Award-Winning Student Run Newspaper
Vol. LXV• Issue 3
THELOQUITUR.COM
YOU SPEAK WE LISTEN
Thursday November 16, 2023
Cabrini’s financial transparency: alumni seek answers By John Rader and Andrew Stovenour Perspectives Editor, Visuals Editor
Transparency is a virtue, but not always a given. Cabrini alumni are still searching for transparency from the university.
ministration, the university lost an estimated $35,516,479.
As Cabrini enters its final year of operation, many questions remain about the school’s past financial dealings. Alumni wonder how Cabrini ended up closing, and if this situation could have been avoided.
“I fully blame this situation on Donald Taylor for driving Cabrini to be something it never should have become,” Johnson said.
James Cooper, former vice president of Finance and Administration, who served under both former President Donald Taylor and President Helen Drinan, said in a statement to the Loquitur via email, “Cabrini leadership has been transparent with alums, employees, students, and the community about our financial challenges. The financial circumstances impacting Cabrini were discussed publicly in a Philadelphia Inquirer article from last November. It was subsequently picked up by other news outlets as well as social media and shared widely. In the article, Interim President Drinan was candid and clear about the financial challenges that Cabrini had been facing and the possibility for alternative options to resolve.”
Johnson also believes that under the Taylor administration alumni engagement suffered drastically. “There was virtually zero engagement with major donors. You really didn’t see the level of donations coming into Cabrini as you saw under the Iadarola administration,” he said. “Previous leadership in the Office for Development and Alumni Relations did not focus on it the proper way. They just pretty much put their hand out, like, ‘Hey guys, give us money, we need money.’ Okay, well, where’s that money going? Like, why don’t you give us incentives?”
However, Joe Johnson, class of 2009 and president of the Cabrini alumni board of directors, disagrees. “That statement is unequivocally inaccurate,” he said. “Publishing your financial laundry in a regional newspaper is not being transparent with the community. What is being transparent with the community is having those statements available for examination, for audit, years before this has happened, and being honest with how much money you’re actually spending,” Johnson said. During the early stages of Johnson’s appointment as board member, Cabrini appeared to be transparent with its alumni. Taylor told the board that university business was booming, and often about the new projects and initiatives Taylor’s administration planned to introduce. Since the announcement of the Villanova deal, Johnson said Cabrini has left him and his colleagues in the dark. Like most Cabrini alumni, Johnson received word of the sale through a D3sports.com article on June 23. “Everybody was blindsided. Why did this happen? How did it happen? Who knows?” Johnson said. In 2018, when Taylor was still president, Johnson and other members of the alumni board felt something was wrong, and began asking questions. According to Johnson, no matter how many times they asked, they were rebuffed. Members of Taylor’s administration, including former Acting President Brian Eury and former vice president of Institutional Advancement Steven Highsmith joined Taylor in painting the picture of Cabrini as a stable, and flourishing university. Fellow alumni board member Janet Gervais, Class of 1996, corroborated Johnson’s claims. Gervais added that it was like “pulling teeth” to get information from the Taylor administration. The Loquitur reached out to Donald Taylor’s office multiple times but he did not respond. Additionally, Angela Buchanico, executive director of Marketing Communications, said President Drinan has no comment on Cabrini’s communication with alumni during the Taylor administration. Why did Cabrini lose money? Following Taylor’s departure in 2022, Johnson said alumni were finally given an honest assessment of Cabrini’s financial situation. “Interim President Drinan was transparent. From her view and the seat that she was sitting in, she was fully transparent with the financial state of the institution,” Johnson said. According to ProPublica’s Nonprofit Explorer, during the Taylor ad-
Rev. Richard Jasper: “Be one with” Page 8
Johnson said the current leadership in the Development and Alumni Relations office is doing the right thing in terms of engaging with alumni. However, Johnson views this as lost time and wishes alumni engagement was better when he first signed on in 2018.
Photo via Cabrini Flickr.
Photo via Cabrini Flickr.
mother, Loretta Dellapia O’Fria was a member of the first Cabrini graduating class in 1961. In addition, Cellucci’s daughter, Gabrielle, graduated in 2022 as a communication major.
Cabrini is a small Catholic school, and Johnson believes it should have stuck to what the college was known for. “Cabrini was great because of the small class size. It was that personal relationship with the professors that you were able to cultivate. Professors care about their students, and they generally want you to succeed, and they spend time on you,” Johnson said.
Gabrielle Cellucci was a member of the Loquitur editorial staff in 2021, and along with her fellow staff members began digging into the financial history of the institution.
An ill-fated transition In 2016, Cabrini announced it would become a university. In a fiveyear span, the university announced new initiatives such as building a new dorm building, athletic facility, parking garage, and founding a nursing program.
According to Cellucci, soon after the Loquitur began asking Taylor’s administration about issues relating to COVID-19 protocols and social problems on campus, the president’s office cut off all contact with the student newspaper.
The implementation of these projects directly correlates with Cabrini losing $23,599,012 during this five-year time frame. Thomas Nerney, class of 1977, was a major benefactor in university projects and initiatives during the school’s transition from a college to a university. In 2016, Cabrini opened the Thomas P. Nerney Athletic Pavilion. The Loquitur reached out to Nerney for comment, but he declined our request. Lori O’Fria Cellucci, class of 1987, said, “It was the beginning of the end when Cabrini decided to transition from a college to a university.” Cellucci said this sentiment is prevalent among Cabrini alumni. She also believes that if Cabrini focused on the programs it was known for and expanded on them, the school would not be in its current position. Further, Cellucci agreed with Johnson that alumni were asked by the university to provide donations to the new buildings, but were unaware of its accumulated debt. Cellucci has a deep-rooted family connection to Cabrini, as her
Meet Coach Ryan Van Zelst Page 5
“Gabrielle came to me and said, ‘Mom, I am scared the school is going to close,’” Cellucci said.
Smoke and mirrors According to Johnson, “The university should have focused on little niche departments. What ended up happening as the school tried to transition over to university status is that I think they were trying to chase more money to dump into the institution.” The school was spending more money than it was bringing in, and Johnson believes Cabrini was basing its budget on projected enrollment numbers it failed to meet. “I don’t wanna call it smoke and mirrors, but it really felt like it. We saw things that were happening. But we were assured everything was fine, but obviously it wasn’t,” Johnson said. On Wednesday, November 3, Johnson was informed by Laura Chisholm, executive director of Development and Alumni Relations, that the alumni board would be dissolved, effective immediately. This announcement coincides with the Villanova deal, and a plan to form a new alumni association that will be managed by Villanova University’s Office of Alumni Relations. This week, the Cabrini University Alumni Facebook page posted a link to an Alumni Volunteer Interest form for those who might want to help plan or serve on the new board.
Editorial
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THELOQUITUR.COM
Preserving Cabrini’s legacy
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
ADVISER WENDY ROSENFIELD MISSION
The Loquitur student newspaper and website are integral parts of the educational mission of the Cabrini communication department, namely, to educate students to take their places in the public media. Loquitur Media provides a forum of free expression. All members of the university community may submit work to the editors for possible inclusion. Publication is based on the editorial decision of the editors.
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!
