WE ARE THE
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
CHRIS PERRIVISUALS EDITOR
ANDREW STOVENOURSPORTS EDITOR
SAMANTHA TADDEIPODCAST 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.
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.
The Loquitur Editorial Board looks forward to what lies ahead of us. While we’re committed to finishing this year in a way we’re proud of, we’re excited for what’s to come and the work we’ll continue to do as individuals and professionals. Each of our lives after Cabrini will look different, but we’ll carry with us the stories and lessons from the Loquitur newsroom.
Most of us will transfer to new institutions in the fall, and some will graduate from Cabrini in May. We’d like to take the opportunity to share what comes next for each of us, as well as how Cabrini has impacted our lives.
Jason Fridge, Managing Editor, Podcast Editor
I’m taking next year as an opportunity to continue growing as an individual and striving for new goals. The small-school atmosphere at Cabrini allowed me to get heavily involved and meet a lot of amazing people. I’ve learned so much about myself these last couple of years and have been able to take part in once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
Something I’ve always thought about since starting at Cabrini is how I would fare at a larger school. I’ve watched some of my other friends get involved at big state schools and find their own unique opportunities. Next year, I am planning on going to a bigger school in the Philadelphia area and continuing to pursue my degree in communication, focusing on sports broadcasting and journalism. Cabrini has helped me to foster a plethora of skills that I hope to bring with me to my next institution and get involved just as much as I am as a Cavalier.
Transitioning away from being a student athlete will also hopefully open up more opportunities for me to work in the sports industry and network with professionals. No matter what name goes on my degree, I hope to use this next year to continue trying new things and setting up my career.
Chris Perri, Editor-in-ChiefI came to Cabrini not fully knowing what to expect or if it was the right school for what I wanted to do in life. What I’ve found in three years here in the communication department is my passion for journalism, reporting, and storytelling. I’ve been so fortunate to be surrounded by the most supportive classmates and professors, and I’ll miss the close-knit feeling of the department and school as a whole.
I’m currently in the process of transferring to Immaculata University for my senior year. I’m hoping to continue my work in journalism there, but I’m open to being involved in the communication department in any capacity. I hope to feel the same sense of community that I do at Cabrini and feel confident I will.
Walking around Immaculata’s campus over the summer, I felt the same small-school environment as when I first toured Cabrini, and was immediately drawn to it. I’ve always heard great things about Immaculata, and I’m excited to join their campus for my final year of college.
Brooke Protesto, Lifestyles Editor
Cabrini has always been a big part of my life. I spent a lot of time here with my dad, who is a key member of the Facilities department and Athletics. I was lucky enough to meet and
befriend people with so much talent and determination which is only found at Cabrini. It is hard to let Cabrini and the people go, but I believe everything happens for a reason.
I recently accepted an offer at Villanova to continue studying communication as a major as well as a minor in leadership studies. I am very thankful for this opportunity, and I am excited to attend Villanova. The environment is entirely different at Villanova but I plan to carry on the lessons, skills, and mentality Cabrini has taught me.
Andrew Stovenour, Visuals Editor, Perspectives Editor
As a senior, this is my final year at Cabrini University. I have the privilege of being a part of this department, and this school during the final year. After graduation, I am going to go home to Maryland and get started on my career there. I am not sure what that will entail, but this department has helped me find my footing in the communication world. I have learned how to express my ideas and creativity.
Being at Cabrini has provided me with experiences that I cannot get anywhere else. The people who I have met here have quickly become great friends, and people who I have formed long-lasting memories with. That is something that I will always be grateful for.
Leaving Cabrini will be bittersweet. Graduating college will be the first step in my getting out in the world, but I have so many memories over the past four years that can never be replaced. Whatever I do next, I will take these experiences, this passion, and what I have learned here with me.
Samantha Taddei, Sports Editor
This year will mark my senior year at Cabrini University. Unlike most of the staff, I have had the honor and luck of being part of the last-ever graduating class. After graduation, I plan to go on to work and start my career.
Even though I’m not entirely sure just yet what I’ll do, Cabrini helped me find a passion in communication where I can effectively express ideas, connect with others, and make a difference in the world.
Cabrini has been more than just a university to me; it’s been a home away from home. The supportive community, dedicated faculty, and diverse opportunities have shaped me into the person I am today.
As I prepare to embark on the next chapter of my journey, I am grateful for the memories, friendships, and knowledge gained during my time at Cabrini.
Though it’s bittersweet to bid farewell to this chapter of my life, I am excited to carry the values and lessons instilled in me by Cabrini as I pursue my dreams and make my mark in the world.
