “WandaVision,” “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law,” “Cruella,” and “Malefi cent.”

“In my opinion, we’ve come a long way,” Kovatch said. “I feel like [the media] can do a better job of including all types of women in the media. I feel like we can do a better job of incorporating more.” “Enola Holmes” and “Enola Holmes 2” are now streaming on Netflix.

News Editor

Photo from Taylor Swift and Republic Records.

Photo by Paige Bowman.

Photo via Netflix.

Fit 4 U club aims to expand post COVID-19

By Chris Perri Staff Writer

With pandemic restrictions on campus lifted, Cabrini’s Fit 4 U club hopes to increase its activities and drive up membership.

Fit 4 U’s beginnings

Fit 4 U is a campus fitness club started in the fall of 2020 by thenfreshman exercise science major Kaitlyn Pancoast and Christel Darcelin, criminology and sociology double major. Pancoast is the club’s president, and Darcelin serves as its secretary. The club was founded to provide an outlet for students interested in fitness, but not in participating in any of the team sports or intramurals Cabrini offers.

One of the early challenges was finding a time for club meetings that worked for everyone. “Ideally, common hour would be a great time, but there are a lot of education majors in the club, so they always miss out on those opportunities. It’s difficult because I can’t have a complete win with getting everyone there,” Pancoast said.

Planning the meetings proved to be a challenge as well, due to is sues with reserving rooms and funding for certain activities. “It’s a huge process, so it’s hard for me to say ‘we’re going to have this on

this day,’” Pancoast said. Lack of funding also makes it difficult to organize activities that would attract potential new members. “If we were to have the funding available, we’d be able to do these bigger things like going to gyms, and I feel like those bigger things would get more people interested,” Pancoast said. “Obviously a lot of the things we don’t need money for, but it would definitely be very ben eficial to show people where we can go as a club.”

The lack of funding stems from the fact that every club has to fund raise for itself, which can be an arduous task. “It’s a very difficult and long process to get that funding,” Pancoast said.

However, more structure is something the club aims for this se mester. Their main source of marketing is through event calendars posted to its Instagram profile. “I’m just constantly trying to be in communication with the club, and try to give them at least a week in advance to know,” Pancoast said.

Future goals for Fit 4 U

The club is intended to serve as a welcoming place for students to come and get their minds off of their classes and schoolwork. “I just make sure to emphasize that this is a place where everyone’s wel come, no matter if they like working out or if they have worked out in the past. We’re also focusing a lot on mental health,” Pancoast said.

Alyssa Remington, sophomore graphic design and design manage ment major, is a member of the club who has found it to be benefi cial. “Before the club, I would go to the gym every now and then just to get my mind off of school. It helps my mental health pretty well, and it gives me something to do with my roommates,” she said.

Many of the club’s participants share that same sentiment. “A lot of people have come up to me and said ‘I’ve never worked out before, and this is fun,’ or ‘I feel comfortable being here and doing this,’” Pancoast said. “I really try to focus on the members and get feed back from them because it’s more so about them.”

Finding the time to stay active while balancing a busy college class schedule can be a huge challenge. “You don’t have to invest a lot of time or money into keeping yourself healthy. The key is consis tency,” Mark Greenwood, physical therapist and owner of Ultimate Wellness in Havertown, Pennsylvania, said. “If you can develop the habit of doing something, regardless of how little it is, if you elevate your heart rate, you can accomplish a lot. Your body will thank you for it.”

The future of the club is somewhat uncertain, as it’s not clear who will take over its leadership once the current executive board mem bers graduate. “A goal I’ll be focusing on at the end of this year into next year is finding someone who wants to take it over,” Pancoast said. “A lot of officers are either seniors right now or juniors with me. So, the goal is finding someone that will truly care about it and work hard at keeping this going.”

The club recently achieved its goal of landing a faculty advisor, Dr. Anjuli Gairola, an exercise science professor. “That’s a huge thing in making sure everything’s running smoothly, and doing what we need to be doing for the club,” Pancoast said.

Introducing House 67 Productions

By Victoria Emmitt Editor in Chief

This semester marks the first year for the Cabrini communication department’s newest student-led agency, House 67 Productions. Advised by John Doyle, assistant professor of video production, the agency offers a one-credit video practicum and allows students to produce studio content for the Cabrini community.

