The Griffin March 24, 2023

Softball took on Ivy League competition this past weekend in the Penn State Invitational

Three Months Later, A Look at Losses to Lyons

By SYDNEY UMSTEAD ASST.

EDITOR

Following the damage to Lyons Hall in January, Canisius College administrators had to navigate their plans for the fast-approaching spring semester. Now, students, faculty and campus organizations are tackling their own loss of a building that was near and dear to their hearts.

The Loss of The Marie Maday Little Theater, Canisius’s theater arts club, lost its former stage to the massive amounts of water damage in Lyons Hall where the Marie Maday Theater is located. This meant Little Theater president Brianna Propis and other members of the club’s e-board not only had to find a replacement stage but also had to completely change their plan for the semester’s musical.

This loss was not the only piece of the club that felt the force of the blizzard that damaged Lyons Hall. All of Little Theater’s props, costumes, equipment, etc. were completely destroyed. But Student Life provided a new stage in Montante Cultural Center which gave the club an opportunity to accomplish their dreams for the spring semester.

With this, the production of “Grease” was born. Propis stated that “Grease” was chosen for a variety of reasons: “It’s so well-loved, iconic and fun.”

The club has faced some difficulties with holding rehearsals in Montante, as it is a popular spot to hold events; however, the cast and crew have remained dedicated to the show and were able to have some of their rehearsals there. As Propis said, “I have full faith that ‘Grease’ will rock and roll smoothly into Montante this weekend.”

Montante is also larger than the previous theater, which meant changing the production to fit the space, which Propis explained was accom-

The Campus Community Unites

plished through the hard work of such a talented cast and crew.

“We’re basically focusing on and presenting the production at its core: polished performances, show-stopping choreography from Sierra [Winterhalter], costumes, hair and makeup and a few props,” said Propis.

Propis notes that Little Theater has not heard much regarding the Marie Maday Theater’s reconstruction outside of potential plans. However, in an Instagram post, Little Theater expressed how deeply the entire club felt towards their now damaged home space. “Grease” will now premiere March 25 and 26 in Montante Cultural Center.

Staff in Lyons Move To Churchill Tower

As the lower floors of Lyons Hall saw the most damage, many of the faculty offices were moved. Those in the communications and political science departments were suddenly uprooted from their previous spaces and relocated to Churchill Tower.

In an email correspondence, Daniel Higgins, associate professor of journalism, recounted how he first learned about the damage to Lyons Hall. He arrived on campus in pursuit of retrieving his laptop that he had left in Lyons Hall over winter break. When he arrived, though, he saw that the building was “surrounded by emergency fencing, and there were trucks from Servpro, a company specializing in cleaning up after floods and other disasters.”

He explained that a construction employee had offered to FaceTime him from inside the building so that he could see the damage. “When the Servpro guy reached my office, I saw

that the bookshelf had partially toppled, and various items were in disarray,” said Higgins.

The shock did not end there for Higgins, as he came to learn that his work laptop was flooded with so much water it “poured out of its USB ports” and that he had also lost books and other personal items, as “even [his] desk drawers were filled with water.”

Even though the change from Lyons Hall to Churchill Tower was a shift for many faculty members, Higgins expressed that he is happy in his new location, as it allows him and his colleagues to be closer to the students and other faculty members. He also noted that his newfound space was “cozy and well-designed.”

“As we’re gradually putting the pandemic behind us, this physical proximity to our colleagues and students has been a positive change,” Higgins concluded.

Parking on Campus Without Lyons Hall

Commuter students have also been tasked with finding parking spaces nearer to their classes amidst many Lyons Hall–dominated courses shifting into classrooms in Old Main.

For many, parking on campus had already proven difficult since the

parking garage was under construction, but now there is a measurable influx in street parking as the Lyons Hall parking lot is further away from where students’ classes are being held.

Marissa Burr, a sophomore at Canisius College, commutes to campus and has noticed cars become more prominent on her street, since it is closer to some areas on campus the Lyons lot.

“I only bought my parking pass at the beginning of the year because I had a class in Lyons, and now I never use it because the convenience factor just isn’t there anymore,” said Burr, a creative writing major.

There is also uncertainty regarding what the loss of Lyons Hall could mean for the work that was being done to the parking ramp. Burr speculated how it seems as though the progress “has now been stalled.”

Commuter Student Association President Ben Deakin, however, said that campus parking progress has been made since the initial damage to Lyons Hall, as contractors and construction workers are no longer parking in commuter lots.

Maslennikov looks forward as Ukraine remains in war

The Canisius basketball player prepares for life after Canisius

By COLTON PANKIEWICZ ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

As George Maslennikov finished his third season playing for Canisius basketball, he was faced with the same decision as many are in their last year of college: what’s next? His situation, though, is a little different than most, with his home country in the midst of a war after being invaded by Russia in February of last year.

Head coach Reggie Witherspoon stumbled upon the Ukrainian playing at Saddleback College, a community college located 50 miles southeast of Los Angeles. Witherspoon was able to convince Maslennikov to join him in Buffalo.

After appearing in 65 games for the Griffs, Maslennikov was able to secure a bachelor’s degree in marketing, and he is now just months away from receiving his masters degree in sports administration.

The graduate student lies in an interesting spot with only a year left on his I-20, a student visa that allows international students to stay in the U.S during their education and then for an additional year after they graduate. Maslennikov plans to apply for his U.S visa before his I-20 expires, and he believes there is a good shot he will receive one. If for some reason he is

George Maslennikov CANISIUS ATHLETICS VIA GOGRIFFS

not able to receive his visa, he said, it would make for a troublesome situation.

If Maslennikov were unable to secure his visa, he would be forced to go back to Europe. Being from Odessa, a city that has made headlines throughout the past year for being a target of Russian missile strikes, the graduate may choose to stay away from his

home country. If he were to cross the Ukrainian border, there would be the possibility that he would be drafted to join the front lines and defend his country. He, however, greatly prefers the idea of finding a job near his mom, who currently lives in Pila, Poland after fleeing Ukraine just weeks after the war broke out.

The man who is known more for his life in basketball than his life outside of the sport believes it is best to take things day by day.

“I’m worried about what I’m going through today instead of tomorrow or what’s happened in the past. You have to live in the present, because you don’t know what’s gonna happen in a decade or two. I have a vision in my head, though, that there’s going to be more beyond this: I truly believe it,” said Maslennikov.

Provided Maslennikov is granted a visa to stay in America, he wants to be a sports agent and maybe one day open his own agency. Beyond his career, he feels that there is a lot he wants to do.

“They’re more like side quests, I definitely want to open a car shop, or some type of dealership, because I love cars. I also definitely want to own an Italian restaurant, because I think food is a reflection of a lot of memories I’ve had. When you think of really good

food you’ve had, you can remember what you were doing and the people you shared that meal with,” said Maslennikov.

The 6-foot-10 Ukrainian always saw a life beyond basketball and said he actually preferred dancing more than basketball as a teenager. He was not aware that basketball existed outside of the NBA, and he did not start playing the sport until he was 16 when his mom thought a move to the U.S. as an exchange student would be the best option for Maslennikov after being kicked out of sailing school in Odessa.

“I’ve always felt like people who have a strict goal to play basketball — nothing against them — but I feel like it’s a boring lifestyle. Whenever your days of playing basketball are over, you’re gonna fall into a depression. When I was in L.A I got hurt and fell into that kind of depression myself; I was able to be lifted out of that darkness and realize what there is out there. I just want to experience life to the fullest and find a life that gives me the peace of mind,” said Maslennikov.

“All of Little Theater’s props, costumes, equipment, etc. had been completely destroyed.”

A dive into the “pink tax” on certain hygiene products and the effects that the higher prices have on women

Marissa Burr collaborates with Sydney Umstead to retell the story behind their new outlooks on life following their trip to California

JOCELYN WILKINS

The loss of Lyons Hall shows the resiliency of Canisius students.

ALANA STUDENT CENTER AND LASAF HOST AN IFTAR DINNER TO KICK OFF RAMADAN

By ALYSSA KORNACKI

The ALANA Student Center, in collaboration with Latin American Students and Friends (LASAF), hosted an Iftar dinner after sundown in the Grupp Fireside Lounge (on the second floor of the Student Center) on Thursday, March 23.

The Iftar dinner was hosted in celebration of Ramadan, which began on March 23. Muslims who are observing Ramadan month will fast from sunrise to sundown: this can range from 11 to 16 hours, depending on where in the world they live. This means no

water, though many who do not celebrate often ask in amazement, “Even no water?” As part of the holy month, individuals refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and intimate contact from dawn to sunset. They increase their focus on personal restraint, proper conduct and empathy with the less fortunate through giving to charity and engagement in local projects.