As a student body, each of our lives after we leave Cabrini will look different from one another. The motto of the Loquitur is “You Speak, We Listen.” We’d love to hear from the community about their their time at Cabrini. Students, faculty and alumni can send us their favorite memories, experiences, and future plans. Contact us at loquiturconnect@gmail.com.
Throughout the first month of the semester, there’s been a new crowd around campus. Seen checking out classrooms and buildings, these individuals are representatives from Villanova University touring with members of Cabrini’s facilities staff.
In early February, faculty and staff members were alerted that a three-person team from the Space Management Group, representing Villanova, would inspect the entirety of Cabrini’s campus. During their visit, the team would be accompanied by either Director of Facilities Patty Smith or Structural Trades Supervisor Chris Protesto.
According to an email statement from Smith, in a three-day span from Feb. 5 to Feb. 7, the team would be “measuring, taking pictures, and otherwise gauging space utilization.” Along with these visits, other Cabrini staff members from different departments would provide tours of specific areas on campus to key Villanova staff.
What’s the plan for Cabrini’s campus?
Many in the current and past Cabrini community wonder exactly how the campus will be utilized by Villanova after the school ceases operations on June 30. The advent of these visits may signal a move forward toward firm answers.
In Smith’s email, she said, “The purpose of the tours is to acquaint [Villanova staff] with our campus as they begin future planning,” and noted that there is still no information available regarding any plans for the future of Cabrini’s campus.
Jonathan Gust, Assistant Vice President of Communication at Villanova, also echoed this sentiment in a statement via email. He wrote, “Villanova is in the early stages of getting to know the Cabrini campus,” with plans to use this next year to “engage its community to ascertain the best way to incorporate and utilize the Cabrini campus for the benefit of students, faculty, staff and alumni.”
Much of the questions about what specific names, buildings, and traditions will be preserved remain unanswered and there is no clear timeline on when that information will be made available.
Students left out of the loop
Many students going through their day-to-day schedule may have missed these representatives. But some with a keen eye took notice and started to speculate what could be happening.
Marrin Specht, senior international business and marketing double major, lived on campus through the summer and began to observe these people checking out Cabrini.
“I noticed that people were taking pictures, recording, and taking measurements all over campus. I’ve seen that continue throughout the semester, despite the university saying that this [semester] would remain as normal as possible.”
Specht referenced a line in the initial community letter released on June 23, 2023 stating that Cabrini will continue the 2023/2024 academic year as planned for all students who chose to stay. Both then and now she feels that communication to the student body about what is happening around campus to the student body has been sub-par.
“It kind of matches everything we’ve heard from administration saying that they’re going to be as open with information as possible and really not seeing students receive as much information as we should,” said Specht. “This is our home. It’s something that we all care about and want to know more of what is happening in the future.”
Cecilia Canan, senior design management major, also saw these visitors and felt out of the loop.
“I feel like I wasn’t properly informed about what these individuals were doing on campus,” Canan said. “It took me a little by surprise seeing these individuals, and I was a little upset realizing that the last Cabrini school year is coming to a close soon.”
A November editorial written by the Loquitur Editorial Board compiled a list of items students want to see preserved. Both Specht and Canan also voiced some of the items that they hope will remain after Cabrini ceases to operate, including the Woodcrest Mansion and keeping Mother Cabrini’s name alive in some respect.
As of now, much still remains unknown from both parties on how Cabrini’s campus will be utilized past this year. Most of the information made public and current answers to frequently asked questions are available at the Cabrini University Legacy website. This is an ongoing process and only time will tell what the Cabrini campus will look like in the future.
While a portion of the remaining students at Cabrini will graduate at the end of the semester, many others will not. Those who aren’t graduating face a very difficult choice: where will they finish their college education?
The transfer process
The Center for Student Success has been meeting with students since September with the intention of guiding them through the transfer process. While these meetings were met with a mixed reception, they remain a crucial part of the transfer process, especially for students interested in transferring to one of Cabrini’s partner schools.
Dr. Kimberly Boyd, the dean for Student Success and Retention, is a key figure in identifying pathways for students who have to transfer at the end of the semester.
“We want to make sure students have a plan to continue their education and know the benefits of this partnership we’ve developed,” Boyd said.
Despite the stress put onto students with the transfer process, nobody has given up on pursuing a college education. “Of the students we met with last semester, every one said they expected to continue,” Boyd said.
Winter break saw the departure of a significant number of students. “A few hundred students left at the end of the fall semester. “Those students, for the most part, went to non-partner schools,” Boyd said.