“House 67 is a production house that produces news, interviews, and basically the happenings around Cabrini, and it’s a place to tell stories that matter,” Amir Ings, senior digital communication major, said.

House 67 allows students to be on- or off-camera for a variety of content segments where they work hands-on from pre-production to post-production. The new production house is open to students no matter their skill level or comfort within a studio setting.

“Personally, I didn’t have much experience in the studio aspect of the communication department, so once I got in there on the camera for a while I asked if I could try something new. I was put on audio and got to test the levels of the microphones,” Erica Zebrowski, se nior digital communications major, said. “That was really cool to try different aspects of the studio.”

The agency meets every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. for a work session or shoot to produce studio news segments, interviews with impor tant people on campus and Loquitur reporters, as well as a seg

ment called “This Week at Cabrini” highlighting campus events and activities. Students also produce a sports wrap-up that includes the weekly news in Cabrini athletics and a sports roundtable.

Ings said, “My role is talent, so I help do the interviewsv ... We inter view about fun things happening on campus while also interviewing about more serious topics such as the safety of students,” he ex plained. “I don’t just do the interviews, I’ll switch back to behind-thescenes stuff with sound or video, and I also help with [social media] to get people to know about House 67.”

More than a class

House 67 Productions is more than just a class where students wor ry about getting work done for a grade. While grades are assigned, they are not based on the quality of the content but on the process of creating and are not the reason why the crew participates.

Ings said, “My favorite part is the community we’ve built around House 67 and what I like most about it is the passion everyone has in House 67. Everyone … wants to give the best quality work we possibly can.”

While House 67 is a class, it is focused on team building and fos tering an environment for students to produce content that is more diverse than the work they might produce in a required course with in the department. Not only does their content support the Cabrini community, but it also allows students to create content for profes sional reels or portfolios and grow their skills and interests within video production.

“It is about building a team structure around video production that isn’t classroom dependent,” Doyle said. “These are students who have signed up for the course or volunteered for the program and they have made a personal commitment to do the work. As a result, we can spend the time worrying about team building.”

This focus on collaboration is the main reason students want to work every Thursday no matter how late the night goes.

“We get the job done but also have fun doing it,” Zebrowski said. “You are learning as you go, you’re doing this with your peers and some people are more comfortable producing or directing, but you can learn how to do those and it’s easy. It’s a comfortable environ ment and people are willing to teach you.”

The future of House 67 Even though House 67 is new, the production team has a clear vi sion for its future and the growth they would like to see in coming se mesters. Being able to have their content shared on screens around Cabrini is at the top of the list.

“The future that we really want to achieve is to be on the TVs around campus even if it’s only an hour twice a week. We want to have more in-house production versus just seeing the weather channel on the TVs and you can’t engage with that,” Zebrowski said. “What we want is to get our faces up there and get the student’s faces up there to try and engage with people.”

Campus engagement is a top priority for House 67 and the content they produce. Being able to inform students about things happening on campus and engage with them about the topics they are inter

ested in whether that be video games, pop culture, or sports the crew wants to be able to create more of a sense of life on campus.

“There are a load of video monitors around campus that are black and this content could be present on those monitors and bring a sense of life. Seeing fellow students on those screens creates life on campus,” Doyle said. “For me, there is a sense of these students being able to be active creators of campus community.”

Photo by Sydnee Reddy.

Photo by Ryan Byars.

Photo by Ryan Byars.

Photo by John Doyle.

How to survive college as an introvert

By Micah Balobalo Staff Writter

On college campuses, there are people who are outgoing, social, and like to have fun. These people are extroverts. Others are the complete opposite: quiet, shy, and like to be alone. These people are introverts. Some studies show that introverts make up 40% of the student body in schools, whether it be in middle school, high school, or college.

People fail to understand and often misjudge introverts. One of the main misjudgments is that introverts are no fun.

Many introverts like to be in their own space, and when liv ing on campus, it can be a very common thing to stay in your room. Leaving your dorm to go to the lounge is a great idea and can help you be comfortable in a different space. Most resident halls at Cabrini have lounge areas available for students anytime. Also, most of them have activities for students to use, such as a TV where you can watch movies and shows, or play video games, a pool table where you can play with others, tables and chairs for studying, and couches that can be used to just sit and relax. The lounge areas are there for a reason!

