Award-Winning Student Run Newspaper
YOU SPEAK WE LISTEN
Vol. LXV• Issue 2
Thursday October 19, 2023
THELOQUITUR.COM
CSS advisory meetings bring mixed emotions By Jason Fridge Podcast Editor & Breaking News Coordinator
On June 23, the day news dropped about Cabrini’s plans to close students received an email explaining that the Center for Student Success (CSS) would work directly with them “to develop an individualized transfer plan to complete [their] degree with minimal disruption in [their] course of study and path to graduation.” Throughout September, the first wave of students met with their CSS advisors. However, students’ reaction about that experience yielded mixed results. Goals of the meetings Some of the main themes students will hear in their meetings are the opportunities partner schools offer, the difference between transitioning and transferring, and important details to keep in mind when looking at non-partner schools. Each advisor tries to ensure students’ questions about the transfer process are answered and to support them in finding their next home. Some of the main themes students will hear in their meetings are the opportunities partner schools offer, the difference between transitioning and transferring, and important details to keep in mind when looking at non-partner schools. Each advisor tries to ensure students’ questions about the transfer process are answered and to support them in finding their next home. Dr. Kimberly Boyd, dean of Retention and Student Services, explained what she hopes students get out of these one-on-one sessions.
“We want students to explore every option that seems like the right fit for them,” Boyd said. “But we also want to help students identify what kinds of questions they should be asking at these other schools to make sure they’re getting the right fit.” Boyd also stressed the importance of financial aid literacy, and understanding the meaning behind packages schools can offer.
“Packages sometimes are hard to navigate,” Boyd said. “Making sure you talk to financial aid and are certain that you’re not going to on more loan debt and less scholarships debt becomes incredibly important.” Some students may be seeing a new face in their session, but advisors for these meetings are current CSS staff members as well as members from the Department of Academic Affairs. All of these individuals are familiar with Cabrini and the values of the school. “We didn’t want to bring in people that didn’t know Cabrini and didn’t know our students,” Boyd said. Each advisor went through a summer training series to ensure they can assist students to the best of their ability. They’ve also had to adjust on the fly as they go through the first round of meetings and figure out what students need from their advisors. “We learned a lot in the first week,” Boyd said. “We trained everybody with what we thought they needed to know. Our first week of students were our pilot people because while we felt we gave them lots of good information, they had lots of good questions. Now our advisors are continuing to get retrained with all of that information.” How effective are these meetings? One of those “pilot people,” freshman early education major Kayla Ledbetter, said the meeting didn’t quite meet her expectations. “The meeting was short and simple,” Ledbetter said. “[The adviser] did ask me if I had any questions, but I personally didn’t think that I was given enough information that would require me to ask questions.” Brianna Mack, a junior communication and music industry double major, had a different problem pop up. “After I told him I was a double major, [her advisor] kind of looked at me nervous and said none of our partner schools have both of my majors,” Mack said. “The main piece of advice was I had to pick a major and figure out which school I wanted to go to based on that
major.”
Photo by Jason Fridge.
Ledbetter said she was first asked if she was interested in any of the partner schools and given a flier with the dates that these schools would be visiting campus. From there her adviser gave her an information release form so schools could reach out to her for further information. She didn’t feel as if this meeting was as individualized as advertised. “I felt as though they were rushing the meeting and just wanted me to sign the paper,” Ledbetter said. “The meeting didn’t really make me feel all that better about the transfer process. Most of the information I was given I had already known.” Mack offered advice for the advisors: “I think in the meeting they’re more focused on what your actual plan is, but I don’t know what I want to do after college,” Mack said. “I would want them to be more aware that not every student here knows what they’re going to do after college.” Ledbetter hopes that they can continue to work toward helping students where their needs are. “I feel like they shouldn’t generalize everything they say referring to all students,” Ledbetter said. “They need to take their time with their specific wants and needs in this extremely sad and stressful time.” Boyd maintains that the CSS is determined to approach these meetings in a way that will allow students to thrive in their postCabrini career. “A lot of other schools that close, their method of doing this is to have three all-campus meetings and just share things,” Boyd said. “That’s not how Cabrini rolls. If we’re going to close, we’re going to close well, and we want to make sure our students have that next place. Our ultimate goal would be that 100% of students here end up at their next school to finish a program and find a good home.” Those in need of further guidance with the transfer process,they can email success@cabrini.edu to get in touch with a CSS representative.
Photo via Cabrini Flickr.