The CSS met with 93% of the remaining undergraduate students, which leads Boyd to conclude most of the students who are still enrolled at Cabrini intend to transition to one of the partner institutions.
Survey says . . .
Recently, the Loquitur conducted a survey asking students where they planned to transfer. The survey was conducted in The Grill, and accumulated 47 responses. According to the survey, around 54% of undergraduate students intend to transfer to a partner school, and around 16% of undergraduate students intend to transfer to a
non-partner school. However, the remaining 30% of students are still unsure of where they are going. “We’re finding exactly the same thing,” Boyd said after hearing about the results. “The third category is the one that worries me the most,” she added.
Factors of uncertainty
Students cited two major reasons for their ambivalence. Like many of Dori Martin’s peers, the issue is indecision. Martin, a sophomore middle level and special education major, said, “I’m thinking about either Eastern or Coastal Carolina.”
Teagan Kowalik, a freshman biochemistry major, is undecided for a reason outside of her control. “I have to wait to see what I get for financial aid,” she said.
The problem with financial aid
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid was altered for 2024-25, resulting in delays in receiving financial packages for students nationwide. Cabrini students waiting for a return on their FAFSA will have to wait until March.
One of the biggest components of the transfer process is financial aid. “Our partner schools are guaranteeing a matching financial aid program that is equivalent to what Cabrini offered,” Boyd said.
What can students do now?
The CSS has been meeting with students since September, and continues to offer meetings to any student who hasn’t attended yet. Dr. Boyd encourages anyone still unsure of where they want to go to meet with a CSS advisor to lock down a plan for their future.
Cabrini’s administration asks that all students who cannot finish their degree at Cabrini and plan to transition to a partner school should complete the “Cavaliers on the Move” form in their portal. If attending a non-partner school, students should email studentsuccess@cabrini.edu.
Grace Hall was packed on Thursday, Feb. 15 for Cabrini’s seventh annual (and final) Shirley Dixon Celebration of Urban Education Symposium.
This year’s symposium featured a keynote presentation from Dr. Bettina L. Love. Love holds the William F. Russell Professorship at Teachers College, Columbia University and is the co-founder of the Abolitionist Teaching Network. She is currently promoting her new book, “Punished For Dreaming: How School Reform Harms Black Children and How We Heal.”
The symposium, hosted by Cabrini’s Center for Urban Education, Equity, and Improvement (CUEEI), was first held in 2017. It was founded by CUEEI director Dr. Ronald W. Whitaker II, and Cabrini Vice President of Mission, DEIB and Student Engagement Dr. Angela Campbell.
Named for and held annually in honor of the late Dr. Shirley Dixon, a professor in the education department, the symposium has featured past speakers such as author and anti-racist activist Tim Wise and activist and social critic Dr. Cornel West. Whitaker said, “We said of the symposium, ‘We need to bring in some of the leading scholars and thought leaders to challenge us about social justice and inclusivity.’”
Love cited examples such as the War on Drugs, the D.A.R.E. program, and the societal label of Black children as “crack babies” and “superpredators” as being some of the factors that have played into educational racism. She argued that much of the data from the 1980s and ‘90s is skewed or misinterpreted, and used to put racist policies in place.
Love also discussed the topic of book bans in schools, and cited an article that revealed 60% of all book challenges nationwide during the 2021-22 school year came from just 11 individuals.
Speaking on the topic of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, or DEI, Love emphasized the point that DEI work is powerless if it has no staff, funding, or resources. She also argued that there is a difference between “allies’’ of racial justice and “co-conspirators.” She stated that allies are those who are supportive of racial justice but don’t take any direct action.
THE CENTER FOR URBAN EDUCATION, EQUITY, AND IMPROVEMENT IS PROUD TO RECOGNIZE
Mr. Leon Smith as the 2024 Moral and Courageous High Impact Teacher Award Recipient
The Pennsylvania Educator Diversity Consortium as the 2024 Moral and Courageous Community Organization Award Recipient
American Paradigm Schools as the Legacy Cornerstone Award Recipient
“[Dixon] was one of the first individuals at Cabrini to really focus on urban education and making sure we treated all students fairly,” Whitaker said. “Myself and Dr. Angela Campbell decided we have to honor her. She put in so many decades in terms of being a champion and trailblazer for equitable education.”
Prior to the keynote address, students from the Children’s Defense Fund Freedom School in Wilmington, Del. performed a praise dance. An awards ceremony followed. Recipients included several members of Cabrini’s faculty: Dr. Tom Conway, Dr. Zakia Y. Gates, Campbell, and Dr. Beverly Bryde.
