March 09, 2023 issue 06 Loquitur

Cabrini Field Hockey’s unlikely sisterhood

By Kyleigh Brunotte Assistant Managing Editor

Both Adrianna Jones, sophomore nursing major, and Daly Ewing, junior finance major, are members of Cabrini’s outstanding field hockey team. They are also very close with their mothers. However, over the last two years, the teammates needed to dig into the same grit and perseverance that brought them back-to-back Atlantic East Conference championships and two NCAA appearances after finding out their moms had cancer.

In October 2021, Jones found out her mother, Diane Jones, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. “She [Diane] is one of the most caring people and would do anything she can for someone in need ... my mom is my best friend and I’m so happy to have her as my mom,” Jones said. As the mother of six children, three biological and three adopted through foster care, Diane’s strength has been inspirational to all she has encountered.

“She started chemo right away and she had a double mastectomy,” said Jones. While Diane is still taking oral chemotherapy, she is improving.

In September 2022, Ewing’s mom, Maura Ewing, told Daly she was diagnosed with an early form of endometrial cancer.

“My mom is someone I strive to emulate. She is the strongest person I have ever known,” Ewing said, “She is kind, intelligent, caring, and never afraid to speak her mind ... She never fails to make her children feel special and support us in whatever we do. If you come to a field hockey game you’ll definitely know she’s there. She’s the loudest voice in the crowd and she fully owns it.”

Ewing credits her value of family to Maura. “My family is my whole world, and she has taught me the importance and value of family,” Ewing said. “[Maura] is everything, I would be nowhere without her,” Ewing said.

After a hysterectomy, Maura is cancer free Jones and Ewing were both utterly shocked to hear these diagnoses and unaware of the toll it would take on their lives as college student athletes.

Jones said, “As a student, you kind of know what you have to do, it is already laid out for you. But as an athlete, it comes down to a mental space when you’re playing. So, knowing that and still having to go to practice … your mind is on other things.”

“It always felt like there was something nagging in the back of my mind, and I remember in one game I was like, ‘I played terrible,’ and I felt like I was playing with 200 pounds on my back,” Ewing said.

“Ohana”

means family

During these hard times, Jones and Ewing both saw field hockey as an outlet. Being able to play field hockey allowed them to take their minds off things for a while.

“The coaches were so helpful, so understanding, always checking up, constantly [asking], ‘Hey, how are you?’ or ‘What’s going on?’ And my teammates, I love them more than anything in the world,” Ewing said.

The supportive culture of Cabrini’s field hockey team is recognized by many, including the coaching staff.

“There is a real sense of community,” Jackie Neary, head coach of Cabrini’s field hockey and women’s lacrosse teams, said.

As a coach of players facing such adversities, “It raises your empathy, and what I value most about it that I have seen in my 27 years at Cabrini is the grit and the resilience that these student athletes have when someone in their family is facing a diagnosis,” Neary said.

“It doesn’t surprise me how great A [Adrianna] and Daly are because when you meet their moms, you get it. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. They come from lovely families, and that’s what makes them so special,” Neary said.

“Daly and A are great examples of two young ladies that faced adversity this fall and turned it into something motivating and inspiring to all of us.”

Advice to all

There are countless stigmas surrounding athletes and “looking strong,” unfazed, and independent. Jones and Ewing want others to know the power of utilizing resources and asking for help.

“Don’t try to go through it alone, don’t be afraid to say what is going on in your life because going through it alone is only going to hurt yourself,” Jones said.

Ewing agreed and shared a similar message. “I didn’t tell people, and I was struggling. And that one game, I just broke down and started crying and saying, ‘I can’t do this.’ And then I was like, ‘Why didn’t I tell anyone? I need help, so why didn’t I ask for it?’”

Jones and Ewing emphasized the benefits of speaking out when struggling. “Help is always there, it’s not embarrassing, no one is going to make fun of you. [Resources] are only going to help you feel better,” Ewing said.

Neary concurred. “You’ve got to talk, don’t try to shoulder the entire weight of whatever it might be that you’re facing. That’s the beauty of being a part of a team and a community, you can talk to people … have those honest conversations about what you are afraid of [and] what you’re hopeful for.”

Educating the community

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Cabrini field hockey participated in Play4TheCure. On one game day in October, the team donated money to fund cancer research, and more importantly to coach Neary, to educate the community. Players listen to a guest speaker each year and hear their personal experiences with cancer.

“More important to me as a female is for my players to gain knowledge,” Neary said. “This year’s speaker talked about self-examinations ... Something that is really great when you are sitting in a room with 24 girls [is] knowing that more than likely somebody is going to be touched by it [cancer], and if they have these unique stories that they are hearing every fall, I think it’s priceless.”

“[My goal] is more about the awareness than it is monetary,” Neary said.