By Loquitur Editorial Board It’s official, after months of waiting, Cabrini University announced the completed agreement for Villanova to assume ownership of our campus in June 2024. In the joint release from the two schools, Villanova promised to “preserve Cabrini’s overarching legacy and mission through a variety of initiatives,” continuing our mission to be advocates of social change and justice. It also said they would look to “commemorate, celebrate, and document” the history of Mother Cabrini and our institution. But what exactly will this look like? The history of Cabrini’s campus is one that must be preserved. Historic buildings such as the Mansion should be left unchanged as a testament to Cabrini’s 67 years of education. Additionally, artifacts from Cabrini could be housed in the Mansion as a kind of museum, ensuring that the memories associated with them remain visible. Continuing traditions Here’s what we want to see: traditions on campus should return even after Villanova takes over. The Barbara and John Jordan Center for Children of Trauma and Domestic Violence Education has hosted the Domestic Violence Symposium for 13 years, and this should continue to happen. Education on the issue of domestic violence is crucial, especially for young people. The work of Barbara and John Jordan should not have to come to a close simply because Villanova owns the campus. Athletics have also played an integral role in the university since its inception. Cabrini hosted 20 varsity teams and holds an impressive 146 conference championships under its belt. We would like to see the athletics community honored for their accomplishments and unwavering dedication. This could be in the form of commemorative events such as alumni games, tournaments, or exhibitions to bring together past and present members of the athletics community. These events can serve as a celebration of the program’s legacy.
We would also like to see some sort of athletics exhibition on campus showcasing memorabilia, trophies, and photos from the program’s history. This allows future generations to learn about and appreciate the university’s athletic achievements. Keeping memories alive We also hope to continue to celebrate the feast of our namesake Mother Cabrini every November with Cabrini Day, a cherished event that is occurring even now as we go to press. In the future, if students don’t present their research projects that day, at the least, bringing the community together to celebrate Mother Cabrini is paramount to keeping her mission alive after our institutional closure. Most importantly, we want to maintain the tradition of bringing Cabrini graduates back to campus for alumni events and reunions. This is a pivotal aspect of being a member of the Cabrini community. It’s vital to escape life’s challenges and reconnect with some of your best friends from college. We must allow alumni from across the seven decades of Cabrini’s history to get back together and reminisce about the memories from our time on campus. Being able to reconnect with friends and classmates ensures that the community fostered at Cabrini carries on. Sharing stories and memories is a great way to keep Cabrini’s legacy alive. It also allows graduates to network with each other, which is a tremendous asset in the professional world. Once Villanova takes over in May, the countless memories and stories of Cabrini cannot simply be left to disappear. Our school’s legacy must be preserved and treated with the highest level of dignity and respect. Not to do so would be a terrible injustice to everyone who has ever come through Cabrini’s doors and worked so hard to make it such a unique place.
So many outstanding professors and alumni have passed through this university. By commemorating our history, athletics, campus, and traditions, the Cabrini community can at least find some personal closure after the university closes its doors for good.
The weight of history By Paige Bowman Managing Editor
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Students and athletes join together for Halloween Havoc’s final By Emily Shultz Staff Writer
On Oct. 26, athletes and students gathered in the Dixon Center gymnasium for Halloween Havoc one final time. Students flooded the lobby and chatted with friends as they waited for the gym doors to open. Some showed their support by wearing decorative costumes and Havoc merch. Havoc is Cabrini’s yearly Halloween-themed pep rally. Planned and run by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, it commemorates the school’s athletic teams by having athletes and the audience participate in various games and activities that unite the community. The event is a major highlight of “Freak Week,” a lineup of Halloween events for students and staff. Havoc was first held in 2011. Men’s Lacrosse Coach Tommy DeLuca helped organize the evening and was satisfied with the results. “It was good, I think for what Cabrini looks like this year.” He continued, ”Obviously, it would have been great if the whole gym was packed in tight, but we just have a smaller footprint on campus.”
The Havoc experience At the start of the event, the men’s basketball team was introduced one by one. Each player took their turn running to the center of the court. The rest of the athletic teams walked across in themed costumes: cross country as Mario video game characters, rowing
dressed in Villanova merch, men’s soccer as Roman citizens in full toga attire, and women’s field hockey as zombies. Other teams dressed as The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon characters and the title creature from Dr. Seuss’ children’s book “The Lorax.” Next, the games commenced. First, the tug-of-war. Audience members were invited to join alongside their athlete peers in a vigorous competition. Later, the winning team would go on to the final round. The second game was sharks and minnows, which provided another opportunity for the audience to join in. Sharks and minnows is a game of elimination tag. The two teams stand parallel on opposite sides of the court. The minnows have to make it to the other side without getting tagged by the shark team.
Invigorating the school spirit Cabrini’s cheer team then took the stage to perform their routines, invigorating the school spirit in the gymnasium. The audience roared in support. Afterward, athletes participated in a game of “Guess the Song.” With energy running high, a chaotic game of extreme musical chairs (not to be confused with regular musical chairs) ensued. Next, a spike ball championship played by four Waldos (the main character from the “Where’s Waldo” book series) and the final round of tug-of-war. Finally, Halloween Havoc reached its height with the costume contest.
Photo by Emily Shultz.
Olivia Murano, a senior early childhood education major with a minor in special education, attended the event with a couple of friends. She said she enjoys Havoc because “I just think it’s a fun way to see all the athletics teams come together and have them do funny stuff and get the audience involved.”
A bittersweet end This year, fewer people participated in the costume side of Havoc. However, one student dressed as Willy Wonka and was fairly difficult to miss: Logan DeConti, a junior education major, noted he’d been to two other Havoc events. The earlier Havocs “had the same atmosphere, but just more people.” DeLuca was pleased with Cabrini’s last Halloween Havoc event. “Everything is kind of a last time here,” he said. “So, I’m glad that it went well. I’m glad that our SAAC reps did a great job with getting it set up and running it, you know, help in any way they could.” Ethan Baker, senior digital communications and social media major, also commented, “Honestly, I’m really just gonna miss the costumes. We still have the memories so, it’s fun.”
The contestant with the loudest cheers would win.
Halloween Havoc offered a yearly reminder of how truly interconnected the Cabrini community is.
Ultimately, the women’s field hockey zombie gathered the most booming cheers, stomps, and claps Photo by Emily Shultz. from the crowd, devouring the competition.
The final Havoc hoorah was a bit bittersweet, but the Cavalier spirit will persevere.
Cabrini hosts The Clothesline Project By Chris Perri Editor-in-Chief On Wednesday, Oct. 26, students on campus had the opportunity to raise awareness of domestic and interpersonal violence by taking part in the Clothesline Project, held in The Grill.
ating health promotion programs. The final project for the course was to create a health programming plan about a specific topic, implement it, and evaluate its effectiveness.
The Clothesline Project presents a visual display against domestic abuse, in the form of colored T-shirts adorned with messages and designs related to different types of violence. Not every organization uses the same color representations, but Wednesday’s event used white for bystanders, teal for sexual assault, purple for domestic violence, orange for teen dating violence, and navy blue to engage men’s awareness.
The group chose domestic violence and The Clothesline Project due to the statistical likelihood of college students experiencing intimate partner violence.
A handful of students sat and designed their own shirts. Some students who were simply passing through The Grill stopped to design a shirt. Sponsored by the Black Student Union and Cabrini’s Jordan Center, five seniors organized the event: Precious Balogun, Ash Angus, Taylor Downing, Ethan Gill, and Teren Lover-Williams. This was the final project for their class, Health Programming and Education. The course, taught by Dr. Gifty Key, chair of the health and exercise science department, examines health education and discusses cre-
“We did our project on domestic violence on college campuses because freshmen are more likely to experience intimate partner violence within the first four months of their first year,” Angus said. “Between move-in and the end of Thanksgiving break, they’re more likely to have experienced violence regardless if they’re a commuter or live on campus.” The negative stigma surrounding the topic also played a role. “We wanted to talk about interpersonal violence because it’s something that happens every day and can happen to anyone,” Angus said. “It’s also important to note that talking about it breaks the discomfort surrounding it, as well as making it easier for victims and survivors to tell their stories when they are ready. Silence perpetuates violence.”
als,” Angus said. “When talking about domestic violence, as a society, people tend to associate this topic with women. It’s a conversation that involves everyone, from children to older adults and elders, and people in the queer community.