Campus Ministry hosts blessing of the animals Page 5
Women’s volleyball and basketball seasons cancelled Page 7
Editorial
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THELOQUITUR.COM
The right to write
WE ARE THE
2023-2024 Editorial Staff EDITOR-IN-CHIEF CHRIS PERRI MANAGING EDITOR PAIGE BOWMAN VISUALS EDITOR ANDREW STOVENOUR NEWS EDITOR JEDIDAH ANTWI SPORTS EDITOR SAMANTHA TADDEI LIFESTYLES EDITOR LEIGHA SEPERS PERSPECTIVES EDITOR JOHN RADER PODCAST EDITOR JASON FRIDGE
By Loquitur Editorial Board Student journalism has always been an important part of campus life at institutions across the country. This year, student newspapers have been making national headlines for their work in important investigative pieces that lead to larger conversations. The work of student press Stanford University’s student newspaper, The Stanford Daily, uncovered that the school’s president committed scientific research misconduct. Because of their investigations editor’s work, Stanford’s board of trustees opened an investigation, and that president, Marc TessierLavigne, ultimately resigned. In another student-led story, most sports fans were shocked to see an announcement that Northwestern University’s head football coach was suspended over the summer due to an apparent hazing incident. Details were vague, and The Daily Northwestern thought something was off so they decided to embark on an investigation which led to the story of the summer. Student journalists uncovered a major hazing scandal that occurred with the coach’s knowledge. They got players to speak about gruesome details of freshman hazing that left the realm of “team-bonding” and quickly got closer to sexual abuse. As a result of the article, the coach was immediately fired and the university was forced to release more details from their investigation which confirmed these allegations. Students knew something was wrong, and they took it upon themselves not to let this story get swept under the rug. This incident illustrates the need for student newspapers to conduct investigative journalism. Had The Daily Northwestern not been permitted to run the story, the
We’ve also seen student journalists face backlash from their school’s administration, as was the case with Ashland University’s The Collegian whose instructor was fired for promoting “too much investigative journalism.” In a powerful editorial, their managing editor Katelyn Meeks outlines problems the paper faced communicating with their president, and advice her former instructor left her with before departing. “Be a thorn in the side of the administration,” said the instructor. It’s a virtue all student journalists wear on their chests. Standing against suppression The Loquitur stands firmly against all forms of media censorship and suppression, and will always stand with student journalism and free press around the world. Cabrini has relied on student journalism for 65 years, and this publication has been a strong, credible source of information ever since its inception. We have experienced difficulty communicating with administration, faculty, and staff. This lack of communication severely hinders our ability to report information in a timely and accurate manner. We have earned the trust and confidence of many in the Cabrini community, and we will not back down from any attempt to suppress information. We owe it to the community to deliver the information they rightly deserve. We must fulfill our obligation to them, and to do so we must have a degree of transparency from those at the top of our institution. As students who chose to be digital communication majors, we did not only sign up to take a journalism class but also to be part of a studentrun news organization. We are students, but at the same time we are journalists who take great pride in our obligation to keeping the Cabrini community informed in a timely manner.
ADVISER WENDY ROSENFIELD
This obligation carries more weight than ever before in the light of Cabrini’s closure at the end of the school year. With so many questions left unanswered at the present, it’s our responsibility to not only inform our readers, but to uphold and preserve the Cabrini legacy, and that of our publication.
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.
Northwestern community would have been left in the dark about why their head football coach was suspended.
Arrest at Holy Spirit Library By Emily Shultz and Samantha Taddei
At noon on October 4, four Radnor police cars arrived outside the Cabrini parking garage. Officers entered the Holy Spirit Library, and approximately an hour later, a library staff member was escorted out in handcuffs. The scene amassed a small crowd of student onlookers. Prior to the Radnor Police’s arrival, Cabrini’s Public Safety rushed to the building. Cabrini University President Helen Drinan issued an emailed statement confirming the incident. The email read, “At approximately noon today, Wednesday, October 4, 2023, there was an incident involving several employees in Holy Spirit Library.”
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.
Check out our Socials and Podcast Here!
The email did not provide further detail about the incident. According to a court docket obtained by the Loquitur, the staff member was charged with “defiant trespassing” and “disorderly conduct” engaged in fighting. Bail was set at $10,000 and the preliminary hearing is scheduled for October 19. This is a developing story and the Loquitur will release an in-depth follow-up article after the hearing.
Listen to the second episode of
Talk 59
A Loquitur Media Podcast
On this week’s episode of Talk 59, Jason Fridge sits down and talks with national SAAC representative Dom Petruzelli. Dom talks about his role in SAAC, major national discussions, and previews some events happening on campus this semester. We then welcome one of our Loquitur staff writers, Brooke Protesto, who talks about her first month in our newsroom. We dive into her most recent article talking about nursing student athletes who nad to transfer to Eastern, but are still competing on the field as Cavaliers. We then discuss her feature story on one of our men’s soccer student athletes who received an Atlantic East Conference Medal of Inspiration over the summer. Check it out on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!
News
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Music program goes online
By Chris Perri Editor in Chief
The 2023-24 school year brought major changes to Cabrini’s music program. The program lost enrollment, and some courses have moved online. The enrollment decline left a significant impact on the program. “The biggest change is the population of students and overall student engagement,” said professor Jeanne Komp, chair of the visual and performing arts department. “I think they go hand in hand. When there are less students, students are less engaged.” The program’s performing arts showcase, held annually to give students a chance to show off their skills, will likely be cancelled. “I don’t believe it’s going to happen because we don’t have that many students participating. Lessons and chorus have very low enrollment because our student population is lower,” Komp said. “I don’t feel that it’s going to be a viable production to put on.” The program retained one full-time faculty member, Dr. Stephen Grieco, an associate professor of music. Professor Jason Hermann works on campus two days a week for several hours.