Dr. Love’s presentation
In her address, Love argued that educational reform and crime reform have become intertwined, and severely harmed black children over the past 40 years. She referred to children born in the 1980s and ‘90s as being the main victims of racism in education.
Love gave the example of a “coconspirator” in a white man named James Tyson, who in 2015 assisted a Black racial justice activist named Bree Newsome in removing a Confederate flag from the South Carolina state capitol building, 10 days after Dylann Roof killed eight Black parishioners and their pastor Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C.
While Newsome scaled the flagpole, Tyson held onto it after police threatened to use their Tasers on Newsome, so that if they did, Tyson would be electrocuted as well. Both were arrested immediately upon Newsome’s return to the ground.
Concluding her presentation, Love argued that the only way to heal racism in education is through reparations. She gave a breakdown of the costs of different types of educational racism over the past 40 years, amounting to a total of $2 trillion.
Leaving a legacy
With Cabrini closing its doors at the end of the year, Whitaker spoke on the legacy of the symposium. “The work doesn’t end, it’s a new beginning,” he said. “Cabrini is closing, but I believe that not just tonight’s talk, but the last seven years become an opportunity for open doors in terms of what’s next.”
Dr. Bettina L. Love as the 2024 Moral and Courageous Global Educational Leader Award Recipient
Sharif El-Mekki and The Center for Black Educator Development as the 2024 Moral and Courageous Commitment to Equity Award Recipient
Dr. Thomas R. Conway as a Moral and Courageous Faculty Affiliate 2017-2024
Dr. Zakia Y. Gates as a Moral and Courageous Faculty Affiliate 2017-2024
Dr. Angela N. Campbell as the Moral and Courageous Trailblazer Award Recipient
Dr. Beverly R. Bryde as our Moral and Courageous Soul Award Recipient
Congratulations to all those who received an award at this year’s Urban Education Symposium
On June 23, when Cabrini announced its closure through email, professor and chair of history and political science Dr. James Hedtke thought it was “like being at a wake or watching someone on hospice die.” As a professor with longtime tenure, the school’s closing hit him and others particularly hard.
Initial reaction
When hearing the news of Cabrini’s closure, professor and Chair of chemistry Dr. Melinda Harrison said it had a “deep impact,” on her which she hasn’t fully processed yet.
She said, “There’s a few of us here, a core group of faculty, that have been here as long as I have been, and some that have been here even longer. And we’re really close, and we’re all kind of in this together.” Harrison has taught at Cabrini since 2008.
She said that professors, including those with tenure, will have to start making “decisions” to put themselves “back out there,” even if they don’t want to. Hedtke, a professor who joined the history and political science department in 1973, found himself in a similar boat.
Hedtke said, “I’m heartbroken that the institution is closing. I’ve been here for 50 years, it’s been a major part of my life. Next to my family and some of my friends from college, this is the longest relationship I’ve ever had with another set of people and individuals.”
“Tenure’s based on three things: it’s your teaching, it’s your research, and it’s your service to the college community. So, as faculty move on, they’ll have to figure out what the institution puts its emphasis on,” said Hedtke.
Future plans
After the news of closure, Harrison found herself in limbo between two options. Either teach at a different school or continue her research elsewhere.
Harrison said, “Currently, I do not know where I’m going to be going next. I’m not even sure if I’m going to stay in academics.”
She said if she chooses to stay in education, she wants to find a school that has their “service initiative in the forefront of their mission,” like Cabrini, where a school emphasizes teacher’s relationships with students. If she chooses a path away from teaching, she hopes to work for the government, a pharmaceutical company, or a private lab.
“I’m going on 75, nobody’s gonna have me. I’m just too old, they might want me as an adjunct coming to teach some specialty courses, or one course here and there,
but nobody wants to bring on a guy who’s 75 years old; he’s been there, done that, through.” says Hedtke
Hedtke said he plans to continue his research through the various projects he’s working on. One of these “irons in the fire” is a book he aspires to publish about a former Cabrini trustee and WWII fighter pilot. The book will be titled, “The Wartime Letters of Bradley McManus.”
During their time with the institution, tenure has had a positive effect on their teachings. Hedtke said, “Tenure has impacted my career and academic pursuits, because it affords you academic freedom. You can teach topics that are controversial, that are uncomfortable, and that’s where students learn.”
He added, “Tenure’s like a marriage, you’re making a lifetime commitment to the institution, and the institution is making a lifetime commitment to the faculty member. It’s a trust relationship.”
Harrison recalls a moment of this special privilege of tenure when she was able to incorporate several service-learning projects into her upper-level chemistry courses.
