WOLF THE
M A G A Z I N E
THE RESET
Small ways to get your motivation back
DISTRACTED? Why focusing feels harder halfway through the semester
mid - semester p? slum HANG IN THERE How students are surviving the burnout before finals
FOCUS • BURNOUT • BALANCE • CAMPUS LIFE
1st Edition
The Wolf
October 9, 2026
contents H E A LT H & F I T N E S S I N C O L L E G E L I F E
4 Karlie Bartholomew
6
Angelica Pineda
8
Elise Beck
Zoryn Johnson
Isabelle McDonald
HELLO FROM THE WOLF TEAM
THE FRESHMAN 15: FACT OR FICTION? Nutrition and body image 2 A.M. MEAL Late-night eating
10 STUDENT FRIDGES
Food and Student Life
12 TOUCH GRASS
Mental Health and Nature
14 THE MID-SEMESTER SLUMP Stress and Motivation
Dessadra Tezeno
16 WHAT’S YOUR STARBUCKS ORDER?
Katerina Vincent
18 RUNNING UPTOWN
Akela Mclean
20 RUNNING ON EMPTY
Caffeine and Daily Habits
Exercise and Fitness
Sleep and energy
Alexandra Powell
22 THE HEALTHIEST VER SION OF YOURSELF Healthy Habits and Balance
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1st Edition
October 9, 2026
Dear Readers, College life can be overwhelming. Between classes, work, extracurriculars and trying to maintain a social life, taking care of ourselves can easily fall to the bottom of our to-do lists. With this issue of The Wolf, we wanted to explore what health and wellness really look like for Loyola students. From late-night meals and caffeine habits to fitness, sleep and the mid-semester slump, these stories reflect the everyday experiences of our campus community. We hope this magazine reminds you that there is no onesize-fits-all approach to being healthy. Wellness is not about having the perfect routine or doing everything right. It’s about finding balance, listening to your body, and making time for yourself, even when life gets busy. Most importantly, we hope you see yourself in these pages, learn something new and remember that taking care of yourself matters just as much as everything else on your schedule.
Editor-in-Chief - Alana Frank
Wolf Editorial Manager - Laci Williams
With love, The Wolf Team
The Wolf Magazine Contributors: Writers:
Visuals:
Karlie Bartholomew
Riddick Winter
Angelica Pineda
Carlos Andrade
Elise Beck
Katerina Vincent
Zoryn Johnson
Alana Frank
Isabelle McDonald
Lily Bordelon
Dessadra Tezeno
Pharrell Every
Katerina Vincent
Elise Beck
Managing Editor - Elise Beck
Akela Mclean Alexandra Powell
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Executive News Director - Lily Bordelon
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October 9, 2026
The Wolf
1st Edition
October 9, 2026
The
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o t c a F ? n o i Fict Exploring where the idea of the “Freshman 15” came from and whether it is actually true. Many college students hear that they will gain 15 pounds during their freshman year. Here, we look at how accurate this idea is, and how the phrase can affect the way students think about food, exercise, and their bodies.
15 By Karlie Bartholomew kjbartho@my.loyno.edu
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n the first four weeks of school, I’ve noticed a lot of mixed emotions both within myself and among my freshman peers. Some are excited to be away from their guardians, some already stressed over long assignments and first tests, some begging to sleep in just a little longer. I’ve befriended people from multiple walks of life: in-state, out-ofstate, on-campus, commuters. They all have different experiences, goals, schedules, and feelings. So far, I’ve only found one thing in common between us all. Anxiety about, and a promised desire to resist, the “freshman 15.” To be honest, I didn’t know what it was until my second day on campus. When my friend said the term while we were stuffing our faces with the beloved Danna center Chick-fil-a, I was confused. I had been told we should take 15 credits every semester, not just freshman year. However, as soon as she told me what it was, I convinced myself I was full for the day. As a bigger girl, I didn’t wanna be seen eating fast food while my much-smaller friends were worrying about gaining weight. I felt too big for that image, then for my meal, then even for the table I was sitting at. I was instantly trapped in my own deprecating self-image. Now, I believe that’s the goal of the oh-so-scary phenomenon, because it’s not that at all. There is no phenomenon of first-year students pigging out and instantly gaining weight. There is no study of a young, picture-perfect Barbie doll instantly turning into Fat Amy because she partied a little too hard. There are studies of weight gain among college students within their first year, however “women gained an average of 2.4 pounds during their freshman year, while men gained an average of 3.4 lbs,” according to the nation-wide study conducted in 2011 by Ohio State University. Freshmen everywhere are worrying about a baseless claim. So, why is it so widespread? Where did it come from, and why was the myth created? The first known trace of the term is from an August 1989 issue of Seventeen magazine. In fact, the cover of the magazine features a skinny, fourteen year-old Niki Taylor. As the name suggests, the magazine created the idea that incoming freshmen gain around 15 pounds within their first year. This then spread across media and then across countries, with other notable names being “Fresher Spread”, “Fresher Five”, and even “First Year Fatties”. Multiple sources have their own way of categorizing the cause of this, but they all tend to circle around the idea of students finding a new sense of freedom and therefore failing to control their habits and lifestyle. The concept of the freshman 15 has been in the