Moving online All of Grieco’s classes were moved only shortly before the school year began. “It was a very late decision, but we had to move all of [Grieco’s] classes online,” Komp said. “It had nothing to do with the enrollment of students.” According to Isaiah Reed, Grieco sent out an email announcing the change in course modality on Aug. 25, three days before the beginning of the semester. However, there are still music courses listed as being held in-person this semester. According to the Cabrini student portal, Concert Ensemble and Jazz and Its Heritage, both taught by Hermann, are shown with assigned meeting times and locations. University Chorus, taught by professor Perry Brisbon, is also listed as being in-person. From the spring to fall semesters of 2023, enrollment in University Chorus fell from eight students to just two, according to the Cabrini Term Master Schedule. Jazz and Its Heritage has only five students out of the 30 available spots. Even with the changes students and faculty are experiencing, next semester may bring a return to normalcy. Music classes offered in the spring are planned to be held entirely in-person. “We’re streamlining and just running the necessities. We’re not going to be running extra electives,” Komp said. “We’re focusing on having all classes in-person next semester. We know the change in modality was not an ideal situation for students, so we’re making an effort to have those classes in-person.”
Photo via Cabrini Flickr.
Sara Abbate, a junior music industry major said, “You can definitely tell there’s less people here, but I think people are trying to make [the year] as normal as possible.” “I do think it’s a little weird. I get that it’s the last year and everything, but I think it’s weird to just make all your classes online,” Reed said. “At first I was mad about it, but I’m not anymore. But I did think it was weird and I didn’t appreciate that.”
The student perspective Reed said he feels that there is no longer a sense of connection between students within the program. “Even though there weren’t many music students, there were at least classes. You still met people who had the same goals, but now it’s all online,” he said. “The opportunity to meet people who made music like yours was greater last year, because of the fact that there were in-person classes. It doesn’t really feel like there are people making music on campus.” Photo via Cabrini Flickr.
Photo via Cabrini Flickr.
Counseling and Psychological Services has new partner
By Iris RedondoPonce Staff Writer
Attending college is stressful for many students, but at Cabrini, anxiety and stress seems even more present. Cabrini’s Counseling and Psychological Services is here to help and this year, they partnered with UWill, a teletherapy program. A stressful final year The CaPS center, directed by Dr. Bryan Peightal, assists students with their mental health needs. On top of helping with academics and personal issues, CaPS also helps students deal with the news of Cabrini’s closing and the anxiety or issues that come with it. This year many are transferring or looking for a new path. Jermire Smith, a sophomore accounting majoring said, “Some people kind of just stuck here for their last year. Now they have to find a whole new school and get their credits replaced or else they’re going to have to do more years.” “People are starting to talk about the anxiety about the upcoming
transfer process. Not so much even just like going to a different school, which is anxiety provoking in and of itself for some people,” Peightal said. He also said he imagines that as the year goes on, especially around the winter and early spring months, more students will be presented with challenges relating to the closing of the university.
within the next business day and may schedule a session via email or phone. To schedule a session on UWill, follow the instructions listed on the CaPS website.
W h a t s e r v i c e s a r e o ff e r e d b y C a P S ? CaPS plans more outreach this year. “We’re trying to be a little more proactive this year versus just reacting to what is coming through the door,” Peightal said.
“I really encourage people to approach their mental health with just the friendly reminder that there’s no problem too big or too small to come to CaPS,” Peightal said. He encourages students not to go through processes on their own. He added, “Take advantage of it right? It’s unlimited, free, and confidential.”
Students mostly receive support from CaPS through individual therapy or counseling sessions. They can choose to meet weekly, monthly, or just once or twice.
CaPS is here to help students this year whether their issues relate to Cabrini’s closure or not.
UWill’s counseling services are entirely online and can be matched to a student’s schedule. Because not everyone can meet with CaPS during office hours, UWill offers support during evenings and weeknights. “One of the appeals of it [UWill] is that we’re limited, especially with a limited staff here at CaPS. As a result of that, we want to make sure we’re meeting all mental health needs,” Peightal said. These services are only offered to students. CaPS will also hold group sessions this year, though dates are not yet determined. These group sessions are skills based. Last year the topics included distress tolerance and anxiety management. Students can learn more about CaPS by visiting the center located in Infante House or online. Peightal said CaPS will also host information tables in Iadarola and Founder’s Hall lobbies and make classroom presentations on specific topics.
How to access CaPS Students can set up a session by visiting the CaPS Photo by Iris Redondo Ponce. website. Peightal said students will receive a response
Graphic courtesy Cathy Yungmann.
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News
THELOQUITUR.COM
Cabrini scholarships face uncertain future
By Jedidah Antwi News Editor
Among the many concerns raised since Cabrini’s closure was announced, one major question that remains is how endowment scholarships will be handled. As the deal with Cabrini and Villanova has yet to be finalized, there is no definite answer.