The happy legacy
Harrison said the students she met, some of whom she still speaks with, are doing great things as alumni.
She said, “I have an alumnus that are working for the government, I have alumni that are fellow faculty members, now we have alumni working for pharmaceutical companies, we have alumni educating people in secondary classrooms, so to see what my former students are doing is amazing.”
Similarly, Hedtke said, “I think as I look back, I’ll remember all the great times I’ve had at this institution, all the good people that I’ve met here and shared my life with, and most of all the students. They’ve always been a great comfort and source of joy for me, especially when my students surpass me academically.”
He called this the “happy legacy” and something he’d prefer to focus on “rather than an institution folding and not being here with the bricks and mortar anymore.”
Both said they were grateful to be present for the last semester; to help students transition out of a tricky situation, not just the educators have found themselves in.
“I’m going on 75, nobody’s gonna have me. I’m just too old.”
Dr. James Hedtke
Cavalier Radio, the well-known radio station here at Cabrini University, recently hosted its first “Cavalier Radio After Dark Alumni Show.” This show, which went on air Sunday, Feb. 18, hosted by Paul Monte, brought a wave of nostalgia. Monte DJ’d his last broadcast on Cav Radio in May 1998.
The evolution of Cavalier Radio
Cavalier Radio is currently a studio with enough room to hold two guests, and a connecting production studio for recording outside of the radio studio. But back when the station was known as WYBF, all that was available was a closet-sized room in what is now known as Rooymans Hall.
Monte was a Cabrini communication major with an English minor. Now a full-time actor, he is currently known for a Wawa Pizza commercial that is airing on TV.
He recalled, “Back then, WYBF was literally two closets. So just imagine this setup with the two studios, but shrink it down about 80%.” WYBF was the radio station at Cabrini University until fall 2022, when it formally became Cavalier Radio, and started streaming online.
Monte said, “We were surrounded by CDs all over the walls. There were no levels, there were knobs, and we were facing a wall, with no room. It was a small space, but it was our space.”
Monte’s experience on air
Monte’s radio journey started as a freshman at Cabrini. “It started for me with Radio Practicum, and it quickly led to doing oldies shows and alternative. And next thing you know I did my own thing.”
He soon decided to host a show on Sunday nights. “I knew that a lot of students were out during the day, they didn’t have time to listen, so I figured, ‘What can I do where I know I’m gonna have an audience?’ I figure Sunday nights, everyone’s back in their dorms.”
His show featured love songs, since at the time, most DJs were playing grunge, metal, or rock music. “So, I called it ‘After Dark with Paul Monte,’ and I played all the mushy sappy love songs, built a following over the years.”
Monte said he became so popular that he would get over 30 calls in one night during his show, and the response helped him get more comfortable in front of a microphone.
Emotional attachment
Doing the alumni show meant a lot to Monte.“I read the announcement and immediately texted my buddy from college and said, ‘We gotta do this, we have to experience this one more time, just to relive some memories.’”
Monte’s show started at 8 p.m. and ended at 10 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 18, with a playlist he made beforehand, and requests from many who called into the station; Monte advertised the show on his social media all week. He said, “I was terrified to start because everything here is new to me. But we had a lovely audience just like the old days, and after those first few minutes, I got my sea legs, and it just took me back as the time flew by. I would love to do it again, it was such a trip.”
Monte had a great show, where he played all the love songs he used to play back in the ‘90s. To his fellow Cabrini alums, Monte has one message: “I appreciate that we’ve stayed in touch over the years. It’s very important that we do that, especially now. If you have a chance to relive your glory days, by all means, take it, because I guess the chance ain’t gonna happen anytime soon.”
How do these shows happen?
Cavalier Radio Music Director and communication and music industry double major Brianna Mack organizes the alumni shows. She created a Google form that asks for the former DJ’s name and graduating year. “It has time slots for shows and everything,” she said.
These shows are important to both alumni and students and Mack says she’s getting a great response. “I think it’s important because alumni deserve to be able to come back and celebrate their history in a way that is more natural to them, being able to relive their experience as a student instead of some distant alumni looking back. When they come back to the studio they can literally be a student again and remember all the good times that they had.”
The upcoming shows are happening Sunday, Mar. 10 at 4 p.m. and the next one on Tuesday, Mar. 12 at 8 p.m.These shows will happen all throughout this semester, so tune into Cavalier Radio to listen to Cabrini history in the making.
On Friday, Feb. 16, Cabrini’s Grace Hall became a time machine. Participants who attended the “Battle of the Decades” dance were taken back to the ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s, and ‘00s. Many participants showed up in their best archival attire and enjoyed the vibes of the night.