One of the undergraduate students who organized the event, Elnara Karadzhayeva, shared, “We thought it would be necessary to celebrate the diversity on our campus and host a dinner where Muslim students, especially those who are often away

from home, can have a family-style dinner.” This event was open to everyone on campus who wanted to learn more about Ramadan and have the opportunity to attend the dinner and try new foods, as well. There were authentic halal foods as well as many other traditional foods, like dates and baklava.

“This event is for all — you do not have to be Muslim, and you do not have to be fasting. It is an experience that we believe everyone should endure,” said Karadzhayeva, speaking before the event.

In addition to the Iftar dinner, the

ALANA Student Center along with the Diversity Committee of the Undergraduate Student Association will be sponsoring “Ramadan Snack Packs” throughout the month.

Individuals may stop by the ALANA Student Center (located in the lower level of the Student Center, room 003) to pick one up. Canisius dining will also be preparing meals to be picked up by request. To request a meal, please email dining@canisius. edu. Meals will be available for pick up from the cashier station in the dining hall between 4:30-7 p.m.

Contact Alyssa Kornacki kornack1@canisius.edu

“A GREAT DAY”: BUTTIGIEG IN BUFFALO TO BOAST OF BIG INVESTMENT

interest groups for a roundtable discussion about the deleterious effects of the Kensington Expressway on East Buffalo. The officials then migrated to the Buffalo Museum of Science for a press conference.

The science museum briefing began with remarks by Hamlin Park Community and Taxpayer Association President Stephanie Barber Garter, who said she had never seen such unity among federal officials in answering the community’s cries for investment. Garter was joined by about 30 seated members of the Hamlin Park community. In a phrase parroted by the subsequent parade of prominent politicians, Garter called Friday “a great day” for her community.

By PATRICK HEALY MANAGING EDITOR

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg visited Buffalo last Friday to tout $55 million in federal funds to help cover the Kensington Expressway. As part of the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law’s “Reconnecting Communities” program, the money will supplement over $1 billion in state funds to turn Route 33 between Dodge and Sidney streets into a sixlane tunnel, with green space above to mimic the formerly tree-lined, pedestrian-friendly Humboldt Parkway.

In the early morning, Buttigieg, local, state and other federal officials met with community members and

By SAM CHAPMAN NEWS REPORTER

State officials spoke next. Governor Kathy Hochul, warming up the audience with her trademark “Go Bills,” highlighted her administration’s billion-dollar investment in the project. State Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes echoed Hochul’s commitment before introducing Congressman Brian Higgins, the first of four federal officials to speak. All praised U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) for his work in securing the federal money for Buffalo.

According to Higgins, Senator Schumer is “one of the most consequential [U.S. Senate] majority leaders in the last century.” U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) said there was “no way” Buffalo would have gotten the federal money without her fellow U.S. Senator from New York.

Schumer, the top-ranking senator in the nation, took credit for the funding and unintentionally echoed Cani-

sius President Steve Stoute’s stock phrase by calling for the Hamlin Park community to “rise up” to take advantage of this opportunity. Schumer declared that “for decades, the 33 stood as a concrete symbol of the city’s racial division,” but now “Buffalo is a model of how America can fix past mistakes.” Summarizing in standard Schumerian rhetoric, the senator said “this is a big win — you’re gonna see more of them in the future.”

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, the 2020 presidential candidate whose endorsement of Joe Biden later earned him a spot in the president’s cabinet, capped the conference. After praising Schumer and the other assembled officials as well as President Joe Biden, Buttigieg proclaimed that “infrastructure can divide as surely as it can connect. … No one here today is responsible for creating this situation, but all of us are responsible for doing what we can in our time to repair it.”

The former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, Buttigieg acknowledged Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown and emphasized that the grant to Buffalo is the largest of the 45 grants awarded under the Reconnecting Communities program. Speaking on behalf of the federal government, Buttigieg said, “We are supportive of the state’s efforts, not just with heartfelt words of encouragement but with $55 million.”

While Governor Kathy Hochul exited the conference right after her remarks, other officials stayed to answer questions from reporters.

Buttigieg answered questions about the feasibility of light rail in Buffalo and the safety of Western

New Yorkers after recent railroad accidents across the country. Schumer jumped in to add that there is $38 billion in federal money available for investments in light rail, hinting at his next pet project. Buttigieg more cautiously said that “we do have means for communities and states to come to us to share their [light rail] vision” with the federal government. As for the recent accidents, progress was what Buttigieg pledged: “Safety of the rail system has improved dramatically, but we take nothing for granted.”

Speaking to a scrum of reporters afterward, Schumer stood in front of a physical rendering of the plan and went into greater detail about the project’s specifics. The Senate majority leader shot down concerns about potential lawsuits that could stall the plan, which is set to begin in fall 2024. “Money from the state, money from the feds — it’s all there. Sometimes people go to court and sue on a lot of stuff, but they [the federal government] have checked this out pretty good and I don’t think anybody will sue.”

The fifth-term senator also brushed back concerns that the grant could fall though. “I always try to bring the president and the secretary here. Once they come, there’s no turning back.” Though Schumer and other officials departed quickly after the conference, Buttigieg took pictures with random people outside the museum, including with the present scribe, much to the dismay of Buttigieg’s bodyguards and a blocked line of cars.

Contact Patrick Healy healyp@canisius.edu

THE TRUMP ARREST THAT DIDN’T HAPPEN … YET?

This past Saturday, former President Donald Trump posted that he would be arrested “on Tuesday of next week,” urging supporters to “protest [and] take our nation back.” Tuesday came and went, though, and the arrest never happened.

With #PresidentTrump trending on Twitter all day Tuesday, the country waited to see what would happen. A handful of falsified images even went viral showing the arrest taking place, featuring Trump running away from the police and being picked up off of the ground by the officers.

According to the New York Times, Trump’s advisors say that he made his decree last weekend because he “predicted the timing of a potential indictment based on media reports” involving a gathering of law enforcement officials who discussed hypothetical protocols if Trump were, in fact, to be arrested.

Regardless of the legal outcome of Tuesday, Trump’s supporters didn’t necessarily have a good showing in their efforts to stand with him. CBS News described the underwhelming outcome, writing that “Dozens of Trump supporters gathered in Lower Manhattan on Tuesday, while a caravan of cars drove through Long Is-

land, sporting signs and flags for the former president” but adding that the demonstrations “barely brought out 100 people.”

Despite a lack of support from his followers, many Republican Trump allies have maintained their support, expressing their distaste with District Attorney Alvin Bragg. They have also addressed potential protests. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy stated simply, “I don’t think people should protest this, no,” according to MSNBC.

In acknowledgement of the recent reports, NYPD officers are on high alert for the impending prospect of arresting Trump in the event that he does not turn himself in, should

such a request be made of him. While there are no concrete indications of a possible indictment or arrest of the former president as of Thursday evening, the scene surrounding a possible indictment has been a source of speculation. According to the New York Times, Trump — ever the showman — reportedly has mused about the drama of him being taken into custody in handcuffs in front of cameras. Speculation continues as the country awaits the possibility of an indictment or arrest looms over the former president.

Contact Sam Chapman chapma1@canisius.edu

THIS WEEK IN SENATE: REFUGEES, RAMADAN AND REPORTS

By JULIA BARTH AND PATRICK HEALY AN AWESOME GIRL AND SOME RANDOM GUY

e Undergraduate Student Association (USA) met on Tuesday and welcomed Dr. Shyam Sriram, one of campus’s newest associate professors in the political science department.

Sriram started by talking about how positive campus change is necessary. He encouraged USA to improve diversity on campus and to work closer with admissions to diversify the student body through race, ethnicity and religion. He referenced the alumni wall outside the Regis Room, composed almost entirely of white alumni, as a sign of Canisius’s past lack of diversity.

Sriram advocated for Canisius to partner with the Every Campus A Refuge (ECAR) program, which commits colleges to sponsor refugees in college-owned housing, and he noted the unused Canisius property. Because of their Jesuit mission and location in Erie County — the refugee resettlement capital of New York State — “we are the ideal place” to host, he said.

Afterwards, Sriram accepted questions from

senators, suggested a bill to pass through senate and the ways student leaders can hold conversations around these topics. Senators asked Sriram about logistics and the cost of hosting refugees through ECAR.