Cabrini men’s lacrosse cruises past Haverford Page 6

Campus Ministry is a home away from home Page 4

Photo by Macaul Mellor.

WE ARE THE

2022-2023 Editorial Staff

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

VICTORIA EMMITT

MANAGING EDITOR

VICTORIA EMMITT

VISUALS EDITOR

THOMAS RYAN

NEWS EDITORS

JACOB PEGAN

JOHN RADER

SPORTS EDITOR

SANTINO TERRANOVA

LIFESTYLES EDITOR

HANNAH POGGI

PERSPECTIVES EDITOR

ISAIAH DICKSON

PODCAST EDITOR

LASHAY SMITH

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

SOPHIA GERNER ADVISER

WENDY ROSENFIELD

Student loan forgiveness benefits everyone

By Loquitur Editorial Board

As the Loquitur editorial staff, we have a cumulative student debt totaling $116,000. Two out of the seven editors are fortunate enough to not have student loan debt but unlike many who complain that student debt relief is unfair, they still advocate for debt relief.

Perspectives editor Isaiah Disckson said, “People don’t make enough money to pay off these loans because they can’t get a high enough paying job and that ultimately affects future generations.” Dickson has no student loan debt.

On Aug. 24, 2022, the Biden administration announced a three-part government student loan forgiveness plan. In the announcement, President Biden claimed that individuals who made under $125,000 or families who made under $250,000 would qualify for up to $20,000 in student loan forgiveness. It also aims to fix the system for current and future borrowers, reducing tuition and holding universities accountable for rising tuition costs, and making community college free.

Thousands of U.S. residents hoping for life-changing loan forgiveness are now left wondering if Pres. Biden’s campaign promise will come true. The debt cancellation program is now being blocked by the Supreme Court, which on Feb. 28 heard arguments from six Republican-led states and two individuals who do not qualify for relief.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, student loan repayment has been deferred since March 2020, and 69% of graduates are worried about repayment starting again this summer. Forty-eight percent of college graduates reported living paycheck to paycheck on top of their 20-year student loan payments, which can start at $200 a month.

Student debt forgiveness is vital for everyone

There are many reasons why the student debt forgiveness plan is vital for us as future members of the workforce. For most Americans, some debt will carry over after college. According to Vox, Biden’s proposal would entirely wipe out student debt for 20 million people — nearly half of the total number of Americans who borrowed to pay for college and are still paying the loans back.

Some of these debtors were unable to finish their education. Others graduated and, saddled with a 4.9% interest rate, are still paying back their loans after decades in the workforce. Students who wish to attend universities in countries outside of the U.S., namely Switzerland, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, and Israel have the luxury of not

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.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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

paying tuition, this creates a less stressful environment post-college. According to the World Happiness Report done by the world happiness report, all of the countries listed above apart from the U.S. scored higher on their overall happiness rating. As it is proven, the amount of financial struggles of former and current college students is detrimental to our overall well-being.

Student loans have been on the minds of struggling college students for decades, and are the reason many either drop out or are uninterested in attending college. Forty-five million Americans carry student loan debt. About 43 million of these students federal loan borrowers. Whose debt totals about $1.63 trillion.

Many people may argue that student loans are a personal commitment and borrowers must be held accountable for the action, however, the trillions of dollars of debt are a detriment to the U.S. economy and has a direct effect on business growth and consumer spending. The weight of student loans on borrowers’ backs has prevented entire generations from being able to buy a house, save for retirement, or plan for their children’s financial future. .These are milestones previous generations have hit with ease.

According to the Education Data Initiative high debt to income ratio can severely reduce the chances of mortgage eligibility. For every $1000 owned in student loans homeownership declines by 1.8 %. The student loan system also disproportionately affects Black students, whose wages consistently lag behind those of their white peers. Debt relief would help close some financial inequalities in the U.S.

Cost of living vs. inflation

Living as a college student is not cheap, which adds to the lack of affordability of higher education. Between housing, food, clothing, and other bills, the average annual cost of living for U.S. college students is $14,435, yet Pennsylvania’s minimum wage of $7.25 per hour has not risen since 2008.

A positive step forward

After hearing the weight of student debt might be lifted off of everyone’s shoulders, we now must wait for individuals who benefitted from lower tuition costs and a lower cost of living to determine the outcome. Not only will the student debt relief plan help build a stronger economy, but it will also allow people to plan for and invest in their futures.

Drinan staying as Cabrini interim president

By Jacob Pegan

It’s been nearly a year since Helen Drinan took over the presidency of Cabrini University in an interim capacity.

Since the 2022 fall semester, a presidential search committee has been searching for the right candidate to become Cabrini’s next president.

On the morning of Monday, Feb. 13, an email was sent out on behalf of Amy Lambert, the chair of Cabrini’s board of trustees and a member of Cabrini’s presidential search committee. The email stated that the board voted to cease the presidential search, and to extend Drinan’s contract as interim president.