Jé La Boulden, SEaL program assistant and Cabrini 2023 alumna, was the main planner behind the event. She made sure everyone who came dressed from a certain decade felt represented. “I made a makeshift photo booth where we could change out the different props with each decade so everyone could be represented in their own way,” Boulden said.
Emily Lichius, sophomore writing and narrative arts major, said, “I think I got creative with the theming this year. Our other dances have kind of just been themed around the time of year, so it’s fun to see something a little bit different.”
Boulden also requested the help of Cavalier Radio to DJ the evening. Boulden worked with Cavalier Radio to curate a playlist encapsulating the different decades of the night. “I crafted a playlist for the ‘70s all the way up to today figuring that we could do, like, a big transition through the decades together.”
While Boulden added her own songs to that playlist, Hannah Poggi, senior digital communication major and Cavalier Radio DJ, said, “There were some great hits within the playlist that paid respects to each decade. Sonny [Terranova, another student DJ at the event] and I went off the playlist a bit and put our own spin to our favorite tunes from the decades.”
Dressed to impress
Boulden also made sure to provide incentives to draw people into participating. Boulden said, “The RA with the most residents who come will receive a $75 bookstore gift card. The RA with the best-dressed residents can receive a $50 Amazon gift card. Then, the overall best-dressed winner is going to receive a prize bundle with the decade that they’re representing.”
Poggi said, “A couple won for their 2000s outfit. They both were wearing baggy jeans and cool sporty jerseys, and they really encapsulated everything that was the 2000s.”
The Resident Assistants on campus were interested in attending due to the incentives. Lichius said, “As an RA, we were highly incentivized to come because the floor that had the most people to attend would receive a prize. So we were incentivized to not only show up ourselves but also try to get as many residents on campus to attend.”
Decades collide, fun unites
Although the turnout was not very large, the people who came still enjoyed their time. Poggi said, “The vibes at the start of the night were very slow, not too many people were there at the beginning. But as the night went on, more people started to show up and brought friends. Everyone ended up dancing in circles and busted some moves.”
Boulden provided some goodies for participants to enjoy. Lichius said, “I do like that they had provided silly [wrist]bands. I mean, I feel kind of old thinking that it’s supposed to be part of a decade’s dance when they were something I liked when I was a kid. I can’t be that old yet!”
While curating the song selection of the night, Poggi took note of which decade saw the most activity. “The decade I would say was the most popular was the 2000s. There were a lot of songs played by Usher, Snoop Dogg, and Beyoncé.”
Poggi added, “The song that was the most popular was ‘Yeah!’ by Usher. This really got everyone up on their feet and dancing.”
The low attendance didn’t ruin the atmosphere of the evening. Poggi said, “I wish there could’ve been a larger turnout, but the students that came made the best out of it and danced all night to some of their favorite hits.”
Cabrini University includes many students with a large variety of backgrounds, interests, and hobbies. Recently, Kylie Ennis, a senior marketing major from Hockessin, Del. and member of the golf team, passed her written exam to become a pilot.
After studying all winter break, she finally completed and passed the test on the first try.
Ennis grew up around pilots and after observing their lives, she knew flying was for her. Ennis said, “The option I’m doing is, you get a four-year bachelor’s degree in anything and then you do training.”
She said she was inspired by her neighbors’ aviation journeys. “My two neighbors were pilots, and one of them had a real estate degree. Airlines don’t care what degree you have. It’s just to show you can do a four-year commitment, you have an education, and you are smart, and then you go ahead and do training on the side.”
Communication crisis
Ennis did her first solo flight when she was about 15 years old. But, becoming a pilot comes along with accepting dangers. Ennis recalled her first (and hopefully last) scare. She said, “One time I went up alone and it was considered an emergency because I lost all my communications and no one could hear me. I could hear them, but they couldn’t hear me. I fly out of Brandywine, which is a non-towered airport so there’s not an air
trafficking controller. So, communication is very important.”
Flying, she said, is a team effort. “You’re relying on everyone else who’s flying around the airport to communicate with you. But when my communications system completely went and nobody could hear me, that’s more dangerous. Someone could have hit me or not known I was there, which was super scary.” Happily, she’s since flown alone without incident.
Ennis was super fascinated when she saw her neighbors coming in and out of their houses in uniform. They told her all about the amazing places they had the ability to travel and seeing the world really stuck out to her, along with the airport atmosphere.