What is an endowment scholarship? Endowment scholarships are scholarships Cabrini offers to its students. According to the university’s website, “An endowed scholarship at Cabrini establishes a permanent asset from which students will receive support into perpetuity.” Many of these scholarships, which are based on major, financial needs, or graduation year, are named in honor of former alumni, staff, and supporters of the university. Donors must raise the minimum of $25,000 dollars. Dr. Laura Chisholm, executive director of Development and Alumni Relations, oversees their distribution. Hollie Havens, a marketing and events manager at Greenphire, which provides financial management solutions for clinical trials, is a 1998 Cabrini alumna and has donated to many Cabrini scholarships. Havens said these scholarships are intended only for Cabrini students, and alumni donors like her worry about how the money might now be used. She said, “The purpose of the scholarship is that students would receive support in perpetuity and unfortunately because the college is no longer going to be operating, we don’t know what is going to happen to these endowed scholarships. We don’t know what the legal ramifications are. When these people donated to these scholarships, nobody had in mind that Cabrini would never exist.” Havens said communication with Cabrini Development and Alumni Relations is good, but there’s no concrete answer due to the unsigned official agreement between the school and Villanova. “They can’t tell us what they don’t know,” she said. Havens noted that many supporters of the endowment scholarships want them to continue in some way after the closure. She also said alumni are encouraged to ask the Development and Alumni Relations office any questions they may have. “They have been very gracious with alumni during this emotional time. It’s not only alumni who have donated to these scholarships, it’s
Graphic courtesy by Mohamed Hassan via Pixabay.
families, faculty, and staff. Just people in general who love and support Cabrini, and I just really hope in some way they can continue.” She hopes Cabrini and Villanova are working on a solution that will honor the donors’ intent and the scholarships’ purpose. Chisholm replied to the Loquitur via email, saying, “Thank you for reaching out and for these important questions. I will not be able to offer answers until the definitive agreement with Villanova is signed, which is expected later this fall.”
Unanswered questions Dr. Dawn M. Francis, associate professor and communication department chair, also raised concerns about the scholarship’s future. Francis said Chisholm told her, “All assets are going to be transferred to Villanova in mid-October. The agreement between the two universities are supposed to be solidified, and, [Chisholm] said, at that point, she could get in touch with their advancement team formally and ask about these endowment agreements.” The Jerry Zurek Communicator for the Common Good scholarship was established to honor Cabrini professor Dr. Jerry Zurek, who has
taught at Cabrini since 1971. This scholarship was made to honor and is awarded annually to a student in the communication department who is in good academic standing, promoting the common good through communication, and has financial need. Francis played a key role in creating this scholarship. Institutional Advancement oversees the scholarship funds. The communication department chooses the student who meets the scholarship standards and should receive the award. The last three winners were Sydnee Reddy, Tariq Mines, and Isaiah Dickson. The department sends that name to Institutional Advancement so they can award the funds to the students through the Financial Aid office. Francis said Chisholm shared the endowment scholarships with Villanova so they understand the award criteria. Francis said, “Each year, it means a lot to us to be able to award that to a student who embodies those characteristics, and we are always thinking about Dr. Zurek when we’re awarding that.” She added, “If the funders, the alumni, and friends of Jerry who contributed to that feel that Villanova isn’t doing it well, then we can look to take action at that point. Hopefully Villanova will be good stewards of the scholarship.” Francis and the communication department want to ensure that whoever gets that scholarship is someone studying communication and communicating for social justice.
Hopes for the future Zurek also hopes for a positive outcome, but doesn’t know how it would be executed. “That’s kind of the puzzle. Will it be a Villanova student who meets those criteria or are we going to switch it and maybe support a high school kid who exhibits these traits to help them go to college?” Zurek asked. Zurek believes Cabrini High School in New Orleans is a good option, but nobody he has spoken to suggested it. He also hopes the alumni association will last even without Cabrini and that its board of officers could find candidates for these scholarships and students could use it for any institution they want to attend. Zurek said, “When Dawn Francis got the idea to do this, it was just an incredible honor. The faculty and so many alumni contributed. It was just, you know, really touching and very moving, and I just want to thank them. The students who have gotten the scholarship have all been wonderful students, and I’m so proud that we were able to help them in a little way.”
Photo via Cabrini Flickr.
Lifestyles
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Paws in prayer: St. Francis Day Mass honors animals companions By Emily Shultz Staff Writer creatures to be treated equally under God, and this is why the blessing of the animals is such a significant part of his feast day. Additionally, the event flier noted the importance of animals as a reminder of the beauty in all of God’s creations. Ward continued, “[St. Francis] is famous for having the stigmata, which is the replication of Jesus’s wounds, and especially for his love of nature. So he was very peace-loving.” Director of Campus Ministry Antoinette Reaves also attended the mass. She said of St. Francis, “We celebrated him and the blessing of the animals today. I’m very happy with the turnout. I wish it could have been more, but I am happy. There were some new faces here today that don’t come to our traditional weekly or daily Masses. So, it was just good to see more people here.”
Photo by Emily Shultz.