The board of trustees said they have full confidence in Drinan. They have asked her to stay through the completion of the three-year recovery plan approved at the October 2022 board meeting.

Faculty reactions

“President Drinan has been an excellent leader for Cabrini in the short time that she’s been with our campus,” said Michelle Filling-Brown, Dean of Academic Affairs. ”She’s created considerable positive momentum for our campus and having the stability of her leadership for the next few years will create positive organizational change.”

Dr. Dawn Francis, chair of the communication department and a member of the search committee said, “I was surprised by the decision to disband the presidential search committee because we were moving deeper into the process of beginning to vet potential candidates.”

Student reactions

Many students are happy with Drinan staying as interim president for the next three years. “I think it makes sense since she’s the one that made the three-year plan,” said Maggie Kelly, junior early education and special education major. “There’s also, now, less anxiety around having to find a new president by the end of the year.”

The original plan for the committee was to select a new president by the 2023-2024 school year.

The search committee included the president of the Student Government Association, senior criminology and psychology major Emily Wainwright,

as a student representative. Like Francis, Wainwright was surprised by the board’s decision.

“My initial reaction was that I didn’t know exactly what was happening. We had interviews scheduled for candidates that we were previously looking at,” Wainwright said. “They had sent us an email saying that the interview dates got canceled.”

What happens now?

For now, Drinan will be Cabrini’s interim president until the school’s three-year recovery plan is fully executed. The three-year recovery plan in October 2022 will help the school to achieve the financial stability that is required to maintain independence.

To do this, Cabrini is considering possible partnerships with other institutions of higher education. Cabrini has already made progress on reducing its operating budget and launched online Doctorate in Educational Leadership Program (EdD).

This online EdD program is just one example of planned growth in Cabrini’s adult education. Collaboration with other institutions of higher education such as coummity colleges will expand both its undergraduate and graduate populations. With questions about Cabrini’s future still looming over the school, many hope Drinan’s recovery plan can get Cabrini on the right path to success.

News Editor

Photo courtesy of Simmons University

Mental health concerns drive ‘The Great Resignation’

By Chris Perrri

Assistant Editor-In-Chief

Record numbers of Americans are quitting their jobs, largely in part due to mental health concerns.

According to a study conducted by career guidance service JobSage, out of 2,000 people polled, 28% reported leaving due to mental health concerns. The same study found that two out of five respondents said that work has the worst impact on their mental health, with one out of five respondents said that their employer doesn’t do enough to support their mental health.

Andre Silva Cunha, junior computer and information sciences major, spoke about his experience leaving his job. “I started working right out of high school at a mechanic shop. It was over 40 hours a week, and it got to the point where my mental health and my life outside of work was being interrupted,” he said. “It drove me to that next step of thinking about what I wanted to do, and it eventually did lead me to leave that job.”

Cunha also emphasized the lack of structure and respect from management that led him to leave. “That drove me into a lot of stress because I had to deal with a lot of things on my own, and especially at a young age, I don’t think I was ready for that,” he said.

“I was taking up a lot of responsibilities at once. It was to a point where I would complain about certain things and expect action and accountability from the ownership. I felt like I wasn’t being heard or valued, and that’s what pushed me over the edge.”

Contributing factors

“We all want to feel like we’re valued and respected. If we’re in an environment where we’re being questioned or everything we bring to the table is immediately shot down, then that essentially makes us feel like we’re not being appreciated in a work setting,” said Ashley Grant, an adjunct professor in Cabrini’s psychology department. “That could really affect our ability to do our job and our tendency to want to speak up.”

“The Great Resignation”

The trend, also referred to as “The Great Resignation,” a term coined by Dr. Anthony Klotz, is largely accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, according to an article from the Harvard Business Review, the rate of people leaving their jobs has risen each year since 2009, before dipping down in 2020 then spiking back up again in 2021. In 2022, 50.5 million people quit their jobs, an increase of almost 3 million from 2021.

Cunha worked at the mechanic shop for approximately a year and a half but stuck around for three months after he had began to considering leaving. “I was expecting some change to happen, because I was outspoken about what I thought needed to be changed, but I guess my opinion wasn’t valued,” he said.

A hostile workplace can wreak havoc on a person’s mental health and cause them to leave their job. “If people have negative interactions with coworkers, or they feel like they’re being criticized by their bosses, that’s a situation where they may not be as inclined to stay

at a job,” Grant said. “It will essentially cause more depression and feeling like a failure, which can cause more anxiety as well.”

Work environments can also create burnout for employees and push them away. “If you don’t have enough time in the day to do all the tasks you have to do, and you’re taking work home with you, there is no separation between work and life,” Grant said. “And if that’s the case, that will create more long-term burnout.”