“I was always enamored with airports when I was little,” Ennis said. “The first time I went on a plane I loved it. I still love the hustle and bustle atmosphere there and the hot and fast-paced anxiety. My mom thought I would grow out of it, but I never did.”
Ennis also wanted a different life than her parents when it came to her career. “I also knew I didn’t want to do a desk job.” Ennis said, “It just doesn’t seem desirable to me. I want to travel and see the world and not have a 9-to-5 job and not have my own cubicle. It seems so boring to me.”
In the field of aviation, there are far fewer women than men. Only 5% of airline pilots are women. “I’ve only ever met one female pilot and that was my neighbor,” Ennis said “All the mentors I have now are males, except for my neighbor who has helped me start all of this, which I really appreciate. Aviation has some of the lowest numbers of females than anything else.”
Ennis’ passion for aviation does not go unseen. Junior golf teammate and computer science major Ashley Ea said “Some days on the golf course, if she sees a plane flying above, she pulls out her phone and goes on some kind of app that tells her all the details of the plane, like its destination, departure location, and the model of the aircraft.”
Ennis looks to defy the odds. She needs a total of 2,500 hours of flying logged. With 69.2 hours logged so far, she is off to a great start. Many more hours in the air are to come following graduation.
My mom thought I would grow out of it, but I never did.
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- Kylie Ennis
On today’s episode we chat with Belinda Hedden from the SEaL office previewing some upcoming events in March and April. We talk about the Easter Egg Hunt on March 21 and EPIC week at the end of April.
We also talk with guest Visuals/Perspectives Editor Andrew Stovenour about the new design for print copies of the Loquitur. He discusses the process for coming up with the design and some challanges that arise along the way.
The New York Yankees versus the Boston Red Sox, Ohio State versus Michigan, the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys—all share a common thread: a legendary and fiercely contested rivalry. But unbeknownst to the world, a smalltown rivalry has brewed for decades in Radnor, Pennsylvania.
Tucked away from the grandeur of the major leagues and international arenas, Cabrini University and Eastern University, separated only by Eagle Road, engage in a spirited competition that extends beyond the confines of their campuses.
A rivalry is born
Cabrini University traces its roots back to 1957 when it was founded by the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Originally established as a women’s college, it transitioned to co-education in the 1970s and evolved into a comprehensive institution offering a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs. Known for its commitment to social justice and service-oriented education, Cabrini University emphasizes community engagement and global citizenship among its students. The school was approved to transition from a college to a university in 2016.
Eastern University has a rich history dating back to 1925 when it was founded as Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Over the years, it expanded its offerings beyond theological education to encompass a liberal arts curriculum. Affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA, Eastern University embraces a Christian worldview while fostering an inclusive and diverse learning environment. The school was granted university status in 2001.
The battle for Eagle Road
Over the years, this competion evolved into the most anticipated games of the academic year for both schools. It even earned the nickname of “The battle for Eagle Road.”
William Cunningham, an Eastern junior communication major, said, “The rivalry is one of the most exciting yet heated rivalries I’ve been part of, and perhaps the largest I’ve seen in Division III. It’s an intense battle for pride that people can have a lot of fun with.”
Brooke Protesto, junior Cabrini student and softball player, [and a Loquitur editor] agreed. “The rivalry is something always discussed within our athletic departments. They definitely are talked about more than any other games happening during the season. I love hearing the buzz around campus when those games are upcoming.”
Avery Byrnes, a senior Cabrini student and softball player, echoed these sentiments. “Ever since I transferred to Cabrini in 2021, the rivalry between Cabrini and Eastern has been very prevalent. I did not fully understand the extent of this rivalry until I attended the men’s basketball game in the Dixon Center that was against Eastern.”
Byrnes said tensions escalated that night even off the court, and weren’t confined to just the game itself. After the final buzzer, Eastern students decided to take a stroll through Cabrini’s campus, a move that sparked significant tension between the students of the two schools. Witnessing this incident firsthand, Byrnes resolved to make attending sports games hosting Eastern a priority from then on.
Protesto sees this competition as a motivator. “As an athlete for Cabrini, this rivalry lights a fire under us.These games aren’t just normal games, this is the one that upholds the legacy of the rivalry, and especially for the final year of the rivalry.”
School spirit around the campuses reaches its peak during these matchups, as students from both Cabrini and Eastern universities come together to support their teams with an intense and unwavering passion.
Cunningham said, “It’s definitely raised school spirit. Games against Cabrini feature more Eastern students in attendance than any other athletic event we have, regardless of who’s the home team. Rowdiness goes up by tenfold. More students make more and stronger comments towards Cabrini’s players and fans.”