Different events happen on campus every week. These events are created for students to have fun with one an other through games, contests, or simply listening to a guest speaker. Attending these events can give you something to do and help you branch out. As an introvert, you can also at tend sports games. They are fun to watch and by supporting and cheering on your school’s team you will feel included among your peers. Even if you are attending the game alone you can just sit, watch, relax, and have a good time!

Colleges can be located near malls, movie theaters, res taurants, and museums. It’s good to explore other places besides your dorm, classroom, and dining hall. Taking some time in your day and visiting one of these places can help you engage in trying something new for the week other than being at school, whether it is shopping, eating, people watching, or taking a stroll.

Sometimes as an introvert it is hard or overwhelming to have a big group of friends. But finding a friend or two who can re late to you can be more than enough to keep you company. You will be able to relate, talk, and do things that you both like. But most importantly, you can be yourself and not have to worry about impressing them or catering to their needs. You can find introverted friends through classes, events, or workplaces.

Having alone time can easily be the best thing to do in col lege as an introvert, which is the one thing that I love doing the most.

I am a junior, and have been an introvert throughout college. When I was a freshman back in 2020, everyone told me I had to branch out to make connections, friends, and have fun. Through the years, I have experienced great things even as an introvert, and I have fun and do things in college in my own way.

Eight things to do in college as an introvert: 1.) Join a club

Every college offers many clubs students can join. This can be one of the best ways to break out of your shell and make some new friends. It is best to find clubs that match your in terest to make friends who have things in common with you. It may be hard and uncomfortable at first, but after meeting people, it will all be worth it.

An activity as simple as taking a walk can give students something to do. Being in nature can be relaxing, keep your mind off of things like schoolwork, and you can explore what your area has to offer. There is something about walking in nature that gives a soothing and relaxing feeling.

Being an introvert doesn’t mean that you hate loud noises, or your surrounding areas need to be quiet all the time. Most of the time, lying in bed and listening to music is fun and relaxing. It helps introverts with their introspection. Playing your favorite artist or playlist will be fun, especially if you are blasting it on a speaker, which is my personal favorite!

During this time, you can focus on things that don’t involve school. Sometimes, being too focused on school and being around other people can be exhausting physically and mentally for an introvert. Making sure to spend time with yourself through self-care, taking a nap, or just chilling can help you relax your mind. Most importantly, it helps you recharge your mind. For an introvert, building alone time into your day can make you feel the most comfortable and safe, since you are able to just be you. Being an introvert doesn’t stop you from having fun like everyone else in college, nor does it mean that you are boring. It just means that the things that keep you oc cupied are different from others. There is no need to live up to oth ers’ expectations of what having fun in college means because you are your own person. As an introvert myself, I have learned that respecting your own introverted nature can help you survive during your college years.

Making magic on and offstage

By Gianna McGann Staff Writer

Tucked away in a not-so-visible area of the campus you will find stu dents of all years practicing for the next performance of the Cabrini Theatre.

Cabrini Theatre started in 2006 and continues today with produc tions performed in the fall and spring semesters. The theater sparks students’ creativity, stages premieres, and also offers musicals, drama, improv, student work, and produces original cast recordings.

Between working on stage and behind the scenes in stage and tech crew, construction, set design, costume design, lighting, and sound, we are able to produce top-quality entertainment while learning about the arts. Cabrini prides itself on being an integral part of the arts in the local community.

No place like home

Our theater team calls the stage “home.” It’s a place where we get to live out our fantasies of being someone or somewhere else.

I began participating in school theatre productions in fourth grade at Mater Dei Catholic School in Lansdale, Pennsylvania. The first musical I was featured in was Peter Pan Jr., where I was cast as an extra. I was so nervous at first but it helped that my old sister, Shan non, portrayed the role of Mrs. Darling in the show.

Theater has helped change me into the young woman I am today. Becoming an actress on either Broadway or television has been my

dream since I was a little girl. I’ve always loved singing, dancing, and acting with friends, family, and classmates.