For people looking to leave their jobs, finding the next steps can be challenging. “Utilize your network in finding other opportunities. You also need to set yourself with a game plan,” said Erin Gabriele, director of Cabrini’s Center for Career and Professional Development. “We know our own health better than anyone. Work with your network, and never throw all your eggs in one basket. Apply to many positions.”

The dangers of fake nursing licenses

By Jacob Pegan News Editor

If you have a loved one in a nursing home or hospital, how can you be sure they are being cared for by an officially registered nurse? A recent scandal adds doubt to many families’ sense of safety.

On Wednesday, Jan. 25, the United States Department of Justice released information about a fraudulent nursing diploma scheme that charged 25 individuals for “alleged participation in a wire fraud scheme that created an illegal licensing and employment shortcut for aspiring nurses.” This investigation was nicknamed “Operation Nightingale” resulting in search warrants in five states including Delaware, New York, New Jersey, Texas, and Florida.

How this affects the Cabrini community Cabrini nursing department clinical simulation center.

With more scandals coming out relating to nurses with fake diplomas, it’s worth wondering how the Cabrini community could be affected. Cabrini University opened its nursing program in the fall semester of 2020. According to the Cavalier Express Center, as of spring 2023, 42 students are enrolled in the program. Nursing students work to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree while working in a Clinical Simulation Center.

“We follow the rules and the regulations to the letter here,” said Christine Krause, nursing support specialist for Cabrini’s nursing program. “We have to document hours of theory and hours of clinical practice and submit it to the state board to show that the students then have graduated from an approved program.”

Before graduation, nursing students must pass the National Council Licensure Examination to become officially licensed nurses. Krause also had high praise for the program’s founding director, Dr. Jennifer Frey.

Such a scandal, understandably, has major consequences.

nurses were working under fake nursing licenses there is also the potential for lawsuits, especially if any of these patients suffer harm.

The ethical dilemma

One issue brought to light by these recent scandals was the ethical dilemma. Patients must trust their nurses with their lives, and now there will certainly be mistrust between patients and their nurses. “I think it’s very sad,” said

More than 7,600 fake nursing diplomas and transcripts were issued. The schools involved in the alleged scheme includes Siena College, Palm Beach School of Nursing, and Sacred Heart International Institute. These schools made $114 million from selling these fake diplomas and transcripts.

According to a South Florida federal grand jury, the defendants engaged in a scheme that sold fraudulent nursing degree diplomas to individuals seeking licenses and jobs as registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical/vocational nurses (LPN/VNs). These defendants face up to 20 years in prison. The schools involved were charging $10,000 for LPNs and $17,000 for RNs.

Since the Department of Justice released information about the South Florida case more nursing schools have closed throughout the United States including schools in Texas.

“People always trusted nurses, when they do surveys about the most trusted professions,” Krause said. If patients found out their

Solimar Frias, a junior nursing major. “If the nurses knew what they were doing, then that’s not okay. And they shouldn’t have done that, because you’re working with humans and people’s lives, and you don’t want to harm them in any way.”

If this scandal were to reach the Cabrini community there would be a lot of consequences. “I would be pretty upset to hear if it came from around this area or even within Cabrini itself and the nursing program,” Megan McLoughlin, sophomore nursing major, said.” There are a lot of drugs that you’re dealing with as a nurse and you could end up ruining someone’s life.”

If anyone in the public wants to verify that their caregiver is officially registered in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a nurse, go to the PA State Board website to request a verification.

Photo by Chris Perri.

Graphic by Leigha Sepers.

Photo from Cabrini Flickr

Photo from Cabrini Flickr

Photo from Cabrini Nursing website

Lifestyles

‘The News’ on pop-punk’s return

By Brianna Mack Assistant Perspectives Editor

Paramore’s sixth studio album “This Is Why” debuted at number one on Billboard’s Top Rock Chart on Feb. 22, setting a promising precedent for Fall Out Boy’s eighth studio album release on Mar. 24. It’s been six years since either alternative band released music.

“I’ve been listening to [alternative music] since about elementary school, middle school-ish because I grew up listening to old-school rock and just rock ‘n’ roll in general,” sophomore writing and narrative arts major, Victoria Rybakowski said. Despite the genre’s unique sound, she connects to punk lyrics the most.

“[Paramore] was the first one that I was introduced to. I thought that it was really cool that a woman was the lead singer when, at the time, not many women were lead singers for bands, especially heavy metal rock bands,” Spang said. Paramore’s success quickly made lead singer Hayley Williams the face of 2000s female-led rock bands.

“I gravitated more towards My Chemical Romance,” freshman writing major, Ruben Bonilla said. “I don’t really consider myself, like, ‘emo,’ but I did like the songs that they made.” He identifies “overcoming” sadness and adversity as relatable themes in their music.