Aw a r e n e s s a n d p r e v e n t i o n Balogun said that the main goal of the event was to bring awareness to the topic. “Our goal is to start the conversation that needs to be started. I feel like it’s not talked about a lot. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and I feel like there’s not a lot of events that have happened,” she said. “We had the Domestic Violence Symposium, but adding an additional [event] that caters toward the students in a less professional manner will engage the students and get them to ask the questions they’re afraid to ask.”
Dulce Vargas, a freshman and undecided major, shared the importance of awareness. “I think awareness for any type of abuse is really important and can’t be talked about enough. We also had an event at orientation where they talked about sexual assault in schools, and I think it’s good that Cabrini’s trying to bring attention to this topic,” she said.
Prevention is another key piece of the event’s mission. “The importance of education on this topic is to prevent further violence against all individuals. That includes Photo by Chris Perri. men, women, and non-binary or genderqueer individu-
Photo by Chris Perri.
Domestic violence disproportionately affects marginalized groups, such as women, people in the queer community, and people of color.”
“I just hope that people are more open to having these types of conversations. It’s difficult for victims to talk about these things because there’s a stigma around it.” Sam Sturkey, a junior psychology major, agreed. “Domestic violence doesn’t get enough light, so spreading awareness about it is what brought me here, because it’s so important,” she said.
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Challenges ahead for Cabrini’s Children’s School
By Leigha Sepers Lifestyles Editor
The news of Cabrini’s impending closure brought shock over the loss of such a beloved institution. The university isn’t the only school facing an uncertain future, however. In 1974, Cabrini College opened a center for early education, operating from the Dixon Center, and led by the early education department. This became the Cabrini Children’s School and was to be an asset to early education majors, helping them gain field experience. Dixon was remodeled, and with that came the first big change to the Children’s School. Instead of operating on campus, they would rent space at the United Church of Christ Valley Forge, where they would continue teaching. The same day students, staff, and alumni were informed of the University’s closure, was the same day that the Children’s School heard the news of its future. Nicole Whiteman, director of the Children’s School, said, “We were told that the Children’s School would close as well.” “We found out when the entire University found out, and I think that I was maybe thinking of a partnership or merger, I had no idea this was going on behind the scenes,” said Whiteman. The end of this school year will bring sadness not only to the staff, but to many students who went through the program. Many prior students still return, whether they have a sibling in the school, or just to reminisce. E ar l y e d u c a t i o n The Children’s School houses students from ages two to seven years old and offers a full-day kindergarten. All teachers at the school follow the guidelines for the National Association of Education for Young Children, NAEYC, which is the school’s accreditation. The teachers follow the state curriculum and are guided by the early education department as well. The school focuses on not only core curriculum, but also other engaging activities for the children. There is outdoor playtime every day, and they have a large playroom. Teachers also don’t limit their education to one religion or nationality, teaching about multiple holidays and traditions around the world.
Impac t on the teac hers Currently there are eight teachers at the Children’s School, all facing an uncertain future. One of those teachers is Sandy Mulroy, who has been a part of the school for almost 10 years. “I think it’s really quite sad and disappointing,” Mulroy said about the closing.
Photo by Leigha Sepers.
Mulroy was offered a job at the Children’s School after offering childcare out of her own home. She did a 10-year stint at there before she decided to switch over to public school. For nine years she focused on teaching special education to middle schoolers, high school skills to students with multiple disabilities and at-risk high school students. This past year she decided to come back to the children’s school, teaching kindergarten, making it her 11th year with the school. “This year has definitely been different. We used to have the athletes come and do community service, the science department used to do lessons, so we had an opportunity to interact with the college on a huge level, but lately that has fallen off,” Mulroy said. The school hopes their years of work in the community will prevail and that Villanova will be willing to sign a deal with them, but they are not optimistic and are treating this year as their last. “I think at the end of the school year it’s going to be a sad peace; I hope that past students will still remember their time here fondly,” Whiteman said.
Cabrini closure sparks hope for student loan relief
By Jason Fridge Podcast Editor, Breaking News Coordinator
There’s a lot that’s bad about Cabrini closing, but believe it or not, there’s one important benefit: the school’s shutdown gives the opportunity to say goodbye to accumulated student loan debt. College is not cheap, and with tuition steadily rising year after year families struggle to pay out of pocket for school. Federal student loans are an important resource to those who need extra support in paying for their college education. Student loan debt, however, is less helpful as it sticks with people for years after they receive their degree. USA Today reported that in the first quarter of 2023, total student loan debt in the U.S. was over $1.77 trillion. This number has nearly tripled in the last 15 years and only continues to grow. In Pennsylvania, the average student loan debt is just over $35,000 per student, whether or not they graduate. Getting rid of this burden almost sounds too good to be true. Closed school discharge process The Federal Student Aid website has a page dedicated to the “closed school discharge process”, with information on eligibility requirements. The page says that if your school closes while you’re enrolled or soon after you withdraw, you may be eligible to remove your obligation to repay loans under certain circumstances. This applies to Direct Program loans, Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program loans, or Federal Perkins Loans but not any private loans.
There are three major criteria that make you eligible for the loan discharge. If you were enrolled when the school closed, were on an approved leave of absence, or the school closed within 180 days after you withdraw, you can apply for a full discharge. Unfortunately, if you graduate from the institution before closing, withdraw more than 180 days before closure, or plan to complete a teach-out agreement at another school, you do not qualify for the discharge. If you meet the requirements for loan discharge, you will either receive an application automatically from your loan holder or need to contact your servicer about beginning the application. After the application is reviewed and approved, you will either be discharged from part or the full amount of your loan. If you already made payments towards your loan, you may also receive a refund for those payments. Don’t run to the bank now While this opportunity on paper may sound enticing for students who don’t plan on finishing their Cabrini degree, the green light is not yet flashing to apply. Currently there are new regulations and eligibility requirements that are held up in federal court that could drastically impact the status of one’s loan discharge. During this freeze, the policy does not differentiate whether a student goes to a teach-out or non-teach-out institution. If students transfer credits and continue their education elsewhere, there is a high likelihood that they would not be approved for discharge. Dr. Kimberly Boyd, dean of Retention and Student Services, spoke on how the Center for Student Success is following the status of the law to make sure they are not misinforming students about this in advisory meetings. “There is a potential evolution of the law that might actually separate between teachout and non-teach-out institutions, but that is not an enforceable law right now,” said Boyd. “We are going to wait until a decision is made at a federal level so that if we do discuss things like this with students, we’re discussing what current laws are.” Photo via Flickr.