When I was little, I was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome and ADHD. This made going through school and life a little bit harder for me because I always felt different. It has been hard for me to make friends in school and I was often bullied by other students. Theater and acting have been my escape from reality. When I step onstage, the world around me, and all the challenges I face, disappear.

Welcome to all Theater can be beneficial to students and help give them life skills. Many students find that theater helps them develop the confi dence that’s essential to speaking clearly, lucidly, and thoughtfully. Through performing and collaborating with peers in a university set ting, we become part of a close-knit community, passionate about the performing arts.

I think that most people who are in theater look for the program, rather than the program finding them; it seems most people who are interested in theater are already attracted to it.

Every member of the Cabrini community and the general public are welcome to show up to support the Cabrini theater and watch us put on our best performances.

Information about this activity can be found on the Student Theatre page of Cabrini’s website or on the Cabrini Theatre Instagram page. The program’s current director is Kaitlin Glenn. Also part of the team is Mary Katherine Sapata, Emma Tribbett, and pianist Dan Mata

razzo. Plays are showcased in Grace Hall, on the university website, or on social media platforms.

Past Cabrini Theatre shows include “Little Shop of Horrors” last spring, “Almost, Maine,” “Moon Over Buffalo,” “Avenue Q,” “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” “Twelve Angry Jurors,” and “Godspell,” among others.

Our fall production, Dec. 1 and 2 will be a Broadway cabaret-themed variety show performed in Grace Hall Atrium. Students will perform solo and duet songs and monologues from Broadway plays and musicals.

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from pexels.

Photo from Cabrini University Flickr.

Photo from Cabrini University Flickr.

Photo from Cabrini University Flickr.

The hunt for Red October

By Samantha Taddei Staff Writer

In 2017, the improbable Philadelphia Eagles advanced to the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots as an underdog team. Ap pearing in their eighth Super Bowl in 15 years, winners of five, the Pats were also mired in multiple cheating scandals.

Five years later, we had a sequel to the Eagles’ improbable run, but this time it happened on a baseball diamond.

On Oct. 23, the underdog Philadelphia Phillies made their way to the World Series for the first time since 2009, ending a long, difficult 13-year drought for Philly fans. Their World Series opponents were the juggernaut Houston Astros.

The Astros are one of the best Major League Baseball teams in de cades, appearing in their fourth World Series in six years. But much like the Patriots, the Astros are marked by one of the biggest cheat ing scandals in MLB history.

The Astros’ Jose Altuve was a key figure in the sign-stealing scan dal, much like Tom Brady was the central figure in the Patriots’ de flated football scandal. Once again, the sports world was forced to root for the Phillies, the baseball team of their least favorite city

The atmosphere was electric Going into the Series, the Astros were heavy favorites. Most thought the Phillies’ luck would run out and it would be a clean Astros sweep. But the Phillies shocked everyone by roaring back from a 5-0 deficit to win 6-5 and steal Game 1 in Houston. After dropping Game 2 in Houston, the Phillies returned home to the friendly confines of Citi zens Bank Park where they met a raucous crowd and destroyed the Astros 7-0, hitting five home runs to take Game 3.

Avery Byrnes, a senior biology major, is a lifelong Phillies fan who attended all of the games in the World Series. “The atmosphere was electric and, of course, very loud. Everyone around was cheering on the Phillies as much as they could but also booing the other teams as well. Philly fans were having the times of their lives,” Byrnes said.

The Phillies had the upper hand going into Game 4 the next night at home in Philadelphia. However, the tide quickly turned as the Astros, behind Cristian Javier, the Astros’ hottest pitcher coming into the Series, silenced the Phillies’ bats with a World Series first: a combined no-hitter.

Javier pitched the first six innings before handing the ball to the best bullpen in the league, Bryan Abreu, Rafael Montero and Ryan Pressly, who finished off the Phillies in a 5-0 victory. With the win, the Astros took back the home field advantage and evened the Series at two games apiece.

Early in Game 5, the Phillies struggled at the plate. This game matched the Atlantic League’s probable Cy Young award winner, pitcher Justin Verlander, against the Phillies’ late season pitching addition, Noah Syndergaard. Astros rookie Jeremy Pena was the star of the game with three hits in four at-bats, two RBIs, and the go-ahead homer in the fourth inning.