Paramore, Fall Out Boy, and My Chemical Romance experienced major success in summer 2005 after Vans Warped Tour, the annual traveling rock festival. Fall Out Boy announced their official hiatus in 2009 citing burnout from overwork. They returned in Feb. 2013 right before My Chemical Romance split that March due to feeling obsolete and disconnected from each other.

“The fact that they’re coming back is really cool, especially since when Warped Tour went down all of the emo bands just died out,” senior graphic design major, Misty Spang said. Paramore announced their hiatus one month after the summer festival ended its 25-year run, officially bookending the steady decline of pop-punk.

Prioritizing mental health

“I wish they didn’t get as much hate as they did,” Rybakowski said. As punk faded from popular music, stigma around the culture returned.

“Emo was not very mainstream at the time. Like, if you were caught listening to it, they would say you’re weird or stuff,” Bonilla said about listening to alternative music in middle school.

“I joined a new school and I was kinda like the fresh meat,” Rybakowski said. “It helped me feel like everything will be okay.” Each band’s return is marked by mental health advocacy, though their fans already understood that stance based on punk’s unfiltered lyrics, such as, “a life that’s so demanding/I get so weak/a love that’s so demanding/I can’t speak,” from My Chemical Romance’s “Famous Last Words.”

“It’s definitely great they’re still preaching the message,” Spang said about Paramore. Spang admires Paramore’s ability to inspire global introspection and connection in their recent song, “The News.” Hayley Williams sings “every second, our collective heart breaks/all together, every single head shakes/Shut your eyes, but it won’t go away/(Turn on, turn off, the news).”

Fall Out Boy bassist Joe Trohman stated on social media that he won’t immediately return to the spotlight due to “deteriorating” mental health. My Chemical Romance’s lead singer Gerard Way said on “My Turning Point” that “mental health reasons” were why he strayed from music. He expressed on the podcast how the time away increased his gratitude for the band.

“They’re both great bands and they still spread the message that I was saying earlier that Paramore is still preaching as well,” Spang said.

Entering their comeback era

“I feel like when they come back, they might have their sound reinvented in a way to meet the audience of today,” Bonilla said about My Chemical Romance. Their first single in six years, “The Foundations of Decay” echoes their notable sound and invites new fans to settle into the angst.

“Maybe it will be well-received, maybe it won’t. Maybe they’ll think it was better back then,” Bonilla said. The success of Paramore’s Feb. 10 release suggests that popular music wants punk to return. Fall Out Boy’s eighth album “So Much (for) Stardust” releases later this month.

“I think they’re still relevant. I don’t think they were ever not relevant,” Rybakowski said.

“Only time will tell,” Bonilla said.

Campus Ministry creates a home away from home

By Hannah Poggi Lifestyles Editor

Campus Ministry at Cabrini welcomes its newest addition, Director Antoinette Reaves. Reaves was named director of Campus Ministry on Feb. 10, 2023.

Reaves has worked with Campus Ministry for only a short time. However, she is ready to immerse herself in the Cabrini community and connect with students and others on campus to keep a positive light and spread love.

Reaves’ experience so far

“So far, it’s been going great. I’ve been meeting a lot of people. I’ve been doing a listening tour and listening to the needs and wants of the staff, faculty, and the students here at Cabrini,” Reaves said.

Coming from a religious past and close work with students, Reaves

longed to find work in a similar area. Some of her previous positions, include being a principal, assistant principal, and teacher in many schools located in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

“Before Cabrini, I worked with outreach and youth ministry. And I worked previously in a university setting years ago and I wanted to get back into the university setting. I came to visit Cabrini last fall and I walked on campus and it felt like home to me. I imagined being here and what it would be like,” Reaves said.

Reaves is already collaborating with other campus departments and diving into the different elements of Campus Ministry.

“I am working alongside the Wolfington Center, DEI, and everybody on campus, because that’s what ministry is,” Reaves said.

“I’m already starting to work on the multicultural interfaith prayer services. I know that we have someone who does that, but I want to bring song on campus, with regards to starting a choir,” Reaves said.

Faith beyond measure

Even though Cabrini is a private Roman Catholic university, all students and faculty come from different faiths, and they are all celebrated. Kerrie Habicht, junior early education and special education major, dedicates her free time to Campus Ministry.

“I cantor every other Sunday at 7 p.m. mass. I also have done Cabrini Day, Christmas at Cabrini, and Commencement Mass,” Habicht said.

Habicht believes Campus Ministry is unique. “It is important that students of faith be involved in campus ministry because it is a great opportunity to connect with others who share your faith and meet people of different faiths,” Habicht said.

“Campus ministry at Cabrini is special because there are a variety of faiths across campus, and it provides every individual an opportunity to explore their own faith and others,” Habicht said.