On Wednesday, October 4, a small group of furry friends gathered at the Commons Peace Pole. Students and staff, as well as Cookie and Marshmallow (two fluffy rabbits), and a spotted dog named Shelby, attended a very special mass hosted by Cabrini Campus Ministry. Held in celebration of the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the animals, along with their human companions, received a blessing. A sa i nt o f p e a c e Dr. Raymond Ward, Director of Wolfington Center, emphasized the significance of St. Francis’ Feast Day. “The Catholic Church celebrates saints on their feast days. Often, those feast days are the days that they died. He [Saint Francis] is a major saint in the church,” he said. “Some people even see him as kind of like a little presence of God and Christ in life. And a lot of people see huge similarities between him especially in his humility and his willingness to sacrifice himself for others and Jesus.” St. Francis is known as the patron saint of animals and the environment. The 12th-century saint often preached and advocated for all
A perfec t day Typically, the daily Masses are held in the Bruckmann Memorial Chapel of Saint Joseph. The St. Francis Mass was held outdoors to commemorate his respect for nature. Fortunately, the weather was just right, with a comfortable temperature in the 80s and a sunny sky. Brielle Sherman, a freshman digital communication major, described the event as a good opportunity for students to go to mass. “It’s a beautiful day for it. You couldn’t have asked for a better day for this. And seeing the little animals is really sweet,” Jeny Varughese, administrative coordinator for the Wolfington Center, Campus Ministry and the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, said. She also commented on the successful gathering. “I thought that it went really well. Everybody seemed to have enjoyed it,” she said.
The event ended with a handful of blessed fuzzy and four-legged critters. Cabrini’s Campus Ministry needs Mass volunteers. Students and staff are welcome to participate as lectors, altar servers, church singers, and musicians. Additionally, Mass is held at the Bruckmann Memorial Chapel of Saint Joseph at 12:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and at 2 p.m. on Sunday. An interfaith prayer service is held at 12:30 p.m. on Thursdays. Praise and worship services occur 12-12:20 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday (and on Sunday at 1:40-2 p.m.). Individuals can also participate in rosary prayer every Tuesday at 12:05 p.m.
Photo by Emily Shultz.
House 67 celebrates first birthday By Emma Regulski Staff Writer This semester marks the one-year anniversary of Cabrini communication department’s student-run video production agency, House 67, led by Assistant Professor John Doyle. The agency produces in-studio content to support Cabrini University and its community. This year, House 67 plans to honor the school’s last year as an institution. Doyle said, “We have developed significantly in quality over the past year. The students determine what we make, it is a student-run production. I am just the person who’s there to support them when they have a problem.” However, this year also brings special concerns. “Our challenge is staffing. There are fewer students at Cabrini and as a result, we have fewer people working with us. It’s difficult for an agency that’s about team staffing to function,” said Doyle.
Having alumni return is a wonderful way to remember all the memories Cabrini created over its 66 years. “We’re interviewing a lot of people on campus for Cabrini’s last year and getting alumni to talk about their experiences as well. We want to share the legacy of Cabrini,” said Poggi. More than a c las s This production agency has already created special memories with its staff and students. “I’ll never forget when the power went out in the studio as we were filming, and everyone had to move all the equipment to the library and keep the show going. It was definitely a memorable moment for the last year of House 67. There’s never a dull moment with all of us,” said Poggi.
A gl i mp s e o f t h e y e a r Since the agency’s start, students have taken the roles of director, producer, crew, and on-air talent, composing content from idea to script to production. They can choose to be on or off camera, discover their talents, and get a feel for real studio productions. “We are using the most advanced equipment that the department has, so it is a rigorous training ground for real professional life,” said Doyle. Thanks to House 67, the Cabrini community can stay informed and educated about events on campus, sports announcements, interviews, and more. Hannah Poggi, senior digital communications and social media major said, “We are doing a sports update every week, ‘The Sports Wrap Up,’ where we highlight all of the sports teams by talking about the games they’re playing and the star players.” Segments including, “The Sports Wrap Up” and “This Week at Cabrini” were created over the past year and put together by students. Isaiah Dickson, senior, digital communication major said, “It’s more collaborative; all ideas are welcome.” House 67 aims to create more engagement with the students on campus by speaking on topics that spark interest and attention. Dickson said, “I want to see more students on campus know who we are and want to participate.”
Photo by Andrew Stovenour.
Utilizing the televisions around campus to boost engagement was a major goal of House 67. “I’m excited we are able to play our segments in the Founder’s lobby,” said Poggi. Th e f i na l s h o w With the university closing, House 67 students hope to create work that will keep memories of Cabrini alive. “We are working on a documentary about the last year of Cabrini,” said Dickson. House 67 asked alumni to return to talk about their experience as Cabrini students on camera. “We’re going to have alumni back all year long to share their feelings about the closing of the institution and memories of their experiences,” said Doyle. Ethan Baker, senior digital communications and social media major, said, “Not only is it just the students’ last year at Cabrini, it’s everyone who is an alumni here, every person who has taught here. House 67 wants to shine a light on the impact that Cabrini has made.”
Photo by John Doyle.