Sriram said that, aside from being a humanitarian measure, hosting refugees could permit service learning. Pitching Canisius as the only college in Western New York to host refugees, he said, “[is] how we can get the administration on board.”

President Jahare Hudson’s report discussed a fundraiser for the earthquake in Turkey and Syria. Dr. Harold Fields, vice president for student affairs, spoke about soliciting outside donations to Petey’s Pantry and told Hudson that he will provide spaces for students who celebrate Ramadan. Hudson announced a push for a cura personalis day to be added next semester. Also, students who stay in residence halls during breaks will no longer be charged.

Finally, Hudson said he met with Tom Chambers, dean of arts and sciences, about adding a race and ethnicity major. Hudson said next steps would be combing through curricula with ALANA Center

Director Bennie Williams and Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion Fatima Rodriguez-Johnson.

“It could increase enrollment,” Hudson said, which would increase the student activity fee and the number of events USA hosts. The final step, Hudson said, would be for a USA resolution to support the major.

The Honors Student Association appealed for about $4,500 for its banquet. The Senate passed the appeal unanimously.

Committee chairs provided reports, noting dates of their final semester events. VPMPR Elnara Karadzhayeva asked about Wi-Fi issues that have emerged since the implementation of multi-factor authentication, and sophomore Senator Meg Campbell suggested going to ITS directly. Lastly, the senate discussed whether Canisius should lock more doors around campus during the day.

Chuck Schumer answers questions about the plan to restore Humboldt Parkway.

PATRICK HEALY

Not So Pretty in Pink

A deep dive into the “pink tax” on women’s personal products and the effects the tax has on women and consumers everywhere

By MARISSA BURR OPINION EDITOR

Since 1987, March has been known officially as National Women’s History Month to celebrate the extraordinary achievements made by women, both past and present. While the country rallies together in support for women during this time, the inequalities in their everyday lives continue to be ignored both during and after March.

According to an article from Cal Poly Hum- boldt, it is estimated that 91% of reported sexual assaults are against women. Pew Research Center states that, according to 2022 research the wage gap — the difference within the earnings between women and men — women only receive 82 cents for every dollar that a man earns. This number is an increase compared to before: the year that many current college stu- dents (including myself) were born, 2002, the wage gap was 80 cents to the dollar. People say change is slow, but at this rate I will be 200 years old before making the same amount as my brother or my husband. Despite the calcu- lable deficit women have regarding their pay- checks, women also face something known as the “pink tax,” which consistently lists items marketed specifically towards women at a higher price than their “male” counterparts. This can include products such as soaps, lotions, haircuts, deodorants and razors.

The products that are marked up because of the “pink tax” are usually quite similar — if not identical — to the ones that men use. The superficial differences are minor, including col- or or packaging design, yet the difference it has for women purchasing them can be vast over time. These items bought for their everyday lives can add up to $1,300 per year, according to an article from The Balance.

Evidence of this concept dates back to the 1990s — note how close it is to the year that Women’s History Month was established — when the California Assembly Office of Re- search found that 64% of businesses made it more expensive to dry clean a women’s blouse than a man’s button-down shirt. In 2015, the Department of Consumer Affairs found that 35 product categories upcharge women; their research also showed how women pay more for essentially the same products 42% of the time, while men only 18%. Ignoring the obvious iniquity in both salary and price of consumer goods that leads to women spending more money on the same products as men while still earning less than them, we are forced to ask: how is this tax even legal?

Unfortunately, this tax is added to prices in 49 out of 50 states — New York, as of 2020, was the only exception. The price hike is not an actual tax and more of an economic trend (and it’s only in effect by some companies for certain goods and services), but it is affected by import tariffs. Men’s cotton shirts and wool suits have higher import tariffs, the same way women’s silk shirts and leather shoes do. The taxing on the import of women’s goods is about 0.7% according to an Investopedia article, and this con- tributes to the ongoing “pink tax” in America. If companies were to set products that are similar for both men and women at the same price, money would be lost for the consumer, retail- er or producer, because the slight difference in material is what makes them cost a different

Learning from Loss

By AVA C. GREEN

FEATURES EDITOR

Last November, wearing the same jacket he wore on the day I interviewed him, Anthony Fuszara unknowingly hugged his best friend, Daniel Vela, for the very last time. They took a photo that evening that Daniel’s mom insisted on taking, although the boys contested. Fuszara said he’s now very grateful that Mrs. Vela captured a photo of this special day.

Daniel Vela was a third-year pre-med chemistry student at Canisius. He and Fuszara had an immediate connection, becoming close friends early on in both of their collegiate careers. “Dirty Dan,” Anthony affectionately recalled nicknaming him, “was a friend to all,” noting how he always kept his dorm room door open to others. Daniel valued friendship and loyalty, and he was keen on constantly vocalizing the deep love and care he had for his friends and family.

“I remember thinking, ‘My Dan!’ I hadn’t seen him since his medical leave in September,” said Fuszara as he happily reminisced on that bittersweet moment of seeing his friend after many long, challenging months.

Anthony said he “knew something was up” over the summer, even before it was found that Daniel had developed a stage 3 germ cell tumor. “His voice was different and not as loud as before,” he said. “It honestly made me uncomfortable.” Fuszara’s own mother is a cancer survivor, so he was no stranger to seeing a loved one go through a similar sickness and treatment. He said he went through a whole new world of hurt seeing his best friend suffer in such a way.

Just a month after Daniel’s diagnosis, Fuszara’s grandfather started to grow ill, and his health sudden-

amount to import. So, in order for companies to not take a hit, they raise the prices on these products, and because more of them are marketed towards women, they contribute to the ever-growing amount of money that women spend more than men who receive the same products.

There is also more out there aimed at charging women more money for products that are necessary for everyday life. The “tampon tax,” much like the “pink tax,” is not a real tax, but it refers to the fact that products menstruators need are taxed as luxury goods in- stead of necessities, making them more expensive on grander scales. Yes, technically there are ways to stop menstruating — but that

the way they do toilet paper, and everyone would have access to them.

involves getting pregnant or going on a type of birth control that puts artificial hormones into the body and comes with a booklet full of pages just to list all of the harmful side effects. So, most continue to have periods, and, in turn, buy tampons, pads, cups, underwear and oth- er products that allow for completion of daily activities. According to the Global Citizen, 500 million people live without access to menstru- al hygiene products because they can’t afford them, and instead resort to less safe methods. If this luxury tax status is eliminated, ideally more companies and public places would be willing to offer free products in the bathrooms

Now the question is, will these taxes ever be eliminated? Hopefully, other states or the national government itself will pass legis- lation that makes it illegal for companies to make products that are geared towards wom- en more expensive than the same ones they have on the shelves for men. The Pink Tax Repeal Act was proposed in 2019 and 2021 but has not yet been passed. There are supporters for it, and the former governor of New York was able to put it into effect, but it will take time. Unfortunately, that means many women will continue spending their money on prod- ucts that are more expensive than others simply because of the gender they identify with. So what can you do? As always, using your voice to oppose injustices; using social media, sending letters to Congress or other relevant officials and teaching others about these issues can be more effective than you may think. In your daily routine, try to be more aware. Take extra time when buying commonly “pink taxed” items to take note of the price and quality dif- ferences of each product. If they look the same or you can get away with using something mar- keted towards men, buy that instead. No one will judge you for having a blue razor instead of a pink one, and if they do, tell them you’re doing this to actively fight discrimination, and that they should jump on board — it is Nation- al Women’s Month, after all.

Contact Marissa Burr burr2@my.canisius.edu

ly began to decline. He peacefully passed away in August of 2021 at the age of 93 and surrounded himself with friends and family during his final days. Anthony applauded his grandfather’s acceptance of change and the abundance of affection he always showed to those around him — two qualities that Anthony also saw in Dan.

“It all happened so quickly. I wasn’t prepared,” he said in regards to the shock of Dan’s death just a day after starting hospice care. Anthony said he felt like he had time to prepare himself for the fact that he was going to lose his grandfather, but losing Dan brought back familiar feelings of sudden and gut wrenching loss.

“Losing Daniel was like losing a brother,” said Fuszara. The one-two punch of losing two family mem-

bers left him feeling hopeless. Anthony found himself frustrated, thinking, “Why is it always the good people?” and “This isn’t right,” as he was still mourning the loss of a friend who passed away months before his grandfather.

Kimi Scrivini, a Canisius business student and close friend of Fuszara, passed away in the spring of 2022. Her death sent a shock through the community; Anthony deemed it “completely unexpected,” adding, “People lost a friend, a daughter, a sister — it was terrible.” He said it was unfair that people so young and making such positive impacts on their community, like Dan and Kimi, were gone when it felt as if their stories were unfinished.