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media for decades, spreading a narrative that young adults will be quick to pig out as soon as their parents aren’t there to pacify them. For many, it’s easy to fall victim to, which is also why it’s a huge problem in college culture. Even if there was a significant truth to it, narrowing people down to their size and their lifestyle strips them of every other value they have as a living human being contributing to society. This problem is even more prominent, however, when there is a huge lack of accuracy. A national study of 7,418 people conducted by Ohio State University found that while freshmen did have the possibility of gaining weight, it was a much lower average of 2.4 pounds for women and 3.4 pounds for men. Additionally, same-age peers that weren’t enrolled in college still gained weight, only gaining around a half pound less than the rest. Jay Zagorsky, co-author of the study, even calls it an outright “media myth”, reinstating that “Repeated use of the phrase…may contribute to the perception of being overweight, especially among young women.” Since the weeks have passed and initial fears about the freshman 15 have begun to die out, I’ve become even more aware of how wrong it is. While I understand that nothing in the universe has a 0% chance of happening, I do believe the circumstances would have to be extremely specific. At Loyola, it’s hard to see the concept being much of a problem. For example, freshman Madeline Magana-Hernandez says “I’ve actually lost 7 pounds since school has started…from walking and only eating one meal a day.” Another freshman, Joemily Rivera-Torres, says “The freshman 15 the-
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ory hasn’t been affecting me as much as I thought it would. Since I commute, I bring home cooked meals to school each day, and since I walk around campus to go from class to class, I feel like I’m getting some steps in.” With available kitchens, fresh items from the market, and filling meals from the Orleans Room, on-campus residents don’t have to worry much, either. However, even if it hasn’t held true throughout the years, anxiety and stress are still prevalent among many first-year students as though it is. About the effects of the concept on freshmen, Zagorsky says “repeated warnings about weight gain may cause unnecessary worry or worsen body image in ways that actually contribute to weight gain.” The negative connotations the freshman 15 brings to students may actually be its own cause for weight gain. Not only that, but anyone consistently thinking of their weight has the potential to begin to see their body in a negative light, which not only hurts the physical body, but the mental being, as well. It’s important to understand that the freshman 15 isn’t worth the attention it gets. Freshmen, and any students fearing about their weight, don’t deserve to struggle with their body image as much as their hardest class. With a surplus of resources available to both on-campus and off-campus students at Loyola, the primary focus should be nutrient intake and regular exercise rather than avoiding Chick-fil-a. That being said, every body is a human body, and we should all come together to view them as nothing less.
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The Ultimate the vending machine, get fast food, or try walking around Uptown until you stumble across underrated bar food.
Dorm Feasts and Doordash Dinners
By Angelica Pineda acpineda@my.loyno.edu
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t’s easy to get lost in a long night of studying, clubbing, hanging out with friends, or even just doomscrolling for hours, but what do you do when this night ends at 2 a.m. on an empty stomach? You can try breaking into the Dana Center, but LUPD wouldn’t like that. What you and most students will probably do is either raid
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There are some hidden gems within the city, but there are even more hidden gems within the walls of a Loyola student’s kitchen. Some students opt to cook rather than wander the streets scrounging for food; one of those students is sophomore criminology major, Angelina Campos. Like many other students, Campos tends to stay up late for multiple reasons. “I’m usually either banging out all my school work, bored doomscrolling because of my sleep schedule being messed up, or I’m hanging out with my friends who live at Cabra too,” Campos said. On nights when she’s with her friends, she chooses to cook with them and try various food combinations. “I suck it up and try to make some kind of meal with my friends. Recently we decided to make buffalo chicken dip and nachos, which was immaculate,” she said. “Some nights we can chef it up with such a random selection of ingredients or something easy peasy like dino nuggets.” She finds cooking meals and eating snacks cost-effective considering the expenses of college life.
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“I mainly eat handfuls of snacks that I have like mini donuts, goldfish, chips. I don’t really have the money to spend on fast food, or Doordash. College is already expensive enough,” she said. Campos is not the only one chefing it up in Cabra. John Gallagher, a sophomore jazz studies major, chooses to cook breakfast for dinner in his dorm after spending all night in a practice room. “I just cook stuff most of the time. Like eggs or something boring like that, just super quick and easy. I don’t really get super complicated when I cook. So, like, breakfast food most of the time,” Gallagher said. While cooking can be quick and cost effective, some students choose to spend a little more time and money to satisfy their hunger. Macy Cook, a sophomore marketing major, is not a cook. Instead, she chooses to eat snacks or order in. “I’ll eat a Kraft mac and cheese bowl or Taco Bell, have that Doordashed. A grilled cheese steak burrito with no fiesta shrimps, or I’ll keep it simple and just eat some chips. I usually eat the lime tortilla chips. No sauce, just tortilla chips,” Cook said.