Boyd was able to confirm that if and when
students do become eligible for the loan discharge, the federal government will send a notification about their potential eligibility. This most likely will not come into the picture until after Cabrini officially closes it’s doors and a student has chosen to continue it’s education at a new institution. “We’re trying to make sure that everything that a student has earned is valid, transferable, and counts,” Boyd said. “If any of our students to our knowledge become eligible for something like a loan discharge, we would absolutely work with them and all of the other schools that we’re partnering with would have offices that would do the same.” Relieving more than debt When students hear the words “loans” and “debt,” their heart rates begin to spike. Whether they know it or not, it’s always on their mind and a factor that may have decided where to go to school. “When I hear that phrase, it’s something that comes off as a bit scary,” said Bear Evans, sophomore finance major. “I’ve heard of people who took decades to pay off their debt. It’s something I want to avoid if I’m able to.” Many students share this perspective of trying to avoid going into debt. Dominic Petruzzelli, sophomore math major, spent a lot of time wondering if it would be worth taking out loans. “I don’t have any student loans taken out but I have thought about taking them out,” said Petruzzelli. “The primary reason why I don’t take them out is because the rates that you have to pay them back and interest rates are absolutely nuts.” The current fixed interest rate for undergraduate direct subsidized and unsubsidized loans is 5.50 percent, according to the Federal Student Aid website. Petruzzelli knows his intended career path may make it harder to pay off these loans. “It’s something you have to worry about as a college student, especially becoming a teacher,” said Petruzzelli. “I know teachers don’t always make the most money in certain fields. It’s something that I’m going to have to balance later in life and I don’t think I would be able to.” Students who can take advantage of the school discharge opportunity can relieve themselves of the stress and weight of carrying student debt with them through their early post-college career.
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Delco drop-in sessions are here to help By Emily Shultz Staff Writer
This semester, Cabrini will host Delco Drop-in sessions once a month to support students who have been subjected to trauma. The organization, which specializes in supporting victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault, will visit November 29 and December 6 from 1-3 p.m. Meetings will be held in Grace Hall’s CaPS office. This is an opportunity for individuals to meet one-on-one with a trained professional to navigate whatever their needs may be. This includes confidential crisis counseling and victim services information. In addition, all resources provided by the Victim Assistance Center are free. The Delaware County Victim Assistance Center’s associate director is one of Cabrini’s very own alumna, Candice Linehan, class of 2003. What the Delco sessions provide Hillary Graham, senior CaPS clinician, noted, “They [Delaware County Victim Assistance Center] can also offer to set up and put somebody on a waiting list if need be for their therapy offsite. Or to talk to a virtual therapist or maybe even to sign up for additional services, right? They can organize a representative to be present with them when they go to the police or go to a court proceeding or anything else. They’ll come on campus here, for instance, if there’s any type of sexual assault that occurs on campus.”
What the Delco sessions provide In the future, CaPS hopes to provide educational opportunities surrounding domestic abuse for the Cabrini community. There is a possibility of a collaboration with Laurel House, an organization that focuses on providing support and shelter for domestic abuse victims, in addition to educational opportunities for individuals. Graham added, “It’s our vision to be able to partner with the same organization and have some type of student training format, either here at CaPS in our Infante House location or Grace Hall, if there were enough people, to talk about other areas like building healthy relationships, or prevention for types of assault and things like that. We hope to bring them [Laurel House] in other ways too. But we started first with allowing victims to feel supported.“ For more information, please contact Hillary Graham at 610-902-8566 or hg10123@cabrini.edu. CaPS also has walk-in hours on weekdays from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., where students can meet with a counselor. CaPS walk-in sessions are for anyone and everyone, regardless of the issue. “We are happy to help,” Graham said.
Graham added, “It’s like they’re taking their office in Media and they’re bringing it here for two hours once a month.” Although the organization specializes in helping those who have been subject to domestic abuse and sexual assault, they also support victims of all kinds. “This includes all types of victimization, though I will say we’re working under the auspices of sexual assault prevention. But let’s just say you’re subject to a carjacking. Let’s just say somebody steals your purse. Let’s just say some other horrible trauma occurs. [The office] will also work with that type of victimization too.” A federally funded opportunity The opportunity for the drop-in sessions was made possible through a federally subsidized grant from the United States Office on Violence Against Women, or OVW. According to the Department of Justice, OVW provides leadership for reducing violence against women (domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking) and aims to strengthen services for victims. The grant provided Cabrini $250,000 over five years to “create programming regarding the prevention and services to victims with regards to sexual assault and violence on a college campus.”
Photo by Emily Schultz.
Cozy Thursdays, a judgement-free zone By Iris Redondo Ponce Staff Writer
The closer the weekend is, the less students are seen on Cabrini’s campus. However, the Wolfington Center attracts a small crowd every Thursday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Cozy Thursdays are a time when everyone on campus is welcome to hang out, enjoy tasty food and have meaningful conversation with their peers.
Cozy Thursdays are planned and structured but when the event unfolds, it also allows space for students to make connections and unwind. Amber Hill, a freshman majoring in biology said, “It’s a place where I can reconnect with people that I don’t see often, to settle down and vent. It is a nonjudgement zone.” Hill mentions that hearing other people’s experiences is beneficial, “like learning from them as well, learning how to go through life through them.” Other than conversation, Cozy Thursdays offers games and food. The food is made by freshman Nyla Wildman who’s double majoring in psychology and criminology. “She just comes in and cooks whatever is on her heart.” Nalwoga said. “Good food from a good cook,” she added. The foods cooked so far have been chili, chicken alfredo, and grilled cheese. Nalwoga said that the food is different every week. How does Coz y Thurs day s b e n e fit th e Ca b r in i’s c o mmu n ity ? College can be isolating at times and making friends can be hard. Nalwoga said, “Certain people have mentioned that this is the only thing that they look forward to during the week. It is a safe space where they can talk about what’s on their minds, what they think about without being judged or being cast out.” At Cozy Thursdays, every student who attends can share their thoughts. Hill said, “We have had more people come each week. Because people feel so comfortable, they want to be around that environment more.” She added, “People are more open to coming out and doing things since they’re making friends and meeting people.” As for Nalwoga’s Cozy Thursday goals, she said, “I just want students to look back and be like, ‘oh, this was a great time. That was something I enjoyed.’ And maybe wherever they end up going, they’ll create spaces like this for other people or for themselves and just enjoy each other’s company.”
Photo by Iris Redondo Ponce.
Why Cozy Thursdays? Sheila Nalwoga, the Next Steps AmeriCorps team leader, hosts the event. An AmeriCorps team leader assists students enrolled in the AmeriCorps program and recruits Next Steps mentors and mentees. Last year, the Wolfington hosted Cozy Fridays, but attendance was low due to being so close to the weekend. This year however, Nalwoga offered to take over and move to Thursdays in hopes of “engaging with students,” she said. “It’s a chance for people around campus to get together, sit down, talk about life, enjoy some free food.” On top of being a safe space used to make friends, gain support, and eat, the time is also used to tell people about the resources or services offered there. What happens on Cozy Thursdays? For most students, Cozy Thursdays serves as a time to unwind. They also have conversations about various topics. Nalwoga said the group talks about “faith, things that people feel are happening in school, where they need support.” She added that though she has tried to establish a theme every week, they end up going off topic, which helps form community. “One time, it was random, but we talked about names and how our names came about. It was just a random conversation that started but then I learned how you can learn so much from why someone was named something.” Nalwoga said.
Photo by Iris Redondo Ponce.
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Lifestyles
Mental health and the student athlete By Seamus Feeley Staff Writer
THELOQUITUR.COM
Triumph on the field and in the mind. Psychological obstacles hurdled. Mental health takes the dub while anxiety takes the loss. It’s time to learn the values of therapy in the student athlete community.
senior year because she wanted to finish out strong and focus on internships. She said she could only imagine what it’s like for students in the current semester of Cabrini, considering its closure.
Shining a light on the topic is Hillary Graham, licensed professional counselor. As part of the Counseling and Psychological Services (CaPs), she talks about the rise of therapy in Cabrini’s student athlete community, and the common mental health issues surrounding student athletes’ competition-induced stress. She talks about symptoms that indicate one should seek help and resources available at Cabrini.”