Perspectives
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THELOQUITUR.COM
Journalism demands effective leadership
By Chris Perri Editor in Chief
The news year we face will be far from anything normal. As the student newspaper of a closing university, our road ahead will inevitably be unpredictable and challenging to navigate. In times like these, leadership becomes crucial. When challenged, those at the helm of an organization must stand ready to face any obstacle they may encounter. Effective leadership can take on many forms, especially in times of crisis or dire circumstances. Those in positions of power in an organization must possess the ability to remain focused on the task at hand, support those around them, take on full accountability, and never abuse their power. Journalism demands these traits in its leaders. In the context of journalism, leadership plays a massive role in the overall success of a publication and its staff. When faced with potentially groundbreaking stories, those at the top must be at the top of their game, ensuring all possible information is reported and confirmed to be true. A famous example of effective journalism leadership is Ben Bradlee, who as the managing editor of the Washington Post stood behind reporters Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward while they investigated what would eventually become the Watergate scandal, which resulted in the resignation of President Richard Nixon. The Watergate reporting serves as a striking example of the power of investigative journalism. Loquitur provides leadership The Loquitur is no exception to the demands of journalism. When the news of Cabrini’s closure broke in June, the entire dynamic of the year ahead changed dramatically. The responsibilities of the editors and I extended to preserving the 65-year legacy of the publication. Our obligation to keep the student body and Cabrini community at large informed now carries an extra weight, knowing that this will be our final year. These uniquely dire circumstances reinforce the need for effective leadership. That falls on me, as well as the rest of the editorial staff. At the end of the day, we are the ones responsible for making sure the paper runs as smoothly as possible and we do justice to its long history. The main task we face is to keep our audience as informed as possible. Currently, with so many questions left unanswered, the Cabrini community is going to look to us for the information and updates on the school’s closure it rightly deserves. We have an obligation to deliver that information in a timely and accurate fashion. It’s something I feel strongly about, and I intend to do everything in my power as editor-in-chief to ensure we fulfill that obligation.
Because of the closure, information will gradually be released as the year progresses. To be effective leaders, the editors and I need to keep our ears to the ground and jump on potential stories as quickly as possible. News stories are often time sensitive, and we can’t let important developments become stale and irrelevant. Loquitur provides leadership Another crucial thing we must remember is that we are responsible for guiding the staff writers as they learn the ropes of journalism and navigate writing their first stories. I know how daunting starting out in journalism can be, and the circumstances around the closure only make it harder to do so. With all the stories that can and need to be told this year, the editors and I need to be able to guide them in the right direction. As the editor-in-chief, the responsibility of guidance not only applies to the staff writers, but the entire editorial staff as well. I’m entrusted to make the final decisions and have the best outcome possible in mind. This coming news year will A photo of Bob Woodward. Photo by Wikimedia Commons. demand effective leadership from myself and the rest of the editorial board. I recognize the monumental challenge ahead of us and the obligations we have to the Cabrini community, and I’m confident we can lead effectively and fulfill those obligations.
How my emotional support animal changed my life
By Paige Bowman Managing Editor
Believe it or not, I wasn’t looking forward to my senior year of college. Many of my friends graduated the year before me, last soccer season ended on a bad note, and to top it all, there was the looming closure of my soon-to-be alma mater. All of these issues combined with anxiety and OCD don’t make for a great mix. Now, halfway through my senior fall semester, I am enjoying life more than ever. Finding Eddy I believe this greatly due to my cat. This is why I believe that emotional support animals should be a more common approach to mental health issues. I was at a Mother’s Day brunch with my family when I got a phone call from my girlfriend saying her family found an abandoned kitten at their beach house and she didn’t know what to do with it. I was never a fan of cats. Growing up, I hated them because one scratched me when I was little, and I still have the scar to this day. But when I saw this tiny gray ball of fluff I impulsively said she could bring him to my house. Suddenly, without my parents’ permission, I was the owner of a kitten I named Eddy.
My mom was upset at first but finally agreed to let me keep him under one condition: I would take him to school with me in the fall.
Having a cat at college completely changed my life. I am now less anxious and have an overall better outlook on life.
Why Pets Need Help In 2011, the Mental Health Foundation conducted a study with the organization Cats Protection which involved over 600 cat- and noncat-owning respondents.
Having something like a pet to come home to after a long day gives me something to look forward to.
Half described themselves as currently having a mental health problem. The survey found that 87% of people who owned a cat felt it had a positive impact on their wellbeing. As summer went on, I found myself enjoying the company of my cat companion. I never really had to take care of anything before and now I had someone who relied on me. I became excited about school and life again thanks to Eddy. We spent the majority of our time together this past summer and developed a great bond. Eddy is a very social guy, who loves everyone and makes even cat haters love him back.
It also makes me happy to think that Eddy makes other people happy. To see the joy on people’s faces when I bring him to practice and the difference he makes in people’s lives makes me happy too Seeking Help If you are struggling with mental health issues, maybe an emotional support animal is the right path for you. An emotional support animal must be prescribed by a licensed mental health professional, who does so by issuing an Emotional Support Animal letter. Thanks to the cat distribution system, Eddy fell right into my lap. However, many shelters are looking for people to adopt pets if you need to find a forever friend.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development states, “Emotional support animals by their very nature, and without training, may relieve depression and anxiety, and/or help reduce stress-induced pain in persons with certain medical conditions affected by stress.” A Part of the Team It’s not just me who Eddy has been helping. He has become somewhat of a celebrity on Cabrini’s soccer team. You will often find him hanging out at practice and team bonding events. Since this is Cabrini women’s soccer final season, it’s safe to say there has been a lot of pressure to perform well. Eddy has been a comfort to every player on the team and is always there for emotional support. He even has his own lucky jersey he wears when he’s with his team. Mental health issues among college students have been on the rise.
Photo by Pagie Bowman.
In 2018, the American College Health Association found that 63% of students they surveyed had experienced overwhelming anxiety in the past year.
Photo by Ella Marrollo
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Women’s volleyball and basketball seasons canceled By Samantha Taddei Sports Editor
Photos by Cabrini Flickr.