Anthony commended the strength of these people, but his own strength was what shone through during the retelling of his experiences. Anthony refuses to

let these losses be in vain and finds himself using the unique perspective that all of this has given him to guide him through his own life.

Anthony endorsed using the Canisius Counseling Center which is located at 105 Bosch Hall and is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. His sessions have been no cure-all, Fuszra noted, but he says they have helped him develop healthy coping mechanisms and start to make sense of this extremely challenging year. The Counseling Center provides individual counseling for students struggling with grief or mental health issues. It’s completely free, and walk-ins are always welcome. “Not everything is linear,” Anthony told me as he reflected on the past year. He said that there’s no way to feel the same after losing people that are important to you. It has been an ongoing healing process for him, but after accepting that there is no “normal” after losing such important people in his life, he has found that an end to the sorrow is in sight.

These experiences were undoubtedly tragic, but they brought Anthony self-awareness and personal reflection in bounty. He said he’s picked up journaling again and that he knows that the people he has lost would want him to open up and be more vulnerable; this serves as his motivation.

When asked what the biggest lesson he learned from losing Dan was, Anthony said not to waste time and to “eat your cheesecake.” He said, “Life is too short to not enjoy the things you love, and Dan loved cheesecake.” Daniel Vela also loved his friends and family with all his heart and didn’t waste any time expressing that and wearing it on his sleeve — Anthony plans on doing the same.

“The ‘pink tax’ has items marketed specifically towards women listed at a higher price than their male counterparts.”

GRAPHIC VIA KYRA LAURIE

“It all happened so quickly; I wasn’t prepared”

Club Spotlight: Little Theater

put together in two months. Little Theatre President Brianna Propis said, “I was really excited when I came up with the idea for ‘Grease.’ I love that show, and my parents love that show, and I imagined that a lot of people would be familiar with that show. ‘Grease’ was not the original plan, but once we got it rolling, we just ran with it.”

Despite the destruction of Lyons Hall and the Marie Maday Theatre, the previous home of Canisius College’s Little Theatre, the club carried on. These obstacles didn’t stop the club from working hard towards putting on another successful production, and this weekend they will be performing “Grease: The Musical.”

Originally, Little Theatre was not planning on their spring musical being “Grease.” Instead, they had an entirely different plan to put on a production of “Little Shop of Horrors,” but the destruction of Lyons Hall meant their costumes, props, sets and furniture were gone, too. They had to start from the ground up and the idea of “Grease” in concert was born, later becoming a full-blown musical.

Little Theatre typically performs two shows per semester with a musical as the first show of the spring. In a typical timeline, Little Theatre rehearses a show in roughly five to six weeks, but “Grease” was

Without Lyons Hall, the production has been impacted a lot. Usually, Propis explained, it’s easy for Little Theatre to make a schedule for the full show when they know where rehearsals will be held and that they’ll have access to all the space and materials that they may need. This year’s crew had it much harder, though. The team has been rehearsing primarily in the chapel and frequently find themselves on the second level of the Student Center if the chapel is booked.

Propis continued, “We’re kinda sorta like a traveling circus right now. Every day we have to bring all of our costumes and props and people from various parts of campus and bring them to our practice space. We are pretty much using our club room as a storage room. So it looks like a lovely closet filled with all of our ‘Grease’ love. We run our times by [Campus Ministry Director Spencer Liechty] every week. He has been so generous to us using the space we rehearse. Every part of campus has seen some-

thing about ‘Grease.’” Casting decisions are made based on the actor’s voice and ability to fit the character’s presence. “For ‘Grease,’ primarily it was whose voice fit that character the best, who felt most like their characters in their songs [and] just the way they deliver it and the way their voice sounds,” Propis explained. “It just feels right. I can’t imagine it being cast differently. I think everyone has fulfilled their roles from day one, and they’ve only grown in their roles since.” This being Propis’s last year at Canisius, she noted the strong sense of community she’s felt surrounding this show. She also said that the passion of the people in the club are what she loves most about Little Theatre.

Little Theatre’s performance of “Grease” will be showing Saturday and Sunday at 8 p.m. in Montante. And if you can’t get enough of Little Theatre following this performance, there is a play coming up in Grupp at the end of April! Managing to pull off a full academic calendar of shows following an incredibly large setback such as Lyons’ winter damage is beyond beautiful and is truly a testament to the resilience of the club.

Contact Daeshyon Riley riley47@canisius.edu

Meet the Editors: Sophie Asher

By MIA DRAKSIC FEATURES CONTRIBUTOR

Each year, The Griffin adds new members to their team of editors, individually tasked with unique roles and responsibilities. Sophie Asher, the newest multimedia editor of the paper, is in charge of running The Griffin’s social media accounts. In her first year, Sophie is currently majoring in integrated marketing communications and digital media arts. She chose to attend Canisius after her mom — an alumna — convinced her to take a tour here.

This isn’t the first time Sophie’s mom has made an impression on her: she’s also responsible for her early love for Celine Dion. Sophie shared that her love was enough that she begged for Dion’s photo on her fourth birthday cake and claimed it was her mom’s fault that she became obsessed.

Ultimately, once the campus tour concluded, she found that it was one of the only schools that tailored to her needs, specifically with its integrated marketing communications major. Asher is very interested in social media marketing, SEO search engine optimization marketing and digital marketing with hopes to continue that during her time at Canisius.

At The Griffin, Sophie is responsible for creating posts and writing captions to ensure followers stay up to date. It is a bit different from what the rest of the staff does, she explained, as she doesn’t actually

work directly on the paper. Rather, Asher assists in helping it gain traction and engagement. Sophie first joined The Griffin in September 2022 when she saw an advertisement in her Canisius inbox and decided to take a chance on it. She attended the first general body meeting and felt an instant connection to the multimedia director role from the moment it was mentioned. She explained that it’s a chance for her to have an outlet to be creative throughout her busy semesters.

Asher started by working alongside then–Multimedia Director Ava Green as her assistant multimedia director, but she soon took over the role. “My work in multimedia journalism was not something I had anticipated from the beginning, but I am very glad I landed here,” Sophie explained.

This year’s ACP Media Conference took place in San Francisco from March 9 to 11: Sophie, among the other editors, attended and collected several pieces of advice and feedback for the paper. “The trip to the ACP Conference in San Francisco is probably the most fun I’ve had since coming to college,” Sophie says. “Accidentally eating a $40 breakfast, touring the city and the funny game nights are moments I will never forget.”

Her main take away from the conference was the paper’s need for a TikTok account. The Griffin will be joining the platform under the username @ thegriffinnewspaper. Although, if TikTok doesn’t in- terest you, The Griffin can be found on Twitter (@

Principles of Safe Stress

Principle #3

By MIKE NORFOLK FEATURES CONTRIBUTOR

About this time last year, I wrote an article titled “Practice Safe Stress: A Brief Guide to Deal with Midterms” in hopes of informing our community about the cognitive function of stress and why it has such a big impact on us. With Stress Less Day this past Wednesday, I felt it was a good time to revisit some of the principles I outlined in that article and to raise awareness about why we should prioritize our mental health. Our brains react to stress through the sympathetic nervous system — the fight-or-flight response. When our senses detect a threat, they signal our amygdala and prefrontal cortex (PFC) to act. Our amygdala responds first by turning off “unnecessary” functions (i.e. the hippocampus, which is responsible for memory) and turning survival functions on. The hypothalamus, which controls body temperature, heart rate and appetite, prepares the body to fight or flee. However, most of today’s stress inducers are not physical, and it’s pertinent we plan our responses rather than merely reacting on instinct to them. That’s where the prefrontal cortex comes in: for the PFC to function properly, it needs the body to be in a neutral state so it can use information from the hippocampus to create a solution to the problem. If you’ve ever been flustered under stress and then

found a solution hours later, that’s because the PFC moves slower than the amygdala.

So, how can we apply this information to our lives? To speed up the PFC, we need to get our body to a neutral state, which begins with principle one.

Principle #1

Slow down your breathing. Controlling our breath is like pulling the UNO reverse card on the hypothalamus. It slows down our heart rate and brings our body back to homeostasis, allowing our brain to function properly. A practice I like to use is box breathing, which is a four-second inhale, four-second hold, four-second exhale and four-second hold; this can be repeated for two to five minutes. Once our body is in a neutral state, the PFC gets to work.