Juggling sports and education at the same time is a common issue amongst student athletes, so it’s important that they leave time out for themselves. Graham believes a great way for student athletes to counter stress is “time management.”
A bright future for the community Graham said there is a stigma around therapy in athletic culture. “It’s the belief that mental health, or seeking mental help, is a sign of weakness, rather than the hallmark of a winner.” She said there is no “stigma” to seeking help at Cabrini, and in general, therapy has been on the rise and is becoming more accepted. Graham noted that CaPS and Cabrini’s athletic programs have been working together since last year. Coaches and athletic staff were advised to talk about the importance of mental health and on-campus services available to help. She conducted mindfulness activities with the women’s basketball team and also took the opportunity to hold one-on-one conversations with some student athletes. “It was a wonderful partnership,” said Graham.
“I find most people don’t have scheduled time just to relax,” Graham said. People need to take a time out of their day dedicated to bringing them joy, not “passive joy,” do something truly meaningful, something beneficial to your well-being. Resources available at Cabrini CaPS is located in the Infante House on Residential Boulevard. Graham said, the department is there for you always, even if you don’t want to come in person. There are virtual therapy sessions available and a variety of resources at your disposal. If you or a friend need help, contact 610-902-8561 or counselingcenter@cabrini.edu.
Since the relationship between CaPS and athletics began, there has been an increase of student athletes using on-campus therapeutic services. Sports and stress Graham said, with sports there is “perfectionism,” the intention that an athlete is at their best at all times, an ideology that can be disruptive to an individual’s mental health. “I’m only as good as the last time I was on the field,” said Graham. She used this as an example as to why a student athlete might feel an immense amount of anxiety. Graham said, “When you put people under pressure, something else takes the hit.” Body dysmorphia, eating disorders, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and personality disorders, are side effects a student athlete may encounter when dealing with stress. She said this can negatively impact one’s social confidence and emotional stability. Natalie Bell, a business student who played tennis all four years, said the toughest part about being a student athlete was balancing business studies with the “pressure” from her sport, especially in her
GEAR UP for excellence By Colin Tomczak Staff Writer
With the last year of Cabrini underway, getting involved with on-campus clubs and organizations is a great way to maintain the Cabrini spirit. But there are also opportunities to get involved off-campus, many of which are offered by the Wolfington Center. However, one of the programs offered is different from the others, and that’s GEAR UP. What is GEAR UP? GEAR UP stands for “Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs.” It’s a federally funded program in the United States that was established to aid low-income students to succeed in their educational careers after high school.
Photo via Cabrini Flickr.
qualify for scholarships specific to them. They provide support to schools, through providing financial assistance. GEAR UP was started in 1998 and has helped close to 600,000 students enrolled in nearly 3,000 different schools across 43 states. For a school to be eligible to partner with GEAR UP, a minimum of 50% of enrolled students must receive benefits from the federal Free and Reduced-price Lunch program. How did Cabrini’s GEAR UP get started? Cabrini has been in contact with Norristown Area School District since before Dr. Raymond Ward, director of the Wolfington Center, arrived at Cabrini in 2015. Cynthia Halpern and Raquel Green, full-time faculty in the Language department, who retired around 2016, were in charge of a mentorship program that was heavily involved with NASD. Chauca said, “Some of the activities we do through GEAR UP include: informational panels, chaperoning students from Norristown High School on their trips, and a new event for this year will be Saturday community services opportunity open to Norristown High School students, current Cabrini students, and alumni.” There are a few concerns regarding GEAR UP at Cabrini. “My concern is Noristown doesn’t have the dedicated partnerships others places in the city have. NASD is one of Cabrini’s institutional partnerships, alongside Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart and Catholic Relief Sevices,” Ward said. There are a few different ways for students to get involved. Students can email Chauca directly at gc10260@cabrini.edu, or stop by the Wolfington Center, on the third floor of Founders Hall, to learn more information and get involved in different programming. There are also flyers scattered around campus with a QR code that will provide the application.
Infographic via Colin Tomczak.
The GEAR UP program provides funding to states and partnerships of colleges and schools to offer a range of services and support to students, starting in middle school and continuing through high school and into their early years of college. Some of the service offered include tutoring grants, scholarships, and college advising. GEAR UP intends to pave the way for students to meet the requirements of colleges early on. GEAR UP aims to address barriers that may prevent students from pursuing higher education, especially financial barriers. A student involved with GEAR UP is able to qualify for scholarships specific to them. They provide support to schools through providing financial assistance and help to increase academic performance and graduation rates among disadvantaged students. It also serves these students by providing them with college and career planning. A student involved with GEAR UP is able to
Perspectives
THELOQUITUR.COM
7
Rev. Richard Jasper: “Be one with” By Rev. Richard Jasper, Class of 1996 Guest Contributor
On the Top 40 radio stations and local TV commercial breaks of the early 1990s, the perky cheerleader voice repeatedly sang, “At Cabrini College you can stand out from the crowd. Cabrini – Stand out.” Looking back on it, it was a cheesy advertising slogan that ultimately had its desired effect: once it became an ear worm, it wouldn’t let go of the listener. The only problem was, I didn’t stand out here. Like most college students of Generation X trying to find their way, their identity, and their passion, I was one who didn’t make waves on campus. I showed up for class, I occasionally attended campus activities (I was a commuter student), and I was the copy editor for the Loquitur in the final two years before my graduation.
Mother Cabrini never made the journey about her. She never wanted to stand out from the crowd. Rather, she helped the crowd stand up in order to find healing, hope and light. I have been a priest now in the Diocese of Wilmington, Del. for almost seven years, after spending 12 years as a teacher of middle school students in Delaware County, Pa. I hope in my own Cabrini-inspired way that I instilled in future generations and current parishioners the passion for living the Gospel in the way Mother Cabrini herself did: serving the least, feeding the hungry in the variety of ways it manifests itself, helping the lost and lonely know respect and love.
I may have met the college president in passing once, and I can’t honestly say if I ever stepped inside the Mansion. Ever.
A mis s ion of lov e For truly, I can think of no greater call: to remind the world that the mission and message of Jesus Christ is one of sacrifice and of laying down one’s life for others.
But there’s something to be said about that, too, something that gets at the heart of the mission of Mother Cabrini and the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart: the mission to “be one with.”
It is a mission of loving others, no matter who they are and no matter how they enter our lives. It is a love that says, “I see you and I will walk with you in mercy and compassion, no exceptions.”
Fi n di ng m y m a n t ra Time and again, that theme would arise: in Dr. McGuinness’ course on Heroes of Christian Conscience, in the conferences of servant-leadership held on Founder’s Day, and in the retreat reflections offered on road trips to West Virginia with Project Appalachia. “Be One With.”
It’s not about standing out, after all. It’s about entering into the human heart with the Heart of Christ.
That focus on faith and social justice – on being the voice for the voiceless and seeing the ones that no one else takes the time to notice – stirred something in me that left a profound impact on where the journey of life led me.
That’s the legacy of Cabrini University. I have no doubt Mother Cabrini and Mother Ursula would be pleased knowing we poured out our lives here in service to that mission since its founding in 1957 – by being “one with.”
I have no doubt that the seeds of my vocation as a priest in the Roman Catholic Church were nurtured and watered on this very campus for the four years I didn’t stand out here. Funny, isn’t it? By not standing out from the crowd, I found who I really am. Perhaps, then, this is the lasting legacy of Cabrini University that I will carry with me: when we aren’t afraid to reach out to others in mercy and compassion, we find both the way to God and the person each of us is called to be. By being “one with,” we discover the real blessing and gift of grace in action. I’ve been reading much about Mother Cabrini’s life ever since I heard of the university’s final days; I am sorry to admit that I never took the time to learn more about her while I was a student here. What I am discovering now, though, is this incredible boldness of spirit and heart coming from a woman who wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty in countries and cities she was unfamiliar with. She was a woman who would only take “no” for an answer if it came from God’s Providence, and a woman who knew that to help build a kingdom of justice here on Earth, she had to include others in that very mission.