Looking into the future

Reaves wants to make Cabrini feel like “home,” and seeks ways to further deepen students’ experiences, despite the ongoing institutional changes.

“I’m trying to figure out how to weave the thread of home, healing, and hope for Cabrini. Because I understand we are going through some transitioning. And so, how can we really speak to the core values that are here?” Reaves said.

“I am looking for a place where everyone feels welcomed, loved, that they are at home. I want them to know that it really does exist. I want them to be freely expressed and unleashed with all the possibilities that they can have for their life,” Reaves said.

Reaves also acknowledges the on- and off-campus difficulties of the pandemic period. “Coming out of COVID and everything, I really want everyone to say ‘Ok, we are here, we’re on campus.’ I want to see everybody out of their dorm rooms, not hiding in small spaces, but out in the open being their true self,” Reaves said.

As time goes on, Reaves’ journey at Cabrini and with Campus Ministry will continue to blossom and be a space where she will provide individuals with joy. “Prayer is in the action. Prayer is in the doing. And when you are doing, you are living your life like Christ,” Reaves said.

Photo by Wikimedia/Creative Commons

Photo by Cabrini University via flickr.

Photo by Cabrini University via flickr.

We need civics: modern education fails to make students politically aware and engaged

By Jedidah Antwi Assistant News Editor

Modern education fails to prepare students for citizenship in a democratic society, fails to make students politically informed citizens, and fails to inform students about basic civics.

It’s not just a matter of opinion, either. The majority of Americans cannot pass a citizenship test. The Annenberg Public Policy Center discovered that only 47% of United States adults could name all three branches of government. In that same study, many respondents couldn’t name the five freedoms mentioned in the First Amendment.

about their knowledge of politics.

Citizens need political awareness in a democracy so that they can think critically about the ways in which their government functions. Developing a sense of political awareness enables citizens to make informed decisions, reflects their attitudes and preferences, supports democracy and fosters trust in government. I believe civics classes in school make students become politically aware.

In the Merriam-Webster Dictionary civics is defined as “a social science dealing with the rights and duties of citizens.” It is a study of civil law, and the civil code is included, as well as a study of government that emphasizes citizen participation. Students study government procedures, political ideologies, their constitutional rights, and the history behind them.

Civics teaches students the obligations and rights of citizenship, and explores them from a philosophical and practical perspective. Civics exposes students to public discourse and to debates about real-world issues.

One of the reasons why trust in the government is at an all-time low is because of the lack of civic education in school. When students are not taught civics they grow up not learning how to participate in their government. It is easy to lose trust in a government that you don’t participate in and don’t understand.

The public has little trust in the government. The government is trusted by only two out of 10 Americans. A 2016 research by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni found that more than 80% of college seniors at 55 top-ranked institutions would receive a D or F on a basic history test.

The desperate need for civics

Most Americans lack political awareness and are overconfident

Civics promotes civic engagement in students who will learn about voting, community service, activism, and more. Civics teaches students how to promote the common good in our democracy. And early civic participation benefits young people as well as the communities in which they participate, according to research.

Early civic involvement is even related to later-life improvements in health. Young adult activity, including voting and volunteering, has been linked to better mental health, higher educational attainment, and higher personal and household incomes. Young adults

can be significant contributors to their local communities if they are given the proper tools.

The death of civics in modern education

However, civics education appears to be a low priority in many American schools. Only 18% of colleges and universities require a course in American history or civics as part of their general education curriculum.

In third through fifth-grade classes in the United States, the amount of time devoted to social studies education decreased by 56 minutes per week between 1993 and 2008. A 2014 study confirmed this tendency, finding that social studies instruction was placed on average for 2.52 hours per week.

This explains why most Americans have difficulty with basic civic literacy. Democracy only survives when the citizens are informed.

LGBTQ+ representation matters in college sports

By Paige Bowman Assistant Lifestyles Editor

Sedona Prince is another example of representation. She has 2.8 million followers on TikTok and is openly gay and talks often about her sexuality and playing basketball at the Division I level. Student athletes now feel safer being open about their sexual orientation online because, since 2021, Title IX is supposed to protect students from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Social media spotlights athletes

Having a spotlight on student athletes like Prince and Brooks cre-

Growing up in rural central Pennsylvania, being gay meant being invisible. It’s safe to say I didn’t see much representation growing up there, but when I came to college and joined the women’s soccer team, I instantly found a community. For the first time in my life, I saw people like me and had teammates who accepted me for who I was.

It is not an anomaly for women in the LGBTQ+ community to find a safe space in college athletics. A Journal of Intercollegiate Sport study surveyed 159 college student athletes from two public universities to measure their level of engagement as LGBTQ+ allies. The study reported that no women athletes indicated that they were not an ally. They then noted that only women student athletes reported the importance of accepting all teammates regardless of sexual orientation.