Byrnes agreed. “I am very excited for our softball team to have the opportunity to play Eastern this year, as we never got the chance to be a part of this rivalry in the past few years.”
Reflecting on his experiences, Cunningham fondly recalled moments of celebration and camaraderie, highlighting the unique bond forged through competition and mutual respect.
“In the last men’s soccer duel between the two schools, one of our students started a “You went bankrupt!” chant, and at least 30 others joined in,” Cunningham said. “However, Cabrini’s players had a good laugh with those who started the chant and even went up to them to exchange pleasantries. They responded in kind and took some pictures with the opposing players. It was a beautiful act of sportsmanship and respect that made me smile looking at it.”
An end to an era
Cabrini and Eastern will soon find themselves bidding farewell to the rivalry that defined their athletic programs.
Protesto said, “It was fun while it lasted, Eastern doesn’t have a rival anymore, and the Cavaliers have to move on as well. Athletes who aren’t graduating have to grasp onto their next rivalry, but it is nothing like the build-up of Eagle Road.”
“I will definitely miss the intensity of each game,” Cunningham said. “No Eastern game I went to had anywhere near as much energy from the fans on either side as a Battle of Eagle Road.”
Byrnes encapsulated the mutual respect and appreciation that characterized this rivalry. “As Cabrini closes, I hope the Eastern students will remember the memories our student athletes had together, and that we can both be thankful for the way we always pushed each other to be better athletes.”
While this rivalry may not have commanded the global stage like its more famous counterparts, its epic and passionate nature is no less significant. It may be confined within the charming streets of Radnor, but make no mistake—it embodies the same spirit, determination, and local pride that make legendary rivalries timeless.
Looking back on my four years at Cabrini, one of my biggest accomplishments and the project that I spent the most time on was being a part of the Loquitur staff. I spent three years writing for and designing Cabrini’s paper and that experience shaped me into the person I am today. Without CabriniCom and the people and professors that make it what it is, my time at Cabrini would have been a completely different journey, included different people, and wouldn’t have carved my path into who I am now.
Big fish small pond
I give all of my appreciation and gratitude to JZ [Cabrini professor Dr. Jerry Zurek] for pushing me to become editor-in-chief. He saw something in me that I couldn’t see in myself at the time; not only knowing I would be a good fit for the position, but also that I would enjoy doing it along the way. I started my sophomore year as a staff writer; a small fish in a big pond. I quickly found my way up the ladder, ultimately becoming editor-in-chief and graphic designer of the newspaper. I loved the work I was doing so much that by the end of completing my required credits, I found myself coming back to work for the Loquitur my senior year.
No matter how many extracurriculars I added to my daily schedule, Loquitur was always a constant and something I couldn’t give up. The professors taught me more than I could have imagined and gave me experience I will never forget. It was one aspect of college I can truly say I came out of with more knowledge than before and one that helped me feel confident in my current job and wherever my path takes me next.
Passion turned to career
Our lives are formed by the decisions we make every day. Our choices follow us through life. This string of decisions may get long at times, but ultimately ends when we are where we are supposed to be. I always think back on those times in my life when I could have taken one path versus another and how the choice I
By Kendall Trumbore Guest Contributorended up making, led me to where
I am. Something as small as taking a required journalism class to graduate led me to become editorin-chief, which led me to take a job running two newspapers. These are all things I didn’t think I would ever want in life, and all because of one past decision.
The Loquitur was my “influential event.” It was one of the stepping stones that will contribute to my legacy. It gave me confidence in who I am and in my work. It gave me the opportunity to grow my skill set in journalism and graphic design, as well as enhanced my leadership and managing skills. I can apply these traits every day at my current job and will continue to do the same throughout my future. I will take every experience from the Loquitur with me throughout the rest of my life and if I’m lucky, hopefully get a couple more of these influential events to form me into the person I am meant to become.
More than just a major
The decisions I made in college impacted who I was then, who I am now, and who I will be forever. I graduated from Cabrini University with two degrees: communication and education. Just as I was always pulled back to Loquitur then, I am still being pulled back to communication now. I found a sweet spot between both majors and am currently running a school newspaper. I am teaching your average school subjects on top of two separate school newspapers. Loquitur has given me the ability to take the skills I learned to teach younger generations
communication and hopefully help them find their passions like CabriniCom helped me find mine.
Loquitur showed me aspects of communication that I never thought I would enjoy doing, impacted my moments spent at Cabrini, and gave me a new perspective on life. Although my path is far from finished and I can’t know for sure where I will be in a year or five, I do know that the Loquitur gave me a passion for communication I can never steer away from.