Principle #2

Clear your head. Now that the PFC is working, we’ve got an overload of solutions that need to get out before they induce anxiety. To get out of your head, get physical! Depending on the problem, I deal with it in different ways. One way is to write out every solution, feasible or not, and then “play chess” (if I do x, then y happens) in order to narrow down my options to the one that could work. Another way is to exercise. Whether it’s on a run at Delaware Park or hitting the weights in Palisano, I create new and immediate problems to distract myself with. These are just some of the things that work for me, and it’s important to learn the best way you can relax.

Make the decision to act. Nevermind doing what’s “right” or “wrong”: we must start where we stand and get to work! Production creates momentum and releases dopamine, which gives us the motivation to keep going. I create production in these situations by finishing something left undone. Messy room? Clean it. Boom, you just produced a clean room, inspiring you to check off the next box.

Principle #4

Plan ahead. We’ve all got things that need to be done urgently and things that are important to us. Writing out when we’ll get them done puts us at ease because we can see they will be done, they’re just not done right now. I create my schedules like a snowball, starting with easy tasks and working my way to the hard ones as my day goes on. Other people prefer to do the opposite — it’s a matter of preference.

Principle #5

Stay positive. Pouting, ruminating and whining doesn’t do us any good, and we all know it. I love the term “fake it until you make it,” because it actually helps me control my attitude by changing the way I interact with my surroundings. Find something to laugh about or something you can say is great, beautiful or spectacular. You’ll be shocked at how much better you feel with just a little optimism. Even when everything sucks, it’s still pretty extraordinary that absolutely everything sucks. You don’t just have problems, but great problems!

There’s strength in seeking help when we can’t do it alone and in times of stress you have to turn to your community. Throughout March, the National Society of Pershing Rifles and the Afro-American Society are running a clothing drive in the memory of David Bubb, who passed away in 2019. I asked Julia Vanaskie, a senior and close friend to David, to write a few words for this article:

“David Bubb was one of the friendliest people I knew. He was outgoing to the point where his en- thusiasm would wear off on others. He was an ROTC Cadet here at Canisius, like myself, and excelled at it for the short time he was with us. He worked hard and always had a smiling face, even during our 6 a.m. morning workouts. Much like his personality, he had an infectious laugh that was able to cheer anyone up no matter what type of day they were having. However, like most that struggle with mental illness, David was able to mask his depression very well from those that cared about him. David lost his battle with depression on Dec. 20, 2019. There were no signs that I or his other friends saw that would have given us any idea that he needed help.”

If you’re interested in donating, there are boxes in every residence hall laundry room as well as at the entrance of the library, the ROTC office in Health Science and beneath the dining hall. If you have any questions about this article or how you can support the clothing drive, please email norfolkm@canisius. edu.

Contact Mike Norfolk norfolkm@canisius.edu MIKE NORFOLK

KYRA LAURIE

Freshman integrated marketing communications major and The Griffin’s Multimedia director, Sophie Asher.

Contact Mia Draksic draksic2@canisius.edu

Why you should be proactive with your mental health

“We’re kinda sorta like a traveling circus right now.”

CanisiusGriffin) and Instagram (@thecanisiusgriffin), as well.

THE GRIFFIN EDITORIAL

Canisius at a Crossroads

At some point in the last few years, all of our feet, letters or applications crossed through the admissions office at 2048 Main Street in Buffalo. But where were we before that? Where will all of us be in the next 10 years? What were the chances that 18 coeds from all different places and headed in completely different directions would have the chance to cross paths every week in a room with water-damaged walls, uncomfortable couches and a drawer full of candy?

From a practical standpoint, there actually was a high chance of all the editors of The Griffin meeting this way. With a large percentage living the majority of their lives in upstate New York, paths were bound to cross; add in the fact that many are seeking degrees in journalism or similar fields and it makes sense they were drawn to The Griffin once at a school with strong corresponding programs. But not everyone started out on the staff as a first-semester freshman. Somehow — whether it was God, the universe, fate or the will of some other higher power — all of us ended up here together at this moment.

There’s a cliche saying stating that college is the best four years of your life. It’s not wrong, but not inherently right either: much too general. For some of us, four years consisting of eight semesters will not be the exact amount of time spent at Canisius. Furthermore, college is a new experience for everyone,

and going through so many changes at once can be difficult. Even while attending classes, watching sporting events and being decked out in college gear, people are not in a protective bubble where they’re safe from the problems of the world. As a staff we’ve experienced loss, health crises and other things we can’t always bring ourselves to share with each other. Essentially, once 17 or 18 year olds have completed a certain number of years in school, they’re thrown into a lake and forced to try and keep their head above water with just the resources they can find for themselves.

For the editors, The Griffin has been their life jacket. With each wonderful memory we make on staff trips and hanging out every Thursday evening, a new piece of hope is given to us that everything will turn out okay. The path to the office in the basement of the Student Center may have been rough, and there will be challenges once we walk through it for the last time, but every moment in between will have made it all worth it. So no, college isn’t the best four years because every moment is perfect, but rather it provides experiences and people that will support us along the way. I personally am glad that my life led down this road — however hard it’s been — because without each hardship, I never would have gotten the chance to cross paths with the amazing people on The Griffin’s staff.

-MB and The Griffin Editors

Mission 100 Days: Building on the broken

By GRACE BROWN OPINION EDITOR

Suddenly, now that I’m in a foreign country, everyone looks like someone I already know and I wonder if perhaps there are a finite amount of faces in the world all just being recycled, which could perhaps be solid proof of reincarnation.

I am increasingly inclined to believe, except for the fact that two faces for the same soul couldn’t exist on the planet at the same time, I remind myself; unless of course, I rebuttal fleetingly, one of them is already dead.

Maybe I would be of those dead faces walking around void of a soul if that one professor that taught me how to be nice to writing hadn’t pointed out that I was faking my entire life, basically, but he was nicer about it than I’ve ever been to an essay.

I might still be trying to stuff my perceived personality through that tiny hole in hotel doors instead of stepping back (out of my own way) and peeping through the glass at all those possibilities waiting patiently outside like wee dogs for me to choose one and take him home.

Because I think sometimes we build our dreams on broken mirrors that fracture the reflection of who we really are into a hundred little pieces and we pick one of these and say ‘This is who I am,’ but we grasp onto this sliver of ourselves so tightly that our skin splits right open and blood runs all over the people closest to us until we find apologies spilling out of us, too.

We so stubbornly cling to this shard of ourselves that we forget change is natural evolution and all that, right?

That’s what I’ve been telling my flatmates, at least, while I act like I am weathered and wise beyond the two years I actually have on them as though the hand- ful of heartaches I’ve endured has made me an old and jaded hermit.

When in reality I’m not sure I’ve really gained anything from the years I spent starving myself and chewing more gum than I could afford, braving the icy pavement in the snowy cemetery for routine runs that wore my feet raw bruised and bloodied and bunioned, sort of like the one-pot dinners of vegetables I undernourished myself with daily, the skin of red onions and beets leaving potent stains on my fingertips and lips as though I applied lipstick or maybe kissed someone too long and strong or all the blue nights I spent lying awake memorizing the stubby whiskers and placid eyelids of someone I thought I could love forever, a promise of warmth in the April night air that whispered across our toe tips since I always insist on sleeping with the window open and he could never tell me no, even on the coldest nights when the wind tore at cracks in his fingertips so wide and beckoning I felt I could pour my entire heart into them, maybe fill them, fix them up; except of course great writing material since we really write about the things that break our hearts the worst.

But even if that is true all my insides still twist and churn to think about the sobby sort of icky-sticky poetry and prose, for that matter, forced upon the eyes of my endlessly compassionate creative writing professor who would never and will never admit how much he disenjoyed wading through the tidepool of my high school trauma but to whom I would like to offer the heartiest apologies as well as gratuities for always grinning through the grimacing and being kind and cool and wise enough to build the ladder I needed to haul myself out of that swirling water.

And sometimes I think about the person my high school teachers adored with her lawerly aspirations and nonexistent work-life boundaries, who was on a strict Beatles-only diet and refused to taste any music released after 1968, who lectored at church and acted in semi-sincere devotional videos and had made peace with settling for perpetual suburbia; if they knew me now — and not that I’m all worldly and shit —

but if they knew I listen to Tupac and really like Guinness but really hate Labatt Blue and Molson for that matter, that I swear too much and sometimes pretend I speak Brooklynese and decidedly detest Tim Horton’s crayon water coffee, that I meditate and sing Hare Krishna and do the “Swami Step” every Wednesday night and might even have a crush on a monk;

Would they still think my future is bright and limitless?

Young and white and free?