In 2020, because of pandemic lockdowns, high school athletes had their senior athletic seasons stripped away. Four years later, Cabrini women’s basketball and volleyball face the same heartbreaking news as their senior seasons are canceled again. Seniors also experienced the bitter disappointment of missing out on graduation ceremonies, the chance to leave a legacy on their teams, and spending last moments with friends. T he uni m a g i n a b l e s t ri k e s a g a in Once Cabrini University announced its closure, athletes were faced with the decision to either play out their final year as a Cavalier or enter the transfer portal and start anew. Most underclassmen decided to enter the transfer portal and commit to play for other universities, a decision that left many Cabrini athletics teams struggling to maintain a roster large enough to have a season. Women’s basketball and women’s volleyball fell victim to a severe shortage of players, leading to the unfortunate cancellation of their seasons. Laura Patton, associate director of athletics, explained when the athletic department officially decided to cancel each season. “We made the decision for women’s volleyball right before the student athletes would have moved in for preseason. This was due to the cost that would go into it, and that our roster numbers really dipped as we neared the start of preseason. We unfortunately had to make the decision that we did not have enough student athletes to move forward,” she said. Women’s basketball faced a similar situation. “We didn’t decide for women’s basketball until students were back on campus in the fall,” Patton said. “Again, we had a lot of athletes leave and pursue other opportunities at other institutions over the summer, leaving us with not enough roster numbers to have a season. These were very dif-
ficult decisions to make.” To put it into perspective, in the 2022-23 season women’s basketball rostered 13 women and women’s volleyball rostered 18 women. This year, only three basketball players and four volleyball players remained. Dis belief and denial Senior Brielle Fitzpatrick, who would have played basketball this year, was one of the many athletes affected and whose season was stripped away. “Finding out about the closure was upsetting, but finding out we weren’t having a season hurt even more because I’m a senior,” Fitzpatrick said. “My senior year in high school was cut short because of COVID, so it felt like I was having PTSD.” Senior Abigail Paolini, another former basketball player, agreed. “I was in shock when I found out. It kind of felt like I was in a movie. Then I was in denial. It was like how is this happening again after the whole COVID thing for seniors of 2020, and now again for us in 2024? I kept asking myself ‘What am I going to do with my life now?’” Junior Mackenzie Griffith, who would have played volleyball this year, said, “I found the news out in the middle of the summer when I was at work. Our coach sent us a text and he was also blindsided by it all.” Griffith continued, “It sucked in the beginning. There were a lot of emotions I went through. I wondered if I would ever play again, and I was also struggling with the fact that I wouldn’t be at the same school as all my friends and teammates.”
going to miss the little things more than anything. Our pregame routine, our locker room shenanigans, the warmups, all of it was so fun. Selfishly, I’m just going to miss having that escape and having something to do all the time,” Paolini said. “Basketball has been my life. It has been my connection to a lot of things and has been an escape from reality. When I have a lot going on in my head I would go to the court and play. It’s been my life, and I don’t really know how I can walk away from it forever,” she wondered. While the seasons may have been stripped from these players, the memories they’ve created will last a lifetime. “It’s been hard dealing with this but I know it’s not the end of the road. It’s the end of the road for Cabrini, which sucks,” Fitzpatrick said. “I miss my teammates, the atmosphere, and just basketball in general. It’s done a lot for me.” “Cabrini as an organization for basketball was amazing. There was no environment like it,” Paolini said. “Cabrini athletics in general was always just one small family. I think we are all hurting the
For many of these players, the 2022-23 season was the last athletic season ever in their careers. “Next semester I’ll be going to Saint Joe’s University. They don’t have an actual volleyball team, only a club team, but by the time I get there, volleyball will have already started so I won’t be able to play this year,” Griffith explained. “Next year, I have teaching, so I’ve come to the realization that volleyball is over. It sucks knowing that. If I could go back, I wouldn’t take it for granted and would have appreciated it all more.” More than a s port Athletics encompasses more than just games; they embody dreams, ambitions, and the culmination of years of dedicated work. Fitzpatrick said, “Basketball is like everything to me. I have never done school without basketball, so this is my first year just being a student. Not having it feels like this little empty spot not being fulfilled in you.”
Photos by Cabrini Flickr.
Sports form an integral aspect of an athlete’s identity and stand as a deep-seated passion and crucial chapter in their life’s journey. “I’m
Photos by Cabrini Women’s Volleyball.