The freshman experience at Cabrini
Photo by Rev. Richard Jasper.
By Mekhi Postell Guest Contributor
Where am I? What? You’re telling me this isn’t the underworld? It’s just Cabrini? Then why is it so dead? Despite a relatively inactive campus due to Cabrini’s closure, as a freshman I think there’s still a lot to love about this school, For starters, I love how easily accessible the teachers are. Cabrini professors are always available if you need extra help, and to push you to be the best version of yourself. This help comes in unexpected ways, as just a simple interaction this past week turned into something so much more. Last week, I was at The Grill and my creative writing teacher came up to me for a simple chat. This conversation led to us setting up a meeting, and after our meeting I was more confident about my work in the course.
completing schoolwork. Marrin Specht, a senior dual majoring in international business and marketing, told me about Cabrini’s clubs, claiming, “Once the Involement Fair starts, that’s where you’ll make a lot of your friends and find your niche; that’s where most of the social stuff happens.” So, I’m here thinking, “Okay, maybe they’re right. Maybe, things will get better during the InvolementFair, and they’ll have a ton of clubs, there’s going to be a bunch of people there, and I’m gonna have a fun time overall.” Boy was I wrong. Upon showing up to the fair with delight, it was swiftly brought down. There were practically no clubs! You had your Latinx, Jewish, LGBTQ+ alliance, math, science clubs, and student government. Amidst this row of generic clubs, you had tables that didn’t have any clubs, and tables with the name of a club on it, but no one behind them. This campus is boring.That’s the truth and a sad reality to come to terms with. I sincerely hope the reason for the lack of activity is because the school’s closing. Events for students I’ve also noticed most of my fellow freshmen do not participate in community events. Teagan Kowalik, a freshman majoring in biochemistry, says, “A lot of events are really lame,” and “It sounds like something no one else wants to do, so why bother?”
Photo by Mekhi Postell. I left that interaction amazed with how personal and reliable she was, and she demonstrated how tight-knit the community here at Cabrini is.
Kowalik adds that she tries to go to community events around campus that sound interesting, but that has happened “maybe a total of five times.”
Despite the unfortunate loss of 250 students, Cabrini’s school spirit remains unchanged. I’m not sure what it is, but the people I’ve met at Cabrini so far have been optimistic and kind.
She also said, “I know that some of the other freshmen don’t even know what’s going on half the time.”
I find it satisfying that I can walk out of Woodcrest, and see people that I know on their way to class, or people that I know talking to their friends, laughing and telling jokes. I like how I can walk outside, smell, taste, and hear a community that is not shaped by the number of people they have, but rather a community that is shaped and cultivated by the people themselves. Unbeknownst to the students, they are what carries on Cabrini’s legacy. A desolate campus Sadly, this campus can also feel desolate. On weekdays, the campus is active, due to people walking to their classes. Most of the time, people are not outside to interact with each other, but rather keep to themselves while
The fact that first year students don’t know what’s going on around campus makes me wonder if Cabrini is doing a poor job at advertising. I do wonder: what was Cabrini like a year prior? Was it bustling on the weekend? Were students roaming around the campus with their friends? This is a question that has piqued my curiosity ever since the second week here. Cabrini is a nice place. I do like it here. I feel as though I’m supposed to be here for a reason and that makes being here feel fun and fulfilling . However, the considerable lack of things to do, mixed with the dead campus, and likely poor advertising, makes the current freshman experience both peculiar and disappointing at the same time.
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Perspectives
THELOQUITUR.COM
How will Cabrini’s legacy be carried forward?
By John Rader Perspectives Editor
A culutre of care Cabrini was a fun school, and the worst part of the Villanova deal is that it was getting back to being a fun school. Last year, students hung out around campus, the communication wing was always full, and the vibe was totally different compared to previous years.
Cabrini University is a special place, and now it will become a footnote in history. My family will forever be tied to the little campus on the hill, as both my parents, Jay Rader (Class of 1988) and Barbara Noone Rader (Class of 1989) are Cabrini alumni. Something to look forward to as an alumnus is the ability to go back to your university, and participate in alumni events. Sadly, my family will never be granted this opportunity once the 2023-24 school year comes to a close. I have pondered this proposition since this summer’s announcement. Sixty-seven years of history just washed away due to a business transaction that will see Villanova purchase my family’s beloved university. Villanova and the Cabrini administration can strip us of our school, but they can never take away our memories, or the stories that will be passed down from generation to generation. A different Cabrini It’s no secret that Cabrini was a much different school in the 1980’s than it is today. For starters, more students lived on campus, the gymnasium was above the cafeteria, houses such as Infante and Xavier Hall buzzed with students, and the Loquitur printed advertisements in the paper. I grew up hearing a description of a school that was vibrant and full of joy. People wanted to be on campus, and Cabrini actually felt like a “normal” school. COVID-19 did a number on this college, possibly hastening its closure. The atmosphere around campus feels desolate compared to the atmosphere my parents described. Students stayed local, as my father made the short drive around the corner to the local Cabrini watering hole, the Wayne Tavern, on Tuesday nights. It seems as though Tuesday night was always a fun night for Cabrini students, as virtually no classes were held on Wednesdays due to a prep day for professors. Students borrowed food trays from the dining hall and used them as sleds on snow days. My father recalled a time when he and his buddies wanted to get back at my mom and her friends for pelting their cars with snowballs. What did they do in response? They found an open window in my mother’s apartment and threw snowballs through her window until the dorm room was flooded. My mom describes the moment her and her friend, Michelle DelVecchio’s faces turned from one of smugness, into one of horror when she realized what the boys were up to. Back then, Cabrini’s basketball rivalry with Eastern University was fierce. Every Eastern vs. Cabrini game was a neck and neck finish, and the bleachers were packed with students. My father and a group of Cabrini fans even traveled to Scranton to watch the team in the NCAA tournament.
Despite differences in culture, Cabrini was, and still is, a small school. Due to its size, Cabrini fosters a culture of care. The professors care about their students, and the students care about their fellow classmates. In the communication departPhoto by Barbara Rader. ment, whether it’s the Loquitur, House 67 Productions, Social Nexus, or Cavalier Radio, every team you work with feels like family. I always felt that my fellow classmates had my back, and my professors supported me. My father agrees. During his senior year my father was absent from the last class of the semester. Normally a one-class absence would not be an issue; however, this was my father’s third absence, which would have lead to an automatic failure. . Thankfully, Professor Carter Craigie sent a student to my father’s dorm room to wake him up. This ensured his graduation, and exemplifies the culture of care created at Cabrini. With Villanova purchasing Cabrini there has been no announcement regarding their plan to preserve Cabrini’s legacy. Legacy is something that is very important to my family and me, and now will our legacy be that my parents’ son was in the final graduating class at Cabrini? That is something that we as Cabrinians can not allow to happen. This campus has a storied history, and we cannot allow those memories to vanish when Villanova’s bulldozers drive up the hill. Stories of the university need to be passed down to future generations, to ensure that our school’s legacy will not fade away.