Going Out and About
Instead of ordering in, some students have chosen to venture out, finding bars and restaurants within the area. Students have found some of their favorite late night gems because of their activities being centered around enjoying the nightlife of New Orleans. Senior music industry major, Aiden Keller, spends his nights indulging in the sound of New Orleans. “I’m usually up late seeing live music or doing a late night mixing or editing session,” Keller said. Keller has found a few food options during his midnight escapades. “If I’m eating late at night near campus, Bruno’s now has Sammy’s NOLA inside which is great. If you are careless and desperate, the Boot has okay food that takes forever to get, but is within walking distance of campus. Cane’s is always a great late night stop just because they are fast,” he said. He chooses to go out and find food because of the very real issue of having to share a kitchen with roommates. Keller finds it’s easier to get food while he’s out rather than make more of a mess in what he says is an already messy kitchen. In contrast to the experience of finding new food options through going out, Samir Faruki, sophomore accounting major, found some of his favorite late night food choices to suit his sleep schedule. Like most students, Faruki’s sleep schedule has shifted as a result of school and work. This shift has led him to a few late night restaurants that are a streetcar away. “There’s this one place called Hooks Sea-
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2 A.M. Meal
food. [It’s an] 8/10 classic corner store spot that’s open until like 3 a.m. Blazin’ Hot Chicken [that’s a] 6/10. It’s open until like 2 a.m. [There are] a lot of spots on Bourbon and surrounding areas open late, and of course on Freret, DP Dough,” Faruki said.
The Health of Students: Now and Later
Adjusting to life in college where you’re staying up until 2 a.m. partying, studying, practicing, and consuming random food or alcohol concoctions, can cause a shift in a student’s health. Local nutritionists, Lisa Nelson and Liz Cabrera, want to help students adjust to college life while still maintaining healthy habits by sharing some tips for students who want healthy substitutions late at night. Cabrera, a nutritionist at the Luminous Nutrition Collective, suggests replacing processed snacks with healthier alternatives. “After dining hours are over it’s important to have some healthier snacks available. Things like protein bars, popcorn, and peanut butter jelly sandwiches, some fruits, there are easy to fix snacks,” she said. Cabrera also empathizes with students, explaining how the fast-paced student life is a common occurrence that has caused students to eat late at night.
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“Usually when you’re in college you feel like you don’t have the time to stop to eat a meal like you would when you’re living at home,” she said. “That definitely contributes to [eating late at night].” Both nutritionists explain how late night feasts can impact student health long after they aren’t students anymore. “Your eating habits start when you’re in college,” Cabrera said. “Once you hit your 40s, and you have high blood pressure, you have diabetes. You did not get diabetes over a week. It’s eating habits sometimes that started back in our 20s.” Nelson, a local New Orleans nutritionist, encourages students to consider their health rather than to be judgemental of how and what they eat. She wants students to consider their future health by considering current choices. “I think tracking nutrition can be a really good way to keep yourself accountable, not so that you can be restrictive. I definitely don’t want to push people in that direction, but so you can be aware of what you’re consuming,” Nelson said. Some healthy food choices Nelson suggests students to try are increasing the amount of fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins students eat. Despite being busy, including a few of
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these options can help improve health and eliminate other less-healthy options. “I feel like, especially when we’re busy and we’re skipping meals, we forget to include things like vegetables when we finally do eat. Including vegetables and fruits is one way you can crowd out less healthy options,” Nelson said. Nelson also gives students advice on how to be safe and healthy if they are out late drinking or partying. “Drink lots of water, especially if you’re out drinking. Alternate with water. Balance [alcohol] with water because you’re going to find you won’t consume it as quickly. So, that’s less hangover the next day and less excess calories you’re consuming.”
Finding a Balance
College students are, have always been, and always will be up late at night. College life is about balance, but it’s hard to balance a life you feel like you haven’t fully got the hang of it yet. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t still live a healthy life while still enjoying the foods you like and spending time out with the friends you love. It’s important to enjoy yourself and enjoy the best years of your life while still taking care of yourself to make some of those future years even better.
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The eal per M rep P
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By Elise Beck erbeck@my.loyno.edu
Jayla Barhydt is a junior in nursing school. She said it’s hard to find time to eat as a nursing student, and living in Cabra, it’s easier to invest in groceries rather than go to the dining hall. Barhydt has the six-meals-a-week plan, but said she’s only been to the OR once this semester. Instead, she relies on microwaveable meals.
la oyo L side dges n i ook s’ fri ocked l A ent t d y-s ials l u l t u s t m f sen fro ust es to j
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Freshman Marlin Bagnet is majoring in music with a concentration in trumpet, and described his daily diet as “alright.” The big difference between eating at college and at home is that he’s busy practicing a lot of the time, so he eats what he can, when he can.