But hey, that’s alright, I wouldn’t even recognize me now eating sheep’s stomach and a slew of other grossities I don’t want to know three times a week, and tatties with brown sauce, so much brown sauce. Little vegetarian cold skinny and not-old-enough-to-feel old me wouldn’t believe how little I care about all the carbs and calories in there because my body is not my identity.

My therapist said so, at least, and maybe that’s why I decided not to get another tattoo or maybe it’s just because the thrill is gone since my mom found out but either way I don’t worry anymore.

I only worry about God and if it’s all a lie, if there is a life after this one when we close our eyes for the last time or if it is an endless mass of heavy black waiting to swallow us up.

But when I sit on a bench framed squarely in the final dredges of sunlight peeking over the roofs of neighboring townhouses like that guy Tom spilling into the park green and searching the crevices of now-celibate fountains I drink in the songs of birds and relish every drop even marveling at the way children’s shouts harmonize perfectly, although I don’t like kids, on a day like this which boasts the perpetual May of Scottish springs, at least in comparison to the New England Februaries of my memory, it all seems okay.

And despite feeling vaguely hungry while thinking fond- ly of the leftover chips (with brown sauce!) awaiting my return to the fridge, I do not want to go home.

I am not ready to leave this life yet.

FOUNDED IN 1933 THE GRIFFIN IS THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF CANISIUS COLLEGE

Letters to the Editor

THE GRIFFIN GLADLY ACCEPTS LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. LETTERS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO BROWN294@CANISIUS.EDU

NOTES FROM UNDERGROUND

Mrsa Brrr is elected as The Griffin’s Editor of the Week. The other members of The Underground are proud of her, yet also feeling slightly betrayed. Some speculate that Pay Heavy had something to do with her victory, but he will not provide a comment. Nonetheless, her newfound power over the candy drawer being used to hand out sweet treats to all has shown she is a benevolent leader.

Shingles has returned and would like to air out her grievances about the sudden lack of consistency in the NFTU house. Having promised the people LORE, it is lore that they shall receive. The Underground is an entity that The Griffin has contained. No one should question The Underground, and the last person to do that was about three years ago, and it did not end well.

Shingles would like to encourage our dear readers to contribute to Readers Rite. Every time you submit something to Readers Rite, The Underground has promised to try harder to be funny. Also, a disco ball spawns in the middle of the room, and the team gets to have a mini dance break in the dungeon (the office). Only Shingles can call the office the dungeon, or the Phantom’s Lair, or the Pit of Dispair, or Canisius’s Ohio.

Somehow, whether it was God, the universe, fate, or the will of some other higher power, all of us ended up here together at this moment.

One of my best friends has been very detached lately. This is something I would not expect from her, either. She was once the most active member of the groupchat. She laughed at everything, and her sense of humor was childish in the best way possible. Scrolling through social media, I often come across funny TikToks and Snapchat memories that remind me of our weird sense of humor, and I start laughing. I laugh but then I quickly stop, because I cannot share the moment with her anymore. During my senior year, she became the person I looked forward to seeing every day, because with her there, there was never a dull moment. Now, I can barely get a hold of her. I message her, and I get excuse after excuse as to why we can’t hang out. Her sense of humor has seemed to dry up, and she never reaches out to me first. I don’t understand it. How does somebody who is so jovial, silly and fun switch at the flip of a dime? I think about her every day, feeling 30 emotions at once. Confusion, because why are you removing yourself from my life? Anger, because it is quite rude that you’re ignoring your friends. Sadness, because I miss you. And lastly, worry, because what if you’re hurting and I don’t know it? I believe these problems will be resolved eventually, but for now I can only hope.

Anonymous

You never know when or where you’ll find your best friends. My longest friendship — still going strong today! — is with my cousin Mac who lives in Michigan. We see each other maybe once a year at best, yet we know about every relationship, argument and mental state the other one has been in. I wouldn’t trade her for the world.

When I headed to college in August 2020, I got to meet another girl who would become my best friend, roommate and soul sister: Brenda. Blessed with two double rooms in Bosch to ourselves, we lived across the hall from each other but spent almost every hour together. My spare bed became hers and we watched movies, cooked, made crafts and went shopping together. We’ll be living together again come May 2023, and I cannot wait. Love you, Brenda Lee.

It’s a cliche, but my significant other Zach is also one of my best friends. We met through a mutual friend and have been dating for the last 20 months. There’s no one I’d rather lounge around with all day and tell “I miss you” even when I’m sitting right next to him. I’m forever thankful for him and the support he gives me through every day, good and bad.

The newest edition to my circle of friends are the editors of The Griffin (hi guys!). I was lucky enough to go on a weekend trip that brought me substantially closer to all of them, and now a lot of us text on a daily basis. It’s ironic that I make this amazing group of friends only a couple months before I transfer to another school, but everything happens for a reason. I think they were brought into my life to remind me that my time at Canisius since the honeymoon period of my first two semesters was still worth it. I stuck it out, became a better person and got to meet some of the best people I know, so thanks guys.

My point is, don’t shut yourself off from making connections because you think that you don’t have time or it’s not worth it. I promise you it is.

Marissa Burr

I have had the great pleasure of having many best friends in my life. The list starts with my seven siblings, who have known me through all of my worst stages — my awkward 12-year-old selfies, parted ponytails and not-so-solo dance sessions will otherwise go with me to my grave) —, and it’s ever growing these days even as my college calendar gets busier. I’m a word nerd, but I have a hard time defining what a best friend is. My best friends come from all different environments, and they’ve been involved in wildly different timelines of my life.

My mom is my best friend, and she’s helped me with just about every decision I’ve ever made; my boyfriend is my best friend and one of my favorite people of all time; my roommate (who I dragged with me from Dugan to our first ever apartment: hi, Kyra) is my best friend; the girl I grew up with in Syracuse is my best friend, even as our relationship has evolved in the six years since I moved to Buffalo; I would count a couple of my Wegmans coworkers as best friends, because we spend too much time and go through too much together not to be; the people I work with in the Writing Center are my best friends, for obvious reasons; the 6- and 8-year-old boys I babysit are my best friends, because when you spend 15 hours a week together for a whole summer, you basically get the fast pass to best friendship; one of my bestest friends and I spend all day alternating between complaints, secrets and increasingly obscure/niche TikToks…

I take my friendships very seriously, so I feel like I might label someone one of my best friends before they would label me one of theirs, if that makes sense, but that doesn’t really make me feel less secure about our relationship. I don’t think best friendship needs to be reciprocated to every last letter. Once you’re a best friend, you’re a best friend forever, and to be clear, I will die on the hill that you can have more than one best friend. For me, the best friend distinction is just the understanding that a person has a piece of my heart: and how lucky am I that my heart is growing and making more space every day?

Emma Radel

My mind is always running rampant with questions: Should I do this? Wouldn’t it be easier to just stay within the safety of my apartment? Does anybody even want me there? The minutes before the plane took off to San Francisco for The Griffin’s editorial trip were no different. I’d had anxiety about the whole thing for weeks, and it had ramped up nearly to a full panic attack as I was sitting at the gate.

“It’ll be better if I just don’t go.”

Three of us ended up on a separate plane a few hours later. The waiting time should’ve helped calm me down, but it just kept me at a high level of panic through the airport for the second time that day. Well, my brain called bullsh** on my anxieties, and I got on the plane anyway. The intrusive thoughts didn’t leave though — not by a long shot. The next 12 hours of traveling were filled with worry and stress for absolutely no reason other than the fact that my mind thinks everything in the world is trying to kill me.

The moment I realized everything would be okay? When I stepped out of the Uber from the airport to the hotel, Managing Editor Pat Healy was waiting for us and gave me the biggest hug. Those ten seconds crushed every insecurity I’d had up until that point. If nothing else, he wanted me there and was glad that I had braved the journey.

The next morning a few anxious thoughts popped back up; what if the rest of the group thought I was weird for having been so anxious?

“Maybe I shouldn’t have come.”

As the glass elevator settled onto the first floor where those who had arrived yesterday were waiting, my heart sank with it into a pit in my stomach: Features Editor Ava Green pulled it back up with a smile and a cheerful greeting. Everyone wanted to know how I was doing, and in that moment I just felt so loved, and I knew I’d made the right choice.

That feeling was only amplified throughout the rest of the weekend. With my friends by my side, I braved public transportation, crossing the Golden Gate Bridge and walking miles through a new city — all things that I never dreamed I would ever be able to do because of my anxieties.