A generational bond forged at Cabrini By Lori Cellucci Guest Contributor, Class of 1987
My family has a 60-year legacy at Cabrini. It started with my mother, Loretta Dellapia O’Fria, who attended the first graduating class of 1961. She was one of Mother Ursula’s Girls who took a chance on the newly founded Cabrini College. My childhood was filled with people and stories from my mom’s experience at Cabrini. My mom would get together with fellow classmates Arlene Schlamp Lynne and Anna Marie Marino. The trio carried on and laughed about the fun they had at Cabrini and how they got one over on the sisters. They loved to talk about riding the pink school bus, rolling up their pajama bottoms and throwing on their coats over their pajamas to make it look like they were properly dressed to attend class on time. The one person who was always a constant and most beloved was Mother Ursula. She was always present as a guiding force and somehow always knew what they were up to regardless of whether they were students or adults raising their families. A generational legacy My mother wanted me to attend Cabrini and as any teenager I didn’t think I wanted to be like my mom. She asked me to go with her to the Alumni Luncheon (a formal sit-down luncheon). She planned for me to meet more of her college friends and her superpower was to have Mother Ursula talk with me the way she talked with my mom and my grandparents. Turning onto the driveway from King of Prussia Road was breathtaking. Mother Ursula welcomed me and asked me to give Cabrini a chance. She was excited to see a second generation. I graduated in 1987 with a B.S in biology. In 2018, the third generation of my family entered Cabrini. My daughter, Gabrielle Cellucci, graduated in 2022 with a B.A. in digital communication and social media. Because she was a third-generation student, when we moved her in freshman year, there was a large welcome basket waiting for her; she felt like a rock star. But Gabrielle’s time at Cabrini was different than mine or her grandmother’s. Her studies were interrupted by COVID-19 and her
classes were held online. One thing that remained the same was Gabrielle wanting to return to campus once classes were held in person again. There is something about Cabrini’s campus that makes you want to be there. Perhaps that is why Villanova wanted to buy it. My heart is broken that Cabrini will no longer belong to us but I am also angry. We need answers The Board of Trustees and previous two presidents need to explain how they could so carelessly ruin our beloved institution and spend money like drunken sailors. For many alumni, the biggest mistake was changing the name from Cabrini College to Cabrini University. Was being president of Cabrini or a member of the Board of Trustees a practice run for future positions in their careers? Cabrini grew too large too fast. We did not stay true to ourselves. Cabrini is known for education and communications. We could have done those better than anyone else in the area. We did not need a nursing program, which is a huge financial drain on the institution. Why didn’t we just partner with Eastern, Villanova or Neumann Universities to offer a nursing program? Mother Ursula faced many social challenges. She navigated them with grace, hanging back to see how other institutions handled new ideas before she followed suit. Today’s administration jumped from one shiny object to another. How does one become a university president and not understand how to be gracious?
The lay presidents wanted to rename buildings if the donor made a large enough donation like they do at Ivy League schools. (Spoiler alert: we were never going to be an Ivy League school.) They did not care about how renaming buildings affected the alumni. None of the lay presidents knew how to be warm and welcoming unless you gave a large monetary gift and we were seen as a necessary evil they had to deal with. The Missionary Sisters ran Cabrini like a lean, mean education machine. They offered a quality education at a good price and with few bells and whistles. It worked great until the lay presidents and Board of Trustees blew it all up with unnecessary layers of administration an institution the size of Cabrini could never sustain, and with reckless spending. What does the future hold? We will always have our Cabrini family, but our home will soon belong to Villanova. My Villanova friends are just as sad as we are. Some of them are angry Villanova bought us mainly because Villanova has no idea what they are going to do with the Cabrini campus. That is the real shame of it all. My hope is that Villanova will keep the Mansion, Bruckmann Chapel, Grace Hall, the Gate House and Emmaus House as a testament to what was built by the Dorrance Family in 1901 and then became a bigger home in 1957 to all of us. It’s the least we can ask to honor the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and everyone else who took a chance on Cabrini College.
Yes, acknowledge that times are changing, but make the changes with humility and grace. Find ways to make the changes but don’t do it so we are bankrupted and lose our identity. There were many mistakes made with fundraising. Martha Dale taught me a lot about fundraising, the biggest being if you build goodwill, people will open their wallets. The three lay presidents were obsessed with large money donors. They did not care about small gifts from the alumni and we felt it, which led many to stop giving all together.
Photo by Lori Cellucci.
Sports
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A destination job: meet coach Ryan Van Zelst
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By Jason Fridge Podcast Editor, Breaking News Coordinator
In April, Ryan Van Zelst received an offer to be the seventh head coach of the Cabrini men’s basketball team. He jumped at the opportunity to lead a program full of tradition. Six months later, the circumstances of his tenure may have changed, but his commitment to the team is stronger than ever.
give them everything we got.” After allowing the players a few weeks to weigh their options, within no time, Van Zelst had a fully committed roster that would be on board for the last ride. He’s used the circumstances as motivation to help the team see how special of a year this can be.
Van Zelst brings to Cabrini a decade of coaching experience throughout Pennsylvania. He most recently spent a year as the head coach at Penn State-Abington, where he led the team to a program record 18 wins and their first conference championship berth.
“We have a chance to leave a legacy,” Van Zelst told the team. “Maybe it won’t be everlasting because the names might change, but when comparing basketball history, you will be the last team and it’s up to you how you want to go out.”
In 2017, while an assistant at the University of Scranton, Van Zelst was named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) 30-under-30 list. That recognizes up-and-coming coaches in men’s college basketball. His previous experience, especially at Abington, allowed him to understand what it takes to run successful programs.
Look ing forward to the final y ear As the calendar turned to October, the team returned to the court for its first few practices. Both the players and coaching staff had to adjust to some of the changes within the program, and the entire team is helping to make the transition seamless. With the team making it through the first few weeks of preseason, the growing pains are starting to ease and chemistry is building.
“I got to learn under a great group of guys who let me coach them,” Van Zelst said. “They really gave me hands on experience and let me know how I like to do things. They also showed me what it takes to allow me to coach them. We were able to do some great things because they trusted me.”
“For us with the days that we’ve been allowed to have, it’s really alleviated some of the anxiety with the younger guys,” Van Zelst said. “The new guys see how I interact on the floor, and it’s really brought comfortability to the program in a year where we need it with everything being new.”
Van Zelst hopes he can use these skills to send off the Cabrini men’s basketball program in style this winter.
“I’m excited for the new beginnings and change,” said senior forward Isaac Brady. Brady is one of the team’s captains and has been enjoying the first portion of Van Zelst’s tenure. “He embraced me right away, telling me he’s already viewed film of my game and likes what I bring to the table. I had an amazing first impression with him and am excited to see where we can go.”
Managi n g a n e w t e a m t h ro u g h crisis It’s not every day a coach takes over a program knowing it will only be for one season. When Van Zelst first heard the news about Cabrini closing in June, one emotion stood out. “I just felt so sad,” Van Zelst said. “Not even sad for me, because I know how special this place is and how special the program is.” Van Zelst immediately scheduled a meeting to get on the same page with his team through these challenging times. He maintained that he was committed to the program for the year and would support the players with whatever decision they made. “I made a commitment to this team when I took the job,” Van Zelst said. “We put the decision on them and told them if they wanted to stay, myself and the coaching staff was coming back and we would
I want to win everything, but at the end of the day it’s about experience and our job as coaches is to provide the best possible experience for each student athlete.” The Cavaliers will tip off the 2023 season in November, hosting Elizabethtown College for the home opener on November 8. The team will have a tough non-conference schedule that they hope will challenge the group and give them confidence about playing in big games. Cabrini has not won a conference championship since the 2017-18 season, when the school competed in the Colonial States Athletic Conference. This group is determined to end the program on a high note. Van Zelst affirmed that although it won’t be an ideal situation, he’s going to take advantage of this year and make the most out of the opportunity. “You make decisions in life and sometimes they go a certain way that’s unexpected,” Van Zelst said. “There’s always something good that comes out of situations like this that you might not see in the moment. I know that this is going to make me a better coach, mentor, and leader. Cabrini is a destination job, and I would’ve taken this job 100 times out of 100.”