Music business major and freshman Liam Houge described his diet as “a work in progress.” “It’s a mix of trying to eat healthy, and a classic college diet,” he said. “One of the biggest impacts on my diet due to my Loyola lifestyle is just trying to eat for cheap. I’ve caught myself sacrificing the quality or the nutrition that I would normally aim for whenever I’m not in the dining hall; it’s hard to pass up on cheap eats.”
Fridge Tours: What’s in your fridge? 1st Edition
October 9, 2026
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The eout Tak ter ea Sophomore Ethan Clement is a business management major who described his diet as “a basic healthy normal adult diet.” Clement said he tries to cook at home often and eats in the OR about once a day. Aside from his communal fridge, Clement keeps a mini-fridge in his room for his yogurt and ice cream that he doesn’t want his roommates getting into.
Senior Luciana Tanase Marziano is an international business student who is also on the tennis team. Marziano explains that she gained a lot of weight as a freshman coming from another country to the processed and packaged foods that are popular in the U.S.
The Left-over Lover
T Hydrhae Athletted e
Freshman Robbie Yarzun is a business major who is on Loyola’s baseball team. Yarzun says there’s “a lot of access to good food” at Loyola, and he eats most of his meals in the OR, while his fridge is mostly for drinks.
BalThe an Oneced
Now, she has one shelf in her shared Francis suite fridge with items like eggs, veggies, and fruits. “It is healthy if it stays at my apartment.”
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October 9, 2026
WHY NOT TOU By Zoryn Johnson zkjohnso@my.loyno.edu
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ophomore year can be an awkward time for a lot of students. Some are finishing up their Loyola core classes and leaning more into their major-required courses, and many are trying to balance work, academics, and a social life. In the midst of it all, spending time outside can slip through the cracks. In late September, sophomore psychology and Music Industries major Anastasia Campos was sick at her dorm, waiting to be cleared by her doctor to go back to class. However, it wasn’t just her being sick that was getting in the way of her being outside. “Back home, I spend a lot of time outside–probably like an hour a day or something,” Campos said. “I used to spend more time outside last semester; I would go to Audubon a lot, but this semester, I have a lot of classes, and I just don’t really have time.” Campos spoke on how this was affecting her physical health. “I do feel an impact this semester on my health, and that’s probably why I got sick too. I’ve been sick twice since being here,” she said. On a Sunday evening, a few days after getting cleared to return to class, Campos went for a walk in Audubon Park to take a break from schoolwork and to get fresh air. With her Music Industries courses, she finds it much harder to venture out, with most of her time being spent in studios and music labs. “I’ve probably been in the music lab for like an
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hour today. Yesterday, I was there from 6 p.m. ‘til 5 a.m.,” she said. “ I’m so stressed.” She commented on how it felt to finally spend some time outside after having spent long periods of time working indoors. “It feels so weird. I know it’s going to feel weird to go back,” she said. “This is so calming, but then I have to go back to reality and be in this cubicle for a few hours. I like what I do; it’s just horrible that I can’t do it outside or anywhere else.” Sophomore bio-chem pre-health major Ian Spreitzer says that while he used to go on walks often last semester, he’s fallen out of the habit; the current weather is a big part of why he’s not getting out as much. He admitted that he only spends about an hour a week outdoors. “As of late, it’s really hot outside, and it’s really uncomfortable. There are a lot of people, so usually, I don’t like being outside,” Spreitzer said. He commented on whether walking has a positive impact on his mental health. “It did last year. I haven’t done it very much this year, but it’s whatever. I can go to the gym, and that’s inside and air-conditioned, and that can get me exercise, so I don’t have to go to Audubon Park or anything like that,” he said. In a city like New Orleans, where the summers are hot and humid and last for what can sometimes feel like two seasons instead of one, weather can be a big factor in why a lot of students don’t spend much time outside.
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“When I first got here, it was really, really hot. And I really didn’t want to go outside because it was so hot,” said Campos. Alaytia Nelson, a sophomore nursing major, thinks that despite the heat, it’s still worth getting outdoors. “I feel like people tell themselves that they don’t like outside because of all these reasons, but I feel like it’s more of a train of thought to tell yourself you don’t like outside because it’s hot,” Nelson said. “We have to go outside for so many things–like the sun. We need the sun. Going outside makes you see people, and we need people in our lives, so just because you don’t want to be hot doesn’t mean you have to neglect your entire human needs.” Nelson talked about how despite knowing that it’s good for her, she hasn’t spent as much time outside in the past week. “When I was inside, my mood definitely was stagnant, and I didn’t feel that much joy,” she said. “It was just doing tasks, lying down, being on my phone, and doing schoolwork, but when you’re outside and doing those same tasks, it feels more joyful. You can be more grateful for it. It feels better.” While finally taking the time to spend time in nature in Audubon Park, Nelson spoke about how it has already begun to shift her perspective. “I feel an improvement in my mood. I feel happy,” Nelson said. Campos weighed in on how finally being out in nature made her feel. “I feel great. I love nature, and I grew up surrounded by nature. I spent all my childhood outside, so, of
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course, I feel way better,” said Campos. While walking through the park, Campos stumbled upon Audubon’s meditation garden, a spot that she’d never been to before. She spoke about how being outdoors often leads to discoveries and observations – especially in relation to how the nature in New Orleans differs from that of her home in Costa Rica. “I become really aware. I’ll stare at a tree and wonder what the tree is feeling, and that’s kind of what I think about when I’m in nature,” said Campos. “All nature is a different shade of green. In Costa Rica, everything’s really dark, bright green, and here it’s different. I like it.” While making the decision to stay in the park just a little bit longer, despite the sun beginning to set, Nelson gave insight into how she thinks college students could benefit from spending more time outside. “It’s worth it. And sometimes things aren’t easy in the beginning, but the more you do it and the more you condition yourself and tell yourself, ‘I like this. I enjoy this. This is good for me. I am taking care of myself,’ the more it will feel like a reward to come outside and less of a burden,” she said. “Also, we live next to Audubon Park. It’s so beautiful here. The birds are really beautiful. And I think anyone could come out here and enjoy it if they tried.”