Becoming visible

Seeing gay representation within college athletics is so important for young athletes. The more representation we see in the media, the more acceptance there will be overall for the LGBTQ+ community. With social media more present in our lives than ever, it’s the easiest time in history to find representation in college sports.

Griffin Maxwell Brooks, a transgender nonbinary student athlete at Princeton University, has 1.2 million followers on TikTok. They are an influencer who creates content about fashion and the struggles of being a transgender person in college athletics.

ates an important and inclusive environment. In 2023, legislatures across the country have so far announced 124 new bills meant to restrict LGBTQ+ rights, expression, and safety.

Brooks breaks barriers by being a nonbinary fashion icon for Gen Z and by being an elite athlete. Brooks’ video speaking about why transgender athletes should be protected and compete went viral with 349,600 likes on TikTok. Brooks is not afraid to make themself visible despite our political climate.

Finding community

The National Collegiate Athletic Association follows principles that

include gender equality and inclusion. The acceptance of teammates is key to a better student athlete college experience for members of the LGBTQ+ community. 31.7 percent of student athletes said their teammates’ response was better than that of other students at their school. An accepting locker room can be the difference between an athlete opening up about their sexuality or feeling forced into silence.

Cabrini’s women’s soccer is one of the most inclusive and accepting groups on campus. It is not a coincidence that in the past three years, five players have come out to our team. Many of them told their teammates before anyone else.

This past fall, for the first time, Cabrini women’s soccer participated in Play With Pride Week. United Soccer Coaches developed the week to support diversity and inclusion within the sport. The whole team wore rainbow laces in their cleats and rainbow ties in their hair all week to champion the cause.

For me, coming out to my team was easy. With such a large community of LGBTQ+ members and allies, it was nothing out of the ordinary. In a world where being gay is often seen as abnormal, once I came out on my team, I almost felt as if I fit in more. My ally teammates were all very supportive and probably love Play With Pride Week more than any of our LGBTQ+ players do. If I never came to play at Cabrini or if the team hadn’t been as accepting, I truly don’t know if I’d be out today.

Photo by Jedidah Antwi.

Photo by Jedidah Antwi.

Photo by Paige Bowman.

Photo by Cabrini Women’s Soccer.

Photo by Daniel James via Unsplash

Freshmen shine: women’s swimming finishes third at AEC

By Jason Fridge Assistant Podcast Editor

Cabrini women’s swimming team finished their season strong, placing third at the 2023 Atlantic East Conference Championship swim meet held at St. Mary’s College in Maryland.

The Cavaliers finished with 477 points on the weekend, which included three first place finishes, all from freshman swimmers.

Georgia (Gia) Markakis, freshman nursing major, took home gold in the 200 freestyle while classmate Aurora (Rory) Schreiber won both the 500 and 1650 freestyle events.

While the freshmen stood at the podium, head coach Cindy Ikeler highlighted how the entire roster was primed for success in the days leading up to the meet.

“I was seriously impressed with every girl, top to bottom,” coach Ikeler said. “Our performances at AEC’s were really indicative for each person of the amount of dedication, commitment, and hard work that they put in. We saw success from every swimmer ... pretty much everyone was putting down lifetime bests.”

From the individual events to the team relays, everybody brought their best swims down to Maryland.

The meet served as the cherry on top of a long winter season.

“I think just seeing both the women and the men perform and peak at exactly the right time that we had trained them to do is always gratifying,” coach Ikeler said. “Seeing them surprised almost by how fast they could swim and watching it all come together was probably my favorite part of the meet.”

Being a freshman on the big stage

Making it to a championship meet as a freshman is impressive; winning it all is even better.

Markakis exemplified coach Ikeler’s comments about peaking at the right time. In the weeks leading up to the meet, all of the swimmers tapered their practice yardage.

Tapering is where swimmers slowly drop their weekly swimming total to optimize their performance in big races.

At the end of this process, the coaches planned a “broken 200” for Markakis to do in practice. This drill is a way to project a swimmer’s meet timing. When Markakis finished her swim, she was surprised to see a personal best time of 2:03.

“That was something I never thought in my life I would do, especially in practice,” Markakis said.

“That time was three seconds faster than my previous best. So that number was in my head like, ‘Okay, you have to get this time at the meet.’”

That practice run was two days before the meet, and put Markakis in a good position heading into the preliminary swim.

While her time in practice gave her confidence, walking into the pool on meet day she felt the nerves that come with swimming at the conference Championships.

“With swimming, it’s tough because you only have those two minutes to perform,” Markakis said. “You don’t get an entire game or an entire season, you get these two minutes that you have been working six months for to show up.”

To say that Markakis showed up would be an understatement.

Markakis goes for gold

In the 200 freestyle morning preliminary race, Markakis set the tone for the day by swimming a 2:05.28. This time was her best in the meet and gave her the top seed going into the A final.