For Van Zelst, while he awaits the rush of taking the court for game day, there’s something else he is excited to experience this year. “I’m most looking forward to the little stuff,” Van Zelst said. “I love when the guys are having fun before practice, dancing when we’re stretching, and just enjoying each other’s company. Little stuff to me is everything. I’m competitive,
Photo via Cabrini Athletics.
“There’s always something good that comes out of situations like this that you might not see in the moment.” - Ryan Van Zelst
Photo via Cabrini Men’s Basketball.
A message from Dr. Kathy Mantz: Thank you to the Cabrini Day Committee and the Cabrini community for all your love, support, understanding, and hard work. Special thanks to the Wolfington family for allowing us to host a private screening of “Cabrini.” You’re all an embodiment of Mother Cabrini’s spirit.
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Sports
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Dan Murphy: from baseball to golf stardom By Colin Tomczak Staff Writer
College sports are filled with athletes who have dedicated most of their lives to honing their sport’s skill. Then there’s Dan Murphy, a relatively new, yet outstanding Cabrini golfer. Murphy is a senior business management major, and all-star for the men’s golf team. He recently earned the title of the Atlantic East Conference’s Men’s Golfer of the Week after leading Cabrini at the Muhlenberg Fall Invitational. Being named Men’s Golfer of the Week is something Murphy is familiar with, as he earned that title five times during his collegiate golfing career. How golf entered Murphy’s life Murphy started his sporting career as a baseball player. “It’s funny. I used to play baseball. It was my whole life growing up. I was a good baseball player, but I was undersized,” Murphy said. He played in high school until watching the golf team piqued his interest.
“Our baseball field backed up to the golf course. And I would see the golf team going to practice and I’m like ‘These kids are having more fun than me!’ So I decided I wanted to try it out,” Murphy said. He played golf recreationally when he was younger and the sport came easily to him. Murphy explained, “I was pretty good when I was young, so I knew I could do it. Then I went out and on the first round of golf I shot 95. I knew I had something, so I started being serious with my practice.”
the 2018-19 season, won the Cabrini Invitational in the 20192020 season, and placed second at the Atlantic East Conference Championship during the 2021-22 season.
Murphy began to practice daily, getting dropped off at the course and spending the entire day getting better. “I’d even hit balls in the woods behind my house, just doing anything I could to improve in Photo via Cabrini Athletics. the early days,” he said.
After he graduates, Murphy intends to continue his golfing career. He plans to compete in amateur tournaments and hopes to join the Golf Association of Philadelphia. Murphy said, “I’m for sure going to keep working on my game. I love playing golf, but I like playing good golf even more.”
Murphy’s golfing goals Golf enabled Murphy to travel to courses from Florida to Kentucky for competitions. “I’ve been lucky here at Cabrini, we’ve played at so many nice courses. But Pebble Beach, Augusta, and Cypress Point are the three I want to play at,” he said. Murphy’s impact on Cabrini’s golf team is already incredible, and it seems Cabrini will leave an equal impact on him. Murphy said, “Winning four conference championships here and going to nationals . . . That’s something I won’t forget. Winning with this team has been great.”
The challenges of golf Murphy dedicated over five years to golf, but still finds plenty of areas where he can improve. “I like improving, specifically in my short game. I love practicing my short game because even on days where you’re not striking the ball that great, your short game can save you,” he explained. He dedicates countless hours to practice, spending 80 percent of a typical practice working on putting and improving his short game, while the other 20 percent is spent on the range, practicing his long drives. “It’s a hard game,” he said. “You can never truly get satisfied in golf. One day you play great and shoot under par, then the next makes you think you stink. It’s just never-ending attempts to improve.” Because he is so dedicated to improving, Murphy was named Men’s Golfer of the Week on five separate occasions. He also finished fifth at the Atlantic East Conference Championship in
Photo via Cabrini Athletics.
Jake Scully wins Defensive Player of the Year By Paige Bowman Managing Editor Graduate student Jake Scully capped off his collegiate career by field and I always try to make him proud every day in some way.” winning Atlantic East Defensive Player of the Year. Scully, a senior who plays center back for the men’s soccer team, helped lead the The importanc e of family Cavaliers to second place in the Atlantic East Conference. Family holds the biggest motivation for Scully. He said both his onfield Cabrini family and his off-the-field family inspire him to be the Scully was a defensive presence, usually playing all 90 minutes of best he can be. the game. However, he also helped his team offensively with one goal and one assist this season. “This past year there was so much off-the-field stuff that I was going through, and all my teammates were going through as well that His fellow center back, Dom Petruzzelli said, “Scully is arguably the lead up to this season,” Scully said. “The biggest motivation for me best defender I’ve ever played alongside. Scully’s passion for every was my Cabrini family and my real family. Being able to share one single 50/50 ball, every tackle, every clearance is what makes him last season of moments and memories with them was the reason I the leader of our back line. Whenever someone makes a game- played my hardest every time I stepped on the field.” changing play, Scully will always be the first to scream in excitement. You can truly feel the energy that he brings to our team. It’s what Coming bac k for more sets him apart from the rest of the conference and why he’s earned Last year, the men’s soccer team fell short of reaching the conferthe DPOY award.” ence final. Scully, who is in his fifth year of eligibility, decided to return for his final year of soccer. This award is Scully’s first major recognition since joining the Cavaliers five years ago. He consistently played an important role in the “I decided to come back for my fifth year because I wasn’t team’s past success, helping them win a conference title in 2021. ready to give up the sport I love most and have played for my whole life. I knew I had a lot more to give to the soccer “When I saw that I won Defensive Player of the Year for this fall, program and the university,” he said. “Also, it being the last all the coaches in the conferences finally recognized everything I ever Cabrini men’s soccer season made it only easier to worked for at Cabrini. It means a lot to see that all the hours on the make my decision because I knew all of my other teamfield and energy spent in the off-season was worth it,” said Scully. mates would play at 100 percent.” P l a y i ng f o r h i s d a d A defens iv e legac y Scully faced challenges as well, his dad died unexpectedly in late Cabrini has a notoriously strong backline. 2022. The Atlantic East Conference has been around for five He recalled, “Losing a family member at a time right around the soc- years. In those five years, Cabrini men’s soccer garnered cer season brings a lot of emotions to anyone, but it gave me a lot of three Defensive Player of the Year awards. reasons to go out and play and make him proud. Winning this award after losing my dad was a way for me to show him that everything Andre Justin won in 2019, followed by Josh Cunnigham in he taught me and gave me was never forgotten and will always be 2021. Scully got the opportunity to learn from both while appreciated. He continues to motivate me every day on and off the playing alongside them.
“Playing on the back line my whole life, and especially my four years at Cabrini was a privilege. Coming in as a freshman and getting to play right away next to seniors who spent their four years at Cabrini taught me so much about pride and what it takes to be successful,” he said. “Throughout my time here I was able to be successful while also sharing what I learned with defenders who came in under me. Leading up to this year, the back line I played with is a massive part of the reason I was able to be so successful this year.” Despite not winning a conference title this year, Scully and the rest of the men’s soccer team had a season to be proud of. “We all played with heart every game and that’s all I asked of them every time that whistle blew and I can’t thank them enough for making this season one to remember.”
Photo via Linda Johnson