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- stu - cle dy - sh an - ea ower - gy t - sle m ep
I NEED SLEEP!
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d i m ster e m se umps? sl By Isabelle Mcdonald iemcdona@my.loyno.edu
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ith the semester reaching its midpoint, students are entering the second half of the semester while continuing to manage classes, assignments, and campus responsibilities, simultaneously tackling midterms. For some college students, the change is subtle. Getting out of bed becomes harder. Staying organized takes more effort. Weekends that once felt like a break become filled with thoughts about the upcoming week. For others, the feeling can affect their connection to school and the people around them. The shift is often referred to as the mid-semester slump, a period when the excitement of a new semester has worn off, but the demands of college continue to increase. For junior Chamael Boliver, the change became really noticeable. She still enjoys school and wants to keep up with classes, but she finds herself increasingly tired of waking up and getting ready each morning. “It honestly felt like something shifted in my brain,” Bolivar says. Her biggest struggle has been sleep. During the summer, her schedule was more flexible, but returning to a structured school schedule made it difficult to establish a consistent routine. One night, she only received an hour of sleep for a full day of classes. Bolivar’s experience illustrates one of the ways a mid-semester slump can affect students: habits that seemed manageable at the beginning of the semester can become harder to maintain over time. Christine Ebrahim, PhD, Louisiana Board Approved Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor, and Associate Professor in the Department of Counseling at Loyola, said the change is not unusual. At the beginning of the semester, students are often energized by new classes, professors, and opportunities to meet people. As the semester progresses, however, classes become more difficult, expectations increase, and the novelty begins to disappear.
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Ebrahim compares this pattern to New Year’s resolutions. Students may enter a semester promising themselves that they will stay ahead on the readings, complete assignments early, and visit their professors during office hours. “Students may begin the semester with strong intentions, but maintaining that level of effort can sometimes be overwhelming and difficult,” Ebriahim said. That doesn’t mean every student experiences the mid-semester slump in the same way. For freshman commuter Basjons Jordan, the biggest change has been his connection to campus rather than his academic workload. While he finds it easy to interact with friends, classmates, and professors, that feeling can begin to disappear. Social media can make that feeling worse. Seeing friends on social media studying or spending time together can make the disconnect more noticeable. “My drive and desire to do most things ‘fell off a cliff’,” Jordan says. Jordan’s experience demonstrates another side of the slump: sometimes students aren’t necessarily tired of school itself. They may simply feel less connected to the excitement and community they felt during the first weeks of the semester. That feeling can be particularly noticeable for students who commute, balancing outside responsibilities or struggling to maintain the social connections they made at the beginning of the year. For Boliver, balancing school has become more complicated as she has taken on more responsibilities in her junior year as a Mass Communication major and a Business Administration minor. The increased involvement has given her more opportunities, but it also means she has more to balance. Still, the slump does not mean students have stopped caring about college. Christine Ebrahim says students should permit themselves to recognize that their motivation may not feel the same as it did at the beginning of the semester.
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“I think it is natural,” Ebrahim said. According to Ebriam, the important part is recognizing when a temporary decrease in motivation begins to become something more serious. Students should pay attention if the slump begins to affect their ability to function or is accompanied by persistent sadness, anxiety, isolation, major changes in eating or sleeping habits, skipping classes, or negative self-talk, Ebrahim explains. When that happens, students do not have to handle it alone. Ebrahim recommends talking to someone, whether that is a friend, classmate, professor, advisor, or counselor at the University Counseling Center. Reaching out early can make it easier to address problems before they become overwhelming. For students who are already struggling, it is never too late to ask for help. “Try not to wait until the train is too far down the tracks, but if it is, that’s ok too,” Ebrahim says, “Just go.” Students also find their own ways to regain motivation. For Bolivar, thinking about her long-term goals helps her keep going. She hopes to eventually create a nonprofit in Haiti that supports people interested in media, communications, arts, music, and other creative fields who may not have the resources to pursue them. Motivation can also be found in smaller moments, such as class discussions that create a sense of connection with classmates or unexpected invitations that remind students that they are part of the campus community, as they do for Jordan. The mid-semester slump does not look the same for everyone. For one student, it may mean struggling to maintain a sleep schedule. For another, it may mean feeling disconnected from the community that once made college feel exciting. As routines and priorities shift, students may find new ways to adjust to the second half of the semester.