But the real story of Game 5 was missed opportunities. The Phillies magic disappeared as they could not come up with a key hit, leaving a whopping 12 runners on base. They had their chances to break the game open but ended up going 1-7 with runners in scoring posi tion. The Astros took two out of three Philly games and headed back home for Games 6 and 7.

“One game at a time” was the Phillies motto going into Game 6 in Houston. Facing a must-win situation, they had to win Game 6 in order to force a Game 7. It was a fierce pitching duel with both starters, Zach Wheeler and Framber Valdez, posting five shutout innings. Kyle Schwarber started the scoring in the top of the sixth with a mammoth home run, giving the Phillies the 1-0 lead and the fans hope for a game 7.

But manager Rob Thomson made a crucial mistake by going to the bullpen too early. The Astros answered with a three-run Yordan Al varez home run, which capped a four-run inning. The Astros bullpen did the rest and closed out a 4-1 Game 6 win over the Phillies and their second World Series title in six years.

“Losing in the World Series was very disappointing, but this team barely made the playoffs and played extremely tough through each series. Everyone counted us out from the beginning, but we contin ued to prove them wrong. I think the future holds a lot for the Phillies as we are a young team that has a lot of potential,” Byrnes said.

Although this Philadelphia “Cinderella Story” sequel might not have ended with a champions parade down Broad Street like the 2017 Eagles Super Bowl team, it had the same impact on the city. The Phillies Red October ended with a heartbreaking loss, but it was a

historic season that will be remembered.

This group of underdogs, who had no business being in the World Series in the first place, not only captured the hearts and imagina tion of all Philadelphia fans, but baseball fans all across America as well. With a perfect blend of youth, veterans, chemistry, and a play

Men’s swim team starts season with blowout win over Kings College

By Jake Cavanaugh Staff Writer

Cabrini University men’s swimming team opened its 2022-23 sea son with a one-sided victory over Kings College. The final score was 123-49.

“This year, our training has been further intensified, so regardless of our small size, we hope to bring home the conference title for the fifth year in a row,” Matt Seifried, junior finance major and swimmer, said. “We maintained confidence in our abilities, while also staying humble.”

Seifried’s first event of the day was the 200-yard medley which in cluded teammates Kenny Lok, junior business management major; Mac Granto, fifth-year grad student and global masters in business administration major; and Jeffery Travers, freshman exercise sci

ence major. The team won the event with a total time of 1:46.69.

Seifried won two individual races: the 200-yard freestyle, with a time of 1:53.68, and the 100-yard butterfly, with a time of 57.84.

“It felt awesome to open the season with a win, especially with how fast we swam at our first meet,” Michael Gray, junior business man agement major and swimmer, said.

Gray won three events at the meet.

The first was the 50-yard freestyle, with a time of 22.42. The second was the 100-yard breaststroke at 1:03.73. His third win of the day was the 200-yard freestyle relay at 1:32.14.

Expectations for the season

“Some expectations that the team and I share for this season is to maintain our de termination to win,” Seifried said. “As the season pro gresses, I look to improve my races by dropping time. This can be achieved by working on little techniques in practice and consistently giving 100 percent.”

Last year, Cabrini men’s swim team finished 14 out of 18 in their Eastern College Athletic Conference Cham pionship, with a regular season record of 10-2, and a 3-0 Atlantic East Confer ence, AEC, a playoff record.

They finished first in all three AEC races, securing the conference championship.

“Our team is smaller compared to others in the conference, but we know that we can still compete and win despite the size of our ros ter,” Gray said.

The men’s swim team consists of around nine swimmers, while most teams in the AEC consist of at least 12 or more.

“This year we have a small team, roughly eight swimmers, most teams have 14. We walked away excited, but also understood the season would bring more challenges,” Seifried said.

Postgame emotions

“We made it our goal to start this season faster than we did last year, so it felt good to come out swimming fast,” Gray said. “Starting off with a win is the way any team wants to start their season. We know that the meet wasn’t perfect and that it’s back to work come Monday.”

Cabrini men’s swim team started their 2021-22 season in a similar fashion, leading off against Kings College.