When joining The Griffin this school year, I was afraid I wouldn’t fit in. I was new, and because of social anxiety, I had a hard time making friends. I really was only close with my head editors Julia Barth and Healy, as well as the girl who made me an Opinion editor to begin with, Grace Brown. I grew closer with Sara Umbrell and Liz Shingler (layout directors) through milkshake excursions, but overall I didn’t talk to many people during our Thursday meetings. Everything changed in California, though. I shared some of my hardest experiences with them, and instead of being met with judgment or an awkward silence — like my anxieties said I would — I was embraced and given an unending amount of support.

The conference made me a better writer, the miles logged made me a better traveler and the experience all together made me a better person. I have nine new best friends who I know will be there for me through anything. With them by my side, I feel positive about going through the rest of the year. I am ready to begin the best chapter of my life thanks to them.

I only have one question to ask myself now: will you ever let anxiety stop you from growing as a person again?

Sydney Umstead, News Section Editor

During the trip to San Francisco, I kept stumbling upon angel numbers, which are numbers that appear in synchrony, like 333 and 555. These numbers are allegedly universal signs that indicate a direction someone’s life may be taking. I felt like they were a sign that this trip, and what I’d take away from it showed me what I was meant to be doing. For the first time in a while, my belief that everything happens for a

reason was reaffirmed, and this trip was proof of that. Months ago, I lost the pendant to my “The World” tarot card necklace, and as hard as I scoured my floor, I had no luck. People have said before that this means it has served its purpose and is no longer needed; so the necklace was gone into the abyss of my room, and I accepted that.

Miraculously, when I got home from the trip, it was there, appeared suddenly onto my floor. I know not everyone believes in these things, but to me they were a sign that I am on the cusp of what I was meant to do. The idea that there are moments in life — like plot points — that redefine an identity.

I have a tattoo below my collarbone that was stolen from Slyvia Plath’s journals, inspired by the idea that character is fate. Plath wrote, “If character is fate, I sure am adjusting mine under my lucky star.” For me, the trip to San Francisco was a redefining of my character and therefore my fate.

Strangely, if you talked to me at the start of the semester, I would’ve told you that one of my dream destinations was San Francisco. I grew up watching the TV show “Charmed” and in turn fell in love with the city. The nostalgia and the architecture are a part of the person I have become, and I see my own history in the seasons. To see the city, especially the painted ladies, was like giving back to my childhood.

My senior quote was from a line in “The Princess Diaries” that quotes Eleanor Roosevelt. We watched that movie in room five the first night of the trip. So I think it’s safe to say a part of me has always felt called to San Francisco. This experience has shown me parts of my identity that I have often been too scared to reveal.

There’s a quote from the novel “Let The Great World Spin” by Colum McCann that reads, “The world spins. We stumble on. It is enough.”. I believe that this experience is proof of accepting life’s little shifts and stumbling through them, because in a few small footsteps I stumbled into my dreams. If you asked me to pinpoint some character flaws of mine, one would definitely be my infinite fear of speaking. Yes, I’ve taken public speaking classes: no, they did not help. For me, I’m afraid that because I cannot control someone’s opinion about me, it is a personal failure if they do not like me. So I’ve often taken my position as a wallflower and accepted it. But this trip changed something internally.

I was suddenly placed into a group of people who individually I admired, and I gradually began to become less afraid of how they may interpret me. Following the trip, I’ve noticed that, for whatever reason, I’m more comfortable in my skin. I’m learning now more than ever that the best I can do is be myself and be kind. I don’t know if it’s from the sessions about embracing who you are and using that in your journalism abilities or the fact that I let my walls down and saw that the lurking voice of negativity that has consumed me was internal.

There is a border I’ve been attempting to cross since moving to Buffalo in the fall, and that is navigating the separation between the ghosts of my past and the person I have fought tooth and nail to become. I have lived, and in a way I have accomplished something that seemed impossible. As Tracy Chapman wrote in her song “Fast Car,” “Starting from zero got nothing to lose, maybe we’ll make something. Me, myself, I got nothing to prove.”

If anyone reading this has had moments where they questioned their path, embrace and take note of how the experiences have made you feel. You may just stumble on to what you were meant to do.

Editors Marissa Burr and Sydney Umstead discuss the inspiration their recent trip to San Francisco had on their outlook on life.

News Section Editor, Sydney Umstead at Lombard Street and Garden in San Francisco

Opinion Section Editor, Marissa Burr at Pier 39 in San Francisco

SYDNEY UMSTEAD

MARRISA BURR

Editor Connor Pohlman @connor_pohlman pohlmanc@canisius.edu Twitter: @SportsTGN

Canisius Basketball Alum Signs With the Denver Broncos

By COLIN RICHEY SPORTS REPORTER

Tight End Chris Manhertz ‘14 signed a two year, $6 million deal with $3.34 million guaranteed with the Denver Broncos last Wednesday, after reportedly agreeing to the deal on Monday evening, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

When speaking to Denver reporters after officially signing his contract, Manhertz explained that a big reason he decided to sign with the Broncos was because of new head coach Sean Payton and his reputation of creating a good culture and successful team in New Orleans with the Saints.

Manhertz explained that Payton was “one of the first coaches to give me a shot,” referring to 2016 when he made his NFL debut as a member of the Saints.

The tight end most recently played with the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he caught six passes for 42 yards in 2023. Known for his skills as a blocker, Manhertz played 38% of the offensive snaps and 37% of the special teams snaps for Jacksonville this past season, according to Pro Football Reference.

Manhertz is now one of just three tight ends on Denver’s roster, and he has a good chance to make the team in 2023. Presumably ahead of him on the depth chart are Greg Dulcich, who caught 33 passes for 411 yards and two touchdowns in his rookie year, and Albert Okwuegbunam, who had just 10 catches for just 95 yards and one touchdown last season, according to Pro Football Reference.

the switch to the NFL in 2015, where he walked on for the Buffalo Bills. Although he didn’t make the roster heading into the preseason, he signed with the New Orleans Saints and made their active roster in 2016. After being waived, he was claimed by the Carolina Panthers, where he began to forge a prominent role as a blocking tight end, and he stayed with

the team until the end of the 2020-21 NFL season. He then spent the next two years in Jacksonville, where he caught former No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence’s first NFL passing touchdown, according to ESPN.

er from Canisius, and he simply needs to play in 2023 to tie the record of eight years in the league for a Griffin, according to Pro Football Reference.

The 30-year-old tight end graduated from Canisius in 2014 where he played basketball, and he made Contact Colin

Manhertz is one of just 16 Canisius alumni to play in the NFL, and he makes the first since 1987. He’s already the second-longest tenured NFL play-

Canisius and Youngstown State Women’s Lacrosse Comes Together To Play For Team Molly

By DELANEY HAYDEN SPORTS REPORTER

The Canisius women’s lacrosse team continued their win streak on the Demske Beach with another big win this past Sunday against Youngstown State.

The Griffs dominated the Penguins with a final score of 15–3. The win allowed Canisius to finish non-conference play at 5–2, while the Penguins dropped to 2–6.

The game was in honor of Molly Seifritz and in support of “Team Molly.” Molly played lacrosse at Buffalo State and was a shining light on the team.

Sadly, in October, 2011, she was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer, Ewing’s sarcoma. After being diagnosed, she fought hard not only for herself but also for all those who were also going through cancer, especially rare forms.

Seifritz dedicated her time and energy towards raising awareness and support for research on rare forms of cancer. Unfortunately, Molly passed away on March 2 after an 18-month battle with cancer at the age of 25.

Her life and legacy lived on, though, as the Buffalo State women’s lacrosse team collectively decided to dedicate their 2013 season to her, and the team has continued remembering her light, leadership and love ever since.

Canisius women’s lacrosse’s assistant coach Ashley O’Brien, known as OB, had the great blessing of being teammates with Molly. Before the dedication game for Molly this past weekend, O’Brien shared with the team what it was like being teammates with Molly, and how “she always played with joy.”

O’Brien reflected that everything Molly did was with a smile on her face, and she was joyful wherever she was. She also shared that the shirts the team wore this past weekend before the game were bright hot pink because this was Molly’s favorite color. Even

when their coach would ask her if she had anything else to wear, O’Brien said, Seifritz would just smile and wear hot pink the next practice, too.

O’Brien encouraged the team to embody Molly’s spirit and play with the very same joy she exuded when she played.

Playing in remembrance of Molly and all those battling and who have lost their battle to cancer, the Griffs surrounded one another with the same love, support and joy that Molly Seifritz blessed her teammates with every day of her life.