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WHAT’S YOUR STARBUCKS ORDER? By Dessarda Tezeno dltezeno@my.loyno.edu
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or some college students, a Starbucks run is about getting enough caffeine to make it through an early morning class. For others, it is a chance to catch up with friends, try a drink they saw online or simply enjoy a favorite they have been ordering for years. On a college campus, Starbucks has become more than a place to grab a drink. It can be part of a student’s everyday routine, whether that means stopping by between classes, meeting up with friends, studying or taking a break from a busy day. But with countless combinations, flavors and customizations, students’ orders can be just as unique as their college experiences.
“Not every order is based on what is trending online. Some students stick with drinks they have loved for years, while others build their orders around their personal preferences and routines.” Dessadra Tezeno, Mass Communcations senior
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Strawberry Mango Dragonfruit Refresher
Iced Chai Latte Za’Kiyah Merritt, a senior political science major, does not consider herself a coffee person. Her usual Starbucks order is a grande iced chai latte with soy milk and non-dairy brown sugar cold foam. Merritt said she does not like coffee, but she still enjoys going to Starbucks with friends. For her, the experience is just as important as the drink itself. She prefers cold drinks to warm ones, and her iced chai gives her that familiar, cozy feeling no matter the time of year. While some students use Starbucks as a way to get their caffeine fix, Merritt’s routine shows that a Starbucks trip can also be about spending time with friends.
For Kamrin Jones, a senior double majoring in finance and economics, their Starbucks order is all about customization. Their favorite is a trenta strawberry mango dragonfruit refresher with no caffeine and light ice. Jones chooses no caffeine because she does not want to experience heart palpitations. She also drinks her refresher slowly, which is why she prefers light ice. The lighter amount of ice keeps the drink from becoming too watered down while she takes her time drinking it. Her order shows how students can adjust their drinks to fit their individual needs rather than simply ordering a drink exactly as it appears on the menu.
Iced Banana Bread Latte Freshman criminology and justice major Jazmin Humphrey also has a carefully customized order. She gets an iced banana bread latte with one shot of espresso instead of two, caramel topping and oat milk. As an athlete, Humphrey pays close attention to how what she consumes affects her body. She said she does not want to deal with stomach problems that could interfere with her athletic performance. Her customized order allows her to enjoy Starbucks while being mindful of her routine as both a student and an athlete. Avoiding stomach issues is especially important when she has to balance practices, competition and classes. For Humphrey, what goes into her cup can affect more than just her taste buds—it can affect her focus and performance.
Caramel Frappuccino
Pumpkin Cream Chai
Angel Bara, a junior double majoring in management and marketing, has a different reason for sticking with her Starbucks favorite: childhood familiarity. Bara’s go-to order is a venti caramel frappuccino. She has been drinking it since she was a kid, when her parents bought one for her to try. She immediately enjoyed the sweet, cold beverage, especially the caramel flavor. Over time, the drink became a normal choice for her. Because it was something she already knew and loved, it became the “safe” option whenever she went to Starbucks. For Bara, her order is more than just a drink. It is a familiar favorite that has followed her from childhood into college.
Then there is Niki Udych, a psychology major, whose Starbucks order embraces one of the biggest seasonal drink trends: pumpkin. Udych’s go-to order is a venti pumpkin cream chai with oat milk, one pump of classic syrup and three pumps of sugar-free vanilla syrup. Her order combines a seasonal favorite with personal customizations, showing how students can take a popular menu item and make it their own. With social media constantly introducing students to new drinks and customizations, it can be easy for a particular Starbucks order to become the next campus trend. Some students stick with drinks they have loved for years, while others build their orders around their personal preferences and routines.