“I was able to feel the hard work I put into our training paying off. This gave me the confidence that this season would be a good one for me and the team as a whole,” Seifried said.

Cabrini men’s swim team started their conference play this season 0-2 after falling short to Marymount University and St. Marys College of Maryland.

Photo courtesy of Julia Taddei.

Photo courtesy of Corkie Ziegler.

Cabrini athletics welcomes a new face

By Santino Terranova Sports Editor

Cabrini University welcomes a new face to its athletics department: Assistant Athletics Communications Director Mark Weaver.

Weaver held the athletics communications assistant position at Stet son University in DeLand, Florida, where he oversaw media opera tions for eight varsity sports programs. Media operations included social media, game day operations, and managing the media table at men’s basketball games.

Before he was at Stetson, he spent two years as the graduate as sistant sports information director at the University of Lynchburg in Virginia. At Lynchburg, he covered 10 conference championships and four NCAA championship appearances across 23 sports.

What he’ll bring to the table “I’m really just excited to bring my creativity, ideas, and passion for college sports to Cabrini athletics. Having come from two Division III schools, and then having a year stint at a Division I school, I’ve definitely gotten a lot of experience and a lot of ideas and knowledge from being at those different institutions,” Weaver said.

Weaver wanted to come to Cabrini after learning about the history of its athletics department and its close relationships with student athletes.

Weaver said, “We’re in this industry to give the student athletes the best experience for their four years.” Weaver believes sports story telling is a neglected strength.

“I have a strong ability to write and tell stories. I know some people think that writing is kind of going away from being a popular form of media, but I disagree. I feel that people still love to read, and especially when it comes to sports ... I’m able to tell that story and I get excited to tell those,” he said. He also said video is useful for telling athlete stories.

He hopes to help the department be “more creative and entertaining on the video side of things, whether it’s creating TikToks or Reels for Instagram, and again, creating an entertaining environment for the student athletes and alumni. As an alumnus of Susquehanna University, I enjoy seeing what

they are doing there. It makes me happy to see how much they’ve

excelled from when I first started there to when I graduated. I want the alumni of Cabrini to feel the same way,” Weaver said.

Weaver said of his creativity, “I like to think outside the box, and a lot of things within sports information I feel can be a little bit old school. So, I feel like being on the younger end in this industry really helps to bring more creativity to the position and the industry. I like to come up with fun ideas and try different things, take things from pop culture references or music and T.V. shows, and try to incorporate that the best I can into what we do here.”

How his experience will help “It was a little bit overwhelming at first because I went from being a graduate assistant at a small Division III school at the University of Lynchburg, to ... Division I. So, I was thinking, ‘Wow this is the big dogs,’ and I was just handed an NCAA Division I men’s basketball team,” Weaver said. “I got a lot of hands-on experience to get media contacts if people wanted to do interviews with players or coaches, all of that came through me.”

He traveled with the team to Georgia Tech, Kennesaw State, and Florida Gulf Coast University to see how they all operated, observed the way they ran their media tables, and retained that information to bring with him wherever he ended up next.

Weaver said he’ll promote Cabrini student athletes and each athlet ics program by, “paying attention to every program and making sure that each program gets as much love as the other ones; not to focus too much on one specific program, because you don’t ever want to leave anyone out, you know? You always want to give everyone equal opportunity, equal chance to have their own platform, and so, I really want to give that to every team.”

He believes it’s about the student athletes: making sure they’re all getting equal amounts of time on social media, interviews, and any thing the athletics department puts out and publishes to give them enough time in the spotlight.

“Cabrini is the right place for me to be because I have the mantra that things happen for a reason,” Weaver said. He said getting the job as the assistant athletics communications director was the right thing that was supposed to happen to him at the right time.

What made him the right candidate James Wagner, athletics communications director, said, “Mark has a good balance of what I call the old school sports information back ground. A lot of the newer stuff is social media, video, but he has the background of statistics and story writing.”

Weaver’s Division I and Division III background stood out the most to Wagner. Wagner said Weaver will bring new ideas to the table, “We’ve already implemented some new social media stuff. He did something for Halloween Havoc where he had the teams ranked on Instagram.”

Wagner has lots of confidence in Weaver’s experience, background, and the mix of tools he brings to Cabrini’s athletics department.