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Ethan Emery’s inspirational journey By Brooke Protesto Staff Writer
Collegiate soccer was always junior Ethan Emery’s dream. After being diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, West Chester University turned him away. Cabrini then welcomed him with open arms and today, he is the recipient of the Atlantic East’s Medal of Inspiration. In 2021, Emery, Cabrini men’s soccer midfielder, had routine testing at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where he was diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, or HCM. HCM is a disease in which the heart muscle thickens and it becomes difficult to pump blood throughout the body. After his successful high school athletic career at Penncrest High School, Emery initially committed to West Chester to play soccer. But after five pre-season practices, he was pulled out by the athletic training staff. “I just got pulled off the field in the middle of the training and was told that I wasn’t allowed to play there anymore,” Emery said. There are many dangers of playing a sport with HCM, including heart failure and atrial fibrillation, which causes blood clots. West Chester was aware of Emery’s diagnosis when their athletic training staff sent him to a cardiologist who is an expert in HCM. “They actually sent me to a cardiologist at Penn whose name is Dr. Sharlene Day. She’s the leading sports cardiologist for this condition in the country. So I’m super thankful to have her. She cleared me, which is why I’m able to play now,” Emery said. Ironically, West Chester’s refusal to let Emery play opened a lot of doors for him, including the one that led him to Cabrini. Becoming a Cavalier Cabrini men’s soccer coach Rob Dallas said of Emery, “He was at another institution and enjoyed the school, but we wanted to get him into a situation where he was able to play and fortunately, Cabrini was able to offer that to him.” According to Dallas, Cabrini’s recruitment process was distinct. “I sat on a number of calls through Ethan’s recruitment process with his family, with his cardiologist, with Ethan, and with our athletic training staff. It went to levels that I’ve never had to go through in the recruiting process before,” Dallas said. “Everybody went into this situation eyes wide open and knew what
Photo via Cabrini Athletics.
Ethan’s circumstance was. At the end of the day, nobody really had reservations about it, including Ethan, the doctors, the training staff, and Cabrini. Everybody felt really comfortable with it. So we were just fortunate that the school had an open mind to it. Obviously, that led to him coming here, which we’ve been thrilled with.” Since joining the soccer team, Emery has made an impact. “I knew he was a great player. I knew he was an even better young man and he came as advertised. He’s been fantastic for us.” Dallas said. During the team’s 2022 season, Emery appeared in 14 matches while starting 12 of them and was also named to the Atlantic East Conference All-Academic Team. One of Emery’s teammates, senior goalkeeper Griff Rogers, said, “Coming in as a transfer student in 2022 has to be hard to adapt to a new style of play, group of people, and everything else that goes into joining a new team. He comes into practice with the mindset of
getting better every day. Ethan is the type of teammate that wants everyone around him to get better. He is constantly motivating his teammates to be the best version of themselves.” In itia l Re a c tio n Emery’s initial reaction to the medal was a shock to him. “I was kind of surprised to be quite honest. I’m so happy here and it’s just been a fun time with the team. It’s always been in the back of my mind that I’m playing with [HCM], but it’s not the first thing on my mind.” Emery said. “I was super thankful and appreciative for my parents, my family, my cardiologist and doctors, and for everyone here. I was just very happy for everyone around me because it wasn’t just an award for me. It was also an award for Coach Dallas, Dustin, the strength and conditioning coach, Jess, the athletics trainer, and everyone involved that helped to make this happen.”
The perks of being a Wells Fargo athlete By Nate Mazurek Staff Writer
Many people love sporting events and concerts, and some dedicated The s tart of s omething s pec ial fans would spend their last dollar to attend. Hunter Waldron gets to “I thought it was fake,” Waldron said when he saw the message. see these events for free. “I put in an email to see if it was true, then all of a sudden I got an email from the owners of Wells Fargo Center and they gave me this On June 1, 2021, the NCAA started allowing their athletes to benefit contract, so it was pretty official.” from Name, Image, and Likeness, or NIL rights. Before this policy was approved by the NCAA, college athletes did not see a penny of When Waldron asked his former head coach, Steve Colfer, what he what their hard work and dedication made for their school. should do, Colfer sent him to Laura Patton, Cabrini’s associate director of athletics/NCAA compliance. Waldron is a junior goalkeeper for the Cabrini Cavaliers’ lacrosse team. He has a deal with the Wells Fargo Center that allows him “I had a hefty contract. I had to give it to Laura Patton and our athletic to see any event hosted there. He has seen hockey games, box director. It took about two weeks for them to go through it, read it lacrosse games, concerts, and standup comedy. It all started after specifically, and see exactly what this was all about. Once that haphe received a simple direct message on Instagram. pened, they read it through, they gave it back and we signed. We have been doing this since last year,” Waldron said. When asked about the rules and regulations Patton said, “We have to evaluate each contract very closely to ensure it does not violate any NCAA rules, a student’s eligibility, as well as state laws that have been put into effect around NIL.” How he k eeps his deal Though Waldron gets significant benefits from this deal, such as Photo by Hunter Waldron. tickets and merchandise, he must promote the Wells Fargo Center on his Instagram story every time he attends an event, so in the Bruins achieved the points record was the most fun event I’ve been end, both sides benefit. to. The Bruins beat the Flyers, breaking the points record. It was like a Bruins home game in Philly; I didn’t see a single Flyers fan in Waldron said of the responsibility, “I am very on top of it because it my section. It was a sold-out crowd, and the place was electric. I’ve is something I would not like to lose. I am given a graphic and a link never been in an atmosphere like that in my whole life.” and I promote it through my Instagram Story.” Waldron has also been able to attend other events at the Wells FarFriends , s tories , and fav orite memories go Center, including Dave Chappelle, who is his favorite comedian, Waldron receives up to six tickets to each event so he can bring and Lil Baby, who is his favorite rapper. his friends. Photo by Hunter Waldron.
He says it does not get much better than going to all those events When asked about his favorite memory, he said, “When the Boston with his best friends right by his side.