The Wolf
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October 9, 2026
RUNNING ON EMPTY
The late nights, endless assignments and caffeine keeping students going. By Akela McLean akmclean@my.loyno.edu
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hree hours of sleep, two cups of coffee, and one assignment later, students are still expected to function.As midterms approach, Loyola students are finding themselves caught between classes, jobs, extracurricular activities, social lives,s and an ever-growing list of assignments. For some, keeping up with everything means sacrificing sleep and relying on caffeine to make it through the day. A morning coffee can turn into an afternoon energy drink, while a late-night study session stretches well past midnight. Add work, extracurricular activities, social plans, and a growing list of assignments, and it can feel like there simply are not enough hours in the day. For some Loyola students, the demands of school and work leave little time for a social life. What might seem manageable on paper can become overwhelming when multiple responsibilities compete for the same limited hours. The busy schedule does not end when class does. Some students balance part-time jobs and clubs while also trying to maintain friendships and make time for themselves. When schedules become crowded, social activities are often one of the first things to be sacrificed. Students described their daily routines as a constant cycle of moving between school, work, and other responsibilities. One Loyola student, for example, may begin the day around 7 a.m. with a campus work-study job, attend classes, return to another campus shift, and then work at TJ Maxx until about 8:30 p.m. After getting home, there is still dinner, a shower, and schoolwork to complete. For students with schedules like this, the day can feel less like a series of separate responsibilities and more like an endless routine of going from one obligation to the next. Caffeine can provide students with the energy to sit through a lecture, complete an assignment, or make it through a long work shift. While some students are trying to reduce their caffeine intake, exhaustion can make energy drinks difficult to give up completely.
Students described turning to drinks such as Red Bull and Alani when they are too tired to get through the rest of their day. Rather than solving the exhaustion, caffeine can become another part of the routine students rely on to keep moving. For some, the cycle begins in the morning with coffee and continues throughout the day with additional caffeine. By nighttime, students may still have assignments to complete, even after spending hours in class and at work. The tiredness does not simply disappear. Instead, it can be pushed into another day. The hardest part for many students is deciding what can wait. An assignment has a deadline. An exam cannot always be postponed. A work shift still requires students to show up. Sleep, however, can feel like the most flexible part of the schedule. Students may tell themselves they will catch up on sleep during the weekend, only to spend those days studying, working, or completing assignments. By Monday, the cycle starts again. For students taking heavy course loads, the issue is not always procrastination. Sometimes there simply are not enough hours in the day to accomplish everything. Students want to succeed academically, earn money, participate in activities, maintain friendships,s and still have time for themselves. When everything cannot happen at once, something has to give. That sacrifice can affect more than just the number of hours students spend sleeping. Being tired is not always as simple as wanting another hour of sleep. It can mean sitting in a lecture trying to stay awake, rereading the same paragraph without understanding it, or staring at notes without actually processing the information. Students can be physically present in class while mentally checked out. Exhaustion can also affect students’ moods and interactions with the people around them. One student described being woken up by a fire drill after finally falling asleep around 1 a.m. The lack of sleep left the student noticeably more irritated and quiet. For students who are already exhausted, even small disruptions can become frustrating. The effects can extend into students’ social lives
as well. After spending the day in class and at work, some students may choose to return to their rooms rather than go out with friends or participate in activities. The sacrifice is not always just another hour of sleep. It can also be patience, energy, social time, and the ability to enjoy the college experience. Midterms add another layer of pressure. As midterms get closer, the pressure increases. Students are not only trying to manage their normal schedules but are also preparing for exams, completing papers and projects, and keeping up with deadlines that can seem to arrive all at once. For students who already work or participate in extracurricular activities, preparing for midterms can feel like adding another major responsibility to an already crowded schedule. The pressure is not necessarily just about getting good grades. It can also come from the constant feeling that there is always something else that needs to be completed. There is always another assignment, another shift, another exam, or another responsibility waiting. When that feeling becomes constant, sleep can once again become the easiest thing to push aside. Running on empty does not always look dramatic. Sometimes it is drinking an energy drink before class or work. Sometimes it is sitting through a lecture while trying not to fall asleep. Sometimes it is staying awake until 2 a.m. to finish an assignment. For some Loyola students, it means moving from class to work and then back to schoolwork without much time to rest in between. The caffeine keeps them moving, the deadlines keep coming, and sleep keeps getting pushed further down the list. As midterms approach, the challenge for students is finding a way to balance everything without sacrificing the basic things they need to function. For some, that balance remains difficult to find. The week continues, assignments continue to pile up, and another cup of caffeine can seem easier than another hour of sleep.