Dilemma for student athletes: to be paid or not be paid

By Jedidah Antwi Staff Writer

The NCAA made $1.15 billion in 2021. Considering the massive amount of money taken in by collegiate sports, there is an ongoing debate about whether student athletes should be paid.

Some of the issues are whether student athletes should be paid for their likeness and image, or if they deserve equal pay regardless of their division.

The complexity of the issue

Orlin Jespersen, Cabrini’s associate director of athletics and recre ation, explained the complexity of the issue. Jespersen said each NCAA division approaches athletics in a different way, establishing its own bylaws and guidelines.

Many NCAA rules share the same basic principles and are compa rable, but there are differences in how the regulations are applied. One example Jespersen gave is that scholarships are accessible in Division I but not in Division III.

“It’s really hard to give a blanket answer because each division is so different,” Jespersen said.

All of the rules that have been created for the three divisions are designed to preserve the student athlete experience. These rules protect student athletes during the recruiting process so they can decide where to go without additional pressure or other interference.

Jespersen also mentioned states’ legislation on name, image, and likeness, often called NIL. Some states have passed laws regarding NIL. However, these laws only apply to schools in those states. For example, California’s SB 26 dictates that student athletes can make money from their NIL, but only at schools in California.

In the past, according to Jespersen, the NCAA has made an effort to ensure that everyone functions under the same conditions. Now, that is more difficult because different states have passed their own legislation.

Jespersen said some people argue that Division I student athletes, especially those from large universities and the power five confer ences, should get paid because of the revenue sports generate, especially basketball and football.

But a student’s eligibility for school loans may be impacted if they have a sponsorship agreement or are earning money through their NIL. The student would also be responsible for paying taxes on their income.

Division III student athletes don’t have the same resources as those at a Division I school. A Division III athlete receives financial aid from their school, which does not offer athletic scholarships. If a student earns money through their NIL, that will reduce their financial aid.

“It’s a really hard question because there are many different levels to it,” Jespersen said.

Jespersen believes it is beneficial for student athletes to have some income potential. Nevertheless, he believes there are potential chal lenges and opportunities for exploitation.

Money isn’t supposed to be a recruiting inducement for those high er-level Division I institutions, Jesperson explained. Although he doesn’t claim that athletic departments are doing this, boosters and other individuals might. Such an effort might persuade students, in particular, high-level recruits, to enroll in a certain program.

For example, Jeremy Bloom played on the University of Colorado’s football team in 2001 and 2002. Bloom also skied in the 2002 Winter Olympics. He couldn’t receive any sponsorship money to pay for his skiing competition, travel, or equipment, because it went against NCAA guidelines. If he accepted sponsorships, he couldn’t play football at the university.

He refused sponsorships until it came time to train for his second Olympics. Since sponsors are the only way many athletes can af

ford to participate in the Olympics, Bloom agreed, and his college football career was cut short. He breached his status as an amateur, according to the NCAA, and was permanently disqualified from play ing football during his junior and senior years.

Another example Jespersen offered is a student athlete who might have an interest in acting. They are not allowed to work in advertise ments, movies, or other similar projects for pay. Although their acting might have nothing to do with football, if they are an athlete, the rules prevent them from being compensated for their NIL.

The student athlete perspective

Ethan Gill, junior exercise major, plays on Cabrini men’s baseball team. According to Gill, student athletes should be paid for the many hours they devote to their sport and education.

He believes student athletes should receive a higher scholarship amount or some other form of compensation. “Just because we are DIII, it doesn’t mean that we don’t work as hard DI and DII,” Gill said.

He also thinks that Division III institutions should have the same ac cess to athletic scholarships as other divisions.

“We should get some sort of financial assistance while we’re in col lege to help us with our college experience for on the field and off the field,” Gill said.

Sage Klein, senior elementary and special education major and de fender on Cabrini men’s soccer team, believes that collegiate sports are more of a passion than a professional endeavor. He also noted that DI sports generate far more income than DIII sports. The level of play, in his opinion, is a factor.

Even with the physical risks and potential injuries that come with sports, Klein doesn’t think that student athletes should get paid.

“It’s a choice, you choose to play,” Klein said.

Photo courtesy of Cabrini Athletics.