Even after this success she was still nervous.

“I was still nervous because the girls weren’t far behind,” said Markakis. “I was still looking for that 2:03 and kept thinking to myself, ‘All right, you really need to step it up for finals.’”

After a long wait, finals finally came. As the top seed, Markakis got to choose the walkout song. “Fake I.D.” by Big & Rich blasted around the pool, and Markakis took the time to live in the moment.

“The atmosphere when I stepped out from behind the curtain as everyone is walking out, it was something I had never experienced in my life,” Markakis said.

The swimmers took their blocks and the buzzer sounded. Eight 25yard laps would decide the conference champion.

In the home stretch, Markakis went stroke for stroke with Immaculata University junior Colleen Blakelock.

Markakis recalled, “On our last flip for the seventh lap, [Blakelock] flipped before me, and I saw her, thinking to myself, ‘There’s no way I’m losing ... I’ve worked too hard and she’s right there.’”

Kicking it into high gear, Markakis popped out of the water to the roars of the crowd.

“I didn’t even look at the scoreboard,” Markakis said. “I looked at my parents and my team who were going crazy. Then I turned to look at the scoreboard and saw first next to my lane.”

Markakis won the race with a final time of 2:03.24, .01 seconds faster than Blakelock.

“As soon as I saw that, I almost started crying in the pool,” Markakis said. “It was probably the best, most euphoric moment of my life.”

A bright future

Through the 6 a.m. practices and the long bus rides, Ikeler and her team made the Cabrini community proud all season long. “To see that grit stick with them throughout the season, especially being a female coach, it was great to see the females carry themselves that way,” Ikeler said.

With only two seniors graduating, the returning classes look to keep building on their successes.

Cabrini men’s lacrosse cruises past Haverford

By Benjamin Houghton

Staff Writer

Cabrini’s men’s lacrosse started their 2023 season off strong after an away game victory over Haverford College Saturday, Feb. 18.

Picking up where they left off

The Cavaliers came in hot after beginning the game up 4-0 after just two minutes and 19 seconds.

Senior attack Dillon McManus had three of those four goals.

Haverford, however, ended the quarter on a 3-2 run to bring the score to 6-3 at the end of the first quarter.Cabrini started the second quarter just like the first.

The Cavaliers scored four straight goals in the second, shutting down Haverford’s momentum from the first-half finish. Senior attack Mikey Vanaman scored three goals, with one goal from junior attack Tommy Vaughan.

Haverford was held scoreless in the second quarter and the score at the half was 10-3 in Cabrini’s favor.

The Cavaliers yet again had a busy quarter on the stat sheet in the third.

Sophomore attack Jake Schneider saw his second and third goals of the game, while senior attack Austin Bolton and Vaughan both scored their second of the contest.

At the end of the third, the Cavaliers were up 14-4 with just 15 minutes remaining.

In the fourth, Haverford had their best quarter after totaling more shots, shots on goal, saves, and faceoffs than they had all game.

However, the Cavaliers still ended up winning the quarter 4-2 and eventually won 18-6.

What went right

Cabrini had five players with multiple goals scored, with the leading goal scorer, McManus, totaling five.

Sam DiTrolio, a freshman from Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, was 22-24 on face-offs for a .917 win percentage on the day.

When asked about the performance by DiTrolio, Coach Steve Colfer said, “It was big. Obviously, Sam has been putting in the work and was great in high school. The young man from Haverford that he was going up against was a returning all-conference player, so it was a really good test on the road for Sam.”

The Cavaliers lost their senior face-off last year to graduation, so it was important for DiTrolio to step up the way he did.

myself into the system last year. A few of the obvious challenges were meeting and working with new people, team chemistry, stepping into a big role, and a new school. This year feels like I’ve known this team and our coaches my whole life. It’s a really special system to be a part of.”

A huge part of teamwork is winning on and off the field.

Colfer said, “I think sometimes as coaches and athletes we really overthink it. It can get really overwhelming. We just try to keep everything simple. Figure out today what we did or did not do and how do we plan tomorrow.”

McManus agreed with Colfer, saying, “I think preparation is most important to continue the success we have had thus far. The way we watch and analyze film, our lifting sessions, making sure we work hard at practice, and of course, nutrition and recovery are all important ways we prepare for any game.”

What happened next?

The Cavaliers had a dominant first half. They gained almost double the number of shots, almost three times the amount of shots on goal, almost double the amount of ground balls, and won faceoffs 15-0.

McManus is entering his second year here at Cabrini after transferring in from Bates College in Maine.

He explained, “There was definitely some needed time to acclimate

The Cavaliers took on the nationally ranked University of Lynchburg Saturday, Feb. 25 at noon at Edith Robb Dixon Field, losing 11-7.

Photo by Robert DiTrolio.

Photo by Robert DiTrolio.