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October 9, 2026
Running Uptown By Katerina Vincent kovincen@my.loyno.edu
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unning in New Orleans offers a mix of greenery, historic charm, and urban energy. Whether you’re a local student training for the Crescent City Classic or just wanting to start jogging around Audubon, here are the best places for running in Uptown New Orleans. Most colleges and universities are lucky if they live a short car ride away from their local park; Loyola students, on the other hand, are fortunate enough to have one within a couple feet of distance. Audubon Park, stretching nearly two miles, provides runners with an easy-to-follow paved loop while surrounded by beautiful live oaks without a bare spot. Audubon Park also provides multiple public pull-up bars throughout the park, which are never too packed and allow runners to add some range to their workout. Not only that, but the parks’ towering trees create a natural canopy
for cool runners off in the heat and humidity that surrounds New Orleans. Audubon makes any walk or run magical because of its beauty and wide-spread variety of different paths runners can choose. When walking on the residential streets, keep an eye out for State and Freret Street if you’re looking for a scenic and homey vibe that still has plenty of greenery. Alongside its perks, New Orleans loves to keep its grittiness alive, mostly with art, music, and food but this is also visible in the sidewalks and roads. Due to the high population of oak trees in uptown, being mindful of cracks and unexpected increases of incline that come up from under the ground is important when running in this city. It can be a hassle or inconvenience for runners at times, so it’s important to always keep your eyes peeled on what’s ahead to avoid any unnecessary injuries. Uptown New Orleans is regarded as a safe and neighborly spot in the city of New Orleans. It’s well known that New Orleans can be crazy and dangerous at times, so it’s important for runners to constantly be aware of their location and surround-
ings when running in a new city. The Loyola University Police Department provides campus safety services for Loyola, such as patrols and security support for students during on-campus runs. For emergencies, students should contact the police department or use campus safety resources on HowlConnect or your LOYNO Alert app. For those looking to explore beyond Audubon Park, Washington Square offers a quieter alternative. Tucked away near the intersection of Royal St. and the famous Ayu Bakehouse, this small park provides a peaceful loop perfect for a quick jog or interval training. Its shaded benches and open grassy areas make it a great spot to rest and recharge before continuing your run. Uptown New Orleans makes running interesting. As you go through the historic houses and streets, there’s a story everywhere you turn, even when you look down at the uneven ground. These spots will make any runner fall in love with the underrated top of the crescent moon that is the city of NOLA.
When Did You Feel Your Best? By Alexandra Powell writeremail@my.loyno.edu
“Health”. One syllable. One word. Yet so fluid, manifesting in a plethora of ways. Whether it is physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual, health matters and it means something different to each and every one of us. Health and feeling your best isn’t a cookie cutter outline, and it’s most definitely not something set in stone. Think of it as more like a liquid, something malleable that takes the shape of whatever it’s placed in. Health is meant to fit us. Some of our fellow students here at Loyola were interviewed to share their thoughts and experiences from when they felt their healthiest. With different routines, attitudes, hobbies, and general walks of life, each person gave unique, meaningful insight to what health looked like for them. Without further ado, let’s look at health through new eyes. One of the first interviews I had was with a third year student, Victoria Powell, majoring in political science. Her healthiest year was during her Freshman spring. During that time, her daily routine consisted of 6AM walks, drinking lots of water, studying, and focusing on getting work turned in on time. With more time to study and focus on academics, her “healthiest” time manifested itself in giving her time to herself. “It rejuvenated me and helped me feel like a better person.”, she says. First year Max Ackerson said that he felt his best during his junior year of high school, and his phone became more of a second thought. In spending less time soaking in social media, he was able to spend more time pouring into himself. He passed through his days socializing with friends and focused on keeping his inner peace. As time goes on, he says he values the importance of focusing on himself as key to his health. Another student had a similar experience with feeling her best. Also during her junior year, she often went to the gym, school, and work, and this constant movement became an important factor in allowing her to feel her best. As time goes on, she emphasizes how “prioritizing school less and focusing on feeling good more” is what she needs to be her healthiest self. In addition to this insight from our fellow students, it’s important to consider professional opinions as well, with input from Annie McGlynn-Wright, a sociology professor. “We all have different needs in all of these areas… We have variability in what we want and need to feel our best. At the same time, as a society, we tend to individualize health--putting a lot of blame and responsibility on individual behaviors and not considering that
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health is highly dependent on the social and physical environments that we exist within.” McGlynn-Wright says.
“ Health extends well beyond our
medical definitions of health and really takes into account how a person is doing holistically--mental, emotional, socially, spiritually, and how they feel in their physical body.” Annie McGlynn-Wright, Sociology Professor And I couldn’t have said it better myself. Remember how I mentioned the fluidity of health? That also comes into play when we have to maintain our habits as well. As we go through changes and phases, and trudge up the hill of life, the journey may not always be easy— and that’s okay! With the pressures and responsibilities of college, maintaining every single habit isn’t always plausible. Whether we find ourselves spending just a little more time scrolling through social media than studying, or so in love with the warmth of our beds that we just don’t want to get up, our habits aren’t always going to be picture perfect. And on that note, being in college, many interviewees mentioned, sometimes provides setbacks to our ability to prioritize our health all the time. With the stress of classes, exams, and especially finances, university life isn’t always the most ideal for always feeling our best. Trying to keep up with the momentum of classes gradually becomes more challenging as the year progresses. You know how the first week, we’re certain we’re going to spend this year studying but by the third week, we may or may not be a bit behind in a class or two? Yeah, that. Showing up for ourselves can sometimes be overwhelming and trying to avoid stress can often result in it piling up. Trying to keep up a usual routine with a fluctuating daily life can become difficult. But even then, that is the best part about our health: its malleability allows it to slip into our lives in a myriad of ways. Numbers and statistics don’t do justice to what pursuing our health can look like. Whether your idea of “health” involves a warm bath after a long day or going out with friends to enjoy endless pasta, doing what you need to fit your needs is always the goal. So what does health look like for you?
October 9, 2026