Facing freezing temperatures with a high of only 30 degrees, winds over 20 miles per hour and spurts of blustering snow, both teams battled, but Canisius pulled ahead immediately.

Junior attacker Riley Davis started the Griffs off with a goal right away at 13:57. Answered by YSU’s Erin Clark at 12:36, Youngstown’s only goal in the first half of play knotted the game at one.

It was a team effort for the Griffs, as grad student and captain midfielder Skylar McArthur had two goals, junior midfielder/ attacker Caroline Netti had one goal and junior midfielder Avery Penoyer had one goal.

Freshman attacker Meg Hiltz, sophomore midfielder Hailey Rooney and senior attacker Samantha Detor each had their first career goal. Grad student and captain attacker Ivy Santana led the Griffs in goals with four total. Lastly for the offense, senior midfielder Paige Stachura joined the 100-point club, ending the game with a hat trick, as well.

On the defensive end, junior defender Jill Galanti picked up the teamhigh of five ground balls. Canisius’s defensive unit played as a whole once again, only allowing two more goals in addition to the one in the first half to be scored in the second half of play.

Freshman goalie Jody Chu made six saves throughout the first three quarters, and freshman goalie Delaney Hayden made three saves in the final quarter of play.

The Griffs will begin MAAC play when they welcome Manhattan to Buffalo, N.Y. Opening draw is set for 12 p.m. on March 25. Contact

Richey richey4@canisius.edu |

Golf knocks the rust off at The Carpetbagger Classic

By COLTON PANKIEWICZ ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

In the first tournament of the Spring, the Golden Griffins teed off at Worthington Manor Golf Club, a par72 course in Urbana Maryland where they participated in the 15-team event. Senior Shane Broad started where he left off, leading Canisius on the scorecard both days of the tournament, posting a 76 on Saturday and a 72 on Sunday, good enough for a 36hole total of 148.

Broad’s three birdies and even score on Sunday helped the Alden native jump 15 spots on the leaderboard, finishing in fourteenth place tied with one other golfer.

“Honestly, I felt really good. I’ve been playing on the simulator with my brother over the winter. On the first day though, I was one over going into the last three holes before finishing bogey, bogey, bogey to finish out the round,” said Broad after the tournament.

Ryan Edholm, the sophomore who performed well during the fall, notching MAAC Men’s Golfer of the Month for September, followed his teammate, Broad, wrapping up his two days with a 158.

As a team, Canisius finished the tournament with a 633, tying Colgate for fourteenth, despite trailing them by two strokes after the first day. Rhode Island finished in first place after posting a two day total of 585, finishing 5 strokes ahead of second placed Bryant.

The Griffs are off until April 3, when they participate in the Southern Invitational at The Falls Club, in Palm Beach, Florida.

Chris Manhertz in an NFL Jacksonville Jaguars uniform

CANISIUS ATHLETICS VIA GOGRIFFS Paige Stachura handles the ball in her stick

By ANDREW CROOKS SPORTS

The Canisius College softball team had an eventful week as they played in both an invitational and their home opener. Playing Cornell, Penn State and Syracuse across five days, the Golden Griffins finished with one win and three loses versus non-conference competition. In the Penn State Invitational in University Park, Pennsylvania, the Golden Griffins faced both the Cornell Big Red and the Penn State Nittany Lions. At their Saturday games, they finished with one win and one loss, with a 2–0 win versus Cornell and a 7–0 loss

versus Penn State. Junior Megan Giese tossed a complete game shutout, allowing only two hits against the Big Red. While keeping Cornell scoreless, the Golden Griffins were led by a two-run home run by junior Sydney Costan to score the two lone runs of the game. This led the Canisius College softball team to their thousandth win in program history. With 10 wins in their first 18 games, the Golden Griffins were destined to break this record in the early games of the season.

In their second game of the day, the Nittany Lions were led by a dominant pitching performance that took a no-hitter into the sixth inning. In that sixth inning, the Golden Griffins

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would register a hit that would break up the potential no-hitter. These games would lead up to the home opener for Canisius against Syracuse on Wednesday. In this double header, the Golden Griffins lost two close games to the Syracuse Orange by a score of 3–1 and 7–4. In the first game of the day, sophomore Rosie Gomez sent a ball over the leftfield wall for the lone run of the game for Canisius. In the second game of the double header, the Golden Griffins started off red hot with the bats. After sophomore Saige Alfaro got her first of two hits on the day, graduate Nicole Rivait would hit a two-run home run to give a quick 2–0 lead in the bottom of the

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The Golden Griffins would follow up with three hits on the day from freshman Gabi Farris and two hits from junior Destiny Falquez. However, this would not be enough to take down the Orange of Syracuse, who would sweep the double header. This upcoming Wednesday, the Canisius College softball team will travel across Buffalo to play the Buffalo Bulls in a double header. These will be the last two games for Canisius before they start MAAC conference play.

Kelly Helps Men’s Lacrosse to Second Win

By STEPHEN LAPAGE SPORTS REPORTER

capture a win over MAAC opponent Marist. Thanks to a huge seven-goal game for attackman Colin Kelly, the Griffins soared to victory with an 18–16 win.

Marist started the game strong, scoring four unanswered goals. Kelly was able to get on the board to halt the Marist offense for about 30 seconds before Marist tallied another. The Golden Griffins took exception though, and the team was able to score three goals before the end of the first quarter, where Marist led 5–4.

The second quarter was filled with scoring as the teams combined for 13 goals. Both teams battled back and forth, but Canisius was able to outscore Marist 8–5, giving the Golden Griffins a 12–10 score at halftime. Marist was able to come out of halftime with some fire as they scored three unanswered goals to retake the lead. Canisius was able to score two goals before the end of the quarter, but Marist was able to score as well, tying the game at 14.

Marist scored quickly in the fourth quarter to give them the lead,

but this lead did not last long, as Canisius was able to score four goals to regain their lead. Even with Marist scoring with seven seconds left, Canisius held on to win 18–16.

Colin Kelly led Canisius in scoring with seven goals, the most goals in a single game for a Canisius player since 1996.

Goaltender Tommy Kunz tallied 15 saves in the contest and face-off specialist Micah Hanson won a season high 19 faceoffs.

For their next action, Canisius will travel to Riverdale, New York to play the Manhattan Jaspers on Saturday, March 25 at noon.

Contact Stephen Lapage lapages@canisius.edu |

Canisius Baseball Drops Three Straight to Kent State

By COLIN RICHEY SPORTS REPORTER

Canisius baseball lost all three of their matchups against Kent State over the weekend, scoring no more than four runs in each game while surrendering double-digit runs in each of the games.

The team started with a double-header on Friday, playing two seven-inning games.

The first game saw Kent State defeat Canisius 17–4, despite the Griffins opening the scoring in the first inning.

Junior Max Grant scored from second base on a failed pickoff attempt from the Golden Flashes. Senior Mike DeStefano singled to send redshirt sophomore Josh Niles home, and

sophomore Jackson Strong hit a single that sent DeStefano home, giving the Griffs an early 3–0 lead.

Unfortunately for the Griffs, the Golden Flashes retook the lead quickly and never looked back. After they plated four runs in the second inning, Kent State scored five more runs in the third. A run in both the fourth and the fifth gave them a seven-run lead heading into the sixth inning, where they scored six more runs to put the Golden Flashes up by 13.

Strong slugged his second of the game, a solo hit in the fifth inning to get Canisius to four runs.

Kent State dominated game 2 of the series even more so than game 1, scoring 21 runs compared to the three scored by Canisius. Just like the first

game, the Griffs opened the game with three runs in the first inning.

Consecutive singles from graduate student Dylan Vincent, Grant and Niles loaded the bases for Cansius, and an errant throw from Kent State’s catcher led to a double steal for Grant and Niles.

Kent State responded with eight runs in the third inning, followed by five runs in the fourth and seven runs in the fifth.

The final matchup between Canisius and Kent State was the closest game, although Kent State still ran away with an 11–2 victory. This time, it was the Golden Flashes that started off hot, recording five runs in the first four innings.

Junior Cole Sebastian put Canisius

on the board in the sixth inning, hitting his second home run of the season. Kent State responded immediately with three runs in the bottom of the sixth and three more in the seventh. Redshirt sophomore JT Ennen reached home plate thanks to a hit up the middle by Vincent. Canisius is now set to face a collection of MAAC opponents, starting with a three-game series against Mount St. Mary’s over the weekend in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

The Canisius men’s lacrosse team looked to use the momentum from their win over St. Bonaventure to

Colin Kelly holds the ball as a swarm of Marist players approach